US1076304A - Fire-alarm and watch-service signaling means. - Google Patents

Description

J. lMOFBLL.

FIRE ALARM AND WATCH SERVICE SIGNALING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED MAYA, 1911.

J. MGFELL.

PIRE ALARM AND WATCH SERVICE SIGNALING MEANS.

APPLIOATIDN HLBD MAYa, 1911.

Wfmesses 1 Patented 0013.21, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. MUFELL. PIRE ALARM AND WATCH SERVICE vSIGNALING MEANS.

- APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1911. 1,076,304. Patented o0t.21,1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. MGFELL.

HRB ALARM AND WATCH SERVICE SIGNALING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1911.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. MCFELL.

PIRE ALARM AND WATCH SERVICE SIGNALING MEANS.

APPLICATION PPLBD MAYP., 1911. 1,076,304- Patented 0111.211913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES JUIisoN MCFELL, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ALARM AND WATH-SERVICESIGNALING? MEANS.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Jonson MoFnLL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Alarms and VVatch-Service Signalin the following is a speci cation.

My invention relates tol improvements in fire alarms and watch service signaling means, and has for one of its objects to improve generally and in detail transmission means in a syst-em of the character described.

A further object of my invention more specifically is to provide, for association with a system involving different possible signaling connections, a box providing automatic means for switching the signaling connections within the transmission box to accommodate changes in the exterior signaling connect-ions.-

Another object is to provide improved non-interfering transmitters.

Other and further objects of my invent-ion will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the Jfollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a face View of a transmissionv box with its cover removed, showing the parts at normal position; Fig. 2 1s a similar view showing the parts in positions assumed during certain operations of the box; Fig. 3y

is al face elevation of certain motorfparts of the box and associated devices; Fig. 4 is a. transverse section on line L1--4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an isometric detail, showing the main switching mechanism of a transmitter; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on line 6 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a detail of a switch-restoring mechanism; Fig.' 8 is a. general diagram showing the connection of the boxes in the system, and the interior wiring of one box; and Fig, 9 is a simplified skeleton diagram of one box in one condition assumed while it is being connected in emergency cir-l cuit. Fig. 10 shows the same parts with the emergency connection completed.

Referring now to the construction of the transmitter, 10 indicates in general the transmit-ter in which is provided spring motor mechanism 11 of any suitable con- Speecation of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1911.

Means, of which f Patented oct. 21, 1913.

Serial No. 625,709.

' struction mounted between front and back plates 12 and 13 and providing a spring winding arbor 14 and a number wheel arbor, .15. vThe motor mechanism is of any convenient construction and is so well known as to-need no articular description.

usual signaling or number wheel 16 having vcally and in grouping with the number to I be transmitted by the box, and the winding arbor 14, extending through the face plate 10 of the box, carries exteriorly a. winding handle 18, used only for fire alarm purposes to wind the arbor to its fullest intended extent. A

The windingarbor bears a lever arm 20, having a downwardly bent terminal nose 21 for purposes to be described, said lever 20 having lost-motion connection by a screw 22 and slot 23 with a vertical 4switch-setting link 211, slotted as at 25, for engagement with a guide screw 2G, on the guide stud 27 for vertical sliding movement, and atits lower end provided with a bearing roller 2S. The box cover 10 carries a short shaft 30, projecting through the front thereof to receive a watchmans key, said shaft having mounted thereon inside the box alever arm 31, one end of which cooperates with the roller 28, sothat when the watchman by means of the key turns the shaft 30, to such extent that the lever 31 partly rotates until its heel strikes, and is stopped by, the bottom wall of the casing, the link 24 is forced upward a predetermined distance, to potentiate or set the motor mechanism for a short operation to transmit a watchmans signal. The uiotor thus partly wound may be capable of rotating the wheel 16 say twice before running down, while when fully wound, it may be rotated say six times. v

The link member 24 carries a laterally projecting nose 24, arranged to cooperate with a movable switch element of a main switch 32, to make changes in the switch connection differing according to whether the link 24 receives a short. movement due to settingl of the watchmans call, or its long movement due to the sett-ing of a iire alarm signal. The movable switch element 33, in the specific construction The num er wheel arbor 15 carries they l -eri heral teeth 17 corres ondino numeri# p P v a p a which I preferably employ, is a metallic slide having slots 34 engaging-guide screws 35 which project from an insulating base 36, the slide member 33 being acted upon by a spring 37 interposed between a fixedpin 38 on the plate and the pin 38. on vthe-slide,

normally to hold the slide in lowest or re-v ranged in opposing lower and upper pairs respectively, each pair compri-sing one short leaf and one long leaf, the long leaf of each pair confronting the short leaf of the opposite pair, and the long leaves of the two pairs laterally overlapping but laterally separated. Thus, when the blade 40 is in ylowest position it connects switch members 41 and42; when in the intermediate position to which the switch blade 40 is raised by the operation of the watchmans lever 31, contacts 41 and 44 are interconnected; and when the movable contact is raised to its highestA sition, by operation of the winding han le- 18, contacts 43 and 44 are connected thereby.

The main switch slide 33, heretofore referred to, has an offset portion 46 with which the nose 24 of the switch-inoving link 24 coperates, the-upper extremity of said oset portion 46 being beveled asat 46', and in the oiiset portion I provide latching o enings,47 and 48, arranged to be engaged y a latching member to hold the movable switch member in either of its raised positions. The latch member shown comprises a lever 50, pivoted on stud 25, provided with 'a bev eled latch pin 51, -for engagement in either aperture 47 or 48, the extremity of said lever having a roller 52 to be acted upon by the nose 21 of lever 20 to throw the latch member to ineffective position when the lever 20 is down in its normal position, the latch member being acted upon also by a spring 53 tending to force it into latching position. Thus, as soon as the motor is partly or fully wound, and the lever 20 accordingly moved away from the roller 52 of the latch member, said latch member is impelled by spring 53 into operative position, and when the switch slide 33 is partially elevated, by the setting of the watchmans signal, the latch point 51 engages notch 47 to hold the switch blade 4() cross-connecting contacts 41 and 44 until the latch is positively released; while further upward movement of the slide 33 due to the setting of a fire alarm signal causes the latch point 51 to engage in notch 48, holding the switch slide in such. position that its contact 40 cross-connects stationary contacts 43 and 44, until the release occurs. The unlatching or release action 4occurs when the motor has practically run down, the very last port-ion of the movement of lever arm 2O throwing over the latch4 lever, 50, to withdraw the point 51 from latching engagement with the switch slide 33, thereby to free the slide for retraction to normal position under the iniluence of its spring, 37. Thus, it will be apparent that regardless of the remainingl mechanism to be described, the apparatus thus far specified provides meanswhereby a short operation of a movablepart, i. e., the link 24, conditions or prepares the transmitting mechanismv for a short watch-signaling Y operation, occasions the movement of the switching mechanism to effect one set of switching connections, and permits the latching of the movable switch blade in such position; while a :more prolonged movement of the said movable part fully winds or p0- tentiates the motor, effects a different set of switching connections, and causes the switching mechanism to be latched in its appropriate position, the latching operation maintaining the switch in set position in either event until the motor is substantially run down.

The teeth 17 `of the signal wheel 16 are i mede to actuate a signaling switch or circuit .breaker 55, comprising the usual spring pens or contacts, and these are connected. in circuit y'with a controlling electromagnet 56, having its armature 57 so equipped and arranged that only when the armature stands in attracted position each time the pens 55 are closed by a tooth 17, is the signal wheel allowed to rotate. To this end, the armature 57 has a lever extension 58, having pivoted to its extremity a awl 59, the nose of said pawl being shape for latching operation with pins 60, one for each tooth 17, carried by the wheel 16. The tail 62 of the pawl has a limited range of movement but ,asfar as Athe function of the stopping of the signal wheel is concerned, this may be disregarded and the pawl considered. merely as ahooklike nose upon the armature lever 58, for stopping the rotation of the wheel 16. The relative disposition of the teeth 17, pins 60, and pawl 59, is such that whenever armature 57 is attracted, the pawl 59 is thrown out. of the path of the pins 60; but when the armature is retracted, the pawl is interposed in the path of the pins 60, each pin 60 coming into engagement with such pawl during the time that the corresponding tooth 17 has edected a closure of the signaling pens 55.

It is desirable that the pawl 59 should magnet 70, and releases the .strong switch` aerosol ditions incident to fire alarm si' therefore that the armature 5 mechanically. retracted from its magnet 56 only when the box is set for the transmission 4 of a fire-alarm signal. provide for the armature 57 a spring 65 connected to one end of the armature and vat the other end to a pinG upon the slide member 33 of the main switch mechanism 32, so that when the switch slide 33 is in either of its two lower positions,-that is, normal posi- To these ends, I

tion, or watchmans si aling position, the spring 65 works as a `ight pressure springtending to throw the armature positively into contact .with its magnet poles, but when l the slide 33 is raised to highest or tire alarm position, spring 65 is put under a retractile tension, as indicated in Fig. 2, mechanically to throw armature 57 to retracted positionA (conditioning the pawl 59 for operation),f

except when the spring 65 is overcome by -the attraction of magnet 56 for its armature.

The purpose of making the pawl 59 movable is to enable it to be used to actua-te an emergency switch whenever pawl 59 is engaged and moved by a pin 60 on the signal wheel. To this end, the emergency switch 67 is mounted upon the armature lever 58 in insulated fashion, 'the leaves of the switch being normally open, and arranged to be closed whenever the insulated tail 62 of the pawl 59 is forced toward the armature lever by the act-ion of a pin 60, pressing against the nose of the pawl 59..

The purpose of the emergency switch 67 is to control the circuit for an emergency magnet 70, the armature 71 of which governs the operation of a switch set 72, which I will for distinct-ion term the emergency circuit changer. This emergency 'circuit changer 72, in the form shown, comprises a main leaf 7 8 held raised under tension by the insulated extremity of armature 71, so that it contacts -with the upper switch point 74. lv'hen thc armature 71 is attracted by its spring 73, the latter springs into Contact with a lower switch point 7 5, and also acts through a suitable insulated block upon the bottom contact spring 76 to force the latter out of contact with the spring 75. The switch s ct 72 thus normally stands with its middle spring contacts 7875 separated, and its functional operation is to make. contacts between the middle spring leaves F8- 75, freeing them both from connection with the extreme leaves. After the armature 71 one@ loses its latching engagement with the main leat 73, said leaf remains in Junctionally operative lowest position until it. is again raised by a restoring lever ot' bell crank shape, indicated at 77, having one insulated arm underlying the long spring 78, and its other arm interposed in the path of movement of a tail 78 oit lever 20, so that just as the/lever reaches its inal position of restafter an operation of the box, it throws 'over the bell crank 77, causing its horizontal arm to lit the spring 73, so that the armature 71 may dropinto latching position beneath it.

, The interior wiring of the box terminates at three external binding posts 81, 82, and 83, for external circuit connections, the first said binding post 81 having wiring connections84jtov one pen of a make-and-break signaling switch 55, the remaining pen of said switch 55 having connections 85, to one terminal of magnet 56, and connection 86 to one leaf of thev emergency switch 67. The

two remaining external binding posts 82 and 83 have direct connections 87 and 88 respectively to the main switch contacts 41 and 42, so that normally connection is made therebetween by the switch member 40. The

main switc'h contact 41 has a wire connection 90 to the main leaf 7 3 of the emergen'cy circuit changer, and the outer leaf 74 normally contacting therewith has wire connection 91 to 'one terminalof the emergency magnet connected by wire 92 with the remaining limb of emergency switch 67. The free terminal of magnet 56 has a connection 93 with the upper main switch contact 44, compani on Contact 43 having wiring connection 95 to the third leaf of the emergency circuit changer 72, the leaf 76 normally contacting therewith being wired as at l96 to the main switch contacts 42, to complete the interior wiring of the box.

uWhile 'the transmitting box having some `or all of the features above described may be connected and operated in various circuits, I 'have for illustration herein shown the box as connected in a circuit similar. in general arrangement to that described in my prior Patents No. 797,907 and No. 828,420.

Specifically, 100 indicates a central battery from which extends the positive battery end 101, of aline wire including a relay magnet 102 and looped as at- 101, continuously to the binding posts 81 of the various boxes of the circuit (from right to left in the drawing, Fig. 8) returning to the cent-ral station by a positive tell-tale end wire 103, terminating at the switch blade 104 of a double throw emergency line switch, the upper contact of which is normally engaged by the switch lever 104 and wired as at 105 to a high resistance tellp tale magnet 10G. The remaining or lower terminal of the switch 104 has connection 107 with the positive battery end 101 beyond the relay l02,'so thatwhen the switch 104L is thrown down, it completes a doubleloop of the wires 101 and 103 tor emergency signaling purposes. A normally open push the other terminal of which is i but-ton switch is bridged across from switch arm 104 to the lower contact for certain test purposes to be described'.

From the opposite terminal of the battery runs a wire 110 which I will distinctively term the negative battery end of the line wire, including a fire alarm registerlll and bell 111 and the magnet of a line relay 112,'said negative battery wire leading to the binding post 83 of the left hand transmission box 10c of Fig. 8 which is last with respect to the wire 101, the middle binding post 82 of said box having connection 110 to the binding post 83, and so on to the box first in the positive line wire 101, whence binding post 82 has connection through negative tell-tale wire 113I with the double-throw switch 114, normally engaging an up-per contact, but having its lower emergency contact connected by wire 117, including an emergency relay 111a and bell 1115 with the wire 110, and provided with the test button 118, to bridge the lower switch opening, in simulation of the connection 107-108 of the opposite tell-tale wire heretofore described. The upper terminal of the switch 114 is preferably connected by wire 119 including a non-inductive lresistance 120 with a watch? mans-time recorder 121, having itsl remaining terminal connected by wire 122 through a switch 123 (controlled by line relay 102) and wire 124 with the tell-tale magnet 106. Thus, it will be observed that normally the circuit's closed as long as each box stands with its main switch blade 40 engaging the two contacts 41, 42, the circuit path being 100, 101, 102, 1003s 101', 103, 104, 105, 10e, 123, 122, 121, 120, 119, 114, 113, box conne@- tions 82, 87, 41, 40, 42, 88, 83, right hand loop 110 (and sdn through the series of boxes), negative battery end 110, 112, 111',

111, 110. The high resistance magnet 106 For simplicity, these switch stems are sho-wn as gravity operating, for manual reset.

The switch stem 102, 'when released for functional movement by the relay 102, closes a switch 126 in a shunt connection 127, around the relay coil 102, so as to cut the resistance of the relay coil out of circuit as soon as the relay coil has performed its function.4 The. similar switch stem 112 is similarly arranged to close a switch 128 in a shunt 129, for the relay coil 112. The armature 106 of tell-tale magnet 106 controls the switching element 130 for functional operation when the tell-tale magnet is denergized. The switchstem 130 when operated closes a switch 131, controllinga local circuit for a tell-tale bell 132,` said circuit extending from the positive battery terminal by wire 133 through a switch 134,

normally closed by the switch stem 102 of relay 102, and arranged to be opened by a vfunctional operation of said switch stem,

said circuit continuing by wire 134 to the normally opened switch 131 of the tell-tale relay 106, and thence by wire 135, including the telltale bell 132, back to the negative terminal of the battery. The switch stem 130 also controls a switch 136, normally 140 to the negative terminal of the battery.

The operation of the system will be as follows; it belng remembered that the normal circuit 1s as shown 1n heavy llnes in Fig. 8

`and as heretofore specifically traced.

Watch service alarm-Assummg that the watchman operates the middle box 10b of the three shown in Fig. 8, by turning stem 30,` (Fig. 1) with his key, link v24 is partially lifted to wind the winding arbor 14, enough to cause two revolutions'of signal wheel 16, and also to causenose 24 of the link to move the switching slide 30 so as to movexblade 40 of main switch 32 to its middle position to eect connection between conftacts 41 and 44, y the main switch being latched in its new position by latch lever 50. By this operation of the main switch, the main line circuit is broken within the ybox between the terminals 82 and 83 but the watch-service circuit is prepared for closure by the operation of the signaling pens 55. The rupture of the normal circuit, thus effected denergizeslhigh resistance tell-tale relay 106, so that its switch stem 130 drops to closeI switches 131 and 136. Closure of the switch 131 starts in operation the telltale bell 132, through the circuit 100, 133, 13,4', 134, 131, 132, 135, 100. This Condition continues momentarily only, for as soon as the rst tooth of the signal wheel 17 of the active box closes the switch pen 55 of the transmitter, a low resistance watch-smv ice circuit is established as follows: 100, 101 (102), loop 101 to the active box 10b, through the box from terminal 8i, by path 84, 55, 85, 56, 93, 44, 40, 41, 87, to terminal 82, and thence back through the tell-tale magnet 106. The watch-signal circuit thus' established, eliminating the high-resistance magnet 106 is of such low resistance that the relay 102, included m the circuit, be-

comes operatively energized and releases its.

switch stem 102', so that the latter drops and closes switch 1,26, thereby to cut the 'resistance of coil 102 out of the line, and at the same time opens both switches 123 and 134", thereby to Ystop the opera-tion 'of the tell-tale bell 132 and positively to disconnect the telltale magnet 106 from any energized circuit. Of course, such make-and-break action of pens 55 is recorded by register 21.l

nal is t-ransmittedover aO circuit established through the out-going battery end of -the posit-ive line wire and the incoming telltale end 2 of the negative wire, the'latter havin been automatically connected to the negative terminal of the battery in such manner that it' includes the watch servicev recorder, 121, and excludes the fire alarm service recorder 111.

`In considering the operation of the transmitter 10b, in sending'a. watch service call, no attention need be 'paid to the action of Vpawl 59, for it .twill bezremembered that the movemento slide 33 feected by the partial winding of the ox ,forwatch service signaling is not lilioie'rt. to put spring 65 under retracti e ens1on,f'so that the armature' 57 makes 'no' 'vibrations and the pawl 59 accordingly performs no function. will be remembered, however, that when the watchmans signal is completed, the returnv of the box lever 20 to--nor'mal positiontrips the latch 50 that holds the slide 33, enabling the slide to be retracted to normal position,

thereby restoring the box circuit' connece tions to normal, throwing the switch member 40 into position again connecting contacts 41 and'42. The various switch-stems at the receiving station will be manually restored.

Fire alarm signal-When the transmitter is set, by means of the winding'handle 18` to send a lire alarm signal, link 2'4 is raised through its full excursion, throwing slide33 upward until makes connection between contacts 43 and 44, and is latched in uppermost position by it forcibly retracts the armature 57, throwing the pawl 59 into the path of .pins 60 the main. switch blade 40 upon the signaling wheel 16. This operation opens the normalicircuit between terminals' 82 and 83 of the active box and caurses the deenergization of the tell-tale magnet 106 with the consequent closing of the switches 136 and 131 as heretofore described, and it prepares what I will here*- after term the main signaling circuit for the transmission of the fire alarm signal. As soon as the first tooth of the number wheel 116 closes signal switch pens 55, however, a low resistance fire alarm signaling circuit is established as lfollows: 100, 101., loops 101', terminal 81 of the active box; internal connect- ions 84, 55, 85, 56, 93, 44, 43, 95, normally closed cont-acts 7 5 and 76 of the emergency circuit changer, wires 96 and 88, to box terminal '83; thence by left-hand loop 110, and the normal connections 82, 87,41, v40, 42, S8, 83, of the left hand box 10, and negative 'battery end 110 through the relay 11 gong 111', lire alarm register 111, to battery' 100. Obviously, the open- It will be observed that'a watchmans siging and closing of, switch 5 5 by the signal wheels causes the fire-alarm register to 'record the lire alarm signal as the box runs down, occasioning lsay six full revolutions of the signaliwheel 1 6. Under these conditions,ib'oth y,linerelays 102 and 112 are energized, each releasing its switch stem 'thereby' to cut tlie resistance of the relay coils out of circuit and to open the various subsidiary circuits controlled by the said relays 102 and 112, that is to say, the circuits for tell-tale bell 132 (at switch'134) the circuit for highresistance magnet 106 (at switch 123) ,mand the circuit for the watchmans alarm register 121 (at switch 139). q

It will be noted that in this regular operartion of the transmitter t0 send a fire alarm,

the pawl 59 in the transmitting box plays no active part, for as each pin 60 approaches the pawl 59, the main signaling circuit is lclosed'by the action of a tooth/17 upon the pens 55, thereby energizing the magnet 56 to attract its armature and throw the pawl ,59, carried4 by the armature lever, out of the .path ofthe approching pin), so that in the (regular operation of the. fire alarm transission, the pawl 59 dodges around each pin 60, and permits the unimpeded transmission lot' the signal. v

It will be observed' that in the regular fire alarm transmission, the main signal circuit is completed through the out-going positive battery end and the out-going negative battery end of the circuit, thereby including the lire alarm recorder 111- and excluding the watch service recorder 121.

As thus far described, the results of the operation of my system are substantially the sanie as those attained by the system de ,scribed in 'my -prior Patent No. 828,420, although the apparatus is dferent.

Emergency comwctz'ons.-lt will be. apparent, however, that the accidental rupture of either battery end wire 101 or 110 would render impossible the establishment of the main (tire alarm service) signal circuit described, and as it is highly important that the transmission of tire alarms should not be prevented by such accidental break of .the circuit, the auxiliary emergency mechanism of the box and the emergency connections for the lower contact points of switches 104 and 114 are provided to enable'any box to Operate notwithstanding the rupturle of either' or both wires of the main signaling circuit. v

Assuming the circuit to be accidentally ruptured at the point w in the positive baty tery end 101, it will be obvious that the telltale magnet 106 will become denergized, dropping its armature, and starting in operation the tell-tale bell 132. The bell will continue to ring, butrnone of the registers will make any record, so that the central station attendant is promptly acquainted with the fact that the line is broken. It may be immediately determined which line wire,-positive or negative-has been ruptured by the operation of the test buttons 108 and 118. With the line broken as described, if the test button 108 is closed and the armature 106 lifted into contact with the magnet 106, it will be retained, as the tell-tale magnet will receive positive battery the negative tell-tale wire will simply be looped back to the negative battery end, while the magnet 106 has no closed connections. with the lpositive terminal of the battery. Upon. thus ascertaining that it is the wire 101 that is broken the attendant throws switch 104 to its lower contact, completing the emergency connection of the tell-tale end of the circuit with the posit-ive terminal of the battery through wire 107. Under these conditions, the operation of the fire alarm signal is identical with that heretofore described, the only diilere'nce being in the connection of the positive terminal of the battery to the box terminal 81, which is made through path 101, 107, 104, 103, 101', 81.

If the negative battery wire 110 is broken as at y, switch 114 is operated by the at'- tendant to loop the negative tell-tale wire113 to the negative battery end 110, through the wire 117 and register 111B. Under such circumstances, the emergency connections of the transmitter are called into play when the transmitter is actuated. to send a re alarm signal, andthe circuit for signaling is changed to what I shall term, distinctively, the emergency sinnaling circuit. Thus, upon the commencement of the fire alarm signal, the number wheel 16 runs until it closes the switch 55, but under the circumstances nowconsidered, the closure'of the switch 55 does not establish a circuit for the magnet 56, because ordinary current path 84, 85, 56, 93, 95, 96, 88, 83, leads only tothe wire 110 which is broken. Consequently magnet 56 is not energized and cannot attract its armature so that the first pin 60 on the signal wheel engages the pawl 59 carried by said armature. When, however, the pin 60 strikes the pawl 59', it rocks the pawl slightly, causing its heel 62 to close the switch 67, and -thus to establish a circuit for emergency magnet 70 as follows: .100, 101, (102), 101', 81,84, 55, se, 67, 92, 91, 74, 73, 90, 87, 82, 110', right hand box terminals S23- 82, tell-tale end 13 of the negative line wire, switch 114 (throwndown), 117 (1113, llla) 110, 100. Such circuit connection includes the emergency ma et 70 and the latter attracts its armature, reeing the spring 78 of the emergency circuit changer 72 which flies intov contact with spring 75, opening both the normal connections 74-73 and 75-76. This action of the circuit changer opens the circuit just before made for the-emergency magnet 70 between points 73.-'74, and also Opens the connectionbetween main switch contacts 42-43 at circuitchanger contacts 75-76, but establishes ya connection vbetween' energized binding posts 81 and 82 including in series the switch pens and the magnet 56 to complete the emergency circuit as follows: 100, 101 (102), 101, si, s4, 55, e5, 56, 95, 44, 40, 43, 95, 75, 78, 90, 87, 82, 110, box 10, 113, 114 (thrown down), 117 (11u, 1111), 110, 100. Fig. 10 shows diagrammatically the salient elements of the circuit under the conditions just described., Thus, the edect of the emergency operation is to throw the box connections for the signal pens 55 and the controlling magnet 56 from the terminal 83, connection of which to the negative battery end of the circuit has been broken at y, to the terminal 82 connection of which to the battery through the negative tell-tale end of the circuit has been made through switch 114. As soon as' this is done the box begins to operate in ordinary fashion, controlling magnet 56 being included in the emergency circuit with pens 55, so that thelatch point 59 will dodge around pins 60 of the signal. wheel as heretofore described.

Should the normal circuit become short circuited, as at z, Fig. 8, the operator at central throws switch 11'4 down, and manifestly the tiro alarm may be transmitted 'cically, the pins 60 and vthepawl 59 for.I

nordsee from either sideof the short e. Thus, to the left of @movement of switch 40 in preparing the'box 10b-for re signal breaks the circuit establishedthrough the short .cv andthe fire alarm transmissionis in ordinary fashion; In box 10", however, move. ment of switch blade 40 followed by the closure of pen 55 merely throws magnet 5.6.v intoparallel with-the short 2,-or in other words, magnet 56 is short circuited,V sothatg the'magnet is noteil'ectively energized and the pawl 59 throws the.emergency switchg 67, initiating the zemergency operations; which result in the transmission ofthe com-y plete lire signal through `the emergency cir. cuit. This automaticshifting .of ithe'con-i, nectionsfof the-signaling switch pensfromf an. ordinary or-v main circuit-to anemergency circuit whenever the Aemergency circuit is. available and themain circuitisnot, is-.the most .important function of the emergency. connections, provided by switchl67, circuit changer 72, and emergency magnet 70, andi I believe it Vto be broadly new.

Nonnterferenccrhe ymechansm--fspestopping the wheelwhereby theoperation ofthe box is stopped except whemthe magv' net 56 is thrown'into an energized circuit each .time the switch pens 55 are closed inv the sending of a -re alarm .signal ,performsg another highly .important function, .however, in making the boxes ,noninterfering in theperformance` of their re alarm functions. A v

Remembering that in the ordinary firealarm operation ofthe transmitters,-where noline .wire isbrokenand the central station switches 104; and 114: stand in normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 8,*-the completion of-the signaling circuit from a right hand box `(that is, a box near the tell-tale end of the negative battery wire) depends upon the maintenance of connections between the terminals 82 and 83 of all boxes to the left thereof (that is, -nearer the central battery' with respect to the negative battery wire 110), it .will readily be understood that if` the rightv hand -box 10 of Fig. .8 is first started to send a `lire alarm signal and then the middle box 10b of said Fig. 7 is thereafter actuated to send its fire alarm signal, the main signal circuit forthefbox 10a is opened by the movement of the main switch blade 40 of the middle box out of contact with its switch springs .4l-42.- Consequently, the right hand box is checked in its signaling operation and stands idle until the middle box -has -completed its signal transmission, for the reason that as soon as the middle box 1s started in operation and breaks the signaling circuit for the right hand box, the-magnet 56 of said right hand box, deprived of current, permits its. manually opera e means .to

4armature tostandretracted-so that the'pawl 59 isengaged bythe next approaching pin -60, and -.-said lpawl positively holdsvthe sig- `nal wheel of the right hand box against fur- .xther operation until the normal circuitfor ythe said Vright hand box is restored after .the completion ofthe operation of the middie box. The operation of switch 67 by the ipawl 59 produces lno result, for -it will be *remembered `(see Fig. 8) that said switch .connections with .wire `113 of the emergency .circuitare now disconnected from battery .at central station switch 114.V Of course, .as y

soon asthe middle box' completes its opera- :tion,.the lri-ght hand boxresumes its func.. `i

ltional operation -and completes .the :transemission of its signahthefffact that eachbox sends a plurality .of ,rounds of thesign-al Wheel in the transmission of a firefsignal,"

insuring vthat no amount of .interruption @reasonably possible willvprevent the transimissionof a .readable signal from thebox nmost remote lfrom the central station.

While -I have herein described -in detail .a particular embodimentof my invention for purposes ofgfull disclosure, and utilizing -my invention in the same general type -of system as that disclosed in my prior-patent fherein referred' -.t0, it will be apparent 'to ithoseskilled in Vtheart that the specific installation herein indicated is illustrative only, and thatmany changes might bemade inthe specific construction and connections without departure from the spirit of my invention and within the scope ofthe ap- ;pended claims. It will also be understood that onaccountof the number of switches, relays, terminals, vetc.,.in the system, I often .employ inthe claims specific designations of parts for sake of clearness, but such desigf i .nations are intended .for identification only,

and not for limitation.

What I claim is:

1. .In a signaling system, connections to lestablish a main signaling circuit, connec- `tions to establish an emergency signaling circuit; and a transmitter comprising asig- ,naling switch, connectible in the main sigynalin circuit, and means lresponsive to the .estab 1shment of the emergency circuit upon .occurrence of .predetermined conditions in the normal circuit, for automaticallylvarying within the transmitter the wiring connections of said signaling switch to connect it -in operative relations to the emergency circuit.

2. In a. signaling system, the combination with a central battery and a register, connections to establish a main `signaling cirf cuit, connections cl'osable at central station to establish an emergency circuit in the event of rupture of said main circuit, and a transmitter com rising a signaling switch, connect said switch in the main signaling circuitfand means automatically operable to connect said switch in the emergency circuit when the main circuit is broken and the emergency circuit otherwise closed.

3. In a signaling system, connections to establish a main signaling circuit connections to establish an emergency signaling circuit; and a transmitter comprising a signaling switch normally connectible for operation in the main signaling circuit, an electro'responsive device for inclusion in the emergency circuit, and means governed by the action of said electro-responsive device in the emergency circuit for automatically connecting said signaling switch to operate in the emergency circuit upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions in the normal circuit.

4. In a signaling system, the combination with a source of current supply, of a battery line wire having a return end connectible to the battery line wire to form a metallic loop; an opposite line wire from the source of supply; and a transmitter comprising a signaling switch, means to establish connection therefor between the last said line wire and the iirst said battery line wire for completion of a main signaling circuit, and means made eiective by certain conditions in the said main signaling circuit for vary ing within the transmitter, the wiring connections of said switch to connect it with the return end of the first said wire, for completion of an emergency metallic signaling' circuit.

5. The combination of a` signal transmitter, comprising a signaling switch, motor driven operating means therefor and an electro-responsive device, connected with said switch; connections to establish' a mai-n signaling circuit including said switch and responsive device; connections including a normally open emergency circuit changer, operable to establish an emergency metallic circuit for the signaling switch; and automatic means within the transmitter controlled by the electro-responsive device for closing said einergency-circuit-changer connection to establish the emergency circuit upon rupture of the main signaling circuit for said electro-responsive device and signaling switch.

6. In a signaling system, a source of current, connections to establish a main signal-v ing circuit for a transmitter, connections for establishing an alternative emergency circuit ior said transmitter, and the transmitter comprising a signaling switch, a controlling electro-responsive device and a main switch operable when the transmitter is prepared forv signaling operations, to conneet said signaling switch and electro-responsive device in the main circuit to t-he exclusion of the emergency circuit connecimanes tions, an emergency magnet, means con` trolled by the controlling electro-responsive device for connecting said magnet in the emergency circuit connections upon rupture of the main signa-ling circuit, whereby said emergency magnet is energized if the emergency circuit be otherwise closed, and means controlled by said emergency magnet, for connecting the signaling switch in said emergency circuit.

7. n a signaling system, a source of current, connections to establish a main signaling circuit for a transmitter, connections for establishing an alternative emergency circuit for said transmitter in the event of rupture of the main circuit, and a transmitter comprising a signaling switch, a controlling electro-responsive device and a main switch operable when the transmitter is prepared for signaling operations, to connect said sig naling switch and the electro-responsive device in the main signaling circuit to the exclusion of the emergency circuit, an emergency magnet, means controlled by the controlling electro-responsive device for connecting said emergency magnet in the emergency circuit connections when closure of .the signaling switch fails to energize the controlling device,4 whereby said emergency magnet is energized if the emergency circuit is otherwise closed, and means controlled bv said' emergency magnet for connecting the signaling switch in said emergency circuit and cutting out the emergency magnet.

8. ln a signaling system, a source of current, connections to establish. a main signaling circuit for a transmitter, connections for establishing an alternative emergency circuit or said transmitter, and the transmit' ter comprising a signaling switch, a controlling electro-responsive device and amain switch operable when the transmitter is prepared for signaling operations to connect said signaling switch and electro-responsive device in the main signaling circuit, and emergency magnet, means controlled by the electro-responsive device for connecting said emergency magnet in the emergency circuit when closure 'of the signaling switch fails to operate the main signaling circuit,where by said emergency magnet is energized if the emergency circuit is otherwise closed, and means controlled by the emergency magnet for connecting said signaling switch and controlling electro-responsive device in the emergency circuit.

9. In a signaling system, a transmitter providing terminals, 81--8Qf-83, a single signaling switch, and a controlling magnet, a main switch operable to effect connection of the signaling switch and controlling magnet between terminals 81-83, and means controlled by the controlling magnet for automatically changing the connections of the said signaling switch to terminals Ell-82;A in combination with a source .of current supply for establishing a signaling .circuit connection .through box terminals 81-83, and an emergency circuit through box terminals 81-,82.

l0- 111 anslarm System, a `source of .eurrentsupply, a main circuit comprising two line wires having their battery ends 'constantly connected to the sonrce of snpply, and their tell-tale ends normally connected to ,a high resistance device, means for establishing emergency connection of the telltale end of one of .said Wires t0 its battery end, .and e .signal transmitter `.comprising a signal switch, means t0 connect. said signaling switch for signalingthrough the battery ends of the wire, and means rendered effective by continued rupture of one of saidL battery wires, automatically t0 connect the slgnaling switch with the tell-tale end of said wire. e

11. In an alarm system, a source ofcurrent supply, a closed circuitcomprising two line wires having their battery ends constantly connected to the source of supply, a high resistance device normally connected to the Opposite tell-rale ends 0f the said 1in@ wires, signal-means rendered e'ective. by said high resistance device in response to a break in the `closed circuit; means for establishin emergency connections between such tell-ta e ends of the line wires and the respective battery ends, a signal receiving dervice connected in the closed circuits, and

emergency circuits; and a signaling transmitter arranged to transmit a signal throngh the battery ends of Athe line wires "and provided with means for automatically accommodating the internal connections of the transmitter to signal through the emergency tell-tale end connection of one of said wires when its battery end is broken.

12, In an alarm system, a source of cnri rent snpply, a closed circuit including ontgoing battery ends and .incoming tell-tale ends closed through a high resistance telltale magnet at central station, independent means fer connecting the tell-tale end of each wire t0 its battery end, means for testing .the continuity of each wire independent-ly, and signaling devices associated with the circuit.

13, an alarm system, transmitters, a source of current supply, a normally closed main circuit comprising two wires extendin from the sonrce of snpply,-each throughv attery end into connection with all of the transmitters and back to central station through a .tell-tale end, av tell-tale magnet wherethrough the tell-tale ends of said wiresconnect, a normally open connection between the tell-tale end of each said wire, and its respective battery engi, .testing switches for. closing `either-ot said connections without .cutting out the tell-tale magnet, and other means for closing either of such Connection and cutting out the telltale magnet. l

14. In a signaling system, main signaling circuit connections; emergency circuit connections; and a transmitterg'comprising a motor, a number wheel driven thereby, a signal switch for said number wheel, an electro-responsive device, means for stopping said' motor, controlled by 'the electroresponsive device, arranged to operate when the 'electro-responsive -device remains deenergize'd during the closure of the sig.- naling switch, transmitter connections to connectsaid signaling switch and electroresponsive device to the main signaling circuit connections, and means controlled by said 'motor stopping means for connecting said signaling switch and electro-respcnsive device to the emergency circuit wiring.

15. In a signaling system, the combination with a line 'having a source of current supply and a signal register, of a plurality of transmitters each comprising arnotor, a signal wheel, having number teeth and corresponding stop pins, a si nal switch controlled vby the number w eel, an electroresponsive contrnlling magnet havin an armature, and a pawl carried by said armature arranged to engage a stop pin when the armature is retracted during a closure of the signaling switch.

16. In a fire alarm system, suitable current supply means, a suitable circuit, non-interfering transmitters therein comprising each a motor driven toothed signal wheel; circuit controlling pens operated thereby, an'

electro-magnet controlled by said pens, and a stopdevice for the motor, associated with the magnet armature for operation to stop the motor only ywhen vthe armature is retracted during the period of closure of the circuit controllin pens.

17. In a signa ing system, the combination with a suitable/ signaling circuit and current supply means o? a transmitter comprising a motor, a make and break device operated thereby, a main switch comprising upper and lower contacts, the former connected in series and the latter in parallel with the make and break device, a reci rocating slide having a contact arm for c oaction with either the upper or lower contacts, spring Ineens for moving said slide te lower position, means fori'lifting said slide to upper yosition, and a motor rele'asable latch for holding said slide in upper position.

18. In a signaling'system, the combina- Ation witha spring motor 'having a windn arbor, a num er wheel, and make-and-brea devices, of a' main switch for controlling the electrical connections o f the transmitter comprising switch contacts, a slide aS- sociated with said switch contacts carrying a switch blade, means for moving said slide to various positions controlled by the winding arbor, latching means for the switch blade to latch it in different positions, controlled by the winding arbor.

19. In a signaling system, connections to establish a normal circuit, connections to establish an emergency circuit, and a transmitter comprising a signaling switch normally included in the main signaling circuit, a number wheel for said switch, a motor for said number wheel, means automatically to disable the motor upon rupture of the main circuit, means to close said emerL gency circuit connections upon the occurrence of such stoppage of the motor, and means responsive to closure of the emergency circuit throughout for connecting thc signaling switch in the emergency circuit and removing the disability of the motor.

20. In a signaling system, normally closed main signaling circuit connections, emergency circuit connections normally open at a central station and at each transmitter, and transmitters each comprising a signaling switch normally connectible with the main signaling circuit, a number wheel i or said switch, a driving motor for said number wheel, means automatically to close the emergency circuit connections within the transmitter and to connect the 'signaling switch in said emergency circuit when the main circuit is broken and the emergency circuit otherwise closed, and means automatically to stop the transmitter motorA when no circuit is provided for the signaling switch.

21. In a signaling system, the combination of 'a main circuit, including central-station apparatus and a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter having a signaling switch normally connectible in the main circuit, normally open emergency circuit connections 'from the central station to the several transmit-ters, and current-operated means in each transmitter responsive to the establishment of the emergency circuit and rupture of the main circuit for automatically varying within the transmitter the wiring connections of the signaling switch to connect it in operative relation to the emergency circuit.

22. In a signaling system, the combination of a main circuit including central-station signal-receiving apparatus and a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter having signal transmitting means, and electroresponsive non-interference devices for stopping the transmitter, normally connectible 1n the main circuit, normall open emergency circuit connections from tie central station to the transmitters, and current operated means in each transmitter responsive to rupture of the main circuit and establishment of the emergency circuit to vary the wiring connections within the transmitter for connecting said signaling means and electroresponsive non-interference devices in the emergency circuit.

23. In a signaling system, the combination of main circuit connections, normally open emergency circuit connections, means for closing the latter, and a plurality of noninterfering signal transmitters, each comprising motor driven signaling means normally connectible in lthe main circuit, automatic motor stopping means for non-interference, an electro-magnet disabling said motor stopping means normally connectible in the main circuit, and current-responsive automatic circuit-changing means controlled by the motor-stopping means and normally connected for inclusion in the emergency circuit connections, for operation, upon rupture of the main circuit and closure of the emergency circuit, to vary the connections of the signaling means and magnet to connect them in the emergency circuit.

24. In a system of the character described, the combination of a suitable circuit and current supply means, of a transmitter providing a make-and-break device for inclusion in said circuit, a motor, `a signal wheel driven thereby, a winding part for the motor, a main switch comprising an insulating base, upper and lower contacts thereon, respectively connected in series and parallel with said make-'and-break device, a springretracted, reciprocatable slide mounted on ythe side of said base having an arm overlying said base for coperation with the u per or lower contacts, means to elevate the side, a latch for said slide, and motor operated latch-releasing means.

25. In a system of the character described, suitable circuits and current Vsupply means therefor, combined with a transmitter providing la make-and-break device, a signal wheel, a motor for said wheel, means for stopping said wheel, a magnet controlling said stopping means when the latter is potentiated for operation, a multiple-position switch and means for mechanically otentiating said motor stopping means or its electrically controlled operation upon movement. of said switch to one of its multiple positions.

26. In a system of the character described, suitable circuits, and a motor driven transmitter comprising winding means difterently operable for re alarm and for watch service, automatic non-interference devices, and means responsive to the hre-alarm winding means, and non-responsive to the watch sei vice winding means, for mechanically potentiating the non-interference devices for operation. y

2'?. In a system of the character described, a transmitter having a motor, make-andbreak devices operable thereby, winding lirs signals, a art movable to different degrees therefor.

means, operable to condition the transmitter for lire alarm service; incombination with 10 for distinctive fire alarm and watch service suitable circuits and urrent supply means by saiddi erent windings, automatic motor In testimony whereof I hereuntoset my f' stopping means; for non-interference, comhand in the presence of two witnesses.

prismg a magnet' and an armaturetherefor, V .TUDSON M GFELL.

and an armature-spring controlled by said In the presence ofmovable part, to potentiate said4 motor-stop-- MARY F. ALLEN, ping means only when the 'motor is wound W. LINN ALLEN.

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