Seismic responsive operating device

Claim 1

In a safety device automatically operated by vibration, the combination with a support, an actuating handle pivoted on the support and being connectable to a device to be actuated, a column on said support, a seat on the top of the column for a spherical ball, a device for controlling said actuating handle including a releasable holding element on the support, coacting members on said releasable holding element and on said actuating handle for restraining said actuating handle in inoperative position, resiliently compressible restraining means related to said column bearing on said releasable holding element to hold it in restraining position. cocking means related to said column to cock said resiliently compressible restraining means in compressed position, a catch member engaging said cocking means to hold it in cocked position, a spiral guide around said column in operative relation to said column to receive and guide said spherical ball when dislodged by vibration, an abutment member being in the path of said spherical ball on said spiral guide to be abutted by said ball and related to said catch member to move it out of engagement from said cocking means thereby to permit said resiliently compressed restraining means to cause said coacting members to move said holding element out of restraining position and free said actuating handle for actuation, and means to urge said actuating handle into actuating position when freed.