Improvements in Prison-cells, Safes, and other Repositories.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Prison-cells, Safes, and other Repositories.
We, PAUL EMERSON GLAFCKE, corner of 16th Street & Warren Avenue and
THOMAS ALEXANDER KENT, corner of 17th & Ferguson Streets, both in Cheyenne,
in the County of Laramie, and Territory of Wyoming, United States of America,
Gentlemen, 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 invention relates to improvements in prison-cells, safes, and repositories;
the objects in view being to construct the same so as to indicate at a suitable
station, remote or adjacent therefrom, any attempt at breaking into the same,
wherein the wall thereof is punctured, cut or otherwise impaired.
With these main objects in view, the invention consists in a prison-cell, safe, or
other repository having a double surrounding wall formed of metal plate, tubes,
metal boxes, etc., a filling of fluid under pressure, and an alarm mechanism
connected with the space between the walls and adapted to be sounded by the
decrease of pressure therein, as when said walls are punctured, cut, or otherwise
impaired, as would be necessary to gain access to the interior of the structure or
egress therefrom.
Referring to the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a prison-cell, safe, or repository constructed in
accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a top plan of the indicator, the upper portion being broken away to
expose the interior.
Figure 3 is a horizontal transverse section of the same.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the pump mechanism, gauges, and alarm mechanism.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the gauges, the pressure feed pipes, and an equalizer
that may be employed in lieu of those shown in Fig. 4.
Figure 6 is an elevation of one of the gauges, the dial-face being partially broken
away to expose the interior.
Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section through the diaphragm valve.
Figure 8 is a front elevation of a modified construction.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.
In practicing the invention and in the preferred construction, we employ for the
purpose of constructing the opposite side and back walls, the roof, and the floor,
and if desired the door, inner and outer sheets of boiler iron or other metal, spacing
the same apart by means of ordinary tie-bolts, and end filling strips the edges of
which are riveted to those of the walls, roof, and floor. We have berein shown
a construction of door slightly different from that of the remainder of the structure,
though, as will be apparent in the following description, the door may be similarly
constructed to the walls, roof, and floor.
1 designates the inner, and 2 the outer plates; 3 the tie-bolts that connect the
plates; 4 the intermediate filling-strips which are flanged at their edges and
connected as usual, to the edges of the plates 1 and 2 by the series of rivets 5. By
the use of these plates, as best shown in Fig. 3, a space is formed entirely around,
above and below the structure, said several spaces communicating.
As before stated, the door shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 may be constructed similar
to the remainder of the structure, but in the present instance we have formed the
same merely for the purpose of illustration, of a rectangular frame 6 of piping, the
same having its opposite vertical sides connected by a transverse pipe 7. The space
within the frame and above and below the pipe 7 is filled by series of cast-metal
fluid-chambers or boxes 8, which communicate at their ends through the medium of
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page_text: short elbow-pipes 9 with the pipe-frame 6, said frame and boxes having nipples for
this purpose. T-shaped couplings 10 extend from the hinge side of the door-
opening, but do not communicate with the space between the walls of the structure,
and in these T-shaped couplings there is mounted the inner vertical branch or portion
of the pipe-frame 6.
11 designates a tubular hollow staple that projects from the exterior side and
front of the structure adjacent to the jamb thereof; and 12 represents a cylinder
which by means of couplings 13 secures the same to the central transverse pipe 7
of the door-frame, one of said couplings namely, the one towards the outer end of
the cylinder being hollow and serving as a means of communication between the
cylinder and the pipe 7. The inner end of the cylinder or that toward the free
end of the door is provided with a gland 14 and through this gland from the
cylinder there extends the bolt 15 having a staple 16 at its free end for the accom-
modation of a pad-lock 17. The bolt is hollow and is provided at its inner end
with a disk or head 18 designed to move in the cylinder a coiled spring 19 being
interposed between the disk or head and the inner end of the cylinder.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, 20 designates a cabinet which may be
located at any suitable or convenient point, as for instance, in the warden's office of a
jail, in the cashier's office of a bank, etc., and in this cabinet there is located an
ordinary force-pump 21, which is operated in the usual manner by a lever 22, and
is connected by a pipe 23, having a cut-off or cock 24 and leading from any suitable
source of fluid supply. From the pump leads the discharge-pipe 25, and from the
discharge-pipe lead the supply-pipes 26 and 27, which as shown in Fig. 1 of the
drawings, communicate with the wall-space and door respectively. Immediately
above the discharge-pipe 25, the pipes 26 and 27 are provided with cut-offs or
cocks 28, and above them are provided with waste-pipes 29 that may lead to the
sewer or any other receptacle for waste fluid. These waste-pipes 29 are likewise
provided with cut-offs or cocka 30.
The pipes 27 are provided above the waste-pipes with branches 31, and in the
present instance upon these branches are mounted diaphragm-valves 32 of ordinary
construction. These diaphragm-valves as shown in Fig. 7, comprise the upper and
lower semi-globular halves, between which is secured the diaphragm 33, a coiled
spring 34 being interposed between the upper half and the upper side of the
diaphragm so as to equalize or compensate for the upward pressure of the fluid
agent against the under side of the diaphragm as the same comes from the pipes 26
and 27. In the upper side of the valve that is mounted upon the pipe 27 which
leads to the door of the structure, there is mounted a hollow stud or gland 35, and
upon the same is swiveled a ring 36, having an electrical binding-post 37 and an
electrical contact-point 38. A piston 39 is mounted for reciprocation in the gland,
and at its lower end is secured to the diaphragm. A collar or ring 40 is carried by
the upper end of the piston, is provided with a binding-post 41, and an electrical
contact-point 42. The ring 36 being swiveled may be turned so as to bring the
contact-points 38 and 42 in vertical alignment, or throw them out of such
alignment. 43 designates a pair of electrical conductors or wires, and to the same
are connected branch wires 44, one of which leads to the binding-post 41 of the
ring 40, and the other of them leads to the binding-post 37 of the ring 36, so
that as will be obvious when the diaphragm in the valve is unsupported by the
pressure thereunder the spring in said valve will force the diaphragm downward,
drawing the piston down therewith and effecting contact between the points 38
and 42, thus closing the circuit and sounding the alarm mechanism connected
therewith. In the present instance we have shown an ordinary gong-bell 45, that
may be located adjacent to the cabinet or at any other suitable point, and also
the usual alarm bell 46 supported in a tower 47 and found upon the exterior of
all jails, penitentiaries, and reformatories to indicate the escape of prisoners.
Tubes 48 extend from the pipes 26, 27, above the diaphragm valves and support
ordinary gauges 49. 55 designates the arbor of the gauge upon which the
indicator or dial-hand 56 rotates.

page_text: Liquid or fluid may be employed as a filling agent for the pipes, walls, and
door of the structure, but we prefer liquid for the reason that when under
pressure and a vent occurs it escapes in a body and so would indicate its escape
instantly, whereas, a fluid or vapour would escape gradually.
In operation, the cocks 30 are closed, and the cocks 24 and 28 open so as to
admit the agent to the walls, door and pipes. When these have become filled the
pump 21 is operated so as to put the same under pressure, and thus the gauges
indicate the number of pounds of pressure. The cock 24 is then closed and the
charging of the structure is completed. It will be seen that the agent acting on
the head 18 of the bolt will force the bolt into the keeper or stable 11, and as an
additional preventative the pad-lock 17 may then be locked in its position. The
locking is now completed, and it will be seen that if any part of the walls, door,
bolt or pipes are cut, punctured, or any vent, whatever occurs the agent escaping
will immediately make its presence known by indicating upon the gauge the loss of
the agent and at the same time withdrawing its support from under the diaphragm
of the valves 32 whereby the springs therein will force the diaphragms down carrying
with them the piston 39 and bring the contact-points 42 into contact with the
contact-points 38 thus completing the circuit and sounding the alarm-bell con-
tinuously until either the pressure in the pipes and structure is restored or the
ring 36 rotated so as to break the electrical connection between the points 42
and 38.
The diaphragm valves 32 perform another function aside from their alarm-
sounding qualities, namely, as equalizers. That is to say, should the fluid in the
pipes and structure be expanded by a change of outside temperature to a greater
degree than the pipes and metal of the structure, sucu expansion will be
compensated for, as the excess may arise in the valves forcing up the diaphragms
as will be apparent.
If desired we may omit the diaphragms and employ in connection with the
gauges an alarm to be sounded by the gauges, though when this form of equalizer
is employed, we prefer to employ the alarm mechanism in connection with the
equalizers. We will proceed to describe an electrical alarm device that may be
employed in connection with the gauges when the alarm mechanism is not located
upon and actuated by the equalizers.
The gauge-casing is provided with two binding-posts 50 and 54, the former
being bored vertically. A rotatable switch 51 is mounted in the bore of the
post 50 and is provided at its lower end within the casing with a semi-circular
or semi-elliptical contact-plate 52. In rear of the dial-face of the gauge an
armature 58 is carried by the indicating hand 56 so that by turning the switch
so that the convexed side of its plate 52 is toward the dial, the same will be
brought into the path of the armature, and when the indicating hand of the gauge
moves the circuit is established by the contacting of the armature with the plate.
Electrical conductors 53 lead from each of the posts 50 and 54 to the electrical
conductors 43.
When it is desired to gain access to the interior of the structure, the same
may be done only by lowering the pressure in the pipe 27 of the bore. This is
accomplished by opening the cock 30 of the waste-pipe 29 of the pipe 27 aud
permitting the agent to escape therefrom. In order to prevent sounding the alarm
in this case, the ring 36 is partially rotated so as to throw the contact-points
out of alignment, or if the electrical alarm mechanism is carried by the gauge
the switch 51 is operated in the manner heretofore described so as to swing the
plate 52 out of the path of the armature 58. This lowering of the pressure
creates in the cylinder 12 of the lock a partial vacuum and this vacuum aids the
spring 19 in withdrawing the bolt from the basp or staple 11, the padlock 17
having been previously removed. By closing the door and re-establishing the
pressure the locking is completed.
In Fig. 5 we have illustrated a modified construction of equalizer, whereby the
diaphragm-valves may be omitted, and in such instance it becomes necessary to

page_text: employ the electrical alarm mechanism in connection with the gauges. This
modification simply consists in the provision of the well-known air-chamber 60
upon the pipes 26 and 27. This air-chamber serves as an equalizer, and
compensates for any expansion of the agent.
.
From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,
it will be readily seen that we have provided a cell or safety compartment designed
to be used in prisons, banks, reformatories, and repositories of various kinds,
wherein it is impossible to gain access without ringing the alarm and notifying the
authorities of such fact or any attempt thereat involving a puncture or breakage
of any kind in the door, roof, bottom or walls.
In Fig. 8 of the drawings, we have illustrated a modified construction of door,
it being understood that the remaining part of the structure is substantially the
same as that previously described.
At each side of the door-opening 11 the tubes or pipes are made preferably
much larger than at any other point in the cage or cell. The intermediate
pipes 11 in the construction of the main body of the cage or cell are connected
at the top and bottom with supply-pipes 11°, which are larger than the intermediate
pipes in diameter, and these top and bottom supply-pipes are connected by
corner pipes 11° of practically the same diameter. The pipes may be coupled
together in any manner known in the art of plumbing, and the horizontal tubes or
pipes at the top connect with the corner and side tubes or pipes 11 and 11° the
said top tubes not being shown in the drawings. The pipes are preferably made of
such material that they will break under great pressure before they can be sprung
apart to any extent.
In order that the tubes cannot be bent if placed wide apart to such a degree
as to admit of the passage of the body of a prisoner, the pipes are tied together
at the bottom by strips 12" of metal recesses to receive the pipes, clamping
them from opposite sides and the two strips or plates are connected by means of
bolts 13 or the equivalent thereof; when bolts are employed the nuts are located
beneath the plates so as to be out of the reach of the occupant or occupants of the
cell or cage.
The floor 14ª consists preferably of sheet-metal and may be laid in any suitable
or in the ordinary manner.
Beneath the flooring of the upper cell the pipes are shown as continued down-
ward to form a cell of a lower tier; and the connections of the pipes of the two
cells are enclosed by metal casings 15ª connected with the bottom of the upper
cell, which forms a portion of the roof or top of the lower cell, the said casing
being carried downward from the bottom of the upper cell beneath the couplings
of the pipes to constitute a continuation of the ceiling of the lower cell; and the
casing 15 in this event is so constructed that when used in connection with
braces 16, shown at the right of the figure, the pipes at the upper portion of the
lower cell will be horizontally braced or strengthened.
The same construction of the casing is shown in connection with the upper
portion of the upper cell and is designated as 17, the casing serving as an upper
brace for the vertical pipes or tubes of that cell; and if in practice it is found
desirable instead of the top of the upper cell being made of a series of tubes or
pipes the top may be made solid and from sheet-iron or equivalent material.
Likewise if in practice it is found desirable tubes may be carried in series over the
upper portion of the lower cell.
Each cell is provided with a door or closure 17° fitted in the opening 11 and
hung to one of the vertical larger sized pipes, preferably to one of the
corner pipes 11°. The hinges 18" employed are of such character that they are
adapted to conduct water from the tube of the body of the cell with which they
are connected to the tubes of the door, as the door is formed of a frame 19 of
connected tubes, and a series of intermediate tubes 20ª either horizontally or
vertically arranged.
The door hinges 18ª are simply an adaptation of the ordinary plug-valve now in

page_text: use, or of the usual packed-valve; but instead of the outlet being where it
ordinarily is, in the construction of such valves, it is changed so as to have the
outlet at the top and bottom of the plug in the valve, and in this manner water is
conveyed to the tubes forming the door.
Each tier of cells and each and all the doors leading into the cells, each cage
front, and each door affording entrance into said cage, may have an independent
circulation of fluid, though if in practice it is found desirable, a continuous circula-
tion may be had through all of the tubes of the cells or cages including their doors
and bolts. But this latter construction has many disadvantages, and therefore an
independent circulation for individual cells is preferably adopted. Such independent
circulations are established by the usual system of blind-gaskets and blind-joints,
well-known to the plumbers' trade. Therefore, when a break occurs its location
may be readily determined, and the fluid can be easily turned off from such section
if necessary for the time being.
The fluid is supplied to the door 17 through a pipe 17°; and a second pipe 17ª
supplies the fluid to the body of the cage, while a connection may be made between
the body and the door and a sewer or other off-take in any suitable or approved
manner, the connection being a valved one.
Sundry of the vertical tubes 20 of the door are connected by a coupling 21ª.
This coupling is in direct communication with the frame portion of the door and
also of the bolt-casing 22 attached to the door. In this bolt-casing the bolt 23ª
is held to slide, the said bolt being tubular but closed at its outer end, and the
inner end of the bolt is shaped to form a piston-head 24", having frictional engage-
ment with the walls of the casing 22ª. Around the bolt within the casing a
spring 25 is coiled bearing against the inner face of the casing-head and against
the piston-head 24" of the bolt. The spring is adapted to exert tension against
the normal pressure of the fluid in the cylinder or casing 22" of the bolt after
excessive pressure has been removed from the pipes by the opening of proper stop-
cocks or valves in the cabinet hereinbefore described, in which cabinet the
admission of fluid to the parts of the cell is regulated, and also the amount of
pressure to be given to the fluid.
The bolt 23 is adapted to pass through a keeper 26° also tubular and adapted to
receive and contain water, and in order that the bolt may not be forced from the
keeper the bolt is preferably provided with an eye 27, to which eye a pad-lock 28ª
may be attached as shown in the drawings. In order that the tubes of the body of
the cage or cell may be braced and strengthened intermediate of their ends in a
manner to prevent them from being sprung, the said tubes are inclosed between two
bars 29, the said bars clamping the tubes or pipes aud connected by bolts or other
form of fastening devices. When bolts are employed the nuts of the bolts are at
the outer side of the cage or cell.
The weight of the door of the cell is prevented from coming directly upon the
valve hinges by the insertion of a plug 31, in the bottom of the door at the hinged
portion of the frame, the said plug being adapted to rest upon and turn in a socket
in the floor if desired, whereby the floor is made to support the bulk of the weight
of the door.
Each supply-pipe for each portion of the cage-door or cell it will be understood
will be provided with a gauge of any approved construction, such for instance as
that heretofore described, and adapted to record fluid pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a structure of the class described, the hollow walls having a door-opening,
a hollow door communicating therewith and hinged thereto, combined with means
for supplying liquid under pressure to the walls and door, a diaphragm-valve
connected with the liquid supply means, and an alarm mechanism adapted to be
operated by said diaphragm-valve, substantially as specified.

page_text: 2. In a structure of the class described, the walls thereof consisting of inner and
outer plates forming intermediate spaces communicating with each other, a hollow
door, hollow hinges communicating only with the intermediate spaces of the door
and cell, means for supplying a fluid agent under pressure to the walls, and door,
and an alarm mechanism operated by a reduction of pressure in the walls or
door, substantially as specified.
3. In a structure of the class described, the walls thereof consisting of inner and
outer metal plates, tie-bolts connecting the plates, flanged filling strips between the
edges of the plates, rivets connecting the flanges and edges of the plates, means
for supplying a fluid agent under pressure to the space between the plates, and an
equalizer connected with the said supplying means, substantially as specified.
4. In a structure of the class described, the walls thereof consisting of inner and
outer metal plates, tie-bolts connecting the plates, flanged filling strips between the
edges of the plates, rivets connecting the flanges and edges of the plates, means
for supplying a fluid agent under pressure to the space between the plates, an
equalizer connected with the said supplying means, and an alarm mechanism
operated by a reduction of pressure in the walls, substantially as specified.
5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the hollow walls
and door, of pipes leading thereto, means for supplying a fluid agent under pressure
to the pipes, means for drawing off the fluid from the pipes, tubes extending from
the pipes, diaphragm-valves mounted on the tubes, a contact-point on the upper
side of the valve, a piston extending from the valve, a spring for depressing the
piston, a contact-point carried by the piston, electrical conductors, alarm-bells
connected therewith, and wires leading from the contact-points to said electrical
conductors, substantially as specified.
6. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the hollow walls
and door, of pipes leading thereto, means for supplying a fluid agent under pressure
to the pipes, means for drawing off the fluid from the pipes, tubes extending from
the pipes, diaphragm-valves mounted on the tubes, a ring swiveled on the valve and
provided with a contact-point and binding-post, a piston passing through the ring
and valve and connected with the diaphragm, a spring for depressing the piston and
valve, a ring mounted on the piston and provided with a binding-post and contact-
point, electrical conductors, alarm-bells connected therewith, and wires leading from
the conductors to the binding-posts of the ring, substantially as specified.
7. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the hollow walls and
door, of the fluid agent supply-pipes leading thereto, means for forcing the agent
through the pipes, diaphragm-valves connected with the pipes, alarm mechanism
operated by the valves, and gauges located on the pipes above the valves,
substantially as specified.
8. In a structure of the class described, a door comprising a hollow frame and
an intermediate filling of hollow boxes with connecting pipes arranged between the
boxes and frame, and means for forcing fluid therein, substantially as specified.
9. In a structure of the class described, a hollow wall or grating consisting in a
series of vertical and transverse connected pipes, means for supplying a fluid under
pressure to the said tubular wall or grating, and an alarm operated by a reduction
of pressure due to the breaking, leaking or opening of the said wall or grating,
substantially as specified.
10. In a structure of the class described, a hollow wall or grating, consisting in a
series of connected pipes and having a door-opening, a tubular keeper at one side of
the opening and communicating with the said pipes, means for supplying fluid under
pressure to the said pipes and keeper, a door closing said opening and having a bolt
to engage the keeper, and an alarm mechanism operated by a reduction of pressure
in the wall or its keeper, substantially as specified.
11. In a structure of the class described, a bollow wall or grating, consisting
in a series of connected pipes, and having a door-opening, a hollow door formed o
a series of connected pipes, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said doo
and hollow wall or grating, alarm mechanism connected with the said wall and

page_text: door and actuated by the breaking or leaking of said pipes or opening of the door,
substantially as specified.
12. In a structure of the class described, a hollow wall or grating formed of a
series of connected pipes and having a door-opening bounded by tubes, a hollow
door for said door-opening formed of connected pipes, and having a tubular or
valved hinge connection with one of the pipes at said opening, a fluid pressure
mechanism connected with the hollow wall and its door to fill the same with fluid
under pressure and an alarm actuated by a diminution of pressure in said piping,
substantially as specified.
13. In a structure of the class described, a cage or cell constructed of a series of
tubes arranged to admit of a circulation of fluid in them, a door of like construction
and having tubular or valved hinges connecting it with the body of the structure,
gauges connected with the door and with the body of the structure, an alarm
device, and an electric connection between the gauges and the alarm, substantially
as specified.
14. In a structure of the class described, a cell or cage, the body of which
comprises a series of tubes connected to admit of fluid circulating through them, a
dour of similar construction having a tubular or valved hinge connection with the
body of the structure, a fluid-operated bolt carried by the door, pressure gauges
connected with the door and with the body of the structure, an apparatus for
creating fluid pressure also connected with the structure, and with the door, an
alarm mechanism, and an electric connection between the alarm mechanism and the
gauges, substantially as specified.
15. The combination with the tubular structure, and a fluid pressure apparatus
connected therewith, of the gauge indicating the pressure in said structure, and an
alarm electrically connected with the said gauge and actuated from its pointer axis
or centre pin, substantially as specified.
16. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a prison-cell,
cage, etc., the walls of which are formed of connecting pipes, of a supply pipe
leading from the office or other suitable point to said pipes, a fluid-pressure
apparatus at the office end of the pipe to force a fluid therethrough into the walls,
a valve in the pipe adjacent to said apparatus, a valved exhaust-pipe leading from
said supply-pipe above its valve, a fluid pressure gauge connected with said pipe
above the said valves, electrical contact devices actuated from the pointer axis of
the said gauge, and an alarm electrically connected with said devices, substantially
as specified.
Dated this 4th day of April 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.