US90806A - Improvement in automatic fire-alarm apparatus - Google Patents

Description

r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. ALLEN.

Fire Alarm.

No. 90,806 Patented June I. 1869.

In Veni'or:

N4 PETERS Piwmuzhugmqlun wamin tm n c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. v A. ALLEN.

Telegraphic Fire-Alarm.

No, 90,806. Patented June 1, 1869.

N. PETERS, Phalo-Lilhvgnlphen Washingnn. OIL

flair-1d Gtjliiirr.

ALEXANDER ALLEN, OF ROCHESTER NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 90,806, dated June 1, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC FIRE-ALARM APPARATQS The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER Annex, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Alarms, or apparatusior automatically giving the alarm and number of signal-box in fire-alarm telegraphs; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of my invention, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, of which drawings- Figure l is an elevation of a signal-box, with outer and inner doors removed, as arranged with my lI l1- proved alarm.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same, with both doors restored, and in their closed position.

Figure 3 is an elevation of my automatic alarm, taken separately.

Figure 4 is an elevation of segmental drive-wheel,

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view of the lower portion of the circuit-breaker.

The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements in the mechanicalconstruction of an apparatus, for use in signal-boxes offire-alarm telegraphs, for the purpose of automatically giving the alarm of. fire and number of box at which the alarm is given, upon receiving the proper impulse from the person wishing to give notice of the fire to the fire-department, which apparatus may, therefore, be termed an automatic fire-alarm.

The peculiar utility of my improved automatic alarm, consists in the giving of a perfect alarm, even when actuated by the most inexperienced person, and the avoiding of all mistakesiu giving the number of the box at which an alarm is sounded, whereby any loss of valuable time in running to a wrong box is avoided, the whole alarm being so constructed as to be readily applied to the old form of signal-boxes and apparatus, and used either independently of the former mode of giving an alarm by means of an ordinary telegraphic key, or in connection with said key, the key being used in this last case for the sending of ordinary messages asbefore, or for the sounding of the alarm-signal whenever desired.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The frame-plates 5 5, in which are arranged the holes or boxes for the axles of the gear-wheels in my machine, are of brass or other suitable material, of the forms shown, part of the front plate 5 being broken away, in order to show the interior arrangement of machine, and are united by the standards 32 32, as seen in figs. 1 and 3.

Between the plates, and near the lower part of the same, is arranged the shaft 38, on which are secured the segmental drive-wheel 13, of the form shown in fig. 4, and the crank 28, with rubber or ivory handle 29.

A circular box, 26, is secured to one of the plates 5, and in it is coiled the flat spiral spring 27, one end of which is attached to the box 26, and the other-end to the shaft 38, as shown, from which it is readily seen that the spring 27 when wound up, acts, with a force depending on its elasticity, to cause a rotation of the shaft 38. f

The segmental drive-wheel 13, gears into the pinion 12, on the shaft 37, on which shaft are also scoured the ratchet-wheel 14, and the circuit-wheel 17, and which also serves as a pivot to the gear-wheel 11.

This wheel, 11, is connected, bya pawl, 15, which is held downby spring 16, to the ratchet-wheel 14, as seen in figs. I and 3, and gears into the pinion 10, on the shaft 36, on which shaft is also secured the wheel 9, which gears into the pinion S, on the shaft 35, on which shaft is also secured the wheel 7, which gears into the pinion 6, on the shaft 44, on which shaft is also secured the fan or fly .33, which thus senses, in a manner obvious to any mechanic, to regulate the mo tion'of the train of gearing.

The shafts 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, are pivoted in holes in the frame-plates 5 5, in an ordinary manner.

A standard, 31, is secured in the front plate 5, and

on it is pivoted the circuit-breaker 4, as seen in figs.v

1 and 3.

A spiral spring, 30, is arranged around the standard 31, one end being secured to the plate 5, andrthe other end to the circuit-breaker 4, as seen in fig. 1, thus serving to keep the breaker 4 pressed up against the adj ustable screw 2, which is secured in a standard, 1, in the side of signal-box, and which forms a part of the circuit, as will be shown.

In .the lower end of the breaker 4 is arranged the rod 21, having a slot, 22, cut therein, and an oblique-faced lower end, as seen in figs. 3 and 5.

Aspiral spring, 24, is arranged in the hole in thebreakcr 4, and serves to keep the rod 21 pressed down, while a pin, 23, which passes through the breaker 4 and slot 22, serves to prevent the rod 21 from being forced out too far by the spring 24,- as fully shown in The breaker 4 is so arranged as to hang over the/pins 18, 19, 20, which are arranged in the face of the circuit-wheel 17 in a manner hereafter shown, so that by revolving the circuit-wheel 17 from right to left, in fig. 3, the pins 18, 19, 20, will strike against the square face of the rod 21, in the breaker 4, and cause said breaker to rotate around the standard 31, thus break ing the circuit until the rod 21 slips ofi gI'OID the pins, when the spiral spring 30 will cause thegbr eaker 4 to assume its original position against the screw 2, thus closing the circuit again, but if the circuit-wheel 17 beturned from left to right, the pins 18, 19, 20, will strike againstthe oblique face of the rod 21, and thus raise the said rod, allowing the pins 18, 19, 20, to pass the end of the circuit-breaker 4, without moving the same, or affecting the continuity of the circuit.

The stops 25 25, are arranged on each side of the rear flame-plate 5, and serve to arrest the movements of the segmental drive-wheel13, as will be readily seen in figs. 1 and 3.

The signal-box A, in which the alarm is to be placed, is of the general form shown in figs. 1 and 2, and is provided with a door, 15, secured to the box by hinges I), by means of which the lllStlllXl'iOlllJ may be closed up.

The standards G and H, with binding-screws y and h, are arranged near the upper part of the box, and serve as a means of securing the ends of the main circuit-wire in the signal-box.

The standard L is secured in the box, as shown, and to it is secured one end of the spring-key M, by means of screw I, as shown.

This key M has a bearing on the end of screw 7:, which is clamped by clamping-nut It, in any desired position in the standard K, which is secured in box A, as shown.

A standard, N, with steel point a, and standard J, with screw j and clamp-nntj, is arranged with refer ence to key M, as shown, and this key M is provided with a steel point, m, which sets under the point at, in standard N, and an ivory or rubber handle or knob, 0, by means of which it is operated.

The screws k and j serve to regulate the tension and play of the key M, in a manner readily seen.

The electro-magnetsxw, formed by coiling insulated wire around a soft-iron core, in the ordinary manner of constructing such magnets, are secured on the standard Y, which is secured in-box A by screw 3 as shown.

A standard, Q, is secured in box A, as shown, and has the U-shaped portion 1% secured to it, in the inner and rear part of which is arranged the socket r, and the screw 7, with clamping-nut f, is secured in the front arm of the U, as seen in fig.

The leverS is provided with adouble pointed shaft, W, which ispivoted between the socket 'r and screw f, in the U-shaped arm R, as shown, and the armature s is secured to it, as shown.

In the lower end of the lever S is drilled a hole, into which is secured the rod T, by means of a screw, 5, and at the lower end of this rod is secured the ball U, through which passes the hammer-screw t, with clamping-nut,t.

A standard, P, with screw 0 and nut (l, is secured in the box A, at the rear of lever S, and a spiral spring, c,is attached by a hook to the lever S, and to the end of the screw 0, the spring e thus serving to draw back the lever S, when thearmature sis released from the magnets a x, by the breaking of the circuit, and the nut d and screw 0 serving to regulate the tension of the spring 0. i

A standard,-I, is placed at the rear of the hammerscrew t, and a rod, V, is arranged to slide through a hole in this standard, and is clamped in any desired position by the screw 2', so that the sweep of the hammer-screw t may be regulated at pleasure, as is readily seen.

A metallic gong, F, of an ordinary form, is secured by a nut, 10, on a standard, which is so secured in the box A, so that when the lever S is drawn up to the magnets x x, the hammer-screw t may strike the gong l and thus make a tap-ring or signal,

A screw, Z, is arranged in the standard Y, as shown in red in figs. 1 and 2, and has its front end bearing against an elastic plate, 2, which is secured to box A, and has its front end in front of the armature s, and between the magnets :v a, so that by turning the SCIBWZ, by means of the large head on the outside of standard Y, the end of plate 2 may be forced forward, so as to prevent the hammer-screw t from striking the gong whenever desired.

' A partition, 0 D, is made inside the signal-box, and around the magnets xx and key M, anda door, 16, is lnmg by hinges a, inside the outer door B, a slot being cut in the partition-board D, to allow of the swinging of the hammer-rod T, shown, from which it is readily seen that the key M and magnets 90 90 may be closed up, so as to be inaccessible to' persons who should only have access to the automatic alarm-portion ofthcsignaLhoX. The course of the electric circuit through the box is indicated by blue lines, the current entering by the main circuit-wire through the standard G, and passing by an insulated wire to the standard N, thence through the pins n and m, and key M, to standard L; thence sound the alarm and number of the box three times in each case, to avoid danger of error. The size of the pinion 12 and segmental drive-wheel 13, and the position of the stops 25 25, are so arranged as that the passing of the drive-wheel 18, from one stop, 25, to the other, shall cause three rotations of the pinion 12, and consequently of the circnit-wheel lT.

If, now, we suppose an alarm to consist of twelve blows or taps on the gong in rapid succession, we arrange twelve pins, 18 18, on the circuit-wheel 17, as seen in fig. 3. Then, leaving a considerable space, we arrange the four pins 19 19, as shown, leaving a longer space between them' than was left between the pins 18 18, in order to insure distinctness in the blows on the gong. Then, after leaving a long space, we arrange the three pins 20 20, as shown, the space between each of them being the same as that between the pins 19 19, and, as is readily seen, a considerable space intervening between the last pin, 20, and the first pin 18.

If the signal-box is now supposed to be in the electrical circuit, and the several parts to be in position shown, the balance of circuit being unbroken, the magnets .T x will attract the armature s, and bring the hammer U t up to the gong F in this signal-box, as well as in a similar signal-box at the engine-house.

1f now we draw the se mental drive-wheel 13 from its position against the stop 25, as shown in fig. 3, over against the other stop 25, by means of the crank 28 and handle 29, it is evident that by so doing, we draw up the spring 27 and thus obtain power to set the train of clock-work in motion as soon as the bandle 29 is released; and, further, that in drawing over the handle 29, no cfiect will be had on the continuity of the circuit, as the circuit-wheel 17 will revolve front left to right, and thepins 18, 19, 29, will rise and pass under the rod 21, without moving the circuitbreaker 4, as hereinbei'ore shown.

Now the action of the spring .57 will cause the circuit-wheel 7 to revolve from right to left, so that every time one of the pins l8, 19, or 20, comes up and I passes the rod 21, it will revolve the circuit-breaker 4,

as before. shown, and break the circuit by drawing the circuit-ln-eaker 4 from the screw 2; and when said pin has passed the rod 21, the spring 30 will bring back the breaker 4, thus closing the circuit, as before shown.

Now, at each breaking of tiiecircuit, the magnets a: x, in all the signal-boxes in the circuit, lose their attractive .power, and allow the spring e to draw back the lever S, until stopped by the striking of the screw t against the rod V, and at each closing of the circuit the magnets is a; draw the armature s, and consequently the levers S, up to them, and thus cause the hammer-screw t to strike a blow on the gong F,.from

'following succession of blows and spaces, to wit,

twelve blows, space; four blows, space; three blows, space; or, in other words, will sound the alarm which we havecallcd 12, and give the number of box, which we have considered as forty-three; and lastly, that the three revolutions of the circuit-wheel 17, caused by the passing of the segmental drive-wheel 13 from one stop, 25, to the opposite one, will sound three alarms and give the number of the box three times, which is the object desired.

The manner of arranging the pins 18, 19, and 20, to produce different alarms, and to designate a different number of box, is readily seen, as is also the manner of operating by the key M, instead of by the automatic apparatus.

The handles D and 29 are made oi non-conducting material, to avoid shocks to the person giving the alarm, in case he is standing on the ground, and the earth is used a part of the electric circuit.

The peculiar advantage-rcsulting from having the circuit-wheel 17 revolve two or more times, and having the fire-signal pins 18 18 interposed bet-ween the box-signal pins 19 19 and 20 20 is, that by such revolutions, the fire-signal is interposed between the signals giving the number of the box, so that the liability to error, on the part of the attendant at the enginediouse, in getting the number of the box, is materially diminished, for it" no alarm-blows were given, but simply the signal-blows indicating the number of the box, then we should have in these revolutions of the circuitwheel 17, supposing to represent a blow, and a space, the following signals, 1 |l l l tl l ll i l l l l-l l l, and it the attendant did not hear the first blows, he could easily mistake box forty-three for thirty-tour, whereas if the circuit-wheel 17 were arranged as shown in drawings, the three revolutions of the circuit-wheel produce these signals: I l l l l i i l l l l l lllllll llllii'l'l|l|llillll!--lll l l l l l I l-l I l l-l l |,the twelve fire-signals being in rapid succession, while the four and three box-signals would be given slower, from which it is readily seen that if the attendant did not get the number forty-three when first sounded, he has only to wait until the alarm-signals are repeated, when the number of the box will be repeated, and that he cannot possibly confuse the two box-signals with each other, as in the previous case.

It is readily seen that the same succession of firealarm signals and box-signals could be obtained by making the circuit-wheel 17 of twice the length of circumference here shown, arranging a double series ot'pins 18 18, 19 19, 2O 20: 18 18, 19 19, 20 20, on it in the order indicated, and having the circuit-wheel revolved one and one-half time; or by having the circuit-wheel of three times the length of circumterence here shown, using a triple series of fire-alarm and boxsignal pins, and having the circuit-wheel revolve onc'e around, and that various other changes in the general construction and arrangement of the circuit-wheel and pins might be made, the general principles of construct-ion and operation remaining the same.

It is evident to any person skilled in the art, that the standards G H N J K L Y I, and the automatic alarm, should be placed in or on such materials as that they shall be insulated from each other, except by the circuit-wires, as before showin It is also readily seen that notches in the face of the circuit-wheel 17 might be used inplace of the pins 18 19, 20, on its side, or that the pins 18, 19, 20, might be arranged on the face instead-of on the side of the circuit-whcel 17, the circuitbreaker 4 being arranged in these cases directly over the face of the circuit-wheel, instead of being at one side of it, as now shown.

It is also evident that, if desired, the magnets x x, key M, lever S, and gong l may be dispensed with at all signal-boxes, excepting the one in the enginehouse, the circuit in this case being direct from the standard G to circuit-breaker 4, as is easily seen.

Having thus fully described the construction an application of my invention,

What 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. The system of signalsfor fire-alarm telegraphs herein shown, composed of a series of rapid alarm: signals, and a series of box-signals, when the same are so used as that an alarm-signal is interposed between any two successive box-signals, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. So arranging a series of pins or notches on any circuit-wheel, used in connection with a circuit-breaker, for the purpose of breaking the circuit in a magnetic tire-alarm telegraph, substantially as herein shown, as that two or more revolutions of said circuit-wheel shall cause two or more alarm-signals, and two or more boxsignals, an alarm-signal being interposed between any two successive box-signals, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specified 3. So constructing an automatic fire-alarm, and the circuit-wheel connected thereto, as that said alarm shall first sound a fire-signal, then a box-signal, then repeat fire-signal, then repeat boimignal, and so on, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

4. The peculiar arrangement and combination of the segmental drive-wheel 13, steps 25 25, pinion 12, shaft 37, and circuit-wheel 17, the several parts being arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

. 5. The peculiar arrangement and combination of the crank 28, shaft 38, spring 27, segmental drivewheel 13, pinion 12, shaft 37, and circuit-Wheel 17, the several parts being arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

6. The peculiar arrangement and combination of the spring 27, shaft 38, segmental drive-wheel 13, pinion 12, shaft 37, with circuit-wheel 17, and ratchetwheel 14 thereon, gear-wheel 11, with pawl 15 and spring 16, gear-train 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, and shaft 35, with regulator 33 thereon, the several parts being arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

arranged therein, when used in combination with the circuit-wheel 17, having pins 18, 19, 20, or theirequivalents, arranged thereon, the several parts being arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

8. lhe peculiar arrangement and combination of the standard 1, having one end of the main circuit attached thereto, the circuit-breaker 4 having the other end of main circuit attached thereto, and the sliding rod 21 arranged therein, the circuit-wheel 17 'with pins 18, 19, 20,-or their equivalents, arranged thereon, the shaft 37, pinion 12, segmental drive-wheel 13, shaft 38, and spring 27, the several parts being arranged substantially as aud for the purpose herein specified.

As evidence that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses this .6th day of November, A. D. 1868.

ALEXANDER ALLEN.

Witnesses:

Gno. Ea, Rrrsoiu, J. H BIssnLL.

7. The circuit-breaker 4, having the sliding rod 21

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