IMPROVE- MENTS IN SELF-ACTING ALARMS FOR INDICATING EXCESS OF HEAT OR COLD, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields;
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF-ACTING ALARMS FOR INDICATING EXCESS OF HEAT OR COLD,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION OF
MESSAGES." A communication from abroad by Charles Dion, of the
City of Montreal, in the Province of Canada, Photographic Artist.
Sealed the 10th October 1865, and dated the 2nd May 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd May 1865.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlessx, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING ALARMS POR INDICATING EXCESS OF HEAT OR
COLD, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION OF
MESSAGES," a communication to me from abroad by Charles Dion, of the
City of Montreal, in the Province of Canada, Photographic Artist, to be as
follows:-

page_text: This Invention relates to certain peculiar combinations of self-acting
machinery or apparatus for indicating the presence of fire, or any excess of
cold in buildings and other places, and for conveying the intelligence to any
desired locality or central depôt, a portion of such apparatus being applicable
to the transmission of ordinary orders or messages in large establishments,
such as hotels.
According to one arrangement of fire-aların the machinery is attached to
a metal plate, and may be secured to the side wall of the room, and a
graduated scale of any convenient number of degrees revolves partially on a
pivot secured to the metal plate. On this scale works an index, pointer, or
needle moveable on a pivot passing through its end, and to which a spring is
firmly attached, one end of the spring being secured to the plate, and the
other end securely connected to the index pivot. This spring is composed of
steel and copper, in about equal proportions, either plated together or mixed
by melting; or in place of the above two metals zine may be used in con-
nection with either of them in about the same proportion; this spring is
attached to the index pivot by means of jointed levers and pivots. Two
regulating screws connect the spring to the plate, and serve the purpose of
adjusting the needle within the limits of 32° and 212° Fabrenheit. A handle
is attached to the graduated scale for the purpose of moving and adjusting it to
any degree of temperature with the index hand, a spring or clamp presses
against the index plate in order to hold it in place. On a stand for that
purpose is supported a balance lever, which works on a knife-edge fulcrum;
the short arm of this lever is bent at right angles, against which the needle
comes in contact, and the extreme end of the long arm of the lever is
supported on a moveable stand with a small pivot passing through. When
this lever is disengaged by the raising of the long arm of the lever, consequent
on the depression of the short arm by contact with the index hand, this
jointed stand falls over on the long arm of a second lever, which also works
on a knife edge and pivot in the upright support, lifting the short arm and
detaching it from a pin in a striking lever, which allows it to fall and strike
with its upper end against a second lever in connection with ordinary clock-
work which starts a bell; or the connection of the "alarm" with the clock-
work may be simplified by dispensing with the striking lever, and attaching
the short arm of the second lever directly to the clockwork. A small tube
leads from the machine to the office, or wherever the alarm is required to be
given, and a short piece of tube is attached to the foot of the striking lever,
and contains a ball or marble with the number of the room marked on it.
When the lever falls this small ball is thrown into the bell mouth of the tube,

page_text: and from thence passes into the office, when the number of the room where
the alarm is given is at once known.
According to another modification of this machine there is a small click
attached to the end of the pointer, with a hole in it, through which passes a
vertical lever, which is attached at its lower end to a second balance lever,
secured by a pivot to a vertical cylinder; the upper end of the second balance
lever is bent, and passes through an aperture in the upper end of the cylinder,
and projects slightly beyond the inner side, for the purpose of retaining a ball
placed in the upper end thereof, which ball on falling acts on a lever working
on a pivot near. its upper end, and engaged with the end of a catch lever,
which starts the clockwork when liberated.
According to a third modification, arranged with the view more particularly.
of indicating the presence of flame or gas, an inverted cone of. metal, paper,.
or other material of any convenient size is fixed at its apex. to the end of a.
lever, which is supported on. a knife edge, and is secured to the ceiling of the
room by any convenient support. The cone could be placed if desired in a.
cylinder or tube, or against a small piece of Bristol board of the size required,
placed horizontally, or turned spirally, and placed in the cylinder as aforesaid ;.
or a horizontal or vertical wheel may be used, constructed to be driven by.
wind, and so arranged as to elevate a screw to work against one end of the
lever. This wheel. can be moved by the ascent of the rarified air in the
room passing up through the cylinder, and the action of the screw gives
the aların. When the temperature of the room becomes uniform the motion
of the wheel will cease, and the screw return to its original place. When
the cone is used the same action is produced. In a room where a high
temperature of heat is required, and where the action of the cone or other
appliances would be too sensitive, the action of the machine can be modified
to any required degree by increasing the length of the short arm of the lever,
by shifting it along its support; or if wheels are used, by increasing the length
of the regulating screw referred to. In order to give increased lifting power
to the lever, a tube of metal or glass may be secured to the long arm of the
lever, closed at both ends, and containing a ball of metal, or other substance,
or a liquid, which when the short arm of the lever is raised above the
horizontal, will immediately travel towards the end of the long arm of the
lever, and thus give increased weight and power to the same. When the
lever is thus acted upon the short arm comes in contact with a catch lever,
which connects with clockwork and rings a bell; the long arm also comes in
contact with another catch lever, which communicates also with clockwork,
and by means of wires rings a bell in the office, or wherever required. This,

page_text: however, could be accomplished without the aid of this clockwork and wire,
by the end of the lever acting in a second lever, and disengaging, a ball with
the number of the room marked thereon, and conveyed by a tube to the
office, as described in a preceding modification.
In using the first modification, if it is required that the bell should
strike at 90° of beat, the graduated scale is raised until the figure 90°
coincides with the balance lever; as the temperature increases the elongation
of the spiral spring causes the needle to travel downwards until it reaches the
end of the balance lever corresponding with 90°, when it is moved in a down-
ward direction, raising the long end of the lever, and disengaging the other
levers, when the bell is at once started, and the small ball dispatched through
the tube to indicate the number of the room; after the alarm has been given
the clockwork is wound up, and the various levers arranged as before, when
the machine is in readiness for giving a second alarm.
In the second modification the mode of operating the machine is to place
the degree required on the scale opposite the upper end of the vertical lever,
so that as the index hand reaches this point in consequence of the increase of
the temperature acting on the compound metal spring, the lever is disengaged
from the small hole in the click at the end of the index haud, and falls, dis-
engaging a catch or wire passing from two ears secured to the outside of the
cylinder, and allows the second lever to fall, also disengaging the upper end
from the cylinder; and allows the ball in the cylinder to fall and strike against
the foot of the lever which projects inside such cylinder, and moves it back,
and disengages the upper end from the catch lever connected with the clock-
work, and so starts the bell, the ball then passes down the tube to the office,
or to wherever required. By the use of this tube considerable saving in timo
may be effected in large hotels in communicating with the office; thus a
considerable number of small balls may be provided for each room, with the
names of the principal articles in use written on them; such as, for example,
coals, water, lamps, wine, brandy; a ball dropped in the tube containing the
name of whatever is required will be at once transferred to the office, the
waiter returning the ball with the article to the roon, thus saving one journey
up and down; or the ball may be hollow, and admit of a written com-
munication being placed in it, and thus transferred to the office.
By a combination of the two modifications described a machine is pro-
duced which will indicate cold, in so arranging it that the index hand
will come in contact with the end of the lever to be acted on at the desired
temperature.
In the third modification the machine provided with a cone or wheel will

page_text: be secured to the roof of a room, and the clockwork at any convenient place
on the side of the room. When great sensitiveness is required the lever will
be nicely balanced with the ball if used at the end of the tube near the
fulcrum. If great nicety be not required the lever may be unequally
balanced; a graduated scale placed on the lever will serve to indicate any
given temperature for adjustment if required. If flame should exist in the
room a current of air is created, which passing up through the cone or wheel
causes an upward motion to take place, which moves the short arm of the
lever against the catch lever, and starts the clockwork and bell, the long arm
of the lever performing a like office for a second system of signals at once
gives the locality of the alarm.
Either of the modifications of the "domestic fire-alarm " mentioned are well
adapted for large hotels, public buildings, and mansions, and may be arranged
as follows:-A dial is placed in the office, and connected by wires with the
various rooms. When a fire takes place in one room of the building the
number of the room is indicated on the dial; or it may be indicated as before
mentioned by tubes and balls. The "domestic fire-alarm "may also be used
for indicating the temperature of grain in bulk, cotton, and other substances,
also in greenhouses, and other like places. This Invention may also be put in
communication with the fire telegraph, and indicate immediately at the
central office either the street and number of house, as well as the name
of the proprietor of the building where the accident from fire has taken
place, in order that no time may be lost in giving the general signal of a fire
and its locality. For this purpose a wheel is attached to the axle of the
clockwork with which it revolves, and on the periphery of this wheel are teeth
arranged in a telegraphic alphabetical order, spelling the name of the
proprietor, name of street, and number of house. The revolution of this
wheel causes the teeth in question to operate a spring on the end of a lever,
connecting with and working the key of the telegraph, which is connected
with the key of the telegraph in the central office by the ordinary arrange-
ment of wires. The effect of the teeth in question is the same as if the key
were worked by hand.
Another modification of the fire-alarm which may be made is to suspend
a tube made of glass, copper, or iron very thin, and closed at both ends, with
a bulb at one end projecting from the lower side, and filled with spirit or
mercury; this tube will be suspended very accurately in the centre, and con-
nected at the bulb end with a lever communicating with clockwork. When
the temperature of the room is increased the liquid flows to the opposite end,
tilts up the tube, disengages the lever, and rings the bell. In this modification

page_text: the tube will require to be readjusted by hand, and therefore is not so perfect
as the other modifications, but will cost less.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 'file
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office o
the 1st November 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Jon:
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1,
the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING ALARMS FOR INDICATING EXCESS OF HEAT OR
COLD, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION OF
MESSAGES," a communication to me from abroad by Charles Dion, of the
City of Montreal, in the Province of Canada, Photographic Artist, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to certain peculiar combinations of self-acting

page_text: machinery or apparatus for indicating the presence of fire, or any excess of
cold in buildings and other places, and for conveying the intelligence to any
desired locality or central depôt. A portion of such apparatus being applicable
to the transmission of ordinary orders or messages in large establishments,
such as hotels.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation of one form of what
the Inventor calls the "domestic fire-alarm," with the machinery put in
motion, principally by the increased temperature of the surrounding air;
Figure 2 represents a modification of the fire-alarm shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 represents a modification of the fire-alarm, intended more par-
ticularly to indicate the presence of flame.
In Figure 1, a is a metal plate, to which the machinery is attached, and
which may be secured to the side wall of the room; b is a graduated scale of
any convenient number of degrees, attached to a framework c, which revolves
partially on a pivot d secured to the metal plate a. On this scale works an
index pointer or needle e, moveable on a pivot passing through its end, and
in connection with which is the spring f, as shewn in the Drawing; f is a
spiral spring, with one end secured to the plate a, and the other end securely
connected to the index pivot. This spring is composed of steel and copper in
about equal proportions, either plated together or mixed by melting; or in
place of the above two metals, zinc may be used in connection with either of
them in about the same proportion; this spring is attached to the index
pivot by means of jointed levers and pivots, as shewn in the Drawing.
Two regulating screws g, g', respectively connect the spring to the plate a,
and adjust the needle within the limits of 32° and 212° Fahrenheit.
handle h is attached to the graduated scale for the purpose of moving and
adjusting it to any degree of temperature with the index hand; i is a spring
or clamp pressing against the index plate in order to hold it in place. On
a stand k for that purpose is supported a balance lever l, which works on a
knife-edge fulcrum in the stand; the short arm of this lever is bent at right
angles, against which the needle e comes in contact, and the extreme end of
the long arm of the lever is supported on a moveable stand m, with a small
pivot passing through it. When this lever is disengaged by the raising of the
long arm of the lever consequent on the depression of the short arm by
A

page_text: contact with the index hand, this jointed stand falls over on the long arm of a
second lever n, which also works on a knife edge and pivot in the upright
support, lifting the short arm, and detaching it from a pin in the striking
lever o, which allows it to fall and strike with its upper end against a second
lever p in connection with clockwork which starts the striking mechanism of
the bell ; or the connection of the "alarm" with the clockwork may be
simplified by dispensing with the lever o, and attaching the short arm of the
lever n directly to the clockwork; is a small tube leading from the machine
to the office, or wherever the alarm or signal is required to be given. A short
piece of tube s is attached to the foot of the lever o, and contains a ball or
marble with the number of the room marked on it. When the lever falls
this small ball is thrown into the bell mouth of the tube r, and from thence
passes into the office, when the number of the room where the alarm is given
is at once known.
In the modification of this machine (shewn in Fig. 2) there is a small
click attached to the end of the pointer e, with a hole in it, through which
passes a lever t; this lever may be of a curved form, corresponding with the
graduated scale; or it may be straight, and is attached at its lower end to a
second balance lever u, which is secured by a pivot to the cylinder v; the
upper end of the lever is bent, and passes through an aperture in the upper
end of the cylinder v, and projects slightly beyond the inner side for the
purpose of retaining the ball w placed in the upper end thereof, which ball
on falling acts on a lever a working on a pivot near its upper end, and
engaged with the end of a catch lever v', which starts the clockwork when
liberated, and rings the bell q.
According to a third modification (Figure 3), arranged with the view more
particularly of indicating the presence of flame or gas, a cone A of metal,
paper, or other material of any convenient size is fixed at its apex point to
the end of a lever B, D, C, which is supported at the point D on a knife
edge, and is secured to the ceiling of the room by any convenient support F.
The cone could be placed if desired in a cylinder or tube, or against a small
piece of Bristol board of the size required, placed horizontally, or turned
spirally, and placed in the cylinder as aforesaid; or a horizontal or vertical
wheel may be used, constructed so as to be driven by wind, and so arranged
as to elevate a screw to work against one end of the lever. This wheel can
be moved by the ascent of the rarified air in the room passing up through the
cylinder, and the action of the screw gives the alarm. When the temperature
of the room becomes uniform the motion of the wheel will cease, and the
screw return to its original place. When the cone is used the same action is

page_text: produced. In a room where a high temperature of heat is required, and
where the action of the cone or other appliances would be too sensitive, the
action of the machine can be modified to any required degree by increasing
the length of the short arm of the lever B, D, C, by shifting it along its
support at D; or if wheels are used by increasing the length of the regulating
screw referred to. In order to give increased lifting power to the lever
B, D, C, a tube of metal or glass may be secured to the long arm of the
lever, as shown in Figure 3, closed at both ends, and containing a ball of
metal or other substance, or a liquid, which when the short arm of the lever
is raised above the horizontal will immediately travel towards the end of the
long arm of the lever, and thus give increased weight and power to the same.
When the lever is thus acted upon the short arm comes in contact with a
catch lever E at B, which connects with clockwork, and rings a bell, the long
arm also comes in contact with another catch lever 1, which communicates
also with clockwork, and by means of suitable wires rings a bell in the office,
or wherever required. This, however, would be accomplished without the
aid of the clockwork and wire by the end of the lever acting on a second
lever, and disengaging a ball with the number of the room marked thereon,
and conveyed by a tube to the office, as described in a preceding modification.
In using the first modification described and shown in Figure 1, if it is required
that the bell should strike at 90° of heat, the graduated scale is raised until
the figure 90° coincides with the balance lever 1; as the temperature increases,
the elongation of the spiral spring causes the needle to travel downwards until
it reaches the end of the balance lever 1, corresponding with 90°, when it is
moved in a downward direction, raising the long end of the lever, and dis-
engaging the other levers m, n, and o, when the bell is at once started, and
the small ball dispatched through the tuber to indicate the number of the
room; after the alarm has been given the clockwork is wound up, and the
various levers arranged as before, when the machine is in readiness for giving
a second alarm.
In the second modification, shown in Figure 2, the mode of operating the
machine is to place the degree required on the scale opposite the upper end
of the lever t, so that as the index hand reaches this point, in consequence of
the increase of the temperature acting on the compound metal spring, the
lever is disengaged from the small hole in the click at the end of the index
hand, and falls, disengaging the catch or wire 20' passing from two ears
secured to the outside of the cylinder around a notch, as shown in the
Drawings, and allows the second lever u to fall, also disengaging the upper

page_text: end from the cylinder, and allowing the ball w in the cylinder to fall and
strike against the foot of the lever a, which projects inside such cylinder, and
inoves it back, and disengages the upper end from the lever v connected with
the clockwork, and so rings the bell, the ball simultaneously passes down the
tube to the office, or to wherever it may be required. By the use of this
tube considerable saving in time may be effected in large hotels in com-
municating with the office; thus a number of small balls may be provided
for each room with the names of the principal articles in use written on them,
videlicet, "coals," "water," "lamps," "wine," "brandy," &c. A ball dropped
in the tube containing the name of whatever is required will be at once
transferred to the office, the waiter returning the ball with the article to the
room, thus saving one journey up and down; or the ball may be hollow, and
admit of a written communication being placed in it, and thus transferred to
the office. By a combination of the two modifications described a machine
is produced which will indicate cold, in having it so arranged that the index
hand will come in contact with the end of the lever 1 when the minimum
temperature is attained.
In the third modification, shown in Figure 3, the machine provided with a
cone or wheel will be secured to the ceiling of a room, and the clockwork at
any convenient place on the side of the room. When great sensitiveness is
required, the lever will be nicely balanced with the ball if used at the end of
the tube near the fulcrum; if great nicety be not required the lever may be
unequally balanced; a graduated scale placed on the lever will serve to
indicate any given temperature for adjustment if required. If flame should
exist in the room a current of air is created, which passing up through the
cone or wheel causes an upward motion to take place, which moves the short
arm B of the lever against the catch lever at E, and starts the clockwork and
bell the long arm of the lever performing a like office for a second system
of signals at once gives the locality of the alarm.
Either of the modifications of the "domestic fire-alarm" mentioned are 3
well adapted for large hotels, public buildings, and mansions, and may be
arranged as follows:-A dial of peculiar construction is placed in the office,
and connected by wires with the various rooms; when a fire takes place in
one room of the building, the number of the room is indicated on the dial, or
it may be indicated as before mentioned by tubes and balls. The "domestic 3
fire alarm" may also be used for indicating the temperature of grain in bulk,
cotton, and other substances, also in greenhouses, and other places. This
Invention may also be put in communication with the fire telegraph, and

page_text: indicate immediately at the centre office either the street and number of
house, as well as the name of the proprietor of the building where the
accident from fire has taken place, in order that no time may be lost in giving
the general signal for a fire and its locality. For this purpose a wheel Z
(Figure 3) is attached to the axle of the clockwork with which it revolves, and
on the periphery of this wheel are teeth arranged in a telegraphic alphabetical
order, spelling the name of the proprietor, name of street, and number of
house. The revolution of this wheel causes the teeth in question to operate
a spring y on the end of the lever K connecting with and working the key of
the telegraph, which is connected with the key of the telegraph in the centre
office by the ordinary arrangement of wires. The effect of the teeth in
question is the same as the key were worked by hand.
Another modification of the fire-alarm, which may be made, is to suspend a
tube made of glass, copper, or iron very thin, and closed at both ends, with a
bulb at one end projecting from the lower side, and filled with spirit or
mercury; this tube will be suspended very accurately in the centre, and con-
nected at the bulb end with a lever communicating with clockwork. When
the temperature of the room is increased, the liquid flows to the opposite end,
tilts up the tube, disengages the lever, and rings the bell. In this modification
the tube will require to be readjusted by hand, and therefore is not so perfect
as the modification shown in Figure 3, but will cost less.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the peculiar combinations and arrangements of wheels, springs,
levers, graduated scales, clockwork, bell, tubes, and balls, all working together
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and
illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings annexed.
Second, the peculiar combination and arrangement of cone, wheels, tubes,
balls, and clockwork, all working together substantially in the manner and for
the purpose herein-before described.
Third, the peculiar combination and arrangement of teeth in the periphery
of a wheel working in connection with a spring handle of the telegraphic key,
whereby the domestic fire alarm communicates the name of proprietor, street,
and number of house to the central fire alarm telegraphic office, substantially
as herein-before described.

page_text: Fourth, the application and use of balls and tubes for conveying orders or
messages, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the First day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five...
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)