US1205271A - Safety-chest. - Google Patents

Description

J. H. SAFFORD.

SAFETY CHEST.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 19M.

1,205,271 Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I I I ATTORNEY 'J. H. SAFFORD.

SAFETY CHEST.

APPLICATION min NOV. 1:; 1914.

1,205,271. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SNEETS SHEET 2.

v miimM WITNESS g1 7 INV NTOR Q ATTORNEY JOHN H. SAFFORD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SAFETY-CHEST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed November 11, 1914. Serial No. 871,462.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. SAFFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Chests, of which the following is a specification.

In safety alarm chests having gravitycontrolled mechanism it has been necessary hitherto to level the receptacle by means of supporting screws, in order to avoid undesired sounding of-the alarm.

The object of this invention is to render such leveling unnecessary and to enable the chest to stand on any ordinary support without actuation of the mechanism while the box is at rest, owing to any slight inclination of the underlying surface. This is accomplished by the provision of a gravity-operated contact member, more specifically a pendulum, and a cooperative contact member, one within and spaced from the other, together with means whereby the cooperative contact member is centered in relation to the pendulum to compensate for the box being somewhat out of horizontal position.

A further feature of the invention relates to a combination of parts whereby the alarm is rendered continuously sounding even after the pendulum swings away from the cooperative contact, this part of the invention being especially distinguished by the simplicity and effectiveness of the construction, by the fact that vertical movement of the pendulum circuit-closing means torender the same inoperative is also utilized to restore the continuous-ringing switch to normal, open condition, and by a provision whereby the detent which normally holds this switch open, when retracted by the magnetic alarm device, is cammed out of the way of the latter by the switch in its closing movement, so that the alarm device is not thereafter hampered by the detent.

Still another feature is an improved means for holding the pendulum depressed, in operative condition, the same comprising a rotatable button or plunger element combined with a fixed p'art, such as an apertured plate, with which the button may or may not be engaged according as it is turned.

Other phases and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention by means of the preferred embodiment thereof: Figure 1 is an elevation of the mechanism in a containing case, which may be built or inserted into a suitable chest which it is desired to protect; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view like Fig. 1, but showing certain parts in a changed position; Flg. 3 is a section on the line 83 of Fig. 1, showing also a portion of the chest; Fig. a is a horizontal section on the line 41 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the pendulum mounting, showing the parts contained therein as they would appear with the chest horizontal and the pendulum inoperative; Fig. 6 is a similar view, partly in elevation, illustrating the condition when the box rests at slight inclination, with the pendulum in operative posi-tionthough not closing the circuit; Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the parts tilted at a greater angle, so that the pendulum closes the circuit; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, with a portion broken away and in section, illustrating two positions of the button 4 in full and dotted lines, respectively.

The chest 2 is indicated in Fig. 3, and may be of any suitable-character, though it need not be provided with the usual screw supports and spirit level.The alarm mechanism is preferably housed within a thin upright casing 3 mounted removably against one of the walls of the chest, and is provided with a button 4:, preferably of insulating material, adapted to pass through an opening 5 in the top of the casing, for the purpose presently to be described.

The alarm is preferably an electric bell 6 energized by current from a dry battery 7. The circuit includes a wire 8 connecting a spring contact 9 with the bell, a wire 10 connecting the bell with a contact screw 11, and

a contact12 on a'circular conducting wall 13.

this purpose relative vertical movement is effected between the pendulum on the one hand and the support and abutment on the other; and preferably it is the pendulum which is moved up and down. As illustrated, the button l is connected to or forms part of a plunger 20, operating in a barrel 21, and having the stem 22 of the pendulum hung to its lower end. A spring 23, within the barrel, is operative to raise the pendulum, while pressure applied by the cover or the finger on the button at lowers the pendulum against the spring action. The said barrel 21 is conveniently supported in the upper portion of an insulating tube 24:, which surrounds the plunger and stem of the pendulum and is mounted on an annular shoulder on top of the hollow piece 25 which forms the abutment 18. The support 19 forms an inward-projecting ledge on the hollow wall 13, below the abutment piece. The screw 11 makes electrical connection with the pendulum through the metal barrel 21, which. in turn is in electrical connection with the plunger 20 and the latter with the stem of the pendulum.

The support 19 being included in the circuit, the contact ring 15 is likewise in circuit when it rests on this support. Consequently the circuit is closed when the side of the pendulum stem touches the inside of the ring. Preferably the centering portion 16 is insulated from the stem of the pendulum, as indicated at 26, though manifestly the same result would be secured by making the centering portion entirely of non-conducting material.

As heretofore described, the button 4 opcrates in an opening 5 in the top plate of the casing, and it will be observed (see Fig. 9) that both the button and the opening are oblong. whereby turning of the button, which is permitted by a swivel joint or r0- tary bearing at any suitable point, for example 27, may either enable it to pass through the opening or cause it to be blocked thereby. Thus, the button may be depressed through the opening by the finger, and then turned so that the pendulum is held down in its operative position.

lVhen the pendulum is raised by the spring, the centeringportion 16 lifts the contact ring 15 off the support and presses it against the abutment 18, which action automatically centers the ring on, the conical shoulder. This action is illustrated in Fig.

\Vhen the pendulum is depressed, the contact ring is lowered in concentric relation thereby, and deposited on the underlying support still in concentric relation, irrespective of the fact that the box as a whole may be slightly tilted in reference to the pendulum. This is illustrated in Fi 6. Consequently, even through the box may not be perfectly horizontal the contact ring is at all points equidistant or substantially equidistant from the pendulum, and, therefore, there is no danger of the alarm being actuated as long as the box is not disturbed. As soon, however, as the box is lifted, tilted, or jarred, the pendulum is caused to swing, and touches the contact ring, with the resultthat the bell is set ringing.

The means for rendering the alarm continuously sounding when once set off will now be described. Numerous changes may be. made without departing from the principles involved in these features, but the construction shown is preferred because of its simplicity and good action. In the said construction a vertical slide rod 28 is disposed parallel and adjacent the pendulum, and preferably in the same mounting therewith. To this end a plate 29 formed integral with or secured to the barrel 21 is provided with a vertical bearing for the rod, the lower end of which is also guided in an insulating bushing 30 occupying the upper portion of a cavity 31 in the abutment piece 25. The rod constitutes a normally open switch, constantly in electrical contact with the plate 29, which is included in circuit, and adapted also to contact electrically with the piece 25, which is also in circuit. This it does when depressed by a spring 32, so that its pointed lower end is forced into the tapering bottom of the cavity, as shown in Fig. 7. In other words, this rod 28 constitutes a circuit-closer connected in parallel with the pendulum circuit-closer.

The circuit-closer 28 is normally held open by means of a detent, which is retractable by the bell or electro-magnetic device actuated by the electric circuit. In the best embodiment this detent is also in the form of a slide rod, 33, arranged substantially at right angles to the rod 28, and having a collar 3%, designed to be engaged by a projecting arm 35 on the armature 36 of the bell magnet 37. The end of the detent rod is normally in locking or full holding engagement with a shoulder 88 on the upper end of the rod 28; and in order to force and hold the detent rod out of the Way of the bell magnet armature, so as not to hamper the latter, the switch rod is provided with a beveled or conical head 39 above the said shoulder, so as to exert a camming action on the detent rod when the latter is retracted sufliciently to permit the spring 32 to project the switch rod downward When the switch rod is raised again to normal position,,the detent rod 33 is restored to engagement therewith by a spring 40.

The switch rod is returned to normal position by the upward movement of the pendulum. This is preferably accomplished by mounting a cross-piece 4L1 on the plunger 20, this cross-piece having an opening loosely receiving th switch rod 28 and underlying a collar 42 thereon, whereby the plunger and pendulum are depressed independently of the switch rod, but after the latter has been moved downward by its spring raising of the pendulum also lifts the rod. A. guide pin 43 received in an opening 4a in the crosspiece guards against this piece binding on the switch rod through turning of the plunger. It will therefore be understood that, as soon as the gravityoperated circuit-closer has operated, the armature of the bell magnet retracts the detent rod 33 against the tension of its spring, sufficiently to release the switch rod 28, which is forced downward by its spring, thus closing the circuit and keeping it closed irrespective of the pendulum.

'What is claimed as new is:

1. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit, combined with circuit-closing means comprising a gravityoperated member constituting a contact and a contact cooperative therewith, and means whereby said cooperative contact may be centered in relation to the gravity-operated member to compensate for the box being somewhat out of horizontal position.

2. In a safety chest containing electrical alarm mechanism, a gravity-operated circuit-closing member, a cooperative contact, and means for automatically centering said contact in relation to the gravity-operated member to compensate for the box being somewhat out of horizontal position.

3. Alarm mechanism for safety chests comprising a pendulous contact, and a gravity-centered contact cooperative therewith, one of said contacts being encircled by the other. I

at. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism comprising normally spaced contacts one within the other, and means for suspending both contacts for the purpose of centering the same.

5. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with. a pendulum, a contact member adapted to be engaged by said pendulum to close the circuit, and means carried by the pendulum for centering said contact member with reference to the pendulum.

6. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a vertically movable pendulum constituting a contact in said circuit, and a loose cooperative cont-act adapted to be supported and deposited by said pendulum in concentric relation thereto.

7. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a vertically movable pendulum included in the circuit and having a centering portion, a support likewise included in the circuit, and a contact ring adapted to rest on said centering portion and to be deposited thereby on said support.

8. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a pendulum included in the circuit and having a centering portion presenting a conical shoulder, a support, a cont-act ring adapted to rest on said shoulder, and means for producing relative vertical movement between the pendulum and support to enable the ring to be deposited on the latter.

9. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a pendulum included in the circuit and having a centering portion presenting a conical shoulder, an encircling contact adapted to rest on said shoulder, means for raising and lowering the pendulum, and means for supporting said contact free of the pendulum when the latter is lowered.

10. I11 a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a pendulum included in the circuit and provided with a centering portion, a loose encircling contact member adapted to rest on said centering portion, a support beneath the ring spaced from said centering portion, an abutment above the ring, and means for raising and lowering the pendulum, the upward movement bringing said contact member against said abutment and the downward movement depositing it upon said support.

11. I11 a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a pendulum included in the circuit and provided with a centering portion, a loose encircling contact member adapted to rest on said centering portion, a support likewise included in the circuit and located beneath the ring spaced from said centering portion, an abutment above the ring, and means for raising and lowering the pendulum, the upward movement bringing said contact member against said abutment and the downward movement depositing it upon said support.

12. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a pendulum included in the circuit and provided with a centering portion, a loose encircling contact member adapted to rest on said centering portion, a. support beneath the ring spaced from said centering portion, an abutment above the ring, and means for raising and lowering the pendulum, the upward movement bringing said contact member against said abutment and the downward movement depositing it upon said support, said centering portion being insulated.

13. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a pendulum included in the circuit and provided with a centering portion, a loose encircling contact member adapted to rest on said centering portion, a support beneath the ring spaced from said centering portion, an abutment above the ring, a spring for 'aising said pendulum so as to bring said contact member against the abutment, and means for holding the pendulum in its lowered position.

1%. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a pendulum included in the circuit and provided with a centering portion, a loose encircling contact member adapted to rest on said centering portion, a support beneath the ring spaced from said centering portion, an abutment above the ring, and means for producing relative vertical movement between said centering pendulum on the one hand and the support and abutment on the other, whereby said contact member is alternately held against said abutment and deposited on said support.

15. In a safety chest, alarm mechanism having an electric circuit in combination with a pendulum included in the circuit and provided with an enlargement afiording a conical shoulder, a loose encircling contact adapted to rest on said shoulder, a support beneath the ring, an abutment above the same, and means for producing relative vertical movement between said centering penduluni on the one hand and the support and abutment on the other, whereby said contact member is alternately held against said abutment and deposited on said support.

16, In alarm mechanism, the combination with a pendulous circuit-closer, an alarm circuit controlled thereby, a magnetic device in said circuit, and means for moving said pendulous member vertically to render the same inoperative, of a spring-urged circuit-closer connected in parallel with said pendulous circuit-closer, a detent normally restraining said spring-urged circuit-closer and adapted to be retracted by said magnetic device, and means whereby vertical movement of said pendulous circuit-closer restores said springurged circuitcl0ser to normal position.

17. In alarm mechanism, an electro-magnetically operated alarm, a circuit for actuating the same, and primary circuit-closing means including a pendulum, in combination with a spring-urged circuit-closer connected in parallel with the primary circuitclosing means, means whereby said springurged circuit-closer is released by actuation of the alarm, and a spring for raising said pendulum to an inoperative position and capable also of restoring said spring-urged circuit-closer to normal position.

18. In an alarm mechanism, the combination with a gravity-operated circuit-closer, an alarmacircuit controlled thereby, anda magnetic alarm device in said circuit, of a spring-urged circuit-closer connected in parallel with said gravity-operated circuitcloser, a detent normally restraining said spring-urged circuit-closer, said detent being separate from and arranged to be actuated by said alarm device, and means whereby said spring-urged circuit-closer upon being released holds said detent out of engagement with said alarm device.

19. In an alarm mechanism, the combination with a gravity-operated circuit-closer, an alarm circuit controlled thereby, and a magnetic alarm device in said circuit, of a spring-urged circuit-closer connected in parallel with said gravity-operated circuitcloser, a detent normally restraining said spring-urged circuit-oloser, said detent being separate from and arranged to be actuated by said alarm device, and said spring-urged circuit-closer having a locking shoulder normally abutting said detent and in addition an inclined or camming portion adapted to force said detent out of the way of the alarm device when the detent is retracted from the shoulder.

20. In an alarm mechanism, the combination with a gravity-operated circuitcloser, an alarm circuit controlled thereby, and a magnetic alarm device in said circuit, of a spring-urged circuit-closer connected in parallel with said gravity-operated circuit-closer, a detent normally restraining said spring-urged circuit-closer, said detent being separate from and arranged to be actuated by said alarm device, said spring-urged circuit-closer having a locking shoulder normally abutting said detent and in addition an inclined or camming portion adapted to force said detent out of the way of the alarm device when the detent is retracted from the shoulder, and a spring for restoring said detent to normal position in engagement with said shoulder.

21. In an alarm mechanism, the combination with gravity-operated circuit-closing means, an alarm circuit controlled thereby, a magnetic alarm device in said circuit, a spring-urged circuitcloser connected in parallel with said gravity-operated circuitclosing means, and a detentnormally restraining said spring-urged circuit-closer, said detent being separate from and arranged to be actuated by said alarm device, of means for moving said gravity-operated circuit-closing means to an inoperative position and at the same time restoring said spring-urged circuit-closer to normal position, and a spring for reengaging said detent with said spring-urged eircuit-closer.

22. In an alarm mechanism, the combination with an. alarm circuit including a magnetic device, a pendulum. adapted to close said circuit,, and a mounting forv the rod constituting a switch connected in parallel with said pendulum, a second slide rod arranged at an angle to the first and constituting a detent for the same, means whereby said magnetic device when energized withdraws the detent rod, and a spring for restoring the same.

24. In an alarm mechanism, the combination with an alarm circuit including a magnetic device, and a pendulum adapted to close said circuit, of a spring-urged slide rod constituting a switch connected in parallel with said pendulum, a second slide rod arranged at an angle to the first and constituting a detent for the same, means whereby said magnetic device when energized withdraws the detent rod, and a spring for restoring the same, said switch rod having a beveled head adapted to force the detent rod backward out of the way of the alarm device.

25. In an alarm mechanism, an alarm circuit including a magnetic device, and a pendulum adapted to close the circuit, said pendulum being movable vertically to put the same into or out of action, in combination with a spring-urged slidable switch occupying a position parallel and adjacent the pendulum and electrically connected in parallel therewith, means controlled by said magnetic device for releasing said switch, and a mechanical connection whereby said pendulum when moved vertically to inoperative position also moves said switch to open condition.

26. In an alarm mechanism, an alarm circuit including a magnetic device, a pendulum and a cooperating contact adapted to close the circuit, and a plunger for effecting relative vertical movement between said pendulum and contact, of a spring-urged normally-open switch connected in parallel with said pendulum and adapted to be re leased by said magnetic device to close the circuit, and a member carried by said plunger and adapted to move said switch in one direction to open the same.

27. In an alarm mechanism, an alarm device, a circuit for actuating the same, and pendulous circuit-closing means, in combination with a vertically movable element for rendering said circuit-closing means inoperative, a spring urging said element upward, and a fixed part adapted to hold said element down, said element being mounted so as to be capable of being turned about a vertical axis and formed so as either to clear or to abut said part according to its position.

28. In an alarm mechanism, the combination of an alarm device, a circuit for actuating the same, a pendulum for closing said circuit, a plunger carrying said pendulum and having a rotatable oblong button, a spring tending to raise said plunger, and a plate having an aperture cooperative with said button to permit or block passage thereof dependent upon the turning of the button.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN H. SAFFORD.

Witnesses J. I-IowARD BREESE, LOUELLA F. LITTLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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