Improvements in or relating to Fire Alarms.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fire Alarms.
We, JOSEPH WYATT HANCOCK, Junior, of Montague Road, Clarendon Park,
Leicester, Gas-fitter, and GEORGE PROWETT SIMONS, of Braunstone Gate,
Leicester, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in fire alarms and has for its object
the provision of an alarm which shall be sounded by the action of the fire.
Our invention consists of a metal cage or other suitable framework of con-
venient length which may be suspended or otherwise carried or fixed to any
desired part of the building. Inside the cage may be suspended by a combustible
cord of any quickly inflamed material a metal ball or other weight which may
drop on the cord being burnt through and falling upon suitable projecting
catches or levers near the bottom of the cage will sound an electric or other
bell or alarm through the medium of the wires or other means attached to the
said catches or levers.
Instead of the ball or weight depending upon gravitation for the fall a spring
may be attached at one end to the cage the other end being released upon the
cord being severed thereby propelling the ball or weight.
It will therefore be seen that when a fire occurs the cord will be severed and the
aların corresponding to the portion of the premises on fire will be operated.
Dated this 8th dov of July 1890
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fire Alarms.
We, JOSEPH WYATT HANCOCK Junior of Montague Road, Clarendon Park,
Leicester, Gas-fitter, and GEORGE PROWETT SIMONS of Braunstone Gate,
Leicester, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in fire and other alarms and has for
its object the provision of an alarm which shall be sounded by or through the
action of the fire or other means.
Our invention consists of a metal cage or other suitable framework of .co
con-
venient length which may be suspended or otherwise fixed to any desired part
of the building.
Inside the cage there may be suspended by a combustible cord of any quickly
inflammable material or equivalent, a metal ball or other weight, which on the
cord being burnt will drop and fall upon a suitable catch or equivalent near
the bottom of the cage and thereupon sound an electric or other bell, or alarm
through the medium of wires or other means, attached to the said catch or otherwise.
Instead of the ball or weight depending upon gravitation for the fall, a spring
may be employed having one end attached to the cage, the other end being
released upon the cord being severed, thereby propelling the ball or weight.
Referring to the accompanying drawing,
Figure represents in elevation an alarm constructed in accordance with our
invention, and

page_text: Figure 2 is a modification.
Figure 3 represents the device on a reduced scale in a protective gauze
covering.
A is the metal cage or framework, formed preferably of three vertical bars
soldered together at their upper and lower ends A' and A respectively.
It may be suspended from the ceiling in a vertical position as shewn in Figures 1
and 3, or attached to a block or plate G and fixed in a horizontal position to a wall
or other part of the building as in Figure 2.
The upper part of the cage may be furnished with a loop B which is a continua-
tion of one of the vertical bars and from which a metal ball C or other weight is
suspended by a quickly inflammable cord D, as in Figure 1.
Upon the cord being burnt the ball drops on to the coil or table E' connected to
the electric wires E and rests against one of the bars forming the framework
thereby completing an electric circuit and causing the sounding of an alarm.
In the modification shewn in Figure 2, the weight C receives its impetus by
means of a spiral spring F, (enclosing the cord) connected to and held in compression
between the end of the cage and the flat face of the weight C.
After the cord D is burnt the spring F forces the weight C forward until it
comes into contact with E' and thereby completes the circuit.
Cotton threads D₁ or equivalents may be connected to the cord D so as to lead
the flame up to the latter.
The cord D might also be connected to a door, or window sash, so that upon the
same being opened the thread would be tensioned sufficiently to cause it to break
and allow the ball to drop and sound the alarm as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
An alarm constructed and operating, substantially in the manner described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 7th day of April 1891
JOSEPH WYATT HANCOCK.
GEORGE PROWETT SIMONS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.