AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ALARM AND OTHER SIGNALS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexandre Ferny Jérusalémy, of No 10, Rue de la
Fidélité, Paris, in the Republic of Fiance, French Colonial Treasure, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ALARM AND OTHER
SIGNALS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexandre Ferny Jérusalémy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1877.
ALEXANDRE FERNY JERUSALÉMY, of No 10, Rue de la Fidélité, Paris, in the
Republic of Fiance, French Colonial Treasurer. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
PRODUCING ALARM AND OTHER SIGNALS."
This Invention consists in the construction of improved apparatus for the pro-
duction of danger or alarm signals.
To cany out my Invention I form a cucular opening in the floor or in the sides
of the partitions of railway carriages, and to this opening is adapted a metal plate,
in the centre of which is a projecting knob at the end of a rod enclosed in a tube and
terminated by a needle or striker On one side of the knob is the opening of
another small tube communicating with the former tube, and on the opposite side is
a small receiver of chemically prepared matches
On the outside of the carriage is
another plate, fixed to the interior plate by means of screws, this second plate has a
shoulder, in the centre of which is inserted a moveable bar traversed in the middle
by a nipple terminated on the other side by a small cap, over which is a perforated
moveable cover The nipple is provided with a percussion cap placed in contact
with the needle or piercer
To the herein-before described shoulder is screwed or otherwise fixed at an angle
with the side of the locomotive the first half of a tube provided at its lower opening
with a perforated breech piece, in which is placed a double detonating maroon
having a double reversed wick, which is passed through the hole in the breech piece,
the longer of the two wicks being introduced into the small lateral tube of the
interior plate, and serves as a reserve wick, the other wick is introduced into the
cap, where a few grains of gunpowder are also placed The second half of the tube,
provided with a cover held by a chain, is screwed to the first half, and completes the
apparatus

page_text: To give the alarm signal it is only necessary to draw out the knob placed inside
the carriage, and to let it go suddenly, and fire will be communicated to the wick,
the maroon will be discharged, producing a report so as to call the attention of the
guard, and describing a cuive of about four or five hundred feet in the an, will ter-
minate by a second and louder report in sight of the engine driver, so that he may
stop the train
If the knob misses fire the passenger then has recourse to the reserve wick, which
may then be lighted by means of matches placed in the apparatus
To render the signal permanent I attach a second tube surmounted with a globe
of white glass, in which a spiral sping pushes a torch, the wick of which coming in
contact with the maroon is instantly lighted At the bottom of this globe are tubes
charged with detonating compositions, which becoming successively ignited produce
loud reports
By suppressing the maroons the improved apparatus may be applied to houses in
cities, also to isolated dwellings, by adding to the apparatus fuses producing noise
and light
In fixed situations, such as railway stations, a needle or striker turning round a
circle and carrying tubes projecting color fuses may be employed, so as to serve as
signals for trains
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexandie Forny Jérusalémy in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
25th July 1877.
ALEXANDRE FERNY JERUSALÉMY, of No 10, Rue de la Fidélité, Paus, in the
Republic of France, French Colonial Treasurer " AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
PRODUCING ALARM AND OTHER SIGNALS"
This Invention consists in the construction of improved apparatus for the pro-
duction of danger or alarm signals, the Invention having chiefly for object to allow
railway servants and travellers to stop a moving tiain by giving an alarm simul-
taneously to the guaid and engine diver of the train in a more efficacious manner
than by employing the signals at present in use
My Invention is also applicable to town and country houses for signalling any
interior or exterior danger to persons in the neighbourhood or at a distance. The
signal is given by a noise or explosion and the light which it produces
The Invention is also applicable to maintime purposes
To make my Invention better understood I will describe the same by reference to
the accompanying Sheets of Drawings
Sheet I shews my improved apparatus as applied to a railway carlage
In Figure 1 A, B, represents a cucular plate of copper or other suitable material
carrying a button or other cential appurtenance to which is fixed a od terminated
by a needle or striker placed in a metallic tube C, Figure 2 Close to the needle or
striker is another smaller tube D, the other end of which opens into the edge of the
plate A, the opening being closed by a stopper E fastened by a chain, Figure 1
Another cover F, also held to the plate by a chain, serves to stop a second hole
placed opposite the first-named hole, this hole, which is of little depth, is internally
'closed, and serves to receive the matches or other means of obtaining light or fine
"The rods shewn in the Diawing sei ve to keep the plate in place
Figure 4 shews a metallic plate receiving the plate shewn in Figure 2. In the
centie is a metal shoulder I, notched or slotted at its upper part, and screw threaded
on the upper part of its periphery, and perforated from end to end with a cucular
or other shaped hole The upper notch receives the transversal bar of the piece,
shewn in Figure 5, the two ends of which are screw threaded with the piece I, and
follow its external surface when placed in position The bar is shewn perforated
2

page_text: with two holes I, Figure 5, it receives a tube terminated at one end by a nipple G,
and at the other end by a cup H, the whole being tiaveised by a suitable hole
Figure 6 represents a tube in two parts screwed together provided with a breech
piece, shewn detached at Figure 6 bis, the other end has a cover held by a chain
adapting itself to the plate, Figure 4,
this covei,
which prevents the introduction
of any substance into the tube being thrown on one side by the explosion, as shewn,
indicates by its absence the point from whence the signal was given An explosive
and luminous maroon is introduced into the breech piece, the two parts of which
are unscrewed for this purpose, and then joined together again, it is provided with
two wicks, the shorter of which is introduced and suitably fixed in the cup, Figure 5,
in which a little powder is also placed, the longer wick traverses one of the lateral
holes of the cup, passes through the tube D, Figure 2, and is then fastened to the
ring of the stopper E, Figure 1 The tube is then screwed to the plate, Figure 4,
and the whole is placed on a wooden support on which are sciewed the nuts of the
rods of the plate, Figure 2, as shewn in Figure 3. The nipple is then in contact
with the needle or piercer
Figure 6 shews the whole apparatus put together The complete apparatus 18
fixed in any suitable manner to the floor of a railway carriage, the tube projecting
outside, and is inclined as shewn by the dotted lines at 1, 1
The apparatus acts as follows -If the central knob or button be drawn out and
be let go suddenly, the needle or stinker will come against the percussion cap, the
wick will take file, and the maroon will be projected upwards about five hundred
feet diagonally in front of the engine diver It will then explode, producing a
report and a light sufficient to attract the attention of the employés of the tiam, and
consequently allow of stopping it
There is no fear of danger from fire, the ignition only takes place in the metallic
tubes, and the explosion of the maioon leaves no debus capable of communi-
cating fire.
Should the percussion cap fail, the second wick of the maioon should then be
lighted by means of inatches placed in reserve for that purpose
Figure 8 shews the modifications necessary to adapt the apparatus to the sides of
a railway carriage. The breech tube is then elbowed or bent at 1ight angles. Only
the horizontal part serves to receive the reserved wicks of the maloon, naturally
longer.
Sheet 2 shews the arrangement I employ in those cases where it is considered that
a simply explosive maioon is insufficient.
The tubular maroon carrier has a second vertical tube F, Figure 1, on the top of
which is a lantern furnished with a glass globe H held between clips, the upper ends
of which are united by a ring J, carrying a metal shade L, Figure 2, with a system
of tubes, Figure 3, the lower openings of which open into a cicle M, and the upper
openings of which are isolated by small partitions perforated with a hole, these
tubes are furnished with petards united together by strips of tinder A wick
attached to one of them communicates by means of the tube N with the torch I A
cap 01 roof is placed over the whole The crossed spindles K, Figure 3, unite the
shade to the ring J, Figure 1
Figure 2 shews the apparatus set up
The lower pait, Figure 1, is the battery.
Another application of the principle of my apparatus consists in the means of
signalling any danger on a house situated in a town Sheet 3 shews the arange-
ment I prefer employing in this case
To the exterior wall of the house I fix in any suitable manner a lantern glazed
on three of its sides, of which the two side glasses may be coloured On the fiont
is an inscription stating the floor and the room where help is requied This
lantern H, Figure 1, is suspended to the wall by the 1od P, or by other means, it is
sui mounted by a chimney B, on the top of which are united two tubes C coming
from the two front edges and curved at the upper part. A moveable cover protects
the whole. At the lower part of the centre of the lantern is a hollow tube, in which

page_text: is placed a torch E, which will burn for about a quarter of an hour, and the advance
of which is produced in proportion as it is burned by means of a spiral sping or
other suitable means The front of the lantern is concealed by a shutter sliding in.
front of the glass, containing the herein-before described directions in two suitable
grooves or rebates made in the sides of the tubes C Two small chains fixed to the
two upper angles of the shutter slide in the tubes C, and are attached to some
threads united at I, Figure 2, by a buckle, and then attached to cramps fixed to the
bottom of the lantern in such a manner that this intercrossing of the threads I
comes exactly over the torch E, Figure 2 A rim of lead is placed on the top edge
of the shutter to render it heavier at this part Below the lantern is a double cait-
ridge box carrying a series of a certain number of tubes K, Figure 3 Each of these
tubes encloses a petard similar to those used at theatres. Each of these petards is
provided with a wick which projects into a sort of box or canal which opens and
closes at will, and winding in several broken lines the length of the ranges of the
tubes K, which there open into it, these boxes, which open hingewise or otherwise,
receive a double wick, with which each of the wicks of the petards is put into com-
munication The canal or box is filled with bran or flock, for the double purpose of
preserving the wicks and for placing an interval between the successive detonation
of the tubes Although I have taken care to place the tubes at an angle, as shewn
in Figure 1, I further protect them from damp by means of inclined plates A placed
on each side and on the bottom of the lantern, Figure 1. The end of the doublo
wick in leaving the boxes L is adapted to the end of the torch E. When the torch
burns, it instantaneously destroys the threads I, but it becomes covered with a layer
of foreign substances resulting from the combustion of the sheet of tin which enve-
lopes it For removing it I arrange a scraping flyer O, moved by clockwork N,
which cleans it in proportion once or several tunes a minute during the whole tine
the combustion continues When the sping is wound up the flyer stukes against
the threads, which prevent it moving, but as soon as they are burnt and the toich
is lighted, the flyer, being no longer held, begins to turn
In the interior of the apartment, and at any part of the wall where it may be
hidden in any suitable manner, I place a plate constructed similaily in punciple to
that heiein-before described for the application of my system to railway carriages.
A stoppel is screwed on a chamber suitably formed in the thickness of the wall of
the apartment On the other side of the wall is placed a bracket or other similar
arrangement for supporting a tube communicating on one side with the said
chamber, and on the other side with the lantern, which it supports, this tube is
screwed either to a suitable screw, union, or otherwise I also reserve the night of
placing the whole lantern so that it may turn on pivots on an axis or otherwise
The action of the apparatus thus ananged will be easily understood -As soon as
the knob of the striker has been released, the percussion cap is struck and the wick
lighted, thereby effecting the successive detonation of the petards, contained in the
tubes K, and finally lighting the torch E, which sets light to the threads, which,
breaking, allow the chains of the tubes C to fall, being drawn by the shutter, which
in falling exposes to view to the persons whom the noise has brought to the spot
the indication of the place where help is needed.
For isolated houses in the country the apparatus herein-before described might be
insufficient, I therefore prefer employing in such situations the following arrange-
ment of apparatus, reference being had to Sheet 5 of the Diawings -I employ a
battery suitably placed in any part of the building, such battery communicating
with a long tube sufficiently strong and of one or more pieces suitably connected
together and extending to the roof, where it is firmly attached at a greater or less
height. Means are provided to allow of getting to the top thereof, such as by a
ladder or other wise On its upper extremity is placed a lantern G, Figure 1, ordi-
narily glazed and containing a torch, which advances automatically, and provided
with a scraper moved by clockwork,ļas herein-before descubed At regular distances
along this tube are screwed other tubes C, carrying fuses and composed of two parts,
the longer parts C placed on the top and closed by a stopper connected by means of

page_text: a small chain to the the principal tube or to the small tubo, the shorter part B is placed
below, and is arranged in such a manner that by means of a hole made in its lower
part it allows the passage of the rod of the fuse, furnished with an india-rubber
washer, to make a tight joint for keeping out the damp. Sciew stoppers Fare
arranged near each fuse carrier along the large tube to allow the placing of the
wick
The action of the apparatus will be easily understood -The lantern being
unscrewed, the torch is placed therein, the upper part thereof stopping the scraping
blado, as shewn The wick is arranged and descends along the Large tube, and is
made to communicate through cach holo with the special wick of the corresponding
fuse, the wick finally stopping at the battery, as hei ein-before described. It is not
The wicks must be so
necessary to recapitulate the description already given
alanged as not to burn instantaneously, the fuses are luminous, and are terminated
or not by an explosive maioon, and the torch may be colored, and may burn for a
time more or less long, according to circumstancos
As soon as any danger is to be signalled the percussion cap 18 let off, the wick
buins, and successively sets light to the fuses, the light and noise from which attracts
attention from a distance, and at last the torch takes file, and points out by its pei-
manent light the exact place where help is required
Figure 9, Sheet 1, represents a modification of my apparatus suitable for various
places, but particulaily for intermediate railway stations, it may be either moveable
o fixed, and may be set up on any suitable support, and soives to discharge colored
fuses with or without colored or not colored parachutes for the purpose of giving
signals to an advancing train
The apparatus consists of a stand carrying a key 22, screwing on a half ring Y,
canying the apparatus The stand is prolonged by a joint Z, so that the whole
alangement may be fixed at a variable or determined angle A circle S cannes a
ing X for turning the apparatus, and presenting any particular point to a spring
striker V Hooks U serve to hold and to facilitate the sliding of a plate ыl, cari ying
the batteries N, these batteries have a nipple on which the hammer V can strike,
they have holes O in which enter the keys for fixing the wicks of the fuses before
the holes of the nipples. The fuses are held in the tubes Q, passing through the
holes of another ring R, in which are notches for the night and inscriptions for the
day, indicating the object of each signal Safety wicks may also be placed as
herein-before described The ungs of the fuses pass through holes suitably made
My apparatus may also, with several modifications, be rendered applicable for
various maritime pui poses, such as for carrying a rope, letters, or relief
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 4, shew the different parts of the apparatus,
which is shewn in Figure 2, Sheet 5, set up on a tripod K, and provided with the
ieel M Two screw rings B, B, are mounted between two straight edges, the first A
15 jointed to the stand, as herein-before described for the railway station apparatus,
on the stand are ring, and rods G for carrying the reel, shewn in Figure 2, the
second straight edge carries a hammer C
Figure 4 represents
cussion cap is placed
fixed by the screw I
the battery
the battery, it is provided with a nipple on which a per-
His a pin foi fixing a safety wick, the normal wicks being
The screw O of the tube, Figure 3, serves to fix this tube to
The fuse is shewn in Figure 7
Figure 6 shews a cork stopper uniting by means of a strong metallic wire the
fuse to the reel by its base, as shewn in the Drawing The fuse is introduced into
the breech, the ring passes by an opening made in the bottom of the breech, the
tube is fixed to the breech by means of the key O, the stopper is applied to the
upper orifice of the tube, and the whole is passed in the 1ings B, so that the per-
cussion cap shall face the striker C When the explosion takes place the fuse goes
off, drawing the thread from the reel The stopper may be hollow, and may enclose
a letter
This signal can be employed either on land or on board ship

page_text: Having thus described my said Invention, and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in the Drawings,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my
Invention, but what I clann 19,-
Firstly The firing, throwing, and lighting of detonating and luminous fireworks
by means of the percussion of a cap, in the manner heiein-before described and
represented in the Drawings.
Secondly The application of the said apparatus for producing signals in railway
carriages and wagons at railway stations and other points of the line by the aid of
tubes, furnished or not with breeches, with or without fixed or moveable luminous
fire, and operated by the arrangements herein-before described and represented in
the accompanying Drawings
Thirdly The construction and employment of signal apparatus for the interior or
the exterior of buildings or fixed positions, such apparatus operating as herein-before
described, and having tubes (with or without lanterns) throwing fireworks and
setting or not setting light to luminous torches
Fourthly The construction and application of the herein-before described appa-
ratus to the interior or exterior of semaphores on board of all kinds of vessels or boats,
throwing by means of fixed or moveable tubes, fuses or other detonating or luminous
articles, and carrying or not suitably chosen articles
Fifthly The combination of several explosive apparatus, either together or sepa-
rately, detonating simultaneously or successively with one or several near or distant
luminous signals
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexandre Ferny Jérusalémy, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Loid
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven