IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING FIRE ALARM AND OTHER SIGNALS
Year: 1880

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of the Firm of W. P.
Thompson & Co., Patent Agents, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, and of 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING FIRE ALARM AND OTHER SIGNALS." A 'com-
munication from abroad by Monsieur Jacques Victor Michel Bartelous, of
Bruxelles, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1880.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Co., Patent
Agents, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and of 323, High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING FIRE ALARM AND OTHER SIGNALS."
A communication from abroad by Monsieur Jacques Victor Michel Bartelous,
of Bruxelles, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
This Invention is designed to enable one to place on one wire an indeterminate
number of instruments, each capable of communicating to a receiving bureau its
own special signal, and so that the office can discover at once which apparatus is
at work.
The apparatus can thus be made to perform the following services:-To establish
an automatic communication between the notifier of conflagrations, hereafter called
the "householder," and a central fire bureau, or to the police station, surgery, town
hall, cabstand, or other centre, entirely indepently of other applications that the
same system may receive.
I will first describe the simplest form of apparatus at present used by my foreign
correspondent.
The fire alarm wire is in communication at one end with the ground, at the other
with a terminal of the instrument (called hereafter the fire terminal) conducting
the current to an electro magnet. The electro magnet actuated by the current pulls
down an armature on a lever which releases a weighted needle with a disc.
Duis le

page_text: This at once shows if the apparatus is working and acts as a tell tale, as it cannot
The
be replaced without unlocking the glass case in which it is enclosed.
novement of the lever breaks the coinmunication with the needle and suppresses
the "householder's" current; at the same time a large wheel or disc is freed froin
the catch at the end of the armature lever aforesaid, and is set in motion by.
clock work.
On the fore part of the armature lever is a block resting, when not working, on
two conducting pieces. One of these communicates with the receiving bureau,
The raising of
the battery, and the earth, the other with the system or line wire.
the block suppresses communication with the line wire and bureau.
The large wheel or disc is the medium for giving the signals.
On the side of its first quadrant it is divided into a number of (say 6 or more)
bands concentric. Each of these is put into communication (by a small wheel rolling
Above each contact maker
upon it as it rotates) with a series of contact makers.
'police,"
is the name of the destination or duty assigned to it, such as "fire alarm," "
pipe burst," "doctor," "cab." When no alarm is being given these small contact
making wheels rest on a non-conducting strip at the commencement of the first
quadrant. The three other quadrants carry no more signals in concentric bands,
These signals in
but only the exterior circle and the signals inscribed thereon.
each case can be Morse or other signals composed of long and short conducting
The outer band gives the
spaces divided by non-conductors, or vice-versa.
designation or number of the house carrying the instrument, the other five or more
messages requiring police, fire brigade, doctor, cab, plumber, et cetera. A strip of
conducting material by the outer band can be put into communication with the
bureau at any time so as to send an ordinary telegrain in the Morse or other code
by playing on the contact maker the required signals, a spring being employed as
conducting medium between the conductor and the contact maker. The first portion
Then follows a long non-
of the circumference of this band is divided for a bell.
conducting space, and the latter portion contains the signal indicating the series
and number of the house on that series. In sending ordinary telegrams the commu-
nication with the earth can be produced by the contact maker by means of two
bands along the face of the apparatus.
The contact makers destined for the
special signals have a second contact plate below the button, necessary to establish
communication with a band of metal installed upon the front of the isolating plate
and the buttons in communication with the roulettes or rolling contact wheels.
As sometimes a separate instrument for each house is objectionable and costly,
I sometimes arrange for one instrument to serve a group of houses, each house
having still its separate wheel of signals. Tampering with the instrument is always
detected, as the actuating of it is shown in the needle flying back in the locked
glass case on any application being made. This needle can only be put back by
the official possessing the key. The keeper of the instrument can thus be brought to
book for a false call.
In the combination instrument each house has a separate wheel composed of
three discs (a conductor, a non-conductor, and the lesser signal wheel between). A
separate wire can carry the alarm that rings the electric bell.
Between the two outer of the three discs a little beyond the centre line in the
"trough" of the three discs a small hammer is hung. At rest the hammer rests
on a conducting blade which brings the battery current to the general axis of the
machine. This axis carries all the discs in the machine. The current closed by a
householder" enters an electro-magnet of a trough or trio of discs corresponding to
the button touched and the number of his house.
"
In order to put the thing in a clearer light let us suppose that the cylinder of the
machine, the set of discs, moves from left to right, that there are sixteen sets of
discs similar to those described for sixteen houses, and numbered 1, 2, 3, et cetera.
The current, closed by the action of a "householder" or person wishful of sending
a message from bouse 16, enters the electro-magnet of Number 16, the armature of
soft iron is drawn back; by this movement the small jointed hammer placed in the

page_text: trough Number 16 between the conducting and non-conducting discs is displaced
A rod fixed upon the non-conducting part of the trough carries on its lower part
a horizontal projection which permits the current is spite of the displacement to
traverse the axis of the machine and reach another electro-magnet corresponding
to the electro magnet mentioned in the simpler machine, this releases the set of
cylinders as before. On the outer side of the set of cylinders, set in motion as
before by clock work, the same bands of signals are shown, and on the bottom of
each trough the private signals of the house corresponding to that trough. The
cylinders make one revolution when they are stopped by a letent of the electro-
magnet, and every trough is again in position for being actuated upon except that
of Number sixteen, which is thrown out of gear, till an official possessing a key
unlocks the case and resets it.
During the movement of the cylinder the hammer has been carried against two
contact springs mounted upon an insulating band, between which it establishes a
communication; one of them is connected to the earth through the frame or a
metallic band, the other contact spring is in connection with the conducting
portion of the disc or conducting side of trough sixteen.
This latter is in connection with the bands of signals and roulettes at the end of
the cylinder.
A second wire, hereafter called wire Number 2, is attached to a second special
electro-magnet which works a lever acting into a rack of rachet or equivalent
teeth.
The concentric circles carrying the voluntary signals are separated one from
another by isolating bands in relief, the extremities of which are terminated with
a bevil, in such manner as to force the contact points to enter the bands of signals
even where one or other of the teeth of the rack do not act.
The return of the rack is operated by the raising of the lever by a catch on the
disc operating after the first quadrant of the disc has passed the line of contact.
A counterweight or spring then brings back the rack.
The manipulating mechanism consists of a crank with an exterior arm for
actuating. In repose this arm is placed between two stops. To put it in motion
it is drawn out slightly to clear the stops, one of which is continued so as to almost
form a circle concentric with the crank shaft or spindle. This stop stops the
movement when the crank comes back to normal position and is of an isolating
material. The spindle is propelled by a spring which obliges it to continue the
revolution to the end. The crank terminates with another spring which encounters
the various contact points in the insulating circle, say, five sets of three each. The
encountering of these points produces a circle, which coming from the earth
traverses the axis of the crank, its arm, and the electro-magnet that works the
rack. Each time that the spring at the end of the crank encounters a contact
point the rack advances a tooth. The circle that runs round the extremity of the
crank's path is divided into say, six sections; at the end of each of the five first
is a contact button. Button Number 1 corresponds with the innermost signal
band. If the crank passes the button Number 1 it encounters the second set of three
contact points, which cause the rack to advance three teeth more. When at rest the
stems of the buttons or contact makers are entered into a plate and cross &
conductor which proceeds to the electro-magnet that release the discs. It will be
seen then that in the example referred to of a machine for six messages and sixteen
houses, for three contacts in the manipulator the rack advances three teeth, and the
point of zero will become no longer the position of the crank, which will lie by
Number 1 contact making button; in the same way for every position of the crank
opposite a button in the series, it will have passed over three times as many
contact points as the number of the contact button, and the rack will have advanced
the same number of teeth. So long as the crank does not arrive at its stoppage
point the current traverses wire Number 2; by arriving at a button which has been
pressed down, it will establish a current with the "Number one" wire, and the
current will act then as in the case of automatic signals.

page_text: In conclusion my correspondent's idea is to have an apparatus that placed in a
house shall enable the occupants to send to a central bureau furnished with a bell
and a receiving apparatus a set of conventional signals; second, an apparatus which
will serve for a group of houses, and yet in which the occupants of each house can
send their special conventional signal, the apparatus being arranged with suitable
concentric circles carrying signals both voluntary and automatic.
+
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th November 1880.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson and Co., Patent
Agents, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and of 323, High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING FIRE ALARM AND OTHER SIGNALS."
A communication from abroad by Monsieur Jacques Victor Michel Bartelous, of
Bruxelles, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
The following is an exact translation of the Specification as forwarded to me in
French by my foreign correspondent with orders to file :-
"The automatic system which I have invented works by electricity, and enables
one to place upon a single wire an indeterminate number of instruments, each
possessing a particular signal which makes known to a receiving office which
apparatus has been at work.
.
This apparatus can render in particular the following services :-First, it
establishes an automatic communication between the notifiers of conflagrations
(hereafter called the aların givers) and an office, whether of police or otherwise;
second, it puts into the hands of certain persons a means of prompt communication,
enabling them to call in medical or police assistance, or any other aid it may be
considered useful to organize, independently of any other applications that the same
system may receive.
I realise the end which I have in view by means of two principal arrangements,
of which the first, represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheets 1 & 2, is designed 'to
be placed in every house which desires to enjoy the advantages of security
mentioned above; whilst the second, represented in Figs. 4 and 5, Sheets 3 & 4,
can serve for a whole group of houses, each of which in this case need only possess
a simple manipulator designed for the transmission of voluntary signals.
Fig. 1 represents a transverse section; Fig. 2 a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan
of my first apparatus. In these three Figures the same letters correspond to the
same parts. The alarm-givers, being represented by A whatever be their system,
are in electrical communication on the one hand with the ground, and on the other

page_text: with a terminal 1, whence the current passes to an electro-magnet B. During the
passage of the current in the magnet its soft iron cores attract a soft iron armature C
which terminates transversely a lever F. This latter being made of conducting
material with the exception of its axis, which insulates it, establishes when in
repose electrical communication with the central battery by the movable piece D
fixed on a shaft E. When the lever F turns on its axis and takes the position F¹,
this piece D, which was supported on the lever F, is released and takes the
position D¹; the axis E turns round a quarter of a circle, and with it the indicator
needle K, terminated by a heavy disc which turns and takes the position K¹. This
needle moves in a glass case, and according to its horizontal or vertical position one
is enabled to see whether the apparatus has been at work or not. The rocking
movement of the lever F breaks communication with the piece D and causes the
suppression of the current of the alarm-givers. At the same time the clutch by
which the lever is terminated at its other extremity rises and produces the
liberation of a wheel G which turns round by means of clockwork H, which it is
superfluous to describe.
On the fore part of the lever F there is a block I, which when in repose rests upon
two pieces, themselves supported by rods J, J'. The right one J¹ establishes
communication with the receiving office, the battery, and the earth, the left J with
the remainder of the system (or line wire). The movement of the armature
raising the block I cuts off all communication with the line wire and receiving office.
The interruption of the current from the line wire whilst the apparatus is in
action, and its restoration thereto after the revolution of the disc, may be produced
by a supplementary mechanism replacing the action of the rods J, J. The first
rod is entirely suppressed and replaced by a flexible conducting wire ff which
connects the terminal J to the cross-piece I carried by the lever (Figs. 31. and 3v.).
The second rod is shortened, and instead of descending to the cross-piece I, it is
terminated at K by a hook at right angles. A metallic piece G, H, G', in the form
of a V and movable round the axis H replaces the original arrangement. The
lower brancli of this piece is terminated by a heavy weight G which rests upon
one of the extremities of the cross-piece I.; the other branch ends in a thin blade,
and rests when the apparatus is in repose upon the projection K at the end of rod J'.
When in this position the current therefore passes from the terminal J¹ through
K, G, H, G, across the piece I I, along the flexible wire ff, and joins the terminal J,
where ends the line wire of the rest of the system. If, on the contrary, the apparatus
is at work the lever F, and consequently the cross piece II, are raised; the piece
G, H, G', partakes of this movement, oscillating around the axis H, and the current
no longer gets beyond J¹, since the contact is broken between G¹ and K.
The wheel G is the medium for giving the signals. It is divided on its first
quadrant a, b,.0, into six or more concentric bands, each of which is put into
communication (by a small wheel rolling upon it as it rotates) with a similar
number of contact makers T, above each of which is inscribed the destination or
duty assigned to it. When the apparatus is in repose these little wheels
("roulettes") rest upon an insulating band XY. In the three other quadrants
b, c, d, a, 0, the wheel does not carry any signals except upon the outside circle,
and the signals there inscribed signify, according to their number as to series and
order, the house which is setting the apparatus in action. The five concentric
bands around the centre carry special arrangements corresponding to the services
asked for, and these signals are transmitted by pressing down one of the five
buttons T.
As to the sixth band it can, by means of a button L, be put into communication
with the office for a voluntary signal of conflagration.
It is divided on its
circumference into four sections; the first, af, is made of conducting material,
divided into a small number of divisions, and sets an alarum in motion; the second,
fb, which takes up the rest of the first quadrant, is an insulator; the two last,
b, c, d, a, f, carry siguals which indicate the series and number of the house.

page_text: Whilst the outside circle carries an insulating band, the wheel uses the space fob
to produce special signals.
Outside the concentric circles which have just been described there is round the
whole circumference of the wheel a metallic band, upon which rests a spring z,
which establishes a permanent communication with the earth.
The apparatus is capable of producing two sorts of signals, one sort
automatic, the other voluntary. In order the better to explain the working of the
apparatus, I shall suppose the wheel to be divided into sixty divisions, although
my system permits of as many divisions and as many contact makers for alarms as
experience may show to be useful.
As soon as the electric current is closed automatically by the agency of an alarm-
giver A, an alarum bell rings in the receiving office and gives notice of a
conflagration, the armature F of the transmitting apparatus turns on its axis, and
the wheel G is set in motion. The ringing continues during the rotation of the
portion af of the wheel, this portion being a conductor and of greater or less
extent, over which I suppose the last concentric circle; during the rotation of the
part fb, since this circle is an insulator, communication is interrupted, and the
ringing ceases; but when the three other quadrants of the wheel are passing the
successive openings and closings of the current produced by metallic pieces inserted
into the mass of the wheel, the greater part of which is insulating, somewhat in the
fashion of type in a composing stick, they transmit a scries of signals, the particular
combination of which indicates first of all the series and then the number in this
series of the house whence was despatched the signal of distress.
The arrangement in the form of a composing stick mentioned for each of the
concentric circles of the disc is only kept for the exterior circle which carries
signals, which I shall call signals of position. As to the signals inscribed on the
part fob of the disc, and corresponding to the voluntary calls, they are formed of a
single metallic piece arranged in whatever way may be necessary, so that each
contact making wheel may receive a different signal, but may undergo no
change in its disposition, whatever may be the conventional signification one may
desire to give to the signals transmitted. Hence results a great simplification in
construction, since all the discs can be manufactured upon the same model, except
the placing in the exterior circle of signals of position differently combined for each
apparatus.
In the case where notice of a conflagration must be given independently of the
alarm service proper, cither because this has not yet been put in action or for
any other reason, it is necessary to be able to voluntarily give this signal; this is
done by the same mechanism as the other voluntary alarms. For this purpose
communication between the earth and the electro-magnet can be established by a
button L. Upon the front face of the apparatus there is an insulating plate MN,
behind which is fixed a metallic band PQ, which extends horizontally over the
whole breadth of the apparatus. This band is in communication with the magnet
by the conductor 2, 1, 3. Below and parallel to the first there is a second metallic
band RS in communication with the earth. Between these two bands contact is
established by means of a metallic plate e g fastened to the axis of the button L.
In Fig. 3, Sheet 1, I have terminated this second band by a curve, in order to show
clearly that it projects horizontally over the first.
The other buttons T, designed exclusively for voluntary alarms, do not differ
from the fire-alarm button, except that they have a second contact making plate
hi, necessary for establishing communication between a metallic band UV upon
the front of the insulating plate MN and the alarm contact makers W,
which are in communication with their corresponding “roulettes or contact
making wheels.
"
Thus then, by putting my apparatus, placed in a certain house provided with
electric alarms in case of fire, in communication with a central office, which must be
provided with a receiving instrument (for example a Mórse receiver) with an

page_text: alarum and a battery, I can be certain that the beginning of every conflagration,
which causes one of the alarms to be set in action, will immediately start the bell
ringing in the office, and there give precise information as to the series and number
of the house where the disaster is announced. If for any reason the alarm-giver
has not worked (this fact can be ascertained by examining whether the needle R
has remained vertical) the occupier of the house could always by simply pressing
the button L give voluntarily the signals which were not produced automatically.
If the request for assistance is not desired on account of a conflagration, but for
some other reason, such as an accident to the gas or water pipes, or pressing need
of a doctor, or urgent necessity for an ambulance, or a desire to give notice of the
presence of thieves, et cetera, the alarms can be given voluntarily by pressing the
buttons T, the uses of which are plainly inscribed below each, the same mechanism
always indicating whence the request for assistance comes. Finally, my apparatus
renders impossible any abuse of these alarms, since immediately an alarm has been
given the needle K takes a horizontal position, and cannot be put back into its
vertical position by the inhabitant himself, who does not hold the key which locks
the glass case in which this needle is placed. Any one who may have caused its
displacement without orders from the police or from the person responsible for the
signals in the central office cannot hide the offence he has committed.
When the apparatus is designed to be placed in particular houses, either for fire
service or for voluntary calls, the administrations which undertake to supply the
service requested must desire that there shall be left traces of the automatic
working and of the voluntary calls given by the apparatus. The first point is
realised in the apparatus described by the displacement of the needle and of its
actuating rod. As to the second, the friction upon the stems of the buttons cannot
be considered as presenting a sufficient guarantee. To obviate this inconvenience,
and give at the same time more certainty of contact between the button discs and
the plates against which they press, their mounting is modified, as shown in
Figs. 3bis and 3ter, Sheet 5, of the annexed Drawings. The button A is mounted upon
a lever BCD movable around the axis B, and which turns at an angle CD, passing
through the plate. Upon the extremity which projects the inside of the apparatus
there rests a little catch F, which falls freely when the button is forced down into a
notch a cut in the portion CD of the lever. The result is that when the button is
pressed down it is kept there by the catch E, and cannot be disengaged except from
the inside of the apparatus. Now as this is contained in a locked box it will not
be possible for the alarm-giver himself to put back the mechanism into its
original condition. The maintaining of the button in the position caused by the
pressure has besides the effect of producing during the whole time of transmission
a perfect contact between the button discs and the conducting blades.
The only inconvenience which could be urged against this Invention consists
in the obligation I am under when employing this system of putting a special
apparatus in every house. Now, by a slight modification easy to realise, I over-
come this. For this purpose I have invented a second apparatus, Figs. 4 and 5,
Sheets 3 & 4, which can be replaced in any one of a group of houses. Every
house has only to possess the alarm-givers for the automatic apparatus and a
manipulator with two wires for voluntary calls.
The second apparatus is as follows;-A cylinder inovable about its axis and
enclosed in a rectangular box is composed of divisions I., II., III., IV., more or
less numerous, each of which serves for a special house. Each division is composed
of three discs, the first, gh, is entirely metallic; the second, part of which is
insulating, carries upon its circumference signals conducting electricity which are
in communication with the first disc; the third, ik, is entirely insulating. Between
the first and third discs, and passing a little beyond the central portion of the
division moves a little hammer b. When in repose this hammer is supported upon
a conducting blade which brings the current from the battery to the axis 2¹¹ of
the apparatus (Fig. 4, Sheet 3). In order to put the thing in a clearer light I will
suppose the cylinder to be composed, going from left to right, first of a mechanism

page_text: analogous to that which constitutes my first apparatus, and then of sixteen
divisions I., II.; III., et cetera, corresponding to sixteen houses, No. 1., No. 2., No. 3,
et cetera, with which they are connected.
The current being closed by the action of an alarm-giver A passes into an
electro-magnet C belonging to a corresponding division XVI. of the cylinder; the
soft iron armature a is attracted; by this movement the jointed hammer b¹ placed
as I have said between the discs gh and ik is displaced. The rod Im fixed on
the non-conducting part of the division carries on its lower part a horizontal
projection, which permits the current in spite of the displacement to traverse the
axis Z and reach another electro magnet B, identical with that which is described
under the same letter in the Figures which represent the preceding apparatus. This
electro magnet has, like the preceding one, the function of releasing the cylinder
by means of the lever GF. The cylinder turns by means of clockwork H, but
cannot make more than one revolution because of the stop n, which at the end of
this revolution is brought back to its point of departure. The apparatus is then
ready to start afresh for all the other divisions, but cannot work any more for the
house which has already used it until one of the officials belonging to the service
has put it back into its original situation.
two
During the movement of the cylinder the hammer b has been carried against
contact springs t, t', mounted upon an insulating band R, between it
establishes a communication. The contact spring is connected to the earth
through the metallic framework or band X, X, X¹¹, X1, which surrounds the
whole of the apparatus, whilst the other contact spring t is in communication with
the conducting disc gh. In practice the band X, X, X, X, which shows the
(Fig. 5, Sheet 4) communication with the earth, will not follow the route indicated;
the circuit could be made directly between the points X and X through the
bottom of the apparatus.
The current arriving from house No. 16, and having passed through the electro-
magnet C and the hammer b, when this is vertical in its position of repose, passes
into the rod lm. The hammer is then forced against the contact springs t, t,
which are figured larger than they should be in reality is order to make the
Drawing easier to understand. The conducting band gh is in communication with
the signals upon which act the little contact making wheels o, o', et cetera, which
close or open the circuit. All these contact makers are connected with the office
by a band S, S¹, S", et cetera. At the point at which we have arrived the lever
GF is attracted by the electro-magnet B, and communication is interrupted
between the two blades a, B, and the piece I placed upon the lever.
At the end of the rotation of the cylinder a projection i upon the division gh
(Fig. 5, Sheet 4) causes the hammer b to turn over by making it rotate upon an
axis seen in the front elevation; contact is broken between t and t¹. When in
repose a little spring is resting upon the lever a; after movement this spring is
depressed behind the lever, and is represented by small u¹ (Fig. 4, Sheet 3). In order
to replace the apparatus in its initial position, that is to say, in a position ready for
transmitting fresh signals, it is necessary for this spring to be put back in position
upon lever a by hand. This manœuvre constitutes a guarantee against the misuse
of the apparatus.
The wheel which carries the signals is analagous to. that of the preceding
apparatus. All these signals are placed upon the first quarter of the wheel. Fig. 5,
Sheet 4, represents an apparatus provided with six signals. One of these signals,
the one to give notice of a conflagration, is automatic or voluntary at pleasure,
the five others are voluntary. To put them in action there is a manipulator in
each house which will be described further on.
A second wire, which I call "wire No. 2," is attached to a special electro-
magnet L, which attracts a piece of soft iron and a lever M M which by its
movement pushes a toothed rack. The concentric circles carrying the voluntary
signals are separated one from another by insulating bands in relief, the extremities
of which q, q', q", are terminated with a bevil in such manner as to force the

page_text: contact points 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, to enter the band, even in the case where one or other of
the teeth of the rack do not act. The return of the rack is operated by the raising
of the lever 78, which is produced by the action of a catch placed upon the disc,
and coming into action after the first quadrant of the cylinder has passed the
point of contact. A counterweight draws back the rack when the lever has been
raised.
et
The manipulating mechanism consists of a crank A' B' of which Fig. 6, Sheet 4,
shows the interior arm only; but it has also an exterior arm a' b¹ (Fig. 7, Sheet 4)
which actuates it. When in repose this crank is placed between two stops C, D
To put it in motion it is drawn out slightly, so as to free it from the stop C¹ which
prevents it moving; this stop C¹ is continued all round as a complete insulating
circle C, E, E, D'. The stop D' projects further, it is designed in fact to stop the
crank at the end of its movement. The axis is mounted upon a spring, which
compels it to complete the whole circuit. The crank torminates with another
spring f¹, which encounters the contact points 1, 1', 111
2, 21, 211
cetera. The encountering of these points produces a current which coming from
the earth traverses the axis of the crank, its arm, and from that the electro-
magnet L which works the rack of the apparatus. Each time that the spring f¹
encounters a contact point 1, 1¹
the rack advances one tooth. The circle
that runs round the extremity of the crank's path is divided into six sections, at
the extremity of each of the first five sections is a contact button. Button No. 1
corresponds to the innermost signal band of the disc. If the crank passes button
No. 1 it encounters the contact points 2, 21, 21 which cause the rack to
advance as many teeth as there are points encountered. When at rest the stems
of the buttons are sunk into a plate F¹ G', and traverse a conductor h¹, which
proceeds to the electro-magnet B that releases the discs.
If we refer to Fig. 5, Sheet 4, it will be seen that if there are, for instance, three
contact points in the manipulator the rack will advance three teeth, and the
point 0 will be moved forward to 1. In consequence of successive movements of
the manipulator and of the rack, the point 0 will then be moved forward from 1 to
2 to 3, et cetera, and in this manner for all the five requests for assistance, besides that
on account of a conflagration. So long as the rack has not arrived at its stopping
point the current traverses wire No. 2, but once arrived at the button, which
would have to be pressed down to give a voluntary signal, it will establish contact
with wire No. 1, and the current will then act as in the case of automatic
signals.
It may be desired to adapt this system for a constant current in order, by its
interruption, to be warned of accidents which may happen in the district served
through the breaking of a wire or interruption of contact.
This result is obtained
without serious modification of the transinitting apparatus, thanks to a special
arrangement given to the alarm-givers. They are placed between double contact
makers, the system working in the following manner:
Let B represent the relief office (Fig. 6, Sheet 5); A, the transmitter of one of
the apparatus, which we will suppose to be the last placed in the system. The
line wire is attached at the office to one of the poles of a battery, the other pole of
which is in communication at S with the earth. At the other end the wire after
having served all the apparatus also communicates with the ground at St. Let us
follow it, starting from this point. We encounter first at f a point of derivation,
to which I shall return presently. Then we see the wire come at a to the point
where an aların-giving apparatus ab is fixed. This latter when in repose rests
against a contact maker b. The current passing through the aların-giver is led
from 6 to a, the point of attachment of a second alarm-giver, then from b¹ to a²,
and so on, whatever be the number of alarm-givers dependent upon the trans-
mitter A. Finally, from b², the contact maker when in repose of the last alarm-giver,
the wire, leaving this apparatus, is led to another arranged in the same way, and
after having thus traversed all it ends in the receiving office. Starting from the
ground at S the current then follows the route S', f, a, b, a', b', a², b², t¹, B.

page_text: Let us now suppose that the heat acts upon an alarm-giver, take, for example,
the one figured a', 6'. The first effect of the heating action will be to increase
the distance between the flexible blade and the point b¹, but in front of this
contact on the other side of the blade there is a second figured at b, against which
the heat will soon force the blade to rest. Now from this moment the current
will be re-established by a secondary circuit, which connects the contact points
b, bb, to a wire c, c', c², which reaches the transmitter at a point d. This
current turned out of its first course, starting from a, will then follow the route
a', b, c, c, d. As this point d is the extremity of the wire of the electro-magnet
of the transmitting apparatus the current will act upon this organ, and will put
the apparatus in motion. The action which will be produced will be precisely
similar to that already described, the apparatus communicating, with the ground at
S¹¹, g, and rejoining the line wire at i. It will be seen then that by this arrange-
ment the continuous current does not traverse the part II of the apparatus, as
does the momentary current in the other case, but after the working of the
apparatus it becomes necessary, in order to suppress the disturbances produced in
the alarm-giver which has been at work, to disconnect the circuit which traverses
this instrument, and consequently the current must pass from i to J, J, and f.
For this purpose the disc is provided with. two notches for stopping its motion.
The first a (Fig. 7, Sheet 5), which corresponds to the position of repose of the
disc, is sufficient for the lever to keep it in repose, but has not sufficient depth to
allow it a complete fall, so that the piece G, H, G', of Fig. 3, Sheet 5, does not
establish contact between G! and K, and consequently between J and J¹, between
which the current is thus broken. The other notch b, which is placed a little in
advance of the first in the direction of rotation of the disc, is on the contrary
quite deep enough to permit of the complete fall of the lever, and therefore produce
contact at G', K, so that after the working of the apparatus the continuous
current cut off from its first course at bis re-established between i, J, J¹,
and f
Let us notice further that the stoppage of the disc does not depend only upon
the fall of the extremity F into the stop notch of the disc D (Fig. 8, Sheet 5), but
that it also results from the action of a piece A, which forms part of the lever, and
which throws a point B into the last wheel of a train of clockwork for the purpose
of stopping it.
The alarm-givers, as has been seen, have to produce a double action, namely, first,
the interruption of the current; second, the establishment of the current in a new
route; it is therefore also necessary that the voluntary calls should produce this
double effect. With this end the buttons are fixed behind a small hingned panel;
the opening of this panel determines the breaking of the current, and the action
upon the button causes its re-establishment by a new route.
In order to complete the description of the system with constant current, I
must say something about the apparatus at the relief office, where an electro-
magnet A is inserted into the circuit (Fig. 9, Sheet 5). So long as the current
is passing, the electro-magnet continues to attract a soft iron armature B, placed in
the middle of a lever arm CD movable around the axis C. If the current is
broken, the electro-magnet releases the armature B, the lever falls, carrying the
metallic piece D insulated at its extremity from D to D¹. As shown in the Figure,
this change in position causes the current which before was passing from E to
A, a, D, E, F, to pass from F to M, c, D₁, d, F. Now there is placed at Ma
Morse apparatus with automatic action. The fall of the lever also causes, between
C and s, the closing of the current from a local battery which rings a bell S. If
only this bell rings, it signifies that the interruption of the current results from
an accident to the system. If, on the contrary, after this interruption the current
is re-established, the Morse apparatus will receive signals, and these will make
known the kind of service requested, and the place to which the assistance must
proceed.
In the case where the constant current, or perhaps the momentary current, is in

page_text: use, there should be a means of making known to the applicant that the signals
have been received, by reversing the current acting upon a magnetic needle in the
portion of the system traversed by the current after the working of the apparatus.
I also realise an application to my system with constant current of a street
alarm giving apparatus with automatic signals, by simple pressure upon a button
corresponding to the service requested, comprising in addition a receiving
instrument for reply from the office, and a manipulator for correspondence with it.
This alarm giver consists of a disc A (Fig. 10, Sheet 6) arranged horizontally
in the upper part of the case, and mounted upon a blade Z, twisted into the form
of a screw with very long drawn out pitch, the axis of which makes a completo
revolution between points or pivots a, b. This screw which produces the motion,
replacing the clockwork originally indicated, is actuated by an armature c, d, sliding
freely along two rods or triangles e, f. The contact wheels a¹ and a² are placed
under the disc, and serve at the same time to receive the signals, and to regulate
the movement of rotation of the system.
The case (Fig. 11, Sheet 6), is divided in the direction of its height into two
compartments, by a partition starting a little distance from the base of the disc A,
and carrying the transmitting buttons acting by pressure upon levers. One of
these buttons L, placed above the others, has for sole object to move the lever
g, h, i, around its axis h, and to liberate at g the piece which, by its descent, makes
the screws Z turn. This lever is bent at its lower part, behind which are placed
the levers upon which the other buttons act, notably that maked with the letter J
in the accompanying Drawing. It is seen then that pressure upon this button not
only produces the same effect upon the lever g, h, i, as pressure upon the button L,
but that it also brings against the separating partition, the extremity m of the
lower lever which corresponds to it. By its movement this lever establishes
between one of the contact wheels and the ground the communication necessary
for the production of signals corresponding to the button pressed down.
Immediately on its entrance into the apparatus the conducting wire which
brings the current divides into two parts; the first goes to the contact wheel a¹
(Fig. 12, Sheet 6) running round the outer edge of the disc, all the metallic parts of
which are in communication with this edge; the second goes to a conducting
piece B, against which rests a metallic piece H mounted upon the door which closes
up the box in front. This piece establishes communication with another metallic
piece C in connection with the rest of the system. This is the route that the
continuous current pursues when the apparatus is at rest. The opening of the door
necessary to be able to press down a call button interrupts this communication, and
action upon one of these buttons sets the disc in motion. The current then acts as
before described, the contact wheel a² or any other giving rise to makings and
breakings of communication between the earth and the battery at the office.
The apparatus is so regulated that the disc does not finish a complete revolution,
but stops some distance from its point of departure. Then a projecting piece A'
with which it is armed encounters the catch F in communication with the piece C.
When the apparatus has worked, the continuous current resumes its course through
wheel a¹, disc A, projecting piece A¹, catch F, conductor F G, and from there to the
remainder of the system. Upon this part of the course of the current is fixed a
galvanometer K, the needle of which inclines to the right or left, according to the
direction of the current. It results that by reversing the direction of the current
at the office after the reception of a message, it is possible to reply to the message
received.
When one stands in front of the apparatus, one sees that behind the piece C
there is a terminal N, which is really the terminal of attachment of a wire in
connection with the rest of the system. This terminal is connected with the
piece G by a metallic flexible blade O, which is caused to rise by a button P passing
freely across the upper partition of the case, and actuated by pressure. This
"manipulator" produces at will interruptions and re-establishings of the current."
Having now described the Invention, and the best modes known to my

page_text: communicator, and therefore to me, of carrying it into effect, such description being a
literal translation of the entire communication sent to ine, I wish it to be understood
that what is believed to be new and desired to be protected under the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. A system of apparatus so arranged that if an instrument be placed in any
house, it will enable conventional signals to be sent by Morse alphabet or otherwise
to a central bureau furnished with an electric bell apparatus and a receiving
mechanism, all arranged substantially as described.
Second. The modification of the said system in which a compound apparatus is
capable of serving a group of houses, yet of permitting each bouse to send its own
conventional signals, substantially as herein described.
Third. The manufacture of alarm apparatus with discs armed with concentric
circles carrying both automatic signals and arrangement for voluntary signals;
substantially as described in the foregoing Specification.
Fourth. The mode of and apparatus for manipulating signals in a compound
apparatus, such as that described in the second part of this Specification, substan-
tially as described.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said William Phillips Thompson, have hereunto sct
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.