US3391367A - Self-contained temperature change alarm system - Google Patents

Description

SELF-CONTAINED TEMPERATURE CHANGE ALARM SYSTEM July 2, 1968 w. c. MESSICK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1965 FIG.

INVENTOR.

W. C. MESSICK ATTORNEY July 2, 1968 w. c. MESSICK 3,391,367

SELF-CONTAINED TEMPERATURE CHANGE ALARM SYSTEM Filed July 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4 [Io lIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII).

fiwvrsmoaw. c. MESSICK BY My ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,391,367 SELF-CONTAINED TEMPERATURE CHANGE ALARM SYSTEM Willard C. Messick, Cortland, N.Y., assignor to Standard Alarm & Signal Co., Cortland, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 472,884 2 Claims. (Cl. 337-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A temperature change alarm signal device for actuating a control device to, in turn, actuate an alarm signal, on drop in gas pressure in a tubing system wherein gas is sealed at normal temperatures and released at predetermined elevated temperatures.

This invention relates to a device for actuating an alarm signal on attainment of a predetermined temperature. The device is an automatic, self-contained system actuated, for example, when ambient temperature rises or falls to a predetermined degree, to alert personnel thereto.

The device includes a length of tubing for a system of containing gas pressure of predetermined value, to actuate the alarm device upon the occurrence of the predetermined temperature change. The device is thus automatic in operation and may include signal means responsive to a drop in gas pressure in the tubing.

The device incorporates novel means for actuating alarm devices and for safeguarding against accidental actuation, is highly adaptable for use in supervision and monitoring of large and even remote or separated areas, so as to instantly respond to temperature change in any of said areas.

The drawings, illustrating procedures and devices useful in carrying out the invention, and the description below, are exemplary only of the invention, which shall be deemed to cover all other devices and procedures coming within the scope and purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a partly fragmentary, elevational view of parts of an alarm device, embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of first valve means thereof actuated to sound an alarm device on occurrence of predetermined temperature change,

FIG. 3 is a further partly fragmentary sectional view of said first valve means,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational, partly broken, schematic view of further parts of an alarm system embodying the invention, and including second valve means,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of an alarm means which may be connected to the system,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a temperature responsive valve means which may be connected to the tubing, the latter being shown fragmentarily,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a gas pressure chamber which may be used in carrying out the invention, and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a device which may be used for initially impressing the predetermined gas pressure in the tubing.

As shown in the drawings, the device of this invention comprises (FIG. 4) tubing 10 which may be any predeter- 3,391,367 Patented July 2, 1968 mined length and connected at one end, as, for example, by push button valve 11 (FIG. 8) with means for impressing a gas pressure of predetermined value in said tubing. Said means may comprise a gas reservoir 12 of any desired kind, as for example, a gas generator or reservoir which may have means for visual observation of the fluid level therein, such as a transparent light permeable window or eye 13 incorporated in the wall thereof. This, however, is not an essential part of this invention; indeed, the reservoir 12 may be a portable or other gas compressing unit suitably connected to the tubing 10 by means other than a valve.

The valve 11 exemplarily shown in FIG. 8 may have a plug 14 movable in a passageway 15 of tube 16 connecting reservoir 12 with tubing 10, the valve being urged as by the spring 17 to a position normally closing the passageway 15. The operator would, in operation, press valve plug 14 against the tension of the spring to clear said passageway only momentarily or for a very short length of time to initially make the system operative, i.e. to fill the tubing 10 with gas. Tubing 10 is connected, at the opposite end, with a first valve means 20 (FIG. 3) connecting the tubing 10 with an alarm device such as 21 in FIG. 1 in an arrangement such, that when the gas pressure in the tubing falls below a predetermined value in valve passageway 25, the alarm device will be actuated. The first valve means 20 includes a passageway 25 therein and gas pressure responsive plug or other means 30 normally closing said passageway, and opening said passageway to tubing 29 of alarm 21 when the gas pressure in the tubing 10 falls below the predetermined value. A (second) gas pressure reservoir 27 is connected through tubing 28 (FIG. 3) to one end of the passageway 25, alarm device 21, being, as above noted, connected, as by tubing 29, to the other end of passageway 25. The alarm device 21 may be a gas pressure responsive device such as a horn, or may be any other device actuated responsive to the flow of gas pressure through passageway 25. Gas pressure responsive means normally closing the passageway 25 in the first valve 20 includes closure plug 30 (unitary with second plug 26) movable in passageway 25 and connected as by the plate 31 engaging the plug (FIG. 3) at one end and secured at the opposite end to lever 32 pivotally mounted in the first valve 20.

The second valve means may in other details, be any valve such as is well known in the art, for example, that shown in Patent 2,860,660 of Nov. 18, 1958 to Swatsworth.

As will be apparent from FIG. 3, normally gas pressure in the tubing 10 (entering valve 20 from a suitable point such as shown in FIG. 3 from the bottom) maintains piston 26 seated on upper valve seat 16 and thus valve 20 is closed so that line 10 gas pressure will not enter tubing 29 to operate born 21. When the gas pressure in tubing 10 at valve 20 falls below the predetermined desired value, the piston 26 thus no longer urged upwardly, drops to seat in the valve seat 64, thereby exposing or opening the upper valve seat 18 of tubing 29 to admission of gas pressure from the tubing 28 which (FIG. 1) opens at an oifset point into passageway 25 of valve 20 from second gas source 27. Tubing 10 is as above noted, connected, as, for example, by a U-turn or the like, to the bottom of the first valve means 20. On actuation of the warning horn 21 when gas pressure in the tubing falls below predetermined value (as above stated) electrical warning means may be simultaneously actuated as by movement in unison with the sounding of a horn 21. Piston 26 becomes unseated from the (upper) valve seat 18, for fiow of gas through the passageway 25 from the second gas source 27 and through tubing 29 into horn 21. The operator, being thus alerted by the blowing of the horn, would actuate the valve 47', cutting off flow of further gas through the tubing 28. When the condition which caused the warning is remedied, valve 47' is reset.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spring or other end 31 of a rod or lever 32 is, for example, mounted in valve 20 and has a forked or otherwise formed end for engagement with a slotted or other portion of the plug or piston 26.

The condition which caused the warning may be fracturing of a temperature sensitive thermometer 24 (FIG. 6) which normally closes the opening 23 of the tubing 10 to the ambient atmosphere. After resetting valve 47' (the leakage condition having been remedied) the gas pressure in the tubing 10 may be restored by actuating the valve 11 (FIG. 8) the gas restoring operation being accomplished rapidly.

Concurrently such movement of the lever 32 may actuate an electrical alarm if desired as, for example, by lever 32 closing a normally open mercury switch or the like 43 (FIG. 3) to thereby (FIG. close a circuit in cable 45 controlled by said switch to thereby energize a bell 46 or other alarm device such as a light 47 concurrently or alternately. The cable 45 (FIG. 5) may be connected with a fire alarm signal or Warning bell at another point, as in a fire house station. Means 47 such as a valve in the line 28 from reservoir 27 or other out-off means (FIG. 1) may be provided for shutting off the flow of gas from the reservoir 27 to the alarm device 21 as soon as the alarm has been observed by the personnel responding to the alarm.

Tubing may be provided with second valve means 22 (FIG. 4) having temperature and pressure responsive means 24 normally closing the opening 23 in tubing 10. Any suitable temperature responsive means 24 may be used, an example thereof being given below.

As shown in FIG. 6, second valve 22 may be a thermally sensitive glass member, normally closing the opening 23 in gas line 10 but fracturing to expose the opening upon the occurrence of a predetermined temperature change, at which the prestressed thermometer tube 24 fractures. The preforming of a glass body to fracture due to tension and compression, at a given temperature, is well known in the glass arts. To that end the thermometer 24 is positioned within an open frame 53 and intermediate washers or discs 54, 55 adjustable, for example, by bolt member 51, to maintain the (intermediate) thermometer 24 under compression such that it will fracture upon the occurrence of a predetermined elevation in temperature, as would occur in case of an incipient or actual fire.

A compressible sealing member 49, such as a sealing washer, and an O ring 50 of compressible material, may be positioned against the opening 23 in second valve 22 (FIG. 6); a bolt member 51 may be provided, threaded in a socket 52 in frame or fixture 53 secured to the second valve member. Thus the temperature and pressure responsive means 24 is pressed intermediate and against discs 54, 55 and compressible sealing members 49, 50 (where such members are used) to closing position against opening 23. A compressible sealing member 49 such as a sealing washer and an O ring 50 of compressible material may be positioned against the opening 23 in second valve 22 (FIG. 9) and a bolt member '51 may be provided, threaded on a bolt 52 in fixture 53 secured to the second valve member so as to press the temperature and pressure responsive means 24 intermediate and against discs 54, 55 and compressible sealing members 49, 50 where such members are used, and to closing position against the opening 23. The member 24 may be a temperature responsive member preformed to fracture and thereby uncover the opening 23 (the parts 4'9, 50, 54 falling on fracturing the member 24). To that end, member 24 may be a thermometer tube prestressed to fracture upon the occurrence of the predetermined temperature change.

The reservoir 27 may be of a fluid-gas type with means therein such as a glass eye or light permeable window 70 fixed to the wall of said reservoir 27 to indicate the level of fluid therein; additionally, electrical means may be provided in either or both of reservoirs 12, 27 for indicating the fall of fluid below the predetermined safe level, providing a further safeguard in that an instanteous warning would thereby be sounded if such condition occurs. To that end the (FIG. 7) reservoir 12 may be disposed perpendicular to the horizon (as indicated in the drawings, and provided with a liquid permeable tube 57 therein and with the preferably conducting float 58 movable in said tube and with contacts 59, 60 closed by said float when the fluid level of the reservoir falls below a predetermined safe level. Contacts 59 and 60 may be connected to a cable or wires 61 connected with a signal device (not shown).

There may be more than one control box in a system in accordance with this inventioneach horn has its own source of power.

The movement of the lever 32 may actuate an alarm device or open or close a circuit on occurrence of the predetermined temperature change. It will be noted from the foregoing that, pursuant to the invention, an electrical signal device is provided, actuated responsive to drop in gas pressure, caused by fracturing of a thermally sensitive member or through leakage in the gas system, or through any other cause, whereupon said device will energize an electric warning device or system or actuate a pressure responsive horn 21 or other device, and an electrical system as through a switch such as shown at 43 of FIG. 3, operated responsive to drop in pressure.

In summary, the system comprises a main gas source 12 (FIG. 4) and tubing 10 initially filled on actuation of valve 11 (FIGS. 4 and 8) from said first gas source 12. The gas pressure so imposed in tubing 10 closes (FIG. 3) the plug or piston 26 of second valve means 20 (FIGS. 4, 3 and 2) into the nozzle seat for tubing 29 and thus cuts off flow of gas pressure into pressure responsive devices such as horn 21 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 3, the tubing 10 is connected to the first valve means 20 at the bottom thereof, while tubing 28 of second gas pressure reservoir 27 is connected thereto from an offset point, so that as long as the tubing 10 contains gas pressure of a given predetermined value, the reciprocating piston 26 will be maintained seated in and will close valve seat 18 in passageway 25 with which the second gas source 27 (FIG. 1) is connected.

While the foregoing disclosure of exemplary embodiments is made in accordance with the patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, the inventive scope being defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for actuating an alarm signal comprising means for impressing gas pressure from a gas source, of predetermined value, in tubing,

a gas operated alarm device,

a. valve connecting said tubing and said alarm device,

piston seats in said valve, one connected with said tubing and another With said alarm device,

a piston movably positioned between said piston seats in said valve,

a second gas pressure source connected to said valve and opening therein to intermediate the piston seats, an electrical alarm means,

and means connecting said electrical alarm means and said piston for actuating the electrical alarm means to indicate an alarm condition when the pressure in the said tubing falls below said predetermined valve 5 6 and said piston closes said seat in the valve connected References Cited 2 Vi'lth the 1tublni. c t f th 1 1 d UNITED STATES PATENTS r n as Se calm 651,185 5/1900 H111 340-240 tubing belng provided with an opening, 3 5 1 1 and mean losing said opening, including a tempera- 5 L00 9/ Kerchcr 340-240 ture responsive member, fracturable upon elevation of ambient temperature to a predetermined point, to

thereby no longer obstruct said opening when the ambient temperature rises to said predetermined BERNARD GILHEANY P'lmary Examme" point. 10 H. B. GILSON, Assistant Examiner.

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