US2512912A - Bell ringing device - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1950 R. BLACKBURN BELL RINGING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3, 1949 ssovours k E6- Patented June 27, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel mechanism for automatically operating church bells or a carillon.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which utilizes the momentum of the bell for setting the connections of the actuating motor. Another object is to provide a double circuit which is controlled by a low voltage circuit that presents no hazard with respect to fire and accidents.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism that can be extended or multiplied indefinitely, since each bell has its own motor and connections. Finally, it is an object of the invention to perform the stated functions in a simple and effective manner.

In the accomplishment of these objects, there is provided a circuit of 550 volts feeding a motor connected to the shaft of a bell for oscillation. The motor is of the three-phase type and is connected to the voltage source by wires passing through two interrupters to invert the connections and change the direction of the motor. Another circuit of 24 volts operates to alternate the interrupters. This alternation is obtained by contacts which become elongated when the momentum of the bell opposes and reverses the direction of rotation of the bell. The invention also includes an automatic interrupter which anticipates the aforementioned alternation when the bell is about to make a complete turn.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a Wiring diagram and schematic view of the apparatus.

References to these views will now be made of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

Each hell I in the belfry is actuated by a sprocket wheel 2 on a shaft 3. By means of a sprocket chain 4 the wheel 2 is connected to a smaller sprocket wheel 5 on a shaft 6 which is turned by an electric motor 1. The shaft 6 carries another sprocket wheel 8 connected by a chain 9 to a sprocket wheel ID on a spaced shaft 1 I. The latter shaft carries a pinion l2 meshing with a larger gear l3 on a shaft [4. The latter carries a pinion I5 meshing with a larger gear 16 on a shaft l1 which also carries an adjustable twopart cam I8. A bent lever 19 pivoted at 2B is engaged at one end by the cam l8. The other end of the lever carries a contact 2| normally engaging a fixed contact 22.

On the shaft II is frictionally attached a pair of blocks 23 held by bolts 24. The bolts hold a lever 25 provided with a contact 26 at its free end for engagement with a fixed contact 21. In order to change the direction of the motor 1, three conductors 28 from a source of 550 volts are branched by conductors 3! to two multiple interrupter bars 29, 30. Each interrupter is completed by three contacts 29 on the bar and three contacts 29" spaced from the bar. Conductors 3| extend from the contacts 29" to the threephase motor 1.

From a source of 24 volts, a conductor 32 extends to a coil 33 containing a core 34 attached to an interrupter bar 35. The bar carries a double contact 36 adapted to engage either one of a pair of contacts 31, 38 at opposite sides of the bar 35. The conductor 32 is continued from the coil 33 to the contacts 26 and 21. A conductor 39 extends from contact 21 to a manual three-pole switch 40 either directly or through a clock mechanism 41 which actuates an interrupter at predetermined intervals.

A pair of conductors 42, 43 extend from conductor 32 to a pair of coils 44, 45 receiving respectively the cores 46 and 41 attached to the bars 29, 30. The conductor 42 is extended from the coil 44 to the contact 31.

The bar 30 carries an additional contact 30' opposite which is spaced contact 31'. The contact 30 is joined to the remaining side 41 of the 24 volt circuit, and the contact 31" is joined by a conductor 48 to the line 32, with a signal 49 interposed.

In the use of the device, when the switch 43 is closed, current passes through conductor 39, contacts 21 and 26, and conductor 32 to complete the low voltage circuit through the coil 33. At the same time, the current divides from the conductor 39 into a branch 50 leading to the contacts 22 and 21 and flows from the latter through a line 51 to the double contact 36. The latter is in engagement with the contact 31 since the core 34 and bar 35 have been moved by current in the coil 33. The conductor 42 is thus brought into the low voltage circuit, energizing the coil 44 and bringing current to the corresponding contacts 29".

The 550 volt source is thus connected to the motor to turn it in a given direction and also swing the bell I through the connected gearing. The chain 9 also turns the cam 18 while the contacts 26, 21 remain engaged. Nevertheless, since the motor is incapable of swinging the bell through a pronounced angle at the beginning, the bell returns by its weight to its original position despite the action of the motor.

The blocks 23 are held frictionally on the shaft H. When the bell descends, the contacts 26, 21 separate and interrupt the current in coil 33. The bar 35 drops, and contact 36 engages contact 38 to energize coil 45. The connections to the motor are thereby reversed, reversing the direction of the bell aided by its potential energy. The contacts 26, 21 now re-engage to initiate another cycle as described.

The apparatus is adjusted so that the bell does not make a complete revolution. If the bell swings too far the adjustable cam 18 swings lever l9 and opens the contacts 2|, 22 to out 01f the supply of current to contacts 31, 38 and thus replace the action of blocks 23 which would be too late.

The signal 69 is operated each time the bar 30 closes its switch and thus shows that the device is in operation.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a bell ringing device, a rotatably mounted bell, a reversible motor geared thereto, a source of current connected to said motor, a pair of i normally open switches between said source and motor and adapted, when closed, to turn said motor each in a different direction, a pair of solenoids for closing said switches, a low voltage circuit connected to said solenoids, a three-pole switch for delivering current selectively to said solenoids, a third solenoid in said low voltage circuit for operating said three-pole switch, a shaft geared to said bell, a friction block on said shaft, a current-controlling switch connected to said third solenoid and to said friction block to be opened by movement of the latter, said threepole switch including two contacts connected respectively to the first named solenoids and a movable contact between the fixed contacts and operable by the third solenoid, to engage one of the fixed contacts when said third solenoid is energized and to engage the other fixed contact when the third solenoid is de-energized, and a branch in said low voltage circuit for supplying current to said movable contact and hence to said first named solenoids.

2. In a bell ringing device, a rotatably mounted bell, a, reversible motor geared thereto, a source of current connected to said motor, a pair of normally open switches between said source and motor and adapted, when closed, to turn said motor each in a difierent direction, a pair of solenoids for closing said switches, a low voltage circuit connected to said solenoids, a three-pole switch for delivering current selectively to said solenoids, a third solenoid in said low voltage circuit for operating said three-pole switch, a shaft geared to said bell, a friction block on said shaft, a current-controlling switch connected to said third solenoid and to said friction block to be opened by movement of the latter, said threepole switch including two contacts connected respectively to the first named solenoids and a movable contact between the fixed contacts and operable by the third solenoid, to engage one of the fixed contacts when said third solenoid is energized and to engage the other fixed contact when the third solenoid is de-energized, and a branch in said low voltage circuit for supplying current to said movable contact and hence to said first named solenoids, a rotary cam geared to said motor and bell, and a switch in said branch and adapted to be opened by said cam on excessive rotation of the latter.

3. In a bell ringing device as defined in claim 2, said cam being circumferentially adjustable.

RAOUL BLACKBURN.

No references cited.

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