IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA- RATUS FOR PRODUCING ALARUMS TO INDICATE BURGLARY BY MEANS OF ELECTRICITY
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Symons, of George Street, Mansion House,
in the City of London, and Edward Burgess, of Clerkenwell Green, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR PRODUCING ALARUMS TO INDICATE BURGLARY BY MEANS OF
ELECTRICITY."
Sealed the 7th October 1856, and dated the 22nd April 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Symons and
Edward Burgess at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 22nd April 1856.
I, ALEXANDER SYMONS, of George Street, Mansion House, in the City of
London, and I, EDWARD BURGESS, of Clerkenwell Green, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of tho said Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ALARUMS TO INDICATE BURGLARY BY MEANS OF
ELECTRICITY, to be as follows:-.
Our improvements in apparatus for producing alarums to indicate burglary
by means of electricity consists of several methods of effecting the contact at
the breaks in electric circuits employed to discharge the alarums in such cases.
With reference to doors and hinged window shutters, we place a pin or pro-
jecting surface of ivory, agate, or other non-conducting material in a knuckle
of the moving part of a hinge, and apply the permanent pressure of a spring
which forms one terniinal of the circuit thereto. The spring rests on this non-
conductor while the door is shut. On the door being opened, the knuckle will

page_text: move round so as to bring a metallic point of contact under the spring, &
thereby establish the circuit, & discharge the alarum in connection therewith.
The rubbing of the non-conductor on the contact spring, and rubbing the
metal contact points together removes any oxidation and ensures the requisite
contact for transmission.
Another break and hinge connection consists of a jointed piece fixed to or
near the door from which it receives motion. The one part of the joint is fitted
with a spring which acts on the free part in the manner of the spring of a
clasp knife, so that when the free part is moved by partial opening of the
door to which it is applied, the spring completes the motion of the hinge piece,
& establishes metallic connection of the circuit.
Another method of making the electric circuit required refers to the bolt
of the lock, which forms one terminal of the circuit wire, while an insulated
spring forms the other terminal. This spring presses constantly on the lock
bolt, and rests on an agate or other non-conducting surface, against which it
rests, & slides on to the other conducting circuit terminal when the bolt is
moved. The rubbing of the parts prepares the surfaces, so as to produce the
requisite metallic connection to complete the circuit, and so discharge the
audible or other signal.
Another circuit applied to doors consists of a quadrant formed plate of metal
placed below the hinge of the door, & so that the door moves over it when
opened; this plate of metal forms the one terminal of the circuit wire, while
the other is formed by a bolt fixed to the door, which, as the door moves, this
bolt slides off its non-conducting resting surface on to the conducting plate
before mentioned, & rubs over that surface during nearly the whole move-
ment of the door. The plate is not rigidly supported, but springs and gives a
little to the pressure of the bolt. The contact of the bolt with the quadrant
plate produces the metallic connection necessary to establish the circuit &
produce the alarum.
A circuit break adapted for "lifting shutters," consists of a spring placed
underneath the key shutter, which; when the shutter is removed, rubs the
contact surface & releases the spring, which then effects the metallic contact
necessary to complete the circuit.
Another mode of completing the circuit to indicate burglary consists in
fitting what we denominate man-traps in several parts of floors, these being
loose parts of the floor which rest on and have a slight rise by the elas-
ticity of a piece of india-rubber placed underneath. Metal points, forming
the terminals of the circuit wire, are embedded in the india-rubber, but
do not touch unless the loose board in the floor is depressed. The metallic

page_text: points being imbedded in the india-rubber, a clean surface to effect metallic
contact is at all times ensured, & when the board is trod upon by any one, a
slight & even imperceptible depression takes place & completes the electric
circuit, and thereby discharges the alarum. When not required, the several
circuits may be thrown out of operation to prevent unnecessary signals.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Symons and Edward Burgess in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 22nd October 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALEXANDER
SYMONS, of George Street, Mansion House, in the City of London, and
EDWARD BURGESS, of Clerkenwell Green, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Alexander Symons and Edward Burgess, Her special licence that we,
the said Alexander Symons and Edward Burgess, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Alexander Symons and
Edward Burgess, our exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ALARUMS TO INDICATE BURGLARY BY MEANS OF
ELECTRICITY," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Alexander
Symons and Edward Burgess, our executors or administrators, by an instru
ment in writing under our, or one of our or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar monthis next
and iminediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Symons, on behalf of myself
and said Edward Burgess, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the

page_text: Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
Our improvements in apparatus for producing alarums to indicate burglary.
by means of electricity consist of several methods of effecting the contact at
the breaks in electric currents employed to discharge alarums. For this pur-
pose, with reference to doors and hinged window shutters, or other similar
enclosures, we place a pin or projecting-surface of ivory, agate, or other non-
conducting material in a knuckle of the moving part of a hinge, and apply the
permanent pressure of a spring which forms one terminal of the circuit thereto.
The spring rests on this non-conductor while the door is shut; on the door
being opened, the knuckle will move round so as to bring a metallic point of
contact under the spring, and thereby establish the circuit and discharge
the alarum in connection therewith. The rubbing of the non-conductor on the
contact spring, and rubbing the metal contact points together, removes any
oxidation and ensures the requisite contact for transmission.
Another break and hinge connection consists of a jointed piece fixed to or
near the door from which it receives motion. The one part of the joint is
fitted with a spring, which acts on the free part in the manner of the spring of
a clasp knife, so that when the free part is moved by the partial opening of the
door to which it is applied, the spring completes the motion of the hinge piece,
and establishes the metallic connection of the circuit.
Another method of completing the electric circuit required refers to the bolt
of the lock, which forms one terminal of the circuit wire, while an insulated
spring forms the other terminal. This spring presses constantly on the lock
bolt, and rests on an agate or other non-conducting surface, against which it
rests and slides on to the other conducting circuit terminal when the bolt is
moved. This rubbing of the parts prepares the surfaces, so as to produce the
requisite metallic connection to complete the circuit, and so discharge the
audible or other signal.
Another circuit break, applied to doors, consists of a quadrant formed plate
of metal placed below the hinge of the door, and so that the door moves over it
when opened; this plate of metal forms the one terminal of the circuit wire,
while the other is formed by a bolt fixed to the door, which, as the door moves,
this bolt slides off its non-conducting resting surface on to the conducting plate
before mentioned, and rubs over that surface during nearly the whole move-
ment of the door. The plate is not rigidly supported, but springs and gives a
little to the pressure of the bolt. The contact of the bolt with the quadrant
plate produces the metallic connection necessary to establish the circuit which
produces the alarum.

page_text: A circuit break adapted for "lifting shutters," consists of a spring placed
underneath the key shutter, which, when the shutter is removed, rubs the con-
tact surface and releases, the spring, which then effects the metallic contact
necessary to complete the circuit.
Another mode of completing the circuit to indicate burglary consists in
fitting what we denominate "man-traps " in several parts of floors, these being
loose parts of the floor which rest on and have a slight rise by the elasticity of
a piece of india-rubber placed underneath. Metal points forming the terminal
of the circuit wire are embedded in the india-rubber, but do not touch unless
the loose board in the floor is depressed. The metallic points being embedded
in the india-rubber, a clean surface to effect métallic contact is at all times
ensured, and when the board is trod upon by any one, a slight and even im-
perceptible depression takes place, and completes the electric circuit, and
thereby discharges the alarum. When not required, the several circuits may
be thrown out of operation by'a break for that purpose to prevent unnecessary.
signals.
These several methods of making and breaking contact of electric circuit for
the purpose of detecting burglary are herein-after described, with reference to
the several Figures. in the Drawings hereunto annexed, as also modifications
thereof adapted for the various applications that may be required.
In describing our Invention with reference to the Drawings, it will be un-
necessary to give any description of the galvanic batteries and alarum apparata
used for giving audible signals by means of electric currents, they being well
and generally understood as applied for telegraphic purposes; therefore it will
be sufficient here to say that the audible signals herein referred to as employed
in connection with this apparatus are produced much in the ordinary way;
(that is to say,) when the electric circuit is completed, the passing current
excites an electro-magnet attached to the signal apparatus, which magnet
attracts an armature, and thereby acts on a detent and discharges
a spring train
or some other motor held in readiness by the detent, which may either ring a
bell, fire a pistol, or produce some other noise sufficiently powerful and attractive
to arrest the necessary attention.
arrangements of apparatus applied to doors, window shutters, and other closures,
hung and moving on hinges.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent a partial view and horizontal sections of a door

page_text: furnished with the several appliances for producing alarums by means of
electricity, when such passage is forced or surreptitiously opened.
With reference to effecting contact at the hinge.-Fig 1 represents, in
elevation, an arrangement for that purpose, and Fig. 3 the same in plan.
A represents the lower hinge of the door, fitted to effect the metallic contact
at the break of an electric circuit. In the knuckle b, which moves round as
the door is opened, we place a piece of agate C, or other suitable non-conducting
material; opposite to this knuckle and opposed to this piece of agate is a bolt
d, the point of which rests against the agate C when the door is shut. This
bolt is fitted in a socket e fixed to the wall, in which socket it is free to slide,
and is constantly pressed and projected by a spring f. (represented in dotted
lines,) and thereby forced against the knuckle b. The socket e is placed in
metallic connection with one pole of a battery by means of wire f¹, while the
other pole of the battery is in like connection with the pin of the hinge by wire
f", which is fixed to and has constant metallic connection with the knuckle b.
The wire f', in its passage to the pole of the battery, passes through the electro-
magnet of the alarum apparatus on which the current takes effect. When the
current is completed, so long as the door remains closed, with the bolt d
against the agate, the circuit of the battery will be broken, but so soon as the
hinge rotates on its axis by reason of the door opening, the piece of agate will
be turned from under the bolt d, which bolt will pass on to the metal part of
the knuckle, and will thereby complete the circuit of the battery and discharge
the alarum. The rubbing motion of the bolt on the agate and the metal
surfaces together, cleans those surfaces and ensures metallic contact. The
agate may be grooved or roughed to scour the point of bolt d clean. When
it is desired to interrupt permanently the action of the bolt d, without other-
wise suspending the current, the nib k of the bolt d is thrown back and turned
into the slot at right angles to that in which it traverses horizontally.
Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section of a door having its hinge fitted with
the contact points, somewhat as last herein-before described. The agate piece,
knuckle, and the connection of the wires are all similar, but the contact bolt is
dispensed with. The contact is effected by the direct pressure of a spring i,
which rests on the agate when the door is closed, as before described, but
effects metallic contact by the rotation of the hinge when the door is opened.
The pressure of the spring and rubbing of the contact surfaces, produced by
the motion of the doors cleans and prepares them for the contact required.
Fig. 1 also shews a make and break connection fitted to the floor, and acted
on by the opening of the door, which is also represented in plan in the hori-
zontal section of the door, Fig. 3. o is a plate of metal in the form of a

page_text: quadrant, having the angle placed immediately under the hinge of the door and
the whole plate sunk in the floor. This plate is fixed by the edge in line with
the door when closed, from which point it inclines upwards, and is highest at
the point farthest from the door. It is not rigidly supported in that inclined
position, but gives way a little when pressed on from above. This plate o
forins the terminal of wire p communicating with the battery, while the wire q
from the other pole of the battery is in communication with the terminal r fixed
to the door. The terminal r consists simply of a bracket to fix on the door,
with a point projecting downwards below the door. The point r is immediately
over the inclined plate o, and when the door is shut it does not touch that
plate. Immediately the door has been opened a little, the point r cones in
contact with o, by reason of its inclined position, and continues to scrape along
its surface; during the further opening of the door the plate o recedes down-
wards from the pressure, but at the same time offers sufficient resistance for
the purpose required. If metallic contact is not at once effected when r and
o touch, by reason of any dirt or extraneous matter intervening, the scraping
action insures sufficient abrasion to remove the obstruction to ensure the com-
pletion of the battery current. The wire, as before, passes through and gives
effect to the alarum apparatus, which may be situated at a distance or any
other part of the house. Instead of allowing the plate o to spring, it may be
fixed rigidly, and the point r mounted in the manner of bolt d, but with a stop
to prevent it touching the plate o when the door is closed. The spring of the
bolt forces it downwards, and offers resistance to the rise of the bolt when
it touches the inclined plate o, and will produce the necessary act of abrasion,
but at the same time will offer no rigid obstruction to opening the door.
Figure 4 represents another arrangement for making connection by the
opening of a door or other hinged closure. s is a short lever, mounted on a
fixed fulcrum at t, which is placed in metallic connection with one pole of a
battery by wire v. The long end of lever s rests against the door when it is
shut; the short horn of lever s rests against the spring u, which exerts a con-
stant pressure upon that horn. In the position in which the several parts are
represented in Fig. 4, with the door closed, the pressure of spring u is nearly
in a line with the fulcrum t, and therefore the spring produces no effect.
When the door is opened, the long arm of lever s is raised, and throws the
horn out of its present position with respect to spring u, and so that the pres-
sure of that spring throws the horu smartly back, and brings the short arm of
lever s down upon a piece of metal w with a sharp stroke. The piece w being
the other terminal of the wire from the opposite pole of the battery, the circuit

page_text: is thus completed, and the alarum given, as required. The sudden stroke of the
lever upon 'w removes any extraneous matter. and ensures metallic contact.
Figure 1 represents a means of completing the circuit of a battery by
throwing back the bolt of the lock of a door or other closure. x is an insu-
lated bracket carrying: a .spring, which bears constantly on the bolt y of the
lock so long as the bolt remains locked; the spring rests on a piece of agate
or other non-conducting material z, which interrupts metallic contact. The
bolt y is placed in metallic connection with one pole of a battery by spring 1,
connected permanently to the wire 2 leading to the battery. The bracket
and its spring are placed in metallic connection with the other pole of the
battery by wire 8. When the bolt is shot back, the metal of the bolt y comes
in contact with the metal spring of a, and thereby completes the circuit of the
battery and discharges the alarum.. The rubbing of the spring on the
bolt y, and its constant action in locking and unlocking the door, keeps the
metallic contact surfaces always in condition to complete the circuit with
_certainty. It will be readily understood that one battery answers for a mul-
tiplicity of these break connections, any one of which will complete the circuit
and give the alarm. In the day, or any time when these appliances are not
required to act, one make and break is placed in the main line wire leading
from the battery, at which the circuit can be suspended at pleasure, to permit
the free use of the several parts of the house fitted with this apparatus, without
necessarily discharging the alarums.
Fig. 5 represents, in elevation, part of the lifting shutters of a shop front, and
Fig. 6 a cross section of the same, fitted with our improved apparatus for
effecting connection of the terminals and completion of the circuit of a galvanic
battery when the shutters are attempted to be opened surreptitiously. The
key shutter only is represented as being so fitted, but each and all the shutters
may be similarly furnished.
Fig. 7 represents a longitudinal section of the break apparatus on an
enlarged scale, with the position the shutters occupy dotted, but on the same
scale as Fig. 5. a is a metal plate fixed in the sill of the window, and with
which one pole of a battery is connected by wire b; c is a metal spring fixed
to plate a, but insulated from that plate by non-conducting material d inter-
posed between the a and c. (The springs may be otherwise fixed and insulated
from plate a.) The spring c is placed in metallic connection with the oppositte
pole of the battery by wire e; on spring c a vertical pin f is fixed, which pro-
jects upwards through the plate a. By means of this pin the spring c is
depressed when the shutter is placed in position, and is permitted to rise by its

page_text: .
own action when the shutter is removed. An inclined part of the shutter
(seen in the cross section, Fig. 6), when the shutter is pressed home, depresses
the pin f, which is again relieved when the shutter is removed. The spring c
carries an upright pin g, which, when pin f is up, comes in contact with the
metal arms h, but when depressed, that contact is interrupted, as shown dotted,
by reason of the pin 9.receding beyond its reach. Thus, when the shutter is.
removed surreptitiously, the spring c will force the pin g. into contact with h,
and so complete the circuit of the battery, and thereby. discharge the alarum.
placed in its circuit. The part h consists of a piece of bent steel, roughed or
cut with fine teeth, like a file, and hardened, so that on pin g (which is of softer
metal) coming into rubbing contact by the pressure of the spring c, the pin f,
will be abraided, and a pure metallic contact always ensured. The limbs of h
are elastic, and recede, a little from each other. by reason of the force of
the spring, but at the same time possess sufficient resistance. for the pur÷:
pose. This same apparatus answers to produce au alarum in connection;
with sliding or revolving doors or shutters, or other closures, for which purpose,
it has simply to be adjusted in such a position that, when the shutter or other'
part is closed, it acts upon pin f, so as to break contact at g, h, and when the
window shutter or other-closure is opened, the contact of g, h, is made:
"
Fig. 1 represents this same apparatus applied to bolt of a door lock.
When the bolt is shot and locked the end of it comes against pin f, and,
breaks contact at g, h; when the bolt y is thrown back, the pressure is removed.
from pin f, and contact between 9 and h is made in consequence, and thereby
completing the circuit of the battery, so discharging the alarum when the lock
is surreptitiously attempted to be opened.
.
Fig. 9 represents the-same arrangement applied to a desk; it is fitted in the
part of the casing on which the rising flap comes down; when the desk is.
closed, it breaks contact at g, h, by depressing pin f, and makes the necessary
contact at g, h; when the desk is opened, by permitting the pin f.to rise, thus,
completing the battery circuit in connection therewith, and so discharge the
alarum.
'
Fig. 10 represents a plan a; Fig. 11, a vertical section on line 3, 4, Fig.
10, of a floor furnished, with circuit breaks, which we denominate man-traps.
They consist of loose pieces of board k, k, placed in the floor in places where.
burglars are likely to tread. The loose boards are bedded on india-rubbed, to
prevent any motion being perceptible in the board-to the person. treading... In
one. arrangement the terminals of the circuit consist of two pins i, m; the one,.
m, is fixed to the loose board k, while the other, i, is rigidly fixed to the joist

page_text: below, or some suitable fixed part. The two pins are inserted tightly into a
hole through a piece of india-rubber n, which is thick enough to prevent
contact of the pins m, i, under ordinary circumstances; but when trod upon by
any one, the weight of the person treading compresses the rubber n, and the
two pins m and i effect contact, and complete circuit of the battery, the wires
o, p, from which are in metallic connection with the pins m, i. The extent of
motion to effect this contact is very slight, the pins being embedded in the
rubber, and the action of the air is prevented on the contact surfaces, which
are thereby kept clean. represents another arrangement of man-trap fur-
nished with a break somewhat similar to Fig. 8, but makes and breaks by a
opposite action; that is to say, when depressed it makes contact, and when
released it breaks it. Fig. 12 represents a full-size section of a break of this
kind. The loose board ³ is bedded on india-rubber q, q, which permits sufficient
rise and fall; r is the one terminal point fixed to board k¹, and communicating
by wire t with the battery, while the other, s, communicates by wire n with the
other pole of the battery, the circuit passing through the alarum, as usual.
The parts is piece of bent and tempered steel, cut or roughed on the inside,
as before described with reference to Fig. 8, to effect the pure metallic contact.
with certainty. The weight of board k¹ alone does not effect contact between
rands, but when that board is trodden upon, the contact is made between r
and s, and as a consequence the battery circuit is completed and the alarum
discharged.
. Fig. 12 represents the break points arranged so that the circuit is broken
when spring c is relieved from pressure on pin f, and made when it is depressed.
The arm v is of a piece with plate a, and carries contact part h, the contact
point g being on the spring c, as before, which is insulated from a, the con-
nection with the battery being the same.
The alarum will be discharged when this instrument is depressed, and
which is suitable for the floors in lieu of the arrangement exhibited at ',
Fig. 11, or any other where the contact is desired to be made when pressure
is applied, instead of being removed.
Having described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of carry-
ing the same into practical effect, we desire it to be understood that what
we claim to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is,
First, the several arrangements of parts herein-before described for effecting.
contact and completing electric circuits, whereby audible signals or alarums are
produced for the
purposes above-mentioned.

page_text: Secondly, we claim imparting to the contact points of electric circuits a
rubbing motion while effecting contact, to clean and otherwise prepare those
parts to produce a perfect metallic contact, for the purposes and as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Symons, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
WILLIAM CLARK,
Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane, London.
A. SYMONS. (L.B.)