Improvements in Electric Alarms.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1899-Accepted, 24th Feb.,
1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Alarms.
We, MAX WESCHER and PAUL WOLLENHAUPT, both of 12-14, Salomonsgasse,
Cologne, on the Rhine, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Mechanical
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:—
Our invention relates to an electric alarm system by means of which alarm-
signals can be given in different rooms at different times destined a long time
before.
We attain this by the system illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which Fig. 1 is a view of the whole system and a diagrammatic view of the
circuits, Fig. 2 is a back-view of the clock effecting the closing of an electric
circuit at a time destined before, Fig. 3 is an upper view of the parts shown in
Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a view of a periodically advancing toothed-bar and of the anchor
releasing this bar, Fig. 5 is an upper view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is
an upper view of an interrupter provided in each room, Fig. 7 is a front view of
the same.
In the drawing the system is represented for instance for a plan of 4 rooms
in which every quarter of an hour alarm-signals can be given.
This
On the back side of a clock a (Fig. 1) a wheel b (Fig. 2) provided with 4 teeth
is fixed to the axle of the minute-hand of a double-handed clock. The teeth of
this wheel are adapted to raise the contact-lever c. In raising this contact-
lever it is at first pressed against the two spiral-springs d and e. These springs
are connected with the poles of a battery f (Fig. 1) so that by pressing the
contact-lever against these springs d and e, the circuit of the battery f is
closed. If now the contact-lever is farther raised it touches the screw 1
(Figs. 2 and 3) which is connected with one pole of a second electric battery h
(Fig. 1), the other pole of which is connected with the axle (Figs. 2 and 3)
around which the contact-lever e turns. In the circuit of the battery f (Fig. 1)
an electric magnet 7 is provided which can effect a turnable anchor m.
anchor is situated above a toothed bar which is moved by means of the
weight o. The anchor m is provided with a nose on each end which fits into
the teeth of the toothed bar n. Now as soon as the anchor m has been attracted
by means of the electro magnet 7 by the closure of the circuit of the battery f.
and has been brought back to its former position by means of the spiral spring a.
the toothed bar has advanced one tooth. In this toothed bar wires are
fixed by putting them through the under part of the bar so that the ends of
these wires project on the other side of the same. When the toothed barn
advances these projecting ends of these wires y slide over a plate or spring
fixed behind the toothed bar n. Hereby it is attained that the projecting ends
of the wires successively come in contact with the plate or spring in the
same periods in which the magnet 7 is energized, that is to say, every quarter of
an hour. The wires are fixed with their free ends to nine screwed into
the board, upon which the whole apparatus is mounted. These pins q are
each provided with the nomination of the time at which the projecting end of
the wire affixed to each pin, comes in contact with the spring or plate p.
In order to be able to interrupt the current in each room an interrupter ?

page_text: (Fig. 1) is provided consisting of an angle-levers (Figs. 6 and 7). The one arm
of this angle-lever s is usually in contact with the contact-plate t (Figs. 6 and 7).
As soon as this arm is drawn away from the contact-plate the current is inter-
rupted so that the bell will not ring any more. In order to be able to restore
the current automatically the angle-levers is situated in that way that as soon
as the door of the room in which the bell is arranged is opened the angle-
lever returns to its former position, hereby restoring the contact. In order
to prevent the levers returning to the position in which the contact is broken
as soon as the door is closed again the lever is provided with a hinge w held in
its position by a spring v. As may be seen from the drawing this hinge is only
turnable in one direction, so that when the door is closed only this hinge-piece
turns while the lever s rests in its position.
In order to be able to give an alarm-signal at every time in each of the rooms
the wires which lead the current of the battery back are fixed to the board z
and provided with the number of the room from which they come. The free
ends of these wires are provided with a metallic ring which can be put over
each of the pins g.
The operation of our device is as follows:
If for instance the system is employed for a hotel and the host living in the
room No. 3 wishes to be waked up at 3.15 o'clock he puts at any time before
the ring of the wire provided with his room-number over the pin marked 3.15.
The projecting end of the wire fixed with its other end to this pin comes às
shown above at 3.15 o'clock in contact with the plate or spring p. A short time
afterwards when the contact-lever c is farther raised by the rotation of the
wheel b so that the lever touches the screw the circuit of the battery is closed
so that the current coming from the battery goes through the screw g. the
contact-lever, the axle i, the bell 3, the wire connecting this bell with the
board, the pin marked 3.15, the wire connecting this pin with the toothed
barn, the plate or spring which is just in contact with the projecting end of
this wire and returns to the battery h, ringing the bell No. 3.
The duration of each alarm-signal depends upon the length of the teeth of
the wheel (Fig. 2) and can be prolongated or diminished by replacing the wheel b
by another-one with longer or shorter teeth.
As soon as the host wishes to stop the alarm-signal he can do so by means of
the interrupter (Fig. 1). In order to avoid that the contact in the interrupter r
must afterwards be restored by hand the institution described above is provided
so that the contact is restored as soon as the door of this room 3 is opened, that
is to say, as soon as the host leaves this room.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In an electric alarm the combination of two electric currents one of which
operates electric bells, while the other brings the wires, forming different ways
of the first current successively in contact with a spring or plate through which
the first current is brought back to the battery, as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In an electric alarm the combination of a wheel provided with several
teeth, a contact lever, adapted to be operated by means of this wheel with a
toothed bar, a weight for moving this bar, an anchor for periodically stopping
the movement of this bar and an electromagnet for attracting said anchor, as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. In an electric alarm the combination of a wheel provided with several
teeth, a contact lever, adapted to be operated by means of this wheel with a
toothed bar, a weight for moving this bar, an anchor for periodically stopping
the movement of this bar, an electromagnet for attracting said anchor and
electric wires fixed with one end in the toothed bar with the other end to pins
provided with time-marks, as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 4. In an electric alarm the combination of a wheel provided with several
teeth, a contact lever, adapted to be operated by means of this wheel with a
toothed bar, a weight for moving this bar, an anchor for periodically stopping
the movement of this bar, an electromagnet for attracting said anchor, electric
wires fixed with one end in the toothed bar with the other end to pins provided
with time-marks and electric wires provided with metallic rings adapted to be put
over the pins mentioned above, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In an electric alarm the combination of a wheel provided with several
teeth, a contact lever, adapted to be operated by means of this wheel with a
toothed bar, a weight for moving this bar, an anchor for periodically stopping
the movement of this bar, an electromagnet for attracting said anchor, electric
wires fixed with one end in the toothed bar with the other end to pins provided
with time-marks, electric wires provided with metallic rings adapted to be put
over the pins mentioned above and an interrupter consisting of an angle lever
and a contact plate, said interrupter being situated on the door post of the room
in which the bell is arranged and adapted to close the current by opening this
door, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated 11 1011
T
1000
BREDE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants, 12-14, Salomonsgasse, Cologne.