THE IMPROVEMENT OF ELECTRIC FIRE BUTTONS AND INDICATORS CAPABLE OF BEING USED IN PRIVATE HOUSES, PUBLIC PLACES, ON BOARD SHIPS, AND ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julius Sax, of 108, Great Russell Street,
Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Telegraphic Instrument
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "THE IMPROVEMENT OF ELECTRIC FIRE
BUTTONS AND INDICATORS CAPABLE OF BEING USED IN PRIVATE HOUSES, PUBLIC
PLACES, ON BOARD SHIPS, AND ON RAILWAYS,"
Scaled the 30th May 1865, and dated the 1st December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julius Sax, at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
December 1864.
I, JULIUS SAX, of 108, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Telegraphic Instrument Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "THE IMPROVEMENT OF ELECTRIC FIRE BUTTONS
AND INDICATORS CAPABLE OF BEING USED IN PRIVATE HOUSES, PUBLIC PLACES, ON
BOARD SHIPS, AND ON RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
The improvement consists of the simplicity of the action and the double
purpose for which it is used. The buttons being so constructed that while they
act as common bell heads which by slightly pressing will cause the bell to
ring, possess a contrivance that directly the room becomes heated to any degree
of danger, voluntarily perform the same action, while the indicators shew the
number of the room overheated or on fire. The electric buttons and
indicators are constructed as follows:-1, buttons, a disc of wood, ivory or any
other non-conducting material, upon which are placed the two usual springs to
connect them with both ends of the line and which ring by pressing together.
Price 8d 1

page_text: This disc has a metal cover, to the inside of which is fastened by one end a
compound metal spring of brass and steel, and of nearly the same circum-
ference; the other end being bent hook wise and left loosely suspended. Close
to this is a metal angle piece carrying an adjusting screw,and this is connected
by thin copper wire to one of the first contact springs, the outside cover to
which the compound spring is attached being connected by thin copper wire
to the second contact spring. Thus by the expansion caused by heat this
compound spring will close the circuit as well as the first usual springs do
by pressure.
The following are the improvements in the indicators connected with
these buttons: Inside cases with glass fronts rendered opaque with the
exception of transparent apertures for letters, numbers, or signs are
arranged single bobbins covered with insulated copper wire placed upon pieces
of iron wire, which when the current passes through become electro-magnets.
Over these bobbins are suspended vertically straight pieces of brass having
light horse-shoe permanent magnets screwed to the bottom ends, so arranged
that each side of the poles of the permanent magnets ride as it were over the
right and left sides of the bobbins, the latter being between, so that when the
current passes through the bobbins they attract one side of the poles of the
permanent horse-shoe magnets and repel the other. The top end of the strips
of perpendicular brass have pieces of card or light material on which numbers,
letters, or signs are placed. The brass being centred upon an axis in such a
manner as to render it a little heavier on the top, so that when the current
passes through the bobbins, repelling and attracting the horse-shoe magnets,
the pieces of card remain inclining either to the right or left when the current
ceases, thus bringing the numbers or signs through the transparent apertures,
or concealing the same at pleasure. These indicators also have terminals
corresponding with the number of the bobbins inside the case, beside the two
terminals connecting them with both poles of the battery. A current coming
from the negative pole of the battery would come first to an angle piece
fastened inside the case, and would go over to a spring which presses against
it, making metallic contact with it. To this spring are attached all the wires
from one end of the bobbins, so that the current would consecutively pass
through each of the bobbins, and make in the first place inetallic contact with
light springs which intervene between the bobbins and the line; these springs
are placed beneath the bobbins. A wire connected with the positive pole of
the battery is attached to another insulated spring not in connection with the
former springs or the angle piece, but lying underneath the springs to which
the ends of the bobbins wires are connected. In the centre of the bottom part

page_text: of the frame of the case is inserted a piece of brass (having a stud on the
outside) which slides in a socket, and is kept up by a spiral spring terminating
with a piece of non-conducting substance. This brass has also soldered to it
horizontally a piece of metal embracing in size the ends of the springs that
Pintervene between the bobbins and the line. This piece is also connected by
wire to the same pole of the battery (negative pole) as the first angle piece, so
that when the finger is pressed on the outside stud it depresses the brass
spring in the interior which formerly made contact with the angle piece con-
nected with the negative pole of the battery, causing the current to be reversed
by forcing it against the spring connected with the positive pole at the same
time the piece of brass before referred to) by this pressure would make
contact with all the intervening springs of the bobbins causing a short current
throughout, the indicator case reversing the disposition of the riders of the
horse-shoe magnets carrying the required numbers or signs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Julius Sax in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
May 1965.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIUX
SAX, of 108, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex,
Telegraphic Instrument Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Juliux Sax, Her special licence that I, the said Juliux Sax, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Juliux
Sax, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "THE IMPROVEMENT
OF ELECTRIC FIRE BUTTONS AND INDICATORS CAPABLE OF BEING USED IN PRIVATE
HOUSES, PUBLIC PLACES, ON BOARD SHIPS, AND ON RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Juliux Sax, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said

page_text: Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Juliux Sax, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The improvement consists of the simplicity of the action and the double
purpose for which it is used. The buttons being so constructed that while
they act as common bell heads, which by slightly pressing will cause the
bell to ring, possess a contrivance that directly the room becomes heated
to any degree of danger voluntarily performs the same action, while the
indicators shew the number of the room overheated or on fire.
The electric buttons and indicators are constructed as follows:-1st,
buttons (see Diagram 1.) A disc of wood, ivory, or any other con-
ducting material, upon which is placed the two usual springs (A, B,) to
connect them with both ends of the line, and which ring by pressing
together. This disc has a metal ring (C), to the inside of which is fastened
by one end a compound metal spring (D) of brass and steel, and of nearly
the same circumference, the other end being bent hook wise, and left loosely
suspended. Close to this is a metal angle piece (E), carrying an adjusting
screw, and this is connected by thin copper wire to one of the first contact
springs (B), the outer ring, to which the compound spring is attached, being
connected by thin copper wire to the second contact spring (A). Thus by
the expansion caused by heat, the compound spring will close the circuit
as well as the first usual springs do by pressure.
The following are the improvements in the indicators connected with these
buttons: Inside cases with glass or metal fronts rendered opaque with the
exception of transparent apertures for letters, numbers, or signs, are arranged
single bobbins, see Diagram 2, marked A, A, A, covered with insulated copper
wire, placed upon pieces of iron wire B, which when the current passed
through become electro-magnets; over these bobbins are suspended vertically
straight pieces of brass C, having light horse-shoe permanentmagnetsscrewed
to the bottom ends D, so arranged that each side of the poles of the perma-
nent magnets ride as it were over the right and left sides of the bobbins, the
latter being between, so that when the current passes through the bobbins
they attract one side of the poles of the permanent horse-shoe magnets and
repel the other. The top ends of the strips of perpendicular brass have pieces
of card or light material E, on which numbers, letters, or signs are placed.

page_text: The brass being centered upon an axis in such a manner as to render it a
little heavier on the top, so that when the current passes through the bobbins,
repelling and attracting the horse-shoe magnets, the pieces of card remain
inclining either to the right or left when the current ceases, thus bringing the
numbers or signs through the transparent apertures, or concealing the same,
at pleasure. These indicators also have terminals, marked 1, 2, 3, Z, and C,
corresponding with the number of the bobbins inside the case, beside the two
terminals connecting them with both poles of the battery. A current coming
from the negative pole of the battery marked Z would come first to an angle
piece marked F, fastened inside the case, and would go over to a spring
marked G, which presses against it, making metallic contact with it. To this
spring are attached all the wires from one end of the bobbins, so that the
current would consecutively pass through each of the bobbins, and make in
the first place metallic contact with light springs marked H which intervene
between the bobbins and the line; these springs are placed beneath the
bobbins. A wire connected with the positive pole of the battery marked C
is attached to another insulated spring not in connection with the former
springs or the angle piece, but lying underneath the springs G, to which the
ends of the bobbin wires are connected. In the centre of the bottom part of
the frame of the case is inserted a piece of brass (having a stud on the out-
side) marked I, which slides in a socket and is kept up by a spiral spring,
terminating with a piece of non-conducting substance. This brass has also
soldered to it horizontally a piece of metal marked K, embracing in size the
ends of the springs that intervene between the bobbins and the line. This
piece is also conuected by wire to the same pole of the battery (negative pole)
as the first angle piece, so that when the finger is pressed on the outside stud,
it depresses the brass spring in the interiorwhich formerly made contact with
the angle piece F. connected with the negative pole of the battery, causing the
current to be reversed by forcing it against the spring connected with the
positive pole; at the same time the piece of brass before referred to (by this
pressure) would make contact with all the intervening springs of the bobbins,
causing a short current throughout the indicator case, reversing the disposition
of the riders of the horse-shoe magnets carrying the required numbers or
signs.
For using this form of indicator on railways, where it is necessary to have
two to correspond, one at each end of the line, two studs are used at
the bottom of each indicator, and two bridges in the interior, it being neces-
sary to bridge the current over when sending from the corresponding indicator
on the other side.

page_text: The construction of these railway indicators, as delineated in Plate 3, is as
follows: The outside end of the coil R is connected with the spring M, the
other, the inside end, to the spring L; these springs M and L are pressing
against and in metallic contact with the small bridges E and K, which in turn
are connected by wires to the outer terininals marked Land E, line and earth.
Under the two ends of the springs M and L lay two other springs N and O,
which are not in metallic contact with the first-named springs M and L.
These two springs N and O are connected together by wires to Z, the positive
pole of the battery. There are there two other springs Q and P close to
N and O, which are brought by wires in connection with the negative pole
of the battery. On the studs A and B are fastened two pieces of brass D and
C, which are also connected by wires to line and earth.
The action will then be as follows:-When the indicator is closed, as in
Plate 4, and the outside stud A is pressed down by the finger, it would bring
the springs M and N (in the interior) in metallic contact, and at the same
time the piece of metal D would be in metallic contact with Q.
Thus a
current coming from the terminal Z of the battery would go over from N to
M, through the coil R, the spring L, the bridge K, through the terminal E,
round the other instrument, and return by L to the brass piece D, through
the spring Q to the negative pole of the battery, and thus complete the cir-
cuit, so that the electro-magnet S carrying the signs would be attracted on
the one side and repulsed on the other. It is essential that the studs A and B
should have at the ends a non-conducting material.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julius Sax, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
JULIUS SAX.
(L.S.)