IMPROVE- MENTS IN ELECTRICAL FIRE ALARMS FOR GIVING IMMEDIATE NOTICE OF THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE FROM ANY OUTLYING OR OTHER STATION TO THE DISTRICT OR CHIEF ENGINE STATION, OR BETWEEN EACH STATION." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti, of Maida Hill, in the
County of Middlesex, Telegraph Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRICAL FIRE ALARMS FOR GIVING IMMEDIATE NOTICE OF THE
OUTBREAK OF FIRE FROM ANY OUTLYING OR OTHER STATION TO THE DISTRICT
OR CHIEF ENGINE STATION, OR BETWEEN EACH STATION."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti
at the Office of the Cominissioners of Patents on the 20th March 1880.
CHARLES ERNESTO SPAGNOLETTI, of Maida Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Telegraph Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL FIRE ALARMS FOR GIVING
IMMEDIATE NOTICE OF THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE FROM ANY OUTLYING OR OTHER
STATION TO THE DISTRICT OR CHIEF ENGINE STATION, OR BETWEEN EACH
STATION."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the system of electrical fire
alarms.
In order that the chief depôt or local district depôts may be early advised of
the locality in which a fire may break out I employ mainly the following
arrangements:-
A train of clock work to run off paper ribbon similar to a Morso telegraph
instrument. This train of clock work is automatically started into action by the
same current that sends the signal from the place the alarm is given; it can also
be made to stop automatically, or it can be stopped by the attendant after seeing
what station has given an alarm. The instrument has an indicator on it and shows
when it requires winding up. I also attach a bell which is made to ring when
winding up is required, so that if neglected to be seen can be heard.
In addition to this a key for sending a current to any outlying station is
attached for acknowledging signal or signals. I also attach bell or bells to call
attention when an alarm is given; these bells may be of the trembling bell system,
but I attach to them an earth connection for the bell hammer to work on, so as to
discharge the line wire, and thus have any number of bells on one wire, which
without this arrangement cannot be done.

page_text: The signal given denoting a station sending an alarm is given by a code of
letters or ciphers.
These signals I send in various ways:-
1st. By turning a wheel on which certain metal projections are placed to rub in
contact with a spring, and thus make letters or ciphers required indicating the
station from which sent. This wheel may be turned by hand or clock work.
If a return signal is required, or an acknowledgement, this is done by a second
wheel with a metal projection resting on a spring, or vice versa, after the completion
of a revolution giving the station's signal letter or cipher.
2nd. I use a stroking board for sending signals. This is a piece of wood or 1
other insulating material with pieces of brass or other metal let into it or placed
on it in such positions as to make the required letters or ciphers. This is connected
to the line wire or earth, and a metal brush is connected to one or the other (earth
or line) only to the reverse of the one the board is connected to, and by stroking
the brush over the pieces of motal the letter or cipher is sent to the instrument at 1
the station requiring to be signalled to. If a reply is required the brush is put into
a-socket to which a bell is connected to earth, and a current sent by the key or
button from the station acknowledging the signal.
3rd. By preference I use a box with graduating slopes or planes, covered or
partly covered with metal or wire, so arranged that a metal ball, ring, or wheel
will gradually roll down these slightly inclined planes or slopes, and in order to
arrest its speed even stages are provided here and there. As the ball, ring, or
wheel follows its course and runs over the metal lines, it joins one to the other
through itself, and thus completes the circuit. The metal being at required intervals
insulated (or terminated in certain sections) the ball ceases to make contact when?
passing over these portions, and thus I can send any signals required. The ball
following its course can be made to repeat any number of signals or a signal any
number of times, or the ball can be made to press down light springs as it travels,
the springs making contact as required. On the ball terminating its course it rests
on pieces of metal, and connects (if required) a bell for the acknowledgement signal 3
from the station the signal has been sent to, so that the simple act of dropping this
small metal ball into the box starts the instrument at the station, records the letter
or cipher of the station, sending the signal any number of times required, rings a
bell to call attention at the far end signalled to, and finally connects up a bell for
the return or acknowledgement signal. One line wire is all that is required, but
with two a system can be arranged by which all outlying stations can be signalled
to giving notice where a fire is, so that if any station signalling to the head office
of the district that a fire has broken out, the head office can send to all outlying
stations and advise them where that fire is and where they are to go to. This is
done by audible or other signals. One instrument is suflicient for any number of
outlying stations, but by having less stations on one and using two or more it may
be found more convenient. One battery is required for the instrument, and one
may be used for the bells. When the system of sending between all stations is
adopted this can be arranged by multiplying the apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th September 1880.
CHARLES ERNESTO SPAGNOLETTI, of Maida Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Telegraph Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL FIRE ALARMS FOR GIVING
IMMEDIATE NOTICE OF THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE FROM ANY OUTLYING OR OTHER
STATION TO THE DISTRICT OR CHIEF ENGINE STATION, OR BETWEEN EACHI
STATION."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the system of electrical firo
alarms. In order that the chief depot or local district depots may be early advised
of the locality in which a fire may break out I employ substantially the following
arrangements, vis. :-A train of clock work to run off paper ribbon similar to a
Morso telegraph instrument. This train of clock-work is automatically started
into action by the saine current that sends the signal from the place the alarm is
given; it can also be made to stop automatically, or it can be stopped by the
attendant after seeing what station has given an alarm. The instrument has an
indicator on it, and shows when it requires winding up. I also attach a bell which
is made to ring when winding up is required, so that if neglected to be seen can
be heard. In addition to this a key for sending a current to any outlying station
is attached for acknowledging signal or signals. I also attach bell or bells to call
attention when an alarm is given; these bells may be of the trembling bell system,
but I attach to them an earth connection for the bell hammer to work on so as to
discharge the line wire, and thus have any number of bells on one wire which
without this arrangement cannot be done. The signal given denoting a station
sending an alarm is given by a code of letters or ciphers. These signals I send in
various ways:-
1st. By turning a wheel on which certain metal projections are placed to rub in
contact with a spring, and thus make letters or ciphers required indicating the
station from which sent. This wheel may be turned by hand or clock work. If a
return signal is required, or an acknowledgement, this is done by a second wheel
with a metal projection resting on a spring, or vice versa, after the completion of a
revolution giving the station s signal letter or cipher.
2nd. I use a stroking board for sending signals. This is a piece of wood or other
insulating material with pieces of brass or other metal let into it or placed on it
in such positions as to make the required letters or ciphers. This is connected to
the line wire or earth, and a metal brush is connected to one or the other (earth or
line) only to the reverse of the one the board is connected to, and by stroking the
brush over the pieces of metal the letter or cipher is sent to the instrument at the
station requiring to be signalled to. If a reply is required the brush is put into a
socket to which a bell is connected to earth, and a current sent by the key or
button from the station acknowledging the signal.
3rd. By preference I use a box with graduating slopes or planos, covered or
partly covered with metal or wire, so arranged that a metal ball, ring, or wheel
will gradually roll down these slightly inclined planes or slopes, and in order to
arrest its speed even stages are provided here and there. As the ball, ring, or
wheel follows its course and runs over the metal lines it joins one to the other
through itself, and thus completes the circuit. The metal being at required intervais
insulated (or terminated in certain sections) the hall ceases to make contact when
passing over these portions, and thus I can send any signals required. The ball
following its course can be made to repeat any number of signals or a signal any
number of times, or the ball can be made to press down light springs as it travels,
the springs making contact as required. On the ball terminating its course it rests
on pieces of metal, and connects if required a bell for the acknowledgement signal
from the station the signal has been sent to, so that the simple act of dropping this

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Designan
to giving notice where a fire is, so that if any station signals to the head office of
the district that a fire has broken out, the head office can send to all outlying
stations and advise them where the fire is. This is done by audible or other
signals. One instrument is sufficient for any number of outlying stations, but by
having less stations on one, and using two or more it may be found more con-
venient: One battery is required for the instrument, and one may be used for the
bells. When the system of sending between all stations is adopted this can be
arranged by multiplying the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents my arrangements adapted to an ordinary instrument; a², wheel:
on which are formed slots 61, into which spring c' takes. This wheel a¹ is actuated
by the ordinary telegraph instrument, and during its revolution the contact of the
wheel a' between the slots is maintained with spring c', and the instrument is kept
working. are coils which set the instrument in motion when armature e¹ is
brought in contact; ƒ, quadrant, which with pointer g shows when the instrument
requires winding.
Fig. 2 shows bell for calling attention when aların is given. To this bell is
applied the spring a, which has an earth connection, so that as the bell is struck
the part becomes against a and the line wire at each stroke is discharged.
Fig. 3 shows box with graduated slopes or planes; c is ball, which on spring d
being raised allows the ball e to roll down the slopes, space being allowed for the
ball to fall from one slope to another. In its course, by running over the metal
lines c, the necessary indications are given. On arriving at f'a bell is connected
up to receive an acknowledgement signal. Fig. 4 represents the coils, which on the
current passing through from the distant end act on an armature, which prints the
letter sent in the ordinary way, the upright standard, with double adjusting
screws, being insulated. Coils d'in Fig. 1 are actuated by same current as coil
in Fig. 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in practice,
I hereby declare that I claim in regard to the said Invention,-
1st. The spring arrangements on the bell connected to earth, so that on the
stroke of the hammer the line wire is electrically discharged.
2nd. The arrangements of graduated slopes or planes acting in connection with
ball, or balls or wheels, for the transmission of signals.
3rd. The automatic arrangements for starting the receiving instrument; all
substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of September, in the year of
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
T. MORGAN,.
21, Cockspur Street,
S.W.
C. E. SPAGNOLETTI. (L.S.)