US371626A - Device foe indicating life in buried peesons - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. REDL'.

DEVIOE FOR INDIGATING LIFE IN BURIED PERSONS. No. 371,626. Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

I I'll L i Q N FE'IERS. Fhmwl-Khognpimr. Wammgion. o. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. REDL.

DEVICE FOR INDIOATING LIFE IN BURIED PERSONS.

No. 371,626. Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL REDL, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

DEVICE FOR lNDlCATlNG LIFE IN BURIED PERSONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,626, dated October 18, 1887.

Application filed March 16, 1887. Serial No. 231,212. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL REDL, a subject ofthe Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, and a resident of Vienna, Austria-Hungary, have invented a new and useful Device for Indicating Life in Buried Persons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety device and alarm apparatus applied to coffins for the use and saving of such persons as may be buried while only apparently dead. It may be constructed in two diti'erent modifications, accordingly as the coffin is placed under the earth or in a vault. In the first modification the coffin is provided with an opening, over which may be placed an air-pipe. This opening and also that at the upper end of the airpipe are closed up by a hinged or sliding plate, which may be opened by the movement of the buried person,so that fresh air may enter into the coffin. At the same time an electric current is closed by opening the plates,which current actuates an electric alarm apparatus, (either situated in a casing abovethe air-pipe or in any other suitable place.) If the coftin is situated in a vault or in a sarcophagus the air-pipe (of much less length) is placed upon an opening in the cover of the same, and a flexible (or articulated) joint is arranged between the closing device of the coffin and that of the air-pipe. The alarm apparatus is in both cases the same.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of such a safety-coffin. Fig. 2 is a view (from the interior of the coffin) of the shutting device when closed; Fig. 3, when opened. Fig. 4 is a 1ongitudinal section of the same, showing the closed cover and the catch device. Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of the same, showing the guide of the cover. Fig. 6 represents the cover, seen from above. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the top of the air-pipe, the cover being opened. Fig. 8 represents, in a larger scale, the contact device for the electric alarm apparatus. Figs. 2 to 7 are shown on an enlarged scale.

The coffin A, Fig. 1, is provided with an opening, a, which may be closed with acover or slide-plate, b. This cover carries on every side a tube-shaped guide-piece, 12, Figs. 2, 3, and 5, which slides in a suitable guide fixed to the coffin. Any ordinary means of guiding may,however, be employed. A spring, 0, (spiral spring or volute spring,) inclosed in a casing, presses against each end of the tubular guide-piece b and has the tendency to remove the cover I) from the opening a. This is prevented by a spring-catch, d, the nose of which catches behind the projection b on the cover or slide-plate b. As can be seen in Fig. 4, after removing the cover 6 the slide-plate b (or the openinga) is disclosed, and on unscrewing the safety-capf and pressing down the pin (1 the nose n is disengaged from d and the slide-plate b is removed by the springs c from the opening a. The same is effected by pull.- ing at the cord or chain 9.

The opening a is surrounded by a short tubular IIII], h, Figs. 4, 5, 6, which is provided with two pins, h. The air-pipe B is put upon this tubular rim h, so that the two pins If enter into two slots on the lower edge of the same and prevent it from turning.

The air pipe extends to a suitable height above the tomb and ends in asloping top piece, which may be closed by a cover, t. The cover i is provided with a catch-nose, i, which may engage (when the cover is closed) with a catch device, It. When the safety-cap Zis unscrewed, one may press upon the pin it of the springcatch k,whereby the connection between t" and his disengaged. The coveris opened by means of a weight, in, (or a spring,) which is suspended on a chain or cord, m, passing over pulleys m" m.

The opening of the cover may be facilitated by a spring, a,which presses against the cover The catch device It is connected with a rod or wire, 0, or by any other suitable means, to the pin 1), Figs. 4 and 6, which is hinged on the cover or slide-plate b. WVhen the apparentIy dead person awakes and pulls the cord 9, the cover 12 opens, as alreadystated. By the movement of the plate b the wire or rod 0 is drawn downwardly, the catch or trigger it is disengaged, and the covert opens, so that fresh air may enter. The flange of the cover may be provided with packing material, such as a rubber ring or the like.

In order to have also an audible signal I employ an electric alarm apparatus. An electric contact is produced at the moment when .the covert is opened. Fig. 8 represents this contact device on an enlarged scale. The cover '6 is provided with a pin or projection, i which projects through a slit or opening in the flange B and bears on a knob, q, of non-conducting material, (ivory, ebonite, &c.,) which is secured to a metal spring, q. The conductingwires pass to the two terminals r and s. The latter-is secured to the metal spring g, which rests upon an insulating-plate, it. When the cover opens, theprojection i ceases to press on' the knob q, and the current passes from the terminal r, through the metal plateu and spring q, to the second terminal, 8. When the cover is closed the projection 2'' passes on the knob q, so that the spring q leavesthe metal plate u, and the current is interrupted.

The electric circuit comprises a battery, 0, of any suitable construction, and also an alarm,

D, (also ofany suitable construction.) 0 and D may be situated in a casing, E, over the airpipe or in the watch-room;

It is understood that the coffin, air-pipe, appurtenances, and casing E may be made ofany suitable material in any ornamental decoration. One may also employ several openings in the coffin and several air-pipes. The first cover or slide-plate may be applied to the lower part of the air-pipe instead of on the cofiin.

I claim, in an apparatus for the saving of ap parentl y dead and buried persons- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the air-pipe B, cover i, weight m, chain m, catch device 13 k, wire 0, slide-p1ate I), catch device I) d, springs c, and cord 9, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with tube B and cover z, of the wire 0, catch device k, projection i knob q, metal spring g, battery 0, connectors r s, and insulating-plate u, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the coffin A and slide-plate b, of the springs a, catch device b d, cord 9, air-pipe B, cover 6, weight m, chain in, catch device 2" 7c, and wire 0, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the coffin A, of the slide-plate b, springs a, catch device I) d, cord 9!, air-pipe B, cover iyweight m, catch device 1" la, wire 0, a projection, '5 knob q, metal spring q, connectors rs, insulating-plate a, battery 0, and alarm D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL REDL.

Witnesses:

' EDMUND J USSEN, OTTO SOHEFFER.

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