US3187139A

US3187139A - Remotely controlled electrical switch device

Info

Publication number: US3187139A
Application number: US78446A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas D Hardesty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-12-27
Filing date: 1960-12-27
Publication date: 1965-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-01

Description

June 1, 1965 T. D. HARDESTY 3,137,139

REMOTELY CONTROLLED ELECTRICAL SWITCH DEVICE Filed Dec. 27, 1960 F llllllll r I Z? WW5. mwm m 7 0 A M MM U a M. I0 M Q M. w x a m United States Patent M 3,187,139 REMOTELY CONTROLLED ELECTRICAL SWITCH DEVICE Thomas D. Hardesty, 3004 Broadway, Lorain, Ohio Filed Dec. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 78,446 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-87) This invention relates to a remotely controlled electrical warning or alerting device, and it more particularly relates to a warning device of the aforesaid type which is adapted to be used in the home as an air raid alert means.

Warning or alarm systems heretofore in general use have been, for the most part, complex, overly sensitive and unduly expensive for widespread home use. Consequently, air raid alerts are generally provided by sirens in a centrally located area, such sirens being loud enough to be heard by all in the area. However, during testing of the equipment or practice alerts, the harsh and overly loud nature of these sirens cause undue annoyance. Furthermore, if something should go wrong with this central siren, the entire area would be without adequate warning.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages by providing a warning device of the aforesaid type which is relatively simple and not overly sensitive and therefore not subject to easy disorder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a warning device of the aforesaid type which can be installed in individual homes and which can be provided with an alarm signal which is most pleasant for the individual home dwellers according to their tastes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a warning device of the aforesaid type which can easily be tested by the individual home owner when he pleases.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved warning device, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eihcient in operation.

With the above and related objects in View, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a warning device embodying the present invention, the electrical connections being shown somewhat diagrammatically.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 1, taken one line 22 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of device embodying the present invention, on a smaller scale.

FIG. 6 is an end view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another modified form of the device embodying the present invention, also on a smaller scale.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 a warning device, generally designated 10, comprising a rectangular housing 12 of electrically insulating material such as phenolic resin or the like. The walls of the housing 12 are all integrally connected except for one removable side wall 14 which provides access to the interior of the housing 12. The wall 14 may be releasably held in place by bolts 15.

Within the housing 12 are positioned the inner ends of a pair of electrodes or prongs 16 and 18, these electrodes 16 and 18 extending through corresponding apertures in one of the end walls of the housing 12. The inner end of the electrode 16 is provided with a terminal 3,187,139 Patented June 1, 1965 screw 29 to which are connected a pair of

electrical wires

22 and 24. The wire 22 extends through an insulating cable or sleeve 26 positioned in an aperture in the opposite end wall of the housing 12 while the wire 24 is connected to the coil 28 of an electro-magnet 30 fixed on a bracket 31 mounted within the housing 12 at a predetermined angular position. A wire or lead 32 connects the coil 28 to the electrode 18 to complete a circuit between the electrodes 16 and 18.

The electrode 13, within the housing 12, is provided with a fork portion 34 (see FIG. 4) and extending be tween the arms of the fork portion 34 is a pivot shaft 36. Pivotally mounted on the shaft 36 is finger or switch blade 38 constructed of electrically insulating material. A torsion spring 4%) is provided on the shaft 36 and has an end portion 42 overlapping the blade 38. This spring 40 acts to resiliently bias the blade 38 downwardly toward the dotted outline position illustrated in FIG. 2, whereby said blade 38 forms the movable portion of a switch means.

The blade 38 is provided on its upper surface with an electrically conductive plate 44 made of steel or the like, and on its bottom surface the blade 38 is provided with an electrical contact 46. This contact 46 is adapted to abut a fixed electrical contact 23 positioned on an electrically conductive arm 50 having a portion 52 connected to the housing 12 by a terminal screw 54. The screw 54 holds one end of an electrical wire 56 leading through the sleeve 26.

Adjacent the contact 4-8 and its supporting members is provided a latch finger 58 pivoted on a pin 6t) mounted between the ears of a generally U-shaped bracket 62. The latch finger S8 is provided with a notch 64 adapted to engage the blade 38 to retain it in the lower biased position (shown in FIG. 3 and in dotted outline in FIG. 2). The finger 53 is provided with a lever portion 66 extending through a corresponding aperture in the housing 12 to an outer position available for easy grasping for manual actuation.

The

wires

22 and 56 are connected at 63 and 7 0 respectively to the terminals of a signal device such as a radio, a bell, or other sound producer, indicated generally at 72 (seeFIG. 1 In operation, with the normal house current flowing and the electrodes or prongs 16 and 18 connected into a regular electrical receptacle or wall socket, the applied voltage is sufficient to actuate the electro-magnet 30 to retain the blade 38 in the open position (shown in full line in FIG. 2). However, if the voltage should fall below a predetermined minimum, for example 60 volts, the resulting magnetic force of the electro-magnet 30 would not be sufiicient to overcome the force of spring 40 and this spring 4-0 would then snap the blade 38 into the closed (or dotted outline) position wherein contact 46 would engage contact 48 and establish a circuit to the warning device or radio 72. The radio 72, which would be kept in on position tuned to a CONELRAD station, would then give the alarm. It is to be noted that in this closed switch position, the latch 58 would automatically lock the blade 38 in closed position. Therefore, if there is a complete temporary power failure so that no power would be available for actuating the signal, when power returned, the signal would automatically become actuated.

If warning devices of the above type were installed in all homes, in time of emergency, the central power operator could lower the voltage in all the electrical lines below the predetermined level momentarily to actuate all the individual signals and then could return it to normal. If it were merely desired to test the various devices, such momentary lowering of voltage causing the radio 72 to play would not unduly alarm the population since the radio would indicate that no real emergency existed. F urthermore, if'the individual home owner wished to test his device himself, he could do so merely by pulling the electrodes 16 and 18 out of the electrical receptacle, causing the

contacts

46 and 48 to close. He could then reinsert the prongs or electrodes 16 and 18 in the receptacle to cause the signal to operate. He can then stop the signal by pressing the lever 66 to unlatch the blade 38 and permit the electro-magnet 30 to retain the switch open. This unlatching operation would also be used in the event of an inadvertent power failure which would cause the signal to operate upon the return of power.

It is to be understood that although a radio 72 is used to illustrate the signal means, any other desired type of signal may be substituted according to the individuals tastes and preferences. In this connection, in FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a warning device, generally designated 100, which, in most instances, is identical with the device shown at 10. It includes the identical type of housing, here designated 102 and identical electrodes or prongs designated 104 and 106. It differs from the device only in that instead of having a cable or sleeve 26 leading to aradio, there is provided an adaptor or socket portion 108 having a pair of slots 110. These slots 110 are each lined with electrically conducting material which is connected to the

wires

22 and 56 respectively. These slots 110 are adapted to receive the electrodes or prongs of an ordinary electrical plug on an electrical cord of the standard type. This cord can then be electrically connected to any type of signal device desired. By this construction, the warning device 100 can be selectively used, as desired, with whatever type of signal device pleases the person then using it. If the person should then change his mind, he can merely unplug the one signal and substitute another. A deaf person, for instance, could plug a flashing lamp into receptacle slots 110. y

In FIG. 7, there is shown a warning device 200 also identical with device 10 in almost every respect including the housing 202 and electrodes or

prongs

204 and 206. However, here, the signal, in the form of a buzzer assembly 208, is attached directly to the housing 202 and is in electrical connection with the internal wiring thereof similarly to the modifications described above. This form of the device, although less adaptable than those described above, has the advantage of being more compact and simpler to install and use since all that need be done with this form of the device is to plug it in any electrical receptacle or outlet in the house.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be vari-.

ously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed. 7

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. An electrical switch device comprising a housing, a low voltage actuated circuit completing switch means in said housing comprising a through conductor and two spaced apart conductor portions, a first contact means pivotally mounted in said housing and electrically connected to one Of'said conductor portions, a second contact means fixed in said housing in the path of said pivotally mounted first contact means, said second contact means being electrically connected to the other of said conductor portions to thereby complete a circuit between said con: ductor portions and said through conductor when said pivoted contact means is in contact with said fixed contact conductor and fixed in said housing adajcent said pivoted contact means to bias and hold said pivoted contact means in circuit interrupting position on normal voltage through said electromagnet means, and biasing means, of less biasing power than said electromagnet means, biasing said pivoted contact means to circuit completing position with said fixed contact means, on less than normal voltage through said electromagnet means. 7

2. The switch of claim 1, and a pivoted releasable latch means, in the path of said pivoted contact means, for holding said pivoted contact means, when biased into circuit completing position with said fixed contact means during low voltage in the circuit, in said circuit completing position against the biasing action of said electromagnet means during subsequent normal voltage in the circuit.

3. The switch of claim 2, and a manually actuable lever means operatively connected to said latch means and extending externally of said housing for releasing said latch means from said pivoted contact means permitting said electromagnet to bias said pivoted contact means to circuit interrupting position during normal voltage through said electromagnet means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,682,332 8/28 Hamlin 340-256 1,950,022 3/34 Davis 200-106 2,157,787 5/39 Farrell 200-87 2,179,486 11/39 Barnes a 200-106 2,184,755 12/39 Pratt 340-256 BERNARD GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

IRVING L. SRAGOW, Examiner.

Claims

1. AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING, A LOW VOLTAGE ACTUATED CIRCUIT COMPLETING SWITCH MEANS IN SAID HOUSING COMPRISING A THROUGH CONDUCTOR AND TWO SPACED APART CONDUCTOR PORTIONS, A FIRST CONTACT MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID CONDUCTOR PORTIONS, A SECOND CONTACT MEANS FIXED IN SAID HOUSING IN THE PATH OF SAID PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FIRST CONTACT MEANS, SAID SECOND CONTACT MEANS BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID CONDUCTOR PORTIONS TO THEREBY COMPLETE A CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID CONDUCTOR PORTIONS AND SAID THROUGH CONDUCTOR WHEN SAID PIVOTED CONTACT MEANS IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID FIXED CONTACT MEANS, AN ELECTROMAGNET MEANS CONNECTED IN A CIRCUIT BETWEEN ONE OF SAID CONDUCTOR PORTIONS AND SAID THROUGH CONDUCTOR AND FIXED IN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID PIVOTED CONTACT MEANS TO BIAS AND HOLD SAID PIVOTED CONTACT MEANS IN CIRCUIT INTERRUPTING POSITION ON NORMAL VOLTAGE THROUGH SAID ELECTROMAGNET MEANS, AND BIASING MEANS, OF LESS BIASING POWER THAN SAID ELECTROMAGNET MEANS, BIASING SAID PIVOTED CONTACT MEANS TO CIRCUIT COMPLETING POSITION WITH SAID FIXED CONTACT MEANS, ON LESS THAN NORMAL VOLTAGE THROUGH SAID ELECTROMAGNET MEANS.