Others in Signalling or Effecting Communications.
Year: 1889

page_text: Others in Signalling or Effecting Communications.
I EDWARD HAROLD CROSBY of the City of Boston in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts one of the United States of America, Editor 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 has for its object to construct an electric signaling apparatus by
which a hose-man or pipe-man, customarily called or other suitable attendant may
communicate by code signals with an engineer of a fire engine.
In accordance with this invention two insulating wiros are placel within the hoso,
an electric generator is placed upon the hose-pipe or nozzle to be used for generating
a current for signaling purposes, and a bell or other signal receiving instrument is
placed upon the engine.
Within each hose coupling a water tight electric coupling is placed so that the
continuity of the circuit may be established as the sections of hose are coupled
together.
A push button or equivalent circuit changing device is placed at the base of the
hose nozzle by which the signaling circuit may be controlled.
The generator employed is preferably that commonly known as a dry cell battery,
and as herein shown is composed of metallic tubes fastened to the hose pipes by
suitable supports. said tubes being closed at the ends and servo as handles by which
the pipes may be held.
Figure 1 shows in side view broken sections of hose provided with a signaling
annaratas embodying this invention.

page_text: Figure 2 a longitu final section of a hose coupling and the electric coupling which
I may employ.
Figure 3a longitudinal sertion of the coupling for the hose nozzle or pipe, it
showing one member of the electric coupling and circuit olunging device, and
Figure an end view of the hose coupling showing the electric coupling
within it.
The section of hoso a, and hose coupling formed of the two coöperating parts b, c,
the collar d, and the hose pipe or nozzle e, are all as usual.
Two insulating wires 2, 8, are placed within each section of lose.
Each part of the hose coupling has secured within it a non-metallic ring as 4, 5,
one of which rings as 4 is provided with a tapering external surface for a portion of
its length and the other ring as 5 is provided with a tapering internal surface for a
portion of its length, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that when two parts of the
hose coupling are drawn together by the collar d the two rings will engage one
another to form a water tight joint.
The rings 4, 5, are mado of insulating material.
The tapering surface of each ring 4, 5, is provided transversly with two contact
pieres or strips 6, 7 and 8, 9 which when the rings are in engagement with each
other coöperate to establish the circuit.
The bell preferably an ordinary vibrating bell is placed upon the engine and
connecting with the wires 2, 3.
An insulating collar i surrounds the base of the hose e, which collar is provided
with a hole to obtain access to a push button seated in a rocess in the base of the
nozzle, one of the contact springs of the push button being connected with one of the
contact pieces of the ring, and the other contact spring being connected with
the other contact piece of the ring so that when the push button is pressed the two
wires, 2, 3, will be connected closing the circuit and causing the bell to respond.
Several different code signals may be arranged one for instance to give notico to
the enginoor that water is needed and another to stop the water.
By placing the electric coupling within the hose coupling danger of an accidental
break is avoided which might easily happen if the coupling was arranged outside of
the hose coupling and by having each part of the electric coupling secured within
each part of the hose coupling the corresponding wires will always be connected when
the hose is coupled.
Two supports a', a², are secured to the hose pipe e.
Metallic tubos n are placed at each side of the hose pipe e being held by the said
supports, these tubes are closed at each end and are provided at each end with one
pole from which the conductor leads.
The material contained in the tubos may be that usually employed in what is known
ns the dry coll battery.
The batterios or generators thus provided are made strong and durable to serve as
handles for the pipes.
By providing generators outside the pipes as herein shown it has been found in
practice to be always fresh and not liable to ho out of order or to diminish in strength,
tho current can be more easily controlled and a loss quantity is required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo performed, I declaro that what
I claim is:
1. Tho signaling apparatus for hose-men or others heroin described, comprising the
hose, its couplings, the electric wires contained in the hose, and the electric couplings,
combined with the bell or other signal receiving instrument on the engine, and the
generator at the remote end of the hose as on the hose-pipe, substantially as
described.
2. The hose pipe or nozzle, and a support or bracket secured to it, combined with
an electric generator held by said support, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The herein described signaling apparatus for hose-men or others, comprising
the hose, a hose coupling, electric conductors and electric couplings concealed within
the hose couplings, one member of each coupling being attached to each half of the
hose coupling, combined with the signal receiving instrument at one end of the line
of hose, and the electric generator at the opposite end of the line of hose, substantially
as described.