Vehicle Horn - Types and Working

In a motor vehicle, it is mandatory to have a horn. Not to mention drivers can also use a vehicle horn to indicate to pedestrians about their actions as well as direction while they are crossing the street and other drivers in the same lane.

Read along to learn more about horns, their type, and their work.

The idea behind the operation of a car horn is a vibrating metal diaphragm. Electricity powers these horns, and a spring steel solenoid (an electromagnet) and a thin metal disc are used to construct these vehicle horns.

The first automobile horns resembled trumpets with air bladders made of rubber. To make the sound, the driver had to squeeze it. However, car horns have evolved a lot, and you will find various types, depending on their principle.

Vehicle horns can be classified into a variety of types. Some of the most popular types of vehicle horns are:

1. Air Pressure Horns

Air pressure horns operate by exerting air pressure. This type of horn produces sound when the compressed air inside the horn allows air to travel through a reed.

Typically, vehicles with air tanks utilise air pressure horns, and also, in this manner, the air pressure brake mechanism is enabled. Furthermore, when there is extra air available to pressurise, a vehicle air horn becomes more effective.

Using an air pressure horn, drivers can produce considerable noise by pumping air through the diverging metal tube to alert people on the sidewalks.

2. Bulb Horns

Bulb horns use bulb-shaped rubber for construction, and also a metal horn is connected with this horn. It turns on by pressing it. Following that, this horn produces a sound when airwaves emerge through its entrance. 

Bulb horns use the mechanism of sound reflection, and bicycles frequently use this type too. However, currently, buses and vehicles now use bulb horns because of technical enhancements.

3. Electric Car Horn

Modern automobiles, like private cars, frequently employ electric car horns. It generally comes in two varieties: wind tone and electric horn. Additionally, its function relies on the electromagnetic principle of both sound and brake systems.

Nevertheless, the mechanism of producing sound is different for both counterparts. For example, in the wind tone type, the horn exits the diaphragm directly and travels to a windpipe. On the other hand, in electric horn, a solenoid is magnetised and demagnetised for producing sound.

4. Whistles/Ship Horns

Ships are prone to becoming lost in the ocean, and their only means of communication are horns and lights. However, the problem is that every ship has an air horn that runs on compressed air from the powerplant steam.

This enables the whistle or thin sound to occur, which is effective in the oceans. Also, because ships have far-off targets, these noises tend to be less frequent. So, they often use it to herald their arrival from great distances.

5. Train Horn

As implied by the name, train horns are easy to identify. Primarily, trains run on compressed air from their own air brake systems. Because of this, the train horn is easily distinguishable from other types of horns in vehicles.

6. Klaxon

Klaxon is one of the most distinctive horn types since people only use it to distinguish electromechanical bran. Moreover, the Klaxon device is identical to those found in trains, ships, and automobiles. 

Additionally, Klaxon frequently makes other noises, such as "kalooga" or "ahooga." However, interestingly, it comes from the Greek word "klaz," which translates to "I shout."

Follow the below steps to understand how a car horn works:

Step 1: When a driver presses a horn, a magnetic force is applied to the solenoid, resulting in the disk's concentrically flexing. 

Step 2: When the diaphragm flexes, the solenoid is de-energised, causing the electrical contacts to separate.

Step 3: After electrical contacts re-close, the disc returns to its initial shape, allowing electricity to flow into the solenoid. 

Step 4: This entire cycle is repeated as long as the horn button is pressed.

In a car horn, the steel diaphragm flexes and de-flexes faster than the eye can see, forming vibrations that result in audible noise. You can also feel the vibrations if you touch the horn while operating.

Electric horns are available in various decibels and pitch ranges and are undoubtedly considered a loud vehicle horn. However, these depend on the vibrating disc's diameter, the spring's stiffness, and the distance the disc travels. For example, motorcycles and small cars contain single horns that are able to produce a high pitched sound.

On the other hand, many automobiles contain "two-tone" car horns. The two components, as its name suggests, each have a distinct tone, and together they generate a comparable lower combined pitch at a higher noise level.

Modern cars are continuously improving, so it's important to upgrade the horns and other parts of them as well. This is because drivers and pedestrians rely on the vehicle horn as a signal and guide. Therefore, you should be completely aware of the relevance of these devices now that you are familiar with the different varieties of car horns.