US443724A - onqley - Google Patents

Description

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0. E. ONGLEY. ELECTRICAL FIRE ALARM AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM. No." 443,724. Patented Dec. 30, 1890..

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O. RONGLEY. ELECTRICAL FIRE ALARM AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM. No. 443,724. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. ONGLEY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS V. ROBERTSON, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL FIRE ALARM AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,724, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed April 12 1890. Serial No. 347,580. (No model.)

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. ONGLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York,'have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Fire Alarm and Extinguishing Systems, (Case R) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, especially, to systems in which thermostatic circuit-controllers are placed at suitable points in a structure to be protected, and the circuit from such controllers is led to the office or other suitable point, at which is placed a transmitter adapted to be released upon the operation of the thermostat and to automatically record or signal the number of the thermostat or station at which the thermostat is placed and in which automatic sprinklers are provided for extinguishing the fire by the fusing of a part of the sprinkler, which normally holds the out lets closed.

My object is to provide a signalor alarm to indicate an accidental breaking or disarrangement of the automatic sprinkler and to so arrange the circuits and apparatus that if the sprinkler gives way before the thermostatic circuit-controller operates a valve in the water-pipe shall be closed, while if the thermostatic circuit-controller first operates said valve cannot be closed bythe automatic operation of the system.

A further object is to so arrange the apparatus that no confusion or interference shall arise between a fire-alarm signal and a signal due to a disarrangement of the sprinkler.

My invention consists in the system and apparatus hereinafter described for accomplishing the above objects and in the several de-' tails of construction, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawiugs,which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of two individual signal-transmitters-that is, transmitters adapted to send a certain number or arrangement of electrical impulses to indicate the number of a station-mounted on a common base.

Refer-ring first to Fig. 1, 1 is a. water-pipe conducting water under a suitable pressure to the part of the building to be protected. At the end of the pipe or at intervals along the length of the pipe are arranged automatic sprinklers. A single sprinkler 2 is shown, although it will be understood that in practice several may be used with a separate circuit for each sprinkler and relay-magnet or with a single circuit passingin series through a number of sprinklers, so that when any one gives way the circuit will be opened. The sprinklerillustrated consists of a cap 3, placed over the end of the tube and held in place by the pivoted levers at, having inwardly-proj ecting shoulders under the cap and normally held together by the fusible link 5. A conducting ball, wedge, or other device 6 is placed between the projecting ends of the two levers 4 4:, and to piece 6 is connected one end of a circuit from a suitable battery, preferably a gravity-battery 7 The other terminal of the battery is connected to the water-pipe. A relay-magnet S is interposed in this circuit and the armature thereof is normally attracted. If by accident or otherwise 6 is disarranged or falls away from it-sseat, as it would do should levers at 4 separate or if they should move away from each other slightly, this circuit will be broken,the effect being to allow the relay-armature to fall back against contact 9 and close a second circuit, which is indicated on the drawings by the single arrow-heads, and may be traced as follows: from the battery 10 to the annunciator or electromagnetic circuit-closer 11, to the releasing-magnet 12 of the signal-transmitter X at the right, to the frame of the clock-work at the left, thence to the revolving arm 13', to contact-spring 14, against which the arm normally bears, to contact 9, and through the armature to the other pole of the battery. This circuit energizes magnet 12 and releases the clock-work at the right. An alarm-bell 25 may be placed in this circuit, if desirable. Referring now to Fig. 2, the mechanism there shown, which may be called a duplex individual signal-transmitter, will be describ ed. The apparatus illustrated is intended for use at a station whose number is 4, as in- IOC dicated by the four eircuit-n'iaking teeth on the wheels 15 15. In the position shown the clock-work or motors (indicated by the wheels 16 16) are wound up, and the devices are in condition to run down when released. In this position the revolvingarms 1f} 13 bear against the contact springs ll 11'. The contactsprings 17 17 are adjacent to but out of contact with the wheels 15 15' 17, being conzo neeted to wire 17. The springs 18 18' are over but out of contact with said wheels. From said wheels project pins lit, which as the wheels revolve come in contact with springs18 18. At the termination of, preferi5 ably, two revolutions of wheel 15 the arm 13' comes to rest against contact-spring 20. On the transmitter Y at the left is an additional spring 21 between 14: and 20, which 13 touches as it revolves. At this transmitter,

20 also, is a con tact-spring 22, which bears against 1.3 when set for operation. The magnet 12 and its armature control the detent or escapement 23 of the right signal-transit)itter. The magnet 12 and its armature control the de- 25 tent or escapement 23' of the left transmitter.

Referring again to Fig. 1, H are thermostatic circuitcontrollers placed in the apartment to be protected, preferably adjacent to the sprinklers. These cireuitcontrollers, of which any number maybe used, are adjusted to close or change the circuit at a temperature considerably lower than that required to re lease the automaticsprinklers. From one side of each thermostatic circuit-controller a wire extends to the battery 10. From the other side of the thermostata wire extends to magnet- ]2, spring 14, arm 13, through the frame of the apparatus, to wire 26, and to the other pole of the battery. 'hen, therefore, the heat 40 is sufficient to operate the thermostat, the

above circuit will be closed, the magnet 12 energized, and the transmitter Y released. The revolution of this transmitter first breaks the contact between 14. and 13. As we have be- 5 fore seen, the circuit of releasing-magnet 12 passes through these points. Hence if the thermostat first operates the transmitter X cannot be released by magnet 12 until the arm 13' comes to rest in contact with spring 20,

when the circuit oft he releasing-magnet will be re-established. The arm 13 next makes contact with spring 21, closing the following circuit: spring 21, wire 27, bell 2S, magnet 20, battery 30, wire 81, to the frame of the trans- 5 5 mitter, and to arm 13'. This circuit energizes magnet 29 and releases the cseapcment of an automatic transmitter, which sends an alarm and station-number over wires 17", 35, and 31 to the fire-department or engine-house in 50 the well-known manner. The last-mentioned wires correspond, respectively, to wires 17', 35, and 3lthat is, they connect with corresponding parts of a receiver or register at the tiredepartment. During the revolution of wheel 15, 17 makes contact with the projecting teeth, closing a circuit four times. This circuit may be traced as follows: frame of the transmitter, wire 3], battery 30, magnet of the signal receiver or register, and wire 17 to spring 17. This circuit is indicated by triangular arrow -heads. The magnet 32, by means of its armature and propelling-pawl, turns the type-wheel four spaces, after which the pin 1.) comes in contact with spring 18, which closes the following circuit: frame of the transmitter, wire 31, battery 30, mag net 3ft, which controls the printing-platen of the receiver or register in a well-known manner, and wire 35 to spring 18.

Let it now be supposed that owing to an accident the circuit-controller at the sprinkler were first operated. As before described, the transmitter X would be released by magnet 12. At the same time the drop of the annuneiator or electro-magnetic circuit'closer 11 would fall, closing the circuit leading from spring 22, for a purpose which will soon appear. As arm 13 revolves it first leaves spring ll, opening the circuit of releasing-magnet 12, so that transmitter Y cannot then be released unlil arm 13 comes to rest against sprin 20, when the c rcuit will be re-established, and this preferably occurs at. the close of three revolutions of wheel 15. By giving wheels 15 and 15 a different number of revolutions the recorder will indicate which transmitter operated, or, it' both, the order in which they operated. During each revolution of wheel 15 the spring 17 makes and breaks the circuit which leads to magnet :32 four times, thus moving the type-wheel four spaces. Then pin 19 comes in contact with spring 18 and closes a circuit through the printingmagnet 34, thus recording the number of the station or sprinkler which has become disarranged.

The fact that the circuit-controller at the sprinkler operates first indicates that it is due to some accidental causesuch as a blow, or a yielding of the fusible link due to too great pressure, rust, or some similar ca use -since, as before stated, the thermostats are adj usted to operate at lower degree of heat than the sprinklers. Itis therefore desirable to shut oif the water, so that the structure need not be unnecessarily flooded, and means for accomplishing this will now be described. In the water-pipe is placed a normally-open valve, the stem of which is shown at 23o. 1rojecting from the valve-stem is an arm carrying at its end a weight w.

36' is a catch holding the lever in such position as to maintain the valve open. Adjacent to the catch, on. which is an armature, is a magnet 37. The circuit through this magnet is indicated by the double-headed arrows, and may be traced as follows: beginning at battery 10 it passes through magnet 11, magnet 12, to the transmitter Y, arm 13, spring 22, and ann unciator-drop, which is now down in the position indicated by the dotted line, to the lower contact of the switch 38, on which the switch-arm is placed during the nigh tfor example, when it is desired to automatically operate the valvethence to magnet 37 and to the other pole of the battery. The closure of this circuit attracts 36, allowing the weight w to descend, closing the valve. Any other suitable valve-controller may be substituted for the one just described. During the day the switch referred to is preferably moved from the lower contact to an open position. Should the sprinkler circuit-controller give way, an attendant might close the valve manually by turning the switch onto the upper contact, when the circuit would be battery 10 to said upper contact, through the switch to the magnet, and back to the other pole of the battery.

It will be clear that should the thermostatic circuit-controller first operate it would not be desirable to close the valve and thus shut off the water, since the operation of a thermostat presumably indicates the presence of fire, and the water-pressure should remain undisturbed. To provide for this is the object of spring 22, before described, since when the transmitter Y is released by operation of the thermostat the circuit which has been described for automatically closing the valve is opened at said spring 22, and this renders it impossible for the valve-controller to operate, when on a further rise in temperature the apparatus at the right is released by the giving way of the sprinkler.

Although the operation of the system and apparatus has been indicated by the foregoing description, it will now be briefly recapitulated. The thermostatic circuit-controllers in case of fire would be closed, releasing tran smitter Y and recording the number of the station by means of the register in which are the operating-magnets 32 34. It maybe here remarked that a time-register such as described in my application, Serial No. 337,424, filed January 20, 1890, is preferred, although evidently any other suitable register may be employed. At the same timedetent-magnet 29 releases the repeater and transmits the alarm to the fire department. On the receipt of an alarm the attendant, if at hand, would of course immediately proceed to the locality of the the and, if possible, extinguish it before the operation of the sprinkler; but if no such attendant were present and the fire continued the sprinkler would give way, and the Water rushing out of the pipe would extinguish the fire, at the same time opening the circuit of relay-magnet 8, already described.

The operation of transmitter Y indicates the operation of the thermostatic circuit-controller only. The operation of transmitter Y, followed by that of transmitter X, indicates the operation of the thermostatic circuit-controller and of the sprinkler, both presumably due in this case to fire. The operation of transmitter X only indicates a disarrangement of the sprinkler, presumably due to accident.

It will be evident that the circuit-controllers in circuit with the two detent-magnets, as

above described, are automatic and of differ ent character; but it is not essential that they be of different character, since the duplex transmitter would operate in the same manner if both were controlled by like circu tcontrollers but operated separately or by different causes.

I do notwish to conline myself to the exact arrangement of circuits and apparatus wh ch I have described, since these may be var ed to a considerable extent without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1.,In a fire alarm and extinguishing system, the combination of a signal-receiver, a duplex transmitter connected therewith, a fire-alarm circuit containinga thermostat for controlling one section of said transmitter, an independent circuit from a second section of said transmitter to an automatic sprinkler, a circuitcontroller at the sprinkler independent of the fire-alarm circuit for controlling said second section of the transmitter, and a non-interference device for the two sections of the transmitter, substantially as described.

2. In a fire alarm and extinguisher system, the combination of a signal-receiver, a transmitter connected therewith, a circuit from the transmitter to a sprinkler, a circuit-controller at the sprinkler, a second transmitter connected to the receiver and to a thermostat which is in proximity to the sprinkler, and a releasing device for the transmitter, the mag net of which is in circuit with the normal contact of the other transmitter, whereby when one transmitter is released the circuit of the other detent-magnet is broken and interference is rendered impossible, substantially as described.

A duplex transmitter consisting of the combination of two transmitters, propell ng devices therefor, detents for said propelling devices, magnets for operating the detents connected in a normally-inoperative circuit, the detent-magnet of one transmitter belng connected to a contact against which a circuit-changing arm or device of the other transmitter rests when set for operation, which contact is broken when the latter transmitter begins to move, and circuit-controllers independent of said contact separately or dilferently. operated in the circuit of the detent-magnets, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a fire-alarm circuit, including thermostats and a transm1tter, of a circuit including a battery, a magnet, and a circuit-controller operated by disarrangement of the automatic sprinkler, but 1ndependent of the fire-alarm circuit, a signaltransmitter released when said circuit-conbattery, a magnet, and a circuit-controller operated by disarrangement of the automatic sprinkler, but independent of the tire-alarm circuit, a normally-wound signail-transmitter released when said circuit-controller is operated, a non-interference device for the transmitters, an d the signal-receiver, substantially as described.

(5. In a fire alarm and extinguisher system, the combination of a thermostatic circuitcontroller operated by a predetermined temperature, a transmitter operated thereby, an automatic sprinkler provided with a circuitcontroller operated at a higher temperature and a transmitter operated thereby, a-signalreceiver, and a eircuit'controller in circuit with the releasing-magnet of each transmitter and operated by the other transmitter for preventing interference between the two transmitters, substantially as described.

7. In a tire alarm and extinguisher system, the combination of a thermostatic circuitcontroller, a transmitter operated thereby, an automatic sprinkler provided with a circuitcontroller independent of said thermostatic circuit controller, a transmitter operated thereby, a signal-receiver for said transmitter, and a transmitter for the fire-alarm, sub stantially as described.

8. in a fire-extinguisher system, the combination of a pipe normally containing an extinguishing-fluid, a sprinkler closing said pipe, a normally-open valve in the pipe, a circuit-controller at the sprinkler, a circuit including the same, a magnet by means of which the valve may be closed, a circuit in cluding said magnet, and a circuit-controller therein normally operating before the sprinkler circuit-controller to render the circuit of the valve-controlling magnetinoperative, substantially as described.

9. In a fire alarm and extinguisher system, the combination of a waterpipe provided with one or more sprinklers, a circuit-coutroller at the sprinkler, a valve in the pipe, means for operating the valve, an independent thermostatic circuit, and a cireuit-controller operated by the fire-alar1n apparatus for preventing the operation of the \'t1lV6-COIll'l0ll(}l',Stlbstantially as described.

10. The combination of magnet 37, a circuit therefor, an clectro-magnetie circuit-closer for said circuit, and the circuit-breaker for the same circuit operated by transmitter Y, whereby if the circuit-closer is first operated said magnet is energized, while if transmitter Y is first operated said magnet is not encrgized, substantially as described.

11. The combination of transmitter X, the releasing-magnet 12, the circuit thereof extending through a circuit-controller at transmitter Y, and an elect ro-magnetic circuitcloser in series with magnet 12 and controlling a magnet 37, substantially as described,

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of April, 1890.

CHARLES E. ONG'LEY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES M. CATLIN, "WILLIAM PELZER.

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