AN IMPROVED ALARM APPARATUS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Henry Newby at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th September
1867.
I, EDWIN HENRY NEWBY, of No. 39, King William Street, in the City of
London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED ALARM APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to an apparatus which is chiefly designed for
temporary attachment during the night to the door or window of a bed
room to indicate any attempt made to open the said door or window. The
apparatus gives warning by means of a bell, which by the action of a
simple arrangement of clockwork is caused to ring violently when a vibrating
hammer or striker is released from a catch or stop; the latter is arranged
in such a position as to be instantly moved by any attempt to open the door
or window upon or near which the apparatus is fixed. The mechanism
of the apparatus is preferably enclosed in a light circular metal box or
case, in the centre of whose base a tubular rod or stud is firmly fixed. An
escapement wheel is fitted to turn freely upon the lower portion of this rod,
and a pallet arranged to work in the teeth of the said wheel is fixed upon a
short spindle whose journals work in suitable bearings at the side of the
cylindrical case. A box containing a coiled spring, which is preferably arranged
to act in the same manner as the mainspring of a watch or clock, is also fitted
to turn upon the tubular rod, and is connected to the escapement wheel by

page_text: said neck.
.
means of a ratchet wheel and pawl. The spring box cover is formed with an
extension or neck, upon which the bell is secured, a small feather or other
suitable device being employed to keep the bell from turning loosely on the
One end of the coiled spring is attached to the fixed tubular rod,
and the other end to the interior of the spring box. The apparatus is wound
up by turning the spring box in the proper direction around its axis, and the
rotation of the said box is effected by means of the bell, which being firmly
united to the spring box turns with the same both in winding up the
apparatus and during its action in giving warning. A ring or washer is
placed upon the neck of the spring box over the bell, and' a nut or collar is
fitted on the end of the tubular rod so as to allow the bell and other parts to
rotate freely on the said rod, but which prevents their removal therefrom.
The ratchet and pawl between the spring box and the escapement wheel are
so arranged as to allow the said box the required independent rotation in one
direction when the apparatus is being wound up, but locks them together as
the box is turned by the, force of the spring in the. other direction. The
hammer or striker is attached to the spindle of the pallet, and is most
conveniently arranged' at the side of the bell. The pallet is so formed that as
the escapement wheel is rotated by the uncoiling of the spring it is caused by
the teeth of the said wheel to vibrate rapidly, and the hammer which moves
with the said pallet strikes. the bell at each vibration. The stop or catch
which must be released before the alarm is given by the apparatus; when the
same is attached to a door or window, is: fixed. upon an adjustable lever
pivoted to a projection on the exterior of the cylindrical case; the said stop
when properly adjusted' presses against the back of the pallet, preventing the
vibration of the latter and the rotation of the escapement. wheel. The stop or
catch is attached to its lever by adjustable devices, which can be easily
arranged to allow the apparatus to act: properly when attached to either the
door or its post, or to any convenient part on or near a window or shutter.
To obviate the necessity of letting the apparatus unwind or run down when it
has been wound up and not used a sliding bolt is arranged upon the cylindrical
case and is formed to enter a groove in the hammer and prevent the vibration
of the same; or the said sliding piece: may have a catcli formed to take hold of
the pallet or other part of the mechanism and prevent the action of the same.
When the apparatus is placed on. a window it may be found: convenient to.
turn the stop away from the pallet, and attach a cord to the sliding bolt in
such a manner that the hammer is released from the said bolt by opening the
window. The adjustable lever may in some cases be connected with the
sliding bolt instead of with a stop at the back of the pallet.

page_text: The apparatus is provided with a disc of india-rubber or other suitable flexible
substance which is formed to fit closely upon any smooth surface and adhere
thereto by pneumatic or atmospheric pressure; the said disc is preferably
attached to a metal collar provided with an interior screw thread fitted to the
end of a spindle which extends through the hollow rod in the centre of the
cylindrical case, and is formed with a suitable head to facilitate its adjustment
in fixing and removing the apparatus. The said apparatus may also be
provided with a bracket or other device whereby it may be attached to a chair
or other piece of furniture which can be placed near the door or window it is
desired to guard, or may be permanently fixed by screws or other fastenings
on or near a door or window. This improved apparatus may be advantageously
employed instead of an ordinary alarm clock; for this purpose a cord is
attached to the adjustable lever or sliding bolt, and the apparatus is fixed near
the bed, or in any other convenient position; the end of the cord is passed
through the keyhole or other aperture in the door of the room wherein the
apparatus is used, and must be pulled to set the hammer in action. The
said apparatus may also be employed in place of an ordinary call or hand
bell.