US2133911A

US2133911A - Musical chime

Info

Publication number: US2133911A
Application number: US167787A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lowell M Alexander
Original assignee: NUTONE CHIMES Inc
Current assignee: NUTONE CHIMES Inc
Priority date: 1937-10-07
Filing date: 1937-10-07
Publication date: 1938-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1955-10-18

Description

Oct. 18, 1938. L M. ALEXANDER 2,133,911

IUSICAL CHIIE Filed Oct. v, 1937 i t 148 j I INVENTOR. I? J BY WM ATTORNEY;

Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL CRIME Application October 7,

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in permission instruments and signals, and is directed particularly to chimes of musical tone which are adapted for use in homes and ofiices in place of 5 the conventional bells and buzzers.

The chimes of the invention are comprised generally of a resonance chamber or resonator, which has an aperture for the admission of air, a vibratable bar adjacent the opening in the resonator and adapted to cause resonation of the chamber, and a striker for vibrating the bar.

While this general combination of elements is old in the art, it has always been considered necessary to mount the bar at a point centrally adl5 jacent the opening in the resonator, and likewise to strike the bar centrally to obtain clear and musical tones. Usually the striker has been placed at the middle of the bar on one side and the resonator disposed with its opening central of the bar on the other side, in an arrangement such as that shown in the United States patent to Deagin No. 890,341. The parts, in such an arrangement, obviously are spread over a considerable area, and the structure is a cumbersome one, difiicult to house, or cover to obtain an instrument of pleasing appearance. This is particularly true when it is desired to use two or more sets of resonators and chime bars respectively of different pitch for producing double tone or chord effects.

In order to improve the design the proposal has been made to position the striker within the 4 resonance chamber for movement through the opening therein toward a bar on the outside, but this structure, although more compact, is also more complex and diflicult to manufacture, andits use has not been favored.

These signal instruments to which the invention relates usually are mounted on the walls in the homes or offlces. It is very desirable that their appearance be pleasing and attractive.-

resonator adapted to be vibrated by the bar, in

which these elements are arranged compactly and in such a manner that an instrument pleasing in design and appearance is provided.

to A further object of the invention has been to RElSSUED FEB 2 0 i940 1937, Serial No. 167,787

provide an instrument which is simple in structure and economical to manufacture, capable of providing musical tones of fine clarity and quality, and capable of being operated electrically, for signal or door bell use, and also manually, for instance, as a dinner chime.

The present invention is based upon the determination that central mounting of the striker, the bar and the resonator, one to the other, is not an essential requirement. Briefly, the invention, in this respect is predicated upon the concept of using a bar vibratable through more than two nodes, for example, through three or four nodes, in combination with a resonator adjacent the bar in such a location that-a striker may be placed at a point of the bar beyond the resonator instead of centrally adjacent it.

The present invention, more particularly, contemplates the combination of a resonance chamber having an opening in a face thereof, a vibratable bar comprising a portion developing a complete, fundamental antimode adjacent the opening in the resonator, and a portion developing another anti-node beyond said opening, and mechanical striker means for vibrating the bar. The striking mechanism preferably is located at a point beyond the opening or adjacent an end of the resonator for the purpose of providing a compact structure.

The invention further is characterized by the arrangement in which the parts are compacted into a chime of pleasing appearance. The

' elements preferably are located so that the bar is struck between supported nodes. According to the invention, also, a casing or housing is provided, a vibratable bar and resonator are supported within the casing, but extend therebeyond extensively of one another, and electric striker means for the bar is housed within the casing, enabling the bar to be vibrated electrically or mechanically from within the casing, or manually at a point outside the same, while the casing also acts as a head facing for the resonator projecting therebeyond.

A preferred embodiment of the invention in which a pair of chimes are used to provide a twotoned chime effect is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. While the invention is disclosed in relation to a double chime instrument the features and advantages of the invention also may be used in the construction of a single chime unit, or one adapted for single, instead of double enunciator function. However, in I the double chime instrument, an important feature of the invention resides in the employment of a pair of resonator tubes depending from the base in parallel relationship with one another, vi-

bratable bars suspended from the base in spaced parallel relationship. for resonating the resonator tubes, and a striker unit mounted on the base intermediate the bars and preferably above the tubes. By this arrangement, a structure which is-very compact, and still more important, very-pleasing in appearance, is provided.

Figure 1 is a base view of the musical chime embodying two resonators having different pitches, and also embodying electro-magnetic means for vibrating one or both of the bars selectively.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the chime with several of the parts shown fragmentarily.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the electro-magnetic means providing the striking mechanism, and

A base plate I provides a mounting bracket and the bars are attached thereto, each by means of a pair of angular brackets Hl I, welded or otherwise attached to the plate. The projecting ends of the angular brackets respectively are provided with holes M to accommodate attachment screws l3.

In the practice of the preferred invention, bars are used which possess the capacity to develop two or more full vibrational anti-nodes instead of the single anti-node vibrations which have char- *acterized devicesof the past.

Each anti-node through which the bar vibrates comprises two nodal points, that is tosay, points corresponding to the points N shown in Figure 5. A bar developing two anti-nodes will comprise three nodes, and in the practice of the present invention, it is preferred to support the bar attwo of these nodes, and to provide a remaining node unsupported or, to support the bar primarily at one node, and

position the bar loosely atat least one other nodal point to hold it suitably in the instrument. By such construction, the reeds of the invention are comprised of a portion capable of developing a loop between supported nodes and another portion capable of developing a loop between a supported node and an unsupported node.

Thus, referring to the drawing, the upper holes M of the bars, shown in the drawing, are located directly on the upper nodal axes, and the central holes M of each bar preferably are so spaced that the tops of the holes are tangent with the center nodal axes.

The attaching screws l3 traverse the holes l2 of the brackets and each is locked in place by means of a pair of nuts I5l5, one on each side of the bracket. A fibre or rubber sleeve covers the shank 6f the screw to cushion the reed where it is traversed by the screw. The upper holes I 4 are preferably enlarged to clear the sleeves passing-therethrough; By virtueof thisarr'angement the bars essentially are balanced on the middle .nodal supports l4 and are free to vibrate and develop complete anti-nodes on either side of the Thus, the bars strikers in contacting'the reeds does not produce a jangle which would result were the bars in contact with the metal parts. The cushioning effect also permits the bars to vibrate for a longer period after having been struck than if they were rigidly mounted.

The resonators I and 8 consist of chambers mounted parallel to the bars, each dimensioned to provide an air column adapted to vibrate at the same frequency as the .bar. The resonators preferably comprise cylindersdepending downwardly from the base plate ll], each being attached thereto by a pair of attaching screws ii,

.for rigid attachment to the base plate.

Closure members I8 and I9 are inserted in the top and bottom of each cylinder, the lower member being driven inwardly a sufiicient distance to produce the proper resonator pitch'for its respective bar. The air opening 20 in communication with the interior of each cylinder is located near the upper end and adjacent the bar to which it is attuned. Each bar is in spaced parallel relation with a cylinder, a distance just sufiicient to insure ample clearance at all times so as to secure the maximum resonance.

The percussion or striker unit 9 consists of a pair of solenoid coils 2i and 22 mounted in a U-shaped bracket 23 welded or otherwise attached to the base plate It. Each coil includes a brass sleeve 24 which projects outwardly beyond each end. The sleeves have a pair of spaced peripheral grooves adapted to accommodate retainer rings 25 which contact the opposite sides of the bracket, holding the coils in place in the bracket.

Each of the sleeves houses a striker consisting of an iron solenoid plunger 26 sustained therein. A light compression spring 21 is engaged between the plunger and on inturned lips' at one end of the sleeve. These springs hold the plungers outwardly so that normally only a portion of the plungers are within the core of the solenoid coils. Each plunger includes an extended portion 28 of reduced diameter extending substantially the so that the plunger is free to strike both of the bars.

When the upper solenoid coil is energized the plunger is drawn sharply to the right, theinertia carrying it beyond the central position in the coil so as to strike the right hand bar. After striking the bar the plunger centralizes in the coil'so as to keep the cushioned'striker end out of contact with the bar. When the coil is deenergized the plunger is retracted by the spring against the stopscrew. The lower coil operates in this same manner in striking the right hand bar but when the coil is deenergized the spring forces the plunso as to produce a two tone or chord effect.

By this arrangement the device produces two entirely different signals, each coil being in connection with a separate signal button for independent operation. For example, it the buttons are located at two doors in difierent parts of the house the signals being readily distinguishable will indicate which door is to be attended.

One end of the windings of the coils 2| and 22 are in electrical connection with the terminal posts 30 and 3| and the opposite ends of each winding are in connection with a common terminal post 32. line of the feed circuit while the other line is connected with the signal buttons and thence to the terminal posts 30 and 3| to complete the circuit.

A cover or housing 33 is provided on the device for concealing from view the base plate and mechanism mounted thereon. Within this cover the resonators, the bars, and the electromagnetic means for striking the reeds are mounted. .Externally of the housing, however, the bars are extended so that they may be struck manually by a conventional resilient chime hammer. By

virtue of this arrangement the chimes may be utilized for electrical operation from a remote point or manually to announce meal time and for similar purposes. The cover, 33 is attached by means of a cross bar 34 extending crosswise in the upper portion of the cover and attached to the sides. When the cover is in place, the cross bar rests on the upper edge of the base plate and is held against displacement by a' pair of lugs 35.

On installation the chime signal is fastened to the wall by means of screws through the holes 36 in the base plate. The cover is then placed in position, the cross bar 34 being engaged on the top edge and between the pair of lugs and the wall surface thus concealing the base plate assembly, but exposing to view,,the reeds and resonators which extend downwardly through an opening in the cover cut out for this purpose.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A signal device comprising a base, vibratable bars suspended on one or more of their respective nodal portions on said base in spaced relationship, a striker unit mounted on the base be-' tween said bars and including elements for striking the respective bars, said elements arranged to strike the bars at anti-nodal portions, resonator The post 32 is connected to one 2. A signal device comprising a base, vibratable bars suspended from said base on one or more of their respective nodal portions, resonator tubes for the respective bars mounted on the base and disposed parallel to the bars and having openings adjacent depending anti-nodal portions, striker elements mounted on the base between the bars at right angles thereto, said elements disposed adjacent anti-nodal portions of the bars, said elements restrained in normal position by means of springs, means for impelling said elements in one bratable bars suspended on one .or more of their nodal portions on said base in spaced relationship, a striker unit mounted on said base between said bars and having an element for striking one of the bars at an anti-nodal portion of it and free to rebound to strike the other bar at an anti-nodal portion of it, resonator tubes attached to the base and depending therefrom in spaced parallel relationship with the respective bars, said res onator tubesincluding openings disposed adjacent to depending anti-nodal portions of the bars.

4. A signal device comprising a base, a pair of resonator tubes mounted on said base and extending therebeyond and having respective resonator openings, vibratable bars mounted on one or more of their respective nodal portions in spaced parallel relationship to said resonator tubes, with anti-nodal portions of the bars being disposed adjacent to the openings in the tubes, a striker unit mounted on the base between said bars and including elements for striking the respective bars at anti-nodal portions of them.

5. A signal device comprising a base, a pair of resonator tubes mounted on said base and extending therebeyond and having respective resonator openings, vibratable bars mounted on one or more of their respective nodal portions in spaced parallel relationship to said resonator tubes, with anti-nodal portions of the bars being disposed adjacent to the openings in the tubes, striker elements mounted on the base between the bars, one of the elements being free to strike one of the bars at an anti-nodal portion of it, and

the other element being free to strike-one of the bars at an anti-nodal portion of it, and then rebound to strike an anti-nodal portion of the other bar, and means for impeliing the elements inone direction.

LOWELL M. ALEXANDER.

CERTIFICATE OF commcwion. Patent No. 2,135,911. r Y October 18, 1958.

' LowELL n. AIEXANDER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification" of the above numbered patent reqniring correction as follows Page 2, first column; line 10, for the word "base" read face; line 39, strike out "pre= -.ferred"wand insert the same before "practice" ,seme line; and that the seid Letters Patent ehouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may confozi n to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed. this-29th dev of November, A. D, 1938.

7 Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents