US2041540A - Alarm apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 6- B. GOLDSTONE 2,041,540

ALARM APPARATUS I Filed June 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORI 512mm: (iows'rons BY H l 5 ATTORNEY JW/CQM y B. GOLDSTONE 2,041,540

ALARM APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wl FIG.2 I Z mm. i 7 l fiaf "I INVENTOR BENJAMIN GQLDfiTONE BY HIS ATTORNEY May 19, 1936. B, GOLDSTQNE 2,()41,540

ALARM APPARATUS Filed June 50, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3 an INVENTOR BENJAMIN C-zoLvsTomz BY HlS -ATTORNEY v Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to alarm systems.

In the operation of burglar alarm systems, or systems of similar character, it has been customary practice to use, for the power source, some means, such as a battery, which, during the effectiveness of the circuit, was subjected to a constant drain. These batteries, therefore, required replacement at frequent intervals, and account for high costof upkeep as to maintenance, supervision and replacement, as well as possible failure of the system to operate when the batteries deteriorated.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system in which a local power source, such as the common house lighting circuit, may be used as the main or primary power medium for the operation of the system, the system also including a secondary power source which, upon failure of the primary source, becomes immediately active to energize the system without the initiation of an alarm unless there has been tampering with the system in this period. For this purpose, the ordinary house lighting alternating current cables may be used as the primary source, a step-down transformer, if necessary, being interposed to regulate the voltage applied to the circuit. As one element of the system, there is provided a relay which operates so quickly that the drop, ordinarily used in such systems to complete the alarm circuit, will be delayed sufliciently in its action so that the secondary power source will have become active to energize the coil of the drop before its armature could have dropped to create an alarm, thus retaining it uninterruptedly in the normal position of the system where there has been no outside interference.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system of the type described which may be applied both for circuits devised to initiate an alarm when the protective circuit is broken, or when a portion of such circuit is short-circuited.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system of the character set forth in which a control switch, provided to make the circuit effective, is operated in such manner that no alarm will be created by the closing of the switch, when making the system operative, even though the primary source be inoperative at that time.

Other objects of this invention'will be hereinafter set forth, or will be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which are illustrated a number of embodiments of apparatus for carrying out the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to the particular constructions and arrangements of parts, the particular applications of such constructions, the specific methods of operation, nor to the various details thereof, herein shown and described, as the same may be modified in various particulars or be applied in many varied relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the practical embodiments illustrated and described merely being at tempts to show some of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which are disclosed the preferred embodiments,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, of a modified system. v

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a further modified system. Fig. 4 is a View in perspective of a switch box with which are associated the principal elements of the circuit. 5

Considering the system shown in Fig. 1, the dotted. lines [0 are intended to indicate the boundaries of a switch box [2, while the dotted lines I4 are intended to indicate the door l6 of that 7 box. In box l2 may be mounted a panel [8 upon which are assembled relays 20, 22 and 24, and. also a resistance element 26. On the door is intended to be mounted a switch 28, controlled by any suitable lock mechanism (not shown), and the signal bulbs 30 and 32, visible through suit- '35 able openings through the door.

For the operation of this apparatus, there are provided two distinct power sources 34 and 36. Power source 34 is here shown as a step-down transformer for applying the requisite voltage as power is drawn from lines 40. Power source 36 may be a battery. However, it is to be understood that the two power sources may take any desired characteristic form so long as source '34 is of the type capable of supplying substantially unlimited power at all times, and source 36 is of the type not subject togreat deterioration owing to the age and from lack of use. The source 36, in'this instance, is intended to operate the alarm creating device 44, but it is to be understood that the system might be rearranged so that device 44 would be actuated from source 34 when that source is eifective. a

Leads from source 34 are carried over to a pair of binding posts 46 and 48 upon panel I8.

From binding post 46, a lead is taken to a point 50 on a bar 52 of switch 28, this bar being moved by the lock mechanism (not shown). The stationary contact 54 opposed to point 50 is connected, by a lead 56, to the coil 58 of relay 20. The other terminal of the coil is led back to binding post 48 by means of a lead 60, which also makes contact with one terminal of resistance element 26. When switch 28 is moved to closed position, a current will flow through coil 58, which will attract an armature 62. This armature is preferably of considerable weight, and is pivoted at 64 so that it will normally tend to fall downwardly at one end to bring a contact finger 68 at the other end into electrical contact with a stop I0.

When coil 58 is energized, the armature will be lifted so that contact fingers I2 and I4 will be brought into engagement with respective stops I6 and 18. A branch lead from lead 56 makes electrical connection with stops I6 and I8, while the armature itself, by a lead 82, is connected to a binding post 84 to which one terminal of the house protective circuit 86 is connected. This protective circuit may be of any general construction, following the well known practice. Its other terminal is connected to a binding post 88 from which a lead is extended to the coil 96 of relay 22, which is commonly known as the drop. The other terminal of coil 90 is electrically connected with lead 60.

When relay 20 is energized by a current flowing from power source 34, armature 62 will automatically place in circuit with source 34, the series connected drop 22 and the house circuit 86. If circuit 86 be broken, coil 90 will be deenergized. While the coil has been energized, it has attracted an armature 92 forming a part of, or otherwise secured to, a leaf spring 94, one end of which, by lead 96, is connected to a binding post 98 to which one terminal of source 36 is connected. The other terminal of this source is connected to a binding post I 00. From this binding post, a lead I02 is carried over to another binding post I 04, to which one terminal of alarm device 44 may be connected. The other terminal of the device, which may be the customary gong, is connected to a binding post I08 from which a lead H0 is directed to a stationary contact H2 cooperating with a moving point H4 upon bar 52. This point, by a lead H6, is connected to a post H8 with which the free end of spring 94 will make contact when coil 90 is inactive to draw armature 92 toward it.

When the protective circuit 86 is not energized, spring 94 will switch source 36 into circuit with the gong to initiate an alarm. Of course it is necessary that switch 28 be in closed position in order to effect this. Also, it will be noted that, in order to prevent an alarm when the switch is being closed, it is necessary that coil 90 be energized before the alarm circuit is completed. For that reason, the points on moving bar 52 are arranged so that, in moving the bar toward the stationary contacts, first point 50 will complete its circuit before either one of the others is affected. For this reason, if source 34 is operative, coil 90 will be energized and the circuit of the alarm device broken at post H8 before point H4 electrically connects with contact H2.

However, if power source 34, for any particular reason, is inactive, secondary source 36 must be placed in circuit before the alarm circuit is completed. For this purpose, point I20 upon bar 52 is arranged to connect electrically with its stationary contact I22 before contact H2 and point H4 are electrically connected, and after the circuit has been completed between contact 54 and point 56. Point I26 is connected by a lead I24 with binding post I68, while stationary contact I22 is connected, by a lead I26, to lead 60. The points 50, I20 and H4 preferably are made up as U-shaped spring members, one arm of each being secured to the bar 52.

Stop I0, by means of a lead I28, is connected to lead 96. When armature 62 is resting so that finger 68 is in contact with stop I0, the circuit will be completed from the armature through the post, lead I28, lead 96, source 36, lead I24, the switch, leads I26 and 60, coil 90, protective circuit 86, lead 82, to the armature, thus energizing relay 22 in the same manner as Was done by power source 34. It will be seen that if, after power source 34 has been made active, it should fail for any reason, the weighted armature 62 will operate to bring finger 68 into electrical connection with stop 16, completing the circuit of source 36. As can readily be noted, there is a wide difference in weights between armatures 62 and 92. Armature 62, as it moves about its pivot 64, and especially in the downward movement under gravitational force, will have a greater force to overcome such retarding forces as friction at its pivots than armature 92 Will have to overcome retarding forces acting upon it, such as the resiliency of spring 98. The retarding tension upon spring 94 and its sustained position, by adjustment of post H8 and the upper stop post I30, are regulated so that, upon fall of armature 92, the period of time necessary for spring 94 to make contact with post H8 will be greater than that necessary for armature 62 to move finger 68 into contact with stop I0; the circuit of source 36 will, therefore, have been completed before spring 94 will have had the opportunity to complete the circuit for alarm device 44.

Relay 24 provides a holding circuit for retaining the alarm circuit energized, once a break has been made in the protective circuit, even though the break may have been repaired. Branch leads I32 and I34 are taken from binding posts I04 and I66, respectively, to the coil I36 of relay 24. Should the protective circuit be broken and the alarm circuit energized by the fall of armature 92, a portion of the same current which would pass through alarm device 44 will act to energize coil I36, attracting armature I38 which is secured to a spring finger I40, secured between a tension adjusting means I42. Normally the free end of finger 48 rests upon a stop I44, When coil I36 is energized, however, this finger will be lifted into contact with a post I46, which, by a lead I48, is connected to lead H6. With coil I36 energized, current from source 36 will flow through lea-d 96, branch lead I56, spring finger I40, contact post I46, leads I46 and H6, the switch, and then will divide, after lead H0, to pass through alarm device 44 and. coil I36, and back to source 36 through lead I62, In other words, coil I36 will maintain its own energizing circuit as well as the energizing circuit for the alarm device.

In order to indicate to the user which of the two power sources is active, bulbs 30 and 32 are provided, bulb 30 being intended to indicate that primary source 34 is operative,,and the bulb 32, the other source. One terminal of bulb S0 is connected, by a lead I52, to resistance element 26, while the other terminal, by a lead I54, connects with lead 56 and stationary post 54. Its circuit will, therefore, be completed through lead I52, resistance 26, lead 60, source 34, the switch, and leads 56 and I54.

In order to light bulb 32, there is provided, in conjunction with relay 20', an armature I56, preferably disposed at the end of coil 58 opposite armature 62. Armature I56 is mounted upon a spring finger I58, which normally tends, under the action of tension adjusting mechanism I 60, to make electrical contact with post I62. Post I62, by a lead I64, is connected to one terminal of bulb 32, while the anchor post I66 for spring I58 is connected, by a lead I68, to binding post 98. When coil 58 is not energized by power from source 34, the circuit from bulb 32 will be completed through lead I64, post I62, spring I58, lead I68, source 36, lead I24, the switch, to the bulb through leads I26 and I10.

It will be noted that, when power source 34 becomes inactive, the battery source is immediately placed in circuit to operate the entire apparatus, without the danger of initiating an alarm unless there has been tampering with the protective circuit. Also, during the action of power source 34, battery source 36 is so protected that 'no part of the current from source 34 will pass therethrough, and, therefore, will be unable to effect deterioration of such cells as normally make up battery power sources.

In Fig. 2 has been shown apparatus whereby the alarm, will be initated not only by breaking a portion of the alarm circuit, but if a short circuit of any portion thereof should be effected. In this apparatus, there is provided a panel I12 upon which are mounted the operating elements of the relay switching circuits, and a door I14 for carrying a switch I16, similar to switch 28 in its structure. Upon the panel are mounted relays I18, I80 and I82. One terminal of coil I84 of relay I18 is connected, by a lead I86, to a binding post I88 to which one terminal of the primary source I90 is connected The other terminal of source I90 is connected to a binding post I92, which, by a lead I94, is connected'to a stationary post I96 opposite a moving point I98 on bar 200' of the switch. This point, by a lead 202, is connected to the other terminal of the coil.

When coil I84 is energized, it attracts an unbalanced armature 204 to bring fingers 206 and 208 into electrical connection with their respective stop posts and 2 I0 and 2 I2. These posts, by a lead 2I4, are connected to, and receive power from lead I86 and transmit it through the armature to a lead 2I6, led from the armature to a point 2 I 8 upon bar 200. The complementary stationary post 220 is connected by a lead to a binding post 222 upon the panel which constitutes one terminal of a portion 224 of the protective circuit 226. The other terminal of this portion is carried to a binding post 228 from which a lead is connected to coil 230 of relay or drop I 82.

The other terminal of the coil is connected to lead 232, extending to a binding post 234 forming a terminal for the other portion 236 of the house protective circuit. Portion 236 is also connected to a binding post 238 which is electrically connected to lead I94. The circuit of the house protective circuit, therefore, consists of power source I90, leads I86 and. 2I4, posts 2I0 and 2I2, armature 204, lead 2I6, the switch, binding post 222, portion 224, coil 230, lead 232, portion 236 and lead I94. Any break in the house protective circuit will deenergize the coil 230'; also, any

short circuit between portions 224 and 236 will prevent the passage of current through, and thus effect deenergization of, coil 230.

Coil 230, upon energization, attracts an armature 240, fixed to a spring member 242, anchored at 244 and electrically connected, by a lead 246, to a binding post 248 which provides one ter-' minal for a secondary power source 250. The other terminal of this power source is connected to a binding post 252 which is also connected to a binding post 254, providing one terminal for a gong or similar device 256. The other terminal of the gong is connected, by a lead 258, to a binding post 260 from which a lead 262 is taken'to the stationary contact 264 opposite the point 266 of the switch. A lead 268 then makes connection with a post 210 with which spring member 242 makes contact when coil 230 is not active to attract armature 240. When the circuit of gong 256 has been completed by the fall of armature 240, coil 212 of relay I80 is also energized from the branch circuit consisting of a lead 214 connecting with post 254, and a lead 216 connecting with binding post 260.

When coil 212 is energized, it attracts its armature 218 to bring a spring finger 280 into contact with a. post 282 which is connected, by a branch lead 284, to binding post 260. When there has been any interference with the system at the portions of the house protective circuit, and the drop has been actuated to complete the circuit between member 242 and its complementary post, and gong 256 has been actuated, coil 212, by this branch circuit, will have become energized to attract armature 218. Thereupon, power will flow from source 250 to spring finger 280, post 282, and lead 284, and then will divide to pass through gong 256 or through lead 216, coil 212, lead 214, back to the source. Coil 212 thus constitutes its own holding means for its own circuit to retain the gong ringing.

If power source I90 should become inactive, armature 204 will bring finger 286 into contact With post 288 from which a lead 290 connects with lead 246. serve to operate drop I82 in the same manner as did power source I90.

In order to prevent the initiation of an alarm upon closing the switch, points I98, 2I8 and 266 are arranged to make their contacts with the respective stationary contacts so that, first power source I90 is placed in circuit, then the protec tive circuit, and finally the gong or alarm circuit. In other words, before source 250 may become active, power source I90 must have been placed in circuit, and the house circuit also completed so that there should arise no possibility of activity on the part of the drop to create an alarm. Bulbs 292 and 294 are provided, and they are wired similarly to those of Fig. l, to indicate which of the two sources is active,

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, relays 286, 298, 300 and 302 are arranged upon panel 304, while upon door 306 is assembled a'switch 308, similar in structure to the switches of the other constructions. In this arrangement, a primary power source 3I0 has its terminals connected to binding posts 3I2 and 3I4 upon the panel. From binding post 3| 2 there is led a trunk 3I6 from which branch leads 3I8 and 320 tap a supply for relays 296 and 298, respectively. The other terminals of these relays are connected to a trunk 322 which is led around, through a binding post 324, to a point 326 on the moving bar 328 of the switch. This point is intended to In this position, source 250 will make contact with a stationary contact 336 from which a trunk 332' leads to a binding post 334 upon the panel, and then to binding post 3I4.

By this means, the two relays, upon closing the switch, are energized to attract their respective armatures 336 and 338. Each of these armatures is pivotally mounted in unbalanced condition, so that, when the relays are not energized, they will assume the positions indicated in Fig. 3. For armature 336, this position would bring a spring finger 346 into contact with a stop post 342, while for armature 338, a spring finger 344 is brought into contact with a stop post 346. When relays 296 and 298 are energized, armatures 336 and 338 are active to break the connection between spring fingers 346 and 344 and their respective stop posts. Armature 336, by such movement, will be energized to bring spring finger 348 into contact with a stop post 356.

Armature 338 carries two spring fingers 352 and 354 which, when relay 298 is energized, will be pressed into contact with stop posts 356 and 358, respectively. These stop posts are connected by a branch lead 366 with trunk 3|6, while armature 338 itself is connected, by a lead 362, with a binding post 364 which forms one terminal for a portion 366 of the house protective circuit 368. The other terminal of this portion is connected to binding post 316, which, by a lead 312, is connected to relay 366. A lead 314 from this relay is connected to binding post 316 forming a terminal of the other portion 318 of the house protective circuit. The other terminal of this portion is at binding post 386 from which a lead 382 is directed to make electrical connection with armature 336.

When relays 296 and 298 are energized by power source 3 l 6, current will flow from the power source, through trunk 3|6, branch lead 360, stop posts 356 and 358, armature 338, lead 362, portion 366, lead 312, relay 366, lead 314, portion 318, lead 382, armature 336, post 356, trunk 322, the switch, trunk 332, to the power source.

If any break be made in either of portions 366 or 318, or if an attempt be made to create a shirt circuit between these two portions, relay 366 will be deenergized, resulting in the fall of armature 384, which is carried by a spring 386, the end of which has been retained by the armature against stop 368. This spring, by a lead 396, is connected to the stationary contact 392, the mov-- ing point 394 of which is connected, by a trunk 396, to binding post 398 forming one of the terminals for a secondary power source 466. The other terminal 462 of this power source is connected to the moving point 464 opposite the stationary contact 466 on the switch. From contact 466, a lead 468 is connected to post 4l6 which is the terminal of gong M2. The other terminal of the gong is connected to binding post 4l4 which, by a trunk M6, is connected to stop post 4I8 against which spring 386 abuts when relay 366 is deenergized.

Thus, when relay 366 is deenergized, spring 386 will close the circuit from source 466 through the switch, lead 468, gong 4l2, trunk 4I6, post 4l8, spring 386, lead 396, the switch, and trunk 396. In order to hold the ringing circuit closed after a break or other interference with the protective circuit has occurred, relay 362 is energized by a branch lead 426 leading from trunk 422 which is connected to binding post M6. The other terminal of relay 362 is connected, by a lead 424, to post 4. In other words, when the gong is energized by the fall of armature 384, relay 362 will also be energized by its branch circuit to attract armature 426, carried upon spring 428 which normally rests upon stop 436. When attracted by the relay, spring 428 will make electrical connection with a stop 432, which, by a branch lead 434, is connected to trunk 416. Spring 428 itself, by a branch lead 436, is connected to trunk 396. This holding circuit is substantially similar to that of the arrangements previously described.

If power source 3|6 should become inactive, armatures 336 and 338 will drop. In such case, fingers 346 and 344 will be brought into electrical connection with their respective stop posts 342 and 346. Now, current will flow from battery 466 through the switch, lead 468, trunk 422, stop post 342, armature 336, lead 382, portion 318, lead 314, relay 366, lead 312, portion 366, lead 362, armature 338, stop post 346, trunk 438 back to the battery. Now, if any break or short circuit be made in, or across the protective circuit, relay 366 will be deenergized in the same manner as if power source 3|6 had been active, actuating gong 4| 2 in the same manner.

Indicating light bulbs 446 and 442 are provided and indicate respectively whether power source 3!!! or source 466 is operating to pass current through the house protective circuit. Bulb 446 is in circuit with resistance unit 444, which, by a lead 446, is connected to binding post 312. The other terminal of the bulb is connected to trunk 322 by a lead 448 so that, when source 3|6 is operating, bulb 446 will be lighted.

When source 3|6 is inoperative, relay 298 will no longer attract an armature 456 upon a spring 452, which is so tensioned that, in normal relation, it will be in contact with a stop post 454. However, relay 298, when source 3|6 is effective, will pull the spring away from this stop post. The spring itself is connected to trunk 422 by lead 456, while the stop post, by a lead 458, is connected to the bulb. The other terminal of the bulb is connected to trunk 438 by a lead 466.

The points 326, 464 and 394 are arranged to' make contact with their respective contact posts in the order named for purposes previously indicated.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular apparatus designed, and in the methods of operation set forth, and in the specific details thereof, without substantially departing from the invention hereof which is intended to be defined in the accompanying claims, the specific description hereinabove being set forth merely to illustrate operative embodiments for carrying out the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:-

1. In alarm apparatus, a protective circuit, alarm-producing means, an alternating current power source, a direct current power source, a switch-over relay, a heavy armature for the switch-over relay pivotally mounted in an unbalanced state, the armature being in the protective circuit, the switch-over relay normally being energized by the alternating current power source to maintain the armature raised against gravitational force and thus to keep the armature and the protective circuit in circuit with the alternating current power source; the armature comprising means, when the alternating current power source is deenergized, to move to cut the alternating current power source out of circuit with the protective circuit and the armature, and to bring the direct current power source into circuit with both armature and protective circuit; and a drop relay in the protective circuit, the drop relay having a relatively light armature for controlling the alarm-producing means, the movements of the armatures for making or breaking their circuits being limited, the limits of the movements being defined so that, in such circuit-making or circuit-breaking movements, they will, at substantially the same instant, be freed for movement, but the switch-over relay armature will complete its circuit before the drop relay armature may become effective.

2. In alarm apparatus, a protective circuit, alarm-producing means, an alternating current power source, a direct current power source, a switch-over relay normally energized by the alternating current source; the protective circuit including a drop relay and. means normally tending, under the force of gravity, to energize the protective circuit from the direct current power source but, under the normal energization of the switch-over relay, being controlled to energize the protective circuit from the alternating current source; means actuated by the drop relay for controlling the alarm-producing means, the drop-relay-actuated means normally tending under the force of gravity to make the alarmproducing means effective, the protective-circuitenergizing means including a pivoted member of such large mass that gravity acts with greater force to turn it about its pivot than the forces acting upon the drop-relay-actuated means to move it to circuit-closing position, the turning of the pivoted member about its pivot and the action of the drop-relay-actuated means being limited, the limits and the relation between the action of the forces of gravity being such that the pivoted member will have completed its movement before the droprelay-actuated means can make the alarm-producing means eifective.

3. In alarm apparatus, a protective circuit, alarm-producing means, an alternateing current power source, a direct current power source, a switch-over relay normally energized by the alternating current power source, means controlled by the switch-over relay in accordance with the energy derivable from the alternating current power source for determining whether the alternating current power source or the direct current power source shall energize the protective circuit; the means controlled by the switch-over relay comprising means, when energy for the switch-over relay is not derived from the alternating current power source, to cut the alternating current power source out of circuit with the protective circuit, and to bring the direct current power source into circuit with the protective circuit; and switching apparatus for first switching on the alternating current power source, thereafter making the direct current power source effective, and then making the alarm-producing means effective so that it may produce an alarm under control of the protective circuit.

4. In alarm apparatus, a protective circuit, alarm-producing means, an alternating current power source, a direct current power source, a switch-over relay normally energized by the alternating current power source, means controlled by the switch-over relay in accordance with the energy derivable from the alternating current power source for determining whether the alternating current power source or the direct current power source shall energize the protective circuit; the means controlled by the switch-over relay comprising means, when energy for the switch-over relay is not derived from the alternating current power source, to cut the alternating current power source out of circuit with the protective circuit, and to bring the direct current power source into circuit with the protective circuit; and switching apparatus for first switching the power sources to make them effective for the control of the means controlled by the switchover relay before the alarm-producing means may be made effective.

BENJAMIN GOLDSTONE.

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