US328166A - Alarm - Google Patents

Description

2 sheets-sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. M. WILLIAMS.

ALARM.

Patented Oct. 13, 1885.

WIJWES E S s WNVENTOR .dttorncy n PETERS. Mumm Wauhiqfim n. c.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Oct. 13, 1885.

ALARM.

G. M. WILLIAMS.

(No Model.)

IJVVEWTOR) WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

Application filed May 1, 1885.

.T 0 all whom it may 00necrn:

Be it known that I, GWILYM M. WILLiAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a a full, clear, and exact description of the i11- vention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an alarm adapted especially for use in mines, and is designed to give warning to the workmen when from any cause whatever the ventilation of the mine is insufficient to carry off explosive gases, there by enabling the workmen to escape to a point of safety until the means or apparatus for ventilating purposes can be repaired or placed in proper running order.

The invention consists in the combination, with a box or casing, of a pivoted or hinged plate connected with and adapted, when the draught is insufficient to prevent the accumulation of explosive gases, to drop and close an electric circuit,which includes alarming mechanism, such as bells, and actuating said mechanism until the proper ventilating pressure has been restored.

The invention further consists in the improved construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 00 a; of Fi 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A represents a box or casing, which is divided into two compartments, B O. The compartment B has an aperture or opening, a, in the side of the box for the passage of the current of air therethrough. The said opening or passage a has a seat, a, against which the valve rests when forced there by the current of air, and the bottom of said compartment B is formed with a series of perforations or openings, 1), from which it will be seen that when said box or casing is placed in the line of ventilation (be- 328,166, dated October 13, 1885 SeiialNo. llitlflfl. (No model.)

tween the face of the working and the ventilating apparatus) the air enters through the perforations or openings b.

Located within the compartment 13 is a shaft, D, one end of which extends into compartment 0, suitable bearings, 0, being provided on the partition-wall d, dividing the box or casing for the accommodation of the end of said shaft, the other end of the shaft having bearings d, secured to one of the side walls of the casing. The shaft D is located in compartment B, in close proximity to the aperture a, and upon said shaft is mounted a valve consisting of aplate, d, which is adapted to fit said aperature a and close the same. As long as there is a sufficient pressure of air for ventilating purposes the valve will be forced and held against the sides of the aper ture a; but as soon as the supply is insufficient the valve will be withdrawn from the aperture by means and for a purpose which will be described. Upon the end 0 of the shaft which extends into the compartment 0 is rigidly secured, so as to move therewith, an arm, E, which has a series of graduated marks upon its outer face.

Upon the arm E is a weight, F, which is preferably connected with the arm in such manner that it cannot be accidentally displaced. The preferred means for accomplishing this result is by providing the arm E with aseries of openings, one for each mark and on a line therewith, and by providing the weight F with a hook,f, adapted to engage any one of the series of openings. If a pressure on the valve equal to a weight of three ounces is necessary for proper ventilation, the weight upon arm E is placed at two and onehalf ounces, so that should the pressure of air be less than three ounces the weight on the arm will withdraw the valve from the aperture in compartment I3.

Formed integral with the arm E or secured to said arm or the shaft upon which it is mounted, so that when the valve is removed from the aperture it will be moved with the said shaft, is a short arm, G, having an elongated slot, 9, near its lower end.

H II represent binding-posts, and h wires connecting the same with a battery and alarming mechanism, which being of an ordinary or well-known construction is not shown.

ICO

The wires h are held in place by means of the ordinary bindingscrews, z.

Hinged or pivoted to the binding-post H is a contact-lever, I, which when the circuit is closed bears against the bindingpost H.

Extending from the free end of the contactlever I are two metal plates, J, which are insulated by having their ends east with hard insulating material into the cylindrical portion and having holes near their ends for the passage of a pin, j, which also passes through the elongated slot in the lower end of the short arm G.

It will be observed that when the force of air is insufficient to overcome the weight on arm E and hold the valve to its seat the said arm E will be lowered, thus forcing the contact-lever, through the medium of the short arm G and the plates J, into contact with the binding-post H, thus completing the circuit and causing an alarm.

\Vhile the above described is, so far as I am at present aware, the best means for carrying out my invention, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact eonstruetion shown and described, but reserve to myself the right to make all such changes and alterations in the construction and arrangement of the'divers parts as properly fall Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Instead of two short pieces to form the shaft for the valve, it is obvous thatI could employ a shaft of one piece. The construction shown, however, is preferable on account of its lightness.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a boX having an opening, ofa valve to close said opening and mounted on a journaled shaft, an electric circuit which includes alarming mechanism, and a circuit-closer connected with thejournaled shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In an alarming mechanism of the character described, the combination, with a box or casing having an opening in one ofits sides, of a journaled shaft carrying a valve to close said opening, a lever connected with said shaft and having a circuit-closer, an electric circuit which includes alarming mechanism, and an adjustable weight for said lever, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a box or casing having an aperture and a series of perforations, of a shaft carrying a valve adapted to close said aperture, an arm or lever on said shaft, intermediate devices to complete an electric circuit, and an alarm mechanism included in the circuit, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with an apertured box or casing, substantially as described, of a shaft carrying a valve arranged to close said aperture, an arm or lever connected with said shaft, a short arm adapted to turn with the shaft, a movable weight on the arm, bindingposts, a contact-lever pivoted to one of said binding-posts and connected with said short arm, and an electric circuit which includes an alarm mechanism, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with an apertured box or casing, substantially as described, of ajournaled shaft carrying a valve arranged to close said aperture, an arm connected with said shaft, a movable weight on said arm, a short arm adapted to turn with the shaft and provided with a slot, binding-posts, a lever pivoted to one of the latter, plates extending from the contaet-lever and connected with the slot of the short arm, and an electric circuit which includes an alarm mechanism, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a box or easing having an aperture and perforations or openings, of a journaled shaft carrying a Valve to close said aperture, an arm mounted on said shaft, a movable weight on said arm, a short arm adapted to turn with the shaft, said short arm having a slot, binding-posts, a contactlever pivoted to one of the latter, plates extending from the contactlever and insulated, said plates being pivotally connected with said short arm, and an electric circuit which includes an alarm mechanism operated by said short arm, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GWILYM M. XVILLIAMS.

Vitnesses:

H. P. BLACKMAN, JOHN RICHARDS.

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