US157002A - Improvement in electric fire-alarm signal-boxes - Google Patents

Description

2"Sh.eets--Sheet I.

Z. P. HOTCHK ISS. Electric Fire-Alarm Signal-Boxes.

Patented Nov.17,1874.

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- issued to customers,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ZEROY P. HOTOHKISS, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC FIRE-ALARM SIGNAL-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,002, dated November 17, 1874; application filed August 14, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ZEROY P. HoTcHKIss, of Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented an Improved Signal -Box for Fire-Alarm Telegraphs, of

which the following is a specification:

My improved signal-box is secured bya lock, the key of which is intended to be placed in the hands of the chief engineer or other responsible public oflicer, a second key being by which key only an alarm can be given. The construction of the parts is such that after the alarm-key has once been introduced by a party desiring to turn in an alarm, it cannot be withdrawn until the proper functionary arrives with the key which opens the box, and rewinds and sets the alarm mechanism for future use. The invention further consists in combining, with a fire-alarm signal-box, a secondary alarm mechanism, which, after the introduction of the proper key by the party desiring to turn in an alarm, may be so operated as to communicate to the headquarters an alarm other than the fire-signal in addition to the district signal. The invention further relates to a device for securing the aforesaid special alarm mechanism, and restoring it to its operative condition when the alarm is rewound and reset. The invention further relates to a duplex ratchetconnection, by which the door-key is made to impart a winding movement to the alarmspring when turning in one direction, and is permitted to turn freely in the other direction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a section on the line and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows l 1, Fig. 2, of a signal-box illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is .an inside View, as indicated by the arrows 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front view of the keyhole guard and door. Fig. 5 is a section at 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section at 6, Fig. 2.

The box A may be hinged bodily to its back, or the board by which it is attached; or the door may be hinged to the box, as in the pres ent illustration, to afl'ord access to the interior. G is an alarm-bell, and D a hammer of ordinary construction, the latter being operated by a toothed wheel, E,and spring F, in customary manner, the teeth on the wheel E being arranged to strike the number of the district. The bell which is thus applied to the district signal-box enables the party turning in the signal to tell that the apparatus is opera-ting properly. The electric signal is produced by the breaking of the circuit between the heel of the hammer D and the electrical contact-surface G, the heel of the hammer being in electrical connection with the wire W, and the contact-surface G with the wire W, which are parts of the main line. The wheel E is driven by a helical or volute spring, H, which is'wound by a key applied to the winding-square I, this being the same key that is employed to open the box-door. J is the keyhole through which it is introduced. The square I is attached to a ratchet-wheel, K, adapted, through the interposed pawl K to impart a rotary movement to the ratchetwheel K when the key is turned inone direction, but permitting the key to turn freely in the other direction. The free end of the mainspring H is attached to the arbor of the ratchet wheel K, and imparts its motion to the wheel E through the medium of a pawl, K in customary manner. The clock-movement by which the motion is regulated is of ordinary construction, and requires no further description. It is stopped and held while at rest by a lug, E, projecting from the face of the circuit-wheel E, resting against another lug, L which projects inward from the bolt L of a lock, which is constructed with tumblers L and operated by a key introduced through the key-hole L when an alarm is to be turned in, as hereinafter described. The boltL of the lock carries also an arm or projection, L so formed and applied as to follow the bit of the key as it operates to retract the bolt of the lock, and prevent the retrograde movement of the key; its forward movement, beyond the necessary point to throw the bolt L, being preventedby an arm, M, projecting downward from the bolt M of the door-lock, which latter is operated by the bit of the key first referred to, the barrel of which is square and fits upon the Winding-square I of the spring H. 011 the inside of the door is asliding guard-plate, N, formed with an arm, N

which rests upon the projection N from the lock-bolt L, so as to secure the guardplate N in its upper position, which masks the keyhole J until the lock-bolt L is retracted. The guard-plate N is drawn upward by a spring, 0, through the medium of an arm, catching under a hooked projection from the guardplate N, resting on the spring 0. The arm 0 is keyed to a pin, P attached to the external escutcheon plate 1?, and either constituting the pivot of the said plate, or located near to the pivot thereof. The weaker spring Q, acts to draw the guard-plate N downward when it is released from the spring 0 by the act of turning the external escutcheon-plate P aside to expose the key-holes. The construction and connection of the parts is such that the arm 0 may at any time be withdrawn from the engaging hook of the guard-plate N by turning aside the escutcheonplate P, as aforesaid, leaving the guard-plate N free to be drawn down by the weaker spring Q as soon as the retraction of the bolt L may release it. But as soon as the parts are all released and the lock L thrown forward, the guard-plate N will be drawn upward by the stronger spring 0, causing its arm N to spring into catch with the lug N so as to prevent the descent of the guard-plate until the lock-bolt L is again retracted. When the guard-plate is down it also exposes an upper slot, B, in the door, through which projects a stud, R fixed to a slide, R which carries on theinterior a pendent trigger, R adapted,when the slide is in its lowest position,to engage with pins R projecting laterally from the section-wheel E. The pen (1- ent trigger It also engages with a pin, R upon the heel of the hamm r, so that when the slide R is depressed, the lateral pins R will, through the interposition of the pendent trigger R and pin R actuate the hammer D in the same manner as the customary radial teeth E E of the section-wheel. In the present illustration I have shown the pins R arranged to supplement one set, E of the radial teeth in such a manner as to produce, in connection therewith, a consecutive series of strokes, numbering 10 in the present illustration. Itwill hence appear that with teeth and pins arranged as in Fig. 5, if an alarm be turned in by the alarm-key through the medium of the lock L, and the slide R be not drawn down, the signal 4, 1, meaning fortyone, will be given, and repeated by the revo: lution of the section-Wheel E. If, however, the slide R be drawn down immediately on turning in the signal, the result will be a signal ten, followed by 4, 1, constituting a call for police, or whatever the number 10 may be used to signify at station 41.

The hammer D is carried by an oscillating arm, B,which constitutes a lever for breaking and closing the circuit, as required. It is so arranged and applied that it is ready for instant use after the box is opened for communicating any desired signal, by operating it by hand.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The parts being in the positions shown in the drawings, the sectionwheel E, under pressure of its spring H, will bear, by the lug E against the lug L on the back of the lock-bolt L, tending to press the said lock-bolt back; but this is prevented by the tumblers L If, new, it be desired to turn in an alarm, the proper key is introduced through the keyhole L and turned till the tumblers L are brought in register with the stump 011 the lock-bolt L. The press ure of the spring H will now gradually slide the lock-bolt L backward, carrying the key with it, by the action of the projection L between which and the arm M of the upper lock-bolt M the lower key is secured. The gradual retrograde movement of the lock-bolt L continues until the circular movement of the lug E causes it to slip past the lug L upon the lock-bolt L, and permits the latter to be drawn forward by its spring L when the tumblers L again fall behind the stump on the lock-bolt, and a shoulder, L", on the tumblers, engaging with the key-bit, prevents its retraction. The continued rotation of the section-wheel E then turns in the desired signal in the manner already described, the motion of the said wheel being arrested on the completion of the revolution by the contact of the lug E 011 the said wheel with the lug L on the back of the lock-bolt.

On the arrival of the proper officer to open the box, his key is applied to the square I, and throws back the lock-bolt M. This action rewinds the spring by the rotation of the square I. The retraction of the arm M by the motion of the bolt M now releases the key from the lower lug, permitting the said key to be turned forward and withdrawn. The 0thcer can then, after sending any signal he may desire by hand, reclose and lock the box, leaving it in readiness for future use.

It is manifest that by a transposition of the parts the winding of the spring H may be performed in the act of locking, instead of unlocking, the box, and I propose to so use the invention when preferred.

By another transposition of parts I locate the key-hole L by which the alarm-key is iiitroduced, above, and the slide R for the police or other special signal, below. This arrangement is superior, in that it enables the key inserted in the upper hole L to hold the pivoted escutcheon-plateP in its deflected position while operating the police-alarm, instead of necessitating the holding of the escutcheonplate by hand, as in the arrangement shown in the drawings.

The keys issued to customers for the purpose of turning in alarms are designated by numbers for registration, so that the parties holding them may be held responsible for their custody and use.

The following is claimed as new:

1. A combination of locks, one permitting, by the application of a suitable key, the turning in of an alarm, the said key being thereby fastened until released by the application of a key to the other lock.

2. The combination of the door-lock M and spring H with an arbor, I, common to both, and adapted. to cause the rewinding of the spring in the act of locking or unlocking the door.

3. The sliding guard N, in combination with the spring 0, for elevating it, and the cappla-te connection 0 P, for retracting the said sprin g.

4. The combination of spring-catch N and projection N, for securing the guard-plate N in its uppermost position, substantially as set forth.

5. The slide R and trigger R in combination with a secondary series of pins or projections upon the section-Wheel, for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination With the door lock M, spring H, and arbor I, the double ratchetplates K K connected to impart a Winding movement to the spring in one direction, and to permit the free movement of the key in the other direction.

ZEROY P. HOTOHKISS.

Witnesses OOTAVIUS KNIGHT, W. H. PEARCE.

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