Guard monitor system

• US 4,086,577 A
• Filed: 07/14/1975
• Issued: 04/25/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry J. Elgersma
• Original Assignee: Henry J. Elgersma
• Inventors: Elgersma, Henry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/595,558
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 340/306, 346/86, 346/134
• US Class Current: 340/306
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman

Abstract

The specification discloses a guard monitoring system having remote guard stations to be activated in a predetermined order. Station activation causes a control circuit to activate a recording device and to be operatively connected to the next station in the predetermined order.

Claims

1. A guard tour system including a plurality of guard stations and a central control coupled to said guard stations for receiving and recording signals indicating the actuation of switch means at each of the guard stations by a guard on tour said system comprising:

a plurality of guard station switch means for guard stations to be actuated by a guard at a station; and

a control system including first switch means for responding to activation of one of said plurality of guard station switch means and for sequencing to another of said plurality of guard station switch means in response to activation of one of said plurality of guard station switch means;

means for sequentially coupling said first switch means to each of said switch means associated with the guard stations;

power supply means coupled to said first switch means;

a control switch and biasing delay means coupled to said control switch for actuating said control switch;

said biasing delay means sequentially coupled to and uncoupled from said control switch by said first switch means so said control switch is momentarily actuated to close by the actuation of said first switch means;

recording means;

means coupling said recording means to said control switch for recording each of the actuations of said control switch; and

means for deactuating said biasing delay means permitting successive momentary actuation of said control switch when a guard actuates a different guard station means.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said delay means comprises a charge storage means and a discharging means for removing charge from the charge storage means, and said control switch comprises a solid state switch.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said means coupling said first switch means to the guard station switch means comprises a first stepping switch including an electrical drive means coupled to said solid state switch to be actuated thereby and a plurality of unique contacts each coupled with one of said guard station switch means and a wiper arm sequentially coupled to each of said unique contacts and to said first switch means.

4. The system as defined in claim 3 and further including a plurality of charge storage means each including a resistor coupled in parallel thereto for discharging an associated capacitor and said first switch means comprises a second stepping switch including an electrical drive means connected to said first sequential stepping switch and contacts coupling said charge storage means to said solid state switch.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein said solid state switch comprises a transistor coupled to said power supply for receiving operating current therefor and having a base terminal coupled to said charge storage means by said second sequential stepping switch such that as said charge storage means is switched into the base circuit by said second stepping switch, said transistor is momentarily biased in a conductive mode and as said charge storage means is charged, said transistor is rendered nonconductive.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said coupling means between said solid state switch and said recording means comprises a relay having a relay coil in the collector to emitter path of said transistor defining said solid state switch and switch means associated with said relay coil and coupled to said recording means for actuation thereof.

7. The system as defined in claim 6 further comprising a lamp at the guard station for indicating the connection of the guard station to the control means.

8. A monitoring system having a control station coupled to a plurality of guard stations each with station switching means to be operated in a prescribed sequence, the system comprising:

a plurality of station switching means associated with a plurality of guard stations; and

a control station including indicating means for indicating the activation and the time of activation of station switching means of a guard station, first switching means for selectively coupling one after another of the plurality of station switching means in the guard stations to said control station in accordance with said prescribed sequence so that activation of only the specific one of the plurality of station switching means so coupled to said control station is communicated to said control station during the time interval said specific one of said station switching means is coupled thereto and activation of the others of said plurality of station switching means during such time interval is not communicated to said control station, means in the control station responsive to the activation of a station switching means for activating the indicating means so that it shows that said specific one of said station switching means has been activated and the time at which such activation occurred and for sequencing the first switching means so that the next in said prescribed sequence of said station switching means is coupled to said control station, subsequent activation of said next station switching means activating said indicating means, sequencing said first switching means to couple the next of said station switching means in said prescribed sequence to said control station, said sequencing means proceeding serially through said prescribed sequence of guard station switch means as each is activated in said sequence.

9. A monitoring system as recited in claim 8 wherein said activating means includes:

a transistor having base, collector and emitter terminals;

a first resistor coupled between said emitter and base of said transistor;

a first parallel combination of a capacitor and an associated resistor coupled between said base and collector of said transistor;

a relay including contacts and an actuation coil coupled to the collector of said transistor; and

power supply means coupled to said transistor for providing operating power thereto.

10. A monitoring system as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

a second parallel combination of a capacitor and an associated resistor coupled between said base and collector of said transistor; and

second switching means for coupling one of said first or second parallel combinations of a capacitor and an associated resistor between the base and the collector of said transistor.

11. A monitoring system as recited in claim 10 wherein said indicating means includes recording means coupled to said relay contacts for recording information when said transistor is rendered conductive to actuate said relay.

12. A monitoring system as recited in claim 11 wherein said recording means includes a gravity feed punch clock including means for guiding a punch card into said clock support means positioned in said clock for limiting movement of the card, punching means for removing a portion of the card and imprinting means for recording information on the card when said relay contacts are closed.

13. A monitoring system as recited in claim 12 wherein the capacitor in each of the parallel combinations is about 5 μ

F and the resistor in each of the parallel combinations is about 22 Kohms.

14. A monitoring system as recited in claim 13 further comprising:

a relay including a clock switch for activating a card punch clock;

a solid state which coupled to said relay; and

biasing means coupled to said transistor for momentary actuation of said transistor when a guard station is actuated.

15. A monitoring system as described in claim 14 wherein said biasing means includes:

a plurality of parallel combinations of a capacitor and an associated resistor for coupling between the base and the collector of said transistor;

a rotary switch for selectively coupling a combination of a resistor and a capacitor between the base and the collector of the transistor; and

a resistor coupled between the base and the emitter of the transistor.

16. A monitoring system as recited in claim 15 wherein said resistor in parallel with said capacitor has a resistance significantly greater than the resistance of said resistor coupled between said base and said emitter of said transistor.

17. A monitoring system having a control station coupled by a first switching means to a plurality of guard stations with station switching means to be operated in a prescribed sequence, the system comprising:

a transistor having an emitter terminal adapted to be connected to ground;

a first resistor connected between the emitter of the transistor and the base of the transistor;

a magnetic relay coil having two terminals, one terminal being connected to the collector of the transistor and the second terminal being adapted to be connected to a power supply;

a first parallel combination of a capacitor and an associated resistor selectively connected between the base of the transistor and the collector of the transistor;

a second parallel combination of a capacitor and an associated resistor selectively connected between the base of the transistor and the collector of the transistor;

a second switching means connected in series between the transistor and the first and second parallel combinations of capacitors and associated resistors, so only one parallel combination of a capacitor and an associated resistor is connected between the base of the transistor and the collector of the transistor;

a first rotary switch, included in the first switching means having an electrical drive with two electrical drive terminals adapted to be connected to a power supply, a plurality of switch contacts so each station switching means is serially connected to a different switch contact, and a rotating arm adapted to be connected in series with the electrical drive terminals of another rotary switch and adapted to be selectively connected to one of the switch contacts of the first rotary switch;

a first drive switch electrically connected in series with the electrical drive terminals of the rotary switch and magnetically coupled to the magnetic relay coil;

a secondary rotary switch, included in the second switching means having an electrical drive with two electrical drive terminals adapted to be connected to a power supply and to be connected in series with the rotating arm of the first rotary switch, a first switch contact connected in series to the first parallel combination of a capacitor and an associated resistor, a second switch contact connected in series to the second parallel combination of a capacitor and an associated resistor, and a rotating arm connected in series with the base of the transistor and adapted to be selectively connected to one of the switch contacts;

a lamp at a guard station connected in series with a switch contact of the first rotary switch;

a lamp switch connected in series with the lamp and a switch contact of the first rotary switch for selectively completing an electrical circuit;

a station switch mechanically coupled to the lamp switch and electrically connected in series with a switch contact of the first rotary switch;

a card punch clock activated at a guard station to punch a card and to record information on the card, the clock having a vertical gravity feed for the card which advances the card to prepare the card for the next punch when the card has been punched thereby removing a portion of the card and having a support for limiting vertical movement of the card; and

a clock switch operated by magnetic coupling to the magnetic relay coil and electrically connected in series with the card punch clock.