Improvements in Automatic Alarm Devices for Use in connection with Telephones and Microphones.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Alarm Devices for Use in connection
with Telephones and Microphones.
I, CHRISTIAN Hugo KrützFELDT, Merchant of 27 Königsweg, Kiel, in the
Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The present invention consists of an automatic alarm device for use in connection
with telephones and microphones, designed to save the official in charge the tedious
duty of repeatedly calling when communicating with other stations.
The apparatus consists mainly of a rotary drum mounted in suitable casing said
drum having series of projections or depressions, the first of said series consisting
of one depression or projection, and each following series increasing by one, up to
twelve or any desired number.
These projections or depressions of the said drum are adapted when the same is
revolved to contact with and operate a spring mounted lever, which is also
longitudinally adjustable along the length of the said drum, so that its upper end
may be brought into connection with any one of the series aforementioned at will,
and the said lever is suitably connected up to the button or contact of the micro-
phone or telephone, so as to cause the motion of the said lever to be communicated to
the said button or contact. The drum may be set in motion or stopped at will, suitable
spring driving mechanism or other means being employed for the purpose.
In operation, if it is desired to call a station which answers to, say, six calls, the
adjustable lever is placed in position opposite the series containing six projections
or depressions and the drum set in motion, the apparatus will then repeat the call,
suitable intervals being allowed between each six calls, until the station in question
has answered the same, when the drum may be stopped.
And in order to make this present Specification more easily intelligible reference
is had to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters denote similar parts
throughout the several views:―
Fig. 1 being a front elevation of the apparatus,
Fig. 2 a horizontal section along line gh in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 a vertical transverse section on line ab (Fig. 1).
Fig. 4 a detail view of the adjustable sleeve of the contact lever and
Fig. 5 a detail front view of the spring driving mechanism for the drum.
The drum 7 is mounted on a spindle 5 mounted to rotate in the casing K of the
apparatus, on the said spindle 5 but outside the casing is attached the spring driving
mechanism for the same, said mechanism being enclosed in a casing 1 and having
a wing or handle 4 by means of which it may be wound up, 23 and 3ª represent
gears belonging to the said mechanism, but as the same may be of any known
construction no further description thereof is necessary here.
The drum 7 is provided on its surface with series of projections or depressions
desired. Below
ranging advantageously from 1 to 12 or more may be employed
the drum 7 spindle 5 is mounted in the casing a second spindle 14 said spindle being
held by means of springs 16 16 (Fig. 3) and guided in slots 15 15 in the casing K
into which slots its ends take. Rigidly fixed to the spindle 14 is an arm 23 which
extends downwards and rests with its lower end upon the button of the telephone
or microphone apparatus as shown at a in Fig. 3. Along the spindle 14 a sleeve 17
is arranged to slide, said sleeve being slotted along the whole of its length to allow

page_text: of its movement on the spindle backwards and forwards over the stationary arm 23,
the said slot may be seen at 17" in Fig. 4; to the sleeve 17 is attached an arm 20
extending downwards and bent round to project through a slot 21 in the front of
the casing K, said slot 21 being provided with notches having numbers correspond-
ing to the number of the projections or depressions of the drum 7 and into which the
lever takes when shifted. Such numbers may be arranged on an enamel plate 22
or otherwise affixed to the casing K.
To the upper part of the said sleeve 17 is pivoted a lever 18 which rests with its
upper end against the drum 7 said lever being provided with a spring 19 which is
of sufficient strength to prevent the movement of the lever 18 on its pivot when
operated by the projections or depressions of the drum, so that such operation of
the said lever 18 will always be communicated to the spindle 14 and arm 23 and to
the button x.
I will now proceed to describe the mechanism for arresting the movement of the
drum when required.
The spindle 5 carries a gear wheel 6 which engages in a pinion 6 mounted on a
spindle 8 mounted in the casing K below the drum 7. At the opposite end of the
said spindle 8 the same carries a spur wheel 9 gearing in a wheel 10 of a spindle 11
mounted in the casing below the spindle 8 and carrying a fan 13. The spindle also
carries a brake roll 12 having advantageously a rubber surface and against which a
lever 24 pivoted at the back of the casing K may be placed, said lever having also
advantageously rubber at the point of its contact with the brake roll 12. The
lever 24 projects through a slot in the casing and may be moved by hand its
position relatively to the roll 12 being controlled by a spring guide arm 27 having
notches 28, 29 into which a pin of the lever takes. Thus when the said pin 25 is
in the notch to the left of the Fig. 2 the lever rests against the roll 12 and arrests
the drum 7 by friction, if the lever 24 is thrown over so that the pin 25 comes to
lie in the right hand notch the roll is free and the drum will turn under the action
of the spring driving mechanism.
The apparatus is manipulated in the following manner :-If it is desired to alarm
a station which answers to six calls, the lever 20 is placed in the notch of the
slot 21 corresponding to the six projections or depressions on the drum 7 whereby
the lever arm 18 is brought opposite to the series containing six projections or
depressions the lever 24 is now thrown over thus freeing the friction or brake
roll 12 and the drum revolves depressing the spindle 14 and arm 23 six times in
succession, and effecting the six calls which will be repeated as long as the drum
continues to rotate, at certain intervals--the said intervals corresponding to the
distance on the drum 7 between the first and last projection-and as soon as the
station called has answered the apparatus may be stopped by throwing back
the brake lever 24 as previously described.
The movement of the sleeve along the spindle 14 is limited by means of collars 14"
and 14b.
It should be mentioned that apart from the tremendous amount of tedious work
which the apparatus hereinbefore described saves the officials, the calls as performed
by the apparatus are much more regular and even and can consequently be more
readily understood. The front part of the casing K may advantageously be of
glass to enable an inspection of the works at any time, whilst the whole apparatus
may be hung up on the telephone or microphone apparatus by means of the hooks 30
or other suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a rotary drum having on its surface series of projections
or depressions, each said series having a number of projections or depressions
corresponding to a particular call or aların, a lever longitudinally adjustable along
said drum and actuated by said projections or depressions, means for transmitting

page_text: the motion of said lever to the button or contact of a telephone or microphone and
means for starting and stopping the said drum substantially as described.
2. The combination of a drum 7 having projections or depressions as specified,
and adjustable sleeve 17 having slot 17" and mounted on a spindle having fixed
arm 23 communicating with the button or contact of a telephone or microphone a
fixed arm 20 to said sleeve to project through the front of casing K, a lever 18
pivoted to said sleeve and having spring 19 to hold its end in connection with the
drum and means for starting and stopping the said drum substantially as described.
3. The combination of a drum 7 having projections or depressions as specified,
and adjustable sleeve 17 having slot 17 and mounted on a spindle having fixed
arm 23 communicating with the button or contact of a telephone or microphone,
springs 16 16 to carry said spindle and guide slots 15 15 in casing K to receive said
spindle ends, a fixed arm 20 to said sleeve to project through the front of casing K,
a lever 18 pivoted to said sleeve and having spring 19 to hold its end in connection
with the drum and means for starting and stopping the said drum substantially as
described.
4. The combination of a drum 7 having projections or depressions as specified,
and adjustable sleeve 17 having slot 17 and mounted on a spindle having fixed
arm 23 communicating with the button or contact of a telephone or microphone,
springs 16 16 to carry said spindle and guide slots 15 15 in casing K to receive said
spindle ends a fixed arm 20 to said sleeve to project through the front of casing K,
a lever 18 pivoted to said sleeve and having spring 19 to hold its end in connection
with the drum, a spindle 12 mounted in the casing, a brake roll on said spindle,
intermediate gearing 10, 9, 6ª, 6 to connect said brake roll to the drum spindle 5, a
brake lever 24 to contact with said brake roll, a spring guide piece 27 to engage
pin 25 of said brake lever and means, such as a spring mechanism to drive said drum
spindle substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of August 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.