Improvements in Electric Fire Alarms.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application 1st Apr 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Fire Alarms.
I, MICHAEL ANDREW SHANAHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at
508 Henderson Street, of Jersey City, in the County of Hudson, and State of
New Jersey, U.S.A. Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to electric fire alarms, and the object thereof, is to provide
an improved device of this class which is simple in construction and operation, and
which is adapted to be operated by heat.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a tube which is adapted to be
supported adjacent to a wall or other support, by means of a plate secured thereto,
and the plate is provided with a supplemental plate on which are formed projecting
arms provided with annular heads in which the tube is mounted.
The tube is closed at its lower end by a screw threaded cap and mounted therein,
is a vertically movable rod or bolt below which is placed a strong spiral spring and
in practice, the rod or bolt is depressed, and held within the tube by a plate which
is secured to the upper end of the tube by solder which is adapted to be fused or
melted by heat or the plate may be composed of material which will melt at a
predetermined degree of heat and thus release the rod or bolt and allow it to be
forced upwardly by the spring.
Immediately over the tube and at predetermined distance therefrom, is a
hollow cone or conical cap the base of which is directed downwardly, and the apex
of which is provided with a curved tube which is curved inwardly or in the
direction of the plate and secured thereto by a band or keeper and within the cap
is a plate through which passes two binding posts the inner ends of which are
provided with separate conductors which extend through the tube and connect with
a battery and an alarm beil or similar device.
The alarm bell and the battery may be located at any desired point, as may also
the other parts of the device, and the operation of this form of construction will be
readily understood from the foregoing description.
It will be understood that the plate or other means for holding the rod or bolt
within the tube is so arranged or composed of such material, as to be melted or
released at a predetermined degree of heat, and if a fire should be started adjacent
to one of these devices, or in a room in which one of them is placed, when the heat
reaches the predetermined point, the rod or bolt will be released and will be forced
upwardly by the spring and come in contact with the lower ends of the binding
posts and the circuit through the wires will be completed, and the alarm will be
sound ed.
Dated this 1st day of Annil 1906
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Electric Fire Alarms.
I, MICHAEL ANDREW SHANAHAN, residing at 508 Henderson Street, in
the City of Jersey City, in the County of Hudson, and State of New Jersey,
United States of America, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, 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 electric fire alarms, and the object thereof, is to provide
an improved device of this class which is simple in construction and operation, and
which is adapted to be operated by heat.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part in which :-
Fig. 1, is a diagrammatic view of one form of my improved electric fire alarm ;
Fig. 2, a front view of modified arrangement thereof; and,
Fig. 3, a transverse central vertical section thereof, showing the electrical
connections.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a tube A, which is adapted to be
supported adjacent to a wall or other support, by means of a plate a, secured
thereto, and the plate a, is provided with a supplemental plate a 2, on which are
formed projecting arms a 3, provided with annular heads a 4, in which the tube A,
is mounted.
The tube A, is closed at its lower end by a screw threaded cap B, and mounted
therein, is a vertically movable rod or bolt b, below which is placed a strong spiral
spring 62, and in practice, the rod or bolt b, is depressed, and held within the tube A,
by a plate 63, which is secured to the upper end of the tube A, by solder which is
adapted to be fused or melted by heat or the plate 63, may be composed of
material which will melt at a predetermined degree of heat, and thus release the
rod or bolt 5, and allow it to be forced upwardly by the spring b 2.
Immediately over the tube A, and at a predetermined distance therefrom, is a
hollow cone or conical cap D, the base of which is directed downwardly and the apex
of which is provided with a curved tube d, which is curved inwardly or in the
direction of the plate a, and secured thereto by a band or keeper E, and within the
cap D, is a plate G, through which passes to binding posts g, the inner ends of
which are provided with separate conductors g2, and g 3, which extend through
the tube d, and connect with a battery H, and an alarm bell or similar device h.
The alarm bell and the battery may be located at any desired point, as may also
the other parts of the device, and the operation of this form of construction will be
readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with
the accompanying drawing.
It will be understood that the plate 63, or other means for holding the rod or
bolt b, within the tube A, is so arranged or composed of such material, as to be
melted or released at a predetermined degree of heat, and if a fire should be
started adjacent to one of these devices, or in a room in which one of them are
placed, when the heat reaches the predetermined point, the rod or bolt b, will be
released and will be forced upwardly by the spring 62, and come in contact with
the lower ends of the binding posts g, and the circuit through the wires g 2 and g 3,
will be completed, and the alarm will be sounded.
The construction hereinbefore described is best shown in Figs. 2. and 3, and the
construction shown in Fig. 1, is similar thereto, with the exception that the tube A,
and the cap D, are connected with or suspended from a ceiling of a room or
compartment, in a building. In this construction, the tube D, is preferably
straight, and the tube A, is connected with the ceiling by a single rod or arm a 3,

page_text: and the connection therewith, of the wires or conductors 92, and 9 3, and the
battery and alarm bell are the same as hereinbefore described.
This device is simple in construction and perfectly adapted to accomplish the
result for which it is intended, while being also comparatively inexpensive, and
my invention is not limited to the exact form, construction combination and
arrangement of parts herein described, and I reserve the right to make all such
alterations therein, and modifications thereof, as fairly come within the scope of the
invention.
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:
1. An electric fire alarm constructed as herein described, and as shown in the
drawing.
2. In an electric fire alarm, the combination of a properly supported tube, a
spring operated bolt mounted therein, and retained in place by a fusible device,
a cap mounted above said tube and provided with a tubular extension through
which are passed two wires or conductors which are connected with binding posts
arranged within said cap, said conductors being also in connection with a battery
and an alarm and the circuit being adapted to be completed by means of the bolt
or rod, substantially as shown and described.
3. In an electrical fire alarm, the combination with a properly supported tube
as A, provided with a spring operated bolt or rod, as b, which is held in the
depressed position by a fusible device, and a conical or other cap supported
directly over said tube, and provided with electrical conductors, which connect
with binding posts therein, said conductors being in connection with a battery and
an alarm, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.