US1194571A - Eise-alarm system - Google Patents

Description

F. A. SWAN.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM. APPLICATION nun Nov. 5. 1913.

f 1,1 9&5? 1 a Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

54 Fig.1. 5B

Witnesses. lhvenfor. Frederick A.Swom,

MMIQW F. A. SWAN.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1913.

1., 1 9, l o Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WiTnesses. 1 lnven'for.

. Frederick A.5wc1n,

WW I Atty'smsrnn WIKMI Efi ti:

one.

Finn-ALARM SYSTEM. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed. November 5,. 1913. Serial No. 799,396.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. SWAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oliftondale, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fire-Alarm Systems, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification,

like characters on the drawing representing like p arts.

This invention relates to fire alarm sys-' means for indicating at some central point' the particular signal box in the auxiliary system through which the fire alafm, has

been sent in and to provide an auxiliary system which cannot be restored to its normal position after the signal has been sent in, unless the signal box of the main system to which the auxiliary system is connected has been properly set.

Other objects of the invention are to improve auxiliary fire alarm systems, all as will be more fully hereinafter ClGSCI'llQGCl and then pointed out 1n the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illus-- trated a selected embodiment of my invention from which the principle thereof will be readily understood, Figure 1 is a view showing the auxiliary system more or less diagrammatically and showing also the mechanism of the fire alarm box of the main system with which the auxiliary system is connected; Figs. 2, 3 and 1 are fragmentary detail views showing the construction of the two-motion detent which is employed for releasing the mechanism in the main signal box when an alarm is to be sent in.

I have shown at 1 the wires of the main fire alarm system which goes to fire alarm headquarters and through which the alarm is sounded, and at 2 I have indicated a fire alarm box with which my lmproved fillXll,

iary fire alarm system is connected. The signal mechanism in this box 2 is of a type that 1s commonly used in fire alarm systems and it comprises a break wheel or signaling wheel 3 having thereon a plurality of teeth LWhich are adapted to engage and operate the usual make-and-break device or key break. 6 in the circuit 1, the teeth 4 being so dlsposed on the signaling wheel 3 (or break wheel as it is sometimes called) as to give the number of the box. This signaling wheel 3 is operated through a train of gears 7 from a segmental rack 8 that is pivoted to the signal box at 9 and is operated by a spring motor 10, all as usual in fire alarm boxes of this type. The manner in which these parts operate to sound an alarm is well known to those skilled in the art and need not be described herein.

11 is the operating lever which is pivoted to the boxat 9 and which is provided with the usual hook 10 that projects through the door of the signal box while the latter is closed and by which the lever is operated to send an alarm to headquarters, all as usual in devices of this nature.

The circuit of the auxiliary fire alarm system is shown at 12 and it is herein illustrated as being supplied with current from a battery 18 and as including a plurality o auxiliary signaling boxes 14 situated at any desired locations throughout the building or plant in which the fire alarm system is installed.

My improved mechanism is so constructed that the auxiliary circuit 12 is normally closed and that in order to set the mechanism in signal box 2 in operation to sound an alarm it is necessary to first open the auxiliary circuit 12 and then to close said circuit again. The signal boxes 14, are, therefore, provided with means for thus opening and closing successively the auxiliary circuit 12. This may be readily accomplished by providing each auxiliary box 14 with a fixed contact 15 and a movable contact 16 which normallyengages the fixed contact 15 and which has the'thumb-piece 17 thereon by which it may be opened away from the contact 15 thereby to open the auxiliary circuit. The movable contact 16 is so constructed that as soon as the thumb or finger is removed therefrom it will normally assume the position shown in Fig. 1 in contact with the fixed'contact 15. The sending of an alarm through the auxiliary downward movement to withdraw system involves, therefore, pressing inwardly on the thumb piece 17 thereby to open the auxiliary circuit and then removing the pressure from the thumb-piece to allow the auxiliary circuit to close again.

The signal box 2 contains mechanism which is rendered operative by the successive steps of first opening and then closing the auxiliary circuit to set the signaling mechanism in operation. In the present embodi-' ment of my invention, I provide a two-step detent which normally holds the signaling mechanism in the signal box 2 from operation and which is given its initial releasing movement by the opening of the auxiliary eircuit'and is given its final releasing movement by the. closing of said circuit again. In my invention the signal mechanism in the box 2 is set normally by winding up the spring motor 10 and this two-step detent mechanism'above referred to normally holds the signal mechanism from operating but releases it whenever the auxiliary circuit 12 is opened and then closed again. While there are various constructions which will accomplish the above end, that herein shown has proved to be of practical value and will suffice to illustrate the principle of the invention.

One of the gears 7 of the train of gearing between the segmental rack 8 and the signaling wheel 3 is provided with a stop pin 18 which is adapted to be engaged by a stop arm 19 that is pivoted at 20 to the supporting frame of the signal mechanism, said stop arm 19 being acted upon by a spring 21 that normally tends to withdraw it from engagement with the stop pin 18. lVhenthe Q'gnal is set, the stop arm 19 is held in engagement with the stop pin 18 by means of the two-step detent above referred to, this detent being herein shown as an arm or lever 22 pivoted to the supporting frame at 23 and provided with two separated fingers 24 and 25 of different lengths. The stop arm 19 has rigid therewith a portion 26 which is normally engaged by the longer finger 24 of the detent when the signal mechanism is set as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The operation of releasing the signal mechanism involves first an upward movement of the detent sufficient to carry the longer finger 24. out of engage ment with the portion 26 and the shorter finger 25 into position to engage said portion as shown in Fig. 3, this operation partially withdrawing the stop arm from the stop pin 18, and then giving the detent a downward motion to withdraw the shorter finger 25 from the portion 26, thus allowing the spring 21 to give the stop arm 19 its final movement as shown in Fig. 4. The shape of the finger 24 is such that when the detent has its second the finger 25 from the portion. 26, said finger 24 will pass over the upper side of the portion 26 thus allowing the final movement of the stop arm 19. It will thus be seen that when the signal mechanism in the box 2 is set it can be released only by giving the detent first an upward movement and then a subsequent downward movement, the first or upward movement operating to partially release the stop arm and the second or downward movement resulting in completely releasing the stop arm. As soon as the stop arm is entirely removed from the pin 18 then the motor spring 10 comes into play to set the signal wheel 3 in rotation thereby to sound the signal.

My improved auxiliary system is provided with means whereby the steps of opening and closing the auxiliary circuit 12 will operate to give the detent these two successive movements. In the present embodiment of my invention this is accomplished by providing the auxiliary system with a signal-controlling magnet 27 and by providing the lever 22 of the detent with an extension 28 which constitutes an armature for said magnet 27. The construction of the parts is such that when the magnet is energized the detent is held in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, that is, in its lowered position, while when the magnet is denergizcd the detent is thrown into its upward position either by the action of gravity on the armature 28 or by a suitable spring 29. When the signal is set, therefore, the current in the closed auxiliary circuit 12 maintains the magnet 27 energized and holds the detent in the position shown in Fig. 2. The opening of the auxiliary circuit allows the detent to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 thus partially releasing the stop arm 19 and the subsequent closing of this auxiliary circuit brings the detent into the position shown in Fig. 4 again thus completely releasing the stop arm 19 and allowing the signal mechanism to be set in operation.

In order that the signal box may be operated by drawing down the usual hook, in the door thereof, it is necessary to provide means whereby the downward movement of the lever 11 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 and then its subsequent upward movement shall operate to give the detent its two successive movements. I accomplish this herein by providing means whereby the movement of the lever 11 from that shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 will open the auxiliary circuit, while the return movement of the lever will close the circuit again. I accomplish this herein by providing this auxiliary circuit 12 with two contacts 30 and 31 which are normally closed and by providing means on the lever 11 for opening the contacts when the lever 11 is moved downuurrdly into the position shown in Fig. 3. The contact 31 is shown as carried by a spring arm 32, the end of which engages a cam extension 33 formed on the lever 11, this extension being preferably provided with a facing 34 of insulating material. When the lever 11 is in its elevated position, the cam extension 33 allows the contacts 30, 31 to be closed but as the lever moves downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, this cam extension 33 acts against the end oi the resilient arm 32 and opens the contacts 31, 30 thus opening the auxiliary circuit and deenergizing the magnet 27 so that the detent assumes the position shown in Fig. 3. 'When the hook on the signal box is released, the lever 11 will assume the position shown in Fig. 4 thus allowing the auxiliary circuit 12 to again be closed at the contacts 30, 31 with the result that the detent is given its second movement to allow the complete releasing of the stop arm 19.

I have also associated with the lever 11 means for mechanically moving the detent so that in case the detent sticks for any reason the alarm will still be given. The lever 22 of the detent has integral therewith an upwardly-extending arm 35 carrying a pin 36 at its upper end and the lever 11 is provided with a cam surface 37 adapted to engage said pin 36 as the lever is swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, such cam surface 37 by its action on the pin 36 operating to raise the detent. The lever 11 also has formed thereon a cam surface 30 that is adapted to engage said pin 36 when the lever swings from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in F ig. 4, thus giving said detent its second movement. When the apparatus is operating properly the detent is given the first of lts two successive movements by the springs 29 when the auxiliary circuit is opened, and the second of its two movements by the energized magnet 27 when the auxiliary circuit is closed again. The cams 37 and 80 only come into play in case the armature 28 sticks or in case there is no current in the auxiliary circuit.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the detent can be given its two movements either by operating one of the auxiliary boxes 14 in the auxiliary circuit 12, or by drawing downwardly on the hook 10 of the signal box 2 and then releasing said hook.

As a part of my auxiliary system I have provided means whereby the operating 01 any auxiliary signal box 14 will give an indication at a central point as to which of the auxiliary signal boxes have been operated. This is arranged for by providing an annunciator having as many circuits as there are auxiliary signal boxes, two being shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. This annunciator is shown at 38 and it comprises two indicators or drops 39, each branch circuit 40 that leads to an auxiliary signal box 14. Each branch circuit 40 has a contact 41 therein situated to be engaged by the contact 16 of the corresponding auxiliary box when the latter is opened away from the contact 15. The circuits 40 are connected by a common return 42 to one side of the auxiliary circuit 12 at 43.

The circuits 40 and 42 constitute a shunt circuit and when the contact 16 is brought into engagement with the corresponding contact 41 the current from the battery 3 will flow through the closed circuit 40 and wire 42 to the point 43 and thence to the battery 13. The operation 01 any auxiliary signal box 14 results, therefore, not only in setting the signal box 2 in operation, but also in actuating the annunciator 33 to indicate which particular auxiliary signal box has been actuated. After the signal box 2 has been operated and all the signals desired have been sent therethrough, then the signal mechanism in said box is supposed to be set as shown in Fig. 2 by the proper oflicial before the box is closed.

I have provided herein means whereby indication will be given at the local headquarters of the auxiliary system if the main signal box 2 should be closed without resetting the signal mechanism therein. This end is herein accomplished by the following mechanism: The auxiliary circuit 12 has therein a magnet 44 of an annunciator, the armature 45 of which magnet is carried by a lever 46 pivoted at 47 and provided with a hook 48 to engage a pin 49 on the arm 50 of the annunciator drop 51. So long as the magnet 44 is energized the hook 48 is held:

in its elevated position shown in Fig. 1, thus holding the drop 51 in its non-indicating position. When the auxiliary circuit is opened, however, the magnet 44 is deenergized and the lever 46 drops either by gravity or by action of the spring 52, thus releasing the drop 51 and permitting it to tall. This indicates that the auxiliary circuit has been opened. I have provided means whereby if the signal box 2 is closed without resetting the signal mechanism therein it will be impossible to restore the drop 51 of the annunciator to its non-indicating position shown in Fig. 1. I secure this end by pro viding a shunt circuit which is closed when the signal mechanism in the box 2 is run down and which shunts a portion of the current around the magnet 44 so that said magnet will have insuiiicient strength to hold the annunciator drop 51 in the position shown in Fig. 1. This shunt circuit is shown at 53 and connects with the annunciator circuit 12 at 54 and includes two normally opened contacts 55, 56 in the signal box, said shunt circuit being connected with the auxiliary circuit again at 57. When the signal mechanism in the box 2 has run the lever 46 will hold the said lever down, the end of the segment 8 engages the contact 55 and closes it against the contact 56, thus closing the shunt circuit 53. This shunt circuit has such resistance relative to the auxiliary circuit 12 that when it is'closed a suflicient portion of the current in the auxiliary circuit will pass through the shunt circuit and will thus be shunted around the magnet 44 so that the magnet 44 will have insulficient strength to hold the annuneiator drop in its non-indieating position. It will, therefore, be impossible to maintain annunciator drop 51 raised so long as the shunt circuit 53 is closed and this shunt circuit will remain closed so long as the signal mechanism in the box 2 is run down. Whenever, therefore, it is found that the annunciator drop 51 will not remain in the position shown in Fig. 1, then it is evident that the shunt circuit 53 is closed and that the signal mechanism in the box 2 has not been reset.

I have also provided means associated with the annunciator having the drop 51 to indicate when the auxiliary circuit is opened and when the latter is closed again. This is herein accomplished by means of an indicating circuit 58 having a battery 59 therein and connected to the lever 46, said circuit 58 having an indicator or signal 60 therein and provided with a contact 61 with which the lever 46 engages when it is released by the magnet 44. Whenever the auxiliary circuit 12 is opened therein and the magnet 44 is deenergized, the lever 46 will drop onto the contact 61 thus closing the circuit 58 and sounding the signal 60 which may be of any suitable type. IVhen the circuit 12 is closed again, the magnet 44 becomes energized thus raising the lever 46 and if the drop 51 is in its lowered position, this lever 46 will be brought up against a contact 62 in another circuit 63 which has a signal 64 therein and which connects with the signal circuit 58 at 65. The signal 60 will thus be sounded when the auxiliary circuit is opened and the signal 64 will be sounded when said auxiliary circuit is closed again. WVhen the annunciator drop 51 is reset as shown in Fig. 1, the engagement of the pin 49 with away from the contact 62 and thus normally both signal circuits 58 and 63 will be open.

l/Vhile I have herein illustrated my invention as applied to and used in connection with one familiar type of signaling mechanism, I wish to state that the invention is not confined to such type as the particular construction of the mechanism in the signal box is not essential to the invention, and with appropriate modifications my auxiliary systems can be applied to any of the ordinary fire alarm systems now in common use.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal system including a signaling wheel, of means tending normally to operate said signaling wheel, a stop to hold said wheel inoperative, which stop requires two successive movements in the same direction to withdraw it, an auxiliary closed circuit system, and means responsive to opening of said auxiliary circuit to partially withdraw said stop without, however, releasing the signaling wheel and responsive to closing of said auxiliary circuit again to completely withdraw said stop thereby releasing said signaling wheel.

' 2. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a signal box having a signaling wheel, an actuating spring therefor, a detent to hold said spring inoperative which detent requires two successive movements to release it and a setting lever for placing the spring under tension, of an auxiliary closed circuit system, means to give the detent its two successive movements upon opening and then closing the circuit of the auxiliary system and means operated by said lever to cause the detent to have said two successive movements.

3. In a fire alarm system, in combination a signal box having a signaling wheel, an actuating spring therefor, a detent to hold said spring inoperative which detent required two successive movements to release the spring, a setting lever for said spring and means operated by said lever to cause the stop to have its two successive movements.

4. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal system including a signaling wheel, an actuating spring therefor, a setting lever to place the spring under tension, a detent to hold said spring, inoperative which detent requires two successive movements in opposite directions to release it and means operated by the setting movement of the said lever to give the detent its two successive movements.

5. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal system including a signaling wheel, of a stop to hold said signaling wheel inoperative, an auxiliary closed circuit system, and means rendered operative by the opening of said auxiliary circuit to give said step a partial releasing movement and by the subsequent closing of said auxiliary circuit to give said step a further movement in the same direction to completely release the signaling wheel and thereby permit the signal to be sounded.

6. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal system including a signaling wheel. of an actuating spring therefor, a pivoted stop arm to hold said signal- 1ng wheel inoperative, which stop arm retlfii quires two successive movements in the same direction to release the spring, a detent to control said stop arm, an auxiliary closed circuit svstem and means to give said detent a movement in one direction by opening the auxiliary circuit and in the opposite direction by closing said auxiliary circuit again.

7. In a fire alarm system in combination a signal box having a signaling wheel, an actuating spring therefor, a detent normally restraining said spring from movement which detent requires two successive movements to release it, a setting lever for setting the spring, an auxiliary closed circuit system, a magnet therein which normally holds the detent in operative position, means at various points inthe auxiliary system to open said auxiliary circuit and close it again thereby to release the detent and means operated by the setting lever during its setting movement to give said detent its two movements.

8. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal system including a signaling wheel, of means tending normally to operate said wheel, a stop arm to engage said means and to rest-rain the movement thereof, an auxiliary closed circuit system, and means for giving the stop arm an initial withdrawing movement which is insuflicient, however, to disengage it from said means by opening the auxiliary circuit and to complete the withdrawing movement of said stop arm thereby releasing said means by closing said auxiliary circuit again.

9. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal system including a sig naling wheel, mechanism including a train of gearing tending normally to operate said wheel, a stop arm to engage one of the wheels of said train to restrain movement thereof, an auxiliary closed circuit system connected with the main signal system, means located at various points in the auxiliary circuit by which the latter can be opened and closed again, means to give the stop arm an initial withdrawing movement insuflicient to release the train of gearing by opening the auxiliary circuit and to complete the withdrawing movement thereby releasing said train upon closing said circuit again.

10. In a fire alarm signal box, the combination with a signal operating mechanism, of a movable stop arm engaging said mechanism and normally restraining it from operation, automatically-operative means tending to withdraw said stop arm, a detent to hold the stop arm in operative position, said detent having, two fingers of diiferent lengths to engage said stop arm in different positions of the detent.

l1. lln a fire alarm signal box, the combination with a signaling wheel, of means tending normally to rotate said wheel, a

spring-actuated locking finger to engage said means and to prevent operation thereof, a detent to lock said finger in operative position andmeans to give the detent two separate movements, said detent partially releasing the locking finger during one movement and completely releasing it during the next movement.

12. In a fire alarm signal box, the combination with a signaling wheel, of a spring for operating it, gearing connecting the spring and wheel, a spring-actuated locking finger sustained independently of the gearing and adapted to engage the latter and restrain movement of the signaling Wheel, a detent having two fingers of different lengths to control the position of said looking finger and means to move said detent so as to bring said fingers successively into engagement with the locking finger.

13. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system having a signaling mechanism therein, of an auxiliary system provided with means for causing operation of the signaling mechanism and means separate from the signaling mechanism and associated with the auxiliary system to indicate when the signaling mechanism has run down.

14. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system having signaling mechanism therein, of a closed circuit auxiliary system, means actuated by the successive operations of opening and closing said closed circuit to actuate the signaling mech anism and means associated with the auxiliary system to indicate when the auxiliary circuit is open and when it is closed.

15. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system having signaling mechanism therein, of a closed circuit auxiliary system, means actuated by the successive operations of opening and closing said closed circuit to actuate the signaling mechanism and means associated with the auxiliary system to indicate when the auxiliary circuit is open and when it is closed and when the signaling mechanism has run down.

16. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system, of signaling mechanism therein, an auxiliary closed circuit system, means by which the signaling mechanism is operated when the circuit of the auxiliary system is first opened and closed, an indicating device, means actuated by the current in said auxiliary system for holding the indicating device in non-indicating position and means rendered operative when the signaling mechanism has 'run down to render said former means inoperative whereby the indicating device will assume an indicating position.

17. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system, of signaling mechanism therein, an auxiliary closed circuit system provided With means for actuating the signaling mechanism, an indicating device, a magnet in the closed circuit Which normally holds the indicating device in nonindicating position and means rendered 0perative When the signaling mechanism has run down to render the magnet inoperative to hold the indicating device in its non-indicating position.

18. In a fire alarm system, the combination With a main system, of signaling mechanism therein, an auxiliary closed circuit system provided With means for actuating 15 the signaling mechanism, an indicating device, a magnet in the closed circuit which normally holds the indicating device in non- Y FREDERICK A. SVAN.

Witnesses:

LOUIS C SMITH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents, each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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