Harper's Electricity Book for Boys

by Joseph H. Adams

The current, passing in at I, through J, K, the coil, and out at L, magnetizes the piece of pipe and draws the iron buttons or disks attached to the tin disk. But so soon as it does so it breaks the contact between J and K, and the buttons fly back into place, having been drawn there by the rigidity of the tin disk to which they are attached. Again the current is closed and the magnet draws the iron buttons. The brass rod moves but a very slight distance up and down—enough, however, to make and break the contact between J and K. As a result of this rapid movement and the consequent snapping of the tin disk, a loud noise is emitted through the bell, which can be heard a long distance and closely resembles a long blast blown on a fish-horn.

Burglar-alarms

A unique burglar-alarm trap may be made from a plate of wood, five by six inches and half an inch thick, a movable lever, and a brass strip having the ends turned out. These are arranged as shown in [Fig. 8]. The brass strip is fastened to the plate with screws, and the ends extend out for half an inch from the board. The lever is made from a strip of brass, and the upper part is bent out so as to clear the strip and screws that are under it. A hole is made at the lower end of the lever, through which a brass ring and the end of a spring may be fastened. The opposite end of the spring is attached to a screw, and a wire carried from it to a binding-post, A. Another wire connects the back plate with binding-post B. A string or piece of fine picture-wire is made fast to the ring and carried to any part of a room.

To set the trap, make the block fast in any convenient place, such as the door-casing or the surbase, and carry the string out from the trap and fasten the end of it. Any one running against it in the dark will draw the lever over to the right side and connect the circuit.

When setting the trap, have the string adjusted so that the lever is in a vertical position, as shown in the drawing of [Fig. 8]. When the string is disturbed it will pull the top of the lever over to the right side; but if the string is broken by the person running against it, the spring attached to the bottom of the lever draws it over to the right side with a snap, and the top of the lever goes to the left side, when the circuit is closed and the alarm given.

This trap is connected the same as a push-button, one wire leading to the bell, the other to the battery; then the battery and bell are connected together so that when the circuit is closed the bell will ring until some one throws a switch open to break it.

Another form of circuit-closer is shown in the door-trap ([Fig. 9]). This is a wooden block that rests on the floor close to the bottom of a door, and is held in place by means of four sharp-pointed nails driven down through the corners of the block. The points should project a quarter of an inch or more, according to whether the block is on a hard floor or on a carpet. The front edge of the block is bevelled so that the bottom of a door that fits closely to the floor will pass over it.

The block is five by seven inches, and three-quarters of an inch thick. At the left side a strip of metal (A) is held close to the block with straps or wide staples driven over it, but not so close but that it can move freely back and forth. To the front end a round piece of wood is made fast. This is the bumper against which the door will strike when opened. At the middle of the strip a screw is riveted fast; or it may be a machine-screw let into a threaded hole in the metal. At the right side of the block another strip of metal (B) is attached, but this is held fast with a screw at the middle and a screw-eye and washer at the rear end to act as a binding-post. The front end of this strip is turned up so as to form a stop; then a movable lever (C) mounted over both strips, with one end bent up, is attached to the block with a screw. A slot is cut at one end so that the screw in the movable strip (A) will move freely in it, and near the other end a small hole is made to receive the end of a spiral spring (D). To set the trap, the block is placed on the floor and the wires from battery and bell are made fast to the binding-posts. The spring D keeps the lever C away from the strip-end B, while at the same time it throws the strip A forward. When the door is opened it shoves the bumper and strip A back through the staples, while the screw operates lever C and causes its loose end to come into contact with the end B, thereby closing the circuit and ringing the bell or buzzer. When the door is closed again the spring draws lever C away from B, and the circuit is opened.