Improvements in Circuit Testing Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circuit Testing Apparatus.
I, FREDERICK SUMNER PALMER of 140 Huntington Avenue Boston, Suffolk
County, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Electrician, do
hereby declare the nature of this 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 apparatus for testing wires which form a fire alarm
system operated by thermostats and intended to indicate not only the building but
otherwise the floor in which the fire exists.
My invention is embodied in the general method of wiring by which every
portion of every floor system is tested and no dead ends occur which may be out of
order, and yet not included in the test. This portion of my invention consists in
such an arrangement of wiring in combination with an operating, switch that the
several systems which represent the respective floors are changed from multiple to
series connection.
Further, my invention is to enable proper tests to be made, but prevents any
fraudulent or fictitious test sheets to be provided at any later period, provided a
record test for a certain day was demanded. In other words, the test must be made
on the designated day or not at all. Under the present systems, fictitious tests
may be made at any time and then dated to suit circumstances.
The drawings represent in Fig. 1 a diagram of an apparatus and system for
testing electric circuits in buildings, and embodying my invention. The parts are
positioned as representing a test, and my system is further represented in connection
with a fire alarm circuit.
Fig. 2 represents my system as applied to a building with the parts in normal.
Fig. 3 represents in front elevation, a box containing the switch-board and test-
recording apparatus, likewise embodying my invention.
Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the switch-board and circuit-closers.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the record sheet in part developed.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the recording cylinder and operating mechanism.
Before particularizing I will briefly mention the prominent and characteristic
features of my system. In the present instance it will be illustrated as applied
to a four storey building and the said floors are indicated by the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4.
Reference letters referring to such particular floors will be designated by these
numerals for exponents. The building is indicated by a special number by means
of a transmitter A., which in time of fire is in electrical connection with the fire
alarm system, while an alarm gong B. over the door calls attention to this building,
and indicators or drops C₁ CCC show on which floor the fire exists. This
system works a closed circuit and is furnished with an open circuit battery D. a
continuous outside wire E. common to all the floors, and individual inside floor
wires F1 F2 F3 F4, together with thermostats G. which latter when normal are
ready for short circuit. When a fire occurs a short circuit is created by this device
and an alarm is rung in.
Furthermore I provide a switch-board H. which operates when a test is desired
to change the floor wiring, normally in multiple, into a system having the floor wires
in series. Furthermore to record said tests, I provide a registering apparatus 1.
composed of a cylinder 2, mounted upon a screw-threaded rod 3, operated by clock
mechanism 4, while a lever 5 and an electro-magnet 6 in the system serves to
register the test on a paper strip 7 about the cylinder. This paper or recording
sheet is divided by a series of vertical and horizontal lines, the horizontal spaces
being provided for days in the week, and each row indicating successive weeks. As
IDEJT

page_text: the cylinder advances vertically one space for each week, it is evident that a
recording paper cannot receive a fraudulent test as would be the case, when a
separate paper block is used for a single day. To render this recording device
inaccessible except to duly authorized persons or to underwriter inspectors, I locate
a box P. formed with two compartments, having locked doors R. S. the lower one
containing the registering apparatus, the upper the switch-board, the transmitter
and its operating electro-magnet T. The act of opening and closing this upper
door R. serves to perform certain duties in the way of making tests of the circuits
comprising the system in the building, which will be hereinafter fully and
completely described. The lower door is simply to enable a fresh recording strip
to be put on or for repairs to the clock mechanism. This completes the essential
elements necessary to the successful operation of a system for testing electric
circuits embodying my invention.
The above system, as before premised, is intended not only to indicate that a fire
is in existence in a building as well as to locate the particular floor, but to enable
daily tests to be made to determine its efficiency, while to render said system
capable of sounding an alarm automatically, I have arranged to have it co-operate
with a fire alarm system; this is shown in Fig. 1 as consisting of an open circuit
system, having the wires K. L. a battery M, an alarm box Q located in an engine
house, together with an electro-magnet 10, operating a lever 12 to puncture the
recording sheet 7. The transmitter A. before mentioned as bearing the number of
the building, interconnects the store system with the fire system, said transmitter
ordinarily being held stationary, but allowed to rotate whenever a short circuit is
created by means of any thermostat located in the building.
Having now mentioned the general features and elements grouped to form a
complete heat protecting and fire alarm system, I will now particularize the several
prominent elements, the method of wiring, as likewise the several acts of testing or
of giving an alarm, should a fire occur.
Normally the wiring of the several floors is in multiple and is controlled by an
operating switch-board H. provided with two sets of terminals a¹¹, a² h³, etc.,
shown more fully in cross section in Fig. 4. The switch proper consists of a rod 8
fitted with fingers 9 of insulating substance, in number to correspond with the floors
in the building, the upper terminals adapted by means of said switch to contact at
certain specified times with posts d' d' d³, having wires E' E' E'. Normally the
terminals a bare in contact. The circuit-closer shown at V in Figs. 1 and 2 is
composed of two spring plates which are brought together (means not drawn) by
rocking of the rod 8, while two terminals e fare arranged to co-operate with a
metallic plug g in the door shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, when the door R is
closed the current on the fire alarm circuit is by wire K, door R, plug e, wire K,
battery M and wire L, the plug g and e being in contact. Preferably the door is
spring-actuated or to be closed automatically to hold it shut except when a test
occurs.
When the system is in condition for an alarm, but while no fire occurs, the parts
pare as represented in Fig. 2, the circuit-closer V is open, the transmitter A is held
stationary, while the terminals a' b', a³ ³ are in contact; the thermostats G prevent
short circuits through the several floors and the current from the battery D is
as follows: From the positive end of the battery by line W through magnet T
to terminal to t, thence by wire to closer V open, where the current stops ;
hence transmitter is not released.
Since the circuit-closer V is open the current advances to terminals e e¹ by
outside line E through each successive floor as may be readily followed, and
returns to the same point, terminal e. From the negative end of the battery
by wire W to terminals to drop C by wire F' to terminals 6 a through
inside wire F on fourth floor. The current diverges from terminal d' and
thence traverses the several drops and inside wires for the respective floors,
1st, 2nd and 3rd, in a manner precisely similar to that described for the fourth
floor,

page_text: The above conditions existing, I will now assume that the system is to be tested.
The door R. is unlocked and swung open, at this moment the plugs e. g. are separated,
while the circuit closer V. unites the line at this point. I will first explain its
action in the thermostat system and subsequently its effect on the fire alarm system.
The explanation will now follow the diagram in Fig. 1 where the parts are illus-
trated for a test, which now occurs by rocking of the switch-rod 8 to separate the
terminals a¹ b¹, a² b³, as shown in Fig. 4. This act brings the shunt lines E' E' E'
into activity and they are accordingly indicated in full lines, while in Fig. 2
being dead, I have represented them in broken lines. From the positive end
of the battery by W. to T. to terminal t', where the current stops as the line
is open, hence it proceeds by wire to magnet 6, actuates lever 5 (provided the
wire is whole), makes a record, thence to V. wire E. to terminal e³ since terminal t
is open, then through the entire length of outside wire E to terminal e¹ since
this latter and are separated, the current continues across E to d', by wire F
to drop C and on to terminal 6, testing the entire length of inside floor wire F*
back to terminal a', whence it passes across F to a³ and courses through the
inside wire F in third floor. From here it goes to terminal by wire to
drop C³, passing from terminal h¹ by wire to C to terminal 6, through the
entire wire F in second floor, returning to a across wire E¹ to a', testing
wire F in the first floor and emerges at 6, thence to drop C¹ through terminals /³
wire E, terminal, wire W' alarm bell B. to battery D.
In the electric system operating the fire alarm the resistance of the magnet 10
ordinarily when the door R. is locked, compels the current to pass through the
plug e. but during the act of testing and when the door is between the plugs e. f.,
and not in contact with either, the current is forced through the magnet, when,
if the fire alarm system is in proper working condition, the register is punctured
by the lever 12. As soon as the door is fully open the plugs g. and f. contact,
and the current is diverted from magnet and the battery is short-circuited.
When a fire occurs, the switch-board case P. is presumably closed, the switch-rod
is in position for contact of the various terminals a¹ b', a b; the circuit-closer V.
is open, while the thermostat G. in the fourth floor, owing to the existence of
a fire, has conducted the current by wire E. to F' at this point. The current
from the positive end of the battery proceeds by wire W. to magnet T.,
energizes the latter, lifts spring-stop, and allows transmitter A. to rotate, the
current passing to terminals, wire E. terminals ee', outside wire E. to
thermostat G., which is short-circuited, thence to inside wire F* to terminal *
drop C to terminals, wire W, alarm bell B. to battery D.
Rotation of the transmitter when the magnet T. is energized opens the fire-alarm
circuit K. L. and since it has a gravity battery, rings an alarm for every time it is
opened in the present instance four blows will be sounded. This will indicate to
the fire apparatus the location of the building, and upon arrival of the apparatus
the floor is shown by the drop C, being at danger, the gong B. continuing to ring
so long as the thermostat is in active operation.
The advantages of this system are many and obvious, since in making a test the
several floor systems connected in multiple are changed to series, hence every fout
of wire throughout the building is tested. Again, at the time of making a test for
the beat or thermostat system the fire alarm system is likewise tested, and further
such tests are all recorded and the production of counterfeit ones prevented.
Furthermore, the operation is very simple, the act of unlocking the door, opening
of the same, rocking of the switch-rod, swinging of the door fully back, return of
the rod to its usual position and closing of the door is all that is essential to a
complete and thorough testing of both the thermostatic and fire alarm systems,
combined with recorded date of the day when such tests were made, and whether
said systems were normal, or defective, and which one, or both.
The above description includes tests and operation of the systems, provided all
wires are whole; in case of a failure to obtain a record, a break evidently exists.
To locate such break I proceed as follows;

page_text: Close the circuit from outside wire F. by a loose wire X. successively to
terminals a¹ a³ a³ a', such inside wires F¹ F' as fail to sound alarm gong B. will
indicate open circuits. (See Fig. 1.)
Such novel features as I have shown but not claimed I propose to introduce in
subsequent applications.
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 circuit-testing apparatus a continuous outside wire common to all floors,
a group of inside wires, one for each floor electrically arranged in multiple, com-
bined with a switch adapted to change such systems of wires from multiple to series
in the act of testing, substantially as and for purposes explained.
2nd. In circuit-testing apparatus, a thermostat alarm system composed of a single
outside wire, and a number of independent floor wires electrically arranged in
multiple, combined with a fire alarm system, a transmitter which electrically unites
said systems at specified times, and a switch adapted to change the thermostat
systems from multiple to series in the act of testing both systems simultaneously,
substantially as specified.
3rd. In circuit-testing apparatus, a continuous outside wire having separable
terminals, a group of independent floor wires likewise with separable terminals, and
a group of alarm drops in the independent wires, combined with an operating
switch shunt-post dd, and wires E' E', therefrom to one set of terminals in the
independent floor wires, together with test recording mechanism, substantially as
stated.
4th. In electric-testing apparatus, the combination with a thermostat alarm
system, test-recording mechanism, an electro-magnet, and an operating register
lever in said system, of a fire alarm system, an electro-magnet, an operating register
lever in said system, together with a switch and switch door, whereby the act of
opening the door and rocking the switch serves to test simultaneously both systems,
substantially as described.
5th. The combination with circuit-testing apparatus as herein specified, a
recording cylinder provided with a flexible covering having a series of horizontal
and vertical spaces as set forth, one or more puncturing levers operated by magnets
in electric circuits, combined with mechanism for advancing the cylinder endwise
for certain lapses of time, in order to produce a continuous and uninterrupted series
of tests.
6th. In circuit-testing apparatus a continuous outside wire common to all floors,
a group of inside wires, one for each floor and arranged in multiple, combined with
thermostats adapted to unite the inside wires with the common outside floor wires
at specified times, and a transmitter operated at such times to connect with a fire
alarm system, substantially as explained.
7th. In circuit-testing apparatus a continuous outside wire common to all floors,
a group of inside wires, one for each floor electrically arranged in multiple, com-
bined with a switch adapted to change such systems of wires from multiple to series,
and a recording cylinder as described to receive a continuous and uninterrupted
register of the changes of said systems from multiple to series, substantially as
stated.
Dated this Eighth day of July 1893.