Electro-mechanical locomotive bell ringing apparatus for quick and easy replacement of existing pneumatic bell ringing systems

Bell ringing apparatus for use with a railway locomotive bell and striker, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a first opening therein;
• means in operative relationship with said housing for attaching said housing to said bell:
• means attached to said housing adjacent to said first opening for rotatably supporting said striker with a predetermined portion of said striker positioned beneath said first opening;
• a first ferromagnetic core member supported by said housing and defining a substantially axially aligned bore extending through the entire length of said core member and in alignment with said first opening:
• an electrical coil supported by said housing and defining a substantially axially aligned central opening receiving said first core member therein;
• a second ferromagnetic core member positioned within said central opening, said second core member of predetermined length to extend above an upper boundary of said central opening when said second core member contacts said first core member;
• an inverted U-shaped ferromagnetic armature supported by said second core member, said armature defining a substantially horizontal member having opposed ends and further defining first and second substantially vertical members extending downwardly from said opposed ends, respectively, and adjacent to the exterior of said coil;
• a rod member projecting downwardly from said second core member, through said bore and through said first opening for contacting said predetermined portion of said striker;
• and
• means in operative relationship with said coil for selectively energizing and de-energizing said coil in a predetermined manner whereby said striker is moved to sound said bell by movement of said rod member against the striker.