US2640975A - Alarm system - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALARM SYSTEM C. W. ROE ET AL Filed Oct. 20, 1950 June 2, 1953 Inventor can w. Roe s Sidney 7. Roe

June 2, 1953 c. w. -RoE ET AL ALARM SYSTEM Filed Oct. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors By m Wawy @M5815 N .Sk

Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE ALARM SYSTEM Carl W. Roe and Sidney T. Roe, Houston, Tex. 4

Application October 20, 1950, Serial No. 191,134

'' Claims.

This invention relates to alarm systems for the protection of premises of the type in which a closure of an alarm circuit releases the transmission of a suitable spoken message to a central supervising station where said message is received and Where the proper steps for protecting the premises may be undertaken.

The primary object of the invention consists in providing an alarm system of the above described type in which, by relatively simple means, manual operation of the alarm system during business hours and automatic operation of the alarm system during the hours in which the premises are not occupied may be carried out alternatively. the spoken message transmitted to the central supervising station being always selected in accordance with the nature of the emergency, thus permitting an operator at the central supervising station to initiate the undertaking of suitable protective steps.

A further object of the invention consists in providing simple and effective means for changing from manual to automatic operation, which means include signals indicating the condition of the alarm detectors in the alarm circuit at the time of the switching from one type of operation to the other type of operation, said signals reporting without producing an alarm, whether the detectors are in the operative or inoperative position at the time of the switching operation.

A further object 0f the invention consists in providing an alarm system in which a plurality of detectors of different types for the same emergency and also a plurality of detectors of the same 'type for different emergencies may be used each detector when operated selecting the spoken message corresponding to the emergency for which the detector was constructed, and each detector also giving an indication at the control center of the premises to be protected as to the condition in which it is in, such an indication being given without starting an alarm at the time when an operator at said control box is switching the alarm system from manual to automatic operation.

A further object of the invention consists in providing an arrangement controlled by relays for sending out and transmitting recorded spoken messages in the event of an alarm, which arrangement may be controlled from the receiving central supervisory station as soon as the sending out 0f a message has started.

A further and more specific object of the invention consists in providing an alarm system which is operable by any number of detectors of 2 different 'types for different emergencies and which is so arranged that currents of different voltages may be used for operating the devices without interference and without danger of an invasion of the low Voltage connections by currents of higher voltage.

A still further feature of the invention consists in so connecting the control relays for the message producing devices that no confusion of messages can take place and that an actuation of a plurality of message transmitting devices is prevented.

A still further object of the invention consists in a connection of the control relays of the mesr sage transmission devices which prevents the giving of an alarm in the event of power failure with subsequent return of power to the system.

Further and more specic objects of the invention wili be apparent from the following detailed specification.

The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the system by way of example. It is, however, to be understood that the alarm system according to the invention which has been illustrated serves the purpose of explaining the principle of the invention and the best mode of applying the principle. The specification does not describe and the drawing does not show the modifications of the system which are possible without modification of the essence of the invention and a departure from the example shown is therefore not necessarily a departure from the principle of the invention.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams of the connections showing the various units used in the alarm system. The two figures are in fact parts of the same diagram, and the lines at the right end of. one figure are supposed to be joined to the corresponding lines at the left end of Figure 2.

The alarm system according to the invention, as has been explained above, is of the type in which spoken messages are delivered in the event of an emergency to a police department or re department or to any other central supervisory department capable of handling emergency calls. The system is equipped for alternative or for combined manual and automatic operation. It is also provided with appropriate means for delivering recorded messages which correspond to different types of emergencies, said means being properly selected and operated by the alarm device which has seen set into operation. Moreover, in order to operate the alarm system alternatively either by hand or automatically supervising means are provided on the premises to be protected which indicate whether a change from manual to automatic operation nds the system ready for such automatic operation or whether the units or the system have accidentally, during the period in which no automatic operation took place, been brought into a condition which an alarm would be given without .an emergency. Finally, the system isof a type Ain which, once :an alarm has been sounded, the entire system is under the control of the operator in the police or re department or other supervisory exchange and arrangements are made which permit the operator in the police or nre department station to switch the message directly to a radio transmitter for direct transmission to police .cars or -to youtlying iire or police stations, etc.

The alarm system according to the invention comprises in the iirst place the alarm circuit provided with circuit closing devices y-of -diiierent ltypes `which are adapted yto react v either vonA manlual 'operation Aduring fcertain periods or, when fset Afor automatic operation during other periods, are adapted to detect-the illicit intrusion into the .pron tected area, the moving of or the contact '-.With objects in this area, the 'approach vto `certain kpoints or passages, the ydevelopment/o1? high temperatures, or `the development of smoke orziiames and similaroccurrences Further, the'alarm sys tem consists of a control --boa'rdpanel lwith which all the alarm circuits are connected and which contains the message producing records for the different lalarm circuits and 'the operating 'relays which are controlled l-by lthe alarm 'cir-cuits, "the energizing 'circuits forithese relays which are interconnected'so as to avoid -a confusion A-of messages and which are specially `arranged so Yas to avoid the giving of alarms inthe event of apower failure. The system further 'comprisesla manual controlling `means 'on 'the 'control lpanel which is .adapted to Ashift from nranual alarm control vto automatic alarm control, and 'also thesupervising signals which indicate that the 'automatic alarm. producing detecting devices are in their condition of rest, lin vwhich they are Kcapable of producing an alarm intheevent of an emergency, when the shifting from manual to autonfiaticopn eration takes place. Moreover, the panel is Drovided with afmeans Tor. amplifying and transmitting the recorded spoken messages over `commu-- nication or telephone -lines to police or `vlire department stations or to-a .central exchange in 'which the alarm messages are handled.

The alarm system .further comprises the'equipn ,ment in the receiving station which may Lbe a police .or ,fire department station, .as above indicated, which equipment Vincludes a suitable lamplier and loud-speakers, Icontrol switches for controlling the further operation or the 'message delivering devices and of other apparatus 'on the control board in the protected premises, once the alarm `hasbeen given, and said equipment :further comprises switches and other means for 4operating a radio station .and for directly using the incoming amplied vsignals containing the message for the modulation ,of the radio waves which are .transmitted from said radio transmitter. The radio station may be provided with aprior ity control device of a well known typewhich permits vthe use of theradio station-only after/a previously started message has y'been fully delivered.

The above generally 4described alarm system two kinds 'of alarm producing lunits lare used, viz.

manually operated and automatically operated alarm circuit closure units. Two kinds of circuit closing devices are used in all those cases in which the automatic supervision oi the premises during business hours is unnecessary, while, on the other hand, a protection against holdups and similar occurrences is desirable during business hours. An automatic operation during business .hoursinvolves the risk of accidental and unintentional .alarms given by persons not suiiiciently acquainted with the function of the automatic detectors.

The device which is used for manual operation Iof the message transmitting devices is indicated at In in Figure 2. t comprises a number of switches, distributed in any appropriate manner .and arranged in accordance with the conditions prevailing at the place to be protected, Standard unitsmay be used for this purpose. These standard units may comprise push buttons I l, foot or -body 1operated raiis or bars I'Z or keys or contacts II3 which Yare connected with certain locks. As the specific construction of these manually operated "switches is :not material they are vneither shown nor described iindetail.

All the switchesare vshown yas Abeing lpart oi a manual alarm circuit :1.4, which is .connected lwith 'the control kpanel by means of conductors `I'Efand'r.

The control panel is indicated at 25J and is vshown in Figure 1 and in Figure 2, each 'figure vshowing one-half of l`the saidcontrol panel. The conductor 25 connecting the manually operated alarm circuit I4with lthecontrol panel also runs through the panel and is joined to conductor 35 (Figure 11) which is connected with conductor 33 joined to the secondary coil of the transformer 41 on the panel 'which forms the source for low voltage currents. The primary ofthe transformer 41 is connected with the current supply lines 4|, 42 which 'in their turn `are connected with the power supply terminals 45, 46 of the building housing the-premises. vAdouble pole double throw switch 44 ma-y be provided in the lines 6|', 47, in order to control the power supply to the control panel.

The-second conductor l5 connecting the alarm circuit I4 with the-control panel 2u leads to the relay I6 on said panel which, by means of conductors 26 and 48 of the control panel is connected Vwith. conductor 34 leading to the other side of the secondary ywinding of the supply transformer 41.

The devices for use in connection. with the automatic operation of the alarm system comprise a Icontrolbox 'l0 'and a number of photoelccM grillo devices 50, -5| and of capacity operated units The photoelectric ydevices may be used for detecting burglary as well Aas for detecting smoke or llames. The photoelectric device 5l which'is used for 'detectingiburglary for instance, may be placed into the path of access to the premises or may :be located insome passageway which must necessarily be used in order to reach the guarded vaults or rooms. Any Ynumber of such devices may be used, but only one or" these devices 5| is shown inthe drawing which is acting as a burglary detector. VFurther photoelectric devices 5D are shown which act as detectors for smoke. fumes or flames. All these devices are conventional photoelectric devices with an exciter lamp 52, 153, respectively, and a photoelectric cell 54, 55, respectively. The photoelectric cell is connected with an 'amplifier 56, 5B, respectively, in

`the output circuit of which a currentis generated which is capable of actuating a relay. All the operating circuits are conventional and it may only be mentioned here that the exciter lamps 52, 53 as well as the cathode and grid of the amplifier are shown as being directly connected with the supply lines 4|, 42 by means of suitable transformers 6 l, 62, 63, 64.

The photoelectric device 50 may also be replaced by a unit with a thermic element. The number of such devices used is not limited and will be chosen in accordance with the specific local conditions.

The capacity operated detecting unit 6l) is also of standard construction and comprises an oscillator tube 65 which is connected with an antenna 61 or with any other feeler, the ground capacity of which is changed by the approach of a body to said antenna or feeler. The connections of the oscillator are conventional and are of the type which is usually designated by the term free running oscillator. When a body approaches the feeler 61 the additional load on the oscillator causes a voltage drop across the grid-leak resistance, which voltage drop affects the grid of a Thyratron tube 66 which, as well known, is a tube carrying no current under normal conditions but being fired whenever the grid bias exceeds a certain limit. When a voltage drop across a gridleak resistance occurs, the Thyratron tube 66 fires and current is flowing through the tube. Units of this type using a Thyratron are widely used commercially and no further description of this unit seems therefore to be necessary. Any number of capacity operated detecting devices may be used.

It will be understood that the units 56, 5| and 60 are arranged at suitable places on the premises and that the amplifying tubes 56, 58 and the Thyratron tube 66 which furnish the output current are connected with the control panel 20 by means of the conductors 68, 69; 1I, 12 and 13, 14, respectively, leading from the plate electrodes of the respective tubes to the panel.

On the control panel 26 relays 39, 36 and 31m.

are arranged which are connected with the abovenamed conductors 68, 68; 1l, 12 and 13, 14, respectively. It is preferable to arrange all the relays `which are associated with detectors having the same functions, for instance, the detectionz'f of burglary, in a group, and to form separate groups for relays performing another function, such as the relay which is associated with the detectors for smoke and flames. In this way 1t is possible to use a single operating relay on the 1" relay, controlling the automatic operation of the alarm system, for each group of detector rela-ys. As there are two groups of detector relays, for fire and burglary detection, two relays are shown at 3S and I8. Moreover, the control panel includes the relays 40, I1 and I6 controlling thel` recording devices and the relay I8 which is a release relay controlled by the operator at the receiving station. The function of these relays will be explained below.

The control panel 20 moreover includes the `transformer 41 connected with the two supply lines 4 l, 42 which supplies the relays on the panel and other devices with low voltage currents. .'Further, a switching and supervising unit or control box 10 is arranged which incudes a manually operated switch 15 'for changing from manual to automatic operation of the system, and a number of supervisory lamps 16, 11, 18. Preferably the switch is a lock switch operated when locking the box or when locking a door behind which the box is mounted.

The lamps 16, 11 and 18 are provided to indicate the state or condition of the detecting units. Lamp 16 is controlled by the relay 31 and is therefore dependent on the operation of the Thyratron 66 and, when the relay is in its normal position, also on the contacts of relay 36. This lamp, therefore, is energized if the relays of the group formed by relays 36 and 31 are in their deenergized or normal condition. The lamps 11 and 18 report on the condition of energization of the relays 36, 31 and 39, respectively. The circuits of these lamps are connected with the upper contacts of the above mentioned relays which are closed upon energization of relay 39 or of relays 36 and 31. By virtue of the connection between the movable middle contacts H8, ||1 of the relays 36 and 31, lamp 18, when lighted, reports the operation of any detector and the energization of any relay in the group associated with the burglary detecting units. Likewise, lamp 11 when lighted reports the energization of a relay 39 and of any detector associated with the fire detecting group. Upon closure of the manual switch 15, connected with the secondary of the transformer 41, the set of lamps therefore inform the operator on the position of the relay contacts and thereby on the state of energization of the relays and of the detecting units, whether photoelectric or capacity controlled units. If upon closing of the switch 15 one of the two lamps 11 or 18, which may have red colored bulbs, is lighted this is an indication that one of the relays 36, 31 or 39, respectively, has been energized without an emergency calling for such operation. Such an operation may, for instance, be caused by objects which have been moved accidentally into the path of the rays or it may have been caused by the failure of the equipment, a condition which has to be investigated before the device is connected with the police department for automatic operation. No alarm is given, however, in this phase.

The control panel 20, in addition, contains the three record mechanisms 80, 8l, 82, the number of record mechanisms being identical with the number of types of messages which are to be delivered. In the example shown a separate type of message is delivered in the event of a manual operation of the alarm system which may occur during business hours, for instance, in the event of an attempted holdup. In the event of an attempted burglary, during the night hours, another message is delivered and still a further message is delivered in the event that one of the iire detectors has been operated. The message may merely -consist in a short description of the nature of the alarm, in the address or in the description of the location of the premises and, if necessary, in a short additional message indicating where the keys to unguarded premises are kept or indicating the address of the person in charge.

Each record mechanism comprises a `record carrier and disk 83, 85, 81, driven by an electric motor 93, 95, 91, respectively, and cooperating with an electric pick- up 84, 86, 83, respectively. All the electric pick-ups may be connected in parallel. A single circuit 28, 29 contains all these parallel branches and leads to an amplifier tube 90, the output electrode 9| of which is connected with the output transformer 92. The secondary of the transformer is vdirectly `connected with the cominimication or telephone .lines .I 2 I |22.

"The telephone or communication lines-are preierably those provided by a local telephone rcoinpany, although special communication lines may be used if necessary. It is assumed that the eX- ample shown relates to an installation in which that part of the equipment which connects the control panel with the supervising receiving sta- .tion is leased from the telephone company and this part of the circuit is therefore not further described but is merely represented by the two 'aforesaid lines IZI and F22.

The electric motors 93, 95, 91 driving the record 4carriers are preferably of 'the type operated by the usual line voltage in order to keep the dimensions of the motors as small 'as possible and in this case they are connected with the supply lines 3-I, 32 `on the panel which are continuations of the .supply lines 4l, 42 directly connected with the 'source of ' supply 45, 46.

These connections include the contacts 94, 96, *99 of the relays I6, I'I and 40, respectively, which :must therefore 'be equipped for handling higher voltages.

As has already :been mentioned the .record relay I6 is operated upon closure oi the manual alarm contact circuit 14. Contacts 94, upon en 'ergization of the relay I6, then close the circuit of the Imotor 93 thus starting the delivery of the message recorded on the disk B3.

The two further record relays I1, 40 are under control of two control relays I8, 38, the operation of which lis ydependent on the lock switch 'I5 ci the `control box l0. When switch is closed a low voltage circuit .is yclosed which runs from 'the secondary of the 'transformer 41 over lines 19| and |02 to the connection point I2a from whichpoint connections lead both to relay lI 8 and to xrelay3'. The connection with relay It is made ybynleans of conductor 24 and the circuit of this relay is closed over conductor .23, the lower 'contact of the yContact set -I'I4 of relay 39 and conductors 35 and 33. Likewise, the connection with relay 38 is kmade over the same conductor 24 and over the lower contacts of the set of contacts I I2 and III of relays 36 and 31.

v'In order kto energize ycontrol relays I8 and 38 `the 'detector relays 39, 39 and 31 which are -oper- "ated by the 'detector mechanisms must be in their Aposition of` rest.

It Will be noted that the relays 38 and I8 as .soon as they have been energized remain energized as they Yare provided with lock-ing :circuits rlosed by .their 4contacts H5 and yI I6.

When these control relays 38 and I8 have been energized the energization of one of the detector relays 99, 36 or 31 produces an energization oi one 4of the record mechanism operating relays I1 or 40. Record 'relay I'I is energized over contacts |29 of relay l-8 connected 'with the Vupper contact of the contact set II-4 of relay 39, which comes into Contact with the movable middle contact of said set I I4 connected with conductor v35 and conductor 33 leading to the secondary of the transformer 41 when detector relay `39 is energized. Likewise, when control relay 38 has been energized an energization of one of the detector relays 36 or 31 moving Athe .central contact towards the upper relay contacts in one of the sets II2 or III closes the circuit of record relay 40 which is vrconnected with vconductor 34, and over the contacts IIB of relay 38 and the upper contacts .of thesets I I8 or IITI .of one o the detector relays 35 or 31 when energized, is connected with con- 8 d-nctor 33 and with the secondary of the transformer 41.

The closure of switch 'i5 therefore produces an energization of the control relays 38 and I9 only when the detector relays 39, 36 and 31 are in their neutral position or position of rest, in which case also the green light 'I6 will 'be lighted as has been described above. If one of the relays 39, 36 or 31 should 'be energized the operation of switch 7'5 would not result in the energization of relay 38 or I8 as in this case the middle contacts III, II2, II1, IIB and H4 and II3 are in their upper position. In such a case, the lamps 11 yor 'I9 are lighted 4the rst named lamp indicating the energization of the detector relay 39 the second named lamp indicating the energization of one of the two relays 36 or 31.

As has been above explained this interlocking of the control relays and ci the detector relays prevents :a shifting from manual to automatic control when one of the detector relays is accidentally energized, Aand therefore prevents .the sending out ci an fai-arm signal by such a switch ing operation. This interlocking of the relays also prevents the sending out Aof a false alarm in the event oi Vpower failure, as the record yoperating relays I'I., -49 can only start to operate la/fter the detector relays have first fallen back .into their normal position and have then gone back to their energized posi-tion a sequence of operations which can only .occur in the event Yof a power failure, if indeed one of the .detectors is still detecting the presence of an object.

The control panel, moreover, contains lthe ampliner v9i) havinf,T 4a cathode i90, a control grid 99 and a plate 9 I, the input side of said ampli'der bei-ng connected with the two lines 28, 29 which lead to the electric pick-ups 84, .86, .8.3. One of the two lines 23, 2.9 may be grounded. The other line may contain-condensers 121, t28. The ycathode heater :is zoperated 'by means -of a branch connection |99 branching oi from leads 33, 34 `of the transformer secondary 41 whichsupplies the low voltage current. The plate 9i and the screen grids and other grids of the amplifier to be kept at .a high potential are supplied from conductor 3l connected with the high voltage supply line 41I, saidiconnection including-contact 49 'and conductor 30, conductor I-3'9 and the selenium rectier I20.

The output of the Iamplifier y99 leads .to a telephone transforiner 92, the secondary .of which is connected with the communication vor telephone lines IM and I2-2.

Across Athis line the release relay 4.9 is connected'which also forms-part of .the control ,panel and which may be operated by current impulses sent over the telephone lin-es so that vthe relay is'under the control'of the operator in :the police or fire vdepaitment .station vat the other end yof the `.telephone or `communication lines. The relay I9 controls the .connection of .line -3.3 with line 21 which is .part of the locking circuits of the relays I6, .I'I yand #0. The locking circuits of these relays are therefore interrupted as soon :as relay I9 is operated and the `above-named relays are thus `restored to .their normal or deenergized positions. Upon deenergization of these relays no further transmission of signals takes place.

.In all other respects the connections of 4the control panel follow known principles so that a further description of them seems to be unnecessary.

The receiving station will in most cases be a police station 'or a branch station of a fireA department or .a 'special alarm station of the communication system. This receiving station comprises an input transformer |50 connected with the telephone or communication lines |2| and |22 which transformer is directly connected with an amplifier |40. Said amplifier may be of any suitable type and need not be described, in detail. The lamplifier merely serves to amplify the audio currents corresponding to the lincoming recorded message. rIhe output of the amplifier |40 feeds a further or audio transformer |33 which is connected with a loud-speaker arrangement |30, consisting either of one loud-speaker or of a plurality of speakers to be used either alternatively or in different parts of a building simultaneously. The receiving station has its own current supply indicated at |42 and |4| which leads to a supply transformer |44 supplying a rectifier |45 which is connected with one of the communication lines |2| by means of the line |46. A release switch |58 is inserted in the line |46 in order to be `able to send an impulse over the telephone or communication lines to the release relay I9. The said rectifier |45 also pro.- vides an amplifier |40 and other units which may need direct currents with D. C. energy.

The supply lines |3| and |32 for the loudspeakers |30 may, by means of a further switch |35 be connected with the branches of the circuit |36, |31 which forms part o-f or leads to a radio transmitter and which permits tomodulate the carrier waves emitted by the transmitter with the amplified message transmitted from the control panel of the alarm system. In a police station where such a transmitter is permanently running in order to transmit messages to cruising police cars it is therefore only necessary, if an alarm is t-o be given, to modulate the modulator tube of the transmitter with the speech currents which have been transmitted over the linesI |2| and |22. The operator, in the receiving station therefore, may directly cause the transmission of the alarm to the cruising police cars. A suitable priority device is in this case arranged in the transmitter in order to secure orderly delivery of the message without interrupting other messages.

As above stated a release switch |58 is arranged which controls the line |46 connected with one of the communication lines |2 When the switch is closed an impulse from the source of rectified currents |45 is; sent over the line |2| to the release relay I9, the operation of which interrupts the circuit of the electric motors of the recorders so that a further transmission of messages may cease under the control of the operator in the receiving station.

The operation of the above described device in detail will be as follows.

Let it be assumed that the switch 15 of the ccntrol board is open so that the alarm system therefore is set for manual operation. If in this case one of the three manually operated switches Il, l2 or |3 is closed a low voltage current will flow from the secondary of transformer 41 over lines 34 and 4S to line 26 and over line 26 to relay I6, conductor |5 and to the closed alarm circuit |4 and over conductor 25 to conductors 35 and 33 back to the secondary of transformer 41. Therefore-relay I6 will close its contacts |26 and 94. The closure of contact |26 closes a locking circuit cfthe relay |6 over line |46 and line |41 and the contacts |48 of relay I9 which are connected with line 33, leading back to the secondary of transformer 41. The locking circuit does not include the alarm circuit |4 of the manual operator and it is therefore immaterial once the relay has been operated whether the switches 2 or |3 remain closed or opened after operation. The switches may therefore be closed only for a moment and may be released thereafter without interfering with the operation of the alarm system.

' oor, No.

amplifier 90.

the protected premises the nature of the emergency which caused the operation of the system, for instance the recorded message may state: Hold-up in progress at bank,

of Street, Borough The recorded message is picked up from the= record disk by the electric pick-up 84 which is connected with the circuit 29, 29 and with the The electric currents produced in the electric pick-up are therefore amplified in the amplifier and are sent over the output circuit 9| of the amplifier to the transformer 92.

From the secondary of transformer 92 the message is transmitted to the receiving station over lines I2 |22 4and is received in this station in the primary of transformer |50. The mes-fl' sage is then transmitted from the secondary of the transformer |50, after amplification in arnplii'ler |40 to the l-oud-speaker |30. The operator after having received the message may either initiate suitable protective steps in a manner not connected with this invention or, if he thinks that the message is of a type which is best transmitted to a cruising police car he may close switch |35 and thus cause the modulation of the radio transmitter |60 by the amplified currents. After a suitable time interval which permits the message to be radiated, he closes the release switch |58, thus transmitting a current impulse to be sent from rectifier |45 (grounded at |52) over switch |58 and line |46, line |2|, relay I9,

line |22, conductors |5| and |54 to ground |60.

The impulse thus transmitted over the comy munication lines energizes relay I9, which relay interrupts the holding circuit of relay |6 at the contacts |48. Relay |6 thus falls back and the further operation of motor 93 of the recording l device 33 is thus stopped.

The system is now again in a. condition of rest. Let it now be assumed that the operator in the protected premises wants to switch on the automatic protecting means. If such a switching over to automatic operation is intended the operator -first inspects lamp 16 which should give a green light when the detector relays are at rest. If such l a green light appears he may switch over to automatic operation by closing switch 15. Let it now be assumed that indeed no detector is in .operai tive position in which case the closing of the switch 15 closes the circuit of relays 38 and I8,

the circuit of relay 38 being closed over 34, i0 I, 15,

|02, |0201., relay 38, |06, lower contact of set ||2,

lower contact of set |01, 33; the latter circuit being closed over the same section of the above The` message must state in addition to the location of Il? described circuit upf to point I02'a and then over 24",. relay I3, 23'; lower contact of contact set H4, 352 33. The twol relays 38' and I8* are thus both enegized and the system is ready for automatic operation:

Ir, however, the- relay 3B, 31, or 39 should be energized at this time' one of the two re'd lights 11, 18, will go on. The red light 11 indicates energiza'- tionof a fire detector and of a relay 331,'the circuito said light 11 running from 34v over I3 15, 11,' |05, the upper contact of set H3, 35, 33.

'Iihc-ired light 18 indicates energization of a burglary' detector and therefore ofone of thev relays 36l or 31. The' circuit of light 18' runs from 34 over" IM, 15", 18, |04', the upper contactl of set |I8 (if relay 331s energized) |011, 33. If relay 31 is energized thevv circuit/is closed atv the upper contact ofset |'I2 and-lower contact of set I I I by means of conductors |31 andv 33. No' energization of relays 38 and |8' occurs, however, upon closing of switch 1-5' and therefore no' alarm signal isl given.- The oprator has now to find out what caused the relays to be energized and hasy to remove the obstacles, if any, which caused the operation o'f the detectors.

If, however, the system is ready for operation the operation of a' fire detector, for example, will operate they relay 39 over the circuit' 68', 69 conn'ec'ted" with the cathode in the plate of the amplir 56 respectively. The relay 39' moves its middle Contact tothe upper position and energizes relayI H, the circuit running from 3d, 48, 26, I1, contacts' |29 of relay I8 (previously energized as above described) 2|, contacts |I4, 35, 33.

Closing of contacts 36 of relay I1 energizes the electric motor S5 oi the recording mechanism 8|, the circuit ruiming from 4I to 3|, contacts S6, electric motor 95, 32 back to 42. This circuit is a high voltage circuit. Relay I1 also closes the holding circuit for itself at contacts |38 running from conductor 3dr to 48, 26', |38, 21, |43 (at relay I9), 33.r This circuit is again under the controlof relay' [9 which is operated by the operator at 'the receiving station.

A message is now delivered by the rotating disk 85 which message may contain a statement that a re has been detected on the protected premises. This message is picked up by the pick-up 86 and is amplified over the circuit 28, 29 by means of amp/liner 9|! in the way already described. It is tlii transmitted to the receiving station exactly as described in connection with the message the delivery of which was indicated by the manual operator.l Likewise, the operation in the receiving station which follows the transmission of the message is identical with the operation already described.

The operation of a detector unit 6|) for detecting burglary, for insta-nce, operates the Thyratron 66 and the relay 31 in the Thyratron circuit. The operation of this relay starts the operation of the relay 40, the circuit of this relay running from 34 over 48, 2G, relay 43, contacts II3 of relay 38, |88, contacts I|2 (the middle contact of which is in the upper position) IIB, |31, 33. Relay 40, thus energizedy closes the low voltage holding circuit running from 34 to 48, 26, relay 40, |28, 21, |43 (at relay I9), 33; Moreover, a high voltage energizing circuit for motor 91 of the recording device 82 is closed this circuit running from 4I over 3|, 98, 91 and 32 to 42.

The record disk now starts to rotate and to operate pick-up 88 connected with line 23, 29 in the manner aforedescribed. The message which is now delivered is a message announcing a burglary in the protected premises'.- The' remainder of the operation is identical' with the' operation? all@ ready described.

The same operation which has been describedabove will also take place upon interruption of the: ray of the photoelectric device 5|. In this' casa5 the relay 36 will be energizedy and the energize; tion of relay 40 will take place over a circuit start-A ing at 34- and running over 49, 26, 4i), contacts H9',y contacts II8, |01, 33. The remainder of they operation is identical with the operation which has been described above.

It will be clear from the above description that many changes in the individual connections may occur without in anyway departing from' the es'- sence of thev invention as dened in the annexed claims.

Having described the invention, what isclaimed as-new is: l'

l. A protective alarm system comprising a num-` ber of substations, each' arranged in one oil the premises to be protected, a manually operated alarm circuit and further alarm circuits operated automatically by different typesy of alarmI produc-V ing emergencies in each substation, said alarm circuits being divided into groups,` operated under the same emergency conditions, a control panel arrangement in each substation including a detector relay for eachalarm circuit, a number of recording mechanisms each provided with a sound record carrier, with means for translating the said recording into talking currentsand with electric driving means for said record, each ro cording mechanism being allotted to one of the alarm circuit types, one of said recording mechanisms being provided with a spoken record announcing an emergency occurring only during manual operation of an alarm circuit, other recording mechanisms being provided with records of spoken messages, cach message being associated with one or' the groups of automatically operated alarm circuits, an operating relay for each recording mechanism, one of said operating relays being operable by said manually operated alarm circuit, further operating relays operable by the automatically operated alarm circuits, one operating relay being associated with each group oi' alarm circuits, an energizing circuit for each operating relay, a control relay controlling the energizing circuit of each operating relay, said en-i ergizing circuit being further controlled by one of the detector relays, energizing circuits for each of said control relays, and a manually operated switch for controlling the alternative operation of the manually operated alarm circuit and the automatically operated alarm circuit, said manu@ ally operated means controlling simultaneously all the energizing circuits of all of said control relays, and in addition, a holding circuit for cach operating relay, closed whenever the relay Is operated, and a release relay controlling said holding circuits.

2. A protective alarm systcin comprising u number of substatons, each arranged in one of the premises to be protected, a manually operated alarm circuit and further alarm circuits operated automatically by different types of alarm produciing emergencies in each substation, said alarm circuits being divided into groups, operated under the same emergency conditions, a control panel arrangement in 'each substation including dee tector relay operated by each alarm circuit, a number of recording' mechanisms each provided with a sound record carrier, with means for `translating the said recording into talking currents and with electric driving means for said record, one of said recording mechanisms being provided with a spoken record announcing an emergency occurring only during manual operation of an alarm circuit, other recording mechanisms being provided with records of spoken messages, each message being associated with one of the groups of automatically operated alarm circuits, an operating relay for each recording mechanism, one of said operating relays being operable by said manually operated alarm circuit, further operating relays operable by the automatically operated alarm circuits, one operating relay being associated with each group of alarm circuits, an energizing circuit for each operating relay, a control relay controlling the energizing circuit of each operating relay, said energizing circuit being further controlled by each of the detector relays ol the group of automatically operated alarm circuits with which the operating relay is associated, an. energizing circuit for each of the control relays, said energizing circuit being controlled by all the detector relays of the aforesaid group, a manually operated switch for controlling the alternative operation of the manually operated alarm cirr cuit and the automatically operated alarm circuits, said manually operated switch controlling simultaneously all the energizing circuits of all said control relays, indicator signals associated with the said energizing circuits, said signals being operated upon closure of the manually operated switch indicating the state of the alarm circuit, said connection however preventing the energization or" the operating relays upon throwing of the switch, when a detector relay is energized while operating the indicator signal associated with the control relay allotted to the said detector relay.

3. A protective alarm system comprising a number of substations, each arranged in one of the premises to be protected, a manually operated alarm circuit and further alarm circuits operated automatically by diierent types of alarm producing emergencies in each substation, a control panel arrangement including a number of sound recording mechanisms, each provided with a sound record carrier `and with means for translating the sound recording into talking currents, an operating relay for each recording mechanism, controlling relays for the operating relays of the recording mechanisms operated by the automatically operating alarm circuits, a manually operated switch for controlling the controlling relays of the aforesaid operating relays associated with the automatically operated alarm circuits, a central alarm call receiving station, communication lines connecting said control panel arrangement with said central receiving station, a holding circuit for each operating relay on the control panel, a release relay controlling all the holding circuits, `and means in the central exchange for controlling said release relay.

4. A protective alarm system comprising a number of substations, each arranged in one of the premises to be protected, a manually operated alarm circuit and further alarm circuits operated automatically by diierent types of alarm producing emergencies in each substation, said alarm circuits being divided into groups, operated under the same emergency conditions, a control panel arrangement in each substation including a detector relay for each alarm circuit, a number of recording mechanisms each provided With a sound record carrier and with means for translating the said recording into talking currents each record carrier carrying a spoken message associated with one 0f the groups of automatically operated alarm circuits and with the manually operated alarm circuit respectively, an operating relay for each recording mechanism, an energizing circuit for each operating relay, a control relay controlling the energizing circuit of each operating relay associated with an automatically operated alarm circuit, a manually operated switch for controlling simultaneously all the energizing circuits of the said control relays, a holding circuit for each operating relay, closed whenever the relay is operated, a release relay controlling all the holding circuits of all the operating relays, a central alarm call receiving station, communication lines connecting said control panel arrangement with said central receiving station, an energizing circuit for the release relay on the control panel connected with the communication lines and an impulse circuit, in the central alarm call receiving station for operating the release relay of the control panel arrangement from the said station.

5. An alarm system comprising a number of substations, a manually operated alarm circuit and automatic alarm circuits, a control panel including a plurality of sound recording means and sound translating means, an operating relay for each sound recording means, controlling relays for the operating relays or the sound recording means operated by the automatic alarm circuits, a manually operated switch for controlling said controlling relays, a central station connected to said control panel, a holding circuit for each operating relay, a release relay controlling all holding circuits, and means in said central station controlling said release relay.

6. The structure of claim 3 wherein there is provided a plurality of indicator signals connected to said operating relays, each of said indicator signals indicating the condition of one of said automatic alarm circuits at the time when said manually operated switch is operated 7. An alarm system comprising a number of substations, a manually operated alarm circuit and automatic alarm circuits, a control panel including a plurality of sound recording means and sound translating means, ran operating relay for each sound recording means, controlling relays for the operating relays of the sound recording means operated by the automatic alarm circuits, a manually operated switch for controlling said controlling relays, a central station connected to said control panel, a holding circuit for each operating relay, a release relay controlling al1 holding circuits, and means in said central station controlling said release relay, and a plurality of indicator signals connected to said operating relays, each of said indicator signals indicating the condition of one of said automatic alarm circuits at the time when said manually operated switch is operated.

CARL W. ROE. SIDNEY T. ROE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,022,991 Walter Dec. 3, 1935 2,249,560 Howton 1 July 15, 1941 2,300,409 Denzler i Nov. 3, 1942 2,522,615 Hughes Sept. 19, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 629,314 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1949

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