US3531604A

US3531604A - Trigger switch for actuating an alarm

Info

Publication number: US3531604A
Application number: US830315A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Imburgia
Original assignee: JOHN J IMBURGIA
Current assignee: JOHN J IMBURGIA
Priority date: 1969-06-04
Filing date: 1969-06-04
Publication date: 1970-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1987-09-29

Description

Sept. 29', 1970 J. J. IMBURGIA I TRIGGER SWITCH FOR ACTUATING AN ALARM Filed June 4, 1969 44 FIG. 4

INVENTOR JOHN J. -|MBURGIA j ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 20061.04 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Two spaced electrical contacts in the bottom of a housing are connected in circuit with an alarm, which is energized when the contacts are bridged by a metal plate that is fastened intermediate its ends in the housing to a tension spring, which normally urges it towards the contacts. The plate can be drawn manually away from the contacts and releasably fastened to a cap on the upper end of the housing by means including a plug adapted either to dissolve in water, or to melt in response to intense heat, thereby to release the spring-loaded plate and permit it to reengage the electrical contacts and to trigger the alarm.

The present invention relates to alarms and more particularly to apparatus for use in a household, store, or factory for actuating a signal in case of fire or high water.

Fire is always a constant danger to any dwelling, store, or factory. If the building catches fire, water is poured into it to extinguish the fire. Where the building is protected by an automatic sprinkler system, the sprinkler system may be accidentally touched off; and, in any event, if there is an actual fire, the water from the sprinkler system will be added to that poured into the structure by the firemen. Frequently, the water is poured into the building at so great a rate that it is impossible for it to drain off as fast as it is supplied. If the fire is on an upper floor of a building, the water, seeking an exit, may run down to the floors below, causing water damage to any equipment, furniture, or other goods therein.

A primary object of this invention is to provide simple, reusable, easily-settable apparatus for actuating an alarm in event of fire or high water.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus which may be used to operate a drain or scupper to permit drainage of water from a building or any floor thereof if water exceeds a predetermined level therein.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an alarm device constructed according to one embodiment of this invention, the device being shown in cocked condition;

FIG. 2 is a diametral section through the device with parts shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 1 but showing the device in tripped condition;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the device in tripped condition, and additionally the manner in which the device may be connected electrically to an alarm;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary diametral sectional view of the tripping mechanism of a modification of the invention, particularly intended for use as a burglar alarm; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary diametral sectional view showing another form of tripping mechanism for a burglar alarm built according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, 10 denotes a generally cup-shaped casing having its upper end closed by a cap 12. Cap 12 has a cylindrical block 14 welded or riveted or otherwise secured to its inner face. This block has a pin 16 extending diametrally through and having down-turned ends 18 at opposite ends projecting beyond the block.

These ends 18 serve as detents, and are adapted to be passed through holes 20 in a plate 22, to releasably lock plate 22 to cap 12. The projecting ends 18 of the pin 16 are passed through the holes 20 in the plate 22 and then the cap 12 is rotated through to lock the plate to the cap.

A coil tension spring 24 is secured at its upper end to the plate 20. At its lower end this spring is secured to a disc 26 which is held to the bottom of casing 10 by a bolt 28, which passes through the bottom of the casing, and by a nut 30 which threads onto the bolt externally of the casing. Projecting into the casing through the bottom thereof are two conductor rods 32 having headed inner terminal ends 34. Insulating sleeves 36 surround the conductor rods. The rods project outside the bottom of the casing and

electrical lead wires

38, 39 are secured in electrically conductive contact with the projecting ends of the rods by nuts 40 which thread onto the externally projecting ends of the rods.

The line 38 is connected to one side of a battery 42. The other side of the battery is connected by a line 44 to one side of an electromagnet or other device housed in a casing 46 for operating the clapper 48 of a bell 50. The other side of the electromagnet is connected to line 39.

The plate 22 is made of metal or other electrically conductive material. When it is in the position shown in FIG. 4 it bridges the heads 34 of the terminal rods 32, closing the circuit to the electromagnet which is housed in the casing 46, and sounding the alarm.

Secured on the cap 12 is a tubular housing 52 in which a headed pin 54 is mounted. This pin is constantly urged upwardly by a coil spring 56 which is interposed between the head 58 of the pin 54 and a shoulder formed internally in the housing 52 adjacent the bottom of the housing.

The top of the housing has tangs 62 on it which are bent or spun over, to retain the pin 54 in the housing. In use, a readily heat-meltable disc 60 is interposed between the head 58 of pin 54 and the tangs 62 of the housing if the device is to be used to operate a fire alarm, and a water soluble tablet is interposed between the head 58 of the pin and the tangs if the device is to be used to open a scupper or drain to drain 01f high high water.

When the meltable disc or soluble tablet 60 is in place between the head 58 of pin 54 and the tangs 62, the device can be cocked by removing cap 12, inserting a hook into one of the holes 20 in plate 22, pulling the plate out of the casing 10 against the resistance of spring 24, then grasping the plate 22 and releasing the hook, and inserting the ends 18 of the pin 16 through the holes 20 in the plate, and rotating the cap 12 until pin 54 snaps into a recess 64 in plate 22, thereby locking cap 12 and plate 22 together and moving pins 18 out of registry with holes 20. The cap 12 is then replaced in the casing and rotated to wind up spring 24. A screw 66 is then threaded into a hole in the periphery of cap 12 to lock the device in its cocked position.

If the disc 60 is a heat-meltable disc, and a fire occurs in the building in which the device has been installed, the disc will melt, the spring 56 will force the pin upwardly disengaging it from the recess 64 in the plate 22. With the plate thus freed, the spring 24 will rotate it relative to cap 12 which is held stationary by screw 66. As soon as the holes 20 in the plate register with the pin ends 18, the spring 24 will pull the plate 22 clear of the pin ends and 3 carry the plate into the position shown in FIG. 4 where the plate bridges terminal heads 34-, closing the circuit to the alarm, to the scupper or drain or whatever it is that the device is wired to operate.

For a burglar alarm the tripping mechanism may be modified as shown in FIG. 5. Here the housing 72 has a pin 74 mounted in it which has a collar 75 intermediate its ends and a guide portion 76 of smaller diameter than collar 75 and abutting the lower face of collar 75. Pin 74 reciprocates rectilinearly in a guide sleeve 79 that is threaded into the lower end of housing 72 and is guided in its reciprocating movement by guide portion 76. Interposed between the upper end 77 of housing 72 and collar 75 is a coil spring 78, which urges the lower,'reduceddiameter portion 80 of pin 74 constantly toward engagement with recess 64 in plate 22. A chain or the like 82, which is secured at one end in a hole 83 in the upper end of pin 74 connects pin 74 to a door or a window of the building, which is to be protected by the alarm device.

This device is cocked in the same way as the device of FIGS. 1 to 4, and when in cocked position plate 22 is locked as above described. If a burglar opens a door or window to which chain 82 is secured, the pin 74 will be retracted from hole 64 in plate 22, and spring 24 will revolve the plate closing the circuit to the alarm as above described.

The device of FIG. 6 is similar to that of FIG. except that it comprises a plunger 92 that reciprocates in housing 52. This plunger is adapted to be forced outwardly of housing 52 by pressure of a spring 98, which is interposed between the collar 95 on the plunger and the fitting 79 that threads into the bottom of housing 52. Plunger 97 is adapted to engage at its lower end in recess 64 in plate 22 to hold plate 22 against rotation. A head 96 on the plunger engages against the back of a paintin-gor the underside of a typewriter, or other object that is to be protected by the device. Spring 98 constantly presses plunger 92 outwardly of casing 52; but is held in the position shown by the weight of the painting, which is to be protected, on the plunger. If the painting, or typewriter 99, stealing of which is to be prevented, is lifted away from or otf plunger 92, spring 98 will force the plunger upwardly, and plate 22 will be released so that plate 12 will rotate under actuation of spring 24, setting oif the alarm as above described.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a very simple inexpensive device for operating an alarm in case of fire or burglary, or opening a scupper or drain in case of high water, etc.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 1. A control device comprising: a casing, a cap for closing one end of said casing, a pair of electrical terminals projecting into said casing, a plate bridging said terminals to close an electric circuit therethrough, 1

means having a portion thereof on the inside of said casing for releasably holding said plate in inoperative position,

operable means on the outside of said casing and cooperating with said holding means for releasing said holding means, and

means operable, upon release of said plate, to move said plate to its operative bridging position.

2. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises:

a pin engageable in a recess in said plate,

a spring constantly urging said pin to released position,

and

means for normally retaining said pin in said recess, the

last-named means being operative to release said pin when said externally-operable means is actuated.

3. A control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said holding means also includes a detent on the inside of said cap, and

said plate has a hole in it which when in registry with said detent causes said plate to be released from said cap.

4. A control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein means is provided for holding said cap stationary in said casing relative to said plate.

5. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for moving said plate to bridging position comprises:

a coil spring secured at one end to said plate and at its opposite end to said casing.

6. A control device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for releasably holding said plane in inoperative position comprises:

a detent on said cap, and

said plate has a hole in it which in the inoperative position of said plate is out of registry with said detent and which when in registry with said detent releases said plate and permits movement of said plate to operative position.

7. A control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said holding means comprises a pin engaging a recess in said plate, and a spring constantly urging said pin to released position, and

said operable means preventing movement of said pin to released position until ambient conditions exceed a predetermined limit.

8. A control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first-named spring rotates said plate and also moves said plate rectilinearly to operative position upon release of said plate from said cap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,955,180 10/1960 Denton 337-410 ROBERT S. MACON, Primary Examiner M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner U.S. c1. X.R.