Improvements in Arrangements and Mechanism for Indicating and Giving Notice or Alarms when Automatic Fire-extinguishing Apparatus Begin to Operate.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arrangements and Mechanism for Indicating and
Giving Notice or Alarms when Automatic Fire-extinguishing
Apparatus Begin to Operate.
We, JOSEPH BRIGGS SWAILES, GEORGE SWAILES and JOHN BROADMEADOW
SWAILES, of Moorhey, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Cop Tube Manu-
facturers and Machinists, and ROBERT TAYLOR of 30 Cranberry Street, Glodwick,
Oldham, aforesaid, Lamp-lighter, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
to be as follows:-
Automatic fire extinguishers or "sprinklers" are now extensively used, and it
is very important that alarm signals should begin to operate and that indications
should be made at the places required, the moment one or more of the automatic
sprinklers begin to discharge the water.
Our invention relates to simple arrangements and mechanism by which the
moment water begins to move through the main water supply pipe (or if required
through a pipe leading to a sprinkler) to be discharged at one or more sprinklers,
alarms are or may be started or indicators or bells rung at the places required.
One or more of such arrangements are or may be used in each room of the building
having an installation of automatic fire sprinklers, so that it may be known at
once in which room or part of a room (if desired) the automatic sprinkler or
sprinklers have begun to operate.
Our invention consists in providing a box in the main pipe or in each main pipe
of a room or in a branch to a sprinkler through which box the supply water must
pass and in which box there is a spindle or axis in suitable bearings one end of
which spindle passes through a stuffing box or other equivalent arrangement to the
outside of the box.
To this spindle inside the box a wing or vane is secured which nearly fills up
the space across the box and comes nearly close to its sides but without touching
them thus the vane is free to oscillate upon its axis and it obstructs the area or
bore or passage of the box through which the water must pass to the sprinkler or
sprinklers.
As long as there is no flow of water through the pipe the vane remains in the
position to obstruct the bore or passage but the moment the water begins to move
in the pipe in consequence of one or more of the sprinklers beginning to discharge,
the vane oscillates on one side to give the water free passage. This movement
causes a hook arm secured on the axis of the spindle on the exterior of the box to
release the end of a lever or arm having its fulcrum on a stud on the outside of
the box, which lever is weighted or is acted upon by a spring and the movement of
this lever is or may be made to bring the alarms into operation or the said arm
or lever or another arm from it, when released comes in contact with an adjustable
electric contact arrangement, and closes the circuit of an electric battery connected
with the contact arrangement by suitable conducting wires which extend to any
suitable indicator or bell alarm fixed in any desired place or room or communicating
with the residence of the proprietor or manager or other person to receive notice,
or with the fire station in a town.
If there is one of the said arrangements in each room connected up with a
suitable bell and indicator, it can be seen at once in which room the sprinkler or
sprinklers have begun to operate.
We prefer to enclose all the mechanism on the exterior of the vane box with a
suitable box or case readily removed and replaced in order to prevent accumula-
tions of dirt or fibre which might otherwise tend to obstruct the movement

page_text: of the apparatus when required to act. The mechanism is also arranged so that
it may be readily reset after operation and tested at regular intervals to see that it
is kept in proper working order.
Dated this 30th day of January 1892
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arrangements and Mechanism for Indicating and
Giving Notice or Alarms when Automatic Fire-extinguishing
Apparatus Begin to Operate.
We, JOSEPH BRIGGS SWAILES, GEORGE SWAILES and JOHN BROADMEADOW
SWAILES, of Moorhey, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Cop Tube Manu-
facturers and Machinists, and ROBERT TAYLOR, of 30 Cranberry Street, Glodwick,
Oldham aforesaid, Lamp-lighter, 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:-
Automatic fire extinguishers or "sprinklers" are now extensively used, and it
is very important that alarm signals should begin to operate and that indications
should be made at the places required, the moment one or more of the automatic
sprinklers begin to discharge the water.
Our invention relates to simple arrangements and mechanism by which the
moment water begins to move through the main water supply pipe (or if required
through a pipe leading to a sprinkler) to be discharged at one or more sprinklers,
alarms are or may be started, or indicators or bells rung at the places required.
One or more of such arrangements are or may be used in each room of the building
having an installation of automatic fire sprinklers, so that it may be known at once
in which room or part of a room (if desired) the automatic sprinkler or sprinklers
have begun to operate.
Our invention consists in providing a box in the main pipe or in each main
pipe of a room or in a branch to a sprinkler through which box the supply water
must pass and in which box there is a spindle or axis in suitable bearings one end
of which spindle passes through a stuffing box or other equivalent arrangement to
the outside of the box.
To this spindle inside the box a wing or vane is secured which nearly fills up the
space across the box and comes nearly close to its sides, but without touching
them thus the vane is free to oscillate upon its axis and it obstructs the area or
bore or passage of the box through which the water must pass to the sprinkler or
sprinklers.
I
As long as there is no flow of water through the pipe the vane remains in the
position to obstruct the bore or passage but the moment the water begins to move
in the pipe in consequence of one or more of the sprinklers beginning to discharge,
the vane oscillates on one side to give the water free passage.
This movement causes a hook arm secured on the axis of the spindle on the
exterior of the box to release the end of a lever or arm having its fulcrum on a
stud on the outside of the box, which lever is weighted or is acted upon by a spring
and the movement of this lever is or may be made to bring the alarm into operation,
or the said arm or lever or another arm from it, when released, comes in contact
with an adjustable electric contact arrangement, and closes the circuit of an
electric battery connected with the contact arrangement by suitable conducting
wires which extend to any suitable indicator or bell alarm fixed in any desired
place or room or communicating with the residence of the proprietor or manager
or other person to receive notice, or with the fire station in a town.
If there is one of the said arrangements in each room connected up with a

page_text: suitable bell and indicator, it can be seen at once in which room the sprinkler or
sprinklers have begun to operate.
We prefer to enclose all the mechanism on the exterior of the vane box with a
suitable box or case readily removed and replaced in order to prevent accumulation
of dirt or fibre which might otherwise tend to obstruct the movement of the
apparatus when required to act. The mechanism is also arranged so that it may
be readily reset after operation and tested at regular intervals to see that it is kept
proper working order.
in
Fig. 1 is an elevation and section supposed to show parts of the floors of a mill
or similar building, and the lodge generally attached to such a building, and a
diagram showing conducting wires between valves or vanes in various rooms in the
mill or building and the electrical indicating and bell alarm apparatus which may
be used for two or more mills or buildings, each having indicators corresponding to
each separate room in each mill or building supplied with sprinklers.
The electrical battery a, Fig. 1, (in the lodge b,) and a wire a¹, from one of the
poles of the battery is connected with a main wire a², and this main wire is con-
nected in each room with one electrical contact piece for each indicator valve
(hereinafter more fully described by reference to the drawings) and there is a
return wire from another contact piecę for each indicator valve which leads to the
corresponding indicator in the lodge and to the alarm bell c, and back to the other
pole of the battery, as shown in Fig. 1, these return wires are marked a³.
The electrical batteries, the alarm bell, and the instruments forming the indicators
in the lodge (b) and showing the room or indicator valve which has operated, and
the mode of connecting them to the conducting wires are such as are well known
and in common use in hotels, houses and other places for similar indicating purposes
and need not be further referred to.
In Fig. 1, showing part of the mill or building, the water supply tank (d)
is supposed to be at the top, and from it a main water pipe d', descends and is
connected with a branch water pipe d², for each room, which branch pipes are
supposed to supply the sprinklers of such room.
There is an indicator valve (the casing of which is marked e, in Fig. 1) in the
branch supply for each room and the water from the main pipe d', passing to the
branch d², to the "sprinklers" must pass this indicator valve.
In some cases if desired indicator valves may be put in the branch pipe leading
to each "sprinkler."
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation at the line A-B Fig. 3. which is a side elevation
with the side lid of the casing (e) of the indicator valve removed.
Fig. 4. is an end elevation of the indicator valve and connected mechanism but
with the cover for protecting the exterior mechanism from dirt fibre and other
matters removed.
Fig. 5. is a side elevation showing the mechanism on the exterior of the indicator
valve casing which is carried on its lid.
Fig. 6. is a view showing an alternative mode of packing the spindle of the
indicator valve.
The indicator valve shown by Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, is intended for small branch
pipes and the water passes when flowing in the direction pointed by the arrow on
Fig. 3.
Fig. 7. is a side elevation partly in section, the side lid of the casing being
supposed removed, the section being through one branch, the valve facing and flap
valve.
Fig. 8. is a plan view partly in section.
Fig. 9. is a side elevation showing the mechanism on the exterior of the lid of
the indicator valve casing, the sides of the cover box but with its lid supposed
removed.
Fig. 10. is a plan view of the exterior showing the cover box with lid partly
open.

page_text: In Figs. 2. to 5. one mode of making electric contact is shown when the indicator
valve moves, and in Figs. 7 to 10 another mode is shown.
Fig. 11. is a side elevation and Fig. 12 a plan illustrating another mode of making
electric contact when the indicator valve moves.
Fig. 13 is a side elevation with the lid removed, and Fig. 14, a plan partly in
section illustrating another mode of making electric contact when the indicator
valve moves, and also an arrangement by which a stuffing box for the indicator
valve is dispensed with.
Fig. 15 illustrates another mode of making electric contact when the
indicator valve moves.
In the arrangements illustrated by Figs. 2 to 5 and 7 to 10, the electric contact
arrangements have to be re-set by hand after they have operated, but in those
represented by Figs. 11 to 14, the electric contact arrangements re-set themselves
automatically when the indicator valve assumes its normal position.
Since beginning to describe the figures of the drawings we have spoken of the
indicator flap as a valve, but it does not fit so close against what may be termed its
facing, as to entirely prevent the passage of water in the reverse direction to that
shown by the arrows on Figs. 3 and 7.
The arrangement of the indicator, valve, flap or vane is shown best in Figs. 2, 3,
7 and 8.
el, is a branch or junction of the casing e, at which the water enters.
It passes through the casing e, and out to the sprinkler or sprinklers at the
branch or junction e².
es, (Figs. 7 and 8) is a nozzle inserted in the branch e¹, the inward end of which
forms a facing or seating for the flap valve e, which is on a spindle e³.
This flap valve or vane et, fits close or nearly so to the sides of the inside of the
casing e, without touching them so as to be perfectly free to oscillate.
A bearing is or may be formed for one end of the spindle e³, by a bush e,
inserted and secured in a hole in the side of the casing as shown best in Fig. 8.
Or the bearing for the end of the spindle e, may be formed in a hole for it in
the side of the casing as shown in Fig. 2.
The other end of the spindle is long enough to pass through a stuffing box e',
formed in the lid es, of the casing see Figs. 2 and 8.
The outer end of the spindle & has or may have squares formed upon it for a
key to test the freedom of the valve or vane e, when desired.
The inner face of the valve e, may have a part shown in dotted line in Fig. 7
marked, to fit in the bore of the branch e', like a piston, but not tightly.
In the modification shown by Figs. 4 and 5, there is a hook arm f, secured upon
the outer end of the spindle e, and when the valve or vane e', is in its normal position
the hook on the arm f, catches upon one arm of a two armed lever 1, having its
fulcrum 2, upon a screw in the lid e, of the casing.
To the boss of this two armed lever one end of a short strap f³, is attached,
the other end being connected with one end of a helical spring f, the other end
of which is connected with a projection from the lid e8, of the casing, there being a
winged screw nut f³, by which the tension of the spring, can be adjusted or an
arm and weight fx, as shown in dotted line in Fig. ‍5 may be used in place of the
helical spring.
The action of the helical spring, or the weighted arm f*, is to oscillate the two
armed lever, the vertical arm of which comes against a bent flat spring f6, which
is mounted on a block of wood or other suitable insulating material f', secured to
the lid, this spring, being connected with a binding screw bracket, to which
the end of one of the conducting wires fa, is attached the other conducting
wire, is attached to another binding screw bracket fb, on the same wood block,
which has an adjusting screw fe, the end of which will form a contact with a
point carried on the bent spring f6, when it is moved by the vertical arm of the
fever f¹.

page_text: When there is a flow of water to a sprinkler, the valve or vane et, is moved from
its normal position (shown in Figs. 3 and 7) and this releases the hook end of the
arm f, from the horizontal arm of the two armed lever ', which commutes the
electric current from the battery.
In the modification illustrated by Figs. 7 to 10 the hook arm f, holds the end of
a flat spring, carrying a suitable part for contact with the end of an adjustable
contact screw, and when the hook arm, releases the end of the flat spring f",
its elasticity makes electric contact.
The adjustable contact screw fe, and the lower end of the flat spring, are each
in binding screw brackets f, and b, attached to a wood or other block f', secured
to the lid, the electric conducting wires f, and fa, being attached to the binding
screw brackets as shown.
g, is a wood or other box or casing secured by metal brackets g², and screws to
the lid e, of the casing.
g', is the hinged lid of the cover or box which may
have a lock upon it.
There is or may be a cock or tap e³, as shown in Fig. 7, by which water may
be drawn from the valve casing e, in order to test whether or not it is in working
order.
Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a mode of making electric contact when the valve or
vane e, moves from its normal position to a slight extent by which method electric
contact is broken again when the valve or vane again assumes its normal position.
f, is an arm secured on the end of the spindle e. It has projections having holes
into which a glass or other bottle h, is inserted and secured."
This bottle is partly filled with mercury and then its mouth is closed hermetically
by a stopper h, through which the ends of the two conducting wires pass, but
without contact with each other. The upper wire extends towards the bottom end
of the bottle and is turned down, the end of the other wire comes through the
stopper to the inside at that end of the bottle.
When the valve or vane et, is in its normal position, the level of the surface of
the mercury (which only partly fills the bottle) is below and does not come in
contact with the end of the wire near the stopper, but the end of the other wire
near the bottom end of the bottle is always immersed in the mercury but when the
valve or vane e, moves to open, the mercury at the bottom end of the bottle moves
towards the stopper end and comes in contact with the end of the wire at that end
and thus completes the electric circuit.
But when the valve or vane et, assumes its normal position again electric contact
is broken as the mercury flows away from the wire at the stopper end of the bottle
to the other end.
The wires from the stopper are connected so as to leave the bottle free to
oscillate by short conducting wires to binding screw brackets f, and ƒ³, attached
to a wood block f', secured to the lid e8, of the casing e.
Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate an arrangement where the stuffing box for the
spindle e, of the valve or vane e, is dispensed with.
The spindle in this case projects into a closed box e", formed on the lid es, of the
casing, this box being closed by a lid eb, secured upon it water tight.
The electric conducting wires pass water tight through the side of the box e,
and are connected with a bottle h, arranged in a manner similar to that described
in reference to Figs. 11 and 12, except that the bottle h, in this case is secured to
a bent flat spring 2, which is attached to the lower side of the inside of the
box eª.
The free end of the spring h², is bent or inclined, and the end of an arm f, from
the spindle e, of the valve or vane e, when in its normal position holds down the
spring 2, and keeps the surface of the mercury in the bottle from contact with the
end of the wire near the stopper ', but when the valve or vane e, moves, the end
of the arm f, allows the free end of the spring 2, to lift and thus changes the level
of the mercury and causes the wire nearest the stopper to become immersed, and
thus closes the electric circuit.

page_text: When the valve or vane e assumes its normal position the contact is again
broken.
Fig. 15 illustrates an arrangement where a rolling ball is substituted' for
mercury.
The arm, in this case is tubular, and is secured upon the end of the valve or
vane spindle e³.
One conducting wire is attached to the metal of the tubular arm f, the other wire
is insulated from the stopper h', which is screwed into the end of the tube and has
a button on its end which is clear of the sides of the bore of the tube. The ball j,
is free to roll in the bore of the tube. In the normal position of the valve or
vane e, the ball j, is at or near that end of the tube furthest from the stopper I',
but when the valve or vane moves to open the ball j, rolls against the button near
the stopper and completes the electric circuit, and when the valve or vane e¹, again
resumes its normal position the ball j, rolls away from the button and contact is
again broken.
Fig. 6 shows a substitute for a stuffing box. A cavity is made inside the lid e8,
round the spindle e', and an hydraulic ring is inserted, the pressure of water being
allowed admission through a small hole k¹, in the flange on the spindle e, to the
space between the double hydraulic ring k, to press one side of it against the hole
in the lid e, round the spindle and the other side against the spindle thus making
it water tight.
We have described the use of two conducting wires, but one need only be used,
the current returning to the other pole of the battery through the earth, but we
prefer in the case of using one wire only to connect the wire a', with the main water
pipe d¹.
When using one wire, the bracket f8, Fig. 5, may be connected directly with the
lid e8.
One of the wires f", in Figs. 11 and 12 is connected directly to the lid, and in
Figs. 13 and 14 one of the wires fa, is connected directly to the inside of the box e",
the other passing through the side of the box eª.
In the arrangement illustrated by Fig. 15 the wire f", may be dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is.
1. The combination of a hinged valve or vane with a casing forming a part of a
conduit conveying water to a sprinkler or to sprinklers substantially as and for the
purpose described.
2. The combination of a casing forming part of a conduit conveying water to a
sprinkler or to sprinklers with a valve or vane arranged to oscillate on an axis, the
movement of which in one direction will cause an electric current to operate an
indicator and ring a bell or put in operation some alarm, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
3. The combination of a valve or vane with a casing substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5-
and to Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of mechanism by which the movement of
the oscillating valve or vane in one direction actuates mechanism to commute an
electric current substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
illustrated by reference to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive and to Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive of
the drawing.
5. The combination and arrangement of mechanism by which the movements of
the oscillating valve or vane in one direction actuates mechanism or arrangements
to commute an electric current and in the other direction breaks the electric
current substantially as and for the purpose herein before described by reference to
Figs. 11 and 12, and to Figs. 13 and 14 and to Fig. 15 of the drawings.
6. The combination of a stuffing box with the axis or spindle of the valve or

page_text: vane (e) as shown best in Figs. 2 and 8 or with an hydraulic packing ring
substantially as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement by which packing for the valve or vane
spindle is dispensed with substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to
Figs. 13 and 14.
8. The combination and arrangement of mechanism substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described and illustrated by reference to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive,
Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive Figs. 11 and 12, and Figs. 13 and 14 and when modified by
substituting the combination shown by Fig. 15 of the drawings for those for the
same purpose shown in Figs. 11 and 12 and in Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings.
9. The combinations substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated
by reference to Figs. 2 to 5 Figs. to 10 Figs. 11 and 12 Figs. 13 and 14 or Fig. 15
when modified for use with one electric conducting wire instead of two.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of October 1892.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.