Improvements in and relating to Automatic Fire-alarm Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 17th May,
1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM AND EXTINGUISHER
COMPANY, Limited, of 294, Broadway, in the City and State of New York, United
States of America.]
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Fire-alarm Apparatus.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of 45 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 automatic fire alarm systems, employed for the protection
of stores, houses, and buildings generally, the main purpose of which is to automatically
transmit to a given office or station, on the occurrence of a fire in any portion
of the building protected by the system, a signal or signals which will indicate
the exact location of the fire.
The objects of the invention are to provide a system of this character, comprising
electric circuits and apparatus connected or associated therewith, which shall be
provided with every practicable means to ensure certainty and accuracy of operation,
and which shall indicate correctly and without delay, the existence and location of a
fire in the building protected, and also indicate any derangement of or accident to
the system.
The system, as a whole, comprises a central office or station with the usual receiving
or signaling instruments, and a circuit from the station to any building or structure
to be protected. At such building the main circuit is carried around through all the
rooms or parts of the building where fires may be likely to occur, and in proximity
to such main circuit, a local circuit is run which is composed of a number of
connected sections. Thermostatic circuit closers are connected up between the main
and local lines, and an automatic circuit controlling device is employed which normally
The circuit controlling
connects up the several sections of the local line in series.
device is set in operation by an electro-magnet which is energized whenever one of
the connections between the main and local lines is completed by the action of a
thermostat, and when this occurs the sections of the local line are isolated from one
another. An automatic signalling device is also set in operation by the said circuit
controller and transmits signals to the central office through the main line and that
section of the local line with which connection is made by the thermostat, and
by such signal, indicates the section of the local line near which the fire has
occurred.
The devices used in this system, and the manner of connecting the circuits, in
which the main features of the invention reside, are illustrated in the drawing.
Fig. 1 is a plan or diagram showing the circuits and parts of the instruments
connected therewith.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device for transmitting the signals.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the same.
Figs. 4 and 5 are top views partly in section of a thermostatic transmitter.
Fig. 6 is a broken section of the case with a side view of the apparatus contained
therein.
Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a thermostatic circuit closer used in the system.
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line of Fig. 8. The main line L in figure 1
extends from the central station A where the main battery B is located, to the
building C, the outlines of which are represented in dotted lines and passes through
the several apartments of the building.
Ja sizquit one
reason being that if

page_text: one of the wires is broken, the circuit is not destroyed but the system will operate
through the remaining wire. In all the apartments of any building under the
protection of the system, or in as many as them as may be desired, the arrangement
of circuits is the same, and substantially as shown in the three apartments of the
building illustrated in the drawing.
At one part of the circuit in the building, wherever convenient (in this case from
the second floor) the main line L is carried to the transmitter at D; also at another
point (preferably from the lowest floor) the main line is connected with another part
of the transınitter as at d. The main circuit is normally open, and it may be traced
from the earth at E at the central station, throughout the line L and the several
rooms of the building, terminating in the two strips D' and D" at one part of the
transmitter and to the contact points at dat another part. The strips D1 and D¹¹ rest
upon the insulated piece H, thus leaving the circuit open at that point as stated. The
main circuit, however, has three paths to the earth through the transınitter represented
at E, E and F.
Throughout the building and by the side of the main circuit in each apartment,
extends the local circuit 1, 7 and this local circuit from each apartment passes through
that portion of the transmitter marker F in such a way as to make of the local wire
in all the apartments a single circuit which includes the battery O and the magnet W.
This single local circuit is made up of the several circuits which extend through the
different apartments of the building by means of the strips f, f to h², and the
plates,,, upon which the strips f, f1, rest. Thus the local circuit throughout
the building may be traced from the battery O through strip f, the plate i, the strip,
the upper floor of the building, to the strip f", the plate i¹, the strip g, the second
floor of the building, the strip g, the plate ", the strip gl, the lower floor of the
building, the strip h, the plate, the strip, the magnet W back to the battery. This
local circuit is, therefore, a closed circuit and by this means the armature w is held
towards the magnet W and against the stop w¹.
The main and local circuits thus described are connected at as many points as
desired throughout the several apartments of the building by thermostats or other
thermal devices t, and except through these devices there is no electrical contact
between the circuits. As illustrated in the drawings, the circuits and apparatus are
in their normal positions and ready to indicate the occurrence of a fire or any other
cause which may place the two circuits in connection.
By reference to figures 2 and 3 it will be seen how the several parts are maintained
in their relative positions. The portion of the instrument at D is operated by the
clock work K wound by the key K¹. The train K is held from operation by the
catch or lever k, which itself is held in position by a pin upon the cylinder M.
The cylinder M carries the plates i, i, which serve as connections between the
various parts of the local circuit which extends throughout the building as
described.
The magnet Y and its armature y control the movement of the cylinder M. The
spring S holds the armature y away from the poles of the magnet Y and the spring S¹
which is connected to the shaft of the cylinder M tends to turn the latter towards the
right. This is prevented by means of the lever Y¹ which rests upon the top of the
armature lever y¹.
Let it be now supposed that a fire has taken place in any part of the building and
that by means of any one of the thermal devices t a connection is made between the
main wire L and the local circuit l. The result is that the powerful battery at Bat
the central station is thrown from the main circuit on to the local circuit through the
connection made by the thermostat, and the main circuit will then find its way to the
earth through the said local circuit, passing through the magnet W, the wire 4,
the magnet Z, the wire 5, the magnet Y to the earth at E. In its path it meets the
two batteries O and O but as these are very small they tend in no way to effect the
strong current from the battery B. The first effect of the main current thus passing
over the path described, is that the armature = of the magnet Z is attracted and a
local circnit is established over the wires 6 and 7 which includes the battery ()" and

page_text: the magnet X. The effect of this, if continued, would simply be to cause the bell at A
to be rung through the operation of the rheotome R connected with the magnet X,
by alternately bringing the main circuit to ground at F through the point d, but the
same current also energizes the magnet Y which causes it to attract its armature
strongly. The arm Yi is thus released, the spring S¹ immediately turns the
cylinder M a distance sufficient to remove the plates i, i, from under the ends of the
springs, and the effect of this is at once to isolate the various local circuits
extending through the different apartments of the building. This isolation remains,
as regards all the apartments, except the one in which the connection between the
two circuits has been made as described. But the circuit in the apartment of the
building in which the fire has occurred, being in the main circuit, is at once connected
with the earth at E' through the device D, for as indicated in the diagram, the two
strips ff which form the terminals of the local circuit on each floor are connected
with the springs or strips e, el, el. This connection is made as soon as the cylinder M
has turned and the plates i, have been removed from under the ends of the
strips f, f.
By reference to figure 3, it will be seen that these strips fare bent upwards while
resting upon the plates i, but if the latter are removed, the strips will fall and strike
upon the contact points a, which contact points are connected respectively with the
strips e, e, e. It will be seen therefore, that as soon as the cylinder M has been
moved, as described, so that the strips fall from the plates i then the several floors
are connected separately each with its strip e, e¹, e". But as the fire is supposed to
have taken place in one apartment only, then the local circuits in the other apartments
of the building are left open while the local circuit in the apartment in which the fire
has occurred, being connected with the main line and its battery, will go through the
device D through its strips e, el, ell. Again, it will be seen that as soon as the
cylinder M is turned, as described, the catch of lever k which prevents the train K
from operating is released and by means of the train the cylinder D commences to
turn and continues as long as the train is provided with power by its spring.
cylinder D is turned in the direction of the arrow as shown in figure 1.
The
The cylinder D consists of the shafts and the discs H, H¹, H, I, 1. The disc H
has connected with it the part 11. The disc H and " is insulated from the shaft s.
The other discs H¹, H, I I¹, are electrically connected with the shaft s. The
operation of this part of the transmitter is as follows:-
It will be observed that from the earth E¹ the wire 8 extends to the two
strips R¹, R R¹ being connected with the shaft s and R resting over the part h¹ of
the disc H. As soon as the cylinder D begins to turn in the direction of the arrow,
as shown, the first effect is to put the disc H in connection with the ground by means
of the strip R and the projection n extending over a part of the periphery of ".
As the main line is connected with H by means of the two strips D' and D", it is
evident that the main line is thus sent to ground at E' through the wire 8. It will
be noticed that parts of the disc H, just ready to go in contact with the strips D¹
and D are cut away. In this instance there are four such places cut from the edge
of the disc; the result will be that as the cylinder is turned and the periphery of H
passes under the strips D' and D11, the circuit will be closed and opened four times by
means of the spaces cut from the periphery of H, after which the strip R will pass
out of contact with ¹¹ by passing over the end of the raised portion of its periphery.
This action will cause the bell at the main station A to be struck four times and this
is intended to indicate the number of the building in which the fire has occurred. As
the cylinder D continues to turn in the direction of the arrow as shown in figure 1,
the several discs H¹, H, I, are brought under the strips e, e¹, e¹¹. The disc H¹ has
one projection upon its periphery. Hll has two projections, and I, has three
projections. Now as the main circuit is completed through the local circuit of one of
the floors, it will be completed through the disc which is brought into contact with the
strip e, el, el connected with that floor, and the result is that the bell at A will be
struck once,
twice or thrice, according as the local circuit in the first, second or third
floor of the building has been connected with the main circuit by the action of the

page_text: theremostat as described. This operation will be repeated as long as the cylinder D
continues to turn, the bell striking first, the number of the building, as indicated by
the breaks in the periphery of H, and then the number of the floor on which the fire
has occurred, depending upon which strip e, e¹, e¹¹, is thus put into the main circuit.
To be more particular, let it be supposed that a fire has taken place at the point 15
on the first floor of the building, and by means of the thermostat at that point the
main line L has been connected with the local circuit 1, the result will be that the main
battery B crossing from the main line L to the local line at the point 15, will pass
for an instant over the entire local circuit, through the strips f, the plates i, the
magnets W, Z, and Y, to the earth E. The magnets Z and Y will be energized as
described, the cylinder M will be turned to the right so that the strips and the
plates are separated. The local circuit on the first floor will thus be isolated from
the local circuit on the other floors, and the connection will be made from the point 15
through the wire on the first floor to the contact point under the strips g¹¹ and h
which are in the circuit of that floor, through the wire 9 to the strip e. The cylinder D
being started, as has been described, the bell at A will first be caused to strike four
times by the operation of the disc H and then as the disc H¹ carries its projection
under the stripe it causes the hell to strike once, because the connection is made
between the strip e, the disc H' by means of its one projection, the shaft s, the strip R¹,
the wire 8, to the earth at E¹. This will be repeated so long as the cylinder D is
caused to turn by means of the train K. It is intended that these signals shall be
repeated say five or six times so that the attention of the proper officer in the main
office at A shall not fail to be attracted.
It sometimes happens that it is desired to call the attention of the main office to a
building before any of the thermostats have acted, and for this purpose a device for
sending an alarm manually is shown at P in figures 1 and 2. It consists of the
handle and rod P working back and forth stiffly in guides, as shown, and which, in
the case of figure 1, sets the transmitter in operation by means of the wedge-shaped
pieces on the end of the rod P and the armature, as shown at y. When the rod P
pulled outward it will be seen that the armature y is pressed against the poles of the
magnet, the same as though the latter were energized, and the same result will
follow, namely the cylinder M is caused to revolve and the cylinder D is also released.
In this case, however, as there has been no connection made between the local and
main circuits, the result will be that the main battery B does not find its way to the
ground by either of the circuits of the stories of the building, but when the knob P
is pulled, the circuit closing points at p are brought together and this gives the main
battery a circuit through the line 10, circuit closing points p, the strip S", and the
disk I. This latter disc is provided with several pairs of projections so that when
it passes under the strip S", the main circuit is closed twice, several times at intervals,
thus giving two strokes several times upon the gong A in the central station. It will
be seen, however, that as the cylinder D is set in operation in the same way as has
been before described, a signal will be sent by means of the disc H whereby the
number of the building will be given; and then instead of the number of the floor,
several pairs of strokes will be given, thus indicating that a manual signal has been
sent in from the building, either without a fire or because it has been discovered
before any of the thermostats have been operated. An examination of the box will
disclose that a manual signal has been sent, as the handle P will be pulled out.
In figure 2 this manual device is more conveniently shown as being operated by
pushing the knob P inwards, which makes contact between the circuit-closing points
at p and pushes the armature y towards the poles of the magnet Y in the same way as
has been described with reference to figure 1, and producing the same result.
Should the local circuit in the building at any point be broken, the result will be
that the circuit which includes the battery O and the magnet W and which extends
throughout the building will be opened; the result of this will be that the armature wo
will be drawn away from the poles of the magnet by its spring, and the circuit of the
battery will be closed through the wire 11 and the rheotome connected with the
magnet X. This will give the main circuit a ground through the point d and will

page_text: cause a continuous ringing of the bell at A thus indicating that the local circuit in the
building is broken and requires attention.
Should a ground be established at any point of the local circuit then a circuit will
be made through the battery O, magnet W, wire 4, magnet Z, wire 5, magnet Y, and
battery 01 to the earth at E, the two batteries O and O' operating together. These
will operate magnet Z, but not magnet Y, because the latter is adjusted only to he
operated by the main battery, but the rheotome circuit through wires 6 and 7,
magnet X and battery O" is completed, and the bell A in the central office is rung,
because the main circuit is intermittently grounded at d and F.
At the central station A, at the point A, a device is shown, which is of importance
in indicating the condition of the circuit. In the loop forming the main conductor, is
placed the battery B' and the magnet B. As the loop formis a complete circuit, in
itself, the magnet B" is kept energized, and its armature is held to its holes. Should
the wire be broken, the armature falls away, and thus gives notice of the break.
Again should the line be grounded between the central station and the building C,
the magnet A is energized but no continuous alarm is given, but in such a case if a fire
occur, the results of the operation of the transmitter are given upon the the magnet B₁,
because the loop circuit is opened at the disc H. when the strips D1 and D" meet the
breaks in its periphery. Again, when the circuits and apparatus are all in normal
condition, and an alarm is given, as has been described, the main magnet A* and the
loop magnet B operate together, thus indicating that the line is intact.
Thus every provision is made for the reliable transmission of the signals, and
every accident to disarrange the system is provided for, and the cause can be found
and remedied.
In some cases I find it desirable to use automatic thermostatic transmitters, which
are arranged to be set in operation by a predetermined rise of temperature and to
transmit a given signal over the line from any point in the building to the office or
central station. For such purpose the device illustrated in figures 4, 5 and 6 may be
employed as an alternative means for sending in a signal.
The instrument is mounted on an insulating base A1, and its operative parts
comprise a spring and train of wheels for imparting movement to a conducting arm
that sweeps over a series of contacts. This arm is restrained by a detent of fusible
material that is melted at a given temperature. These parts are enclosed in a metallic
box W around the sides or walls of which are formed any desired number of
perforations in which are inserted pins which lie in the path of the moving
contact.
The clock work or train comprises a spindle ( upon which is fixed a spring s), and
with which is combined a short train of gear wheels as shown. Fixed to the top of
the spindle C, is attached an arm d' extending over the outside of the cover a'.
Within the box is the contact all formed with a trailing end s" and adapted to sweep
over the contact screws or pins arranged as above described. In order that the
arm a may make only a certain number of turns either in being wound or in
unwinding, there is fixed near the spindle a stop mounted eccentrically on a
screw. A pin on the spindle C engages with notches in the periphery of the stop
and when the spindle has turned four times it brings the stop into a position which
locks the spindle against further movement in that direction, but permits it to turn as
many times in the opposite direction.
The instrument is connected with a central office by means of the wires v and v¹,
one connected with the metallic casing of the instrument and the other with the train,
as shown. The spring is wound by turning the lever or arm d to the left as indicated
by the arrow in figure 5. When the device is wound up it is locked by soldering the
arm d¹ to the cover a' with solder or suitable material which fuses at a low tempera-
ture. The solder is represented at /. A fire in the vicinity of the box which
Iroduces sufficient heat to melt the solder at A sets the box in operation and the train
immediately turns the two arms d' and a" to the right, as indicated by the arrow in
figure 4, and the trailing ends of the arm all passes successively over the screws
projecting through the sides of the box. These are arranged in such manner as to

page_text: give a signal indicating the number of the box. Thus it will be seen that the screws
are arranged in the figure in groups of two and five, this is repeated twice in the
circle of the box, and may be oftener, if desired.
But with the automatic system shown in figure 1 ordinary thermostatic circuit-
closers are employed, and for these the preferred construction is shown in Figs. 7,
8 and 9.
The instrument consists of two similar end pieces u u, which screw upon the
central portion u¹. The end pieces uu are cylinders of metal or a conducting
substance, while the central portion is formed preferably of rubber and serves to
insulate the two sections u u from each other. The screws t¹¹ pass through the
ends of the cylinder and upon the enlarged head 11 of each, inside the cylinder, is
firmly attached the flat piece of metal m'. To this piece m' another piece o' is
attached by a solder which fuses at a low temperature.
A spring is coiled within each end of the instrument, one end of the spring
resting against the inner end of the cylinder and the other end ", being curved
outwards as shown, is hooked into the piece o'. In making this connection the
spring is compressed and the tendency is to separate the pieces m' and o¹. The
nuts which screw upon t¹ hold the pieces m' and o¹ and the spring u" in position
and serve to make a firm connection of the wires " with each end of the device.
Fixed to each end of the insulating central piece u¹ are the concave metallic pieces q
and from each of these end pieces 9 the narrow strips q¹ extend to the outside of the
cylinder and are arranged so as to make contact with the end pieces uu when the
latter are screwed to their places upon the central piece u¹ the connection from u at
one end of u¹ being made with the end piece u which is on the opposite end of u.
The instrument being connected in circuit by means of the wires then in the
event of fire occurring near it causing sufficient heat to melt the fusible solder which
connects the pieces m and o¹, the springs, one or both of them, will be released;
and will cause the ends to strike against the concave pieces q and the circuit is
at once established between the two ends of the circuit-closer.
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 system, the combination of a main line from the central station
to the building or area under protection, a local circuit comprising a given number
of normally connected sections, and in proximity to said main line within said
building or area, thermostats in connection with said main and local lines, an
automatic circuit-controlling device through which the sections of the local line are
connected in series, and an electro-magnet in a circuit adapted to be completed by
the closing of a connection between said main and local lines by one of the
thermostats and adapted when energized to set in operation the said circuit-
controlling device whereby the several sections of the local line are isolated from each
other, as set forth.
2. In a fire alarm system, the combination of a main line from the central station
to the building or area under protection, a local circuit comprising a given number
of normally connected sections and in proximity to said main line within said
building or area, thermostats in connection with the main and local lines, an
automatic circuit-controlling device through which the sections of the local line are
normally connected in series, a starting electro-magnet therefor adapted to he
energized by the closing of a connection between the main and local lines whereby
the several sections of the local line will be isolated from each other, a transmitter or
signalling mechanism in said building and electrical connections from each section
of the local line to the same, as set forth.
3. In a fire alarm system, the combination of a main line from the central station
to the structure to be protected, a local line within said structure in proximity to
the main line and composed of a given number of sections or divisions connected up
in closed circnit, an earth connection from said local circuit, an automatic signalling

page_text: device connected with the main and local circuits, an electro-magnetically operated
circuit-controller by which the sections of the local circuit are connected or by
which they are isolated, connected with the said ground connection, and thermostats
connected with the main line and the several sections of the local line and adapted
to establish connection between the two when affected by a certain rise in temperature,
as described.
4. In a fire alarm system, the combination of a main line from the central station
to the structure to be protected, a normally closed local circuit in the said building,
a battery and magnet in said local line, a second local circuit controlled by said
magnet, a vibrator connected therewith and adapted to intermittently close the
circuit of the main line, and earth connection from the closed local circuit, and
thermostatic circuit-closers between the main line and the wires of the close local
circuit, as set forth.
5. A fire alarm system comprising the circuits and apparatus combined and
arranged as follows, to wit; a main line from the central station containing a gong or
alarm indicator and extending to and throughout the structure to be protected, a closed
local circuit in the building, the wires of which are run in proximity to the main line
and connected therewith through thermostatic circit-controllers, a connection from the
said closed circuit to earth, a circuit-controller containing a given number of plates
through which separate sections of the local circuit are connected, an electro-magnet for
operating and starting the same and included in a circuit from the main line through
the said earth connection, whereby on the energizing of the maget, the said sections
will be isolated from each other, an automatic signalling device or transmitter adapted
to be started in operation by or immediately subsequent to the action of the circuit-
controller and circuit-connections whereby given signals are transmitted first from the
main line to ground and then from the main line to ground through that section of the
local line with which the main may be electrically connected through a thermostat, as
set forth.
6. The combination of the main line extending from the central station to and
throughout the structure to be protected, a local circuit composed of sections run
in proximity to the main line, a circuit-changer with two sets of contact plates,
one set adapted to connect the ends of the several sections in a closed circuit,
the other to connect each section independently with a signalling instrument, an
earth connection from the local circuit, an electro-magnet therein for controlling
or operating the circuit-changer, and thermostatic circuit-closers connected to the
main and local lines respectively, as set forth.
7. The combination of the main line extending from the central station to and
throughout the structure to be protected, a local circuit composed of sections run
in proximity to the main line, a signaling device or transmitter, a circuit-changer
with two sets of plates, one set adapted to connect the ends of the several sections
in closed circuit, the other to connect each section with a corresponding signal
disc, an earth connection from the local circuit and thermostatic circuit-closers
connected to the main and local lines respectively, these devices being arranged
in substantially the manner described, the action or operation of the signaling
device being controlled by or dependent upon that of the circuit-changer, which
in turn is operated by a current passing from the main line through the earth
connection, as set forth.
8. The combination with the main line L, the local circuit composed of sections,
one in each room or part of the structure to be protected, the thermostats t, the series
of plates connecting together the sections of circuit 1, the local battery O and
magnet W in said circuit, the normally open local circuit containing battery 011
and vibrator magnet X adapted to intermittently ground the main line when by
the interruption of the circuit and demagnetization of magnet W, the circuit of
battery is closed, as set forth.
9. The combination with the main line L, the local circuit composed of
sections, one in each room or part of the structure to be protected, the
thermostats t, the series of plates connecting together the sections of circuit 1, the

page_text: earth connection from circuit 1, the magnet Z included therein, the normally open
local circuit containing battery O" and vibrator magnet X adapted to intermittently
ground the main line whereby the passage of a current from the main line through
the local line and its earth connection and the energizing of magnet Z the circuit of
battery is closed, as set forth.
10. The combination with the main line L, the local circuit composed of sections
one in each room or part of the structure to be protected, the thermostats t, the circuit-
controller having a series of contact plates by which the sections of the local circuit
are connected in a closed circuit, an earth connection from the local circuit, and an
electro-magnet Y therein, for operating the circuit-controller when the main line is
grounded through one of the thermostats, as set forth.
11. The combination, in a thermostatic fire alarm transmitter with a spring actuated
train and contact arm carried thereby and forming one terminal of an electric circuit,
of an insulated metallic enclosing case forming the other terminal of the circuit and
having a line of perforations therein, and removable metallic plugs or contacts
inserted in said perforations in position to be encountered by the contact arm, as set
forth.
12. An automatic fire alarm transmitter consisting of a metallic case and a spring
and train therein said case and train being insulated from each other, a contact arm on
said train, a series of metallic pins or plugs extending through perforations in said
case into the path of the contact arm, and an arm extending from one member of the
train by which said train is wound, said arm being normally restrained by a joint or
connection with the case of a fusible solder, as set forth.
13. A thermal circuit-closer consisting of a case made of two conducting parts, and
a non-conducting part between them, conducting wires attached to each end and
passing independently through said central non-conducting part, a coiled spring in
each end, and each held from contact with said central part, by a joint soldered with
a solder fusible at a low temperature.
Dated this 31st day of January 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.