US1217069A

US1217069A - Safety and signal apparatus for fire-alarm boxes.

Info

Publication number: US1217069A
Application number: US10762116A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Rugel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-07-05
Filing date: 1916-07-05
Publication date: 1917-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1934-02-20

Description

M. RUGEL. SAFETY AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR FIRE ALARM BOXES.

APPLICATION nun JULY 5. 19l6- 1,217,069, Patented Feb. 20, 1917. v a snans-snsn 1.

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Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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MICHAEL RUGEL, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SAFETY AND SIGIN'AL APPARATUS FOR FIRE-ALARM BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed July 5, 1916. Serial No. 107,621.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL RUGEL, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsimhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety and Signal Apparatus for Fire- Alarm Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in safety and signal apparatus for fire alarm boxes.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a fire alarm box with an automatic means for imprisoning the person sending in an alarm while a signal and indicator are simultaneously actuated thereby.

A further'object of the device is the provision of an imprisoning means having a' fire alarm box positioned therein, the door of" the box being automatically opened upon the closing of the imprisoning means affording ready access to the alarm mechanism within the box by the prospective operator imprisoned by the device. a

A still further object'is' to provide 'a means for preventing the turning in of false fire alarms by arranglng an automatic means for retaining the operator at a point adja-i cent the alarm box until the arrival of the fire department and at which time the/ab sence or location of any firecan be ascer-' automatically open the. fire alarm box to shift a signal arm to viewable position and to close the switch for an electric lamp arranged upon the cage.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature'of the invention is better understood, the same consists 1n the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and then claimed. 1

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device with the cage door open and with a portion of the roof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views through the device taken respectively upon lines III-'III and IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the electric switch detached in its open position.

Fig. 6'is a detail sectional view taken upon line VI-VI of Fig. 5 with the switch closed. 7 v

' Fig. 7 is a vertical central sectional view through the fire alarm box taken upon the lineVIL-V II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a vertical detail sectional View taken upon line VIIIVIII of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the door latch employed with the; cagetaken upon line IXIX of Fig. 4. 2

It being understood that any desired form of fire alarm box may be employedfor containing the-tripping switch mechanism for sending in fire alarms to the central station,

naled shaft 16 extending vertically through the ceiling or top 17 of the cage and also through inwardly projecting bracketslS and 19 carried by the'casing frame 20. A winding drum 20 is mounted upon a shaft 21 journaled in the upper end of the casing frame 20" and has a pinion 22 upon its forward end in constant mesh with a' similar.

pinion23 carried by the shaft 16. A rope 24 iswound upon the drum 20 being provided with an operating weight 25. upon its free end adapted for turning the shaft 21 and

V pinions

22 and 23 for revolving the shaft 16 carrying the door 13 therewith to its'closed position when'released by the operator.

-When the door 13 is open as best lllllS trated'in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a spring pressed bolt 26 normally engages a keeper 27 carried by the said door. A person desiring to send in a fire alarm from the box 10, enters the opening 14 of the cage 12 and upon grasping and turning the handle 28 connected to the bolt 26 by means of angu larly positioned pivotally connected links 29 withdraws the said bolt, releasing the door which allows the weight 25 to descend, forcing the door to its closed position as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. A spring latch 30 carried by the cage 12 is arranged with the hooked end 31 within the path of movement of the keeper opening 32 of the door which latch 30 passes through the opening and automatically engages the door 32 upon the closing of the door and holds the same closed until released by turning the handle 33 of the said latch positioned exteriorly of the cage.

The cage top 17 is provided with a conical roof 34 providing a chamber therein within which an electric lamp circuit switch 36 is positioned. The said switch consists of a frame 37 having contacts 38 for line wires 39 extending to a suitable source of electrical supply while cooperating terminals 40 are carried by the cross head 41 of slide bars 42 resiliently mounted upon the frame 37. Conducting wires 43 are arranged between the terminals 40 and a suitable electric lamp (not shown) arranged within a casing 44 upon the cage roof 34 and provided with transparent side windows 45. The shaft 16 is provided with a pulley 46 at a point above the cage top 17 and also with an arm 47, the latter having a path of movement during the closing of the door 13 for releasing the same from its normal contact with the lever 48 connected by means of a link 49 with the said cross head 41. stood that when the cage door 13 moves to its closed position, the arm 47 being released from the lever 43, the springs 50 of the sliding rods 42 shift the contacts 40 into engagement with the contacts 38 closing the electrical circuit for the lamp within the casing 44. The lighting of the lamp indicates that the cage has been closed by a person contemplating the sending in of a fire alarm.

A signal member such as a semaphore arm 51 is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 52 carried within the chamber 35 by the cage roof 34 and projecting through a side slot 53 of the roof. A cord 54 connects the inner end of the arm 51 with the pulley 46 being arranged over a suitable sheave 55 intermediate the said arm and pulley and whereby upon the closing of the door 13, the cord 54 is wound upon the pulley 46 which latter turns with the door mounting shaft 16, such actuation of the cord 54 elevating the arm 51 to its danger horizontal position, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings which indicates that the door hasbeen closed for imprisoning a prospective operator.

The alarm box 10 is provided with a swinging door 56 normally retained in closed It ill thus be under position by means of a spring catch 5. which upon being released allows the door to swing downwardly to its open position by the force of gravity. A platform or shelf 58 is carried by the partition 11 adjacent the box 10 having a bell crank rocker 59 mounted thereon attached to a link 60 extending through a rear slot 61 in the alarm box and pivotally connected to an angular lever which in turn is attached by means of a link 63 with the catch 57. A pivoted lever 64 is mounted upon the shelf 58 adapted for engagement by an arm 65 carried by the lower end of the shaft 16 during the closing of the door 13, the lever 34 being connected to the rocker 59 by means of a link 66.

From this detailed description of the construction and operation of the device, it will be apparent that when the person desiring to send in a fire alarm from the box 10 enters the opening 14 at the front side of the cage 12 he turns the handle 28 releasing the door 13 which automatically swin s to its closed position with the latch 30 maintaining the door closed imprisoning the operator within the cage. The closing of the door automatically releases the door 56 of the alarm box 10 allowing the operator to send in the alarm by suitably manipulating the switch member 67 within the said alarm box. By sending in the fire alarm, the fire department may respond thereto by going to the cage 12 while the lamp within the roof casing 44 is lighted and the semaphore arm 51 is elevated by closing of the door which notifies any proper ofiicerwho is within viewable distanc from the said arm and. casing. By this arran ement the person sending in the alarm is *e tained as a prisoner within the cage 12 until the arrival of a proper ol'licer who releases the latch 30 by means of the handle and re-sets the device by opening the cage door 13 and closing the alarm box door 10.

What I claim as new is:

1. An alarm box safety mechanism comprising a cage, a swinging closure door therefor. a fire alarm box within the said cage, a door for the said box, a bolt ada 'itedv for retaining the cage door in its open position, manually operable releasing 11 cans for the said bolt within the said cage, releasing means for the said box door, and tripping connections between the said releasing means and cage door whereby the said box door is released during the closing movement of the cage door.

2. A fire alarm device comprising a cage, a swinging closure door therefor, an alarm box arranged within the cage, automatic closing means for the said door, automatic opening means for the said box simultancously operable therewith, and a signal arm and electric lamp automatically operated simultaneously with the closing of the cage door.

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3. A device of the class described comprising in combination with a cage having an entrance opening therein, a shaft vertically journaled through the roof of the said cage, a closure door for the said opening swingingly suspended from the said shaft, weight operated closing means for the said door operatively connected to the said shaft, manually operable means for retaining the door in opened position, and an alarm box arranged within the said cage.

4:. A device of the class described comprising in combination with a cage having an entrance opening therein, a shaft vertically journaled through the roof of the said cage, a closure door for the said opening swingingly suspended from the said shaft, weight operated closing means for the said door operatively connected to the said shaft, manually operable means for retaining the door in opened position, an alarm box within the said cage, a normally closed door for the said box, releasing means for the said box door, and tripping connectlons for the said releasing means carried by the said shaft whereby the said box door is automatically released during the closing of the cage door.

5. A device'of the class described comprising in combination with a cage having an entrance opening therein, a shaft vertically journaled through the roof of the said cage, a closure door for the said opening swingingly suspended from the said shaft, weight operated closing means for the said door operatively connected to the said shaft, manually operable means for retaining the door in opened position,- an alarm box within the said cage, a normally closed door for the said box, releasing means for the said box door, tripping connections for the said releasing means carried. by the said shaft whereby the said box door is automatically released during the closing of the cage door, a signal arm and lamp member carried by the said cage, a normally open electric switch for the said lamp member, releasing means for the said switch, and operating means for the said arm automatically operated upon the revolution of the said shaft during the closing of the cage door.

6. A device of the class described comprising a cage, a vertical shaft journaled through the top of the said cage, a closure door for the said cage swingingly secured to the said shaft, a partition within the said cage, an operating winding shaft journaled in the said partition and operativelyconan alarm box, a gravity opened door for the said box, automatic releasing means for the said box door, and a trip arm for the said releasing means carried by the lower end of the said vertical shaft.

7. A device of the class described comprising a cage, a vertical shaft journaled through the top of the said cage, a closure door for the said cage swingingly secured to the said shaft, a partition within the said cage, an operating winding shaft journaled in the said partition and operatively connected to the said vertical shaft, retaining means within the said cage adapted for engagement with the said door when opened, an alarm box, a gravity opened door for the said box, automatic releasing means for the said box door, a trip arm for the said releasing means carried by the lower end of the said vertical shaft, a conical roof upon the said chamber, a normally open switch adjacent the upper end of the shaft, and releasing means for the said switch carried by the upper end of the said vertical shaft.

8. A device of the class described comprising a cage, a vertical shaft journaled through the top of the said cage, a closure door for the said cage swingingly secured to the said shaft, a partition within the said cage, an operating windingv shaft journaled in the said partition and operatively connected to the said vertical shaft, retaining means within the said cage adapted for engagement with the said door'when opened, an alarm box, a gravity opened door for the said box, automatic releasing means for the said box door, a trip arm for the said releasing means carried by the lower end of the said vertical shaft, a conical roof upon the said chamber, a normally open switch adj acent the upper end of the shaft, releasing means for the said switch carried by the upper end of the said vertical shaft, a signal arm pivoted to the said door, a pulley upon the upper end of the said vertical shaft, and an operating cord secured between the said pulley and arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MI OHAEL RUGEL.

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