Improvements in Alarm Apparatus in Connection with Automatic Fire-extinguishers or Sprinklers.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 27th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 30th Aug., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Alarm Apparatus in Connection with Automatic
Fire-extinguishers or Sprinklers.
I, THOMAS WITTER of 190 Blackburn Road, Bolton in the County of Lancaster,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for causing an aların when the
sprinklers are in action, or when the supply pipes are short of water.
"back-
My alarm apparatus consists in mounting in any suitable position on the supply
pipes a valve of either the wing or mushroom type, the spindle of which operates on
levers or their equivalents placed outside the said valve casing. Between the inlet and
outlet of this valve a water passage is provided by which water can pass without going
through the valve in case a small leakage takes place, being provided with a
pressure" valve to prevent the cistern being emptied in case the water is shut off from
the mains. To the main valve is attached a valve communicating by means of a pipe
with a compound valve. The former valve is provided with suitable levers and weights
operated by a lever attached to the spindle of the main valve. Immediately a sprinkler
is in action and motion is given to the water the main valve is opened, which operates
the levers and liberates the valve attached thereto, causing the pressure between the
same and the compound valve to be liberated, in which case the latter valve drops by
means of a rolling or other weight attached to its lever, the latter being inclined or
cranked to ensure the weight moving to its outer end when the valve opens. The
compound valve lever in dropping operates on a steam valve, the outlet communicating
with an alarm whistle. The valve attached to the main valve is provided with an
outlet considerably larger than the inlet to ensure the water being conveyed away
without causing "back-pressure;" a stop valve being placed between them.
The waste water from this valve can be conducted to a small water-wheel or turbine
by which an alarm may be made by ringing a bell or gong.
In another arrangement the alarm apparatus consists in mounting on the steam pipes
a compound valve box with two bottom valves of unequal areas so that when the
pressure of steam is on the largest valve they are closed and steam is shut off from the
whistle or alarm. From the inlet under the smallest valve a pipe is connected with a

page_text: space or cavity above the largest valve. On the cover above the largest valve is
provided a water chamber in which is a valve mounted on a spindle, the valve
being held tight against its seat by the pressure of water therein.
The water
valve spindle is fitted with a lever weighted slightly below the pressure in the valve
box and mains.
In close proximity to the valve on the supply pipes is mounted another compound
valve box with top and bottom valves and also a centre one. The inlet for water to
this valve box is at its upper end to which is connected a feed pipe from the supply
pipes; the outlet being connected by suitable pipes in any convenient way to the water
chamber on the top side of the steam valve for operating the whistle or alarm.
Immediately a sprinkler or sprinklers are opened and motion is given to the water
one of the levers operated by the wing or mushroom valve comes in contact with the
projecting spindle attached to the bottom valve and lifts all three valves together, by
which the central valve closes the inlet to the bottom chamber and lifts the top valve
thereby liberating the pressure of water held between itself and the water chamber on
the steam valve, then the weighted lever drops and opens a valve on the cover
above the largest steam valve and releases the pressure on the latter, when the
smallest valve on the steam inlet is lifted by the pressure of steam under it and the
whistle or alarm is blown.
The underside of the last named compound valve is provided with an inlet which is
coupled to the water main or the pipe leading to the water chamber on the steam valve
before named, for the purpose of operating and closing the centre valve. and
lifting the top valve, by which the passage is open direct from the main to the water
chamber before named.
In case the supply of water fails the pressure in the water chamber before
named is reduced, then the weighted lever drops and releases the steam pressure on the
top of the largest valve as before stated and blows the whistle or alarm.
By the use of this alarm apparatus the wing or mushroom valve, the steam valve
and whistle or alarm may be placed in any suitable or convenient position, distance
being no object, as the two can be connected by pipes in any convenient or practical
manner.
Dated the orth Candamba 1000
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Alarm Apparatus in Connection with Automatic
Fire Extinguishers or Sprinklers.
I THOMAS WITTER of 190 Blackburn Road Bolton in the County of Lancaster
Plumber do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN ALARM
APPARATUS IN CONNECTION WITH AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS OR SPRINKLERS,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in alarm apparatus to be used in conjunction
with automatic fire extinguishers or sprinklers which are connected to a system of
water supply pipes and are sealed by sensitive solder until an outbreak of fire takes
place when the action of the heat generated by the fire fuses the solder releases the
valve distributes water from the sprinkler or sprinklers and thereby automatically
extinguishes the fire.
The object of my Invention is to provide simple and reliable means for giving an
alarm when the sprinklers are in action or when the pressure of water in the supply
pipes or main falls unduly or fails altogether.
I attain this object by the construction combination and arrangement of mechanism
or apparatus which I will now proceed to describe with reference to the five accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings reference being had to the figures and letters marked
thereon.
Figure 1 is a front sectional elevation on a small scale Fig. 2 an end sectional
elevation and Fig. 3 a plan of an alarm apparatus constructed according to my
Invention.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a slightly modified arrangement of the same.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of an alternative arrangement of my improved
alarm.
In Figures 1 to 4. a designates the box or casing for the main valve b
through which all water from the source of supply passes to the sprinklers
installed in the building; c is the pipe through which water is supplied to the valve b,
and c the pipe through which water is conducted to the sprinklers.
The valve 6 is pivoted at 61 to an arm d fixed on the inner side of the casing a to
a spindle e which passes to the outer side through a stuffing box e¹ and on the outside
has secured upon it a second arm d¹ so that when by the flow of water through the
supply pipes the valve b is raised the arm d' on the outside of the casing is similarly
raised and so operates a lever f which is fulcrumed to the casing at f1 and is counter-
poised by an adjustable weight which can be set to any position according to the
pressure at which the alarm is to act. In a casing 9 secured to the casing a is fitted a
valve g¹ which is kept normally closed by the pressure of water supplied to the
casing g through a passage connected to the casing a and a small pipe h¹ connected
to the supply pipe c; there is also fitted in the casing g a valve g' which is also kept
normally against its seating to close a pipe i by the pressure of water admitted through

page_text: the passage and pipe : the spindle 3 of the valve g³ projects through the casing g
and the end of the lever bears against it and the pipe i is connected to a turbine or
water wheel or other kind of water motor not shown by means of which a gong or
other alarm can be sounded or given when the valve 9 is raised by the action
of the lever upon its spindle 93 and water is thereby allowed to flow through the
pipe i.
Above the valve casing g is fulcrumed at j' an inclined double lever j terminating at
one end in a hook and the other end of the lever j lies under the spindle ¹ of the
valve which is fitted on a seating between the steam inlet pipe and the steam outlet
pipe which is connected to a steam whistle m: the lever is weighted by a rolling
weight n which is supported between the two arms of the said lever on two collars n
formed on the weight.
When the pressure of water in the casing presses the valve g¹ to its seating the
valve spindle g supports the lever j and the weight n in the position shown in
Fig. 1 but when the pressure of water in the casing 9 falls and the valve g¹
leaves its seating the spindle dropping allows the end of the lever j to full thus
causing the weight n to roll down the lever until it is caught and stopped by the
hooked end.
The operation of the alarm apparatus is as follows:-
When an outbreak of fire takes place and the sprinklers or a sprinkler are set in
action water begins to flow through the pipes thereby raising and opening the valve b.
As the valve b opens the arm d' rises and raises the end of the pivoted lever f which
lifts the spindle 9 and the valve g² from its seating thus allowing water to flow from
the casing through the pipe i to the water motor which is operated and actuates its
alarm. When water flows from the casing g the pressure therein being reduced
the valve g falls from its seating and as the lever j loses the support of the
spindle its end begins to fall and the weight n rolls down the incline to
the look whereby the other end of the lever jis raised the effect of which is to lift
the spindle kopen the valve k and allow steam to blow the whistle m.
In this manner and by these means two alarms namely the steam whistle and the
gong or equivalent are given inmediately the sprinklers are in action and the steam
whistle alarm is also independently given when the pressure in the supply pipes or
mains falls sufficiently to allow the valve g¹ to drop.
To compensate for fluctuations or slight variations in the water pressure in the mains
and thus prevent an alarm being given except when there is a flow of water or the
pressure falls unduly a pipe o is connected to the casing a at two points one above and
the other below the valve b and in this pipe o is fitted a double seating back pressure
valve P which will lift sufficiently to allow any increased pressure of water in the mains
to get on the upper side of the valve band which will close the pipe o before the
valve 6 opens when a continuous flow of water takes place.
a
I have described the arrangement of apparatus illustrated by Figs. 1 to 3 simul-
taneously with that illustrated by Fig. 4 as the only important feature of difference
between the two is that in the former the two valves gl and are in one and the same
casing and the lever j the weight n the steam valve k and whistle m are shown
placed directly over the casing of the main valve b whereas in Fig. 4 the valve g² is in
one casing 9 and the valve g¹ is in another casing 9 the two being connected by
pipe g' this arrangement permitting the steam valve and whistle with the operating
lever and rolling weight to be placed at any convenient distance from the main valve b.
It will be readily understood that in either of the arrangements illustrated by
Figs. 1 to 4 the valve casings 9 or 9 and their valves might be placed below the main
valve instead of above as herein shown in which case the pipe h would be dispensed
with.
Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative form of alarm apparatus constructed and arranged
according to my Invention.
The main valve & not shown is fitted in the casing a as before and on its spindle e is
fixed a lever done end of which is weighted adjustably by a weight d³ and the other
end lies under the spindle q' of a valve q fitted in a casing or valve box r which is

page_text: ход
space
secured to the casing a of the main valve to which it is connected by pipes and the
pipe being connected on the upper or sprinkler supply pipe side of the valve and
the pipe on the other or lower side of the valve both the pipes r¹ and are controlled
by stop taps not shown. There is also a waste water pipe connected to the valve
box r which pipe is controlled by the valve 9 and is connected to a water motor which
operates a gong or other alarm as in the previous arrangement. In the valve box r
are fitted two other valves q'q' of which the valve qas also the valve ๆ is kept
normally closed by the pressure of water admitted to the casing r through the pipe
and when the valve q' is pressed against its seating its spindle q* which is guided by a
gallery supports the spindle of the other valve q' thereby holding the latter off
its seating and allowing water under pressure to flow from the pipe rl through the valvo q³
into the valve box r which is connected by a pipes to a chamber secured on the
upper part of another compound valve box t. This valve box t is kept constantly
supplied with steam through the inlet t¹ and is connected to a steam whistle by a pipe
not shown connected to the nozzle or union t'; this steam passage is kept normally
closed by a valve t³ mounted on a spindle t which is guided by a gallery to; on the
spindle is also mounted a valve over which is formed a recess or steam
which is kept constantly supplied with steam through a pipe to connected to the steam
inlet t. It will be seen that the valve te having a greater area than the valve t³ the
pressure of steam in the recess t' keeps the valves to on their seatings and the steam
passage closed until steam is allowed to escape through a valve u which is fitted in the
recess t the steam thus escaping passes away through perforations t°. On the cover
of the valve box t and above the valve u is secured the previously mentioned water
chamber which is connected by the pipes to the other compound valve box r.
In
this water chamber is fitted a spindle w upon which is mounted a valve w¹ the
spindle w projects both through the top and bottom of the chamber and at the top is
weighted by means of a pivoted lever z upon one arm of which is suspended an
adjustable weight .'. This weight is so set that the normal pressure of water from
the supply pipes conducted when the valve q³ is open through the pipes to the chamber v
will always press the valve w¹ to its seating and keep the spindle wo raised clear of the
spindle of the valve u. When however the sprinklers come into action the flow of
water in the pipes opens the valve 6 and as the spindle e turns the lever d' raises the
spindle q lifts the valve 9 from its seating thereby allowing water to flow through
the pipe to the water motor and so give one alarm. This flow of water reduces the
pressure below the valve g³ which drops from its soating the valve q³ then drops on to
its seating and shuts off water from the piper¹ the effect of which is to reduce the
pressure of water in the pipe and water chamber v. Immediately the pressure of
water in the chamber is reduced the valve w¹ leaves its seating and drops with the
spindle which opens the valve u and permits steam to escape through the
perforations to. The downward pressure of steam on the valve to being thus
reduced the valves to open thereby permitting steam to flow from the inlet t¹
through the nozzle t* and pipe and blow the steam whistle thus giving the second
alarm.
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my said Invention
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I claim is
1. The improved alarm apparatus herein shown and described or any mere
mechanical equivalent thereof for giving a double alarm when the sprinklers are in
action and a flow of water in the pipes takes place and also for giving an independent
alarm when the pressure of water in the mains fails or falls unduly substantially as
specified.
2. The arrangement of valves and mechanism shown and described or any
equivalent arrangement whereby a steam whistle is operated either when the
sprinklers come into action or when the pressure of water in the pipes falls unduly
or fails.
3. The combination with an automatic valve fitted in the pipes through which
water is supplied to the sprinklers in the installation and a suitable arrangement of

page_text: levers or equivalent operating mechanism of two valves either in the same casing or in
separate casings connected together one of which said valves controls a pipe connected
to a water motor for actuating a gong or other alarm when the automatic valve opens
the other said valve is arranged to release a lever and a rolling weight or equivalent
device to open a steam valve and blow a whistle when the automatic valve opens and
the flow of water in the supply pipe commences or when the pressure of water in the
pipes fails or falls unduly all substantially as herein set forth for the purposes
specified.
4. In alarm apparatus the combination with a system of valve boxes valves and
connections such as those described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the lever ja
rolling weight mounted thereon a steam valve and connections to a whistle or equivalent
alarm substantially as herein set forth for the purposes specified.
5. The combination with a compound water valve which by suitable connections
controls the working of a water motor for operating one alarm and the lifting
of a steam valve to allow-steam to blow a whistle or other alarm of the arrange-
ment of compound levers operated by the lifting of the automatic valve when water
begins to flow through the supply pipes substantially as herein described and as shown
by Figs. 1 to 4.
6. The several constructions combinations and arrangements of parts substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4.
7. The combination with an automatic valve fitted in the pipes through which
water is supplied to the sprinklers in the installation the compound valve box
its valves and connections the water chamber its valve and connections and
the valve u of the compound valve box t its valves and connections all substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated by Fig. 5.
8. The construction combination and arrangement of parts constituting the
alternative form of alarm apparatus substantially as described and as shown on
Fig. 5.
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for Applicant.