Improvements in Automatic Fire Alarm Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
COMPLETE DIMUITIVATION.
Improvements in Automatic Fire Alarm Apparatus.
I, EDWIN STREET BRAZELTON, of South Pittsburg, Marion County, Tennessee,
in the United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide an automatic fire-alarm apparatus
adapted to be applied in conjunction with the push-pin of any existing annunciator
or similar structure having the usual push-button: and whereby while the push-pin
of such apparatus may normally operate the annunciator or other similar structure
to give the customary brief announcement, yet in case of a fire this announcement
shall be not only automatic but continued whenever the wire connected to the
apparatus shall be severed by a low degree of heat
In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention,―
Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of my improved device:
Figure 2 a front view:
Figure 3 a back view:
Figure 4 a central vertical section through the line of Figure 2:
Figure 5 an interior view through the line y y of Figure 1, that is, with the
part 2 removed; and,
Figure 6 a detail shewing a spiral instead of a leaf-spring.
A indicates a case which may be of any desired form or material and adapted to
be secured by screws a¹ or otherwise to cover the usual push-button indicated at C
of any annunciator. This case is preferably made in two parts 2, 3 as shewn.
B is a push-pin, the shank of which is passed through the front of this case, and it
has a knob b', and a head 62, serving as needed, to actuate the ordinary push-
button C of an annunciator.
D indicates a spring which may be a leaf-spring as shewn, or of a spiral or other
form, normally under tension and thus held back or retained by any proper means,
for a purpose presently to be described.
Unless a fire shall occur, this pin B can be moved inwards or outwards to actuate
an annunciator pin C, without any action by the spring upon the pin and without
disturbing the spring: but the spring and pin are so located relatively to each
other, that, if the spring should on the occasion of a fire be set free to spring
back, it will give a continuous pressure on the button C. The occupant of the
room can, in case of need, himself give this continued pressure.
I have shewn this pin as passing through the spring, but it will be evident
that the essential feature of this portion of the device, is that the spring
whatever its form, when released from its tension, shall force back the pin to
keep it in a prolonged contact with and to exert a continuous pressure on the
annunciator button C, to cause a prolonged and unusual ringing of the annun-
ciator, which the attendant at the annunciator office will at once recognize as
an alarm of fire.
E represents a guide and friction roller over which passes the tension wire F,
which is connected to the spring and keeps it in its normal position shewn in
Figure 4, until the tension is released. This release takes place only when a
combustion link, say of celluloid indicated at G, or a fusible link of metal,
indicated at H, or an explosive link of any known kind, (and which are in line

page_text: with and form part or the tension wire) shall by heat cause the link to be
severed.
I indicates a fuse which may be used if desired with my improvements and it
should, if used, be preferably in connection with the combustion link G as shewn.
This fuse may be dispensed with, and in such case there should be a larger
number of the heat destructible links or connections in the wire F.
If a spiral instead of a leaf-spring be used, a dise or plate d' may be placed
between the spring and the head 62, and the wire F fastened to this plate as seen
in Figure 6.
As many of the destructible links as may be desired may be inserted in the wire,
and at any desired points in the room where a fire is likely to occur.
It will of course be understood that there may be as many as desired of the
combustion, or fusible, or explosive links, and located at any desired place in the
wire.
A fuse I of any known kind should, when used, be connected to the destructible
link or links and then extended wherever desired in or around the apartment or
room, so that in case of a fire therein the fuse may be ignited and thus serve to
destroy or fuse the link G, or H, and thus break the tension of wire F, and leave
the spring D free to spring back to press back the head 62 upon the annunciator
button and hold it there.
By my construction, the alarm-sounding device or annunciator is not in the room
or rooms where the fire actuates it: the alarm is instantly received or heard only
in the one room or distant office where the annunciator is placed; and thus instead
of needlessly alarming all the occupants of a hotel or house, or all those whose
rooms have been fitted with my improvements, the announcement is only made at
one point and to those who instantly know that there is a fire, and who also by the
indications on the annunciator know just in what room it is located. The quickness
of the announcement to the officials of a hotel, etc., enables a prompt attention to
the fire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The combination with an annunciator system or apparatus, of an automatic
fire-alarm, provided with a push-pin serving nortnally for pushing the annunciator
button for its ordinary uses, but in case of a fire and the severance of a wire of
the alarm apparatus by fusion, combustion or otherwise, serving by means of a
spring to exert automatically a continuing pressure on the annunciator button to
give a continuing alarm.
2. An automatic fire-alarm attachment for annunciators, consisting of a frame or
holder adapted to be secured over and combined with an annunciator push-button,
the holder being provided with a push-pin to operate the button, and with a spring
in the frame, a tension line serving normally to prevent the action of such spring
and having a link or links destructible by heat for releasing the spring, and the
push-pin being also capable of being operated independently of the spring, all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In combination with a push-button of an electric or other annunciator, a
frame covering such button, a push-pin in such frame adapted to be pushed against
the button to actuate it for ordinary announcements, a spring normally held back
and at rest, and serving when released by the agency of heat to exert a continuing
pressure on the button to give a prolonged signal alarm, a fuse line, and a wire
having a link or part readily destructible by heat, and normally serving by tension
to overcome the force of this spring, all substantially as set forth.
4. The described fire-alarm attachment for annunciators, consisting of the frame
or case, a push-pin passing through the same and provided with a head and foot, a
spring within the case applied as set forth to permit the pin normally to be freely
reciprocated, but adapted, when released upon the severing by heat of its tension

page_text: or retaining wire, to force the foot of the pin forward against the button of the
annunciator, and a tension wire to normally hold back the spring and provided
with heat-destructible links.
Dated this 14th day of March 1895.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.