Improvements in Electric Alarms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Alarms.
WILLIAM KINGSLAND 25 Barrowgate Road Chiswick Electrician, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and reliable apparatus for
use in connection with what is known as a "closed circuit," whereby an alarm is
given when the electrical continuity of the circuit is broken at any point.
In order to accomplish this I provide an electro-magnet, which is included in the
main circuit, and which has an armature hinged or pivoted at one end and placed
in such a position that it will fall by its own weight unless prevented from doing so
by the attraction of the magnet. The armature may be balanced by a counter-
weight in order that the force required to keep it from falling shall be as small as
possible, but this counter weight may be so arranged that it accelerates the fall
after the armature has passed a certain position.
I make use of the falling weight of the armature to liberate a catch or other
device whereby the alarm is given on a mechanical alarum, or whereby a local
electric-bell circuit is closed.
I further provide in some cases for the use of a clock with the above apparatus
whereby the alarm becomes automatically inoperative at any desired hour.
In order to localize any break which may occur in the main circuit I may.divide
it into a number of sections so arranged that each in turn may be cut out by means
of a simple sliding contact switch. A galvanometer indicates when the section on
which the break has occurred has been short circuited, and the switch may be
operated by hand or automatically by the alarm apparatus.
Dated this 25th day of April 1891.
WILLIAM KINGSLAND.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Alarms.
I, WILLIAM KINGSLAND, of 25 Barrowgate Road, Chiswick, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrician, 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.: --
66
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and reliable apparatus for
use in connection with what is known as .a closed circuit," whereby an alarm is
given when the electrical continuity of the circuit is broken at any point.
According to my invention and as hereafter described. I provide an electro
magnet having a hinged armature which latter is caused to fall when continuity of
the circuit is broken and to liberate a catch or other suitable device allowing the
alarm to sound. I further provide means whereby the alarm becomes automatically
inoperative at any desired hour, and also means for localizing the break in the
circuit, all as hereafter more particularly described.
My said invention will be readily understood by the following description
having reference to the accompanying drawings; on which
A.
Figure 1 shows in elevation an arrangement of apparatus constructed according
to my invention,
Figure 2 showing a diagram view of the apparatus and connections.
Figure 3 illustrates a portion of the apparatus arranged to operate an electric
holland

page_text: Figure 4 shows a diagram view of apparatus and connection's for localizing a
break in the circuit.
Referring to Figure. 1, A A is the electro-magnet which is included in the main
circuit, and B is the armature, hinged or pivotted at one end B¹, and placed in
such a position that it will fall by its own weight unless prevented from doing so
by the attraction of the magnet A A. C is a counter-weighted arm to balance
the armature in order that the force required to keep it from falling shall be as
small as possible, and this arm is preferably arranged as shown, to accelerate the
fall after the armature has passed a certain position. D is a catch or bell crank lever
pivotted at D', and supporting by its upward arm a curved projection E from a
sliding bar E. F is a bell alarm, that shown on the drawing at Figure 1 being
provided with a spring and winding device of ordinary well known character and
therefore not requiring detailed description; E2 is a projecting rod on the bar E
for stopping or releasing the alarm mechanism; G G₁ are terminals which are in
connection with the coils of the magnet A A.
The drawing Figure 2 shows that the circuit passes from say one pole of the
battery H through the room or place J (in which any change say a fire or the
opening of a door or window is to cause the break of the circuit) on to one terminal
of the apparatus T, through the magnet, and by the other terminal and to the
other pole of the battery. It is thus clear that upon the circuit becoming broken
at a room or place as indicated at the letter J that the armature B Figure 1 will
fall, rock the bell-crank lever D, allow the bar. E' E' to fall and release the alarm
mechanism.
As it is desirable in some cases that the alarm should become automatically
inoperative at a desired or pre-determined hour, I then provide a clock (indicated
by the letter A' at Figure 1) in connection with the apparatus, such having
ordinary chronometric and alarm mechanism, and the alarm mechanism may be
set in the usual manner so that at a predetermined time a projection on, say the
hour or equivalent wheel, will release a spring engaging with the projection K on a
bar K the sliding of which latter will allow a lever L to rock from the dotted
position and lower a bar M; when the bar M is raised the armature on falling will
act on the lever D, but when in position, as shown in full lines, the armature is
prevented from acting on the said lever by being stopped by the bar M.
When desired I may cause the falling of the armature B to cause a local bell
circuit to be closed, as for example is shown at Figure 3, where the bar E¹ falls
between the two springs N N and closes the circuit; such may be used in addition
to the bell F, or one or the other may be dispensed with.
Where the main circuit passes through a number of rooms or places and it is
desired to localize any break therein, I divide the circuit into a number of sections,
and I have shown an example of such at Figure 4, the circuit passing from the
battery through the magnet A by the terminal G the line wire passing through
the rooms a b c d e and back by the terminal G₁ to the battery. P is a contact
switch having an arm P₁ which may be rotated by hand or otherwise. The
contact plates of the switch are marked with letters or names to coincide with the
rooms or places so that supposing the circuit to be broken at an unknown place
(say at d) the arm P' is rotated in the direction of the arrow Figure 4, and will
on arriving at d, complete the circuit through connection f, arm P¹, connection,
to battery by G¹.
9,
and
A galvanometer indicates, or may be employed to indicate, when the section in
which the break has occurred has thus been cut out; or as shown at Figure 4 the
current by passing through the magnet S attracts the armature S' and causes the
tooth S² to lock the ratchet wheel S³, and thus fix the arm P¹. The magnet S may
if desired be operated by a local battery. As aforesaid the arm P' may be operated
by hand or it may be arranged to be moved or rotated automatically by ordinary
spring or other mechanism which is controlled by the apparatus shown at
Figure 1.
I have shown the apparatus as it is fixed on the inside of the door of a cabinet T

page_text: Figure 2 with the clock face showing to the outside, but it will be obvious that
this arrangement may be varied according to circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
First In electric alarm mechanism, the combination and arrangement of parts
consisting of an electro magnet A A included in a "closed circuit" passing
through the room or rooms, place or places to be signalled from, the falling
armature B, release devices DE and alarm F, whereby on the circuit being broken
an electric or mechanical alarm or both, are sounded substantially as herein
described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Second In electric alarm mechanism together with the parts claimed by
Claim 1, of the means for rendering the alarm automatically inoperative at a
pre-determined time, consisting of a clock mechanism in combination with the slide
bar K', lever L and bar M substantially as set forth.
Third: In electric alarms, the combination with the arrangement claimed by
Claim 1, of the device and arrangement as shown and described with reference to
Figure 4, whereby a break in the circuit may be localized substantially as set
forth.
Fourth The general arrangement and combination of parts composing my
improvements in electric alarm mechanism all substantially as herein described and
illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings together with any mere
modification or modifications thereof.
Witness-
E. G. BREWER,
33, Chancery Lane, London.
WILLIAM KINGSLAND.