US1821590A - Horn - Google Patents

Description

I 1, 1931. v Y J. 5 THOQP 1,821,590

HORN

Filed Aug 16, 1930 MyM A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 TENT ()FFICE i JOEL R. THORP, OF WEST ALLIS, W ISCONSIN, ASSIGNGR TO THE FULTON COMPAINYQOF 2 WEST ALLIS, WISCONFEIN, A CORPOR iiTION F WISCGNSIN HGBN "Application filed August 16, 1930. Serial No. 475,708.

The .present invention relates to improvements in the construction of si nals, and especially to horns of the type used. as signals on automobiles or other vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved horn signal which is simple in construction and eflicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved automobile signal which warns withoutstartling, which can be op erated to produce a loud or a soft tone, and which can .be heard for long distances and above competing trafiic noises.

A further object of they invention is to provide an improved horn structure which may be 'manutactured at minimum cost, which is extremely durable in construction, and which presentsa neat appearance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a. signal which may be conveniently applied to various styles-and types of vehicles, andwhich may be operated by waste exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine constituting the vehicledrive.

These and other objects and advantages will appear-from the following detailed description.

A. clear conception 0t an embodiment of the invention. and of the mode of constructing and ofoperating hornsbuilt in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in whichlike reference characters designatethe same or similar parts in the va 'ious views. v

Fig. 1 is a. central longitudinal section through one of the improved horns and an improved controlfor the delivery of gases thereto, showing the same associated with the exhaustpipe' of an automobile engine;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the'horn and of the valve for controlling the deliveryof gases thereto;

Fig. 3'is an enlarged central longitudinal section through the horn base and several of the elements associated therewith, showing the parts during the process of assembly thereof; L

Fig. 4 is a part sectional end view of the operating with an adjacent orifice bore '11, provided with ly embracing 6, directly adjacent to the hub of the plate horn base, the section being taken along the and having an integral central projection 7 anda tapered bore 11 surrounding the projection; a nozzle plate 8 embracing the projection 7 and having .U-shaped peripheral portions coacting with the bore 11 to form an annular series of orifices 12-; and a series of tubular casings 27 of different effective lengths, each having an end opening 28 co- 12 to form whistles having different tones, the casings 27 being rigidly attachedto thebase 6 and being disposed parallel to the central axis of this base.

The base 6 has its end remote from the internal screw threads 17 which are cooperable with the threaded end of a supporting .elbow '18, the exterior of the threaded base end being polygonal to permit application of a wrench.

The integral projection .7 of the base 6 'is of :and is united with. .the

cylindrical shape,

6 by means of a spider body of the base line with-the orifices 12.

The nozzle plate 8 is preferably formed of a piece of sheet metaldistorted to snugly fit the cylindrical projection-7 and the taper bore 11. After the plate 8 has been properly positioned within the bore 7 and against the spider 10, during assembly, it 'is preferably locked in position by means of a small screw, as shown in Fig. 5. .Also snugthe projection '7 of the base 8, is a longitudinally split sleeve 9 the bore of which has a drive fit upon the projection 7. V The sleeve 9 is'of sufiicient thickness to properlyposition the open ends of the tub- 'ular. casing 27 relative to the orifices '12, and is' fixed in assembledlposition by means P10 the arms of which are spaced apart to 7 provide unobstructed openings disposed in of rivets extending transversely through the adjacent casings 27, sleeve 9 and projection 7, as shown in Fig. 1.

The four tubular casings 27 are of different effective lengths in order to produce different tones, and are properly positioned 'relative to the orifices 12 and parallel to each other, by means of a pair of spaced sheet metal retaining plates 14, 15. The retaining plate 14 has a circularJcentral' open ing which embraces the projection 7 directly adjacent to the end of the sleeve 9, and the other plate 15 has a square central opening which snugly fits and is secured to the outer squared end 16 of a supporting tube 13, the inner end of which is circular and snugly fits the end of the projection 7. The inner circular end of the tube 13 is rigidly attached to the projection 7 and engages the retaining plate 14 so as to hold the same in place against the end of the sleeve 9. During assembly of the tubular casings 27 about the supporting tube 13, the peripheral projections of the plates 14, 15 located between the successive casings 27, are bent at angles with respect to their normal planes, and when the casings 27 have been inserted in the notches of the plates 14, 15, the intervening plate projections are twisted into the planes of the plates, thereby locking the casings 27 in proper assembled position.

The end of the supporting elbow remote from the base 6, has screw thread coaction with a T-fitting 19 which may be attached to a gas pressure supply line 20 by means of a set screw, and also has a gas exhaust pipe 26 attached thereto in line with the supply pipe 20 by means of a similar set screw. \Vhen utilizing the signal horn in conjunction with an automobile or other vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine, the supply pipe 20 is in fact the exhaust pipe from the engine, so that the exhaust gases serve to blow the horn. Disposed within the T-fitting 19, is a butterfly valve 21 having an auxiliary valve 22 formed integral therewith, the butterfly valve being adapted to control the direct passage of gases through the fitting 19, and

the auxiliary valve serving to control the passage of gases through the branch of the fitting 19 which communicates with the elbow 18. A coiled spring 23 normally tends to hold the valves 21, 22 in ineffective position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and an arm 24 and a rod 25 cooperating therewith, serve to swing the valves to the dotted line position against the tension exerted by the spring 28.

The mode of assembling the improved signal horn, will be generally apparent from the foregoing detailed description. After the base 6 has been properly machined, the sheetmetal nozzle plate 8 is slipped over the projection 7 and is secured in proper final position within the tapered bore 11. The sleeve 9 is then driven in place over the projection 7, after which the inner plate 14 is applied to the projection The tube 13 is then driven over the end of the projection 7 and against the plate 14, after which the tube 13 is riveted directly to the projection of the base 6. The outer plate 15 is then attached to the squared end 16 of the tube 13, after which the tubular casings 27 may be inserted laterally into the peripheral notches of the plates 14, 15. The peripheral projections of the plates 14, 15 may then be twisted into the planes of these plates, after which the inner ends of the casings 27 may be riveted to the sleeve 9 and projections T as shown, thereby complet' ing the assembly of the horn.

lVith the horn applied to a control valve, as shown in Fig. 1, the horn may be blown at the will of an operator by merely manipulating the rod 25. As the gas passing through the elbow 18 advances through the base 6 and is discharged from the orifices 12, it is delivered across the openings at the inner ends of the tubes 27, and produces a whistling tone. Due to the variations in length of the casings 27, the tones produced by the difference in length of the resonating chambers, will naturally be different, and the combined sound produced by the horn will create a very pleasing and melodious effect. When the butterfly valve 21 has been swung to the dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 1, all of the gases passing through the pipe 20 are also caused to pass through the orifices 12 and to thereby blow the horn loudly. By controllably releasing the rod 25, the quantity of gases delivered to the horn may be decreased at will, thereby re-.

ducing the volume of the sound produced by the horn.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the improved horn signal is extremely simple in construction and eflicient in operation. The sound produced by this type of horn is not harsh or startling, and the tone is conveniently controllable to produce mellow tones of various degrees of loudness. The structure may obviously be manufactured in quantity at relatively low cost, and when the parts are assembled, an extremely durable construction results. While the horn has been described as being specifically applied to the exhaust pipe of an automobile, it will be apparent that its uses are far more general.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to Letters Patent:

secure by 1. In combination, a base having a bore, a plate having a series or" peripheral recesses coacting with the surface of said bore. to form an annular series of orifices, and a plurality of tubular casings each having an opening coacting with one of said orifices to produce a different sound than that produced by the other casings.

2. In combination, a base having a tapered bore, a plate having a series of peripheral recesses coacting with the tapered surface of said bore to form an annular series of orifices directed away from the axis of said base, and a plurality of tubular casings of difierent lengths each having an opening coacting with one of said orifices to produce a sound.

3. In combination, a base having a central projection and a tapered bore surrounding said projection, a plate having a series of peripheral recesses coacting with the tapered surface of said bore to form an annular series of orifices extending away from said projection, and a plurality of tubular casings secured to said projection and each having an opening coacting with one of said orifices to produce a sound.

4. In combination, a base having a central integral projection and a bore surrounding said projection, a plate having a central portion embracing said projection and having peripheral recesses coacting with the surface of said bore to form an annular series of orifices, and a plurality of tubular casings secured to said projection and each having an opening coacting with one of said orifices to produce asound.

5. In combination, a base having a central projection and a bore surrounding said projection, a plate having a peripheral recess coacting with the surface of said bore to form an orifice, a sleeve embracing said projection and coacting with said plate, and a tubular casing secured to said sleeve and to said projection and having an end opening coacting with said orifice to form a whistle.

6. In combination, a base having an integral central projection and a tapered bore surrounding said projection, a plate coacting with saidv bore to form an annular series of orifices, a sleeve embracing said projection and coacting with said plate, and a series of tubular casings secured to said sleeve and to said projection, each of said casings hav ing an end opening coacting with one of said orifices to form a whistle.

7 In combination, a'base having a projection and a bore surrounding said projection, a plate coacting with said bore to form an orifice, a supporting tube secured to said projection, and a tubular casing secured to said tube and to said projection, said tubular casing having an end opening coacting with said orifices to form a whistle.

8. In combination, a base having a central integral pro ection and a tapered bore surrounding said pro ection, a plate coacting 'with said bore to form an annular series oi orifices directed away from said projection, a tube rigidly. attached to said projection, and an annular series of tubular casings secured to said projection, and to said tube, each of said casings having an end opening coacting with an adjacent orifice to form a whistle.

9. In combination, a base having a central projection and a bore surrounding said projection, a plate coacting with said bore to form an orifice, a tube secured to said projection, a retaining plate attached to said tube, and a tubular casing secured to said projection and confined in position by said retaining plate, said tubular casing having an end opening coacting with said orifice to form a whistle.

10. In combination, a base having a central pro ection and a bore surrounding said projection, a plate coacting with said bore to form an annular series of orifices, a tube secured to said projection and having a squared outer end, a retaining plate secured to said tube end, and a plurality of tubular casings each secured to said projection and retained in position by said retaining plate, each of said casings having an opening coacting with an adjacent orifice to form a whistle.

11. In combination, a base having a central projection and a bore surrounding said projection, a plate coacting with said bore to form an annular series of orifices, a tube secured to said projection, a retaining plate confined upon said projection by an end 0 said tube, a second retaining plate secured to the opposite end of said tube, and aplurality of tubular casings coacting with said plates and with said orifices to form whistles.

12. In combination, a base having a bore,

a plate coacting with said bore to form a series of orifices, and a series of tubular casings each having an opening coacting with an adjacent orifice to produce a whistle, said orifices being formed to direct the gases passing therethrough across said openings in said casings.

18. In combination, a base, a supporting tube secured to said base, a retaining plate secured to said tube and having peripheral projections forming an intervening recess, and a tubular casing insertable laterally within said recess only when said projections are distorted, said casing being confined within said recess by twisting of said projections.

lt. In combination, a, base, a pair of spaced retaining plates secured to said base, said plates having projections forming alined recesses, and a tubular casing insertable within said recesses only by displace ment of adjacent portions of said projections out of a plane, said casings being retained Within said recesses when said projections are disposed Within the planes of said plates.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JOEL R. THORP.

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