Patent · US Expired

Electromechanical chaotic chiming mechanism

US5072208A · kind A · utility

58Cited by
3References
7Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 2, 1990
Grant dateDec 10, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 2, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG10K1/067
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An electromechanical chaotic chiming mechanism, analogous to the classical wind or water powered chime, includes a body or framework suspending a series of chimes with a pendulum suspended centrally among the chimes. A drive mechanism for the pendulum includes a permanent magnet on the pendulum and a drive electromagnet in a base positioned just below a centered rest position of the pendulum. With the electromagnet switched on and off, in a regular linear pattern, the electromagnetic drive causes a chime hammer on the pendulum to behave in a chaotic manner, sounding the chimes in a fashion virtually indistinguishable from natural meteorological forces acting on conventional windchimes. Variations can be made to the pattern or period of the drive electromagnet to vary the pattern of sound produced by the chimes.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.