An Improved Electric Cable or Conductor for Electric Fire or other Alarm Systems.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1896-Accepted 24th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electric Cable or Conductor for Electric Fire or
other Alarm Systems.
We, CHARLES DARWIN TISDALE, of No.. 124 Trenton Street, East Boston,
Massachusetts, Electrician, and JOHN DUNCKLEE GOULD, of 100 Broadway, New York,
Broker, both in the United States of America, 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple, strong, efficient, and practical
electric conductor or electric cable for use inore particularly in an electric fire alarm
system, and the invention consists of an electric conductor or electric cable for use in
an electric fire alarm system all constructed and arranged for operation' substantially
as hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawing we have illustrated an electric conductor or electric
cable constructed in accordance with this invention and its manner of use in an
electric fire alarm system;
Figure 1 represents the sides of a room or building, the walls, ceiling and flooring
being in vertical section, with this electric conductor or cable applied thereto, in
connection with an alarm sounding device, for use in an electric fire alarm system;
Figures 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 represeent the cable in side views and showing the
manner of its construction,
Figures 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 are cross sections respectively of the cables shown in
Figures 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10; the views of the electric cable being enlarged to show the
construction more clearly.
In the drawings Figure 1, A, B, and C represent the side walls, of. a room or
building, B, C, being in vertical section; D and E, the floor and ceiling respectively,
in cross section, and F the mop board all of which is as usual in the construction of a
room or building. G represents the electric cable or conductor and it is constructed
as follows.
In Figures 2 and 3, K is a wire made of copper or any suitable electric material,
covered or coated with a fusible metal H such as lead for instance. This fusible
metal H can be applied in any suitable manner to the central wire K for instance, it
can be.run through a die in a fusible state with the copper wire which will lay it
evenly and smoothly thereover and in a quick, satisfactory and practical manner.
Over this fusible metal H is placed a coating or covering L of insulating material
such as india-rubber or fibrous material saturated with ordinary resin, but preferably
one that will fuse or burn at a lower degree of heat than that at which the fusible
metal covering H will melt, to ensure the melting of the fusible metal at the
temperature desired, and over this insulating material is wound a series of fine copper
wires M, as many as desired, being wound preferably in long spiral form, and over
these copper wires is another covering or coating N of insulating material which can
be like the inner insulating material or preferably one that is somewhat firmer and
stronger but yet that will melt or burn at the desired low temperature.
The wire K and fusible covering H make practically and electrically one wire,
which is herein called the fusible wire.

page_text: In Figures 4,-11, inclusive, the fusible wire H is without any copper core or
central wire.
In Figures 4 and 5, a copper wire Jtaking the place of the central wire K, is wound
spirally over or on the outside of the fusible wire H, the insulating material Lover
the two wires, then the series of copper wires M, wound on the insulating material I.,
and the insulating material N applied outside of the whole;
In Figures 6 and 7, there is no copper wire in connection with the fusible wire H,
but the insulating material L is placed directly on the fusible wire H, the series of
copper wires M on the insulating material L and then the outside coating N, of
insulating material applied. In Figures 8 and 9, the fusible wire H is covered with
the insulating material L, only one copper wire M, is wound upon the insulating
material and the outside covering N, of insulating material applied.
In Figures 10, and 11, the electric cable is prepared similarly to that shown in
Figures 8, and 9, except, there is no outside covering N of insulating material.
The fusible wire H in all cases is insulated from the outer wire or wires, so that
there is no electric contact or circuit between them, except as hereinafter described.
The electric cable as thus constructed is finished and ready for use in the electric
fire alarm systein, and in such use as illustrated in Figure 1, it is secured to the
sides or walls of the room as follows:-
Starting from a point at 1', on the wall A, it is run along near the wall B down and
along the mop board F, and up a short distance on the wall A, close to the wall C,
being secured at intervals by staples Q, or in any suitable manner. The fusible
wire H, or the single wire M, Figures 8 to 11, and the series of wires M, are connected.
to an electric battery R, magnet S and electric bell T in the following inanner.
A wire a is connected to the end of the fusible wire H and its central wire K or
contact wire J which runs to and connects with one pole of the electric battery R;
from the other pole of the electric battery, a wire b extends to and connects with the
electric bell T, and from the bell a wire e, runs to and connects with the magnet S,
and a wire f connects the magnet with all the wires M wound upon the insulated
fusible wire. U is an armature for the electro magnet, pivoted at g to swing up and
down and to rest by its free end A upon a block V, secured to a support, said block
being of insulated material or insulated in any suitable manner.
From the armature U runs a wire m which connects with the wire a connecting
the battery and fusible wire H.
A short distance above the free end of the armature is a metal block W, secured to
the wall or support, which is connected by an electric wire w with the wire f connecting
the electro magnet and the wires M.
As shown the device is in position for operation and action, and if a fire occurs in
any part of the room or building where this electric cable or conductor is located,
the coatings and coverings of the insulating material at such place will melt, or burn
in the flame, and the fusible metal, or wire H at such place quickly becomes heated
at a temperature determined and melts and flows or runs on to or connects or comes
in contact with one or more, or all of the electric wires M which instantly inakes the
electric circuit with the battery, magnet and bell through the wires, and
connecting wires, sounding the bell, also causing the magnet to attract the armature
which moves up to and its end rests and bears upon or against the block W when
another or shorter electric circuit is made independent of the fusible wire circuit
through the block W, wire 1, wire f, magnet 8, wire e, bell T, wire b, battery R
wire a, and wire m, to armature, and to block W, completing the electric circuit, the
magnet holding the armature in such contact, which causes the bell to continue to
sound as long as the battery lasts, or some person comes, who has been warned by the
sounding of the bell.
The electric circuit after being made by the fusing of the fusible wire or covering H,
is maintained by the short circuit through the armature as described, ensuring the
continuous sounding of the alarm, even if the electric circuit between the conducting
wires should become broken from any cause. It is preferable to have the insulating

page_text: material of such a nature that it will burst into a flame, thus adding heat to the fire
ensuring the operation of the cable much quicker to sound the alarm.
Providing the fusible wire with a central core of copper wire as shown in
Figures 2 and 3, or winding a copper wire directly on the fusible wire as shown
in Figures 4 and 5, gives more tensile strength to the same, and being copper gives
the best conductivity for the electric current through the fusible wire; this wire and
also the wires wound upon the insulating material may be of any suitable metal;
all the wires can be of any convenient size and being arranged in cable form, it can
be easily, conveniently and quickly laid in all places about the room or building
desired.
By having a series of electric wires over the insulating material I, as shown in
Figures 2 to 7 inclusive, the making of the electric circuit is ensured from the fusing
of the fusible wire, as in such fusion, the fused metal will surely come in contact with
some one wire of the series, and practically all that is necessary, is that contact shall
be made between the fusible wire and any one of the series of the electric wires to
make the electric circuit, after which it is maintained through the magnet and
armature.
In practical use this electric cable or conductor can be run round the room at any
and all places desired, at any desired height along the mop board, up at the sides.
along the ceiling, cornices, into closets and other small places, &c.
The electrical apparatus can be placed in another room or in any part of the building,
or the bell can be placed outside of the building as desired, but the electric cable
should be connected electrically with the magnet and bell as described at all times,.
the circuit however being constantly open, the electric circuit being made when the
fire occurs as described and the alarm sounded.
Also in lieu of a series of wires wound upon the first covering of insulating material
only one wire need be used as shown in some of the views but it is well to have two
or more wires as the making of the electric circuit by the fusing of the fusible wire is
greatly ensured.
Also the electric wires can be of any suitable metal although copper is preferable
owing to its great conductivity.
Although this cable is described more particularly in reference to a fire alarm
system, it is applicable as well to a burglar or other alarm system, as in such case, if
the cable is coinpressed sufficiently at any place the electric contact is made and the
alarm sounded, or if it should be cut by a burglar for instance, the electric contact
will surely be made between the two wires or conductors and the alarm sounded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. An electric cable or conductor for electric fire or other alarm systems, composed
of a core wire of copper or other electric wire, a fusible metal or compound metal
round and about the core wire, an insulating material over said fusible metal, an
electric wire wound upon the insulating material, and an insulating material covering
the whole.
2. An electric cable or conductor for electric fire or other alarm systems, composed
of a core wire of copper or other electric wire, a fusible metal or compound of metal
round and about the core wire, an insulating inaterial over said fusible metal, a series
of electric wires wound upon the insulating material, and an insulating material
covering the whole.
3. An electric cable or conductor for electric fire or other alarm systems, composed
of a central wire of fusible metal or compound of metal, an electric wire wound
around said fusible wire, an insulating material over the two wires, an electric wire
wound upon the insulating material and an insulating material covering the whole.
4. An electric cable or conductor for electric fire or other alarm systems, composed
of a central wire of fusible metal or compound of metal, an insulating material over

page_text: said fusible wire, a series of electric wires wound upon the insulating material, and an
insulating material covering the whole.
5. An electric cable or conductor for electric fire or other alarm systems, composed
of a central wire of fusible metal or compound of metal, an electric wire wound
around said fusible wire, an insulating material over the two wires, a series of wires
wound upon the insulating material, and an insulating material covering the whole.
6. An electric cable or conductor for electric fire or other alarm systems, composed
of a central wire of fusible metal or compound of metal, an insulating material over
said fusible wire, an electric wire wound on said insulating material and an insulating
material covering the whole.
7. An electric cable or conductor for electric fire or other alarm systems, composed
of a central wire of fusible metal or compound of metal, an insulating material over
said fusible wire and an electric wire wound around said insulating material.
Dated this 4th day of August 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.