Improvements in Fire-alarm Systems (known as Fire-alarm- Telegraphs).
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 18:0
Complete Specification -Left, 27th June, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-alarm Systems (known as Fire-alarm-
Telegraphs).
I HENRY FREDERICK WILLIAM LEWIS of 8 Meridian Road Redland Bristol in the
County of Gloucester, General Manager of the Western Counties and South Wales
Telephone Company Limited do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It is found in practice in the working of the public call-points known as Fire Alarm
Telegraphs that false alarms are frequently given by certain persons for mischevious
purposes.
The object of this invention is to asssist in the detection of such persons by causing
a loud sound to be made at, or near the call-point itself immediately the latter
is operated, so as to attract the attention of persons in the vicinity to the person
giving the call.
-
I prefer to do this by inserting in series in the line circuit between the fire station
and the call-point or between the latter point and earth, a powerful trembling electric
bell, arranged so that its vibrating armature acts by short-circuiting its own coils once
per. beat, instead of by breaking the line-circuit as usual or else with a shunt across
the vibrating contacts, in order that the bell may ring in series with other electrical
apparatus without interfering with their proper action.
The detector bell is also used for furnishing or providing for the reply signal by
the method described in the Letters Patent No. 3618 of 1888 granted to Henry
Alfred Charles Saunders and Alfred Charles Brown, "Improvements in Fire Alarm
Telegraphs."
For the code signalling between the call-points and fire station however I prefer to
use a single stroke bell in the call-point.
Such detector or alarm bell fixed under a weather protecting cover or casing at,
on, or near the call-point will then if used in conjunction with the apparatus made
under previous mentioned Letters Patent above No. 3618 of 1888 be effectually rung
by the direct line current coming from the station immediately on the knob being
pulled.
Or the sound may be made by a mechanical or clockwork bell or rattle or by the
explosion of a small detonating cracker or any other source of sound brought into
action on the pulling of the knob giving the fire-call. A lamp may also be fixed on
the post.
Dated this Tenth day e
1900
HENRY FREDERICK WILLIAM LEWIS,
8, Meridian Road, Redland, Bristol, in the County of Gloucester.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-alarm Systems (known as Fire-alarm
Telegraphs).
I HENRY FREDERICK WILLIAM LEWIS, of 8 Meridian Road, Redland, Bristol, in the
County of Gloucester, General Manager of the Western Counties and South Wales
Telephone Company Limited, 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:-
It is found in practice in the working of public call-points known as Fire Alarm
Telegraphs that false alarms are frequently given by certain persons for mischievous
nurnos

page_text: panying
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively elevation and back view of the call-point
apparatus,
Figure 3 shows that portion of the apparatus which I call the "detector bell."
Sheet 1 illustrates diagramatically the complete electric circuit between the station
and the call-point, and
Figure 4 shows the call-point and detector bell apparatus combined with a street
post,
and
Figure 5 shows a like apparatus combined with a post preferably carrying a lamp,
Figure 6 shows a like apparatus arranged as a wall-box,
All of which are hereinafter more particularly referred to.
In carrying out my invention I insert in series in the line circuit between the fire
station and the call-point or between the latter point and earth or metallic return
line, a powerful electric trembling bell, figure 3, arranged (as is the case with the
small bell described- in the hereinbefore mentioned Specification) so that its vibrating
armature acts by short-circuiting its own coils once per beat instead of by breaking
the line circuit in the usual way, or else with a shunt across the vibrating contacts
in order that the bell may ring in series with other electrical apparatus without
interfering with their proper action.
I generally find it convenient to construct the detector bell, figure 3, in the
manner shown in the drawing having the coils, A, and vibrating armature, B, placed
above it, and with the hammer, C, attached to the armature and running down inside
the bell.
.
I prefer to construct the call-point apparatus similar to that described in the
Specification hereinbefore referred to.. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the essential parts
of the apparatus which contains an electromagnet having coils, D, an armature, E,
carried by a lever, F, pivoted in a bracket, G, and normally pulled from the electro-
magnet by the spring, H. The pull-knob, K, and its connections are constructed as
described in the said Specification so that upon the knob being pulled the armature, E,
is brought by the spring, L, extending from the plunger, into contact with the electro-
magnet, D, and having been once so brought into contact will not be released when
the pull-knob is pushed back.
"
The call-point and detector bell portions of the apparatus may be contained in a
street post as shown in figure 4, or the same nay advantageously be combined with
a street lamp post preferably bearing the words "fire alarm or like words as shown
in figure 5, or as a wall-box as shown in figure 6, to which combinations it is well
adapted.
For the code signalling referred to in the above mentioned Specification I prefer to
use a separate single-stroke bell, Y, figure 2 in the call-point in order to avoid ringing
the loud detector bell for signalling purposes only. The connections of this single-
stroke bell are as follows:-On the small button, W, being pressed, a spring connected
to the upright bracket, G, (and therefore to the line from the fire station) is brought
into contact with a separate insulated bracket, T, from whence the circuit extends
through the coils of the single-stroke bell direct to earth or to the metallic return line.
This bell is therefore sounded one stroke for every pressure of the button and if the
fireman operating it continues to hold it down after having sent a signal, the station
can reply by operating their reply key.

page_text: The connections of the complete circuit can be seen on reference to Sheet 1.
M, is the battery having one, plate taken to earth or connected to the metallic return
line and the other connected to the key, N, thence to the station bell or relay, P, and
indicator coils, R. From thence the line is taken to the call-point, figure 1, and from
there through the armature or coils of the detector bell, figure 3, to earth or to the
metallic return line.
Upon the pull-knob, K, being operated the armature, E, is brought up to the
electromagnet, D, thus completing the circuit by means of the spring, Z, and insulated
bracket, V, (which then make contact together) through the coils, D, of the electro-
magnet and coils, A, of the detector bell to earth or metallic return line. The bell
will then continue in operation till the circuit is broken by the key, N, at the
station.
Instead of the detector bell, figure 3, a mechanical or clockwork bell or rattle
or any other means of producing a loud sound may be used, or the requisite
loud sound may be made by the explosion of a small detonating cracker, the
firing of a pistol, or by any other suitable means brought into action by operating
the pull-knob.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a fire alarm telegraph, a loud-sounding electric bell or other apparatus for
producing a loud sound, fixed at or near the call-point substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
2. In a fire alarm telegraph the combination of a loud-sounding electric bell or
other sound producing apparatus with a call-point apparatus containing an electro-
magnet and armature by which, upon the pull-knob being operated, the circuit is
closed until broken at the station thereby setting the bell or other apparatus in operation
and rendering the same uncontrollable by the operator substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
3. In a fire alarm telegraph a single-stroke electric bell for code signalling purposes
with connections substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination of the apparatus mentioned in the preceding claims with a street
post, lamp post (preferably bearing the words "fire alarm" or like words) or wall box
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated th 9781
T1000
A. F. SPOONER,
9, Warwick Court, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.