AN IMPROVED FIRE ALARM AND GAS INTERCEPTER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, F.C.S., of 67,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of AN IMPROVED FIRE ALARM AND GAS INTERCEPTER." A communication
from abroad by Alexandre Athénodore Frécot, of Paris, in the Republic of
France. Engineer.
Sealed the 12th May 1876, and dated the 21st January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Primerose Howard
Vaughan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st January
1876.
EDWARD PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "Ax LMPROVED FIRE ALARM AND GAS
INTERCEPTER," being a communication to me from abroad by Alexandre Athénodore
Frécot, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
This Invention consists in an improved apparatus for signalling the outbreak of
fires, and at same time (when so required) cutting off the gas from the burning
premises.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical section of the aların
arrangement.
Figure 2 is a side view of this alarm in connection with the intercepting
apparatus; Figure 3 is an end view of the same.
(Fig. 1) is a metallic bar set in a block of vulcanite or other insulating
material, the under side of which is provided with a metallic disc c. On the top of
this block are set the binding screws d, d, in communication with the conductors,
and with the two contact springs c, c, and through the centre of the same slides a
metal rod provided at its lower end with a hook g. Near the top of this rod is
set a shoulder piece, against which bears the end the spiral spring i. is a
socket enclosing and guiding this spiral spring; is a tube similar to that of an
ordinary thermometer provided at each end with a ring . This tube being
charged with water, mercury or other suitable liquid is heated to any given
number of degrees beyond the normal temperature of the premises to be protected,
and thus heated is sealed at the level of the expanded liquid. When mounted as
shewn in the Drawing it is drawn downwards in m to the distance necessary for
bending the spring i, at which point the stalk of its retaining hook is secured by

page_text: the pressure screw n. o is a perforated tubular sheath enclosing the whole
apparatus which may be set at any convenient point or points of the premises to
be protected; p is the battery and q the alarm bell. When, through the outbreak
of a fire the temperature in the vicinity of the apparatus is raised beyond the
degree to which the dilatation of the liquid in the tube has been adjusted, the
bulb of the latter bursts and liberates the spring i. The latter forcing upwards the
rod presses together the contact springs c, e, to complete the circuit and bring
into play the aların bell q, which continues to sound until the current is again
interrupted.
Figures 2, 3, are side and end views of the alarm above described combined with
the gas intercepting apparatus. In these Figures a is the inlet pipe; b, the stop-
cock, on the key c of which is fixed a grooved pulley d'carrying a cord or chain e
terminated by the counterpoise f; g is a stop piece on the pulley bearing on one
end of the trigger h, the free extremity of which is held by one end of the lever i.
The opposite extremity of this lever rests in a notch formed in the keeper j of the
electro-magnet, which is included in the circuit of the battery and alarm
apparatus Fig. 1. When the circuit is completed by the rupture of the tube / of
the alarm the keeper j, attracted by the magnet, sets free the lever i and trigger h,
thus disengaging the counterpoise f, which in falling carries round the pulley &
and closes instantaneously the stop-cock.
Figure 4 represents a modification of the arrangement in which the moveable
counterpoise is replaced by a fixed weight f secured to the rin of the pulley.
It is obvious that the apparatus above described may be applied to the
instantaneous opening or closing of steam or water pipes, and that if preferred the
electro-magnetic attachment may be replaced by any suitable mechanical equivalent
for setting in motion the alarm bell and disengaging gear.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th July 1876..
EDWARD PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED FIRE ALARM AND GAS
INTERCEPTER." A communication to me from abroad by Alexandre Athénodoro
Frécot, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
This Invention consists in an improved apparatus for signalling the outbreak of
fires, and at same time (when so required) cutting off the gas from the burning
premises.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical section of the alarm
arrangement.
Figure 2 is a side view of this alarm in connection with the intercepting
apparatus; Figure 3 is an end view of the same.
a (Fig. 1) is a metallic bar set in a block of vulcanite or other insulating
material, the under side of which is provided with a metallic disc c. On the top
of this block are set the binding screws d, d, in communication with the conductors,
and with the two contact springs e, e, and through the centre of the same slides a
metal rod f, provided at its lower end with a hook g. Near the top of this rod is
set at a shoulder piece h, against which bears the end of the spiral spring i. jis a
socket enclosing and guiding this spiral spring; is a tube similar to that of an
ordinary thermometer, provided at each end with a ring . This tube being
charged with water, mercury, or other suitable liquid is heated to any given
number of degrees beyond the normal temperature of the premises to be protected,
and thus heated is sealed at the level of the expanded liquid. When mounted as
she n in the Drawing it is drawn downwards to the distance necessary for bending
the spring i, at which point the stalk of its retaining hook is secured by the

page_text: pressure screw m. o is a perforated tubular sheath enclosing the whole apparatus,
which may be set at any convenient point or points of the premises to be pro-
tected; is the battery and q the alarm bell. When through the outbreak of a
fire the temperature in the vicinity of the apparatus is raised beyond the degree
to which the dilatation of the liquid in the tube has been adjusted, the bulb of
the latter bursts and liberates the spring i. The latter forcing. upwards the
rod, presses together the contact springs e, c, to complete the circuit and bring
into play the alarm bell, which continues to sound until the current is again
interrupted.
Figures 2 and 3 are side and end views of the alarm above described, combined
with the gas intercepting apparatus. In these Figures a is the inlet pipe; b, the
stop-cock, on the key of which is fixed a grooved pulley d carrying a cord or
chain e terminated by the counterpoise f; is a stop piece on the pulley bearing
on one end of the trigger h, the free extremity of which is held by one end of the
lever i. The opposite extremity of this lever rests in a notch formed in the
keeper j of the electro-maguete, which is included in the circuit of the battery
and alarm apparatus Fig. 1. When the circuit is completed by the rupture of the
tube of the alarm the keeper j, attracted by the magnet, sets free the lever i and
trigger h, thus disengaging the counterpoise, which in falling carries round the
pulley and closes instantaneously the stop-cock.
Figure 4 represents a modification of the arrangement in which the moveable
counterpoise is replaced by a fixed weight secured to the rim of the pulley.
It is obvious that the apparatus above described may be applied to the instan-
taneous opening or closing of steam or water pipes, and that if preferred the
electro-magnetic attachment may be replaced by any suitable mechanical equivalent
for setting in motion the alarm bell and disengaging gear, or again, that a fusible
metal wire, as in Fig. 1bis, may be substituted to the thermometer tube shewn in k,
Fig. 1.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I declare that I claim, the fire indicating and gas
intercepting apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as herein set forth
and shewn by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
E. P. H. VAUGHAN. (L.S.)