US1175405A - Automatic signal device. - Google Patents

Description

G. E. B L|N N. AUTOMATIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

AI'PL |CATION FILED SEPT. 6,1913. 1,175,405.

I a, im wmor W 0mm;

vPatented Mar. 14, 1916.

2-SHEETS-SHEET I.

G." E. BLINN.

I AUTOMATIC SIGNAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e. 1913.

Patented Mar. 14,1916.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT GLENN E. BLINN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB F ONE-HALF T0 "GRGVE 1P. MITCHELL, JR.,0F PHILADELPHIA, ?ENNSYLVANIA.

. AUTOMATIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1 1, 1916.

Application filedseptember 6, 1913. Serial No. 788,431.

- persons in the building who might be wanted at the oiiice, and has for its object not only to enlarge the work to be performed by such a device by applying it as a signal to employees to start and stop work and to locate the point at which a fire is burning in the building and give the necessary alarm,

- but also to produce a more perfect and accurate machine for such purposes. I accomplish'thes'e ObjGCtS by means of the instrument presently described and particularly shown inthe accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ma; chine, showing particularly the kick-0H coils and cam arrangement for tripping the hold ing-plate. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the other end of the machine showing the means for operating the shaft carrying the disks; and the magnetic coils and their connection with the disks for sounding a fire alarm. Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electric circuit that operates the machine and sounds the signals. Fig. 5

. is a plan view of my machine. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the back plate of the keyboard. Fig. 7 a view of the end piece of said keyboard carrying the pivoted lever which is operated upon by the armature of the kickoff coils and which trips the holding plate, Fig. 8 being a side view of the same. Fig. 9 a view of the opposite end of said board supporting armature and a contactspring. Fig. 10 an edge view thereof. Fig. 11 is a view of a key or plunger in operative position in contact with a disk, and showing the contact plate in operative position with the contact-spring, thus closing the circuit and putting the machine in operation. Fig. 12 is a view of such key or plunger in inoperafive position, the contact-plate out of operative position with the spring, thus breaking the circuit and bringing the machine to rest. Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the key-holding plate; and Fig. 1e an end view of the same. Fig. 15 is a' front elevation of the contact-plate; and Fig. 16 an end view carrying pins; and Fig. 18 an edge view of the same. Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the sprocket-wheel forming one of the elements in the automatic cut-out; and Fig. 20 an edge view thereof. 7

S milar letters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

My invention consists, in the first place, of a frame which is preferably made up of foundation 1, supports 2 and 8 connected at thereof. Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a disk ports 2' and 3 is a shaft 7 which is electri cally operated by a motor A through a worm-wheel B on motor shaft C intermeshing with sprocket-wheel D on perpendicular shaft E jour-naled in bearings E and E attached to the support; said shaft E carrying at its upper end a worm-wheel F which intermeshes with sprocket-wheel G carried by said shaft 7. "Upon shaft 7 are removably-secured one or more disks 8, the same being adapted to be slid upon said shaft which enters a central opening 9 in the disks and which are then located upon and afiixed to the shaftby means of a screw 9-} passing through the collar 9% encircling said opening and pressing upon the shaft; this arrangement permitting of the removal of the disks from the shaft, or placed upon the same at will; the object being to increase or diminish the number of disks in accordance with the number of individuals to be located; or the number of fire alarm stations desired. With reference to the locating individuals, the periphery ofthese disks is provided, at regular intervals, with pinholes 10 adapted to receive and retain pins 11. These holes and pins are so constructed that the latter can be easily inserted and extracted from the former, notwithstanding the fact that said pins are suiiiciently embedded in the holes as not to fall out or become loosened except by force being applied to them. The removability of the pins permits the changing-of numbers designating the individuals to be called or located without removing the disk from the shaft.

. from the brackets upon which it rests by;

It will be obvious that instead .of separate disks secured to a shaft, I can use a cylinder H (Fig-6) and likewise'arrange holes on its surface for the reception of pins, without departing from the spirit of my 1nvention. I denominate'these holes and pins peripheral. pinsand holes to distinguish them from the rim holes and pins hereafter described.

My improved key or plunger-frame con sists of front and back plates 12 and 13 provided with one or more holes 14 registering with the disks 8; and end pieces 15': and 16 so formed that the key-board can be slid on i and off the bra'c'l ets 5 and 6 of the supports 2 and 3, the said key-board resting between and being supported by said brackets as' shown in Figs. 2 and-5'; that is, the said end pieces are provided on their outer faces, at the top and bottom, with grooves 15' and 16 forming between them flange l5 'and 16 The board or frame is thoroughly insulated suitable insulating material m which is secured by suitable means to said brackets upon their inner faces and so formed as to permit the board to be easily slid into position, the body of the insulating material filling the grooves 15 and 16 of the said end-pieces and extending up and downbetween the beads 15-and 16, respectively,

and the brackets 5 and 6, thus forming a bearing at its top for the said board to rest upon, as shown particularly in Fig. 1. Of

course any other suitable construction whereby the board is effectually insulated from the brackets will be within the scope of my invention as I do not confine myself to the construction shown and described. Also, while this key-board is preferably constructed so that it can be removed from the machine, it is obvious that it can be permanently fixed in the same without in the least holes 14 with the pin 18 adjacent the disks 8, the bevelf18 up and so that when the keys are in operative position, the pins 11 carried by the disks will strike said contact 18 as the disks revolve, the contact, being pivoted, giving way and allowing the disk-pins to pass; which pinsjas they strike the contact 18, close the circuit and cause the signal to be noted at all the stations in the building. -A spring 19 is carried by-each plunger, one end of which spring bears upon the'back plate 13 of the key-board, while the other end bears against the rib 17 of the plunger itself; said spring operating normally to retain the plunger out of striking distance of the disk-pins 11- when the plunger is not in action; or when the machine is inactive. These are designated station keys.

Extending the length of the key board and pivoted therein,'is what I term the holding-plate 20 provided with flange-21 on'its upper edge; the function of this plate is to hold the plunger or key in operation within striking distance of the disk-pin '11' by means of the flange 21 which drops behind and bears against the conical rib 17 of the plunger, the plate 20 rising as the plungeris pushed forward allowing said rib to pass under and stopping just in front of the flange 21 and preventing the key from mov-' ing backward. Likewise pivoted within said lun ers or ke s key-board is another plate which I will calli the contact-plate 22, which is pivoted at its bottom edge and retained in a perpendicular and inoperative position by a spring 23; this plate carries at one end a contact-pin 24: which is adapted, when the upper free edge of the plate 22 is pushed forward by the conical-rib 17 of the plunger, to contact with a spring-contact 25 secured in the'end piece 16 of the key-board, whichcontact 25, being electrically connected, closes the circuit and puts the motor A in operation and through it, the shaft carrying the disks. In Fig. 11 is shown the position of the plunger and of the plates 20 and 22 when the machine is in operation. And in Fig. 12

they are shown in inoperative position and the machine at rest.

The above description, as will be observed, delineates the structure of the machine and its operation up to its being put in motion. That, is, we will say, the machine being ele'ctrically connected by a serieslof wires to gongs (not shown) or other sounding apparatus located-at different points in a building, and the pins '11 on the disks 8 being so arranged as to transmit the number 32 throughout said building, the plunger opposite the disk carrying this number, and the person Wanted having been designated 32, said plunger is pushed forward into striking distance of said pins 11 and held there by plate 20; at the same instant the top of contact-plate 22 is moved forward by said plunger causing the pin 24 to engage the contact-spring 25, thereby closing the circuit through the key-wire 102-103 to battery 100 and motor A; thence, through wire 104101 to thekey 17; the motor A being thus electrified, the shaft 7 is actuated through the worm-wheel B on shaft 0 intermeshing with. sprocket wheel D on perpendicular shaft E, worm-wheel F intermeshing with sprocket-wheel G carried by said shaft 7,, thereby bringing the disk into operation, the pins 11 on which, striking the pivoted pin 18 of the plunger 17 in operation, the number 32 is sounded throughout the building through wire 113 and signalbell 109, the contact between the pins and the pin 18 of the key 17 closing the circuit through wire 102103 to battery 100, through wire 103 to the bell 109 and to disk through wire 113 and the person so numbered repairs to the nearest telephone and answers the call. (See Fig. 4.)

I will now proceed to describe the meth ods of stopping the machine after the person called has responded thereto. These are three in number, to wit, at the station or machine by means of the major key; at the telephone to which the person called goes to answer the signal by means of a push-button located there (not shown) which is electrically connected with the kick-off coils of the machine; and automatically by mechanism attached to the machine and which can be set to stop the machine after the signal has been sounded a determined number of times. In each case the holding-plate 20 is lifted and the plunger in operation released, its spring 19 instantly driving the plunger back out of operative contact with the pins on the disk, the contact-plate 22 being, at the same time, pulled byits spring 23 from contact with the spring 25, breaking the circuits and causing the machine to stop. First, the major key 26 is slidably mounted in the key-board 12 and, as it is pushed forward, operates to raise the plate 20 as the rib on said key moves under the flange 21 thereof. This rib does not go beyond said flange as the key 26 is 50 arranged that it can be pushed forward only far enough to permit its rib to pass beneath the flange 21 so as to raise the plate 20 and allow the station-key it is holding to escape; the spring on the key 26 causing it to instantly return to its inoperative and out-ofthe-way position. This, together with the fact that plate 22 is always in its operative or forward position (as shown in Fig. 12)

when it is necessary to use the key 26', avoids any interference between the key 26 and said plate 22. Vhile the rib on the key will contact with and push forward said plate, it will do so only when the latter is out of action and there can be no result from such contact not 'only because the key 26 can not hold the plate 22 in such forward position owing to its inability to advance beyond the plate 20, but because there can possibly be no connection between; said key and the disks on the shaft. -'As described, the only function of this key 26 is to lift the plate 20, and it can have none other. Secondly, the push-button 105 at the telephone is-electrically connected with the kick-off coils 27 through wire 106 to wire 107108 to battery 100, wire 112114: to button 105; these coils are provided with armature carrying arm 28 which is adapted, when the button 105 is pushed closing the circuit, to spring forward and strike the lever 29 pivoted on end-piece 15; which lever, swinging forward at its lower and free end, causes its arm 30 to rise sharply striking the holding plate 20, lifting it, thereby releasing the station key in operation, as before stated. The third'and last way of tripping the holdingplate 20 is automatic and is accomplished by means of mechanism consisting of a cam 31 secured to one end of shaft 7, the point of which cam, upon the revolution of said shaft, engages cam-wheel32 mounted on support 3 adjacent said cam. The face of this wheel is providedwith pin-holes 33 at regular intervals apart, into which holes one or more pins 34: are inserted, the inner ends of which extend beyond the face of the wheel (see Fig. 20) and which ends are adapted. when the wheel 32 is revolved by V the cam 31, to strike the pivoted arm 35 of lever 36, tripping it, which, in turn strikes the arm 28 of the lever 29, tripping it-also; which, as in th'eother two cases, strikes up the plate 20 and releases the plunger in operation. The series of holes and the pins allow of determining the number of times the signal is'to be sounded before tripping the levers and breaking the circuits. In order to hold the cam-wheel 32 taut and firm,-I pivot to the support 3 one end of a dog 10; sustaining the free end of said dog in contact with the wheel by a spring AH, and providing the dog at itssaidfree end with an arm 42, which is adapted to rest in the grooves between the teeth with which the periphery of the wheel 32 is provided, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

To permit the machine to be used to sound an alarm of fire and locate the same, 1 arrange on the rim of disks 8, pins 37 andadjacent each disk, on the opposite side of the machine from the key-board, 1 place mag? netic coils or relays 38 provided witha tripcontact 39 carrying a spring 45 adapted,

when the circuit is closed, to contact with the pins 37 on the'disks as the same revolve. There is a relay or coil for each fire-alarm station No. 1 station being mounted directly back of No. 1 disk in the machine; No.2 station relay back of No. 2 disk;'and so on. On each floor of a building, or in each department, there is a break-glass firealarm box 110, electrically connected with its respective relay and disk. Should a fire start, some one on the particular floor, or in the particular department, breaks the glass in the said box 110 which throws the springcontacts therein into contact with each other thereby closing the electric circuit between the bOXllO and the coils or relay 38 for that 55 is broken.

station; the relay thus becoming energized, its trip-contact 39 is pulled to the pole-piece of the relay bringing the spring 45 into contact with the pins on the disk which, at the same instant, starts to revolve. by reason of the electric current being thrown tothe motor A aswell as to the bells throughout the buildinggiving every one therein prompt and efficient warning. At first the signal is 0 given by single strokes inrapid succession;

then the bells are quiet for a second or two, then strike one, two, three times, as the case might be, to indicate the floor or department; the signal then continues at intermittent though constant impulses as the spring 40 contacts with the pins 37 on the rapidly revolving'd'isks, and will not cease until the fire-alarm box which has been broken is closed for future'use. In case the machine is in operation when a fire starts, the breaking of the glass in the box 110 and the closing of the circuit at coils 38, will at the same moment operate the kick-off coils 27 through the two point contacts at the rear of said' coils 38, the operation of the kick-off coils 27, as before described, throwing the station key out of action. The complete circuits operating when. the glass inboXJllO is broken which throw out of action,'through the so kick-0E coils 27, any station-key that may be in use, and throw into operation the firealarm system, are as follows: the kick off coils circuit being from conductor 107 through wires 1G8-117 to batteries.100;

from here through wire 112 to contacts of coils 38; through same to wire 116 then to coils 27 out of these to wire 107. The startof the motor is through batteries 100, wire 117 to motor A; from thence through 40 wires 118115 and trip contact 39 to contacts of coils 38; through same to wires 103 112 back to batteries 100. It will of course be understood that the method of wiring .to bring aboutthese results forms no 7 part of my invention but is entirely within the discretion of the electrician installing the system and in accordance with the Well known rules of the science.

The same equipment can be used where a building has each floor wired' and heat coils distributed at various places on the ceiling, the heat frointhe fire opening the heat-coil, and closing the electric circuit in the same manner as when theglass in a fire alarm box building is equipped with a sprinkler system where a float valve is installed on each floor of a building. The setting off of a sprinkler: head, either by a fire or by accident, starts the water flowing in the p pes, causing thefloat valve to close the electric circuit and 'start the machine and in the same manner sound the alarm through the machine, giving the floor or department location of the open sprinkler head and hence the fire.

It can also be used where a Having now described my invention,what I claim as new and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In'an automaticsignal device, a frame; a shaftmounted therein; one or more disks 'on saidfshaft; pins carried by said disks adapted to be removed therefrom; a .remov-- able key-board mounted in: said frame in juxtaposition to saiddisks;;plungers in said 'board adapted to contact with thepins on the: disks when the same are revolved; and

means for revolving said disks, substantially as shown and described. l

2. In an automatic signal device, a frame; a'shaft' mounted in said frame; one or more disks on said shaft; pms carried by said disks adapted to be removed therefrom;

means for operating said shaft; a removable key-frame mounted in said frame adjacent 1 said disks; plungers in said board adapted to contact with. the pins on the disks when the same are .revolved; and means in said boardforholding said plungers in contact' with said pins.

in contact with said pins; means in said board for holding saidplungers in contact with said pins; and means carried by said plungers for throwing them out of such contact when said plungers are released, substantially as'shown and described.

4. In an automatic signal device, a frame; a shaft mounted in said frame; means for operating said shaft; one or more disks carried by said shaft; removable pins on said disks; a removable key-board mounted in said frame adjacent said disks; plungers mounted inisaid board adapted to be moved in contact with said pins; vmeans in said board for holding said plungers in such contact; means carried by said plungers for' throwinggthem out of such contact when said plungers are released; and means for releasing said plungers, substantially as shown and described.

5. .In an automatic signal device, a frame;

a shaft mounted in said frame; means for operating sald shaft; one or more disks carried by said shaft; removable pins onsaid disks; a removable key-board mounted in said frame adjacent-said disks; plungers mounted in said board provided at their inner ends with a pivoted point adapted to contact with said pins and so arranged as to permit of the disks revolving in one direction and preventing them from revolving in the opposite direction, substantially as shown .and described.

6. An automatic signal device consisting of a frame, a shaft mounted therein; means for operating said shaft; one or more disks carried on said shaft; pins in said disks; a key-board in said frame adjacent said disks; plungers mounted in said board adapted to be moved into contact with said pins; means for holding said plungers in such contact; and means for operating upon said holding means to throw the same from said plungers. 7. An automatic signal device consisting of a frame; a shaft journaled in said frame; electrical means for operating said shaft; one or more disks carried by said shaft; pins removably fixed in said disks; a removable key-board mounted in said frame adjacent said disks; plungers in said board adapted to be moved in contact with said pins; a plate pivoted in said board adapted to hold said plungers in said contact; a lever pivoted in said board provided with an arm adapted to strike said plate and throw it from contact with said plungers; a spring on each plunger adapted to throw it from contact with said pins; and, electrical means for tripping said lever, substantially as shown and described.- 8. An automatic signal device consisting of a frame; a shaft j ournaled in said frame;

electrical means for actuating said shaft;

one or more disks carried by said shaft; pins removably secured to said disks; a removable key-board mounted in said frame adjacent said disks; plungers mounted in said .board adapted to be moved in contact with the pins on said disks but provided with a spring normally to hold them out of such contact; a plate pivotally mounted in said board adapted to hold said plungers in contact with said pins; a lever pivoted to said board provided with an arm adapted to strike said plate and throw it from contact with said plungers; a second lever pivoted on said frame adapted to strike the first lever and trip it; a cam wheel pivoted to the frame adjacent said second lever arranged to revolve in but one direction and carrying means for tripping said lever; and a cam carried by the shaft and adapted to engage said wheel and actuate it at intervals; substantially as shown'and described.

. 9. An automatic signal device consisting of a frame; a shaft journaled in saidframe; electrical means for actuating said shaft; a disk carried by said shaft; pins on said disk; an electric coil adjacent said disk provided with an armature which, when a current of electricity is applied, will be thrown in contact with the pins on the disk, substantially as shown and describdj 10. An automatic signal-device consisting of a frame; a shaft journaled in said frame;

electrical means for actuating said shaft; a

disk on said shaft carrying pins; an electric coil adjacent said disk; armature so arranged that when electrically actuated through said coil will contact with said pins, substantially as shown and described;

11. In an automatic, signal device, a frame; a shaft mounted in said frame; electrical means for operating said sliaft; one or more disks carried by said shaft; removable pins onsaid shaft; a removable keyboard mounted in said frame adjacent said disks; plungers mounted in said board adapted to be moved in contact with said pins; means pivoted in said board for holding said plungers in such contact; a spring carried by each plunger for throwing them out of such contact when said plungers are released; and electricalmans for releasing said plungers, substantially as shown and described. I

12. An automatic signal device consisting of a frame; a shaft journaled therein electrically actuated; one or more disks carried by saidshaft; pins in said disks so arranged that when contactedby electrical iheans intermittent signals will be given at any point in a building.

13. In an automatic signal device, a frame, a shaft journaled therein electrically actuated a cam carried by said shaft; a cam-wheel pivoted on said frame adjacent said cam and so as to receive from it an intermittent 0r alternating motion as the shaft revolves; pins carried by said cam-wheel; a lever pivoted on said frame adjacent said cam-wheel adapted to be tripped by said pins as the cam-wheel revolves; and a second lever mounted in the frame adapted to be tripped by said first lever.

1a. In an automatic signal device, a frame in which is journaled a shaft electrically actuated and carrying one or more disks; a keyboard removably mounted in said frame in which is movably arranged one or more plungers or keys; a spring con tact arranged in said board; a plate pivoted in said board adapted to contact with said contact when operated upon by said plungers, substantially as shown and described.

15. In an automatic signal device, a frame in which is journaled a shaft electrically actuated and carrying one or more disks, and a key-board removably mounted in said frame adjacent said disks in which is movably arranged one or more plungers or keys adapted to contact with said disks, substantially as shown and described.

v 16. An automatic signal device consisting of a frame, a shaft journaled therein elece trically operated, disks on said shaft carrying pins, electric coils adjacent said disks provided with armatures so constructed and arranged that said armatures will contact with said pins as the disks revolve and means for operating said shaft.

17. An automatic signal device consisting of a frame, a shaft journaled therein electriof a frame; a shaft journaled therein electrically actuated; disks carried by said shaft; pins in said disks; a key-board in said frame; plungers mounted in said board adapted to be pushed into-contact with said pivoted in said board adapted plns; a plate lingers in such contact; a cam to hold said p carried by said shaft; a'cam-wheel pivoted on said frame so as to receive from saidcam" an intermittent motion as the shaft revolves;

pins carried by said cam-wheel; a lever pivoted on said frame adapted to be tripped by the pins on the cam wheel as the same revol'ves; a second lever mounted in said frame adaptedto be tripped by said first lever and adapted to strike up the said holding plate whereby the plungers are released and permitted to spring' back out of contact With 25 the pins on the disks, silbstantially as shown and described. H 4 GLENN E. BLINN. Witnesses: GRovE P. MITCHELL, Jr., 'MARY F. LYONS.

Images