US1895967A - Burglar and fire alarm - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, c w BOWEN BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Filed March 14, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l IS nventor /zarlw h ille'am Bowen attorney! Jan. 31, 1933. c w BOWEN 1,895,967

BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Filed March 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [III/[IA i ll/III!!!llllllllllllllllllllllell' v Imventor attorney Jan. 31, 1933.

C. W. BOWEN BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Filed March 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Monitor 672'aria mlZz'am/flowen (Tum-new Patented Jan. 31, 1933 CHARLES WILLIAM nowmr, or AUGUSTA, GEOR IA BUBGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Application filed March 14, 1930. Serial No. 435,894.

The present invention relates to burglar and fire alarms and has for its primary ob ect to provide a simplified yet reliable alarm which may be operated mechanically as well as electrically, thereby insuringits operation in the event of failure of the electric current.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a burglar alarm which Wlll give an alarm both locally and at a distance as for instance, at a'telephone exchange or police station.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a mechanically operated alarm of compact design which is durable and reliable in operation," and in which readily accessible means are provided for controlling auxiliary signal-ling devices.

Other objects and dvantages of the invention will be apparent from'the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing the mechanically operated alarm inits relation with the auxiliary signaling devices associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the alarm proper.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3.-3of Figure 2, partsbeing broken away. i

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 .of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of thealarm, parts being broken away; and

Figurefi is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the mechanism for locking and releasing the alarm.

Referring to the drawings in more detail the numeral 1 indicates a room, store, or the like, in which the novel burglar and fire alarm may be mounted, and in which the primary alarm is indicated by the numeral 2. The numeral 3 indicates a safe, vault, or the like, and in front thereof, preferably flush with the floor, is h-ingedly mounted a platform 4. Disposed below the platform 4 are I a pluralityof spring devices 5 which normally support the platform in horizontal sition. Also disposed below the floor is a chuck or .the like 6 secured to the upper end of a pivotally mounted lever 7 and which is adapted to be moved under the platform 4 to support it against depression during the day. \Vhen the store or other building in which the alarm is installed is closed, the chuck is removed to the position shown in dotted lines, so that the platform will be caused to descend when anyone steps on it.

Connected with the platform a is a cord or the like 7 connected with a latch 8. This latch 8 is slidably mounted in a bracket 9 and normally engages one end of a slidably mounted plunger-'10 which is spring-pressed toward the latch as by means of spring 11. The rod 10 is connected by means of a string or the like 12 with a trigger 13 mounted on the side of the casing of the alarm 2.' This trigger 13 serves to normally retain a springpressed lever 14 in its retracted position, but when drawn to inoperative position by the mechanism just mentioned 'it releases the lever 14 and allows the same to depress a fin er 15 on a detent hereinafter described which normally maintains the alarm inoperative. Also connected with trigger 13 is a cord or the like 16 which may be directed over suitable guide pulleys to extend across the entrance to the store or the like, and has its-opposite end secured to a wall of the room. 1 Of course, any number of these cords 16 may 'be employedand extend across the room or store at advantageous positions, as before a window or otherpoints of access to the store.

"In order that the finger 15 of the detent for the alarm may be automatically operated in the event of an abnormal rise in temperature in the store, such as caused by a fire, a sprmgpressed lever 17 is pivoted on the side of the alarm'casing 2 adjacent the finger 15 and is normally retained in inoperative position by means of a-wire or other flexible cable 18. This cable has its opposite end anchored at some point in the store, and, of course,'additional cables with additional levers 17 may be employed and extend to other parts of the building as found desirable. These cables are provided with fusible links 19 suitably spaced throughout the length thereof and which are adapted to fuse at about 160 de grees F.,=thus-.releasing the lever 17 and cansing it to depress the finger to sound the alarm.

he primary alarm which has been referred to by the numeral 2, is shown in detail in Figures 2 to 6 inclusive, and comprises a gong which is adapted to be struck repeatedly by a clapper 21 pivotally mounted on the exterior of the casing as indicated by the numeral 22. The arm of this clapper is provided with teeth 23 adapted to cooperate with an escapement wheel 24 of usual construction. This wheel is mounted on a shaft 25 extending to the interior of the casing 2 and provided adjacent its lower end with a gear wheel 26. Meshing with the gear wheel 26 is a gear wheel 27 mounted on a vertically disposed shaft 28. This shaft also carries a gear wheel 29 which in turn meshes with a large gear wheel 30 fixedly secured to a centrally disposed shaft 31. Also secured to the shaft 31 is a coil spring 3-2 which has its outer end secured to the driving gear Wheel 30 of the train of gearing just described. Shaft 31 is also preferably provided with a worm gear 33 cooperating with a worm 34 mounted on a shaft 35 which extends exteriorly of the casing to receive a crank or other tool for winding up the spring from time to time as may be found necessary. The spring 32 is preferably of such dimensions and power as'to cause the gear train and likewise the clapper 21 to be operated for a period of at least twenty minutes.

The escapement wheel 24 is normally retained against operation by means of a detent 36 mounted on a slidable rod 37 supported in bearing 38 and terminating in the finger 15 heretofore referred to. This finger 15 ex tends outwardly of the casing 2 through a vertically disposed slot 39. This rod 37 is normally retained in its uppermost position with the finger 15 in engagement with the upper wall of slot 39 by means of a leaf spring 40 mounted within the casing 2. The spring-pressed levers heretofore referred to and indicated by the numerals 14 and 17, are mounted on shafts 41 and 42 which extend inwardly of the casing and each of these shafts is encircled by a coil spring 43. One end of each of the coil springs 43 is secured to the inner wall of the casing 2 as indicated by the numeral 44, while the opposite end thereof is secured to a disc 45 which is releasably secured to its shaft by a removable pin 46. It will thus be apparent that by removing the pin 46 from either of the discs 35 the latter may be rotated about the shaft to increase or decrease the tension in its respective spring 43.

The alarm as just described is, of course, mechanically operated and is intended as the primary alarm of the system. However, additional and auxiliary alarm or signaling devices are also desirable in such systems, and in order to operate such auxiliary devices there is shown herein an arm 47 provided with a hub 48 rotatably mounted on an axle 49 disposed upon the top of the casing 2. Encircling the rod 49 is a coil spring 50 having one end anchored to a disc 51 fixed to the hub 48 and the opposite end secured to a ratchet wheel 52 loosely mounted on the rod 49. A spring-pressed pawl 53 normally cooperates with the ratchet wheel 52 and holds the same against rotation in a clockwise direction. The

ratchet wheel 52 is provided with a hub 54 which terminates in a squared portion 55 extending beyond the body of the alarm casing 2. This squared portion 55 of the hub 54 is adapted to receive a crank arm or the like for storing up tension in the spring 50 or for increasing the tension from time to time as found desirable.

The arm 47 is normally retained in its retracted or inoperative position by means of a slidably mounted latch 56 which engages over the arm 47 and which is provided with an operating handle 57 extending through a slot 58 in its casing 59. The rod which constitutes the latch 56 has its opposite end mounted in a casing or bearing member 60. Fixed to the rod 56 is an abutment 61 against which presses a coil spring 62 and which has its opposite end in engagement with the adjacent end of the casing 59. This spring tends to withdraw the latch 56 from engagement with the springpressed arm 47 but is normally prevented from doing so by means of a rod 63 which is slidably and tiltably mounted in a bearing 64 on the side of the casing 2. The upper end of this rod is normally disposed in alignment with the latch rod 56 and therefore prevents longitudinal movement of the latch out of engagement with the rod 47. The opposite end of the rod 63 is pivotally connected to the springpressed lever 14 and it will be apparent, therefore, that when the lever 14 is released so as to sound the alarm the upper end of the rod 63 will be withdrawn out of alignment with the latch 56 and thus allow the spring 62 to withdraw the latch, thereby releasing the arm 47. The arm 47 is thus free to rotate about its axle 49; such movement being imparted thereto by the coil spring 50. In order to limit the extent of rotation of the arm 47 about its axle 49, the arm is provided with an extension 47 which is adapted to engage a hook or stop 47 and thus limit the movement of the arm 47 through an arc of about 180 degrees.

The auxiliary alarms or signaling devices heretofore referred to are indicated in the present embodiment of the invention as a telephone receiving set 65, and an electric display sign 66, the latter being disposed on the exterior of the building and normally concealed as by means of a pivoted cover 67. In some instances it may be desired to take a picture of the burglar or other inthe room be lighted, and to this end truder, and for this purpose I have shown a camera 68 preferably supported on a bracket 69 and directed toward a point in front of the safe 3. For the practical operation of the camera it will, of course, be necessa that provide a switch 7 0 in the electric light circuit of the room and whichswitch is also connected in the circuit in which the electric sign 66 is connected.

Each of these auxiliary signaling or alarm devices is connected up with an individual operating means substantially identical with the operating means 8-91011 heretofore described in connection with the platform 4 disposed in front of the safe 3. Inasmuch as these operating devices are identical only one need be described in detail. Each operator comprises a bracket 71 mounted adjacent the particular signaling device with which it is associated together with a slidably mounted plunger 72. The plunger 72 is provided with a fixed collar 73 against which abuts a coil spring 74 encircling the plunger and having its op osite end in engagement with the end 0 the bracket 71. The projecting end of the plunger is'connected by means of a cord or the like 75, with the operating handle of the camera, display sign cover, telephone set, or electric switch, as the case may be.

Each plunger is normally held in inopera-e tive position with its spring 74 compressed by means of a trigger a 76 which is slidably mounted in the end of the bracket. Each of these triggers 76 is connected by means of flexible cords or the like 78 with the free end of arm 47 and it will be obvious, of course, that when the arm 47 is released in the manner heretofore ,described,the cords 78 will be placed under a tension such as to withdraw the triggers 76. The removal of the triggers 76 from their respective brackets will, of course, release the operating plun ers for the several signaling devices and t us render them operative; that is, it will close the lighting circuit in the room as well as the lighting circuit in the display signal 66, open the cover 67, raise the telephone hook so as to flash a signal at the central telephone ex-- change, and likewise operate the trigger of the camera 68 to cause the films therein to be exposed. In this connection it may be mentioned that thecamera 68 may be of the type in which a series of pictures are taken successively. It may also be 7 mentioned that where the alarm is connected up with the telephone receiving set, the police station will be provided with a series of telephone numbers and the addresses of the several patrons so that when the telephone number is transmitted to the police station by the telephone operator they will be immediately apprised as to the particular establishment in which the alarm has been sounded.

In lieiiof the electrically operated sign 66 it will be obvious that a sign provided with a phosphorescent coating may be provided in conjunction with the cover 67 for display purposes on the exterior of the building.

While I have shown herein, in addition to the mechanically and thermally operated audible signal, a plurality of auxiliary signaling and alarm devices as already described, it is to be understood that all or any of these auxiliary signals may be employed as desired. Thus, if the audible signal alone is to be used the rod 63 may be disconnected from the spring-pressed lever 14, thereby rendering the latch 56 inoperative and causing the arm 47 to remain in its inoperative position in engagement with the hook or stop 47 The operations of the several parts of the apparatus have been fully described in connection with the detailed description of the construction, and further elaboration thereof is believed to be unnecessary.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have devised a comparatively simple yet durable power plant and mechanically operated burglar and fire alarm; that combined therewith are a plurality of auxiliary indicating and signaling devices operated from a single arm; and that such devices are so designed and combined with the primary alarm as to admit of their use or their disconnection very readily and without in any way jeopardizing the reliable operation of the main alarm.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described What I now believe to be the preferred embodiment of the invention but I do not wish to be understood thereby as limiting myself or the scope of the invention, as many 0 anges and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention; and all such I aim to include within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A burglar alarm including a mechanically operated bell, a detent normally rendering said bell inoperative, a spring-pressed lever adapted to release said detent, a reciprocablymounted rod having one end pivoted to said lever, a spring-pressed arm pivoted adjacent said bell, a display sign, means connecting a portion of said sign with the spring-pressed arm, a latch for said arnr, a spring tending to withdraw the latch from the arm, said reciprocably-mounted rod adapted to normally engage said latch to counteract the action of said spring, and to release the latch when reciprocated by said spring-pressed lever CHARLES WILLIAM BOWEN.

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