US937919A - Electric alarm. - Google Patents

Description

R. C. BRUNSON.

ELECTRIC ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.12, 1908.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT orricn.

RALPH C. BRONSON, `OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC ALARM.

My invention relates to improvements inl electric alarm systems, and has for its object the production of devices by means of which an alarm may be sounded simultaneously in any number of rooms or in any desired places.

A further object is the production of a system involving simple constructions and wirings, by means of which the turning of a switch in any room will at once operate the striking mechanism located in any desired number of rooms.

These and suoli other objects as may here-` inafter appear, are attained by my device, an embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings: Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic view showing the system installed in four rooms. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of my motor and transmitting cylinder in position. Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing: A, B, C, and D represent the four rooms, for instance in a school house equipped with my system. Located away from the rooms and preferably in the basement, is an ordinary motor 4. This motor is in circuit with a source of electricity, preferably a system in use for lighting. Adjacent to this motor is a transmitting cylinder 5, by the operation of which the striking apparatus in each room is caused to operate. The transmitting cylinder 5 is so arranged as to accommodate any number of local circuits leading to the different floors of the building, and each room is equipped with a local circuitV actuated by a relay and adapted tol operate an alarm or striking apparatus in the room.

In Fig. 1 the transmitting cylinder is shown with two contact strips 6 and 7. Located in each room within which there is an alarm or from which it is desired to'start the alarms in operation, are switches 8a, 8b, 8C, and 8d. The closing of any one of these switches closes the circuit through the motor 4. For instance, let us suppose the switch 8a closed. The circuit is completed through a contact 9 and lines 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application iled October 12, 1908.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

serial No. 457,323.

the motor 4 and through the switch 8a, the lines 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 to the outside circuit, while the other line 20 of the outside circuit is connected to the other pole of the motor 4. This closing of the switch 8a therefore sends a current through the motor and actuates the transmitting cylinder 5. The revolution of this cylinder alternately makes and breaks the local circuits to each series of rooms, as will be explained later, the circuits being as follows: From the pole 21 on the transmitter line 22 to the local battery 23, lines 24, 25 to the pole 26 of relay 27b and from the other pole 28 of the relay through/lines 29, 30,31 to the poles 32 of relay 27 a. From the other pole 33 lines 34, 35 and 36 to the opposite pole 37 of the contact strip 6. When the relay 27b is energized it closes the local circuit within the rooms through the relay contact 38, line 39 to the pole 40b of the striker 41b from the opposite pole 42, line 43, the local battery 44, line 45, to the opposite pole 46 of the relay 27h.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the motor 4 is provided witha worm 47 meshing with thegear 48 on the transmitting cylinder 5, the operation of the motor therefore revolves the transmitting cylinder at any desired rate of speed. Located on the outer periphery of the cylinder 5 are a series of contact lugs 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53. On the frame 54 is mounted a contact spring 55 and a metallic connecting bar 56. This contact spring 55 is directly in the path of lugs 51, 52 and 53 and as the cylinder is revolved, the springs ride over the face of the lug, forcing the contacting face 58 of the spring into contact with the contact screws 59 in connection with the contact bar 56. Contact screws 60 and 61 secure to the rod 56 and spring 55, the connecting wires 62 and 63 leading to the apparatus located in rooms C and D, the circuits of which are similar to those traced above leading to rooms A and B as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

Located in each of the rooms A, B, C, and D are drums or some similar device 64a, 64b, 64c and 64d adapted to be actuated by the strikers 41a, 41h, 41e, and 41d.

While I have shown the transmitting cylinder as equipped with two series of contact lugs 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53, it is evident that l can place as many series of these lugs on the cylinder as I desire in order to facilitate the operation ot the device, and While I have shown tWo rooms in circuit With each series of contacts in the cylinder, it is evident that any number ot' rooms may be placed in circuit although prefer to place the rooms on each tioor on the same circuit. It is also evident that the relays and batteries in the local circuits in the room could be dispensed with and the current obtained directI trom, tor instance batteries 23 tor rooms A and B, but oiving to the long stretches oit' ivire made necessary in the installation ot my device, a great loss ot' current would ensue ivith corresponding` expense ot maintenance.

By the use of the relays and local circuits in each room l find that in ordinary praetice, the battery Q3 may consist oi as many cells as there are rooms or relays to be actuated, While for the local circuits, I rind from practice that three ordinary cells serve to ullil all requirements. For alarms 34, (5st", (341C and (5.1.51, l prefer to use drums which are struck by the arm Gab, (35 and (35 ot the striker al, alb, 4l@ and ald. I use a drum for the reason that as this device is to be used in the event ot tires, making it necessary tor the occupants of the rooms to leave the building in an orderly manner, the drum is best calculated to keep the pupils in step and prevent confusion.

Let us suppose that this device is installed in a school ot tour rooms, as illustrated in Fig. l. The teacher in room A becomes apprised oit the fire in the building, making it necessary to get the children out as quickly as possible and yet prevent a panic. She turns the sivitch 8a thus closing the circuit and sending the outside current through the motor Lt. rl`he motor immediately starts into operation and revolves the transmitting cylinder. It will be noted that the contacting lugs on the cylinder are spaced apart and that some ot the spaces are Wider than others and the width or length ot t'ace otl the lugs themselves varies, for instance, the

Width of the lug 51 is practically three times the Width ot the lug 50, thus holding the spring up a correspondingly longer time. rlhe intervals between the lugs and the width of the 'faces ot' the lugs are carefully proportioned so that the impulses sent over the local circuits are the same length as those produced by the beating ot an ordinary march tune on the drum. This revolution or" the transniitting cylinder therefore closes the local circuit intermittently and causes the striker to beat the individual drums in the rooms. The children start at once from their seats and as they move toward the doors, unconsciously tall into step with the drum. Thus in a great measure the element of danger from a panic is eliminated. rlhis alarm continues until some syvitch is thrown open opening the circuit. It ivill be noted that these switches are in multiple, so that the closing et any one switch sends the current through the motor and starts the device in operation.

Aleretoitore in the event of fires in schools tor instance, it has been necessary tor the teacher discovering the tire to go at once to the janitor' generally in the basement. to have the outside doors opened, and then to at once come back to the hall and commence playing a piano placed in the hall to be used in cases ot this kind. The other teachers assigned to the same duty on the other floors, at once go to their pianos and commence playing tor the childern to march out. lt is evident, however, that a very great loss ot time has necessarily ensued in getting through with these operations and at the same time there is no probability that any two teachers Will play in time. Consequently as the pupils from the di'tlerent tloors come together on the stairs or in the corridors, there Will necessarily be more or less contusion. By the use ot my device and system, however, a simple closing ot the switch in one room immediately starts into operation the drum in every room, all beating in exact time with each other. The janitor is ot course, thus immediately apprised.

ot the necessity for seeing that all exits are open and the children can at once march out in step.

It is evident that this invention is valuable not only for use in schools but also for apartment houses, large halls, theaters, etc.

I claim:

In an ala-rm system comprising a normally open main circuit, a plurality ot open local circuits, a plurality ot relays in series in said local circuits and a ringer circuit ttor each relay adapted to be closed thereby, including a battery and alarm mechanism including a drum, a motor adapted to be put in operation on the closing of said main circuit, a cylinder actuated by said motor provided With contact lugs spaced apart at irregular intervals on the outer periphery ot' said cylinder to alternately open and close said local circuit and operate said alarms.

Signed by me at Chicago lllinois this Sth day of October 1908.

RALPH C. BRONSON.

ll/vitnesses:

.CLARENCE E. TAYLOR, E. CLEGG.

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