US774831A - Electric burglar-alarm system. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

C. COLEMAN. ELECTRIC BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 17, 1896.

' no MODEL.

No. 774,831. Patented November '15, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLYDE COLEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, OF TWO-THIRDS TO THE BANKERSv ELECTRIC PROTECTIVE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC BURGLAR-ALARM SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,831, dated November 15, 1904.

Application filed December 17, 1896. Serial No. 615,956. (No model.)

To whom it y concern: provide at the protected district an electric- Be it known that I, CLYDECOL MAN, a citially-operated circuit-breaker, which normally zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, remains at rest, but is operated at predeterin the county of Cook and State of Illinois, mined intervals to successively open the main 5 have invented a certain new and useful Imcircuit or a parallel path thereof, preferably provement in Electric Burglar Alarm Sys the latter, to cause the marked change in the tems, of Whichthe following is afull,clear,con current flowing. To prevent. the responsive cise, and exact description, reference being device from responding to the changes thus had to the accompanying drawings, forming produced, I preferablyprovide a second cir- I a part of this specification. cuit, usually at the alarm-station, which con- My invention relates to an electricburglan tains a similar electrically-operated circuitalarm system. breaker, and the responsive device is subject- My object is to provide asystem which will ed to the joint action of the currents in the effectually prevent unwarranted tampering two circuits. Means are provided for oper- I 5 with the circuit without sounding the alarm. ating the two circuit-breakers in unison, and

Burglar-alarm systems have heretofore been the responsive device thus remains irrespondevised having a resistance included in the sive under thelike changes in the two circuits. circuit at the protected district, which effects The circuit-changers are preferably operated the sounding of the alarm on being cut from through the agency of a clock mechanism or 5 20 the circuit. It has been possible, however, other automatically-operating mechanism for with such systems to cut out the resistance predetermining the times when the circuitand interpolate a similar resistance exterior breakers will be operated to open the circuits. to the protected district, thus permitting the I prefer to employ a circuit-breaker which entering of the protected vicinity without when operated will open and close the circuit 25 sounding the alarm at the alarm-station. To a number of times in uneven succession and prevent this successful tampering with the employ a circuit-breaker which depends for circuit, systems have been devised in which its operation upon a plurality of independent the electrical condition of the protective circircuit-breakers which coact in producing a cuit is varied at intervals either at localized joint circuit-breaking succession. Each ele- 0 points or over the whole circuit, the responment or individual circuit-breaker is consive or alarm-sounding device at the alarmstructed to break the circuit at uneven interstation being arranged to remain irresponsive vals, and the several elements areassociated to the normal variations, while responding to and operated so that their order of operation any abnormal variations to sound an alarm. is continuously changing, thus producing a 35 The present invention belongs to this class of large number of permutations in the intervals burglar alarm systems, and in accordance betweenthe successive breaks, which effectutherewith the protective circuit is opened at ally prevent duplication. The resultant series intervals, either completely or through one of of breaks'is thus produced not by a single cirseveral parallel paths, to cause a series or succuit-breaker whose construction and operation 8 5 -4 cession of marked drop or cessation of the curmight be determined by a series of readings rent at predetermined intervals I The r'espontaken from the circuit, but is produced by the sive device at the alarm-station isarranged so joint action of a plurality of independentlythat it will not respond to the normal changes, acting elements the separate effects of which while responding to any abnormal changes to are superimposed to produce an effect which 9 45 sound an alarm. is the result of a long series of permutations In the preferred form of my invention I in the intervals between the breaks. Such a circuit-breaking device depending for themtervals between the breaks or the length of the breaks upon the joint action of a plurality of separate and independently-acting circuitbreakers whose effects are superimposed I term a multiple permutating circuitbreaker. The parts may be arranged to produce a series of permutations in which one complete cycle will extend over a series of years, and in this manner the successful inter.- polation of a circuit-breaker in the protective circuit is effectively prevented.

I am aware that burglar-alarm systems have heretofore been devised in which the protective circuit is opened at intervals by means of a clock mechanism placed at the protective district, a similar and synchronously operating clock mechanism being situated at the central station for opening a second circuit at the same time, the responsive device being subjected to the joint action of the currents in the two circuits. Such systems require twocomplicated clock mechanisms, one at the central station and the other at the protected district, the latter requiring frequent visits to wind the same. Furthermore, it is diflicult to keep the clock mechanisms in synchronism, and when out of synchronism the alarm is sounded. To avoid trouble from getting out of synchronism troublesome electrical appliances must be added. In accordance with the present invention these difficulties are avoided by the employment of electrically operated circuitbreakers in the several circuits which are operated at predetermined intervals through the agency of a single predete rmining clock mechanism situated at the alarm-station to thus open and close the protective circuit in a predetermined manner, the responsive device remaining irresponsive during the normal breaks in the circuit. The circuit-breakers are arranged to be thrown into operation electrically and then to successively open and close the circuit a number of times, so that two time elements enter into the operation, one being the intervals between the successive actuations of the electrically-operated circuit-breakers through the action of the predeterming clock mechanism and the other the varying intervals between successive breaks in the circuit during a single operation of the multiple permutating circuit-breakers.

I have illustrated my invention in the ac companying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating my in- Fig. 2 1s a detail view of the cir- Fig. 3 is a view of a modificaa/ of which makes contact with a series of terminals a a to periodically close a local circuit a, one side of whlch is connected with the hand a, while the otlierside is connected with the series of terminals. In the local circuit are included the battery (0* and the coils 6 of an electromagnet,the armature t of which rests normally against a contact 6 and is adapted when attracted to break contact therewith and engage the back contacts 6 5*. The contact 6 is connected to ground, while the contact is connected with the ends of the .coils c c of the responsive device 0, the coils 0 being connected to ground, while the coil 0 is connected with the back contact 6* and also with a conductor cl, extending to the coil of the electromagnet (Z, which operates the circuit-breaker. The opposite end of the coil of electromagnet (Z is connected with the con tact fingers or brushes 6 f 9, adapted to en-- gage, respectively, the series of pins 6 f 9, carried, respectively, onthe gear-wheels e f g Fig. 2, or on separate disks 6 f Fig. 3, mounted to rotate with the gearwheels. The gear-wheels are connected with the conductor d, which extends to the pole of battery 6, the opposite pole of the battery being'connected with the armature :5. Ina bridge between the conductor (Z and the end of the coil of electromagnetcl is provided a resistance-coil h. The gear-wheels e f g intesmesh, and the Wheel e ismounted to rotate with a ratchet-wheel 70, with the teeth of which engages a pawl it, pivoted to the arm of a bell-crank k pivoted at and carrying upon the opposite arm a weighted armature (Z situated opposite the pole of electromagnet (Z and normally resting in a lower position. l Vhen a momentary-increased current is sent through electromagnet cl, the armature is raised and then descends, thus rocking the bell-crank and advancing the ratchet-wheel it to rotate the' gear-wheels. A fan-blade Zis geared with the gear-wheels to impart a uniform and definite speed thereto during the descent of the armature. A stop k limits the descent of the armature, the upward movement being limited by the stop 70 The responsive device 0 is provided with a pivoted finger or arm 0", situated between two contacts 0* c and making contact with one or the other when the responsive device is unbalanced. To the arm is attached a bar 0 to which are secured the cores 0 0 adapted to be attracted by the coils or solenoids 0 0 The coils of the responsive device should be placed so that no material induction can take place between them, since such inductive effect might permit the cutting of the protective circuit and the utilization of the current induced therein by the operation of the circuit-breaker in the circuit at the alarm-station to operate interpolated mechanism. In the alarm-circuit are included a battery 0 and a bell or other signal device 0 A similar circuit-breaking device is provided at the protected district and connected with the alarmstation by the conductor m, which is connected with the pole of battery 6, the circuit being grounded at the protected district.

Normally current from battery 6 passes over circuit at through magnet 01, resistance h to ground and back to the alarm-station, thence from ground through coil c of the responsive device, contact 6 armature Z) to the battery. Current also passes from battery 6, over conductor (2", through resistance It, magnet (Z, conductor d, coil 0 of the responsive device, contact 6 armature a to the battery.

When the electromagnet Z) is energized by the closing of the local circuit by the clock mechanism a, the armature b is attracted, thus opening the circuit through the coils c c and making contact with the contacts 6 I), thus closing circuit from the battery through the electromagnets cl all without passing through the coils c 0 The resistances of the two circuits are thus decreased to cause an increased current to flow, the currents being of sufiicient strength to energize the electromagnets d d to such a degree that they attract and raise the armatures cl d. The clock mechanism closes the local circuit for ashort time only, and upon again opening the circuit the armature descends, thereby rocking the bell-crank and advancing the pawl to rotate the gearwheels and successively open and close the circuit. When the armature b is attracted, circuit may be traced from battery 6 over the protective circuit to ground and from ground at the alarm-station to contact 6 armature b to the battery. Circuit may also be traced from the battery, over conductor 6Z2, through maintaining a current continously upon the protective circuit. When the circuit-breaker thus acts upona parallel branch of themain circuit, it acts, in effect, to alter the resistance of the circuitto produce a varying current upon the circuit means being provided to prevent the predetermined variations from affecting the responsivedevice, while the responsive device readily responds to any abnormal variations.

numbers of teeth, such that the numbers have no common multiple less than that obtained by multiplying the several numbers together,

as thereby the maximum number of permutations is obtained. Thus one wheel may have forty-seven teeth, another forty-three, and another forty-one.

The electromagnets for controlling the circuit-breakers for best effect should not be placed in the same circuit, but should be placed in separate or individual circuits, since if placed in the same circuit apparatus might be interpolated in the protective circuit to send currents over the protective circuit to operate both electromagnets alike, and thus not sound the alarm. hen the electromagnet of the circuit-breaker at the alarm-station is placed in a circuit independent of that containing the controlling-electromagnet at the protected district, any interpolated apparatus, While it may operate the electromagnet at the protected district, will fail to operate the electromagnet at the alarm-station, thus unbalancing the responsive device to sound the alarm.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a protective circuit and a responsive device therein, of an electrically-operated multiple permutating circuitbreaker in said circuit constructed to produce a series of successive breaks or pulsations of current strength each time the same is thrown into operation and comprising a plurality or multipleof conjointly-acting circuit-breaking arms or elements, means for normally counterbalancing the effect thereof upon the responsive device, and electrical means actuated independently of said circuit breaker and counterbalancing device for operating said circuit-breaker and said counter-balancing device in unison to normally maintain the responsive device quiescent, substantially as described.

2. The combination withaprotectivecircuit and .an individual circuit, of a responsive device under the influence of the currents in both circuits, an electrically-operated multiple permutating circuit-breaker in each of said circuits each constructed to produce a series of successive breaks or pulsations of current strength each time the same is thrown into operation and each comprising a plurality or multiple of conjointly-acting circuit-breaking arms or elements, and electrical means actuated independently of said circuit-breakers for throwing both of said circuit-breakers into operation in unison to normally maintain the responsive device quiescent, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a protective circuit and an individual circuit, of a responsive de- The gear-wheels e f 9 preferably possess.

.breaker in each of said circuits comprising a plurality or multiple of, conjointly-acting cir- IIO cuit-breaking arms or elements, a self-operating propelling device associated with each of said circuit-breakers and arranged to operate the circuit-breakers to produce a series of successive breaks or pulsations of current strength each time the same is thrown into operation, and electrical means controlled from the central station for storing in said propelling devices the energy necessary to operate the same for the period of time required to produce the said series of successive breaks or pulsations of current strength, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a protective circuit, of a responsive device therein, a permu- I tating device at the protected structure for varying the normal condition of the circuit, means for counterbalancing the effect of said permutating device and maintaining the responsive device quiescent during said normal variations, a pair of propelling devices normally out of operative position and arranged to operate the permutating device and counterbalancing device when operative, electrical means controlled from the central station for moving said propelling devices into operative position, and means to release said devices and permit them to operate.

5. The combination with a protective circuit and a responsive device therein, of an electrically-operated circuit-varying device arranged when operated to momentarily change the condition of the circuit and restore the same to the normal again, means for normally counterbalancing the effect upon said responsive device, and electrical means actuated in dependently of said circuit-varying device, and said counterbalancing device for operating said circuit-varying device and said counterbalancing device in unison to normally maintain the responsive device quiescent, substantially as described.

6. In an electric protective system, the combination with tWo separate circuits, of .a responsive device having two coils one in each of said circuits and relatively non-inductive, a circuit-varying device in one of said circuits, means for counterbalancing the effect in the other, and means controlled by each circuit for respectively operating said varying device and said means. i

7 A main protective circuit extending from the central station to the district to be protected, a circuit-varying device at the protected district, a separate circuit at the central station, means for counterbalancing the effect of said circuit-varying device, a responsive device under the influence of the current in both of said circuits, means controlled by each circuit for respectively operating said circuit-varying device and said counterbalancing means, and means for preventing the counterbalancing means from producing disturbances in the main circuit.

8. A protective circuit, aresistance therein, a contact device for short-circuiting said resistance and placed in parallel therewith, a power-storing actuating means for actuating said short-circuiting means and connected in series with said resistance, means for counterbalancing the effect of said short-circuiting device, a responsive device irresponsive to the normal variations, whereby the resistance may be short-circuited Without afiecting the circuit through the power-storing means, and means cooperating with'the counterbalancing means for rendering the same effective.

9. A protective circuit, acircuit-varyingdevice at the protected district, means for counterbalancing the effect of said circuit-varying device at the central station, a responsive device rendered thereby irresponsive to normal variations, devices for actuating said circuitvarying device and said counterbalancing means, means for setting the same in operation simultaneously, means for predetermining the length of time of the operation thereof, and means for imparting energy to operate said devices after allowing suflicient time for both to come to rest, substantially as described.

10. A protective circuit, a circuit-varying device at the protected district, a means for counterbalancing the effect of said circuit-varying device at the central station, a responsive device rendered thereby irresponsive to normal variations, an operating device for actuating said circuit-varying device and said counterbalancing means, means for periodically setting the same in operation simultaneously, means for predetermining the length of time of the operation thereof, and means for periodically furnishing energy .to said operating devices at greater intervals of time than the period of operation of said operating devices, substantially as described.

11. A protective circuit, a permutating device therein, a responsive device and means for counterbalancing the effect of saidpermutating device, said permutating device comprising a pluralityof contactdevices foropening and closing the circuit a number of times in rapid succession each time the permutating device is operated, said contact devices being connected in parallel with each other, substantially as described.

12. A protective circuit, a permutating device therein, a responsive device, means for counterbalancing the effect of said permutating device, said permutating device comprising a plurality of contact devices for opening and closing the circuit and connected in parallel with each other, a differential gearing between said several contact devices, and means for rotating said gearing at intervals, substantially as described.

13. A protective circuit, a permutating device therein, a responsive device, means for counterbalancing the efiect of said permutating device, said permutating device comprisscribed my name in the presence of tWo Witing a plurality of contact devices for opening nesses. and closing the circuit and connected in parallel with each other, and a resistance con- 5 nected in parallel With said several contact de- Witnesses:

vices, substantially as described. W. CLYDE JONES, In witness whereof I have hereunto sub- M. R. ROOHFORD.

CLYDE COLEMAN.

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