US883226A - Fire-alarm and signaling system. - Google Patents

Description

No. 883,226. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908. J. D. NOLEN.

FIRE ALARM AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 8EPT.-15,1905.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED MAR. 31 19 08.

J. unoum.

FIRE ALARM AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

asnnn'rs-sn'nm 2.

APPLICATION FILED BEPT.15.,1905.

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JIII'IIIIII zen ol the l nited F.

UNI??? i sutures PATENT OFFICE.

.IUI'N l). NULIZX, OI 'IULlLDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JOHN E. SHEPHERD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FiRE ALARM AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

No. sesam Specification of Letters Patent.

IPatented March 31, 1908.

Application filed September 15, 1905. Serial No. 278,683.

To all irlrolrt it may concern:

Be it known ihai Jonx l). NoLEN, citis, residing at Toledo, in the county ol' lawns and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Firc-iilarm and Signaling Sys tems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formv ing a part o'l this specification.

My invention relates to an improved lire alarm and watcluna-ns si naling system, and more particularly to the district boxes or stations which are used in coni' ection with systoms of this kind.

The object of my invention is to provide a normally wound box so constructed as to be available at all times for use in sending in a lire alarm and so arranged that the manipulotion or the box by a watchman in reporting his rounds cannot send in' a lire alarm signal.

My invention provides also a system which is continually under test and subject'toimmediate (.liscovery in case of accidental derangement of any sort.

hly invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accon'ipanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates in diagrammatic fashion a circuit arrangement which may be employed, Fig. 2 illustrates one of the boxes of my LIDPI'OVGfl invention, parts being broken away in order to more clearly reveal the conin connection with HIV invention need not be essentially dillerent from that in use on other systems of the 1 present day.

Atthe central ollice I have shown a local circuit connn'ising the battery 10, a record.- ing telegraph inst-rinnent 11 and the armatures 12 and 123 oil-the lays 14 and 15, respectively. Tlu-wrelay 'arc provided with front contacts 16 and ITimdfwith back contacts 151 and ]S). A switching device 20 serves to connect togg clher either the front contacts or the back contacts, the figure illustrating the colnlition. in which the two hack contacts 18 and 19 are electrically connected. With. the switching device in this position, the retraction of the armatures 12 and 13 closes the local circuit to actuate the recording telegraph instrument 11. When the relay arniatures are in their forward or attracted position, the local circuit is open. The main circuit leads from the ground G through a source of current such as the generator 40, thence through the winding of the relay l4 and the line limb 41 to the various stations on the line. These stationsare indicated diagrammatically and may be of any reasonable number. Each is provided with a code number, the stations shown in the drawing being numbered 28 to 31, inclusive. Returning from the last station the line limb 42 leads through the winding of the relay and thence through a switch arm 43 which is normally connected with the ground at G. An alternative contact 44 is connected with the positive side of the generator 40 and the switch arm 43 may be thrown into connection with this contact if desired. This is in accordance with well known practice. The district boxes are of a type which signal the line circuit and at the same time causing-con between one of the line limbs and ground. With the switch 43 in the normal position shown in the full line in the drawing, the breaking and making of the line circuit causes corresponding deenergizations of the relays 14- and 15 to close the local circuit at the cent a] oflice, in accordance with the code signal sent in from the box. At the time of each break in the line circuit one of thc'line. limbs is connected with ground. In case of a cross upon the line, or in the event of a break in the line, the switch arm 43 is thrown to'its alternative contact 44 whereby the entire line is connected with the positive side of the generator, the negative side. of which is connected with ground At the same time the switching devic, is thrown into its alternative position so that the local circuit 'wil "be closed only upon the energization of" the. relays 14 and 15. These relays then are deenergized except when the line is connected with ground. Under these conditions, lherclmc, the operation of any one of the dis trict hoses in altcrnatel makin and breakcentral oHice by making and breaking the responding connections and. disconnections 35 of a slot 58 which engages a detent 59.

line a box or casing 50, the door of which is" removed in order to show the interior arrangement. Fig; 3, tl1ecross-sectional view of the box, shows normally wound clock mechanism 51 mounted between the front plate 52 and the back late 53. A main shaft 54'- extends forwar throughthe front plate and upon this shaft is mounted the actuating lever 55. The break wheel shaft 56 also extends forward through the front plate 52. Side by side upon this shaft are mounted the break wheels to and These wheels are preferably insulated from the clock mechanism and connected by means of the brush 57 and conductor 57 with the binding screw 9 which as shown in Fig. 1, is connected with the ground. The connection between the brush 57 and the binding The brea post 9 includes a signaling device, which, in this instance, consists of a small incandescent lamp 8. Normally the permissible motion of the actuating lever is limited bythe length The contact springs 60 and 61 are mounted in a block of insulating material 62, the spring 60 being connected withthe binding screw 60 and the s ring 61 with the binding screw 61. l wheel being in front of the break wheel w prevents one from seeing the break wheel to in Fig. 2. The position of the springs 60 and 61 is normally such, however, that the springs are actuated by the break wheel to rather than by the break wheel f upon the rotation of the'break wheel shaft 56. The springs are shown in their normal position in Figs. 3 and 5, Fig. 5 being a top view of these essential parts ofmy invention. Fig. 7 also shows the normal association of thesepartsi i i A system constructed in accordance with my invention serves the purpose, 'first, of enabling a watchman or-patrolm'an to signal the central ofiice toindicate that he is making the rounds of the various stations on his beat. The watchman is expected on passing each of the district boxes to actuate the same to send a watchmans signal to the central oflice. This is accomplished by dc ressing the actuating lever 55 through sue a dis-. tance as is permitted by the detent 59 and the slot 58 in, the lever itself. Such depression of the lever might be accomplished and grasping the lever. I prefer, however, to lock the inclosingv box 50 with the lock which, if the cover were in'place, would occupy the position which is indicated by dotted lines at 62. Through the front of the cover there is provided a slot or opening be inserted. The key is so formed that its lower edge 65 will engage the upper surface of the actuating lever 55 to depress the same as thelaey is inserted into the slot. The limited depression of the actuating lever-which cient to move the ratchet wheel 65' the space of one ratchet tooth. This ratchet wheel is mounted upon the main shaft;54. Upon the withdrawal of the key from the slot the actu- ,ating lever is released and the ratchet wheel 65 engages the pawl 66, which is mounted upon the first wheel of the gear train to robeing driven by the main springs 67 which are. attached at one end to the-main shaft 54 and at the other to the post 68, andbeing controlled in its movement by the escapement 69. The ratio of gearing between the such that a return of the actuating'lever to its normal positioncauses the break wheels f and w to rotate a third of a revolution. The break wheel w which sends in the watchmans signalis divided into three parts, each of the segments being provided with projections-or teeth identical with those on each of the other two segments. As the break wheel the contact spring 60 to break its electrical connection with the contact spring 61, as each tooth passes the end of the spring 60.

on the break wheel of the boxes shown in the drawings is. such that three breaks followed by a closure for a short interval and then folsend into the central ofiice the code number 3 1, it being observed that the main circuit includes a connection between the springs 60 and'61 of each box and that this circuit will engagesthe end of the spring 60. Each time a watchman in reaching this particular box l lo. 31 and wishing to re ort to the central oflice inserts his key wit the slot to depress ,the lever 55 and thereu on withdraws the key, the break wheels wiil be caused to rotate through a third of a revolution and the code number 31 will be sent into thecentral station and recorded by the telegraph instrument 11. I may perhapscall special attention to the fact that the break wheel f takes play only when a fire alarm is tobe sent in tothe central ofiice. Each time, however,

is permitted by the detent 59 is just suffitate the break wheel shaft 56, the gear train main shaft 54 and the break wheel shaft 56 is w, therefore, turns through a third of a revolution, the teeth upon its periphery engage- It will be noted that the spacing of the teethlowedby another single break is adapted to' be broken each time a tooth of a break wheel manually by opening thedo or of the'box 63 into which the wedge shaped key64' may no part in this operation but is brought into i that a tooth of the break wheel to makes contact with the spring 60 the mainv line will be connected to ground by way of the brush 57, the signal lamp 8 and the binding screw 9 which is connected directly to earth. As indicated in Fig. l, the lamp 8 may be shunted by a resistance 1 in order that the current may be adjusted to the current carrying capacity of the lamp 8. The current traversing this lamp each time that a tooth engages a contact spring will cause the lamp to glow or flash, thus indicating to the watchman that the system is in proper working order. If he iinds that the lamp does not flash. the code number of the particular box, he will at once report to the central station that the system is out of order when, of course, it may be promptly repaired.

My invention contemplates also the pro-.

vision of a boX which may he used for the purpose of sending in a fire alarm as distinguished from a watchmans signal. To this end the contact springs 60 and 61 and the block 62 upon which they are mounted, and also the detent are carried upon a s lide consisting of the rods 70 and 71 which pass through holes in the front plate 52 and the back plate 53, as well as through a cover plate 72, upon which. the clock mechanism is mounted by means of the studs or columns 73. This front plate in turn is mounted upon the pillars 74 which are secured to the rear of the inclosing casing 50. It isthis cover plate 72 which is broken away in Fig. 2 to show the various parts which are placed between the front plate 52 and the cover 72. The rods '70 and 7] are provided at their forward end with a ring plate 75 to which the detent 59 is also secured. The pin. 76 serves to limit the forward motion of the slide. The front of the case 50 is preferably provided with an eX- tension. 77 having a thin glass window or front 78. In case of fire this glass is to'be broken, whereby access to the ring 79 is obtained, and upon drawing this forward, together with the slide in which it is attached, the detent 59 is drawn from the slot58 in the actuating 'lcver 55, whereupon the clock mechanism is released and the gear train is set'in motion to rotate the break wheels to and f. The upward motion of the actuating 'lever 55 may be limited by means of a stop 80 extending from. the plate 72. While the actuating lever travels upward to the end of its stroke, the break wheels are rotated through two coin plete revolutions. The extension 80 from the lower side of the lever 55 prevents an operator from pushing the slide back into itsmitial position because the de tent engages with this extension 80 to pre vent any further movement of the slide, it being understood, of course, that the lever commences its forward movement the instant the detent disengages the lower side of the slot58, the springs of the clock mechanism being of course under tension at all times.

The forward movement of the ring 7 9 and its slide in order to release the mechanism to send in a lire alarm serves also to shift the position of the contact springs 60 and 6]., bringing them forward into such position that they will be actuated by the break wheel instead of by the break wheel w. The break wheel contains a signal code which, for exam le, may be the telegraphic letter (lUt, das 1, dot, followed by the code number 31. Inthe drawings this signal is repeated three times on the periphery of the break wheel so that for two revolutions it would be repeated six times on the telegraphic register at the central office. As in the case of a watchmans signal, the break wheel f causes a series of breaks between the contact springs 60 and 61 and for each break in the line circuit a deenergization of the rel ys at the central oflice causes the closure of the local circuit, including the registering telegraph instrument. The drawings illustrate an auxiliaryhandle 81 which may be used to actuate the box a second time, even after the ring 7 9 has been pulled forward, as above (lQSGllbQd. To send in a second. hre

alarm, the handle-81 is grasped and pulled downward until the lever reaches its initial position, whereupon the handle 81 is released and the actuating lever can return to its alternative position. The downward stroke of the lever 55 may be limited by the length of the slot 85. The handle 81,.however, is normally not accessible for this use. As best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, it normally occupies an upright position just back of the cover plate 72. This handle is hinged at 82 upon the actuating lever 55, it being retained 'which extends below the handle 81 is released from the detent S3, whereupon. ,the handle 81 falls forward through the slot 85 in the cover plate 72, thus making the handle accessible for the purpose of drawing the actuating lever 55 downward to send in av second or a third fire alarm. After the box ias. re user. r'sc ('1 'i in: arm h l len lfu =nl1ignti1 ill 1 this way, it is restored to its initial position by someone connecteril with the lire department, who has access to the interior of the boX,'by means of the lock 62". in Fig. 2 l have ind' mted the case 77 by dotted lines. this box being upon the. front of the cover which is not shownin. this ligure.

There is another 'l'eaturc associated with inclusive, on Fig. 1 of the drawings.

ollice, the following means is provided.

/ boxes. It is a frequent practice in providing lire alarm service of this nature to equip a building or industrial establishment with a number of alarm boxes, such, for instance, as those having the code numbers 28 to 31,v Theseboxes may all be located on a singlcdoop of the main circuit, as there indicated. In-the event of a fire in such an establishment it is not infrequent that more than one of the boxes shall be pulled at about the same time and in order to prevent a clashing of the signals through these boxes at the central pair of insulated electrical contacts 86 and 87, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, is mounted upon an insulating block secured to the back plate 53. -A projection 88 extending outward from the slide rod 71 engages the spring 87 when the ring 79 is pulled forward, thereby bringing the springs into electrical contact one with the other. These springs are connected across the loop on the side of the box away from the central office so that when a slide in any one box is pulled forward to send in a fire alarm all the other boxes on the same loop, but more distant from the central oflice, are short circuited out and the box nearest the. central office. controls the signal which is being sent in. It, therefore, box 29 were pulled and it had only commenced to send in its signal when box 31 were pulled, then box '29 would be immediately short c'ircuited out of service by the connection of the contact springs 86 and 87 and box 31 would send in its complete signal to the central oifice. The most distant box on the loop, is not provided with such connections for there is no more distant box which need at any time be short circuited out of use.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,

many modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art and I do not wish to limit myself to the precise arrangement herein shown, many of the features being illustrated in diagrammatic fashion only, it being understood that in commercial prac-. tice other forms of apparatus maywell be used. v

What I claim as new and desire to/secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a signaling system, the combination, with a line circuit leading from a central oilice to a series of circuit controlling substations, of two sets of make and break mechanism at each station, means at each station for limiting the movement of the associated make and break mechanism, and means for removing said. limiting means and effectively changing the control of the circuit 2. In a signaling system, the combination i with a main line circuit leading from a central oiiice to a series of circuit controlling stations, of switch mechanism at each substation, two break mechanisms at each substation associated with vsaid switch mechan-r isms, a detent at each station serving to limit the movement of the associated make and break mechanism, and means for simultaneously removing said 'detent and changing the control of said switch mechanism from one break mechanismto the other.

3. In a signaling system, the combination with a mainline extending from a central o'tlice to a series of circuit controlling stations, of switch mechanism controllingsaid circuit, two break wheels at each station for controlling said circuit, normally wound mechanism for actuating said break wheels, a detent at each station for limiting the movement of said normally wound mechanism, and means which,-when actuated, simul taneously causes the removal of. said detent and the transfer of the control of said switch mechanism from one break wheel to the other. I 4. In an alarm box of the class described, the combination with normally wound clock work, of an'actuating lever associated therewith, two break wheels adapted to be driven by said clock ,work, switching mechanism associated with one of said break wheels, a detent to limit the movement of said actuating lever, means for controlling said detent, and means-whereby an actuation of said controlling means to release said detent transfers the operative control of said switching mechanism from one of said break wheels to the other.

5. In a fire alarm and signaling system, the combination with a line leading froma central oflice through a series of stations, of a air of switch contacts at each station included in the-main linecircuit, two .sets of switch controllingmechanisms at each substationfor actuating said switch contacts, meansf'ior transferring the control of said switch contacts from one of said switch mechanism sets to the other, an auxiliary pair of switch contacts controlling a circuit in shunt of the other stations on theline, and means whereby the actuation-of said transferring means causes the actuation of said auxiliary pair of switch contacts.

6. In a signaling box of the class described, the combination with normally wound clock mechanism, of a make and break mechanism I wound condition, and means whereby-the re lease of said clock workrenders. said auxil aryfi f actuating means accessible for winding said combination with two break wheels provided v-clock'work ada ted to; be wound thereby,"

nal" controlling projections driven by saidf clock work, switch contacts adapted-to be 1 the combination with normally wound clock' certain characteristics is sent over the line,

so. {to allow prolongedactuation ofsaid lever and break wheels, switching mechanism adapted other, a detent serving normally "tollimit the wheel, and mechanism for simultaneously. -30

mof said switching mechanismv to the other being sufficient to actuate said clock mech v anism to drive said break wheels to actuate moved from said lever and the control of said over the line. i a 10. In a-signaling box of the class dei-' Wound clock mechanism, of two break wheels inaccessible auxiliary actuatin means for restoring said clock work to'lts libi'mally' clock work and releasing the'same 7. Ina device of the class described, the

with projections corresponding with diiiereiit code signals of clock work for driving said for control by either-one break wheel or the otherfdetent means for limiting the motion of saidfbreakwheels when said' switching mechanismis controlled by-one break wheel, and means for simultaneously removing said detentmeans and transferring theco'ntrol ofsaid switching mechanism to the-other break 8. vIn combination, an actuatinglever,v

t ob'reak whee s having different code 'si actuated-by either one break-wheel or the motion ofsaid actuating lever when said-r switch contacts are actuatedby onebreak releasing said lever and shiftingthe control breakwheel. i a

9.- Ina signaling box ofthe class. described,

mechanism, of two break wheels'ha'ving different code ,si nal controlling projections driven by sai clock mechanism, switch springs controlling aline circuit ada tedto C be controlledby either one'of sai break wheels, an actuating lever for winding said, clock mechanism, detent means for normally limiting the motion of said lever, thisrmotion said switch mechanism whereby a signal of and means whereby said detent may be reswitch' mechanism may be transferred from one break wheel-to the other simultaneously to send a signal of different characteristics scribed; the {combination with normally having different codesignal controlling projections driven by said clockfme'chanisni,

switch springs controllingla line circuit adapted to be controlled by eit er one of said break whe'els, an actuating lever for winding said clockmechanism, detent'means fornormally limiting "the motion ofsaid lever, this motion being'suflicient'to actuate said clock mechanism to drive said break wheels to actuate said switchmechanism whereby a signal of certain oharacteristics fissent over the line, normally inaccessible auxiliary actuating'means for winding said clock work, and means whereby therelease of sa d clock work renders said auxiliary actuating means accessi- 11. In asignaling' box the class de' scribed, the combination wi-tl'i' normally wound clock mechanism, of two break wheels clock mechanism,-v detent means for normally limiting'the movement of said lever, a wedged shapedkey for insertion through the box to L'driven thereby, switch springs controlling a line circuit.adapted to be actuated by either "ofs'aidbreak wheels,- a lever for winding said produce actuation of'saidlevenwhile release of said lever "causes the rotation of said break wheels wherebya signal may be sent over the line, and means'forsimultaneously removing said detent to relase'said lever and-trans ferring the control of saidswitch springs to the other break wheel to allow the prolonged actuation of said lever and the sending of a signal of different. characteristics over the line.

12. In a signal box of theclass described,

the combination, with normally wound clock mechanism, of two break wheels driven thereby, one of said break wheels being provided with code signal controlling projections for sending a watchnians signal over the line,

the other of said break wheels being provided with'yprogecti'ons tosend a fire alarm signal over the line, an actuat ng lever for winding said clock mechanism; :detent means for norinally limiting the motion of said lever.

means for releasing said actuating lever and transferring the control of said switch springs to the fire alarm break wheelssimultaneously to allow prolonged actuation of said lever :1 ml

to send tliefire alarm signal over the line.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscri be my name this 28th day of August A. D., 19.05.

g JOHN D, NOIEN;

*itnesses:

CARL A. HUEBNER, "BERT H. TiionPsoN.

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