US1707972A

US1707972A - Bell ringer

Info

Publication number: US1707972A
Application number: US285487A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur L Bridgham
Original assignee: HARRY W MAXWELL
Current assignee: HARRY W MAXWELL
Priority date: 1928-06-14
Filing date: 1928-06-14
Publication date: 1929-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1946-04-09

Description

A. L. BRIDG'HAM BELL RINGER Apr@ 9, w29.

Filed June 14, 1928 W r E.

f m pd Patented 9, 1929. e

raiser clasica.

ARTHUR L. BRIDGHAM, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSJGNGR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY VJ. MAXWELL, F WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BELL RNGER.

Application filed June 14,

rThe invention relates to an improvement in bell ringers of a type in which the bell is rung by application of iuid pressure though permitting ot manual ringing as occasion may require.

The essential object ot the invention, apart from the obtaining ot a bell-ringing mechanism ot practical. and economic structure, is to obtain one capable of so ringing the bell that there will be a proper time interval between its strokes, the ringing being more' or less comparable with hand ringing. A dithculty which has hitherto been encountered with a mechanical bell ringer is that it is apt to ring the bell too violently and too tast, and

my object is to obviate this diliiculty. i The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a View partly in cross section and partly in side elevation et abell equipped with a bell-ringing mechanism embodying the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a trent elevation of a detail of construction to which reference will later be made.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents thebell fixed to a yoke 2 from the head ot which the bell hangs suspended. The yoke is secured to any suitable base of support 3. The bell is provided with a trustro-conical top extension l which lits within a socket 5 in the head of the yoke and into which it is drawn and tightened and the bell fastened to the yoke by means of a bolt 6 the head 7 et which bears against the interior oit the top wall of the bell while the shank of the bolt extends through the top of the bell and through its top extension 4l with threaded end projecting above the extension and beyond the adjacent top side of the yoke. @n the threaded end ot the bolt thus projecting is arranged a 'tightening nut 8 which bears against the top side ot the yoke, a washer 9 being interposed between the nutl and the yoke. lilith the parts thus arranged, when the nut is tightened the bell will become securely Vtired to the yoke.

F ixed to the head 7 ot the bolt and preterably by integral connection is a cylinder 10 which projects into the chamber of the bell. The bottom end 11 of this cylinder is cleft and projecting laterally trom the cleft portions thereof are spaced ears l2 to which is 1928. Serial No. 255,487.

pivoted lever 18 by a pin 1/1. The lever comprises

arms

15 and 16, respectively. Ot these the arm 15 forms the bell tongue or clapper by which the bell is sounded. The arm bears upon its end a ball striker 17 which gives weight tothe arm. rllhe arm 16 ot' the lever is the one to which torce is applied for turning the lever and thereby sounding the bell. This arm occupies an angular relation to the arm 15 and extends laterally into the cleft end of the cylinder 10 where it may be engaged by a plunger 18 working within the cylinder. The weighted arm 15 of the levez` which in so lar as the lever is concerned controls the position of the arm 16, will normally hang pendant inside the chamber of the bell from the liXture to which it is pivoted and trom this pendant position it is turned to strike the bell. The relative disposition ot the

arms

15 and 16 of the lever is such that the arm 16 will continue to be contained within the lower end ot' the cylinder 11 whether the arm 15 is occupying either a gravitated or striking position. In other words, the arm 16 'will occupy such position with relation to the plunger 18 operating wit-hin the cylinder as to be capable of being acted upon or of acting` upon this plunger whatever the position of the arm 15 ot' the lever may be.

rlhe plunger 18 working within the cylinder 10 is provided with outstanding ribs or rings 19 by which it has a snug sliding litV within the cylinder. 1t is the lower end ot the plunger which engages the arm 16 ot the lever-13. @n its upperend the plunger presents a shoulder 21 from which rises a contracted neck portion 22 bearing upon its end a head 23 with ports or openings'24l through it. rlhere is thus lett between the shoulder 21 ot the plunger and its head 23 an annular chamber 25 within the cylinder 10. The disposition and arrangement ot the plunger with relation to the top end 26 of the cylinder are such that a chamber 27 willy be left between the end 26 ot' the cylinder and the head 23 ot the plunger. The cylinder 1() is alsov provided with inlet and outlet ports 29 and 30, respectively, for the admission and escape of fluid pressure. The inlet port 29 is arranged to pass through the wall 01"V the cylinder and communicate with the annular chamber 25 between the shoulder 21 and the head 23 of the plunger. rThe outlet port 30 is arranged to communicate with the Chamber 2'? above the head of the plungerl whereby fluid pressure may escape therefrom to the atmosphere during the operation of the device as will later be explained. Adjacent `the inicil port 29 the cylinder is thickened by an annular boss 31 and having threaded connection with this boss is a fluidv inlet pipe connection 32 by which 'fluid under pressure, preferably compressed air, is admitted through the port 29 to the chamber ot the cylinder for actuating the plunger and thereby turning the lever Q3 for operating the bellvclapper or tongueV for ringing the bell as will presently be eX- plained.

Located within the chamber in the cylinder 10 and between the shoulder 21 and head 23 oil" the plunger is a lvalve 33 which controls the inlet andfoutlet ports 29 and 30, respectively. vrllhis valve is in the nature of a short internal sleeve slidable upon the interior of thc cylinder and covering its respective ports depending upon the moved position of the valve. The valve has a snug sliding lit onthe interior wall oi: the-cylinder so that it will maintain any position to which it is moved. Y

The general operation is as follows z- 'l` he operating parts as shown in Fig. 1 are occupying the relative positions occupied by them at about thebeginning of the period when the 'iluid pressure is acting upon the plunger for turning the lever 13 and thereby actuating lits tongue or clapper element to strike the bell. At this time it will be seen that fthe valve 33 is occupying a position where it 'leaves uncovered the linlet port 29, but covers und thereby closes the voutlet port 30. VFluidpressure then entcringby 'way of the pipe '32 and inlet port will pass into the chamber Q5 within the cylinder I10 and thcncoby wayoi the ports 2li-in the head 23 oit the plunger will pass into the chamber 27 in the cyl inder above theihead ol: the plunger. rllhe'pressure will then bekept from escaping through the outlet port by the valve. The pressure thus contained in the respective chambers will operate to move the plunger downward. As the plunger `moves down- 'a rd it will opcrateto turn vthe lever 13 and thereiiy actuele-its tongue or clappcr clement to strike the bell. As the plunger is moved downward, its head engaging the valve 33 will move the downward within the cylinder Il() and at about theftime the tongue or cluppe-r has beenl moved finto striking engagement witlithe bellthe valve will have been moved by the head of the plunger to a position where it covers and thereby closes the `inlet yport29 and opens the outlet-por 30. 'lliereupon the iluid pressure is cut ofi and any vitluid pressurealready contained within the cylinder vis allowed to escape `to the atmosphere. The fluid pressure thus being cut cil, the `lever 13 will be perini'ttedto turn back in the direction of its normal gravioperate to litt the plunger.

ta'ted position, its tongue or clapper then moving auf-'ay from the bell. Ars the lever thus turns back, actuated by gravity, it will At about this instant the shoulder 21 onthe plunger will be occupying a position spaced from' and below the lower side of the valve. Accordingly the 'valve remaining closed and no fluid pressure bein g admitted to the cylinder, the leverwill have opportunity to gravit te back toward its normal position an appreciable amount or until the plunger has been lii'ted to a point where its shoulder 21 will engage the valve 33 and elevate the valve until it uncovers the inlet port 29 and 'closes the outlet port 30 or, in other words, occupies a position substantially as shown in Fig. 1.y l/llhen the plunger has thus raised the valve to its open position by the engagement oi its shoulder 21 as. just noted, the head 23 or' the plunger will have been elevated to a `position above tue valve 33. Thereupon the valve, leaving open the inlet port 29, closes the outlet port 30 and fluid pressure will beV allowed'to enter the chambers 25 and, 27 within the cylinder and thereupon will operate to depress the plunger and turn the lever 13 for striking the bell, which action continues until the head oi the 'plunger engages the valve 33 when the operation continues as just described.

lt will be observed'in connection with this operation that the pressure is acting to actuate the tongue or clapper for striking the bell only at timed intervals. rthat is, there certain lag in the operation olI the parts which permits the lever 13 and its tongue or clapper element, which does the actual striking, to turn back Vtrom a striking position by gravity and `accordingly with more or less slowness oil movement. Consequently though lluid pressure ,is employed 'to Yactuate the tongue orelapper 'for striking the bell, yet there a` certain relatively slow precision in the striking operationso that the tones of the bell will be separate and distinct and not run together.

ln addition to .the mechanism above dcscribed liorringing the bell by application of fluid pressure, provision is also made by which the bell may vbe rung inanu..lly.v To this end a rodi-35 is passed down through the bolt (i and through the endo'i' the cylinder 10 so thai-the inner end oiithe rod may engage the head 23 oli' the plunger 13, the outer end oli' the rod tlnis extendingabove and beyond the end ot the bolt. 'llhus arranged, upon an application oi pressure to the upper' end the rod it will be moved downward to engage the plunger and the plunger will be moved downward'by it, thereby turning the lever 13 Yfrom its normal gravitated position into its active or engaging position where its arm 15 acting as a elapper will strikethe biell. rl`hereupon prf/"sure on the rod 35 being released, the lever will be allowed to fall back ico' Cil

to its normal gravitated position, both plunger and rod then being litted, when the operation may be repeated.

For applying pressure to the rod 35 a lever 36 is employed mounted to turn upon a standard 37 preferably fitted to the washer 9 which is interposed between the yoke 2 bearing the bell and the nut 8. The lever 36 may be turned through a fiexble connection (not shown) secured to its operating arm. K

In order to prevent fluid pressure escaping upward by way ot the opening through the end of cylinder and bolt within which the rod 35 is slidably mounted, the inner end of the rod is provided with a valve 38 which lies within the chamber 27 ot the cylinder. This valve is adapted to close against a valve seat 39 formed on the end 26 otl the cylinder around the` o iening through which the rod extends. villhen the valve is closed engaging its seat lluid pressure is prevented from escaping through the opening, and the valve will be closed upon entry ot the fluid pressure into the chamber 27, the pressure then acting upon the head ot the valve lying within this chamber 'for closing it.

Having thus Jiully described my invention, l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States l. rihe combination with abell, ot a striker arranged to swing between an engaging position and a disengaging gravitated position, mechanism operable by fluid pressure active when the striker is in its gravitated position 'for moving the striker from its gravitated position to its striking position, means for the introduction ot fluid pressure to said mechanism, and means automatically controlled by said mechanism excluding said tluid pressure and permitting ot the return by gravity ot the striker :trom its engaging position to its gravitated position.

Q. The combination with a bell, of a striker arranged to swing between an engaging position and a disengaging gravitated position, mechanism operable by iiuid pressure active when the striker is in its gravitated position `lfor moving the striker from its gravdtated position to its striking position, means 'tor the introduction ot Fluid pressure to said mechanism, a valve 'tor controlling the introdiilction ot the itluid pressure to said mechanism, and means wht-roby said mechanism will close said valve when the striker has attained its striking position and permit ot the continued closure ot said valve during the return ot the striker from its striking position to its disengaging gravitated position and will open said valve when the striker is in its gravitated position.

8. T he combination with a bell, of a lever comprising in part a striker adapted t0 have a normal gravitated disengaging position or an engaging position dependent upon the turned position ot the lever, a cylinder, a

plunger reciprocable `within the cylinder and in normal engagement with the lever, means -tor pivotally arranging the lever whereby it may be turned and its striker moved trom a gravitated disengaging position into an engaging position by the plunger as the plunger is moved in one direction and the plunger be moved in a reverse direction by said lever when its striker by the turning ot saidlevcr is permitted to resume its disengaging gravitate/d position away from its engaging position, means whereby fluid pressure may be admitted to said cylinder for lmoving the plunger in said one direction, and means tor automatically controlling said fluid pressure whereby it may be admitted to move the plunger' in said one direction when the striker is in its gravit-ated disengaging positionand the tluid pressure be excluded 'from the cylinder and plunger after the striker has attained a striking position and during its return to its gravitated position.

l. The combination with a bell, ot a lever comprising in part a striker adapted to have a normal gravitated disengaging position or an engaging position dependent upon the turned position of the lever, a cylinder having Huid-pressure inlet and outlet ports, respectively, a plunger reciprocable within the cylinder having a body portion presenting a shoulder, a contracted neck portion and a head, said plunger being in normal engagement with the lever, a valve within the cylinder interposed between the head and shoulder portions ot the plunger for controlling the respective ports in the cylinder depending as the plunger is moved in reverse directions, means tor pivotally arranging said lever whereby it may be turned and its striker moved trom a gravitated disengaging position into an engaging position by the plunger as the plunger is moved in one direction and the plunger be moved in a reverse direction by said lever when its strikerby the turning of said lever is permitted to resume its disen-^ gaging gravitated position away from its engaging position, and means Ltor admitting l'luid pressure to the inlet port of the cylinder.

5. rlhe combination with a bell, ot a lever comprising in part a striker adapted to have a normal gravitated uisengaging position or an engaging position depending upon the turned position ot the lever, mechanism operable by fluid pressure active to turn the lever when its striker is in its gravitated posin tion 'tor moving the striker from its gravitated position to its striking position, said mechanism including a plunger in normal engagen'ient with said lever, means for pivotally arranging the lever whereby it may be turned and its striker moved from a gravitated disengaging position into an engaging position by the plunger as the plunger is moved in one direction and the plunger be moved in a reverse direction by said lever when its striker the introduction of 'fluid pressure to seidl mechanism, means for automatically controlling` the fluid pressure Wliereby it may be admitted to lmove the plunger in said oner direction when the striker is in its gravitated disengaglng position und t-lie fluid pressure be excluded from the plunger after the striker l0 has attained a striking position and duringl its ret-urn to its graviteted position, and means whereby said plunger may be manually moved in said one direction for turning the lever, said means including a pusli rod and means for manually operating said rod.

ARTHUR L. BRIDG-HAM.