US945634A

US945634A - Switch mechanism for electrical alarm apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US945634A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew V Strait
Original assignee: FRANK A WILLIAMS; WILLIAM BRONK
Current assignee: FRANK A WILLIAMS; WILLIAM BRONK
Priority date: 1909-02-27
Filing date: 1909-02-27
Publication date: 1910-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1927-01-04

Description

A. V. STRAIT.

CH MECHANISM FCR ELECTRICAL ALARM APPARATUS.

SWIT

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1909. 945,634.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Annazw. e

A. V. STRAIT.

SWITCH MECHANISM POB ELECTRICAL ALARM APPARATUS.

AIPLICATION FILED rma. 27, 1909.

945,634, I Patented Jau 4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JZ ZZ- Z3 L g@ M W Gtkoznm 'UNrTED sraras PATENT omnes.

ANDREW V. STRAIT, OF SIDNEY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM BRONK AND ONE-FOURTH TO FRANK A. WILLIAMS, OF ONEQNTA, NEW' YORK.

SWITCH MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICAL ALARM APPARATUS.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW V. STRAIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sidney, in the county of Delaware and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Switch Mechanism for Electrical Alarm Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric call clock which automatically actuates a bell or other signal at a predetermined time and which is designed more especially for use in hotels, lodging houses and the like for enabling the otlice clerk to call the guests at the appointed time for rising, and while the invention is particularly useful in this connection, it is to be understood that certain of its features may be employed in connection with electrical alarms and indicators for boiler pressure devices, thermostats and the like.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of this character so as to be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and efficient in use, and readily manipulated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved switchboard for time clocks and the like including especiallv designed contacts whereby a room number check or similar device can be applied to the. contacts to electrically connect them so that upon the closing of the alarm circuit by a contact arm or supplemental hand of the clock mechanism, the signal will be sounded.

An additional object is the employment of a novel form of contact point used in connection with the clock-actuated contact l Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 27, 1309.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

serial No. 480,348.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the clock with the dial removed. F ig. 3 is a front view of the switchboard. Fig. 1lis a perspective view of one of the hand-engaged contacts of the clock. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit connections.

Similar' reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the casing of the clock which is of any approved construction or design and the casing is divided by a partition 1 into the clockworks compartment 2 and a switchboard compartment 3, there being a glazed door t at the front of the casing for providing access to the clock-works and switchboard. Mounted in the upper part of the compartment 9. is a clock-works B of any approved construction including a train of gears 5 that turn the minute and hour hands G and 7, respectively, in timed relation7 the hands moving over the number dial 8. Under the dial 8 is a check panel 9 provided with a plurality of hooks 10 for receiving the checks 1l that bear the numbers of the bed-rooms of the hotel, there being obviously as many checks as there are sleeping rooms.

Supported behind the dial 8 is a plate 12 of wood or other insulating' material which is provided with a plurality of contacts 13 arranged in a circle concentrically around the arbor 14C of the clock-works so as to be engaged by an auxiliary hand or spring` contact 15 secured to the hub 16 of the hour hand 7. The contacts 13 are arranged at suitable intervals apart so that the alarm circuit can be closed every hour or at intervals of fifteen minutes or less between the hours. Each contact 13 is constructed as shown in Fig. l, and the same consists of a wire formed into two or more coils or turns 17 bent around a common axis and of the same diameter, so that the points a and b will be inthe same plane to insure the engagement of both by the spring contact 15, thereby making the closing of the circuit doubly certain. This form of contact provides resiliency so that a firm engagement and consequently a better electrical contact can be obtained between the hand and each contact terminal 13. rllhe ends 1S and 19 of the wire of which the contact 13 is constructed are disposed parallel so as to be inserted through openingsZO in the plate 12, and the extremities of the

members

18 and 19 are turned backwardly against the back face of the plate 12 so as to securely hold the contacts in place without the use oi fastenings. The member 13 of the contact 13 is somewhat longer than the member 19 for the purpose of enabling the ci@rent-conducting wires leading to the switchboard to be spliced to the contacts.

The switchboard mounted in the compartment 3 comprises a panel 203 et suitable insulating material and on this panel are arranged switches S, there being as many switches as there are hand-engaging contacts 13 on the clock. v

[is shown in Fig. 3, the switches S are arranged in horizontal rows and the switches of the upper row are numbered 1 to 1Q inclusive to correspond with the hours ot the clock, and the switches ot the second row are numbered 15, those ot the third 30, and those of the last row 45, so that b y this arrangement the alarm signal can be closed at any hour or at intervals ot' Fifteen minutes be ltween the hours. Each switch S comprises a hooksshaped contact or supporting lterminal 21 that projects forwardly :trom the panel 20, and disposed above 'the contact 21 is a contact or yielding terminal 22 constructed of a looped wire so disposed that the parallel members thereof are equidistantfrom the hook contact 21. rhe side members ol2 each contact Q2 are extended rearwardly7 through openings 23 in the switch-board panel and the rear extremities are bent vflat against the rear side of the panel and the bent-up extremities 2e otl each looped contact Q2 are overlapped with the adjacent extremities of the adjacent looped contacts, so that all the contacts 22 of the switchboard cooperate to form a continuous current-conclucting path. Passing under the rear extremities Q4- of the contacts 22 is a common wire 25 which is employed as an additional means for securing` electrical connection. through the contacts, and this wire, well as the extremities 241, are secured tixedly in place by astenings 26a, as shown in Fig. The hook-shaped contacts 21 are connected respectively by wires 2G with the corresponding contacts 13 with which the hand 15 engages. The hand 15 is connected by a wire 2T with a signal such as a bell Q8, which is, in turn, connected by a wire 29 with a suitable source of curA rent, as for instance, the battery C, 4l., the cells of which are mounted on the partition 1 behind the panel 9, the battery being itself connected by aconductor 30 with the common wire 25, as shown in Fig. 5. The room number checks or tags 11 are each prol vided with an opening 31 so as to be received on any contact 21, and the upper portion of the tag or check has a curved edge disposed concentrically with respect to the opening 3l so as to engage both side members of the contact 22 ot' the switch on which the tag or check is placed, the distance between the opening 31 and the concentric edge oi' the tag being greater than the normal distance between the contacts Q1 and Q2 to the switches, so that when a applied to a switch, it is necessary to 'force the contacts apart to accommodate the tag and thereby insure lirm engagement between the contacts and tag tor providing good electrical connection between them. 'l' he liront extremity ot each contact Q2 is bent upwardly into a lip 22a for facilitating the placing` oli the tag or check in the switch.

ln practic-e, let it be assumed that the guesty of the hotel who is occupying room QG desires to be called the next morning at six oclock. The hotel clerk is informed ot this tact and he takes the check for room QG from the check board 9 ot the clock and applies it to the switch immediately under the number G of the switchboard. Ey this means, the continuity t the electric circuit; is completed at the switchboard so that when six oclock arrives, the hand 15 o'lf the cloclrworks will engage the contact point opposite the on the clock dial, thereby coinpleting the circuit and energiz/.ing the bell so that the hotel clerk will be informed that the hour has arrived `for calling the guest in room 26. The switches are so constructed that several checks can bc placed in any one switch as when several guests desire to be called at the same time.

F rom the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingl drawings, the advantages oit the construction and oit the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inrention appertains, and while have described the principle oi operation ot the invention, together with the apparatus which l now consider to he the best embodiment thereof, l desire to hare it understomi that` the apparatus shown is merely illustratire and that such changes may he made when desired as are within the scope olE the claims aipended hereto.

' Haring thus described the invention, what 1 claim new and desire to secin'e by @lietters Patent, is

1. In apparatus ot the class described, the combination with an upright base, of an outstanding` electrical supporting' terminal projecting from the base, a` yielding` outstanding contact terminal also projecting from the base, said yielding terminal heilig disposed above and in spaced relation to the supporting terminal, and a metallic circuitclosing tag having an opening in its upper portion that receives the supporting terminal, the upper margin of the tag, between the opening and the upper edge, being wider than the space between the terminals and constituting an electrical connection between the same, the main body of the tag depending below the supporting terminal.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a base, of a plurality of terminals projecting from the base, a plurality of looped terminals, each cooperating with one of the projecting terminals and having side arms that pass through the base, said side arms having their rear ends outturned and connected to the side arms or" the adjacent looped terminals, and circuit-closing devices arranged to connect the coperating terminals.

3. In apparatus oi the class described, the combination with a projecting terminal, of a looped terminal disposed adjacentto and spaced from the said projecting terminal, said looped terminal having side members located on opposite sides of the same, and a circuit-closing device adapted to be placed upon the projecting` terminal and in engagement with the side members of the looped terminal, the said device constituting a conductor between the terminals.

l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a supporting terminal hook, of a spring looped terminal disposed adjacent to the hook but spaced therefrom, said spring terminal having side arms located adjacent to the hook and furthermore having its free end outturned to form a guide lip, and a metallic circuit-closing tag having a portion arranged to be placed upon the hook, said portion bridging the space between the hoolr and side arms and constituting an electrical connection between the same.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting member ot insulating material, a Contact mounted thereon and projecting from the plate, a second contact having spaced members arranged equidistant from the first contact, and a circuit connected with the contacts, with a metallic check having an opening for receiving the first contact andL provided with a portion arranged to simultaneously engage both members of the second contact for completing the circuit through the contacts and check.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting base having apertures, a plurality of switches mounted on the supporting base, and circuits connected with the switches, each switch including spaced contacts, and a device engaged between and electrically connected with the contacts, one of the contacts being composed of a looped wire having its members eX- tending through the apertures and bent bach against the supporting plate, the proximate bent-bach extremities of adjacent contacts being arranged in engagement for providing a current-conducting path through all the contacts.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting base having apertures, a plurality of switches mounted on the supporting base, and circuits connected with the switches, each switch including spaced contacts, and a device engaged between and electrically connected with the contacts, one of the contacts being composed or" a looped wire having its members extending through the apertures and bent back against the supporting plate, the proximate bent-back extremities ot adjacent contacts being arranged in engagement for providing a current-conducting path through all the contacts, and a common conductor connected with all the said contacts to form a supplemental path for the current through the switches.

S. In an apparatus ot' the class described, the combination ot a supporting base having apertures, single wire contacts passing through certain of the apertures, doubled wire contacts passing through the remaining apertures and having their extremities bent baclrwardly against the supporting base and contacting with each other whereby all the doubled contacts form a single current-conducting path, devices acapted to be supported on the single wire contacts and engagethe doubled wire contacts for forming a bridging conductor between them, a group of contacts, wires extending from the contacts ot' the said group to each of the single wire contacts on the said supporting base, a member movable into engagement with the said group ot contacts,a single wire connecting the said member with all of the doubled wire contacts and including a source of current.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination ot a supporting base having rows ot apertures, single wire contacts passing through the apertures of one row, doubled wire contacts passing through the apertures otl the other row and having their extremities bent backwardly against the supporting base to engage each wire with the adjacent wires to form a single conductor for current, a conductor electrically connected with the bent-back extremities, fastenings 'for securing the extremities and conductor in engagement with each other and fastened to the supporting base, a plurality of contact points, a wire leading from each pointto one of the single wire contacts, a

member movable over the Contact points to In testimony that I claim the foregoing ns engage therewith, a Wire connected with the my own, have hereto a'xed my Signature member and smd conductor and mcludmg a 1n the presence of two Wltnesses.

source of Current, and Contact bridging de- ANDRE V. STRAIT. Vices adapted to be inserted between the .itnesses:

single and doubled Wire contacts for closing ANDREW SI-IELTON,

the circuits. JEXETTE B. SlMoNs.