Traditionally mounted bells intended to swing have a wheel mounted to the headstock with a rope around it that is dropped to a lower level of the building. Pulling the rope a few times gets the bell swinging and ringing. Letting go of the rope allows the bell to come to a rest and become quiet again. Automating these bells is possible with the products on this page if the following requirements are met.
- The bell must be a sturdy steel wheel (which we can also supply)
- The headstock axle must be in modern pillow block bearings and free to swing
- All bell hanging hardware must be in good condition
- Completed surveys of the bells should be emailed to Chime Master
Swinging bell motor drives
intelli-Swing™ MagForce™ motor
- Includes the intelli-Swing Precision motor computer
- Bi-directional drive
- Touch-less, friction-less and nearly silent running
- Stationary drive module induces electro-motive eddy current forces into an aluminum reaction plate mounted to the free swinging bell assembly propelling it into motion by the opposing magnetic field
- Needs no wheel like rotary drives. This fact either frees up an existing wheel for traditional rope pulled ringing or presents an architecturally clean design in an open tower
- Maintenance free motor never needs bearings or lubrication
- Standard magnetic proximity sensor feedback for pendulum timing approximates the swinging angle
Options
- Single phase 230V power instead of three phase 208V
- Optional precision bell crank shaft rotary encoder for angular settings to a tenth of a degree
intelli-Swing Precision rotary motor
- Bi-directional drive
- Motor shaft mounted optical feedback for motor speed and direction detection
- Heavy-duty nickel-plated (stainless optional) number 40 chain
- Totally enclosed motor with stainless steel sealed ball bearings
- Wheel mounting hardware made with all stainless steel
- Requires a sturdy steel bell wheel (optional accessory)
- Dual motor systems are available to swing bells from to 8 to 16-tons
Options
- Single phase 230V power instead of three phase 208V
intelli-Swing Basic rotary motor
- Single phase motor
- Uni-directional drive (like a rope)
- Integrated control computer mounted to the motor body
- Motor shaft mounted optical feedback for motor speed and direction detection
- Heavy-duty nickel-plated (stainless optional) number 40 chain
- Totally enclosed motor with stainless steel sealed ball bearings
- Wheel mounting hardware made with all stainless steel
- Requires a sturdy steel bell wheel (optional accessory)
Swinging bell motor controls
The pendulous motion of a swinging church bell requires carefully controlled and timed electrical pulses to be applied to the motor to properly start and maintain the desired swinging angle. All Chime Master intelli-Swing motors are furnished with one of the following computerized motor control systems.