An Electrical Signalling System.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Electrical Signalling System.
1, ALBERT WATTS, of 53 State Street, Boston, in the State of Massachusetts,
one of the United States of America Merchant, 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 a novel system for the transmission of signals_or
messages, and is especially adapted, among other things, to be used as a fire
alarm system.
My invention has for one of its objects to provide a signaling system, in which
two different and distinct purposes may be indicated by the same signal, without
additions thereto, subtractions therefrom or repetitions thereof.
My invention, as applied to a fire alarm system, has for its object to increase the
efficiency of the fire service, and to simplify and cheapen the cost of construction
and maintenance of the fire alarm system.
My improved system is adapted to be used in large cities and also in small
cities and towns. In the adaptation of my improved system to large cities, the
said system is preferably sub-divided into districts, each of which has its own
district station, but all the said district stations are connected to a main or
central station. Each district station has connected to it one or more individual
circuits preferably metallic loops, in which are electrically connected one or more
signal boxes containing signal transmitting mechanisms possessing novel features
of construction, as will be described.
The signal transmitting mechanisms in the districts are normally located in one
or more normally closed metallic circuits. in which are also located bells, upon
which is repeated the signal sent from any box in the district, and the said
metallic circuit is controlled and operated, as will be described, whereby a signal,
as for instance any particular box number, may be transmitted over the metallic
circuit to each box on the said circuit, while the signal or box number is being
transmitted from the box to the district station.
My improved system will also preferably be constructed, so that a signal sent
from a box on one circuit in one district, will automatically be transmitted to
The
every or any box on every or any circuit embraced within the system.
system is also constructed, as will be described, whereby the signal from any box
is received directly at both the district station and at the main or central station
at the same time.
Another feature of my invention consists in increasing the reliability of the
service by enabling a signal or box number to be received at the district station
and also at the central station in case of a break in the metallic circuit, and
this feature of my invention is accomplished by converting the metallic circuit
into two independent ground circuits, each of which includes in it the signal
transmitting boxes.
Another feature of my invention consists in maintaining the signal service in
good electrical and mechanical condition, by transmitting the box number, which
usually indicates the fire or principal signal, from any box to the district station,
by the same signal wheel by which the fire signal is transmitted, without giving an
alarm of fire, whereby two different purposes may be indicated by the same signal
This feature of my inven-
wheel without in any way conflicting with each other.
tion may be accomplished by means of an auxiliary circuit, which I prefer to
designate as the test circuit, or it may be accomplished by changing the character
of the impulses transmitted to the receiving instrument by the signal transmitting
wheel or inechanism, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

page_text: The auxiliary or test circuit is normally inoperative, when the main signal or
fire alarm circuits are in operative condition, but it may be rendered operative to
transmit the box number or principal signal without interfering with the working
of the other boxes in the circuit. The transmission of the test signal actuates the
fire alarm signal transmitting mechanism of the box from which the test is being
made, but it does not transmit an active fire alarm signal. This feature of my
improved system is of the utmost importance practically, for it keeps the main or
fire alarm signal transmitting mechanism of the box in good electrical and
mechanical condition and proves the main or fire alarm signal, thereby rendering
the service practically sure and reliable.
By means of the test signal, any proper or duly authorized person may ascertain
from any box in the system, the fact that an alarm has been sent from any other
box in the system.
My invention further consists in providing means, whereby the district stations
are under control of the main or central station, as will be described.
In my improved system, any circuit in a district may be rendered inoperative,
yet all the other circuits in the district will be in operative condition, and also
an open line between a district station and the central station will not impair
the district circuits.
Other features of my invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end
of this Specification.
Fig. is a diagramatic view to illustrate my improved signaling system as
applied to a large city, the said figure representing the system as divided into three
districts communicating with a central office.
Fig. 2, a diagram of circuits to more clearly enable the working of my improved
system to be understood, the said figure showing a district station connected to a
central office and having connected to it two district circuits.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of signaling box or apparatus, which
may be employed in my improved system.
Fig. 4, a front elevation of the box shown in Fig. 3 with the door open.
Fig. 5, a vertical section on an enlarged scale of the box shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 6, a rear side elevation of the box shown in Fig. 3 with the back plate
removed.
Fig. 7, a detail to be referred to.
Fig. 8, a sectional detail on an enlarged scale of a portion of the box to more
clearly show the circuit controllers in the box operated by the opening and closing
of the door.
Fig. 9, a detail of the pull bar and hooks carried thereby.
Fig. 10, a diagram of circuits illustrating a central station and two district
stations connected thereto.
Fig. 11, a detail to illustrate the reversals of the current over the main line.
Fig. 12, a diagram of circuits on an enlarged scale of the district station shown
in Fig. 2.
Fig. 1, a perspective view of a modified form of signaling box.
Fig. 24, a vertical section of the box shown in Fig. 1A.
Fig. 34, a detail to be referred to.
Fig. 4, a diagram of circuits to enable the operation of the system to be more
clearly understood when the transmitting box or apparatus shown in Fig. 1ª is
employed.
Fig. 5, a detail to be referred to.
Fig. 6A, a detail of a portion of the recording tape upon which the signals are
received, and
Fig. 7, a modification to be referred to.
Referring to Fig. 1, A may represent a city, which is equipped with a signal
system embodying my invention and represented as a fire alarm system. I have
chosen for the purpose of illustrating my invention, to represent the city A as
subdivided into three fire alarm districts 2, 3, 4.

page_text: Each fire alarm district, in accordance with my invention, is provided with a
istrict station, respectively designated in Fig. 1 by a', a², a³.
The district stations a', a², as, as represented in Fig. 1, are all connected to a
nain or central station a, which may be supposed to be located in the central
portion of the city. Each district station may have connected to it, any desired or
equired number of fire alarm circuits of novel construction and arrangement, as will
be described, there being six such circuits represented as connected to the district
tation a', and numbered from one to six inclusive, and five each connected to the
listrict stations a², a³, and numbered in each district from one to five inclusive.
The district stations and the circuits extended therefrom are alike, and therefore
the construction and arrangement of but one need be described in detail, and for
this purpose I have represented in Fig. 2, the district station a' and circuits
Nos. 3 and 4 thereof.
Referring to Fig. 2, 1 have represented the No. 4 circuit as including in it one
fire alarm box a and an engine house as, and the No. 3 circuit as including in it,
three fire alarm boxes a numbered 23, 231, 232, the main parts of the box 23
being laid out or shown in diagram, to enable the working of my improved system
to be more readily comprehended.
The individual circuits connected to the district station are of like construction
and arrangement, and therefore a detailed description of one will suffice for all of
the said district circuits. Referring now to the No. 3 circuit shown in Fig. 2,
a, a represent respectively the positive and negative line wires of a normally
closed metallic circuit, provided with the main battery a³. In order that my
improved system may be more clearly comprehended, I prefer to specifically
describe in turn the construction and arrangement of the different parts of the
system, necessary to accomplish individual features of the invention.
That feature of the invention which I prefer to describe first, is the construction
and arrangement of the system, by which a signal or box number transmitted to
the district station, may be re-transmitted over the same circuit and preferably
To effect this result,
also over all the circuits connected to the district station.
cach signal box as has located in it a polarized bell a of any usual or well known
construction, the magnets a¹, a13 of which are included in one of the main lines,
herein shown as the negative line a³.
The district station a preferably has located in it two relays a and b, the
relay a being included as shown, in the positive line a', and the relay being also
included in the positive wire, it being in multiple with the relay c, and connected
to the positive wire a' by wires ³ ³ the relay a constituting a signal receiving
relay.
The armature of the relay a co-operates with back stops as a forming
terminals of a local circuit, provided with a battery as, having one pole connected
by wire to the, terminal a", and its other pole connected to an electro-
magnet of a receiving instrument or recording register, of any usual or well
known construction, such as now commonly employed, and of which only the main
shaft and paper reel a are shown in Fig. 2. The armature a23 of the register
magnet a is provided with the usual marking device or pen a The register
magnet is connected by wire a to the back stop a, and the said wire has
included in it a switch aby which the local circuit may be positively opened.
The register a is the one upon which the box number or signal is recorded,
when the said signal is transmitted over the metallic circuit, and I shall hereinfter
refer to this register as the metallic circuit register.
The relay & has its armature & included in a normally open local circuit, as will
be described.
The metallic circuit a' a³ has included in it, between the battery and the box
No. 23, a pole changer, which may be of any usual or well known construction, and
which is herein represented as a 250. The pole changer a250 is operated in one direction
to reverse the polarity of the current, by an electro-magnet 200 located in a local

page_text: 28
29
circuit provided with a battery a270, and the positive and negative line wires a² a²
of said local circuit, are respectively connected to normally open circuit ter-
minals a³ ³, see Fig. 12.
The circuit terminals a 30 a³1 are operated by a controlling device, herein
represented as a disk or wheel u, provided on its periphery with a cam or pro-
jection adapted in the revolution of the said disk or wheel to engage one of
the circuit terminals, herein shown as the terminal a³, and bring the said terminal 31
in contact with the terminal a, and thereby close the local circuit 28 20 at
that point.
The disk or wheel a³ will preferably be revolved by a normally wound up motor
mechanism, such as a spring or weight, not herein shown. The circuit controlling
disk or wheel a³ is itself governed or controlled by the armature a³ of an electro-
magnet the said armature being normally in engagement with a stop or
projection on the side of the disk or wheel a³2.
The electro-magnet is included in the local circuit governed by the armature
of the relay. The local circuit just referred to is provided with a battery 66,
having one of its poles connected as herein shown, to the armature 6, and its other
pole joined by a wire to the electro-magnet a³, the other wire 68 of the said
electro-magnet, as herein represented, being joined to a wire connected to the
back stop with which co-operates the armature 1.
The local circuit controlled by the armature of the relay b, also includes in it
an electro-magnet for operating a bell 613, only a fragment of which is shown in
Fig. 2, the bell magnet 13 being shown in multiple with the electro-magnet
The operation of the parts in the district station, as thus far described. is as follows,
viz.when the metallic circuit a' as is broken by actuating the signal transmitting
mechanism at a box, both relays a, are demagnetized, and their armatures a
and are retracted by their respective springs a, b, and the local circuit con-
taining the metallic circuit register is closed, and the register magnet 20 energized,
and at the same time the local circuit containing the electro-magnet a³ is closed by
the armature coming in contact with its back stop 610, and the electro-magnet a³5
is energized. As soon as the electro-magnet as is energized, its armature 34 is
attracted and moved out of engagement with the pin a on the side of the disk
or wheel a, and the latter is revolved by its spring or other motor, and in the
revolution of the disk or wheel a³, the cam or projection 33 on its periphery is
brought into engagement with the circuit terminal c³, and closes the circuit of the
pole changer magnet a, energizing the said pole changer magnet and causing it
to attract its armature and move the pole changer to reverse the polarity of the
main battery a³, so that, when the main circuit is momentarily closed at the trans-
mitting mechanism in the box, between the consecutive breaks occasioned by the
transmitting mechanism, a reverse current is sent over the main line or metallic
circuit a, a, and the polarity of the polarized bell magnets' a12, a¹³, in the main
line circuit, is reversed, thereby causing movement of the armature of the polarized
magnets, which movement brings a striker in contact with the polar bell ao.
The movement of the mechanical motor mechanism actuating the circuit con-
trolling disk or wheel is very rapid, and the local circuit containing the pole
changer magnet 200 is closed for but substantially an instant, and the said local
circuit is opened again at the circuit closer 30, 31, before the main line circuit a, a
is again broken at the transmitting mechanism in the box from which the signal is
being transmitted, so that, the pole changer 250 may be moved back into its normal
position to again place the main line circuit in normal condition, before the next
break in the said main line circuit occurs at the transmitting mechanism of the box
being operated.
Referring to Fig. 11, the successive breaks in the metallic circuit may be
represented by the heavy dark lines 200, and the space between the said lines may
represent the closure of the metallic circuit between successive breaks.
duration of reversal of the pole changer a250 may be represented by the light
The

page_text: es marked 202, and as represented in Fig. 11, the pole changer is Te
e break in the metallic circuit closes, so that, when the circuit is again closed
tween the breaks, the metallic circuit is in condition to reverse the current.
The movement of the pole changer back to its normal position may be effected,
can readily be perceived, by a spring, not shown, or by any other suitable
echanism.
When the main line circuit a' a³ is momentarily closed at the box between
accessive breaks, the relays a" and are energized and their armatures attracted,
us opening the circuit of the metallic circuit register magnet aand also the
ircuit of the electro-magnet. When the armature of the relay closes its
ocal circuit, the electro-magnet is energized and the bell 13 sounded. The
peration of the pole changer, as above described, occurs at each break in the main
ine circuit, occasioned by the transmitting mechanism in the box from which the
ignal is being sent. It will thus be seen, that with my improved system as thus
ar described, a signal, as for instance, a box number, may be transmitted over a
nain line circuit to a station and therein recorded, and at the same time, the same
signal is being retransmitted to the boxes over the same line circuit. The signal
received at the district station a' and recorded therein, may also be transmitted to
and recorded in the main or central station a, as will now be described.
r
The central office a has located in it a relay controlling a local circuit, as will
be described. The relay is connected in circuit with the register controlling
relays in the district station a', the said central station relay, as shown in Fig. 2,
having one wire connected to a pole changer 5 connected to and controlling a
main line battery, the said pole changer being also connected by wire c³ to the
armature e of the register controlling relay, for No. 4 circuit. The operation
of the pole changer will be more fully described hereinafter in connection with
Fig. 10. The armature co-operates with a front stop connected by wire c' to
the front stop for the armature at of relay a" in No. 3 circuit.
and a
The armature as shown in Fig. 2, is connected by wire to the back stop clo
for the armature e of an electro-magnet 3 located in a ground circuit as will be
described. The armature is connected by wire to au electro-magnet e having
the other end of its coil connected, as shown, in parallel with one end c" of the
coil of the relay c, through a resistance 8, a break wheel and pen
In order that the circuit for the relay c in the central
normally closed switch
office, may be closed independent of the metallic circuit relays a in No. 3 circuit
and relay for No. 4 circuit, I have provided a normally open shunt around the
said relays, the shunt for the relay consisting of the wires c, and a normally
open switch, and the shunt for the relay a consisting of wires 27, 2, and
When a signal or box number is sent from any box in a
normally open switch (29.
district, as for instance, from box 23, the main line connecting the district station a
with the central station a, is opened by the armature as of the relay a moving
out of contact with its front stop c, and the relay c in the main station is demag-
netized, permitting its armature, see Fig. 10, to be moved by its retractile
spring, so as to close a local circuit, containing a recording register f, upon
which the signal is recorded in the central station.
In this manner the signal or box number transmitted from any box on one
circuit is automatically recorded at both the district station and at the central
office or station.
The metallic district circuit may be opened and closed at each box, by any
0 suitable transmitting device, preferably by a break wheel d of any usual or well
known construction, the said break wheel, as represented in Fig. 2, being provided
with a hub d fast on a shaft ; but electrically separated therefrom by insula-
tion d³. The break wheel has co-operating with it a pen d forming a
terminal for the main line a³, and as herein represented, the hub of the break
5 wheel has co-operating with it a pen or brush, to which the line wire a' is
connected, the break wheel d forming the terminal for the main line a'.
In order to enable the signal or box number to be received at the district and

page_text: main stations, in case of a break in the main line or metallic circuit, I have provided
each box with preferably two additional signal transmitting devices or break
wheels d, d', provided with the same number of teeth as the break wheel d, and
designed to be rotated simultaneously with the break wheel d.
The break wheels d³, d may be simultaneously rotated with the break
wheel, preferably as herein shown, by mounting the said break wheels on
a cylinder or sleeve, fast on the shaft , but electrically separated therefrom
by insulation (1º.
The break wheels, as shown, are made smaller than the break wheel d, and are
provided with raised teeth with which co-operate pens or brushes do, ¹² respectively.
The pen or brush is connected by wire to the line wire a³, and the pen or
brush by wire d to the other line wire a'.
The sleeve ds of conducting material has co-operating with it a brush or pen
electrically connected to the ground d, as herein represented, see Fig. 2, by a
wire 7, arms 18, 19, forming one member of a normally closed switch located in
the box a', the co-operating member of which is a metallic plug 20 secured to or
forming part of the box door 621, see Fig. 4, the arm being connected by wire d²²
to the ground.
The teeth of the signal transmitting or break wheels do, d' are arranged with
relation to each other, and to the teeth on the main signal wheel d, so that the
circuits operated by said break wheels are actuated in succession, that is, the teeth
on the break wheel d engage with and leave the pen to break the main line
metallic circuit, before the teeth on the break wheel de engage the pen or brush 10,
and the teeth on the break wheel do engage with and leave the pen do before the
teeth on the break wheel d'engage the pen diz
The pen
d, joined by wire to the wire a', may be supposed to be connected
to the right of the line or metallic circuit, and the pen do joined by wire d¹³
to wire a may be supposed to be connected to the left of the line or metallic
circuit.
It will be seen that, when the transmitting shaft d² is rotated, three distinct and
independent paths for the signal are closed in succession at the transmitting
mechanism from which the signal is being sent. The metallic circuit constitutes
path No. 1, and is controlled by the break wheel d. The left of the line or metallic
circuit represented by wire a forms path No. 2, which is controlled by the break
wheel, and the right of the line represented by the wire a' forms path No. 3,
controlled by the break wheel d².
Normally but one of the paths referred to is in operative condition at the
district station, namely, path No. 1 or the metallic circuit. If the metallic circuit
should become broken on either side or line, the metallic circuit relay a would be
demagnetized, and the local circuit containing the metallic circuit register would
be closed, which fact would be made known to the operator or fireman on duty at
the district station by a prolonged signal or continuous mark on the paper, the
register continuing to run until its local circuit was broken, by opening the
switch a. As soon as the operator in the district station is thus notified that
the main line circuit is broken, he immediately connects both sides of the line or
metallic circuit with the ground at the district station. The line wires a², as may
be connected to the ground at the district station, as herein shown, by means of
switches 2, d, see Fig. 12, preferably connected together by an actuating device,
shown as a bar or rod (22, so as to be operated simultaneously by one movement
of the said actuating device, the said switches being joined, as shown, by
wires 23, to the line wires a', a respectively. The switches do, d¹ co-operate
with contact studs or terminals 25, 26, to which is connected one end d of the
coil of the relay magnet e¹³, the other end of the said coil being connected to
one pole of a battery 2, having its other pole connected to the ground 730. In
order that this feature of my invention may be more readily comprehended, let it
be supposed that the line wire a³ is broken at the point indicated by d in Fig. 2.
In this case, the box signal will be received at the district station over the line a²,

page_text: :
it being supposed that the operator has thrown the switches onto their
co-operating studs or terminals d, d2. The circuit over the line wire a' may be
traced as follows, eiz.-from the positive pole of the battery d by wire d³, relay
magnet, wire, to terminal studs (2, 20. The line as being broken, the
current cannot go over that line, but will pass through the switch, wire d³,
wires a and d to pen d, and when in the revolution of the main shaft d', the teeth
on the signal wheelcome in contact with the pen d, the current will pass
through the wheel, sleeve to pen d, thence by wire d", arm d³, plug 0
arm, and wire to ground 16 at the box, thence by the said ground back to
the negative pole of the battery d at the district station.
When the operator throws the switches 2, at the district station, the
ground circuit is closed at the said station and is normally opened at the boxes on
the circuit.
:
By referring to Figs. 2 and 12, it will be seen that the wires d³, and
switches, practically form a continuation of the main lines a', as, and that
the main line battery is located between the main lines a', a and connected in
multiple therewith. In order that one ground tap may be used to receive the
signals from both line wires a', as the main line battery a has connected in circuit
with it, a switch 0 located between the battery and one of the line wires, herein
shown as the wire a, the said switch being shown as connected by wire to one
pole of the battery, and as normally in contact with a contact stud 2 joined by
wire to the line wire a. The switch is preferably secured to the actuating
device or bar, and is moved to open the main battery circuit and render it
inoperative, when the switches, are moved to cut in the ground tap.
When a box is operated as will be described, the ground circnit over the
unbroken side of the metallic circuit, is closed at one of the break wheels de, d' as
described, and at each closure, the relay c, which I shall hereinafter designate as
the ground tap relay, is energized, thereby attracting its armature 12 at each
closure of the ground circuit. At each attraction of the armature c¹³, the main
line circuit between the district station and the central station is opened, thereby
actuating the register at the said central station, and recording therein the number
of the box from which the signal has been sent. At each attraction of the
armature the local circuit in the district station, containing the open line
register magnet 500 and the tap bell magnet 10, is closed at the terminals 32, 33,
one terminal as 33 being connected by wire to one pole of the battery a18, the
other pole of which is joined by wire to the register magnet 300, connected
by wire to the bell magnet (10, which is joined by wire to the other
terminal 32.
If the break in the metallic circuit should occur on the right of the line, that is,
in the wire a', the signal would be transmitted from the box by the break wheel d
over the left of the line, that is over the wire a³. It will thus be seeu, that when
the operator in the district station throws the switches do, d into contact with
the studs or terminals 2, 0, both sides of the line are connected with the ground
tap, and the signal will be received over the unbroken line wire. By this feature
of my invention, have increased the chances of receiving a signal or box number
threefold, and have thereby increased the efficiency of the fire alarm service
threefold.
In order that the mechanism of each fire alarm box may be kept in good
mechanical and electrical condition, free from dust, rust, etc., the mechanism of
each box should be operated within certain intervals of time, for it frequently
happens with the fire alarm and like signaling services now commonly in use, that
some of the boxes are not operated for a very considerable length of time, and
when called upon to perform their work, are found wanting, owing to the poor
electrical and mechanical condition of the mechanism within the box. In order
to maintain the signal service in good electrical and mechanical condition, means
are provided, as will be described, whereby the box number or fire signal may
be transmitted from any box on a circuit to the district station, by the same signal

page_text: wheel which transmits the fire signal, without giving an alarm of fire, whereby two
different and distinct purposes may be indicated by the same signal without
additions thereto, subtractions therefrom or repetitions thereof, the signal indicating
one purpose proving the same signal used to indicate another purpose.
This feature of my invention may be accomplished, as herein shown, by means
of an auxiliary circuit, which I prefer to designate as the test circuit, or it may be
accomplished by changing the character of the impulses transmitted to the
receiving instrument by the main signal transmitting mechanism or wheel d, as
will be described. The auxiliary circuit, as herein shown, is provided with a
battery E, having connected to one of its poles a third wire e. and having its other
pole joined, as herein shown, to the metallic circuit battery, by wire e'. The
wire e, indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 12, includes in it a relay e, which I
prefer to designate as the test relay, and as herein shown, the wire e, also includes
in it a circuit breaker or key e', which may be of any desired or well known con-
struction, and which may be used for a purpose, as will be described. The third
wire e is electrically connected to each box on the circuit, it being shown in Fig. 2
as connected by wire e', forming practically a part of the third wire, to one member
or spring arm of a normally open switch located in the box, the other member or
spring arm of which is joined by wire e' to the member or terminal of a normally
open circuit controller, the said terminal being shown as a pen or brush es, provided,
as shown, with a contact point e, the other member or terminal being formed by
the pen or brush provided with a contact point e". The spring arms ee of the
switch in the box are normally held open or separated from each other, by a
plug of insulating material fastened to the inside of the box door. The
box a is also provided, as herein shown, with a second normally open switch
or circuit controller, composed of spring arms e13, e, normally separated by an
insulating plug e fastened to the box door, the arm 3 being shown as connected
by wire e to one line wire as, and the arm being joined by wire e to the
other line wire a. Normally the box door is locked or otherwise securely
closed, and can only be opened by a fireman or other duly authorized person, and
when the said door is closed, the test circuit is opened at the box, and thus rendered
inoperative.
:
In order to transmit a test signal from a box to the district station, by means
of the auxiliary circuit, the door of the said box is opened, and the insulating
plugs are withdrawn, and the arms es, e, e¹³, e14 of the normally open
circuit controllers, spring together, and the metallic plug 620 is also withdrawn,
and the arms 18, 19 remain apart, which opens the ground tap in the box
being tested. When the spring arms e, e and e¹³, et are closed within the box,
the third wire circuit is closed between the arms e, e, and a shunt circuit is
established for the metallic circuit, around the fire alarm signal transmitting
wheel d, by the arms e¹³, e, which shunt circuit may be traced as follows, viz.-
from the positive pole of the metallic circuit battery a³, by wire a' through the
relays a and b to the wire e in the box, thence by spring arms e, e¹³, to
wire a at the point marked 2, Fig. 2, thence through the polarized magnets a¹³
back over the wire as to the wire 3, switch d, wire d to the negative pole of
the battery a³. In this manner, the metallic circuit through the box 23 being
tested, is maintained intact, so that a fire alarm signal may be simultaneously
transmitted to the district station from any other box on the circuit, at the same
time box 23 is being tested.
The test signal or box number is transmitted by means of the fire alarm trans-
mitting wheel d of the box, which in its revolution permits the contact point e
on the pen to come in contact with the contact point e on the pen e8, at
each break in the wheel d, thereby closing the test circuit at the box.
When the test circuit is closed in the box, as described, the circuit from the
battery E, as herein shown, may flow over two paths, including the right and left of
the metallic line circuit respectively. The path over the right of the line may be
traced as follows, viz.-from the positive pole of the battery E, by wire e, through

page_text: the test relay e, branch wire e', to spring arm e in the box, thence by spring
arm e, wire e', pen e, contact points e, elo, pen d', wire as, to point marked 2 in
Fig. 2, thence by wire ele, spring arms e¹³, e, wire e" to line wire a', over the said
line wire through the relays a and b to the metallic circuit battery a', through a
portion of the said battery, thence by wire e' to the negative pole of the
battery E.
>
The bell
The path for the current over the left of the line may be traced as follows, viz.―
from the positive pole of the battery E, by wire e, through the test relay e³,
branch wire e to spring arm e in the box, thence by spring arm e, wire e', pen e³,
contact points e, e¹o, pen d', wire as to point marked 2, thence through the magnet
coils a over the left line wire a, to wires, thence by switch do, wire d",
through a portion of the battery a, thence by wire el to the negative pole of the
battery E.
In practice, the current will take the path of least resistance, which
is normally over the left of the line, owing to the high resistance of the relays a
and in the right of the line. When the test circuit is closed at the contact
points e, e, which occurs at each break in the transmitting wheel d, the test
relay is energized, and its armature e20 is attracted and brought in contact with
a front stop, forming one terminal of a local circuit, the armature e, as repre-
sented, constituting the other terminal of the said circuit. The local circuit just
referred to, contains within it, a register magnet e22, having its armature e¹³ provided
with a recording pen, stylus or device e, co-operating with a register tape on a
reel e, upon which tape the box number or signal transmitted is recorded. The
local circuit also contains within it a tap belle of any usual construction, having
its magnet es connected in multiple with the register magnet e².
magnet es, as shown, has one end ead of its coil connected to one pole, shown as the
positive pole of the battery a18, and its other wire et connected to the armature
spring e, co-operating with the back stop 33 joined by wire e³ to a wire e³³, joined
to the test register magnet e" and to the front stop e, the wire e including in it
a switch e36
The register magnet e is connected by wire e37 to the wire eo. The
armature of the test relaye is joined by wire to the negative pole of the
battery a¹. The local circuit containing the test register magnet e²² and the bell
magnete, is closed each time the test relay e is energized, which occurs when the
test circuit is closed by the engagement of the contact points e, e10 in the box
being tested, and at each closure of the local circuit, the test register magnet e²
is energized and a record made upon the recording strip e, and at the same time
the bell e is struck, giving an audible signal, by which the operator at the district
station may know what box is being tested. It will be noticed that the main
signal transmits identically the same signal over the auxiliary circuit, that it
does over the main circuit, but for an entirely different purpose, and in this way,
absolute knowledge of the condition of the main signal transmitting mechanism is
obtained by the test signal, for the test signal will reveal any imperfections of the
main signal. In other words, the test signal proves the main signal. The register
for the test magnet e will preferably be an independent register from the main
signal register a20, and its shaft will be revolved by an independent motor
mechanism, for a purpose as will be described.
The operator at the district station may wish to communicate with the operator
testing the box, and as one means by which this result may be accomplished, I
have shown the box as provided with an indicating device, shown as a pointer e
co-operating with a scale et on a dial e", the said pointer being secured to or
forming part of the armature of a magnet coil, not shown, but after the manner of
the ordinary galvanometer, the said coil being included in the main line or metallic
circuit.
As herein represented, the indicator coil is included in the main line a', and the
main circuit being normally closed, the pointer normally stands at rest in register
with the highest graduation on the scale. If now, the operator at the district
station desires to communicate with the person testing the box, the operator
intermittingly interposes a resistance R into the metallic circuit, which may be
B

page_text: effected by means of a make and break key e13 of any usual construction, it being
located as herein shown, in the line a' in the district station.
As the key 3 is opened and closed, the resistance R is cut in and out of the
main line circuit, thereby diminishing the strength of the current of the battery a³,
and causing the indicator pointer to oscillate over the scale, and the person at the
box is thus notified that the operator at the district station wishes to communicate
with him. In this case, a telephone transmitter e and receiver et are connected in
circuit at the box, and a telephone e7, transmitter e and condenser are connected
in circuit at the district station. The transmitter 15 and telephone e, as herein
represented, are connected by suitable wires e, e to contact plates e, e³3 on
opposite sides of an insulating plug e, which in practice is inserted between the
spring arms, eª, e to connect the telephone and transmitter in circuit at the box.
The condenser e", telephone 7 and transmitter e18 are connected by suitable
wires, to contact strips e, e87 on opposite sides of an insulating plug e", which
may be .coupled into the test circuit by inserting the said plug between normally
open contact arms e60, 61, 62, 63, the arms e, e3 being joined to the line wires a³, a³,
respectively, and the arms e, e62, being connected to the third wire e.
In order to establish communication, the third wire circuit, normally open in the
box between the contact points e, el, must be completed, and this is accomplished,
as herein shown, by establishing a telephonic short circuit between the third wire
and a metallic line wire, effected by interposing a condenser eo between the third
wire, and one of the metallic circuit line wires, one side of the said condenser
being connected, as shown, to the spring arm e, and the other to the line wire 8.
By inserting the insulated plug e between the spring arms es, e, the operator at
the box can talk over either side of the line, while the operator at the district
station may talk over one side of the line, as a', by interposing his plug es between
the arms e62 63 When the plug e is inserted between either set of contact
arms e, e, e, e63, the third wire e between the said contact arms and the battery E,
is opened by means of the key e³ to prevent short circuiting of the telephone at
the district station.
:
To more completely increase the efficiency of the service, I prefer that the
fireman or other operator, commonly known as the floorman in the district station,
should be obliged to report to a like person or floorman on duty at the central
station. This result may be accomplished by assigning to each district station a
distinguishing number, and requiring that the said number should be transmitted
over the line connecting the district station with the central station regularly at
predetermined intervals of time, say for instance, every twenty minutes. I have
herein represented the number 22, as the check number, which is to be transmitted
to the central station from the district station, and for sake of distinction, I prefer
to designate the said number as the floorman's number.
The floorman's number or signal is received at the central station upon a
register, see Fig. 10, operated by the armature f¹ of an electro-magnet f
located in a local circuit, controlled by the armature f³ of a relay f, the said
armature being joined by wire f to one coil of the magnet f, the other coil of
which, as herein shown, is connected by wire f to the magnet f of a tapper
bell, the magnet f', as shown, being connected by wire to one pole of the
battery, the other pole of which is connected by wire to a back stop f³ for
the relay. The armature f³, as herein shown, co-operates with a front stop,
so located as to prevent the armature f³ from making contact with the pole piece
of the relay f, so that the said armature may be drawn back against its stop f¹³
by its spring, when the current passing through the relay is weakened, as
by the interposition of the resistance in the line circuit connecting the district
station with the central station.
13
The resistance may be cut in and out of the main line circuit joining the
district and central stations, by first opening the switch c2, and then rotating the
notched wheel or disk, representing the check or floorman's number.
The notched wheel or disk referred to is herein marked c¹ in Fig. 2, and in

page_text: ractice the said disk or wheel may be permanently mounted on the shaft a", or
ay be detachable therefrom, and may be placed thereon by the floorman at the
ime he sends in his signal to the central station. If desired, the wheel or disk c¹
may be mounted upon a separate motor mechanism from that which rotates the
haft a".
When the floorman's number is received in the central station, and recorded upon
he register f, I prefer to have the operator at the central station stamp or other-
vise indicate upon the tape of the register f, the time at which the message from
the floorman was received. It will thus be seen that the floorman at the district
station is under surveillance, as it were, for if his number does not appear on the
tape at the central station at the predetermined intervals of time, a record of the
fact, that he was remiss in this particular duty, stands against him, and at the same
time, if the operator does not stamp on the tape, the time at which the message
was received, a record of the fact stands against him. The time stamp may be of
any usual or well known construction.
I have previously described how a signal or box number transmitted from any
box on one circuit connected to one district station, may be retransmitted over the
same metallic circuit and over all the other metallic circuits connected to the said
district station. In some instances, it may be desired to extend this feature of my
invention to all the circuits in the system, so that the signal from any box of one
district circuit may be retransmitted not only over the same circuit and the other
circuits in that particular district, but also over every circuit in every other district
included in the system.
In Fig. 10, I have shown a diagram of circuits, illustrating two districts, as
connected to the central station, by which this feature of my invention may be
illustrated.
This feature of my invention may be accomplished, as represented in Fig. 10,
by interposing in the line circuit connecting the district station with the central
station, a polarized electro-magnet 20, herein shown as included in the line wire c¹,
and connecting the armature 21 of the said magnet and a stop f" for the same, in
a normally open branch of the circuit in which is located the pole changer
magnets a, the armature f being connected by wire f23 to the wire a2, and the
stop being joined by wire f" to the wire a
The main line between the district and central stations has located in it, within
5 the central station, a pole changer connected to a local battery 28 and governed
by a pole changer magnet f", one wire 28 of which is connected to one ter-
minal of a circuit controller, the other terminal f80 of which is connected in
circuit with the pole changing magnets of all the line circuits connecting the
district stations with the central station, the terminal ƒ as represented, being
local battery, the other pole of which is
40 joined by wire " to one pole of
joined by wire to the pole changing magnet which is connected by wire f
to the pole changing magnet. The pole changing magnets a controlling the
pole changers in the individual circuits of the second district, are operated to
automatically reverse the current in the said district station, by a second polarized
45 magnet included in the line wire c" for said second district, the armature f" of
said polarized magnet being connected by wire f23 to the wire a, and a front
stop for said arinature being joined by wire f4 to the wire a. The pole
changing magnets a 20 in the individual circuits of all the districts are similarly
governed by a polarized electro-magnet 20. The circuit controlling device
50 located in the central station and governing the circuit of the pole changing
magnets f,, may and preferably will be of the same construction as the circuit
controller located in the district station, it consisting of a cam disk or wheel f"
rotated by a spring, weight or other suitable mechanism, not shown, and normally
held stationary by a detent or finger f" on a lever having secured to it ar
55 armature of an electro-magnet in a local circuit controlled by the relay c.
The detent or finger f", as shown, engages a stud or projection f on the can
disk. The relay c, as shown in Fig. 10, has its armature fƒ in contact with

page_text: its pole piece, so that the armature will be withdrawn by its spring f*, only in case
of a dead break in the line circuit, and not by diminution in strength of the
current. The armature f4 forms one terminal of the local circuit, the other
terminal of which is formed, as shown, by the back stop f". The armature 46
and back stop f" constitute the terminals of the local circuit containing the electro-
magnet, and they also, as represented, form the terminals of a second local
circuit containing a registering magnet f governing the operation of a register
or recording mechanism f" upon which is received the signal, made by a dead
break in the line circuit.
As represented in Fig. 10, the armature 46 is connected by wires f0, f to one
pole of a local battery 2 having its other pole connected by wire f3 to the
register magnet f48, joined by wires f, f" to the back stop f, thus completing
the local circuit for the register magnet f*8.
The local circuit for the controlling magnet f" may be traced as follows, viz.-
from armature f46 by wires f60, 60, 61 to one pole of a local battery 62, thence
by wire to magnet f", thence by wires f64, 55, to back stop f".
The operation of this feature of my invention may now be readily comprehended.
Let it be supposed that a box in the first circuit of district No. 2 has been pulled
or operated to send in a fire alarm signal. At each break in the metallic circuit
in the district, the main line between the district station No. 2 and the central
station is opened, thereby demagnetizing the relay magnet c and permitting its
armature to be drawn back into contact with its back stop f" to close the
local circuits containing the register magnet f48 and the controlling magnet f".
The register magnet 48 records the signal or box number, at the district station,
while the controlling magnet releases the disk or wheel f and permits it to
revolve and close the local circuit containing the pole changing magnets f", f34,
thereby operating the pole changers f25 in the main lines connecting the central
station with the district stations. When the pole changers f" are operated by
their magnets, the current of battery 26 in each main line is reversed, and at each
reversal of the battery 26, the polarized electro-magnet 20 in each main line
between the district stations and the central station, is operated, and the armature
of each polarized electro-magnet is brought into contact with the stop 22, thereby
closing a short circuit for the terminals a, a of the pole changing magnets a
in each district station. The short circuiting of the terminals a, a³ energizes the
pole changing magnets a 200, and operates the pole changer in each district circuit
to reverse the current of the metallic circuit battery a³, and thereby operate the
polarized bells a¹0 in the boxes. The current of the battery f26 in the main line
connecting the central station with the district station, in whose district the box
was pulled or operated, is reversed, as well as the current of the battery 2 in the
other main lines between the stations, and the reversal of the said current does not
interfere with the electro-mechanical circuit controller governing the pole changer
circuit terminals a30, a3, in the station of the district from which the signal was
transmitted, but on the other hand, serves as an auxiliary for that particular
station in case the electro-mechanical circuit controller should become inoperative.
It will thus be seen, that a signal or box number transmitted from any box in any
circuit of a district, may be automatically repeated from the central station over
the metallic circuits of all the districts.
28
200
In order that a chief officer or other duly authorized person provided with a
key to the boxes, may ascertain whether or not a fire signal has been sent from
any box within his district, I have provided the circuit of the pole changing
magnet a20 of each district with a second or auxiliary set of normally open
terminals 5, s, connected by wires s², s³ to the circuit wires as, a. The normally
open circuit terminals s, s' are designed to be closed by a break wheel or trans-
mitting devices, detachably mounted on the shaft eo of the test register, so that
when the officer pulls in his test signal, the revolution of the shaft e" of the test
register in the district station, will cause the signal wheel or disk to inter-
mittingly close and open the circuit terminals, and thereby energize the

page_text: agnet aand operate the pole changer a20, and thus sound the polar
the box.
In
The polarized bell a¹0 will be sounded as often as the current is reversed, which
ill be as often as there are projections or teeth on the disk or wheel s.
actice, there will be located in the central station, as many wheels s as there are
oxes in the district, each wheel having on it a box number, and preferably after
ach alarm of fire, the floorman or other officer will place upon the shaft e, a
heels corresponding to the number of the box last operated to transmit a fire
larm.
In order to avoid confusion in the drawing, the shaft upon which the break
wheels is mounted, is shown detached from the test register in Figs. 2 and 12.
The signal box a employed in connection with my improved system may be
The box a, preferably
nade of the construction shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 7.
of metal, contains within it, the break wheel shaft d, and a suitable motor
mechanism for operating said shaft, the said mechanism, as herein shown, con-
sisting of a segmental gear h, see Fig. 6, mounted on a shaft, upon which is
The segmental
mounted a normally wound up spring 2, the said segmental gear meshing with a
pinion on the shaft d², as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6.
gear 1, as herein shown, is connected by a line to one end of a bar or rod h'
having its other end preferably fastened to a hook / extended through a slot ¹²
in a partition .
The pull bar h, as shown, is provided with a slot through which is extended
a hook normally resting at the bottom of the slot h. The hook is extended
through a slot in the partition A, and the slot 10 is made of sufficient length to
cause the break wheel shaft to make one complete revolution, whereas the
slot is preferably made three times as long, to enable the pull bar to be
moved sufficient to cause the break wheel shaft d to be revolved three times, so
that when a fire alarm is pulled in, three rounds will be transmitted to the district
and central stations, whereas when a test signal is pulled in, only one round will be
transmitted to the district station. The door 6" is provided with a fragible portion
or section, herein represented as a glass plate or pane in its lower portion,
preferably secured to the door by a clamping frame, fastened to the back of
the door by suitable clamping screws 4, the said frame being readily removable,
when the door is opened, to permit of a new pane or plate of glass to be placed in
5 the door. When the door is closed and locked, access to the hook may be had
by breaking the glass ¹³, and a fire alarm signal may be transmitted from the box.
When the door is closed, the hook is at the bottom of the slot h, and when the
hook his pulled down, the segmental gear is moved downward without revolving
the transmitting shaft d, as in fire alarm boxes now commonly constructed, and
O when the hook is released, the spring 2 restores the said segmental gear to its
normal position and produces a uniform rotation of the shaft d², the speed of
rotation being controlled by the usual escapement wheel 150 and pawl 10. The
box a is also preferably provided with an audible signal, shown as a vibrating
bell, baving its hammer 21 secured to an escapement pawl ", controlling the
45 operation of a normally wound up motor mechanism h3, of any usual or well
known construction. The escapement pawl 22 is itself governed by a releasing
device, rendered operative by the breaking of the glass or by the opening of
the door. The releasing device, as herein shown, see Fig. 7, consists of a lever h
extended through a slot in the partition and fast on a shaft h having
50 bearings, as herein shown, in lugs or brackets " fastened to the partition h", the
said shaft having fast on it a crank or arm 8 to which is pivoted one end of a
rod extended up through a slotted lug or bracket 30 secured to the partition
the said rod having secured to or forming part of it, an enlarged head upo
which rests an arm or rod ", pivoted to a bracket or lug secured to a stationar
55 support in the box, the said arm or rod normally standing in the path of movemen
of an arm or projection, on a rock shaft on which the escapement pawl
mounted. The rod is normally pressed forward, as herein shown, by

page_text: spring. In operation the detent or arm 32 is placed upon the enlarged head
and is engaged by the rod or arm 34, the rod or lever 24 at such time being raised
into its elevated position, and the said lever is maintained in its elevated position
by closing the door. When the glass is broken, the lever falls, and turning the
crank shaft 20, removes the head from engagement with the lever 2, and
permitting the escapement pawl to be vibrated by its motor mechanism, thereby
sounding the bell 20, which I shall designate as the street bell.
Referring to Fig. 8, I have shown the spring arms e³, e, e¹³, e14, d¹³, d, previously
referred to in connection with Fig. 2, as secured to an insulating support 40, the
said arms being in line with holes or openings n41, 12, 13, in the partition, and the
co-operating plugs e12, e15, 620 are shown as fastened to an insulating support /*10,
secured to the door.
As shown in Fig. 2, the main line between the district station and the central
station, may be provided with a normally open branch around the relay c¹³, which
branch is shown as composed of a normally open switch $20, connected by wires to
the line wire c³, and a contact stud 22, joined by wire s3 to the line wire c¹. By
closing the switch $20, the armature c¹² of the relay c¹³, is cut out of circuit, and the
said relay may be adjusted or otherwise repaired.
Another feature of my invention consists in a novel system of identifying or
numbering the signal transmitting or fire alarm boxes, whereby each district of the
system, each circuit in the district, and each box in the circuit is made known over
all the circuits in the district, so that, when any particular box is operated to send
in a fire alarm, the fire may be substantially positively located by a person at any
other box in another circuit.
In accordance with this feature of my invention, the first number of the signal
transmitting mechanism will represent the district in which the said transmitting
mechanism is located, the second number will represent the circuit, and the total
number, the box in the said circuit. This feature of my invention will be more
readily comprehended by referring to Fig. 1, wherein.it will be seen, that all the
boxes or signal transmitting mechanisms in the district 2, which may be supposed to
be the second district, there being no first district represented in said figure, have
their numbers commence with two (2), and that the next figure of the number
corresponds with the number of the circuit in which the said box is located, and
that all the figures comprising the number indicate the box. This feature of my
invention is of special importance in a system, in which the alarm is not sounded
on the outside bells, but is received in the various engine and hose houses.
For instance, let it be supposed that box 231 has been operated. Any officer
going to a box in the second district, say for instance, box 262, to ascertain if a
fire alarm has been given, will pull in his test signal and the number 31 may be
struck on the bell a¹ on the box 262, the floorman in the district station having
placed the wheel numbered 31 on the test register shaft 00. The officer being in
the second district knows that the number 31 means that box 231, or box 31 in the
second district has been operated to send in an alarm of fire.
The box number 231 is received at the central station A, and is transmitted to
all the other district stations, as a³, a³, and to all the boxes in the said districts, by
the pole changer controlling device, and if an officer should happen to be at any
box of the districts a³, as at that time, he would receive the entire box number, but
in order that an officer, who may go to a box after the signal has been repeated
from the central station, may know from what district the last signal was sent, the
floorman in the stations a², a³ may place upon the shaft of the test register in said
stations, a wheel or disk having upon it the whole box number 231, or the said
disk or wheel may have upon it only the number 2, which would signify to the
officer making the test, that an alarm of fire had been sent from the second
district.
The door of the fire alarm box may be divided into two parts, marked 90
and 91 in Fig. 3, and each part may be separately locked, so that the upper part 90
may be opened without disturbing the lower part. It will be noticed that when the

page_text: 55
est signal is operated, the fire alarm transmitting wheel is employed to send in the
aid test signal, and the said wheel and its co-operating pen d' are kept free from
ust, and good electrical contact is thus always maintained between the said wheel
nd pen, so that the danger of false signals which might be caused by dust or dirt
n the wheel or pen, is avoided.
Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that when the switch is closed, the
esistance and the break wheel c¹ and pen c20 are in a shunt circuit for the main
ine.
In practice, all the pole changing magnets 20 in the district station will be
connected in series with the battery a, the point at which the magnet wires are
connected being represented by 7, 8, in Fig. 2.
In order that an officer at a box may notify the floorman at the district station,
that he wishes to communicate with him by telephone, I have provided each box
with a normally open circuit controller or key we included in the test circuit, the said
key, as shown in Fig. 2, being connected to the line wire a" and co-operating with a
When the officer at the box desires to
terminal w joined by wire to to the wire e¹.
notify the floorman at the district station, that he wishes to talk with him, he
depresses the key w and closes the third wire circuit for the test relay e, thereby
The circuit controlled by the
operating the test register and ringing the bell ".
key we may be traced as follows, viz. from the positive pole of the battery E by
wires e and w² to the terminal ', thence by the key w, and wire a over the left of
the line, to wire d³, thence by switch d, wire d, battery aº, wire e¹ to the negative
pole of the battery E.
I have thus far described one method by which the main signal wheel may
transmit its signal to indicate two different and distinct purposes, that is over the
metallic circuit for one purpose, and over the auxiliary circuit for another
purpose, but I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as the same
result may be effected in other ways, as for instance, by transmitting the signal
in a series of long impulses over the main circuit to indicate one purpose, as for
instance, an alarm of fire, and by transmitting the same signal over the same
circuit in a series of short impulses to indicate a different purpose, as for instance, a
test signal, which is recorded in the receiving station, but does not give an alarm
of fire.
In Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, I have shown one form of transmitting apparatus or
box which may be used to accomplish this result, and in Figs. 4 and 74, I have
shown diagrams of circuits which may be used in connection with the apparatus
shown in Figs. 14 to 3* inclusive.
The box containing the operative parts of the transmitting mechanism is and
may be substantially the same as the box a' shown in Fig. 1. The transmitting
mechanism referred to, as shown in diagram view Fig. 4, consists of two signal trans-
mitting or break wheels or disks d, r', mounted upon the shaft and having
co-operating with them contact pens or brushes 72, 73. The shaft d, as shown in
Fig. 4, is connected by the pen or brush to one line wire a' of the metallic
circuit, and the pens are also connected by independent paths, as will be
5 described, to the other line wire as of the said metallic circuit, the said line wires
being connected respectively to the negative and positive poles of the battery a³,
located in the receiving station. The shaft d², as herein represented, has fastened
to it a shaft, electrically separated from the shaft d by suitable insulation as at ³,
the two break wheels d', d',
and the shaft, as shown in Fig. 44, has mounted upon
O with which co-operate contact pens 2.
The shaft has co-operating with it the pen or brush, connected to the
ground by the wired, contact arms d, d and metallic plug 20, substantially
as shown in Fig. 2. The contact pen 10 is connected by branch wire d¹³ to one
line wire as, while the pen d' is connected by branch wire di to the other line wire a'.
The break wheels d, are arranged on the shaft, so that the teeth of the said
wheels will not be simultaneously in contact with their co-operating pens d¹º,
d¹³

page_text: but will be successively brought in contact therewith, as described in connection
with Fig. 2.
The pen or brush 72 co-operating with the break wheel d is connected by a
wire to a contact pen 7, forming one half of one member of a nominally closed
circuit controller B, the other half of the said member being shown as a like contact
pen connected by wire to the line wire a8, the co-operating member for the
said contact arms being shown as a metallic plug 70, the wires r, and circuit
controller B forming one path for the signal transmitting mechanism.
The pen or brush is connected by wire 12 to one member 13 of a nominally
closed circuit controller or key, the other member of which is connected
by wire to one member 17 of the nominally closed circuit controller 18, the
other member of which is connected by wire 220 to a spring arm 21 CO-
operating with a like spring arm 22 connected by wire 23 to the line wire as,
the spring arms, constituting a nominally open circuit controller and
being nominally separated, as will be described, by a plug 25 of insulating
material, the said wires and circuit controllers forming a second path for the signal
transmitting mechanism.
The member of the circuit controller 4 is connected by wire 72 to one end of
a resistance coil 27, having its other end connected by a wire 28 to the line wire a².
The line wire a', as shown in Fig. 4, includes within it, as shown, an electro-
magnet, herein represented as operating an ordinary sounder, such as commonly
employed in telegraph work. The electro-magnet 29 is nominally shunted out of
circuit by means of a circuit controller connected by wire to the line wire a
on one side of the electro-magnet, and a co-operating terminal 32 also connected
to the line wire a' on the other side of the said electro-magnet.
The line wire a within the receiving station has connected to it preferably two
relays a, e, for the best results in multiple with each other, and the line wire a
within the receiving station includes in it, as herein shown, the nominally closed
circuit controller or key The line wires a², a are connected to a pole
changer a, by means of which the polarity of the battery a may be reversed.
The circuit controller 33, as represented in Fig. 44, consists of two terminals or
members 34, 35, the terminal 7.35 having connected to it one end of a resistance
coil 36, having its other end connected to the terminal 34.
The terminal 35, when moved to open the main line a', preferably co-operates
with the terminals 237, 38 of a shunt loop 39,0 for the pole changer, for a purpose
as will be described.
The relay a in the receiving station is provided with the armature a", forming
one terminal of a local circuit including the local battery a¹8, the other terminal for
the said local circuit being a back stop, to which is connected one wire of the
electro-magnet a, controlling the movement of a register a" upon which the main
or fire alarm signal is received.
The relay e, herein shown in multiple with the relay a, is also provided with
the armature 20, forming one terminal of a local circuit including a local battery 12,
the other terminal being formed by a back stop 3 for the said armature, the back
stop, as herein shown, being connected to the electro-magnet e²² controlling the
register upon which the test signals are received. The relay e2 is constructed
and adjusted, so as to respond to impulses or breaks of short duration in the main
line circuit, whereas, the relay a" is constructed and adjusted, so as to be uneffected
by the short impulses, but to be effected by the long impulses or breaks in the
circuit, and for the sake of distinction, I prefer to designate the relay a¹ as the
slow relay, and the relay e as the fast relay.
The pole changer in the receiving station has co-operating with it the
electro-maguet a located in a local circuit, provided with the local battery a 270,
the terminals for the said local circuit being shown in Fig. 4 as a break wheel 11,
mounted on the shaft eo, of the register e20, and a contact brush or pen ¹³.
The break wheel d of the transinitting mechanism, I prefer to designate as the

page_text: main signal or fire alarm wheel, and the break wheel as the test wheel. These
two wheels are represented in Fig. 4 as independent of each other, but in practice
they may be one wheel having a periphery of sufficient width to make contact with
both the pens ³ ³
The metallic plugs 620, 10 and the insulating plug 25, in practice, are preferably
secured to the door 6 of the box, and in the normal condition of the box, the
door 6 is closed, so that the metallic plug is in engagement with the contact
springs,, and the insulating plug in engagement with and between the
contact springs 1, 2, and the metallic plug 60 is in engagement with the contact
arms or brushes d18, d. In the normal condition of the box r, the door 621 is
closed, and the circuit for the fire alarm wheel or signal d is closed by the plug 10,
the circuit of the test wheel is opened by the insulating plug, and the ground
tap circuit in the box is closed by the plug 620, but is open at the break
wheels de, d'.
It will thus be seen, that in the normal condition of the box, that is, when the
door is closed, the circuit from the contact pen ² is closed, while the circuit
from the contact pen is open, and consequently, if the transmitting mechanism
should be operated while the door is closed, the wheel d would transmit a signal,
while the wheel r¹ would be rendered practically inoperative.
The circuit for the fire alarm signal may be traced as follows, viz. from the
positive pole of the battery, through the pole changer a250 by wire as to the wire,
thence by contact arm, plug 10, arm, wire to pen ², thence by break wheel d,
shaft d², brush d³, wire a², wire 31, switch 730, terminal, to line wire a', thence
through the relays a¹, c², key, through the pole changer a20 to the negative
pole of the battery.
The box r, as represented in Figs. 14 and 24, is provided with the auxiliary
door 91, having the glass pane ¹³, against which bears the lever ", controlling the
movement of an escapement for a bell-operating motor mechanism, substantially
as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 7.
The signal transmitting or break wheel shaft d² is rotated by a motor mechanism,
not shown, but which may be actuated by the hooks h³, 18 on the pull bar ', sub-
stantially as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. When the door 62 is closed, the box is in its
normal working condition, and an alarm of fire may be sent to the receiving station
by breaking the glass 13 and pulling the hook 8 to start the motor mechanism, and
when thus started, the main line circuit will be opened by the successive breaks in the
wheel d, and both relays a, e will be operated, and the signal received upon the
registers a, 28.
In order that an officer or fireman may transmit the signal from the transmitting
mechanism without sending in an alarm of fire, and at the same time operate the
same transmitting mechanism used to send in the fire alarm signal, the fast relay e
in multiple with the slow relay a" is preferably employed, and preferably a weight
or pendulum 60, normally in engagement with the escapement pawl of the
motor mechanism, is disengaged from the said mechanism, to allow the motor
mechanism to be revolved at a substantially rapid rate.
Referring now to Fig. 34, I have shown the weight or pendulum 700 as secured
to or forming part of a clutch, shown as a sleeve or hub, provided with engaging
pins adapted to lock with pins on the escapement or pawl controlling the
movement of the motor mechanism. The clutch hub may be disengaged from
the escapement pawl by a disengaging mechanism or device, herein shown as a
lever, pivoted to the clutch hub, and acted upon by a spring 75 having one end
fastened to the lever 65, and its other end to a stationary part of the motor
mechanism or to the box r. The clutch hub is brought into engagement with
the escapement pawl, when the door 61 is closed, by an engaging device, herein
shown as a rod 7 secured to the lever, and which in practice is extended
through a suitable opening in the door, and adapted to be struck by a projection
or knob on the side of the door when the latter is closed.
The knob is provided, as shown in Fig. 1ª, with a latch ³ to engage a ring

page_text: or enlarged head 700 of the rod 787. When the door 2 is closed, the knob 758 strikes
the enlarged head 700 and pushes the lever 65 and the clutch hub inward, so as
to engage the clutch with the escapement pawl. It will readily be seen, that when
the clutch hub is engaged with the pawl, the weight or pendulum 7.50 controls or
regulates the rate of movement of the motor mechanism, so that, if a signal should
be sent with the door 21 closed, as when an alarm of fire is given, the motor
mechanism would revolve substantially slowly, and a comparatively long lapse of
time would expire in transmitting this signal, which in practice would preferably
be thirty seconds, whereas, when the door 21 is open and the clutch disengaged
from the escapement pawl, it will readily be seen, that if the motor mechanism is
set in operation, it will revolve at a substantially rapid rate, and the signal would
be transmitted in a substantially short time, which may be supposed to be about
three seconds.
7.28
7.8
is
When the door 621 is open, the metallic plug 10 is withdrawn from the pens 2.7
and the circuit governed by the pen is open, whereas, the insulating plug
withdrawn from between the spring arms 21, 22, permitting the said arms to come
together and close the circuit controlled by the pen 3, and it is this circuit which
is actuated when the motor mechanism is operated with the door open.
The circuit for the transmitting mechanism, when the door 21 is open, may be
traced as follows, riz.-from the positive pole of the battery aº, through the pole
changer a250 by wire as to wire 23, thence by contact terminals 22, 21, wire 720,
circuit controller 7.18, wire 18, circuit controller 74, wire 12, to pen ³, thence
by break wheel, shaft (, brush ds, wire a', through wire 31, switch 30,
terminal 32, back to wire a', through the relays a", e², circuit controller 33, pole
changer a250, to the negative pole of the battery a.
The break wheel has the same number of breaks on its periphery to correspond
to the break wheel d, or it may, if desired, have a different or distinguishing
number.
The signal sent by the operation of the motor mechanism with the box door 621
open, I prefer to designate as the test signal. The test signal referred to, as
shown in Fig. 4A, is received upon the test register e controlled by the test
relay e, which is a fast operating relay, and owing to the sluggish operation of the
relay, the test signal is not received upon the fire alarm register a22 and, when
the door is open, and the test signal sent, the register a22 and relay a remain quiet
and do not respond to the breaks in the main line circuit, caused by the transmission
of the test signal.
When the motor mechanism is operated to transmit the test signal, the break
wheel d, used to transmit the fire alarm signal, is rotated, and the contact surfaces
of the said wheel and its co-operating pen, are kept bright and in good condition.
Furthermore, the remaining parts of the transmitting mechanism which are
actuated when the fire alarm signal is sent, are also operated when the test signal
is sent, and are therefore kept in good electrical and mechanical condition.
The break wheels de, d', provided with the same number of teeth or breaks, are
employed to transmit the fire alarm signal from the right or left of the line in case
of a break in the metallic circuit, substantially as described in connection with Fig. 2,
the ground tap at the transmitting instrument being nominally closed by the plug 20,
when the door 621 is closed, and nominally open at the break wheels do, d until the
latter are started in rotation, the right and left of the line being connected to the
ground tap d at the receiving instrument by the switches 20, d, which in practice
may be controlled by a single lever, as described in connection with Fig. 2.
The box r contains within it the polarized bell a having its magnets a¹², a¹³
included in the line circuit and by means of which, an officer making a test may
know from what box the last alarm of fire was sent in. This feature is accom-
plished, as represented in Fig. 4^, by placing upon the shaft eo of the test register,
the toothed wheel having on its periphery a number of teeth, corresponding to
the number of the box or transmitting apparatus from which the last signal was
sent to the receiving station. It will be seen, that as soon as the test register is
1

page_text: operated by the officer sending in his test signal, the local circuit for the electro-
magnet ad is closed, by contact of the teeth of the wheel with the pen 15, and
the said magnet operates the pole changer, so as to reverse the current of the main
battery a at each closure of the local circuit controlled by the wheel, and the
main line battery being thus reversed, the bell a0 in the box will be struck, and
the officer will thus have given him the number of the box, indicated by the break
wheel placed upon the register shaft, by the proper officer or fireman at the receiving
station, without breaking the metallic circuit.
If a fireman at the box desires to communicate with the fireman or other officer
at the receiving station, he operates the circuit controller or key, so as to interpose
the resistance, and thereby weaken the main line battery sufficient to actuate the
relay e, so as to operate the test register upon which may be received the Morse
alphabet or any other desired code of signals.
If the fireman or other person at the receiving station desires to answer back to
the fireman at the box or transmitting mechanism, the key is manipulated, and
the resistance 3 is interposed, which operates the sounder in the box, the fireman
at the box, at such time, separating the terminals,
In many instances in times of fire, it is desired that the chief or other officer in
charge at the fire, should be able to communicate with the central office or receiving
station, and at the same time have a record of the message sent, so as to settle any
disputes as to what message was transmitted. For instance, he may desire to obtain
special pieces of apparatus without desiring to send in a second alarm. This
feature may be accomplished with the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5*, wherein
two circuit terminals 20, 7.71 on an insulating plug are connected by con-
ductors to an electro-magnet and to a circuit controlling key, having in
shunt with it a resistance 77.
the
The electro-magnet 7 is provided with an armature 778, forming one terminal of
a local circuit containing a register magnet and a bell magnet, magnet +78
controlling the register of any usual or well known construction. The register 81
and its magnet, the bell magnet 80, resistance 77, key 76, and electro-magnet 75
may be secured within a suitable case or box 83, which may be carried upon or be
detachably secured to the wagon of the chief or other officer, and the circuit
terminals 70, 7 may be connected to the parts of the apparatus just described by a
flexible cord containing the two conductors 73, 74. The terminals 70, 71 are
designed to be inserted through suitable openings in the case or box r, and make
contact with the arms or springs 735, 788 connected by wires 7,87, 88, to the line
wires a, a. At the same time the insulating plug, separating the contact
terminals 0,71, strikes the member r17 of the circuit controller of the test circuit,
and opens the test circuit.
When the contact arms 70, 7" are connected to the contact springs 6, 88, the
main line circuit may be operated by manipulating the key 76, so as to interpose
the resistance" and thus operate the fast relay e³, and consequently, actuate the
test register.
The circuit for the electro-magnet 775 may be traced as follows, viz.-from the
positive pole of the battery a' by wire a to the wire 87, thence to the contact plates
or arms, 70, wire 773, magnet, circuit controlling key 7, wire 74, contact
terminals 1,88, wire 788, to wire a², thence through the relays a", e, circuit con-
troller, to the negative pole of the battery.
When the key is operated by the chief or other officer, a record of the message
transmitted is obtained by the chief upon his register ³, and also the same message
is obtained by the receiving officer upon the test register e.
If now the officer at the receiving station should desire to communicate with the
chief at the transmitting apparatus, or box, he would operate the key 3 and
interpose the resistance, and thus operate the register through the magnet .
In this manner, danger of the officer at the receiving station obtaining
signal or of sending out apparatus which is not needed, is entirely obviated, for, by
a false

page_text: means of the recording register 781, the chief or other officer knows exactly what
message was received at the receiving station.
In order that the number of the box from which the fire alarm was last sent, may
be transmitted to all the boxes in the metallic circuit, the local circuit for the test
register may be closed manually by a key 700 shown in Fig. 4. The fireman or
other officer, in this case, first places upon the test register shaft, the wheel 44
bearing the same number as the number of the box from which the alarm of fire
was last sent in, and he would then close the local circuit of the battery by means
of the key, and start the test register e², and thus produce reversals of the main
line battery a and actuate all the polar bells in the circuit.
I prefer to employ two relays a¹, e² in multiple with each other, but I do not
desire to limit my invention in this respect, as but a single relay e², capable of
responding quickly to impulses of long and short duration, may be employed in
connection with a transmitting mechanism capable of operating at varying speeds.
When a single relay, as e, is employed in the receiving station, it responds to
both the fire signal and the test signal, and actuates a register which may be
supposed to be the register e2 shown in Fig. 4^. The register e28 may have mounted
on its shaft a gear 72 adapted to be engaged by a pinion 7.3 pivotally mounted on
the armature e of the register magnet e, and having secured to or forming part of
it a cam or projection adapted to be brought into engagement with one terminal
brush or pens of a normally open local circuit, having its co-operating terminal
connected, as herein shown, to the magnet of a tap bell 7, by means of which the
box number or signal transmitted, may be made known.
The pinion is brought into mesh with the gear 2 by the attraction of the
armature 23, and as soon as the register is started in operation by the closing of its
local circuit by the armature 20 of the relay e², the pinion is revolved and the cam 194
is moved toward the terminal 05. When a fire signal is transmitted, the local
circuit of the register magnet remains closed for a comparatively long time at
each interruption of the metallic circuit, and the pinion 73 is revolved sufficiently
far to bring the cam into engagement with the circuit terminal 95, and thereby
close the local circuit of the bell or other device located therein, and by which the
operator or fireman at the receiving station is notified that an alarm of fire is being
received, and the number of the box may be ascertained from the bell. When the
test signal is sent from any box, the speed of the transmitting mechanism is so rapid,
that the local circuit of the register magnet does not remain closed sufficiently long,
to permit the cam or projection to be brought into engagement with the
terminal 5, and consequently, the local circuit containing the bell or other signal
is not closed, and no notice need be taken by the operator of this signal.
The length of the breaks and closures in the test wheel r¹ are, for the best results,
the same as in the fire signal wheel d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
CLAIMS.
1. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz.- -an electric circuit, a receiving instrument located therein, and a signal
apparatus or box included in said circuit and provided with a signal transmitting
mechanism constructed and arranged to transmit to the receiving instrument the
number indicative of said box or apparatus, substantially as described, whereby two
different and distinct purposes may be indicated by the same signal.
2. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz.-a metallic circuit, provided with one or more signal transmitting mechanisms,
a main line battery in multiple with the metallic circuit, a ground tap normally
disconnected from the main line and provided with a single relay and battery, and

page_text: a switch to connect both sides of the line with the ground tap, whereby a single
relay may receive the signal transmitted over either side of the line.
3. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viza metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism located therein and
consisting of three independent signal mechanisms of like significance or character
arranged to operate in succession as described, a normally open ground tap at the
transinitting mechanisms adapted to be connected with both sides of the line when
the transmitting mechanism is operated, a normally closed circuit controller in the
said ground tap, a relay in the metallic circuit responsive to interruptions in the
metallic circuit, a ground tap at the receiving end of the metallic circuit normally
disconnected from the metallic circuit, and provided with two terminals, a single
relay in the ground tap, a battery in the ground tap, and switches to connect both
sides of the metallic circuit with the terminals of the ground tap.
4. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transinitting mechanism located therein, a polarized
bell in said circuit at the transmitting mechanism, a pole changer in said metallic
circuit, an electro-magnet to operate it, a local circuit in which said magnet is
located, a receiving mechanism operated by the transmitting mechanism, a shaft,
and a detachable signal wheel mounted on said shaft, and operated by the receiving
mechanism to actuate the pole changer in the metallic circuit, whereby any one of
a series of signal wheels may operate to retransmit to the transmitting mechanism
any one of a series of signals.
5. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a district station, one or more metallic circuits extended from said station and
provided with one or more signal transmitting mechanisms, a relay in the district
station included in the metallic circuit, a local circuit in the said station including a
signal receiving instrument, an armature for said relay controlling said local circuit,
a central station, a normally closed main line connecting the said stations and
controlled by the armature of the relay in the district station, a relay in the central
station included in the line connecting the said stations, a local circuit in the central
station including a signal receiving instrument, and an arinature for the central station
relay controlling the local circuit in the said central station, a ground tap in the
district station including a relay, an armature for said ground tap relay normally
included in the main line circuit connecting the stations, and means to connect the
ground tap with both sides of the metallic circuit.
6. A. system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a central station, a series of district stations, each having connected to it one
or more district circuits provided with one or more signal transmitting mechanisms,
a main line connecting each district station with the central station, a receiving
mechanism in the district circuits, a receiving mechanism in the central station
responsive to the operation of a signal transmitting mechanism in a district circuit,
a second receiving instrument in the district station located in a normally open
ground tap and adapted when operated to change the condition of the main line
between the district and central stations, and means to connect the said ground tap
with both sides of a district circuit.
7. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
eiz. a metallic circuit, provided with one or more signal transmitting mechanisms,
a pole changer in said circuit, an electro-magnet to operate said pole changer to
produce reversals of the current in the metallic circuit, a local circuit in which the
said electro-magnet is located, circuit terminals for said local circuit, an independent
circuit controller to operate said terminals at each break in the main line circuit,
an electro-magnet to govern the said controller, a local circuit in which the
controller magnet is located, a relay in the metallic circuit, and an armature for
said relay controlling the local circuit containing the circuit terminal controlling
magnet, and operating the said magnet to operate the said circuit controller at each
break in the metallic circuit, whereby the signal transmitted is repeated over the
metallic circuit.

page_text: 8. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a sigual transmitting mechanism therein, a relay in said
circuit operated by the transmitting mechanism, normally open circuit terminals
co-operating with the signal transmitting mechanism, and to one of which the
metallic circuit is connected, a third wire connected to the other terminal, and an
independent relay in the third wire to operate.
9. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a district station, a metallic circuit extended therefrom, a signal transmitting
mechanism included in said circuit, a relay in the metallic circuit responsive to the
said signal mechanism, a second signal transmitting mechanism normally discon-
nected from the metallic circuit, and adapted to be connected thereto when the first
signal mechanism is operated, a ground connection at the transmitting mechanism
for said second signal mechanism, a ground tap at the district station normally
disconnected from the metallic circuit, means to connect the ground tap with the
metallic circuit, a relay in the ground tap, a central station, a main line connecting
the central station with the district station, and armatures for the metallic
circuit relay and the ground tap relay forming part of the main line between the
said stations.
10. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
via metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism consisting of a main shaft,
a signal wheel d connected in the metallic circuit, a signal wheel de mounted on the
shaft to transmit its signal after the wheel d, a pen joined to one line wire of the
.metallic circuit, and normally electrically disconnected from the wheel d, a signal
wheel d' mounted on the said shaft to transmit its signal after the wheel do, a pen d¹2
joined to the other line wire of the metallic circuit, a ground tap electrically
connected to the signal wheels de, d', a circuit controller for said ground tap,
a relay in the metallic circuit responsive to the signal wheel d, a ground tap
at the receiving end of the metallic circuit normally disconnected from said circuit,
a relay in the ground tap, and a switch to connect the ground tap to the metallic
circuit.
11. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
via metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included in said circuit, a
third or auxiliary wire, circuit terminals in the transmitting mechanism included in
the metallic circuit and third wire, a normally open circuit controller at the trans-
mitting mechanism included in the third wire circuit, a second normally open circuit
controller at the transmitting mechanism controlling a shunt circuit for the metallic
circuit, as described, and a receiving mechanism in the third wire circuit.
12. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism located therein, a
normally open circuit controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt circuit
around said transmitting mechanism, an independent signal mechanism normally
disconnected from the metallic circuit and adapted to be connected thereto when
the first signal mechanism is operated, a ground connection at the transmitting
mechanism for said second signal transmitting mechanism, a normally closed
circuit controller in said ground connection, a relay in the metallic circuit, an
independent ground circuit at the receiving end of the metallic circuit, a relay
therein, and a switch to connect the independent ground circuit with the metallic
circuit.
13. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism located therein, a
normally open circuit controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt circuit
around said transmitting mechanism, an independent signal mechanism normally
disconnected from the metallic circuit and adapted to be connected thereto when
the first signal mechanism is operated, a ground connection at the transmitting
mechanism for said second signal transmitting mechanism, a normally closed
circuit controller in said ground connection, a third wire or auxiliary circuit,
circuit terminals at the transmitting mechanism connected to the metallic circuit

page_text: and to the third wire circuit, a normally open circuit controller in the third
wire circuit, a relay in the metallic circuit, a relay in the third wire, an inde-
pendent ground tap or circuit, a relay therein, and means to connect the
independent ground circuit with the metallic circuit.
14. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalitics,
tiza metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism therein, a normally open
circuit controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt circuit around said
mechanism, a third wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit terminals connected to the
metallic circuit and to the third wire circuit, a relay in the third wire circuit
operated by the transmitting mechanism.
15. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
riza metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism therein, a normally open
circuit controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt circuit around said
mechanism, a third wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit terminals connected to the
metallic circuit and to the third wire circuit, a pole changer in the metallic
circuit, an electro-magnet to operate it, circuit terminals governing the operation
of the said electro-magnet, a relay in the third wire circuit operated by the
transmitting mechanism, and means operated by the said relay to actuate the
terminals of the pole changer magnet and reproduce a signal at the transmitting
mechanism.
16. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism therein, a normally open
circuit controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt circuit around said
mechanism, a third wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit terminals connected to the
metallic circuit and to the third wire circuit, a condenser connected to the third
wire and to the metallic circuit at the transmitting mechanism, a normally open
circuit controller in the third wire circuit at the transmitting mechanism, adapted
to have coupled to it a telephone, as described, and normally open contact arms in
the receiving station connected to the third wire and to the metallic circuit, and
adapted to have coupled to them a telephone, as described, and a circuit controller
or key in the third wire to prevent short circuiting of the telephone at the receiving
or district station.
17. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included therein, a relay
in the metallic circuit located in a district or receiving station, a relay in a central
station responsive to change in current strength, a main line circuit, independent of
the said metallic circuit, connecting said relays, a shunt circuit for said main line, a
resistance 18 in said main line shunt circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism in the
main line shunt in multiple with the resistance, and a switch in the main line in
multiple with the signal transmitting mechanism.
18. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
via district station, one or more metallic circuits extended therefrom and
provided each with a relay, and a pole changer, a local circuit containing an electro-
magnet to operate said pole changer, a central station, a main line connecting said
5 central station to the district station, a polarized magnet in the line wire, an
armature for said polarized magnet included in the local circuit of the pole changer
magnet, a stop or terminal included in the local circuit and with which said
armature co-operates to close said local circuit, a pole changer in the main line, an
electro-magnet to operate it, a local circuit in which the main line pole changing
magnet is located, normally open circuit terminals for said local circuit in the
central station, a circuit controller to operate the circuit terminals in the central
station, an electro-magnet to operate the circuit controller, a local circuit in which
said electro-magnet is located, a relay in the main line, and an armature for said
relay governing the local circuit containing the circuit controller operating
5 magnet.
19. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a district station, a metallic circuit extended therefrom, a signal transmitting

page_text: mechanism in said metallic circuit, a receiving instrument in the district station
operated by interruptions in the metallic circuit, a central station, an independent
main line connecting said stations, a receiving instrument in the central station
operated by interruptions in the main line connecting said stations, a resistance in
the independent main line connecting the stations, a receiving instrument in the
central station operated by changes in the current strength of the main line, and a
switch in the main line in multiple with the resistance.
20. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz.- -a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism located therein, a pole
changer in said metallic circuit, a third wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit terminals
connected to the third wire and metallic circuit and operated by the transmitting
mechanism, a receiving instrument in the third wire circuit controlled in its operation
by the circuit terminals at the transmitting mechanism, and means, substantially as
described, operated by the receiving instrument to actuate the pole changer in the
metallic circuit.
21. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism therein, a third wire or
auxiliary circuit, circuit terminals connected to the metallic circuit and third wire,
a normally open shunt at the transmitting mechanism for the metallic circuit, a
relay in the third wire operated by the transmitting mechanism, an indicator in the
metallic circuit at the transmitting mechanism, a circuit breaker in the metallic
circuit at the receiving station, and a resistance in the metallic circuit in multiple
with the said circuit breaker.
22. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a box provided with a signal transmitting mechanism, an audible signal for
said box, a motor mechanism for said audible signal, a fragible covering for said
box, and a releasing device for the motor mechanism controlled by the fragible
covering and automatically operated thereby.
23. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a box, a signal transmitting mechanism located therein, an operating
mechanism therefor consisting of a pull bar or rod 7, provided with a slot h, a
hook extended through said slot and a door for said box composed of solid
material to cover one of the said pull bars or rods, and of fragible material to cover
the other of said pull bars.
24. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism therein, a normally open
circuit controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt circuit around said
mechanism, a third wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit terminals connected to the
metallic circuit and to the third wire circuit, a pole changer in the metallic circuit,
a receiving instrument in the third wire circuit operated by the transmitting
mechanism, and means substantially as described actuated by the said receiving
instrument to operate the pole changer.
25. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a district station, one or more metallic circuits extended therefrom, one or
more signal transmitting mechanisms in said circuits, a pole changer in the district
stations, a central station, a main line connecting said district and central stations,
a receiving instrument therein operated by the transmitting mechanism in the
district circuit, a pole changer in the main line, nechanism in the central station
actuated by the receiving instrument therein to operate the pole changer in the
main line and reverse the current in the main line, and mechanism in the main
line actuated by reversals of current in the said main line to operate the pole
changer in the district circuit and produce reversals of current in the district circuit.
26. In a system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a closed metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism consisting of a
signal wheel normally included in the closed metallic circuit, a second signal wheel
normally disconnected from the metallic circuit, a pen or brush co-operating with
the second signal wheel and connected to one side of the metallic circuit, a third

page_text: signal wheel normally disconnected from the metallic circuit, &
co-operating therewith and connected to the other side of the metallic circuit, the
second and third signal wheels being arranged to be connected to the metallic
circuit in succession after the metallic circuit signal wheel has been operated.
27. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
riza district station, a central station, a main line connecting said stations, a
relay in said central station, a local circuit in said central station, a recording
instrument in said local circuit, an armature for said relay controlling said local
circuit, a resistance in the district station in a shunt in the main line, a signal
transmitting mechanism in multiple with said resistance, and a normally closed
switch in the main line to operate.
28. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
riza metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism therein, a third or auxiliary
wire, a relay e included in said third wire, and a normally open circuit controller
at the transmitting mechanism having one terminal connected to the third wire and
the other terminal joined to a metallic circuit wire.
29. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
via series of metallic circuits, a signal transmitting mechanism in each circuit, a
receiving instrument in each metallic circuit, a pole changer in each circuit, an
electro-magnet for operating each pole changer, a local circuit in which the electro-
magnets for the said pcle changers are connected in series, circuit terminals for
said local circuit, and means substantially as described rendered effective by the
operation of a signal transmitting mechanism in any one of the metallic circuits, to
reverse the current over all the metallic circuits.
30. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
rian electric circuit provided with one or more signal transmitting mechanisms,
a pole changer in said circuit, an electro-magnet to operate said pole changer to
produce reversals of said current in the electric circuit, a local circuit in which the
said electro-magnet is located, circuit terminals for said local circuit, an independent
circuit controller to operate said terminals at each break in the metallic circuit to
actuate the pole changer to produce a reversal of the current in the electric circuit
on the closure of the said electric circuit following the break in the said circuit, a
relay in the electric circuit, and an armature for said relay operating the independent
circuit controller at each break in the electric circuit.
31. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
riza box provided with a door, and a signal transmitting mechanism in said box,
an audible signal in said box, a motor mechanism for said audible signal, and a
releasing device for said motor mechanism disconnected from and independent of
the box door but adapted to be operated by the opening of the door.
32. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
riza normally closed electric circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included
therein and consisting of break wheels d,, and co-operating pens or brushes 2,3
normally in contact with said break wheels, independent paths for the current from
the pens to one side of the line or electric circuit, a normally closed circuit
controller in the path of the pen, a normally open circuit controller in the path
of the pen and a resistance 27 connected to one side of the electric circuit and
to the path of the pen to form a shunt around the break wheel, and two
relays in the said circuit, both of which are responsive to the signals transmitted
over the normally closed path of the pen ², and one of which is responsive only to
the signals transmitted over the normally open path of the pen.
33. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
riza metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included therein, and
connected thereto by independent paths, a normally closed circuit controller in one
of the said paths, a normally open circuit controller in the other of said paths, a
motor mechanism to operate the signal transmitting mechanism, means for positively
changing the speed of the motor mechanism and thereby the speed of the signal
transinitting mechanism, independent receiving instruments included in the metallic
n

page_text: circuit, one of the said instruments, being responsive to the transmitting mechanism
when operated at one speed and not at the other speed.
-
34. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
ciza metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included in said metallic
circuit, a motor mechanism to operate it, means for positively changing the rate of
movement of the motor mechanism, and thereby of the speed of the transmitting
mechanism, and two relays included in the metallic circuit in multiple with each
other.
35. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included in said metallic
circuit, a motor mechanism to operate it, means for positively changing the rate of
movement of the motor mechanism and thereby of the speed of the transmitting
mechanism, two relays included in the metallic circuit in multiple with each other,
a pole changer in the metallic circuit, an electro-magnet to operate it, a register
controlled by the operation of one of the said relays, and circuit terminals for the
pole changer, and an electro-magnet rendered effective by the operation of the said
register.
36. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
cia metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included in said metallic
circuit, a motor mechanism to operate it, means for positively changing the rate of
movement of the motor mechanism and thereby of the speed of the transmitting
mechanism, two relays included in the metallic circuit in multiple with each other,
a pole changer in the metallic circuit, an electro-magnet to operate it, a shaft, an
electro-magnet to control its operation, a circuit terminal on said shaft connected
to the pole changer electro-magnet, a second circuit terminal for the pole changer
magnet, a circuit controller governing the operation of the electro-magnet con-
trolling the circuit-terminal-carrying shaft, and a polarized electro-magnet in the
metallic circuit at the transmitting mechanism.
37. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities.
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included therein and con-
sisting of signal wheels d,, two independent contact pens or terminals connected
to the metallic circuit by independent paths, and normally in contact with the
said signal wheels, circuit controllers in said paths, a resistance interposed in one
of the said paths when the circuit controller is operated, receiving instruments
in the metallic circuit in multiple with each other, one of the said instruments
being operated when the resistance is interposed in the metallic circuit, and
two local circuits disconnected from cach other and controlled by the said
receiving instruments.
76
38. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included therein, circuit
terminals 85, connected to the metallic circuit, an electro-magnet 27, a key 17
and a resistance 77 in shunt with said key, adapted to be connected to the circuit
terminals, relays a", e² in multiple with each other, one relay as e² being
responsive to the operation of the key
39. A system for transmitting siguals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included therein, circuit
terminals 85, 8 connected to the metallic circuit, an electro-magnet, a key
and a resistance 77 in shunt with said key, adapted to be connected to the
circuit terminals 85, 86, a register controlled in its operation by the electro-
magnet, relays a, e² in multiple with each other, one relay as being
responsive to the operation of the key, a circuit controller 33 in the metallic
circuit, and a resistance in shunt with the circuit controller 3.
40. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included therein, a normally
closed circuit controller in circuit with the signal transmitting mechanisn,
circuit terminals 23 7.6 in multiple with the signal transmitting mechanism, a
portable detachable signal receiving and transmitting apparatus adapted to le

page_text: connected in circuit with the circuit terminals 85, 86, relays a", e² included in the
metallic circuit in multiple with each other, a circuit controller 33, and a resistance
in shunt with the circuit controller the circuit of the signal transmitting
mechanism being opened when the portable apparatus is coupled in circuit.
41. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
viz. an electric circuit, a signal box located in said circuit and provided with a
door, a signal transmitting mechanism in said box included in said electric circuit,
a motor mechanism to operate said signal transmitting mechanism, means for
positively changing the rate of movement of the motor mechanism normally inactive
when the box door is closed but adapted to be rendered active when the door is
open, to change the speed of the motor mechanism and thereby of the transmitting
mechanism, and a relay in the electric circuit responsive to the varying speeds of
the transmitting mechanism.
42. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
vie. an electric circuit, a fire alarm box located in said circuit and provided with
a signal transmitting mechanism having two independent paths for the signal, a
motor mechanism for said signal, a positively acting mechanical speed controlling
device for changing the speed of the motor mechanism, and a door for the box
provided with devices to control the independent paths and the speed controlling
device.
43. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
cizan electric circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included in said electric
circuit, a motor mechanism to operate it, a positively acting mechanical speed
changing device for changing the rate of movement of the motor mechanism,
and thereby of the speed of the transmitting mechanism, and a relay in the said
circuit responsive to the varying speeds of the transmitting mechanism.
44. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
vizan electric circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included in said electric
circuit, a motor mechanism to operate it, means for positively changing the rate
of movement of the motor mechanism and thereby of the speed of the transmitting
mechanism, a relay in the electric circuit responsive to the varying speeds of the
transmitting mechanism, and a signal mechanism operated by the relay when the
said relay is actuated by one speed of the transmitting mechanism and not by
the other speed of the said transmitting mechanism.
45. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
is an electric circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included in said electric
circuit, a motor mechanism to operate it, means for positively changing the rate
of movement of the motor mechanism and thereby of the speed of the transmitting
mechanism, a relay in the metallic circuit responsive to the varying speeds of the
transmitting mechanism, and an audible signal upon which is sounded the signal
when transmitted at one speed and not at the other.
46. A system for transmitting signals, including the following instrumentalities,
2. a metallic circuit, a signal transmitting mechanism included in said metallic
circuit, a motor mechanism to operate it, a positively operating mechanical speed
changing device for changing the rate of movement of the motor mechanism and
thereby of the speed of the transmitting mechanism, a relay in the metallic circuit
responsive to the varying speeds of the transmitting mechanisms, a polarized bell in
the metallic circuit at the transmitting mechanism, a pole changer in the metallic
circuit, a shaft controlled in its operation by the said relay, and a detachable signal
wheel on said shaft to operate the pole changer.
Dated this 28th day of December 1891
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicant.