Improvements in Automatic Fire Alarms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Fire Alarms.
1, EUGEN WIDER, manufacturer, of Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg and
German Empire, 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 an automatic fire alarm for dwellings, warehouses, factories,
barns, &c., and consists of an apparatus placed in such premises and operated at the
outbreak of a fire by means of one or more quick-matches, so as to effect a strong
detonation and to operate, by the closing of an electric circuit, one or more electric
gongs or bells in suitable localities.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to describe
the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had to the
letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts in both figures.
Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus showing several parts in section on the
line a-b.
Figure 2 is a side view, showing the apparatus in section on the line H-H.
This fire alarm apparatus is constructed essentially as follows:-
A is a metallic plate about 10 centimetres long and centimetres wide which is
screwed to the wall, floor, or ceiling of the room at any convenient part. On this
plate A is fixed a metallic chamber B closed at one end by means of a tightly fitting
cork plug d with a pin or screw, to which is attached a metal plate e. The other end
of this chamber has an opening for the reception of the quick-matches c c which are
connected to a detonating cartridge within the chamber B. Opposite to the plugged
end of the chamber B is placed a wooden lath 1 through which moves a ping with
a head f. This pin g slides in a suitable guide and its free end is opposite to one
end of a contact spring i, the other end of such spring being fixed to the lath and
connected by means of the wire x with the electrical signalling apparatus. The other
wire x is connected to the finger which is likewise fastened at one end to the
wooden lath.
The quick-matches c, c, which are well prepared with saltpetre and phosphorus, are
laid along the walls or other suitable places of the different rooms, and their ends
are placed preferably near the floor.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
At the outbreak of a fire in a room or building supplied with quick-matches, the
fire cannot spread beyond the quick-matches without being noticed. If one of the
quick-matches has caught fire, the latter will be transmitted in a few seconds to
the metal chamber B where it explodes the detonating cartridge contained therein.
According to the composition of the cartridge, the detonation will be more or less
loud, and will attract the attention of persons near it. Further, by the explosion,
the cork plug d is blown out of the chamber against the head of the pin g, which
thus pushes the spring i into contact with the finger & closing the circuit and ringing
the gongs or bells; which ringing is continued until the circuit is again broken by a
switch.
The signalling apparatus may be at the fire-station, or at any other suitable
dwelling room.
As the quick-matches and the detonating cartridge are prepared so as to be
impervious to atmospheric moisture or change of temperature, it is evident that the
effect of the apparatus is certain, and therefore its great utility unquestionable.

page_text: 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
An automatic fire alarm apparatus consisting of the plate A, the chamber B,
containing a detonating cartridge, to which are attached quick-matches c c led to the
various rooms and closed at one end by a plug d, and the electrical contact connected
to an electric gong or bell, the parts i k of such electrical contact being connected
with each other at the explosion of the cartridge by the force of the blown out plug,
so that at the outbreak of a fire, the explosion of the cartridge effects a strong
detonation, and at the same time rings one or more electrical signalling apparata.
Dated this 15th day of June 1889.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.