Title:
ALARM BAROMETER
United States Patent 3623051
Abstract:
An aneroid barometer with a U-spring has a magnet on the end of a long arm attached to the U-spring, so that the magnet will have greater movement than the U-spring. The magnet is proximate a magnetic-responsive electrical switch which is connected to an alarm having self-contained batteries. The position of the switch may be adjusted so that the alarm is sounded at a predetermined low barometric pressure.
US Patent References:
Tornado warning device
Drasky - July 1957 - 2801408
Severe storm and tornado warner
Dowling - March 1961 - 2976522
Tornado warning device
Drasky - July 1957 - 2801408
Severe storm and tornado warner
Dowling - March 1961 - 2976522
Inventors:
Juno, Alvin R. (Lubbock, TX)
Pruitt, Jasper R. (Lubbock, TX)
Pruitt, Jasper R. (Lubbock, TX)
Application Number:
05/045714
Publication Date:
11/23/1971
Filing Date:
06/12/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Weather Watch Instruments (Lubbock, TX)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
200/83L, 340/601, 200/83C
International Classes:
G01L19/12; G01L19/00; H01H35/34; G08B21/00
Field of Search:
340/240,241,236,239,420,421,220,266,214 200/83C,83L,81.9M 73/170,384,386,387
Primary Examiner:
Caldwell, John W.
Assistant Examiner:
Myer, Daniel
Claims:
I claim as my invention
1. In an aneroid barometer having
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of
3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitation of
4. The invention as defined in claim 3 with the additional limitations of
5. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitation of
6. The invention as defined in claim 5 with the additional limitation of
7. The invention as defined in claim 5 with the additional limitations of
8. The invention as defined in claim 7 with the additional limitation of
9. The invention as defined in claim 5 with the additional limitations of
10. The invention as defined in claim 9 with the additional limitation of
11. The invention as defined in claim 9 with the additional limitations of
12. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitation of
1. In an aneroid barometer having
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of
3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitation of
4. The invention as defined in claim 3 with the additional limitations of
5. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitation of
6. The invention as defined in claim 5 with the additional limitation of
7. The invention as defined in claim 5 with the additional limitations of
8. The invention as defined in claim 7 with the additional limitation of
9. The invention as defined in claim 5 with the additional limitations of
10. The invention as defined in claim 9 with the additional limitation of
11. The invention as defined in claim 9 with the additional limitations of
12. The invention as defined in claim 11 with the additional limitation of
Description:
A. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to measuring and testing instruments and more particularly to aneroid barometers with an electrical alarm connected thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aneroid barometers have been known for about 100 years. For inexpensive aneroid barometers, the construction is settled with an evacuated bellows having a U-spring surrounding the bellows. A mechanical multiplying device is attached to the U-spring, resulting in an increased movement upon a chain which is wound around a spring-biased shaft. The point on the spring-biased shaft indicates the barometric pressure. See U.S. Pat. No. 1,612,344. Also, some different types of barometers have alarms connected with them, but, in general, these alarms are extremely complicated and therefore, expensive and have delicate mechanisms. U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,422.
Also known to the prior art are self-contained signal devices which have small batteries together with vibrators connected to a loud speaker so that a very small storage battery produces a large audible signal.
B. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1. New and Different Function
I have invented an alarm barometer which is extremely simple; therefore, it is inexpensive and of rugged construction. I have achieved this by attaching a long arm to the U-spring with a magnet on the end of the arm. The magnet operates a magnetic responsive switch which operates the alarm.
2. Objects of this Invention
An object of this invention is to provide an alarm aneroid barometer.
Another object of this invention is to provide such a barometer which sounds an audible alarm at a preset pressure which may be adjustably set and with a device on the barometer for testing to check if the alarm sounds at the preset pressure.
Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, adjust and maintain.
The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not necessarily to the same scale.
C. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a sectional view with some parts shown schematically, illustrating one embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a detail taken substantially on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
D. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is represented an aneroid barometer. These barometers are well known and include framework 10 to which is attached bellows 12. Attached to the frame 10 is a frame leg 14 of U-spring 16. Moving leg 18 of the U-spring 16 is attached by stub 20 to the bellows 12. The top of the moving leg 18 has strut 22 which bears against rocker plate 24. The rocker plate is pivoted to the frame 10 and chain lifter 26 is attached thereto. Chain 28 extends from chain lifter 26 to the shaft 30, which is journaled into the frame 10 for rotation and is biased by spiral spring 32. Pointer 34 upon the shaft 30 cooperates with dial 36 to indicate the barometric pressure. Thus the pointer 34 is geared to the U-spring 16. Transparent cover 38 is attached to housing 40. The frame 10 is connected to the housing 40 through the dial 36. Button 42 attaches to indicator 44 through the transparent cover 38. Adjustment screw 46 is threaded into the frame 10 and bears against the frame leg 14 to "zero" the barometer to correlation with other barometer readings.
Those familiar with aneroid barometers will recognize that everything which has been specifically described in the preferred embodiment to this point is old, well known to the art, and commercially available on the market.
The changes involved with this invention include providing bent pusher 50 upon the end of the indicator 44. The pusher 50 is such that when the button 42 is rotated, it will push pointer 34 for purposes which will be described later.
Long arm 52 is attached to the moving leg 18 of the U-spring 16 so that it extends as an extension of the moving leg 18. This attachment may be made by any convenient means as by soldering or by other conventional metal attachment means.
Magnet 54 is attached on the end of long arm 52. Although the drawing is not to scale, it will be seen that the distance from the bight of the U-spring 16 to the magnet 54 is about 6 times the distance from the bight of the U-spring to stub 20 wherein the U-spring is connected to the bellows 12; thus, the magnet 54 will have approximately 6 times the movement of the bellows 12. Although this mechanical multiplication of movement is not as great as results upon the tip of the pointer 34, it is considerable magnification.
Magnetic responsive electrical switch 56 is attached to the housing 30 adjacent to the magnet 54. As the magnet moves close to the switch 56, it causes the reeds or contacts 58 of the switch 56 to close. The switch 56 is connected by insulated wiring 60 to alarm box 62. As previously stated, audible alarms are well known on the market with self-contained batteries which upon connecting the wiring 60 together cause the loud speaker 64 to give a large, audible alarm.
The reeds 58 of the switch 56 are enclosed in a glass capsule and the glass capsule is connected by bands 66 to leaf spring 68. The leaf spring is inserted through loops 70 which are attached to the housing 30. Alarm adjustment screw 72 is threaded through grommet 74 set in the housing 30 and bears against leaf spring 68.
OPERATIONS
It may be seen that when the barometric pressure drops, the bellows expand, pushing the movable leg 18 away from the frame leg 14. This movement of the movable leg 18 causes arm 52 to carry the magnet 54 towards the switch 56. When the magnet nears the switch 56, it causes the reeds 58 to close, which will close the circuit to the alarm 62, causing a loud, audible sound upon the loud speaker 64. The alarm may be shut off by manual switch 76, which is connected in series with the magnetic responsive switch 56 by the wiring 60.
The desired pressure reading at which alarm 62 is to sound is set by pushing the pointer 34 with the pusher 50, which is specially provided by bending the indicator 44 and rotating the pointer 34 to the pressure reading desired. The movement of the pointer will be transmitted through the gearing, including the chain 28 and rocker plate 24 to the movable leg 18 of the U-spring 16. This movement will be transmitted to the magnet 54. With the pointer 34 at the pressure reading which is desired for the alarm to be sounded, then the magnetic switch 56 is moved by rotation of the alarm adjusting screw 72 so that the alarm sounds. The alarm can be shut off either by the manual switch 76 or by release of the pointer 34 by rotation of the button 42 and its attached indicator. The, with the manual switch 76 in the closed position, the alarm 62 may be tested at any time for operation by rotating the pointer 34 with the pusher 50. I.e., all the user needs to do to assure himself that the batteries of the alarm 62 are functioning properly, the alarm working, and the position of the magnetic-responsive switch 56 is in proper position is to rotate the button 42 so that the pusher 50 pushes the pointer 34 to the pressure at which it is desired the alarm sound.
Thus it will be seen that I have provided an inexpensive simple, rugged device to sound an alarm when the barometric pressure reaches a predetermined low reading.
The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims. The restrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to enable the reader to make and use the invention.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to measuring and testing instruments and more particularly to aneroid barometers with an electrical alarm connected thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aneroid barometers have been known for about 100 years. For inexpensive aneroid barometers, the construction is settled with an evacuated bellows having a U-spring surrounding the bellows. A mechanical multiplying device is attached to the U-spring, resulting in an increased movement upon a chain which is wound around a spring-biased shaft. The point on the spring-biased shaft indicates the barometric pressure. See U.S. Pat. No. 1,612,344. Also, some different types of barometers have alarms connected with them, but, in general, these alarms are extremely complicated and therefore, expensive and have delicate mechanisms. U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,422.
Also known to the prior art are self-contained signal devices which have small batteries together with vibrators connected to a loud speaker so that a very small storage battery produces a large audible signal.
B. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1. New and Different Function
I have invented an alarm barometer which is extremely simple; therefore, it is inexpensive and of rugged construction. I have achieved this by attaching a long arm to the U-spring with a magnet on the end of the arm. The magnet operates a magnetic responsive switch which operates the alarm.
2. Objects of this Invention
An object of this invention is to provide an alarm aneroid barometer.
Another object of this invention is to provide such a barometer which sounds an audible alarm at a preset pressure which may be adjustably set and with a device on the barometer for testing to check if the alarm sounds at the preset pressure.
Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, adjust and maintain.
The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not necessarily to the same scale.
C. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a sectional view with some parts shown schematically, illustrating one embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a detail taken substantially on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
D. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is represented an aneroid barometer. These barometers are well known and include framework 10 to which is attached bellows 12. Attached to the frame 10 is a frame leg 14 of U-spring 16. Moving leg 18 of the U-spring 16 is attached by stub 20 to the bellows 12. The top of the moving leg 18 has strut 22 which bears against rocker plate 24. The rocker plate is pivoted to the frame 10 and chain lifter 26 is attached thereto. Chain 28 extends from chain lifter 26 to the shaft 30, which is journaled into the frame 10 for rotation and is biased by spiral spring 32. Pointer 34 upon the shaft 30 cooperates with dial 36 to indicate the barometric pressure. Thus the pointer 34 is geared to the U-spring 16. Transparent cover 38 is attached to housing 40. The frame 10 is connected to the housing 40 through the dial 36. Button 42 attaches to indicator 44 through the transparent cover 38. Adjustment screw 46 is threaded into the frame 10 and bears against the frame leg 14 to "zero" the barometer to correlation with other barometer readings.
Those familiar with aneroid barometers will recognize that everything which has been specifically described in the preferred embodiment to this point is old, well known to the art, and commercially available on the market.
The changes involved with this invention include providing bent pusher 50 upon the end of the indicator 44. The pusher 50 is such that when the button 42 is rotated, it will push pointer 34 for purposes which will be described later.
Long arm 52 is attached to the moving leg 18 of the U-spring 16 so that it extends as an extension of the moving leg 18. This attachment may be made by any convenient means as by soldering or by other conventional metal attachment means.
Magnet 54 is attached on the end of long arm 52. Although the drawing is not to scale, it will be seen that the distance from the bight of the U-spring 16 to the magnet 54 is about 6 times the distance from the bight of the U-spring to stub 20 wherein the U-spring is connected to the bellows 12; thus, the magnet 54 will have approximately 6 times the movement of the bellows 12. Although this mechanical multiplication of movement is not as great as results upon the tip of the pointer 34, it is considerable magnification.
Magnetic responsive electrical switch 56 is attached to the housing 30 adjacent to the magnet 54. As the magnet moves close to the switch 56, it causes the reeds or contacts 58 of the switch 56 to close. The switch 56 is connected by insulated wiring 60 to alarm box 62. As previously stated, audible alarms are well known on the market with self-contained batteries which upon connecting the wiring 60 together cause the loud speaker 64 to give a large, audible alarm.
The reeds 58 of the switch 56 are enclosed in a glass capsule and the glass capsule is connected by bands 66 to leaf spring 68. The leaf spring is inserted through loops 70 which are attached to the housing 30. Alarm adjustment screw 72 is threaded through grommet 74 set in the housing 30 and bears against leaf spring 68.
OPERATIONS
It may be seen that when the barometric pressure drops, the bellows expand, pushing the movable leg 18 away from the frame leg 14. This movement of the movable leg 18 causes arm 52 to carry the magnet 54 towards the switch 56. When the magnet nears the switch 56, it causes the reeds 58 to close, which will close the circuit to the alarm 62, causing a loud, audible sound upon the loud speaker 64. The alarm may be shut off by manual switch 76, which is connected in series with the magnetic responsive switch 56 by the wiring 60.
The desired pressure reading at which alarm 62 is to sound is set by pushing the pointer 34 with the pusher 50, which is specially provided by bending the indicator 44 and rotating the pointer 34 to the pressure reading desired. The movement of the pointer will be transmitted through the gearing, including the chain 28 and rocker plate 24 to the movable leg 18 of the U-spring 16. This movement will be transmitted to the magnet 54. With the pointer 34 at the pressure reading which is desired for the alarm to be sounded, then the magnetic switch 56 is moved by rotation of the alarm adjusting screw 72 so that the alarm sounds. The alarm can be shut off either by the manual switch 76 or by release of the pointer 34 by rotation of the button 42 and its attached indicator. The, with the manual switch 76 in the closed position, the alarm 62 may be tested at any time for operation by rotating the pointer 34 with the pusher 50. I.e., all the user needs to do to assure himself that the batteries of the alarm 62 are functioning properly, the alarm working, and the position of the magnetic-responsive switch 56 is in proper position is to rotate the button 42 so that the pusher 50 pushes the pointer 34 to the pressure at which it is desired the alarm sound.
Thus it will be seen that I have provided an inexpensive simple, rugged device to sound an alarm when the barometric pressure reaches a predetermined low reading.
The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims. The restrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to enable the reader to make and use the invention.