US530368A - Bilge-water alarm - Google Patents

Description

BESTAVAXLABLE COP.

(No Model.)

0. UPTON.-

BILGE WATER ALARM.

' Patented Dec. 4, 1894.

WITNESSES: Md, By

L/IQ

ATTORNEYS.

BEST AVAILA LE COP.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ooLcoRn UPTON, or SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

BlLGE-WATER ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,368, dated December 4, 1894.

. Application filed February 1, 1894. Serial No. 498,747- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CoLoonn UPTON, of Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have inventedanew and Improved Bilge-Water Alarm, of which the following is a full, clear, and exa'ctdescription.

The object of the invention is to, provide an improved float-operated circuit closer for marine vessels, for giving an alarm upon the rise of the water above a predetermined height, and the improvements are more particularly designed to insure a more eflicient electrical contact, upon a rise of the water, than generally results from the devices heretofore employed. 7.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation with the case partly broken away, the parts being in the normal position, that is, with the circuit open. Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the parts in position to close the circuit. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a broken detail sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In constructing and arranging an alarm in accordance with my invention, an improved float-o erated circuit closer is provided, of which '10 case A contains the movable parts and su ports the binding posts. In the upper end of the case, which preferably is cylindrical, a disk B is fitted and supports the binding posts 0, which form the terminals of the line wires and each consists of a screw 0', the shank of which projects upward from the under side of the disk B, through and above the latter, a lock nut C on the shank adapted to bear on the under side of the disk, and the sleeve 0 which has a threaded engagement with the shank of the screw 0 above the nut 0 and carries the clamping lever C The upper ends of the binding posts are slotted as at c for receiving the levers 0 each of which has a cam head 0, which is normally sufii ciently above the bottom wall of the slot in which it is pivoted to permit entrance of the wire. This construction promotes convenience in the connection of the line wires, 2. single movement serving to permit entrance of the wire and a throw of the lever to bind the same.

In the bottom of the case, which is open, a base D of skeleton form it detachably secured in the manner hereinafter explained, and a verticalrod d on said base, projects through an aperture in the disk B, and forms a guide for the float E, and the movable contact plate. Thus the float E-is centrally apertured for free movement on the-rodd on which it slides, and surroundingthe rod and resting on a seat 6 on the float is a spiral sprin'g F, on the upper end of which is yieldingly supported the contact plate G, of suitable conducting material. The plate G is centrally apertured to loosely fit on the rod (1, and is separate from the spring F, being merely seated on the latter, the arrangement being such that the plate is free to tilt slightly. Thus upon the float rising in response to a rise of the Water, should the plate strike one terminal only, the continued upward movement of the float and the spring will tilt the plate, if necessary, until a firm contact is bad with both terminals. The spring F is of such a height as will maintain the contact plate considerably removed from the float E, to prevent any normal rise of the water from reaching the plate, with the consequent liability of corroding it and preventing a proper electrical contact with the terminals. Further, the case is designed to be immersed in water once a day, or at other proper intervals, for testing the devices, and this frequent immersion will have no deleterious efiect on the contact plate since the latter will not be reached by the water. This construction is of great importance, as practical experience has demonstrated that with the ordinary weak batteries usually employed and the tendency of the movable contact plate to corrode, it is practically impossible to maintain such a nicety of adjustment as will efiect a contact with the terminals, where the plate moves only in a direct line toward the terminals. By permitting the contact plate to yield as described, a pronounced and efficient contact is insured.

The rod d, the float and the contact plate and its spring are all supported on the base 580,368 BEST AVALABLE D, and in order that the latter may be readily detached to permit cleaning or renewal of the parts, the base is provided with laterally projecting studs d, and in the lower edge of the case A, L-shaped slots H are formed after the manner of a bayonet joint, and at the inner end of the horizontal member of each of said slots is formed a seat h in a lower plane than the branch of the slot that leads to it, whereby the studs, when entered in the slots H, and the base D turned, will be firmly seated and will lock the parts against accidental disengagement.

A vent aperture b is produced in the disk B for the entrance and exit of air as the float rises and falls.

A suitable bail I, is provided on the case, for suspending it and for use when carrying the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The herein-described circuit closer, comprising a case having terminals for the line wires, 3 guide rod extending vertically within the case, a float guided on said rod, a spiral spring seated on the float and ranging vertically in the case, and a contact plate yieldingly supported on the spring, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a float-operated circuit closer, of a case, an insulating cap in the upper end of the case, binding posts sup ported on the cap and extending to the inner side thereof, forming terminals for the line wires, a base detachably secured to the bottom of the case, a guide rod extending upwardly from said base through the cap of the case, a float having guided movement on the rod, a spiral spring surrounding the rod and supported on the float, and a contact plate also having guided movement on the rod and supported on the spring, to tilt relatively to the axis of the case and float, substantially as described.

3. The herein described circuit closer, comprising the following elements, to wit: a case having an insulating cap with a vent orifice and carrying binding posts extending to the inner side of the cap, a skeleton base fitting the lower end of the case and provided with lateral studs, L-shaped slots leading from the lower edge of the case for receiving said studs, seats communicating with said slots at the inner ends thereof and located below said inner ends of the slots, a vertical guide rod on the base, a float having guided movement on the rod, and a contact plate yieldingly supported from the float by an interposed spiral spring, substantially as described.

COLCORD UPTON. Witnesses:

J. L. MGAULIFFE, O. SEDGWICK.

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