Electromechanical chaotic chiming mechanism
OwnerJohn J. Christenseninventor
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims7
An electromechanical chaotic chiming mechanism for producing a random, chaotic pattern of chime sounds similar to sounds produced by windchimes, comprising,
- a plurality of chimes each capable of producing a different sound when struck,
- mechanical striker means adjacent to the chimes for moving in a random manner within a space within which it can reach and strike the chimes, and
- electromagnetic drive means for producing a magnetic field when energized and for inducing movement of the mechanical striker means, which movement is random or chaotic when interrupted by collisions with the chimes,
- whereby the chimes are randomly struck by the mechanical striker means to produce a chiming sound similar to that of windchimes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.