US977809A - Electric call and alarm system. - Google Patents

Description

' G. s. LOVERIDGE. ELECTRIC CALL AND ALARM SYSTEM.

APPL IOATION FILED JAN. 21, 1910.

'Patented Dec. 6, 1910 4 SHEETBSHBET 1.

awe/whoa flaw/ya J, layer/dye G. S. LOVERIDGE. ELECTRIC CALL AND-ALARM SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2'1, 1910.

Patented Dc. 6, 1910.

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9 7?,809o Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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G. S. LOVERIDGE. ELECTRIC CALL AND ALARM SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED .TA}1T.21, 1910.

Patented, Dec. 6, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

THE "ORR/s PETERS c0., WASHINGYON, o. c.

GEORGE S. LOVERIDGE, F FENNVILLE, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC CALL AND ALARM SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application filed January 21, 1910. Serial No. 539,254.

. 1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. LOVERIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fennville, in the county of Allegan, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Call-and Alarm Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices used in hotels and the like places for the purpose of calling the individual guests automatically at predetermined times and also for simultaneously sending an alarm signal through all of the rooms in the hotel in case of fire or of such other occasion as may be necessary to notify all of the guests to leave their rooms.

One object of the invention is to improve and simplify the wiring system used in connection with devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clock-work actuated circuit closing mechanism adapted for use in connection with such devices.

A third object of the invention is to provide an improved means whereby a bell located in a room distant from the central station may be rung either manually or automatically.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide the improved means with a visible signal so that when the bell is rung manually the visible signal may also be illuminated.

A fifth object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for the alarm instrument used in the different rooms.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in general of a novel central station mechanism, improved room stations, and a novel system of wiring circuits connecting the room stations with the central station mechanism.

The invention further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and Figure 1 is a front elevation of a central station designed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Figf is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a rear or inside view of the central station mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail section of a portion of the central station mechanism showing one form of the circuit closer used in this mechanism with the circuit open. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the circuit closed.

spectively at B, C and D.

Referring now to Fig. 1, this figure represents the front of the central station and the mechanism for this station is provided with a casing 20 wherein most of the working parts are located. At 21 is indicated the dial of a clock and at 22 are other dials which form part of the mechanism designed to set the various room circuits for different hours. Below each of the dials 22 is a switch 23 of ordinary construction and, as will be hereinafter described, these switches are each located in a respective line running to one of the room mechanisms so that the various room mechanisms may be cut out at the central station if desired. It is to be noted that the dials 22 are provided with the usual indices for the purpose of indicating hours and that in the form here shown the dials are divided into twelve hour spaces as is common with clock and watch faces.

In Fig. 2 certain of the wheels of the clock are indicated at 24 and one of these wheels serves to operate a train of gears which terminates in a gear 25 carried on a shaft 26 which also supports a pinion 27. Through each of the dials 23 extends a shaft 28. Spaced from the front of the casing 20 is a plate 29 and behind this plate and in spaced relation thereto is a second plate 30. The shafts 28 pass through both of these plates and in front of the plate 29 each of the shafts is provided with a suitable stop pin 31 while behind the plate 29 certain spring plates 32 are mounted on the respective shafts and these spring plates are provided with resilient fingers 33 which bear strongly against the plate 29. The spring plates 32 are fitted on a square portion of the shaft as can best be seen by reference to Figs. 5 and 6, and this square portion is formed by reducing the cylindrical rear end of the shaft so that a species of stop shoulder is formed between the two ends of the shaft and against which the plate 32 bears. Upon the square forward end of the shaft is also provided a grip nut 34 of the type usual in alarm and other clocks for setting the alarm mechanism. Behind this grip nut each of the shafts is provided with a hand or pointer 35 which travels over the surface of the respective dial 22. By this means it will be observed that the shafts 28 are yieldably held from rotation, the friction of the fingers 33 on the plate 29 preventing accidental rotation of these shafts. Behind the plate 30 each of these shafts has mounted thereon a collar 36, these collars being arranged to rotate with their respective shafts as the latter are rotated by turning the finger nuts 36. Projecting radially from the collar 36 is a finger 37 in the form of a triangular prisin. Rotatably mounted on each of the shafts 28 is a gear 38 and these gears are all of uniform size and bear such relation to the pinion 27 that the first of the gears 38, which meshes with said pinion, is rotated by the clock-work train once in the number of hours indicated on the front of its dial 23. Each of these gears has on its forward side an annular collar 39 which is provided with a notch 40 corresponding in size and form to the finger 37. Mounted on the plate 30 beneath the periphery of the wheels 38 are insulated binding posts ll each provided with a contact point 42 projecting far enough behind the plate 30 so that when the gear 38 is in the position shown in Fig. 6 the periphery of this gear will contact with the point 42. Supported adjacent each of the shafts 28 on the plat-e 30 is a post 43 secured to which is one end of a spring arm 44; which is provided with a suitable opening to receive the end of the shaft 28 and permit the arm bearing against a boss 45 formed on the respective gear 38. Adjacent the series of shafts 28 and fixed to the rear of the plate 30 are brackets 46 which support the rear ends of a series of shafts 47, the front ends of these shafts being supported in the plate 30 Each of these shafts 4.7 carries an idler pinion 48 which meshes wit-h the two gears 38 adjacent which the shaft belonging to the respective pinion is located. These pinions 48 are of sufficient length to permit the sliding movement of the gears necessary to make the contacts previously described. At 49 is a battery and at 50 is a binding post electrically connected to the plate 30 and from this binding post a wire 51 extends to one pole of the battery. Leading from each of the-binding posts 41 are wires 52, the wires to the respective rooms B, C and D being indicated in Fig. 10 by the sufiixing of the characters b, c and d to the numeral 52.

In the modified form of central station mechanism illustrated in Fig. 7 the pinion 27 is removed from the shaft 26 and in place thereof a bevel gear 53 is substituted which meshes with a bevel gear 54 carried on a worm shaft 55 supported in suitable bearings 56 mounted on the plate 29. The plates 29 and 30 further support behind each of the shafts 28 a shaft 57 on which is fixed a pinion 58 corresponding in shape and function to the pinions 48, there being, however, one of these pinions for each of the gears 38. The shafts 55 and 57 are operatively connected by means of meshing spiral gears 59 and the proportions of the various gears are maintained in this form as in the other so that the gears 38 make a complete revolution once in twelve hours. The only difference in the operation of the two forms is that in the first case the gears 38 and 48 form a continuous train while in the modified form each gear 38 is independently driven from the shaft one row or series of the gears 38 with their dials is necessary it will be obvious that other rows may be connected to the first row by a continuation of the gear arrangements shown in these two modifications and it is not therefore deemed necessary to here indicate a multiplicity of gearings'for this purpose.

In each of the room stations there is provid ed a casing 60 wherein is mounted a magnet 61 adjacent to which is an armature 62 provided with a stem 63 mounted to slide in a guide 64. At 65 is a spring post and between this spring post and the end of the stem 63 is a spring 66 which normally draws the armature away from the magnet. At one end of the casing 60 there is provided a glass panel 67 whereon is painted or other wise indicated some such word as Fire or Alarm or the like. Within the casing 60 and immediately behind this glass panel is an electric light 68 so arranged that when lighted the light will illuminate the panel and display the word thereon. Preferably mounted on the exterior of each of the casings 60 is a bell 69 and each of the respective stations has one of the wires 52 connected to this bell and passing through a room switch 70 so that the person occupying the room can, at plea-sure, cut the bell out of this circuit. Leading away from the bells 69. which are indicated in Fig. 10 by the suflixing of the letters b, c and d for the various stations, are wires 71, the respective wires being also indicated in Fig. 10 by the suflixings b, c and d. These wires are con-.

In the event that more than I nected to a common return wire 72 which leads to the pole of the battery 19 opposite to that from which is led the wire 51. Now, it will be plain that if the contact at the central station which is connected to the wire 52 is closed a circuit will be established through this wire,,the bell 69, the wire 71, and back to the battery through the wire 72, always supposing that the room switch be closed. In like manner the other circuit closers will operate to close the circuits through the bells 69 and 69. By this means the various bells may be set to ring at a predetermined time to notify the occupants of the respective rooms of their call. It will also be obvious that a call may besent in to the occupant of any individual room at any time by rotating the shatt 28 belonging to the circuit closer for that room until the finger 37 is brought into alinement with the notch 40 of that circuit closer when the circuit will be closed as previously described. In order that the various room circuits may be simultaneously closed in the event of alarm and also that it may be impossible for the occupant of the room to cut out the alarm circuit certain other provision is made. From the battery 49 a wire 73 is lead to one pole of a two pole switch 74 while a wire 7 5 is led to the other pole of that switch. From the contacts of these respective poles are led respective wires 76 and 77. The wire 76 and and wire 77 form, when the switch 7 1 is closed, a continuous circuit to which the various room stations have their magnets 61 and lamps 68 connected in multiple. In each of the room stations the armature 62 has secured thereto a contact 78, the armature and contact being insulated from each other and in the path of the contact 78, as the latter moves toward the magnet. is a contact 79. Opposite to the contact 7 8 the armature is provided with a spring arm 80 adapted to strike against a stop member 81 so that the armature is held square with the magnet and the stem thus prevented from jamming. Leading from each of the contacts 78 is a branch wire 82 which forms part of the multiple connection for the magnet 61 and lamp 68 of the respective room station. From each of the contacts 79 are led wires 83, indicated in Fig. 10 by the suffixings b, c and d respectively. These wires are connected to the respective wires 52*, 52 and 52 at points between the respective room switches and the respective room station bells.

Now, let it be supposed that the operator at the central station desires to alarm all of the occupants of the hotel. The switch 74: is closed with the result that all of the lamps are illuminated and at the same time all of the magnets are energized. This causes the respective armatures to be attracted to their magnets against the resistance of the springs 69. By this means the contacts 78 and 79 are brought into engagement and circuits are established from the battery through the wire 73, wire 76, respective wires 82, contacts 78, contacts 79, respective wires 83, those portions of the respective wires 52 which lie between the points of connection of the last mentioned wires and the bell, through the bells, respective wires 71, to the wire 72 and thence back to the battery 49. It will be seen that by reason of this arrangement it is impossible for the occupant of any room to out out the bell from the general alarm while at the same time if he does not care for other calls he may cut out the bell from the individual calls.

In the general operation of the device the hands are set on the small dials to hours corresponding to those at which the several room occupants desire calls, those who do not wish to be called being out out at the central station by means of the small central station switches. The clock-work will then cause the various wheels 38 to revolve until the respective recesses and fingers register and permit the individual circuits to be completed as previously described. hen an alarm is to be sent in it is merely necessary to close the double pole switch which alarms all of the rooms simultaneously.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a device of the kind described, a

1 series of open electric circuits, a signal in each of said circuits, time controlled circuit closers to close said circuits independently, a single open circuit, a series of magnets equal in number to the signals and connected in multiple in said single circuit, a series of open lines each connecting the single circuit with a respective one of the slgnal circuits to form circuits through said signals when the single circuit and the open connecting lines are closed, a circuit closer in each of the open lines actuated by the energization of the respective magnets, and a manually operable switch to close the single circuit, simultaneously energize all of said magnets and thereby simultaneously complete the circuits through the signals.

2. In a device of the kind described, a series of open electric circuits, a signal in each of said circuits, time controlled circuit closers to close said circuits independently, a single open circuit, a series of magnets equal in number to the signal and connected in multiple in said single circuit, a series of open lines each connecting the single circuit with a respective one of the signal circuits to form circuits through said signals when the single circuit and the open connecting lines are closed, a switch in each of the signal circuits located in that branch of the circuit whereto the respective open line is connected and positioned in the respective signal circuit more remote from the signal than the connection of the respective open line, a circuit closer in each of the open lines actuated by the energization of a respective magnet, and a manually operable switch to close the single circuit, simultaneously energize all of said magnets and thereby actuate the circuit closers in the open lines and operate all of said signals.

3. In a device of the kind described, a series of revoluble shafts, a finger projecting laterally from each of said shafts, a sleeve revolubly mounted on each of said shafts to bear against the respective finger, each sleeve being provided with a recess to engage the finger when the sleeve is rotated on the shaft, a common clock-work actuated means to rotate all of said sleeves simultaneously, and circuit closers each actuated by the movement of a respective sleeve along its shaft when the respective finger and recess are brought into alinement.

4. In a device of the kind described, a series of revoluble shafts, a finger projecting laterally from each of said shafts, a sleeve revolubly mounted on each of said shafts to bear against the respective finger, each sleeve being provided with a recess to engage the finger when the sleeve is rotated on the shaft, a common clock-work actuated means to rotate all of said sleeves simultaneously, circuit closers each actuated by the movement of a respective sleeve along its shaft when the respective finger and recess are brought into alinement, and circuits each containing a signal and each connected to a respective circuit closer.

In a device of the kind described, a series of revoluble shafts, a finger project-ing laterally from each of said shafts, a sleeve revolubly mounted on each of said shafts to bear against the respective finger, each sleeve being provided with a recess to engage the finger when the sleeve is rotated on the shaft, a common clock-work actuated means to rotate all of said sleeves simultaneously, circuit closers each actuated by the movement of a respective sleeve along its shaft when the respective finger and recess are brought into alinement, a dial surrounding each of said shafts, a pointer carried by each shaft and moving over the respective dial, and yieldable means to hold the pointers in adjusted positions on the dials.

6. In a device of the kind described, a series of revoluble shafts, a finger projecting laterally from each of said shafts, a sleeve revolubly mounted on each of said shafts to bear against the respective finger, each sleeve being provided with a recess to engage the finger when the sleeve is rotated on the shaft, a common clock-work actuated means to rotate all of said sleeves simultaneously, circuit closers each actuated by the movement of a respective sleeve along its shaft when the respective finger and recess are brought into alinement, a dial surrounding each of said shafts, a pointer carried by each shaft and moving over the respective dial, yieldable means to hold the pointers in adjusted positions on the dials, and circuits each containing a signal and connected to the respective circuit closers.

7. In a device of the kind described, a series of revoluble shafts, a finger projecting laterally from each of said shafts, a sleeve revolubly mounted on each of said shafts to bear against the respective finger, each sleeve being provided with a recess to engage the finger when the sleeve is rotated on the shaft, a common clock-work actuated means to rotate all of said sleeves simultaneously, circuit closers each actuated by the move ment of a respective sleeve along its shaft when the respective finger and recess are brought into alinement, a dial surrounding each of said shafts, a pointer carried by each shaft and moving over the respective dial, yieldable means to hold the pointers in adjusted positions on the dials, circuits each containing a signal and connected to the respective clrcuit closers, and means to simultaneously actuate all of said signals. 7

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. LOVERIDGE.

Witnesses ALFRED B. TAYLOR, J r., J. WV. PRENTICEQ

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