US289470A

US289470A - I james tomney

Info

Publication number: US289470A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1883-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1900-12-04

Description

(No Model.) l

' J. TOMNEY.

ELECTRIC BURGILAE ALARM.

Patented Deo. 4, 1883,

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ELECTRIC euRcLAR-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION `forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,470, dated December 4, 1883.

Application filed February 5, 1883. (No model.)

To all wwm t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES TOMNEY, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Burglar `Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This improvement relates to `those electric burglar-alarms which` are employed to give an alarm at an office where watch is kept of any attempt to gain access to any guarded structure.

rlhe improvement consists in the combination, in an electric burglar-alarm, of' a main circuit extending `from an office to a guarded structure, means located at the office for giving an alarm there when a change occurs in the resistance ofthe circuit at the guarded structure, an electro-magnet and armature at the guarded structure, a main battery which is located at the office, and which is insufficient to cause the electro-magnet to attract its armature, and yet is sufficient to hold it when attracted, and means with which the armature operates to control the passage of the electric current directly from the armature to the ground. Vhen the electric circuit is shortcircuited by the opening of a window or door, the shutting of the window or door will not restore the normal circuit, for the reason that the main battery will not be able to cause the electro-magnet to attract its armature again. A prolonged alarm will therefore be given.

The improvement also consists in the combination of a main circuit extending from an oiiice to a guarded structure, an electro-magnet at the office, an armature therefor capable of being held by the electro-magnet against it when this electro-magnet is energized by Vthe electric current of the main battery, an electro-magnet at the guarded structure, which is incapable, when energized from the main battery, of attracting its armature, but which is capable of' holding the armature when attracted, and means with which this armature operates to control the passage of the electric current directly from this armature to` the bination of' a main circuit extending from an office to a guarded structure, a local circuit a-t the office, provided with means for giving an alarm, an electro-magnet at the office, an armature therefor capable of being held by the electro-magnet against it when this electromagnet is energized by the main battery, an electro-magnet at the guarded structure, which is incapable, when energized from the main battery, of attracting its armature, but is capable of holding its armature when attracted, and means with which this armature operates to control the passage of the electric current directly from this armature to the ground or `through a resistance-coil to the ground.

The improvement also consists in the combination of a main circuit extending from an office to a guarded structure, devices located at the guarded structure for causing an alarm to be given at the ofce in case an attempt is made to gain access thereto, a galvanometer at the office, and means with which the galvanometer-needle, when sufficientlydeiiected,will

operate to shortcircuit the main circuit at the office, and cause the sounding of an alarm at the office. office and the guardedstructure, accidentally or intentionally done, will deflect 'the galvanometerneedle sufficiently to bring about this result.

The improvement also consists in the combination of a main circuit extending from an office to a guarded structure, an electro-magnet located at the office, and having an armature which it is normally incapable of attracting, a galvanometer, also located at the office, and means with which the galvanometer-needle, when deiiected sufficiently, operates to shortcircuit the main circuit, and thereby reduce the resistance of the main circuitto such Van extent that the electro-magnet will be able to attract the said armature.

The improvement also consists in the combination of' a main circuit extending from an .office to a guarded structure, an electro-mag- A short-circuiting between the IOO cated at the office, and means with which the v galvanometer-needle,when sufficiently deflectthe normal circuit is maintained, a galvanometer also locatedat the office, and serving,when sufiiciently deflected by a change of resistance, to establish a short circuit and reduce the resistance, so that the electro magnet or magnets can then attract both armatures, an electromagnet at the guarded structure,incapable of attracting its armature, but capable of holding it when attracted, and means with which this armature operates to control the passage of the electric current directly from this arm ature to the ground, the resistance-coil, when introduced into the circuit, serving to so weaken the electro magnet or magnets at the ofiice as to prevent either armature acting in con- `junction therewith from being held attracted.

The improvement also consists in the combination, in an electric burglar-alar1n, of a main circuit extending from an ofiice to a guarded structure, aresistance device forming a part of the alarm apparatus and located at the guarded structure means also located at the guarded structure and serving, onthe opening of a window or door of the guarded structure, to throw the said resistance device into the circuit at the guarded structure, and a device located at an office where watch is kept, and serving to give an alarm when the resistance device is thus thrown into the circuit at the `guarded structure.

The accompanying drawing represents an electric burgler-alarm embodying my improvement. To'conducc to a clear understanding of the same, I` have drawn lines around all parts y'loca-'ted in the office and guarded structure, and marked such lines, respectively, Office and 'G'uarded Structure. A'ltlrou'gh I have only` represented one guarded structure, Iwill premise that any number may `be `connected with a single ofce by means similar to those shown and described. l

A designates the main battery of the electric burglar-alarm. It is located in the oflice, one pole being connected byawire, B, to an earthplate, C, and the other pole by a wire, B', to one end of the -`coils of electro magnets D.` From the lother end Aof the coils of the electromagnet D a wire, B2, extends to the lcoils of a galvanometer, E. From the'c'oils of this gaivanometer a wire, B3, `extends to the metallic contact-piece a of a metallic switch'or key, F, and from 'this switch a wire, B, extends tothe guarded structure.

A designates a battery of greater electromotive force than the battery A. One pole is connected by a wire, B5, to the earth-plate C, or to the wireB, leading thereto, and the other pole is connected by a wire, B, with a metallic contact-piece, c, of the switch F. Normally the switch F is in contact with the contact-piece a, and the electric current from the battery A passes over the electric circuit of the burglar-alarm; but under certain circumstances the switch F is shifted away from the contact-piece c and against the contact-piece c, so as to disconnect the battery A from `and connect the battery A to the electric circuit of the burglar-alarm.

' The electro-magnets D have two armatures, D D, operating in conjunction with them. As here shown, one of these armatures is arranged at each end of the electro-magnets; but both may be arranged at the same end and in different planes, if desirable. The armature D is retracted by a spring; but the armature Dl has no means for retracting it, and, owing to the position in which it is pivoted in place, has a tendency to remain in contact with the electro-magnets after being attracted. The armatures are so combined with the electro-magnets that the armature D will be attracted and held against the electro-magnets by an clectro-motiveforce less than that which is necessary to cause the electro-magnets to attract the armature D2. These armatures may severally close a local circuit arranged in the office. This local circuit consists of a wire, B5, leading from a battery, A, to a metallic switch, G, which has two metallic contactpieces, b bi. From the contact-pieceb a wire, B, extends to a contact-piece, c, with which the armature D of the electro-magnets D makes contact when released by the electromagnets and retracted therefrom. From thc contact-piece 1r a wire, B7, extends to a contact-piece, c, with which the armature D2 of the'electro-magnet-s D makes contact when the said electro-magnets attract it. A wire, BS, connected with both armatures D D2, extends thence to an electro-magnetic bell, H, and thence to the battery A2. It will be readily seen that upon a certain decrease of theenergy of the electro-magnets D the armature D will be retracted, so as to close the local circ-uit, and that upon a certain increase of the energy 'of the electro-magnets the armature D2 will close the local circuit, and thereafter retain it closed until retracted by hand. An alarm will be sounded by the electro-magnetic bell H in either case. Preferably this will be a continuously-ringing bell. Normally the switch lGr is in contact with both the contact-pieces b b2.

Bo designates a wire leading from the wire B3 to the pivot of the needle of the galvanometer E.

B10 designates a wire leading from a contactpiece, d, located near the galvanometer-needle, to the wire B5 or to the wire B, whereby the battery A is connected with the earth-plate C.

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metallic contact-piecese c e2.

Under certain circumstances the galvanom eter-needle is vibrated against this contactpiece d, and thereupon shunts the electric current.

The wire Blentcring the guarded structure, is connected to a metallic switch, I I. This switch has two arms, I I,which are connected by an insulated bar, Il, so as to operate in unison. The arms operate in conjunction with The wire Btis connected to the arm I of the switch. Vhen the switch is set for the night, the arm I will impinge against the contact-piece e. A wire, B, leads from the contactpiece c to the windows and doors to be protected. As here shown, it extends to one of a pair of metallic .contact -pieces, f, applied to a window, J.

From this contact-piece awire, Bm, extends to the contact-piece e', and as the arm I of the switch will, when the switch is set for the night, impinge against this contact-piece e', the circuitwill be continued to a iine wire, B13, extending through a partition, l?. Thence a wire, B, extends to the coils oi' electromagnets K. Thence a wire, B15, extends to ametallic circuit-breaking key, L. From this circuit-breaking key a wire, Bl, extends to the otherof the contactpieces f of the window J. Thence a wire, B, extends to a second fine wire, BS, passing through the partition P, and thence a wire, Bl", extends to the armature of the electromagnets K. The armature of these electromagnets,when attracted by the electromagnets, impinges against a contact-piece, g', and when retracted by its spring from the electro-magnets impinges against a stop, g2, of insulating material. A wire, B2", leads from the contact-piece g to an earth-plate, C. A resistance-coil, M, is interposed between the wires Bw and B20. When the armature of the electro-magnets K is retracted from the contact-piece (/,the electric current from the battery passes from the wires B1'J to the resistancecoilM, and thence along the wire Bzo to the ground. The electro-magnets K will preferably be of high resi stance-say, for instan ce, one hundred ohms.

It will be observed that the arm I of the switch I I is provided with a projection, I, extending beyond its pivot. This projection is made of insulating material, and constitutes a tappet which acts upon an extension, h, of the armature of the electro-magnets K, and when the arms of the switch are adjusted to the left shift-s the armature so that it will impinge against the contact-piece g.

The main battery A is not capable of energizing the electro-magnets K sufliciently to enable them to attract their armature; hencethe battery A has to be switched on to enable these electro-magnets to attract their armature. Vhen the armature is once attracted by the` electro magnets, the main battery will, however, cause the electromagnets to hold it. The contact-piece c`l is connected by a wire, B2?, with the wire Bi.

It will be borne in mind that the switch I I is adjusted so that its arm I will impinge against the contact-piece e, and its arm I will impinge against the contact-piece e during the'wnight, and at other times when the inmates of the guarded structure are absent from the structure, and then the windows and doors, as well as the partitions, skylights, and other devices through which fine wiring is extended, are protected. During the time that the inmates desire to use the doors and windows the switch I I is adjusted so that its arm I will impinge against the contact-piece e2 and its arm I will be out oi' contact with the contactpieces c e', and then protection is afforded to the partitions and other articles th rough which fine wiring is run only.

I will now proceed to describe the operatio of the burglar-alarm:

Yhen the inmates of the guarded structure are about to leave it, they close all the doors and windows which are to be in circuit, and shift the switohI I so that itsarm I will impinge against the contact-piece e and the arm They then signal to the watchman at the office by shifting the circuit-breaking key L. so as to break the circuit between the wires B15 and Bm. As soon as they have left the guarded structure, the watchman at the o'iice switches the battery A onto the electric circuit for an instant, thereby causing the electro-magnets K to attract their armature to them. Afterward the main battery A causes the electro-magnets to hold the armature. Normally the armature D of the electro-magnets D will be attracted to these electro1nagnets, and the armature D2 will be out of contact with the electromagnets. Tlie electric current from the battery A will `pass over the wire B to the elec-` tro-magnets D, thence along the wire B2 to the galvanometer E, thence along the Wire B3 to the switch or key F, and thence along the wire B to the arm I of the switch I I. From this arm of the switch it passes along vthe wire Bu to one of the contact-pieces fof the window J thence along the wire B12, the contact-piece c', and the arm I ofthe switch I I, to the ne wire B13 of the partition P. From the wire B13 it passes along the wire B to the electromagnets K; thence along the wire B15, key L, and wire B, to the other contact-piece j". Thence it passes along the wire BIT to the second wire, B18, of the partition I. From there it proceeds along the wire B1D to the armature of the electro-magnets K, and thence it passes along the contact-piece g' and the wire B20 to the earth-plate C. If the window J should be opened, the contact-pieces f would be caused to impinge, and the electric current` would then pass from the wire B, through these contactpieces, to the wire BU; thence along the wire B1S to the wire B, the electromagnets K being then out of the circuit. Ow-

. .90 I will impinge against the contact-piece c.

ing to the demagnetization of these electromagnets, their armature is retracted against` .on the battery A.

it lescano the stop g2, and the electric circuit then is broken between the armature andthe contactpiece g. The electric current th enpasses from the wire Bw, through the resistance-coil M, to the wire B20, and thence to the ground. Even if the windowwere immediately closed, the circuit would remain as thus described, because the main battery A would be unable to cause the electro-magnets to attract their ar- :mature to them and restore the normal circuit. It would be just the same if the electric circuit had been broken and reunited. The resistance-coil M, when introduced into the circuit, so weakens the electro-magnets D that the armature D thereof is retracted, closes the local circuit, and causes the electro-magnetic bell H to sound an alarm.

The position of the galvanomcter needle will indicate whether the alarm has .been caused by the opening of a door, a window, or the opening of the main circuit. The normal circuit may be restored, providing the window has been closed or the break repaired at the guarded structure, by momentarily switching If a short circuit should be made outside the guarded structure, even if only temporarily, the galvanometer-needle would be deilectechand, impinging against the contact-piece d, it would complete a short circuit through the wire B10 to the wire B5 5 thence to the battery A; thence along the wire B, the electro-magnets D, and the wire B2, to the galvanometer. Owing to the resistance tlius cut out of the circuit, the electro-magnets D will become energized sufficiently to attract their armature D, whereupon the local circuit will be closed and the electro magnetic bell H rung. The armature D`l will beheld by the electromagnets D until released by the watchman at the office, thus producing a continuous alarm. This is a valuable feature of my improvement, as it increases the sensitiveness of the alarm. For instance, a person desirous of effecting an entrance into the guarded structure might connect the wire B'L with the ground between the office and the guarded structure, and might happen to introduce a resistance so nearly approximating that of the guarded structure that the effect upon the electro-magnets D would be insufficient to cause the electro magnets eitherto release the armature Dl orto attract the armature Dt, and'yet it would cause a deection of the galvanometer-needle far enough for `it to establish the short circuit, eut out resistance, and enable the electro-magnets to attract the armature D2 and sound an alarm.

, It will be remembered that during the day, while the inmates of the guarded structure desire to use the doors and windows, the switch I I is shifted so that its arm I will impinge against the contact-piece c. This causes the shifting of the armature of the electro-magnet K, so that it will impinge against the contactpiece g. Then the electric current passes from the arm I ofthe switch along the wires B22, B13, and B14 5 thence through the coils of the electromagnets K, along the wire B15, the key L, and the wires B1, B, B18, and B19, to the armature ofthe said electro-magnets, to the contact-piece g, and thence along thc wire B20 to the earthplate C. Should the wire B13 of the partition then be ruptured and the electric circuit thereby broken, the armature D of the electro-magnets D would be retracted, thereby effecting the sounding of an alarm. The wire could then be repaired before the inmates of the structure leave it.

The object of providing the arm I of the switch I I with the tappet I3 is to cause the switch to hold the armature of the electromagnets K against the contact-piece g whenever the switch is adjusted for the day-or, in other words, with its arm I against the contact-piece e2. This is advantageous, because it enables the watchman at the office, when he receives a signal that the guarded structure is to be closed, to determine whether the switch I I has been adjusted from the day-circuit to the night-circuit. There is so little difference between the resistance of the day and night circuits that otherwise the instrument at the office might not indicate sufficient change to ydepressing the key L. If the switch I I is set for the night, the breaking of the circuit in this manner, and the consequent demagnctization of the electro-magnets K,will cause the circuit to pass from the wire B19 through the resistance-coil M, and thence along the wire B20 to the ground. If the switch I I were not shifted to establish the night-circuit, the resistance-coil would not be brought into the circuit by the operation of the key L. The effect on the galvanometer in either case would indicate clearly to the watchman whether the switch I I had been properly adjusted for the night.

It is obvious that by my improvement I provide for ascertaining whether an alarm proceeds from a cause inside or outside the guarded structure.

I desire to remark that in lieu of the electro-magnets D two separate electro-magnets, one having the armature D and the other having the armature D2, may be used.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuit extending from an office to aguarded structure, means located at the office for giving an alarm there when a change occurs in the resistance of the circuit at the guarded structure, an electro-magnet and armature at the guarded structure, a main 4battery which is located at the ofiice, and which is insufficient to cause the electro-magnet to attract its armature, and yet is suffi- IOO IIO

IIS A the resistance of the main circuit to such au cient to hold it When attracted, and means] extent that the electro-mafrnet will be able to with which the armature operates to control the passage of the electric current directly from Athe armature to the' ground or through a resistance-coil to the ground, substantially as specified. A

2. ln an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuit extending from an office to a guarded structure, an electro-magnet at the office, an armature therefor capable of being held by the electro-magnet against it when this electro-magnet is energized by the electric current of the. main battery, an ele-ctro-magnet at the guarded strueture,which is incapable, when energized from the main battery, of attracting its armature, but which iscapable of holding the armature when attracted, and means with which this arma-ture operates to control the passage of the electric current directly from this armature to the ground or through a resistance-coil to the ground, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuit extending from an office to a guarded structure, a local circuit at the office, provided With means for giving an alarm, an electro-magnet at the ofce, an ar mature therefor capable of being held by the electro-magnet against it When this electromagnet is energized by the main battery, an electro-magnet at the guarded structure, which `is incapable, when energized from the main battery, of attracting its armature,V but is capable of holding its armature when attracted, and means with which this armature operates to control the passage of the electric current directly from this armature to the ground or through a resistance-coil to the ground, substantially as specified.

4. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuit extending from an office to a guarded structure, devices located at 'the guarded structure for causing an alarm to be given at the office in case au attempt is made to gain access thereto, a galvanometer at the office; and means with which the galvanometer-needle, when sufficiently defiected, will operate t0 short-circuit the main circuit at the office and causethe sounding of an alarm at the office, substantially as specified.

5. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of' a main circuit extending from an office to a guarded structure, an electro-magnet located at the office, and having an armature which it is normally incapable of attracting, a galvanometer, also located at the office, and means with which the galvanometer-needle, `when deflected sufficiently, operates to shortcircuit the main circuit, and thereby reduce attract the said armature, sLbst-antially as speci- 6. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuit extending from an ofce to a guarded structure, an electro-magnet located at the office, and having an armature Which it is normally incapable of attract-` ing, a local circuit which can be closed by the said armature, and is provided with a device for giving an alarm, a galvanometer, also located at the office, and means With which the galvanometer-needle, when sufficiently deflected., operates to short-circuit the main circuit, and thereby reduce the resistance of the main circuit, so that the electro-magnet can attract the said armature, substantially as specied.

7. In an electric burglar-alarm, the combination of a main circuit extending from an office to a guarded structure, an electro magnet or magnets located in the office, and having armatures, one of which the electro magnet or magnets, When energized from the main battery, can attraet,but not the other, While the normal circuit is maintained, a galvanometer, also located at the office, and serving, when sufficiently deiiected by a change of resistance,

to establish a short -circuit and reduce the resistance, so that the electro magnet or magnets can thenV attract both armatures, an electromagnet at the guarded structure, incapable of attracting its armature, but capable of holding it when attracted, and means with which this armature operates to control the passage of the 'electric current directly from this armature to the ground or through a resistance-coil to the ground, the resistancecoil ,when introduced into the circuit, serving to so weaken the electro magnet or magnets at the oiiice as to prevent either armature operating in conj unction therewith from being held attracted, substantially as specified.

S. In an electric burglar-alarm, the co1nbination of a main circuit extending from an office to a guarded structure, a resistance device forining a part of the Yalarm apparatus and located at the guarded structure, means also located at the guarded structure and serving, on the opening of awindow or door of the guarded structure, to throw said resistance device into the circuit at the guarded structure, and a device located at an office Where Watch is kept, and serving to give an alarm When the resistance device is thus thrown into the circuit at the guarded structure, substantially as specified.

JAS. TOMNEY.

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