US1733175A - Mechanically-operated bell - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1929.

L. W. WINNALL ET AL MECHANICALLY 'OPERATED BELL Filed Nov. 10, 1928 Patented 0a. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LESLIE WATT WINNAI-LAND' EDWARD HARRY WINNALL, OF J OHAN NESBURG, TRANS- Application filed November 10, 1928, Serial Nb. 318,491,-and in the Union This invention relates to mechanically op erated bells or gongs. The invention is especially applicable for use at railway crossings and in other situations where loud-sounding warning bells are required, and which bells are usually brought into operation, automatically or otherwise, by means controlling, or opening and closing the electric circuit of the bell-actuating motor.

Theoperating mechanism or means can, if desired, be designed so as to be double act ing, or so that it will operate the clapper, hammer or tongue of thebell in such a way as to strike and ring the bell at theend of its movement in both directions. To the attainment of this object the invention appertains to the bell action or mechanism for transmitting the motion from the electrical motor or other actuating means to the clapper, hammer or tongue of the bell. Such means include suitable reducing gear through which the rotary motion of the electric motor is transmitted to means actuating the bell clapper, etcetera.

The mechanism for operating the clapper is so designed that the clapper is thrown against and strikes the bell, and is then able to rebound and swing freely in the opposite or reverse direction for a certain distance, preferably before being re-engaged and positively moved in said reverse direction by the operating means. The actuating mechanism may be such that the clapper is positively moved in the direction of one side of the bell towithin a short distance of the latter and is then tree to continue its movement in the same direction due to its momentum, until it strikes the bell, and thereafter is free to rebound for a certain distance before being re-engaged and positively moved in the reverse direction by the operating mechanism, which will then cause it to swing or move in the direction of and in the same manner strike the opposite side of the bell.

The operating mechanism is preferably capable of adjustment in order to vary the eX-- tent of the free movement of the clapper (due to momentum and rebound) in both directions.

In the accompanying drawings we illus- VAAL, soUTn AFRICA MnoHA-N1cALLv-orERATEn BELL of South Africa November 17,

trate a practical embodiment of the invention, applied to an ordinary bell in which the operating means or mechanism actuates the clapper to strike the fixedbell at the end of its movement in both directions Fig. 1 being a sectional elevation of the bell, showing the operating mechanism irrelevation, and I e I n Fig. 2 an elevation at right angles to Fig. 1, with'the bell omitted. i V

In the drawings the numeral 1' denotes a carrier or support for the bell 2 and the parts of the operating mechanism for the clapper, hammer or tongue 3,which is shown provided with two heads 4 adjustably attached to the lower screw-threaded portion 5 of the clapper rod 6 by nuts, 7, 8. 9 represents a stud screwed. into the: top of the support 1, and-10, 11,,nuts for securing the bell 2 thereon. v y i A-bolt or pin '12 is fixed in one side of the supportil and provided with a smooth reduced portion-13. On the portion 13 is loosely. mounted a :part orfmember 14: into which the upper end of the clapper rod 6 is screwed and secured by a lock-nut '15. 16 and 17 are washer and nut respectively for retaining the part or member 14 in position on the part 13 ofthebolt or pin 12. The'part or member 14 is constructedintegral with an armor lever 18 which, at its, outer end, is constructed with an arcuate or curved slot 19, and fitted. with set screws20, 21, at the top and bottom, which enter opposite ends of the arcuate or curved slot19. w 22 is another pin or bolt, fixed to thesupportl below the bolt.12, on a reduced portion of whichisloosely mounted a toothed gear wheel23, 24, 25, being washer and nut re spectively for retaining said wheel 23 in positionon the bolt 22. The toothed wheel 23 carries, a pin 26, fixed ata suitable dis tance from its axis or centre, which pin 26 operates as a crank pin and has loosely at tached to it one end of a-connecting rod or link 27, the other. end of which is loosely at tached to the outer endof theiarm or lever 18 by means of a pin or bolt 28, which is positioned and works in the arcuate or curved slot 19, between the ends of the set screws 20, 21, so thatv the latter can be used for effecting or lever 18. 29, 30, are nut and washer respectively for retaining the one end of the link 27 on the crank pin 26, and 31, 32, are nut and washer respectively on the one end of the pin or bolt 28 for retaining the other end of the link 27 on the pin or bolt 28, while 33, 34, are nut and washer respectively on the other end of the pin or bolt 28 for retaining' said pin or bolt 28 in position in the slot 19. The means for driving the toothed wheel 23 is shown consisting of a pinion 35 mounted on the inner end of a spindle 36 journalled in the side of the support 1 and in a bearing 37 fixed on the base portion 38 of the support 1. 39 is a further toothed wheel fixed on the spindle 36 and driven by a pinion 40 on the driving shaft 41. If the bell action ormechanism is driven by an electric m0torindicated at 42, in dotted lines, in Fig. 1then the motor may be connected, directly or indirectly, to the driving shaft 41.

The clapper 3 is shown constructed with the two heads or hammer portions 4 for striking the bell 2 at the end of the movement of the clapper 3 in both directions. In Fig. 1 the heads 4 of the clapper 3 are shown in dotted lines in proximity to the opposite sides of the bell 2, which dotted positions may represent the positions to which said heads 4 are positively moved by the operating mechanism, and the points at which they are free to swing outwards due to momentum and strike the bell. Any desired adjustment of the movement of the mechanism to vary the points at which the clapper 3 is free to swing outwardly in both directions due to the momeans slidingly engaging in the slot, and means for operating said link, the connection between the link and the lever allowing of the positive movement of the clapper, through the lever, to points near the bell, and then, by relative movement of the link and lever at the point of connection, allowing the clapper to swing freely outwards, due to its momentum, to strike the bell, as set forth.

3. In a mechanically operated double-act ing bell, the combination with the clapper of means which positively move the clapper to a point near the bell in both directions, and then allow the clapper to swing freely outwards due to its momentum to strike the bell at two opposite points, said means including a lever attached to the clapper at one end, a link attached to the lever at the other end, the end of the link and the attached end of the lever being provided the one'with a slot and the other with a pin working in said slot, and the slotted member being provided with screw adjusting means to vary the length of the slot and the position thereof relative to the pin, and means including a crank for operating said link, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

LESLIE WATT WINNALL. EDWVARD HARRY WINNALL.

mentum, is efi'ected by adjusting the set screws 20, 21, relative to the pin 28.

What we claim as our invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In a mechanically operated bell, the combination with the bell, and a clapper including a clapper rod and a hammer, of means for operating said clapper including a lever mounted on a fulcrum and connected at one end to the clapper rod below the fulcrum and having a slot in the other end, a link connected to the slotted end of said lever by means slidably engaging in the slot, and means for operating said link, said clapper operating means acting positively to move the clapper to a point near the bell at two opposite sides thereof and then allowing it to swing freely outwards in both directions, due to its momentum, to strike the bell, as set forth.

2. In a mechanically operated bell, the combination with the bell, and a clapperine eluding a clapper rod and hammer, of means for operating said clapper'including a lever mounted on a fulcrum and connected at one end to the clapper rod below the fulcrum and having a slot in the other end, a link connected to the slotted end of said lever by

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