Signaling Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug. 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Electric Signaling Apparatus.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
Electric Signaling Apparatus, (which has been communicated to me from abroad
by "The Standard Electric Signal Company," of Rochester, New York, United
States of America) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This improvement relates to electrical signaling apparatus, specially applicable
to fire alarm systems, and comprehends in its application two main circuits, one
leading from a central station to the building to be protected, the other to the fire
department; also several subcircuits and shunts for the proper operation of the
apparatus. The arrangement is such that, in case of fire, the number of the
building or station where the fire is located is registered at the central station,
the alarm is sounded and the number given at the fire department, and a return
signal is automatically sent back to the building or the locality of the fire, showing
that the alarm has been given at the fire department. Furthermore, in case of the
breakage of a wire or other disarrangement in the circuit, instead of fire, the
signal is given and recorded at the central station without alarming the fire
department. The fire alarm apparatus is operated through the instrumentality of
thermostats interposed in the wires of the building or sub-station, as hereinafter
described.
In the drawings; —
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the general arrangement of the system ;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one of the thermostats;
Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged side elevations of the magnets J and I and their
connecting parts, showing the devices for releasing the signaling mechanism;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the registering mechanism at the central
station;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the devices for releasing the registering mechanism;
In this invention thermostats like that shown in Fig. 2 are interposed in the
service wires that lead through the building or other station to be protected.
Each of these thermostats consists of an insulator a, with two screws or other
electrodes bb passing through the same, to which the main wires are attached ;
To one of these screws is attached a fixed thimble c, over which slides a movable
thimble c', attached to the fixed thimble by solder fusible at any given temperature,
say 150° F. or thereabout. A coiled spring d is interposed between the thimbles,
which tends to throw the outer thimble off. In case of fire the solder is fused at
the given temperature and the outer thimble is thrown off by the spring. fis a
metallic spring, forming a conductor, attached to the opposite electrode and bearing
against the side of the outer thimble c'. By this means the circuit is made from
one main wire to the other through the thermostat. 9 is a shoulder formed at the
top of the movable thimble, preferably made of rubber or other insulating material.
This shoulder striking the end of spring breaks the circuit at the moment the
outer thimble is thrown off, but when the thimble is off the spring springs back
touching the inner fixed thimble and re-establishes the circuit again. The sliding
of the outer thimble over the inner one clears the surface of the latter so that the
contact of the spring is always certain. This momentary breaking of the circuit
is the means by which the signaling apparatus is set in motion.
In the drawings A indicates the central station, B the building or other locality
to be guarded, (which I denominate the sub-station), and C the fire department or
an engine house. These stations may be at any distance apart.
In the drawings ;—
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the general arrangement of the system ;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one of the thermostats;
Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged side elevations of the magnets J and I and their
connecting parts, showing the devices for releasing the signaling mechanism;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the registering mechanism at the central
station;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the devices for releasing the registering mechanism;
In this invention thermostats like that shown in Fig. 2 are interposed in the
service wires that lead through the building or other station to be protected.
Each of these thermostats consists of an insulator a, with two screws or other
electrodes bb passing through the same, to which the main wires are attached ;
To one of these screws is attached a fixed thimble c, over which slides a movable
thimble c', attached to the fixed thimble by solder fusible at any given temperature,
Bay 150° F. or thereabout. A coiled spring d is interposed between the thimbles,
which tends to throw the outer thimble off. In case of fire the solder is fused at
the given temperature and the outer thimble is thrown off by the spring. fis a
metallic spring, forming a conductor, attached to the opposite electrode and bearing
against the side of the outer thimble c'. By this means the circuit is made from
one main wire to the other through the thermostat. is a shoulder formed at the
top of the movable thimble, preferably made of rubber or other insulating material.
This shoulder striking the end of spring breaks the circuit at the moment the
outer thimble is thrown off, but when the thimble is off the spring springs back
touching the inner fixed thimble and re-establishes the circuit again. The sliding
of the outer thimble over the inner one clears the surface of the latter so that the
contact of the spring is always certain. This momentary breaking of the circuit
is the means by which the signaling apparatus is set in motion.
In the drawings A indicates the central station, B the building or other locality
to be guarded, (which I denominate the sub-station), and C the fire department or
an engine house. These stations may be at any distance apart.

page_text: h
is a battery, or other electric generator, with which is connected the main
circuit leading from the central station A to the sub-station B. The circuit
extends from battery / through wire 1, to binding post 2, wire 3, binding post 4
thence around one side of the switch board D, through the service wire 5 in the
building, thence around another section of the switch board to and through service
wire 6, including the manual signaling apparatus E, thence through another section
of the switch board and through service wire 7, thence through another section of
the switch board to binding post 8, thence through wire 9 to the metallic base of
the signaling apparatus F, through said base to turning arm 10, to spring 11,
thence by contact to spring 12, thence along wire 13 to binding post 14, thence
along wire 15, through wire 51, spring 16, through break wheel z, the metallic
base of the return signaling apparatus G, thence through this base to the wire 17,
through relay magnet 18, through wire 19, through magnet 20, thence through
wire 21 to the battery h. This is the normal condition of the closed circuit from
the central station to the sub-station or building.
i is another battery in the circuit from the central station to the fire department
or engine house. From battery i the current passes through wire 23, to contact
spring 24, across and through armature 25, which is a conductor, to contact
spring 26, thence through wire 27, to and through magnet 28, thence through
wire 29, to and through the gong C, to the engine-house, thence through wire 30
to battery i, completing the circuit. Auxiliary to the circuit just described
is a circuit extending from battery i through 23, 31, to the metallic base I of the
magnets 28, for releasing the operating mechanisin of the return signaling
apparatus G; thence up the hinged detent 32, and along the escapement arm 33,
the base of G through wire 34, through wire 27, magnets 28, wire 29, to gong C,
wire 30, to battery i, completing the circuit. The object of passing this auxiliary
circuit through the return signaling apparatus G is to enable the alarm to be
sounded at the fire department, and also send a return signal to the building where
the fire is located.
In case of fire the operation is as follows;-The fusing of the solder on the
thermostat where the fire occurs causes the outer thimble of the thermostat to be
thrown off, as before described, and momentarily breaks the circuit through the
building. During this momentary interval of time the current passing along
wire 1 has to seek a new escape, as the circuit in the building is broken. From
binding post 2 it passes along wire 35, which forms a shunt, to and through a
resistance coil, and through the magnets J, charging the same, thence along
wire 36, to spring 37, thence through the swinging arm 10, which is in contact
with 37, thence to spring 11, spring 12 and wire 13, where it connects with the
remainder of the main circuit. leading back to battery h. The action of charging
the magnets J releases the signal mechanism. During this brief interval, while
the circuit is broken by the fusing of the thermostat, the circuit through the
building is cut out, but it is re-established again the moment the new contact of
the thermostat is made, but the current does not pass through the service wires.of
the building again; metal swing arm 10 after leaving spring 37, comes in contact
with another spring 45, which closes a short circuit from 45 through wires 46
and 3 to the binding post 2, thence wire 1 to the battery h, from battery h through
wire 21, magnet 20, wire 19, magnet 18, wire 17, through base G, break wheel z,
spring 16, wires 51, 15, binding post 14, wire 13, spring 12, spring 11, wire 40,
signal bell L, wire 39, spring 38, break wheel n, base F, swinging arm 10, to
spring 45. By this means the circuit is maintained between the battery and the
central station when the service wires in the building are cut out by the action of
the thermostat as before described. But during the brief interval while the
circuit was broken the magnet J drew down the armature k (Fig. 3), and released
a hinged detent, which fell back and in turn released an escapeinent arm m, that
holds the operating devices of the signaling mechanism F, allowing said mechanism
to operate. The signaling apparatus is similar to an ordinary district movement,
consisting of a break wheel, provided with notches in its rim corresponding in

page_text: number with the number of the sub-station; also a contact spring 38 which rests
on the rim. On one side is a shaft carrying the swinging arm 10. The whole
movement, including the swinging arm 10, is driven by one set of clock work in the
usual
way.
At the commencement of the movement of break wheel n the swinging
arm 10 shifts from spring 37 to spring 45 and changes the current, the current then
passing from binding post 2 through wire 3, wire 46, spring 45, base F, break-wheel n,
spring 38, wire 39, signal bell L, ringing the same, through wire 40, springs 11
and 12, thence onto the main line. As the break wheel n revolves the spring 38
striking into the notches of the wheel alternately opens and closes the circuit. This
opening and closing of the circuit alternately demagnetizes and magnetizes the two
magnets 18, and 20, which are in the main circuit. The demagnetizing of magnet 18
closes an independent local circuit leading to the registering apparatus M. The
local circuit consists of a battery p, wire 41, leading to and through the magnet g,
which operates the perforating arm r, wire 42, to and through magnets, which
operates the devices for releasing the movement that operates the registering
mechanism; thence through 43 to the armature of magnet 18, thence through the
frame of magnet 18, through wire 44 to battery p completing the circuit. The
opening and closing of this local circuit charges magnets and releases the driving
mechanism of the registering apparatus M. It also alternately magnetizes and
demagnetizes the magnet g, which operates the perforator that punches the
number of the sub-station on the dial w. The first named operation is performed
by the magnets (Fig. 6), which draws up an armature t, releasing a detent u,
which embraces the end of the armature and locks the same, allowing the escape-
ment arm v to play free, in the same manner as the arm m of the signal apparatus
before described. The registering apparatus is provided with a revolving wheel w,
on which rests a paper disk in which the perforator strikes to punch holes therein
to register the number of the sub-station. The magnet 20 is for the purpose of
operating an alarm bell N at the central station through the medium of another
independent local circuit O.
The action thus far has been produced by one revolution of the break-wheel n.
This break-wheel n makes a second revolution and repeats in the same manner;
that is, it punches the number of the sub-station on the disk w a second time. To
the shaft of wheel w is attached an arm a, which revolves with the wheel. As
soon as the first record of the number of the sub-station has been punched on
disk w, arm a comes in momentary connection with a contact point y and makes a
new circuit from y through base M, one end of perforating arm and its support p³,
spring 24, wire 23, to the battery i, thence through wire 30, engine gong G, and
wires 24, 29, to contact point y, making the complete circuit. The making of the
new circuit just described momentary short circuits the magnet 28, and demagnetizes
the same.
This action releases the detent 32, and allows the escapement arm 33
to play free; also opens the circuit which was previously established through
arm 33. This releases the driving mechanism of the answer-back-signaling
apparatus G, which is then set in motion by its clock work. The instant the
arm leaves the contact point y that circuit is broken and the original circuit
through magnet 28 is re-established. The object of breaking said first circuit and
re-establishing the second is to release the return signal mechanism G. This
return signal mechanism has a break-wheel z, similar to the wheel n, and against
the rim of this break-wheel z rests the contact spring 16. a is a circuit closing
insulated wheel which revolves coincidently with break-wheel z, and has on one
side a lug that closes two springs 46 and 47. 2 is a tongue attached to the shaft
of wheel a', revolving with it, and during its revolution striking an insulated
spring d to close a circuit.
During the second revolution of break wheel n, before referred to, the action is
the same as during the first revolution till the second registry is. punched on the
disk to.
While that is being done the signal is repeated into the fire department,
which was not done on the first revolution. This is done by opening and closing
the circuit at 24 and 26 by the movement of the armature 25 up and down. The

page_text: The
circuit to the fire department is made from battery i, through 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,
28, 29 and 30 to i again. While this action is taking place the break-wheel and
circuit-closing wheel a² are both revolving. At the end of the second revolution
of wheel n it comes to a stop, the swinging arm 10 strikes a contact spring o,
which is connected by a wire 48 with the wire 35. This makes a new circuit
through 35, 48, spring o, swinging tongue 10, (in contact with o at the time), and
onto spring 11, by the lug f2 on the swinging tongue, then striking said spring 11,
breaking the circuit between 11 and 12, thence through 40, wire 49, through the
alarm bell P, where it strikes the main circuit at 14. This short circuits the
service wires in the building. While this is going on the circuit closing wheel a²
has turned sufficiently to bring lug in contact with spring 47, and forcing 47
in contact with spring 46, thereby closing a circuit from battery through 23,
31, 31, 46, 47, 31, 27, through magnets 28, and through wires 29, 30, to battery i
This simply makes an additional circuit from battery i, and is intended to prevent
any alarm being given in the engine house except by the break-wheel n.
further revolution of wheel a brings tongue in connection with the insulated
spring d. This makes a new circuit in which the current passes from battery h
through wire 21, wire 50, to spring 2, through the arm c², (then in contact with d³)
the shaft of wheel a², the base G, the break wheel z, spring 16, wire 51, to wire 15,
where it connects with the main circuit. This takes out the resistance of the
magnets 18 and 20 and throws all the current from the battery h on the signal
bell P, located at the sub-station. While the tongue c² is in contact with spring &
and the magnets 28, 20, are out of circuit, the break-wheel z, has come into position
so that the notches in its rim act upon the spring 16, to alternately open and
close the circuit, and this sounds the alarm on gong P, located at the sub-
station. The break-wheel, continues to revolve till the tongue c' strikes a
stop on the break-wheel, when the movement stops, the tongue c² still
remaining in contact with the spring d² and preserving the circuit. Under these
conditions bell P will continue to ring till a switch is opened to break the circuit.
By this arrangement it is impossible to get a signal into the fire department except
in case of fire, and when the signal is so given it is sure of being repeated back to
the building by sounding an alarm on bell P, showing that the fire department has
been notified.
I will now illustrate the action of the apparatus in case of a broken wire instead
of fire at the sub-station. In case the wire is broken at the sub-station the current
is permanently cut off from the building and not re-established as in the case of the
thermostat. The action is the same during the first round of the break-wheel n,
as in case of fire. The revolution of said break-wheel n operates the perforator_r,
and registers the number of the sub-station on the disk w at the central office by
the means before described. But during the second round of the break wheel n, a
change takes place. In case of fire the current through service wires in the
building is only momentarily cut off by the action of the thermostat and then
re-established. But in case of a broken wire it is permanently cut off and not
re-established. During the first revolution of break-wheel n the swinging
tongue 10 remains in contact with the curved spring 45 and maintains the circuit.
But during the second revolution of said break-wheel the tongue 10 leaves the
spring 45, and the whole current of the main line is cut off till the tongue n strikes
the contact spring o, when it is re-established again. Consequently magnets 18
and 20 are demagnetized, the local battery p is closed, the inagnet g is charged,
the perforator is drawn down permanently and does not vibrate as in case of fire,
and a slit is cut in the paper dial w in place of the second set of perforations, said
slit being the indicator of the broken wire. The action of drawing down the
armature 25 separates it from the contact springs 24 and 26. In such case the
shunt current through the return signaling mechanism is not broken, consequently
the current through the fire department is not interrupted and no alarm will be
sounded at that point. E is the manual signal. The signal is provided with two
springs 51, 52, which rest in contact with a connecting har 53, which completes

page_text: the circuit. n is a switch consisting of an insulated handle located on one side
and operating in connection with the springs 51, 52*, to open the circuit of either.
The general object of this signal is to sound a fire alarm by hand by opening
and then closing the circuit in a manner similar to the thermostat described.
The switch passes under the first spring, opens and then closes it again, then
passes under the next and holds it open. The magnet will not be charged and the
arm will not be dropped till the break-wheel n, in making its second round, has
left spring 45, when the short circuit through wire 46, 3, is cut out and the
circuit is established through the building again. The falling of arm 2 indicates
to the operator that the signal has been properly given by the signaling
mechanism F. The dropping of arm against contact m³ changes the current
and cuts out the magnet.
o² is a chain or other connection attached to the switch handle n', and
extending down below the box and resting in a small glass tube p³ attached to
the box. In case of fire the glass tube is broken, which releases the chain and
enables the same to be drawn down to operate the signal. By this means the
necessity of opening the box, or of breaking the glass cover to the same, is
obviated, and it saves expense and trouble, as the glass tube is more easily
replaced than the glass cover to the box.
The glass tube p' is purposely located below the signal box, by which means
when broken the fragments of glass are not liable to enter the box and interfere
with or disarrange the machinery, which is frequently done when a glass plate
lying over the machinery is broken. It also forms a convenient attachment to
hold the chain and keep it in position. By using a chain it can be pulled down
to operate the signal box but cannot be pushed back like a stiff lever thus
reversing the signal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a circuit extending
from the central station to the sub-station, a thermostat interposed in the circuit at
the sub-station, said thermostat acting to automatically open and then close the
circuit, another circuit extending from the central station to the fire department, a
signaling mechanism connected with the circuit leading to the sub-station, released
and set in motion by the opening and closing of the circuit by the thermostat, a
registering mechanism for recording the signal at the central station, a return-
signaling mechanism for indicating at the sub-station that the alarm has been sent
in to the fire department, and suitable sub-circuits and shunts, whereby the alarm
is first sent to the central station, there recorded, then sent to the fire department,
and then repeated at the sub-station, as herein shown and described.
2nd. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a circuit extending
from the central station to the sub-station, a signaling mechanism, a shunt connected
with the circuit, an electro-magnet for releasing and setting in motion the signaling
mechanism, said magnet being connected with the shunt, connections of the circuit
whereby the signal mechanism can act upon the main line, a registering mechanism
at the central station, an electro-magnet for releasing said registering mechanism,
another electro-magnet connected with the main line for operating a local circuit,
and a local circuit connecting the last named two magnets, the whole so arranged,
as herein described, that the parting or other disarrangement of the wires at the
sub-station whereby the circuit is broken, will be indicated at the central station
without sounding an alarm of fire, as herein shown and described.
3rd. The signaling mechanism herein described, consisting of the break-wheel n,
the spring 38, connecting therewith, the springs 11 and 12 connecting with the
main line, the swinging arm 10, the springs 37 and 45 with which said swinging
arm comes in contact, and the stop spring o, as, shown and described and for the
purpose specified.

page_text: 4th. The return signal mechanism, consisting of the break-wheel z, the spring 16
resting in contact therewith, the circuit-closing wheel a³, the springs 46 and 47, the
swinging tongue, and contact spring &, arranged to operate in the manner and
for the purpose specified.
5th. The combination, with the registering wheel w, driving by clock work, and
the escapement arm for controlling the same, of the perforating arm r, the
magnets, armature t, and swinging detent u, the detent swinging inward, locking
the armature, holding the same when drawn up to the magnet, and releasing the
escapement arm, as specified.
6th. The manual signal E, consisting of an electro magnet and armature, the
swinging arm 2, the bar 53, the cross springs 51 and 52x, and the circuit-
breaking arm n², as shown and described and for the purpose specified.
7th. The combination, with the circuit-breaking arm n² and cross springs 51*
and 52, of the chain o' attached to the circuit-breaking arm, and the glass tube p³
attached to the bottom of the manual signal box and inclosing the chain, as shown
and described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of July 1892.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.