US1089404A - Fire-alarm signal-box for automatic telephone systems. - Google Patents

Description

I J. ERIGKSON.

FIB-E ALARM- SIGNAL BOX FOB AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. v llPLIOA'TIOH FILED D150. 28 1911. RENEWED OCT. 4, 1913.

1,089,404. Patented Mar. 10, 19m

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. Q 24 s- 5 1? a l 9 X Y PUSH I 121 l. ERIOKSON. FIRE ALARM SIGNAL BOX FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1911. RENEWED 001. 4, 191a.

- 0 9 404 v Patented Mar. 10,1 -914.

3 SHEETS-8111131 2.

, J. ERIGKSON. FIRE ALABM-SIGRAL BOX FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. LPPLIOATIOH FILED 17110.28, 1911. nmmwrzn 001.4. 1913.

1,089,404. Patented Mar. 10,1911 I a snnm snnn'r a. I? 5 amnion John it n s reams rarnnr ornion.

JOHN ERICKSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DENIO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FIRE-ALARM SIGNALBOX FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Mar. 10,1914.

Application flled.December 28, 1911, Serial No. 668,223. Renewed October 4, 1913. Serial No. 793,470.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Emcxsox, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Alarm Signal- Boxes for Automatic Telephone Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates tosignal boxes for fire alarm systems, and has for its object to provide an apparatus adapted particularly to be used in conjunction with those telephone systems in which the central offiee connections are set up or established automatically by electromagnetically operated switching devices. The signal box or apparatus embodying my invention is adapted to actuate or automatically control the central ofiice switching mechanism to establish a connection between a subscribers circuit and fire alarm headquarters, and thereafter to despatch the signal or ring in the number or code signal of the subscribers station at which the box is located.

My invention also has for its object to provide in conjunction with apparatus of this character, an electromagnetic device which is at all times associated with the subscribers circuit, having a movable part which will be actuated by the current on the line when the operation of the fire alarm box occurs during the period the subscribers circuit is being used for telephonic purposes, 'which will so control the operation of the box that the movement of its parts is arrested temporarily until the central office switches have been restored to their normal positions by the subscribers act of hanging up their receivers.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims. at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism of a signal box showing the operating parts constructed in accordance with my present invention and in their normal osition, thecasin of the box being remdvec. Fig. 2 is a si e elevation;

F 1g. 3 is.a detail view of the gear train and the stop devices; Fig. 4 is a detail View showing the several contact controlling members and the cooperating elements arranged to actuate them periodically; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the releasing push button or member, and Fig. 6 is a detail diagrammatic.

view showing the arrangement of the signal box in conjunction with an automatic telephone system.

Similar reference numerals in the several figures indicate the same parts. Fire alarm signals or call boxes embodymgmy present invention are employed in coluunction with a subscribers circuit of a telephone system for despatching automatically a call or signal to fire alarm headquarters. In those telephone systems in which the central ofiioe connections are set up or established manually, a subscribers circuit is connected to the fire alarm circuit by the central oiiice operator, and a signal is transmitted from the circuit thus established. In the automatic telephone systems, where the central ofiice connections are established by the use of electro-mechanically operated switching-mechanism, the signal box must be provided with means for transmitting the necessary impulses for effecting the switching operation to connect the subscribers fcircuit on which the signal box is located with the fire alarm circuit, and after this circuit has been thus established, the impulses of current for sounding the alarm or recording the number of the signal box, are transmitted.

In automatic telephone systems the normal condition of the switches is restored in readiness for subsequent operations only when one or both of the connected subscribers hang up or replace their receivers, and thereby grounding and then opening the line at the switch hook contacts of their respective instruments. F or the successful operation of a fire alarm signal box t re, therefore, necessary when two subscribers lines are connected, that the first operat1on of the box shall produce such an effect on the line that the subscribers will, of necessity, hang up their receivers, and that the box will thereafter take ossession of the subscribers line on which 1t is arranged, so

that, if the subscriber, who was previously connected, or any other subscriber, endeavors to make connection therewith, a condition the fan. At the opposite latter lies in the path of the projections 22, 22", as do also the teeth of the spur gear 24. The latter is mounted upon a stud shaft and is connected to a cam member having two different sets of projections and serving to rock the lever arms 26 and 27, which are supported upon a common pivot 28, these levers controlling the opening and closing of 'various sets of contacts to effect the necessary switching operations at the central ofiice or exchange in conjunction with the movement the so called busy condition which is governed by a fan 6 connected of the lever 21. The .lever 26 controls two thereto. Also mounted on the base 1 he sets of contacts a, b, and c, d, which are norv neath the parts just described, is a restrainmally closed and held closed by the insulating device which may be released manually. ing members 26? and 26 engaging the In 1ts present formthe restraining device springs a and a respectively. The lever 27 controls the movement of the spring a perniitting it to ply between the springs f and 9. Associated with thecontacts 0 and (Z is the third contact e' cam surfaces of the cam member, be fore referred to, which is moved intermittently by the spur'gear wheel 24, are arranged to produce coordinate operations between the varioussets of contacts by efshort lever arm 12, on the face of which appears the word Push, which is visible through a sight aperture 13 in the cover 14, which incloses the mechanism, and is removably attached to the base 1. v

The device-which restrains the operation of the clock train is preferably arranged be- 6 in such position retracted by the and 27, of Figs. 4 and 6.

The lever 21 carries at its upper end an insulating stud 21 which engages the spring 2', and according to the direction of movement of the lever permits it to engage either end of the latter the spring 7' or the spring is parallel with is a finger or reed 15 attached to the armawhich is a fourth contact spring Z. ture 16 of a pair of polarized electromagnets he spring contacts of the box are ar- X and Y. The latter are supported in a ranged in the subscribers circuit of an autosuitable frame attached to the base 1, which inatic telephone exchange system, as shown also carries the pivot points of the armature in Fig. 6, and their movement is so con- 16 upon which is mounted a permanent trolled that at proper times they will by magnet 17. The relation of the coil windtheir conjoint action effect the necessary operation and vcontrol the central oflice switching apparatus. this feature of the apparatus, there has been and2, in which position the reed or finger shown in Fig. 6 well own types of 15 is held out of engagement with the fan switches, with which thoseconversant with 6, this position being further assured, when the art of automatic telephony are familiar. the coils of the magnets are not energized, In the arrangement of such switches at the by a delicate spring l8. central otfice,'they are divided into groups he operatinganechanism of the signal or sets known generally as line switches, and box' urther comprises various contacts, as

first and second selectors and connectors, acshown in Figs. 1 and 6, and cooperating delines in the exvices for actuating them, said devices comas the operation operating wheel 19and an of a plurality of switches in setting up a alarm signal wheel 20, both mountedon the connection is generally the same as the o arbor 3, and a pivoted lever 21 controlled" eration of a single switch, inasmuch as they by the switch operating wheel 19. The aroperate successively, there are merely shown bor 3 also carries an arm, sugiportmg at diafor convenience of illustration, two submetrically opposite points, ngers 22, 22, scribers-instrument circuits, the line swltch which, during the rotation of the arbor, percontacts of eachand a single selector and form a dual function upon each half revoluconnector. The two subscribers circuits are tion thereof, first disengaging a trip lever indicated by R and V and R and V, these characters also indicating the vertical and rotary sides of the respective llnes. 1

Automatic switches of the character shown diagrammatically iare disclosed in detail :-in

change to be served, but

asingle step. bemoticed, is provided with a extendingfinger 25, the extremity e trip, it will downwardly of which In order to illustrate 1 Locate..-

U. S. Letters Patent, Nos. 815,176 2111(1815321, granted itlarch 13, 1906, to Keith and Erickson, and. in the diagrammatic illust ation the selector switch S is shown as comprising a vertical and rotary IIIOVtllJlQ shaft 30 carrying wipers or brushes 3, s, which will be iniderstood cooperate with the sets of contacts arranged in circular rows and vertical tiers, the shaft being movable vertically step by step to aline the brushes with the different rows of contacts by means of ratchet mechanism actuated by what is known as the vertical magnet, indicated by V Similarly the shaft is revolved by a pawl and ratchet actuated by impulses of current transmitted through a. rotary magnet It, the respective circuits of said magnets being controlled by a contact area w of the side switch mechanism actuated by the so-called private magnet i The switch arm "J normally. engages the contact a: while current impulses are transmitted to the vertical magnet, and when these cease the confirming impulse transmitted from the rotary side of the line aotuates the side switch mechanism to step the switch arm into engagement with the contact y, cutting in the rotary magnet and breaking the circuit of the vertical magnet.

The side switch magnet is illustrated diagrammatically, comprising an ari'naturc p of the magnet l? and carrying an arm and a spring ting -.r having offset ratchet teeth, which control the stepping along of the projection 7) attached to the spring impelled switch arm a; to control its stepping movement.

in the diagranunalic illustration in Fig. 6, the vertical and rotary sides of the subscribers telephone line are s leading from the w A s a. :Wlhrough the line switch contacts to the sub criber s telephone in strnniont A and the c lling' device B therefor. 'llhc calling derive. when employed for operating; the switch mcchanimn may, as hetore, be the wt known apparatus. and for these reasons d essential tion of the tch one system per so may be omitted. For this reason only those parts of the central ollicc switches have been shown which serve to illustrate he operat in of the tire alarm signal. boy com -acted in accordance will .liIVOlllilOl'i and the objects atstood that many features; and details of the switching i'nechanh n. have been omitted, as we which. it-

necessary to t the Pl'llilllltlll! ph one sysi c'ni, si the art.

ation of an automatic lclccc. these are well known in oi: c ch mecha groundeo i for o at one side. as inni- *ating the seto the switch arm 20 and other pole to the operai in connection with l to the Wire p leading to the armatures o and 7* respectively, arranged in front of the vertical relay S and adapted to be attracted, when the latter is energized, into engagement with the contacts of the wires c 1*, leading respectively to the vertical and rotary magnet Y R which latter are also connected to the contacts a1, 2 of the side switch. The battery lead 72 is connected by the wire 0 to the private magnet, the 11,- cuit of which is completed by the wire p leading to the rotary line Wire R. The relay- S is connected by the wires 3 and s to one side of the battery and to the vertical line wire V.

The connector switch mechanism indicated generally by T comprises the vertically movable and horizontally rcvoluble Wiper shaft 40 carrying the brushes 2 t, which are con nected with the multiple contacts or trunk terminals of the connector switch S by the wires V and R in which are interposed the condensers C. The mechanism for operating the wipers i t of the connector switch operates to raise the wiper shaft and subsequently rotate it after the selector switch has completed its operation and cut the line through to the connector switch. The latter comprises the vertical magnet V, the rotary magnet R the vertical relay T, and the private magnet P. The battery X sups plies current for the circuits of the several magnets just mentioned. In practice, the side switch mechanism before referred to, comprises a plurality of switch arms, preferably four in. number, each of which performs a different function, but as these are well known I have only shown in F (3 two side switch arms 1.0 and t on the connector switch, the former for cutting in successively the vertical and rotary magnets, and the latter for supplying ground or completing the battery connection when the connector switch wipers r, t have stopped their movement and connected with the proper outgoing line or called subscribefis circuit.

it is deemed a desirable feature in auto-' matic telephone practice to providemeans for supplying ljmttcry current to the line for talking purposes when the called subscriber answers in bv the act of removing, his reccivcr and (losing the switch contacts, and tamed thereby. it will, tnereitore, be underi it willv be unrilcrstood that this act cuts hack current for talking purposes to the calling subscribens end of the line. In accomplishing these objects there is asso eluted with the connector switch a double wound rcla v N. 0. provided with an armai turc m. which. when. attracteifl, moves the contact spring m out of engagement with p ied by the y y cw", one pole being; connected by the the contact m into engagement with a contact at. One end of the coil N is connected by the wire a to the wire V connected to the brush 1?; likewise one end of the coil 0 is connected by the wire 0 to the Wire R lead 30 energizing of the coils N and O closes the ing to the brush t, said connections being on the called partys side of the condensers C. The other extremity of the coil of the magnet N is connected by the wire n to one side of the battery K and through the wire a it is also connected to the conductor V of the calling partys circuit. A tap leads from this wire if, as indicated by a to spring m The latter is normally in engagement with the spring m, which is connccted by the wire m to rotary -line wire R The circuit of the relay 0 is completed through the switch arm t when the latter is in its third position of engagement with the contact grounded by the wire 19, the switch arm being connected by the wire 8 with one end of the coil of relay 0, and also joined to the spring m It will be understood from the foregoing description in connection with Fig. 6 that the calling subscriber gets no current for talking purposes until the called subscriber responds. hen the connection is first made with the called subscribers line the live side of the battery X is connected through coil N with the, called end of the line, the circuit being, completed to ground through the coil 0 and side switch arm 25 when the called party answers in. The

coils X, Y, are arranged in a branch circuit adapted at certain times to be bridged across the subscribers instrument circuit, and for this reason one end of the coil Y is connected bythe wire Y to spring Z, and the other extremity of the coil X is connected by the wire Y with the spring h.

The cam member operated by the spur gear wheel 24 controlling the levers 26 and 27 is provided with a series of surfaces controlling each of said levers to produce different combinations of circuits several ditierent times during each complete rotation of arbor 3, as will be seen from=inspection of the diagrammatic view in Fig. 6, which shows the parts in the normal position. The first movement of the spur gear wheel 24: breaks the contacts of spring ab, cci. The signal box mechanism continues to run until the first projection on the wheel or member 19 moves the lever 21 and closes to gether springs 1., is, Z. The act of opening the sets of contacts cd, ab, cuts off the subscribers telephone circuit on which this mechanism is installed, and the closing of the contacts 5, 7tand Z grounds and short circuits said subscribers line through the polarized relay coils X, Y, the springs e, f and'c, 71- being closed at this moment. This grounding of both sides of the line is suflicient to effect the restoring of the central oflice switches, should it happen that the subscriber on this line was the-calling party, who, in order to converse with another subscriber, initiated the call. The next step in the operation is the'opening of the contacts e-f to remove the ground connection of the line above mentioned. The polarized relay coils X. Y then remain bridged. across the line through contacts 7cl and h-c.

The third step is the breaking of the con tacts of the springs h-c to clear the line.

The fourth step consists in makingcontact between springs e-f to ground the spring 2' after which the impulses over the vertical and rotary sides of the line may be transmitted to automatically effect the operation of the central oflice switches. In this connection it will be noted that the wheel or contacts m, m connecting the battery X across the calling end of the line.

In illustrating the switches, the means for releasing them has not been disclosed, but it 35 will be understood however, that as soon as the calling subscriber hangs up his receiver both sides of the line circuit are grounded at the subscribers station, which through agencies not shown, releases the connector 40 switch shaft permitting it to rotate and descend to its normal position. The con nector switch in doing this subsequently causes each of the selector switches to be restored to their normal positions as well as 45 the line switch.

Before proceeding with a detail description of the operation of the fire alarm signal box, the detail connection of the various contacts will be described.

50 The subscribers line or circuit wires V, R lead respectively to the contact springs a, a, which are normally closed in engagement with the springs d, b, the former leading to the instrument set over the wire d and the member 19 is provided with indentations which permit movement of the lever 21 so that spring i engages contact j to provide the necessary vertical impulses and that said wheel has projections which cause the lever 5:5 latter over the wire 7). At the subscribers to move the spring 2' into contact with /c, 12

station the calling device B is connected to whereby the necessary confirming impulse. ground by conductor B and by conductor or impulses, are despatched over the rotary B with the contact spring e. The four conside of the line. In practiceit is customarytact springs i, j, 75 and Z are arranged in cirto provide the circuit leading to fire head- 60 cuit as follows: Spring 1! is tied to spring 7' quarters with terminals on the first selector by wire 2' Spring j is connected to vertical switch. and in Fig. 6 it is shown comprising line wire V by wire i Spring is is connectthe line wires E, F leading to the magnet G, ed by the wire it" with rotary line wire R. controlling an armature in alocal circuit of Vertical line wire Vis also connected with a magnet G by means of which a punch or as spring 9 by the wire 9. The polarized other recording device H may be operated to tan record the signal. 'After the circuit E and F has been connected by the wipers s, s the group of'alarm indicating impulses are despatched by the successive opening and closing of the contact springs g-e, the former of which is moved laterally when the block of insulating material g cooperating with the wheel 20 is permitted to drop into the indentations in the face of the wheel. The operation of the springs g and 6', just dc scribed, is known as the fifth step in the operation of the box mechanism, and at the time the movement of the spring 9 occurs the springs e and f are disconnected and spring 6 is in engagement with spring 9.

The sixth step consists in closing the contacts [Ir-(7 and c--f, also contacts a, is and Z. The circuits thus established prepare the selector switches at the central oiiice for their release.

The seventh step is the breaking of all. contacts to open all the circuit connections allowing the full release of the selector 1 switches.

The eighth movement of the cam members causes contact to be made between springs a b and ccl torestore the -subscribers telephone service.

In the event it is desired to despatch an alarm signal the push lever or member 12 is operated to release the plunger 7, which is then retracted by the spring 10, and the es capement 6 then being free to vibrate permits the driving devices of the signal box to begin their operation. A partial revolution 5 of the arbor 3 causes the projection 22 to lift the trip and impart one'step'to the 1 gear wheel 24. The first operation of the cam member then cuts off the telephone subscribers instrument, and short circuits and grounds the line through the polarized relay. coils X, Y. If the subscriber on whose line the box is installed is using his telephone circuit and has been the calling subscriber, who initiated the previous call and set up the connection, the mechanism ofthe box is able to release the existing switch connections, and no pause ordelay occurs in the operation of the signaling mechanism. However, should a telephone connection have been previously established from some other telephone to the circuit, upon which the signal box is installed, the operation of the box will not release the circuit, and it is necessary, therefore, to arrest the movement of the signaling mechanism, until the switches have been restoredto their normal condition, and to provide means so that when this restoratioh of the lines has occurred the box will automatically be released and permitted to perform its functions in the usual manner. To this end the eleetromagnets X and Y are brought into the circuit.

In practice when a fire alarm mechanism is installed upon a sub'scribers line a re versal is made in the wires between the connector terminal contacts and the line switch normal contacts, so that when a call originates on the box subscribers telephone circuit, and the connection is established, there is negative battery on the vertical side of the line and positive battery on the rotary side of the telephone line, consequently inevery connection made to this line the battery when supplied, for talking purposes is con nected through the connector switch at its negative side to the rotary wire and at its positive side to the vertical wire. Therefore, when the signal box mechanism is operated after the subscriber has been called by some other party, the flow of battery currentthrough the coils X, Y is in such a direction as to attract the armature 16, so as to move the finger or reed 15 into engagement with the fan 6. Now when this condition exists the called subscriber has been cut off and the calling subscriber finding that his connection has been disturbed hangs up his receiver and by so doing rest-ores his own selector switches, upon the release of which the current supplied through the connector switch to the telephone line is removed; thereupon the polarized armature 16 as sumes its normal position, the driving mechanism of the signal box continues to run on, and during this movement actuates the central ofiice switches to pick up the fire headquarters circuit and record the alarm signal. The latter is preferably despatched several times in, succession and after the last round of the box the subscribers telephone circuit is restored to its normal condition.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a signal mechanism for use on a subscribers circuit of an automatic telephone system comprising central ofiice switching mechanism for connecting two subscribers circuits, the combination with a mechanism for transmitting current impulses l'o effect the operation of the switching mechanism embodying driving devices.

of means for restraining the operation of the driving devices comprising a polarized armat-iu'e adapted to be influenced and moved into arresting position by the current supplied to the line when two subscribers circuits are connected for conversational purposes.

2. In a fire alarm signal mechanism, for subscribers circuits of an automatic telephone exchange con'iprising automatic central oilice switching mechanism and circuit arrangements for cutting back battery current for talking purposes when the called party answers, the combination with mechanism for controlling the switches to set up a connection between two circuits, devices for driving stud mechanism and means ing its operation,

which is normally inoperative for restraincomprising an armature, and electro-magnet adapted to be bridged across the subscribers circuit when the signalmechanism has been started and to be energized when said circuit has been connected to another subscribers circuit, and means for opening the first mentioned subscribers circuit after said magnet has been energized.

3. A signal apparatus adapted to be used on a subscribers circuit of an automatic telephone exchange, comprising a driving mechanism, means operated thereby for transmitting current impulses to actuate the central office switches to connect two subscribers circuits, and subsequently despatch alarm recording impulses, ing said driving mechanism comprising polarized electro-magnelic devices adapted to be actuated into arresting position by the current in the line when two subscribers circuits are connected and to be actuated into release position when said circuits are disconnected.

4. An alarm system apparatus for use on subscribers circuits of automatic telephone systems, comprising means for despatching impulses for operating the central office switches and other impulses for recording an alarm, and devicesnormally set for driving'said means, a polarized electro-magnetadapted to be bridged across the'line when the driving devices are operated, an armature which is moved in a direction to control the driving devices when said magnet is energized by current of one polarity.v

5. In an alarm signal apparatus for use on subscribers circuits of automatic tele-- phone systems, the combination with means for transmitting the operation of and despatch a current impulses to effect the central oflice switches signal over a line subsemeans for arrest- 5 quently connected by the switches and devices for driving said means, of sets of contacts and members operated by the driving devices controlling them for opening the subscribers instrument a branch circuit bridged thereto having an electro-magnet therein, ture on said magnet and thereby for restraining the driving devices normally held in an inoperative position and moved into an operative position by the flow of current employed for talking purposes when a called subscriber has answered.

In a signal box'mechanism the combination with driving devices having an escapement, impulse despatching members moved thereby and sets of circuit contacts operated by said' members, of a plurality of a member operated Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the other sets of contacts, membersfor moving them, a plurality of revoluble cams con trolling said members and means intermittently operated by saiddriving devices for rotating the cams relatively to the movement of the impulse despatching members.

In a signal. box mechanism the combination with driving devices having an escapement, impulse despatching members moved thereby and sets of circuit contacts operated by said members, of a plurality of other sets of contacts, members for moving them, a plurality of revoluble cams controlling said members, a driving member for rotating the cams and a locking device for said member, an operating device moving with the impulse despatching members and intermittently releasing the locking device and rotating the driving member a partial revolution.

8. In a signal box mechanism the combination with driving devices having an escapement, impulse despatching members moved thereby and sets of circuit'contacts operated by said members, of a plurality of other sets of contacts, members for moving them, and means controlling their move ment relatively to the movement of the impulse despatching members, polarized electro-magnets having'a circuit controlled by one of said sets of contacts, an armature for said magnets and a member controlled thereby and cooperating with the driving devices to either restrain or permit their operation.

9. The combination with an automatic telephone exchange system in which the C011- nection between two subscribers circuits is set up by automatic switching mechanism and current for talking purposes is cut back when the called subscriber answers, and the switches are restored to normal when the calling party hangs up of a signal mechanism comprising means for despatching current impulses to operate the switches and transmit impulses for recording a signal and devices for driving said means, a polarized clectro-magnetic mechanism for arresting said driving devices comprising a branch circuit adapted to be bridged across the subscribers line after the driving de vices have commenced their operation, and also adapted to be actuated by the talking current to arrest said devices and in the subscribers line adapted to be opened to disconnect said line upon commencement of the movement of the driving devices.

JOHN ERIOKSON.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

Images