US465989A - chase - Google Patents

Description

5 SheetsSheet I.

(No Model.)

H. A. CHASE. SIGNAL TRANSMITTING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM. No. 465,989.

Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

(No Model.) A CHASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

SIGNAL TRANSMITTING-APPARATUS AND SYSTEM- No. 465,989. Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

ere/Z2 21 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

H. A. CHASE. SIGNAL TRANSMITTING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM. No. 465,989.

PatentedDec. 29, 1891.

m: mums puns cm, mom-mum, msmuerou, n. c.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

H. A. CHASE. SIGNAL TRANSMITTING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM.

No. 465,989. Patented Dec. 29, 18 91.

(No Model.)

H. A. CHASE. 5Sl1eetS-Sheet 5.

SIGNAL TRANSMITTING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM. No. 465,989.,

Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

. 10%,5' I Imerflv r 620M456; aw amw. v wwmw UNiTno STATES *7 YATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. CHASE, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT WATTE, OF SAME PLACE.

SIGNAL-TRANSMITTING APPARATUS'AND SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,989, dated December 29, 1891.

Application filed May 4,1891.

\ connection with the accompanying drawings,

is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a novel system and apparatus for the transmission of signals or messages, and is especially designed for and adapted to be used as a fire-alarm system.

Myinvention as applied to a fire-alarm system has for its object to increase the efficiency of the fire-service and to simplify and cheapen the cost of construction and maintenance of the fire-alarm system.

My improved system is adapted to be used in large cities and also in small cities and towns. In the adaptation of my improved system to large cities the system is preferably subdivided into districts, each of which has its own district station, and all the said district stations are connected to a main or central station. Each district station has connected to it one or more individual circuits, in which are electrically connected one or more fire-alarm boxes containing signaltransmitting mechanisms possessing novel features of construction, as will be described. The fire-alarm signal-transmitting mechanisms in the districts are normally located in one or more normally-closed metallic circuits, in which are also located bells, upon which is repeated the signal sent from any box in the district, and the said metallic circuit is controlled and operated as will be described, whereby the signalas, for instance, anyparticular box number-may be transmitted over the metalliccircuit to each box on the said circuit, while the signal or box number is being transmitted from a box to the district station. v

My improved system will also preferably be constructed so that a signal sent from a box on one circuit in one district will automatically be transmitted to every or any box on every or any circuit embraced within the system.

Serial No. 391,591. (No model.)

The system is also constructed as will be described, whereby the signal is received directly at both the district station and at the main or central station at the same time.

Another feature of my invention consists in increasing the reliability of the service by enabling a signal or box number to be received at the district and main stations in case of a break in the metallic circuit, and this feature of myinvention is accomplished by converting the metallic circuit into two independent ground circuits, each of which includes in it the fire-alarm boxes.

Another feature of my invention consists in maintaining the signal service in good electrical and mechanical condition by transmitting the box number or fire-signal from any box to the district station bythe same signalwheel which transmits the fire-signal without giving an alarm of fire. invention is accomplished, as herein shown, by providing a test-circuit for the boxes on the metallic circuit, which test-circuit is normally inoperative when the fire-alarm circuits are in operative condition, but which may be rendered operative to transmit thebox number to the district station by the proper orduly-authorized person without interfering with the working of the fire-alarm circuits from the other boxes on the circuit than the box from which the test isbeingmade. Thetranslnission of the test-signal actuates the fire-alarm signaltransmittingmechanism of thebox fromwhich the test is being made, but does not transmit an active fire-alarm-signal. This testing fea- This feature of myture of my improved system is of the utmost importance, practically, for it keeps the firealarm signal-transmitting mechanism of the box in good electrical and mechanical condition, thereby rendering the service practically sure and reliable. The test-circuit referred to enables telephonic communication to be established between the box on the circuit and the station to Which the said circuit is connected, as will be described. The test-oi? cuit also enables a proper or duly-authorized person-as, for instance, the chief or a district 'chief-to ascertain from any box in any district the fact that an alarm has been sent from a box in the same district or in another district.

My invention further consists in providing means whereby the district stations are under control of the main or central station, as will be described.

In my improved system any one circuit in a district may be rendered inoperative, yet all the other circuits in the district will be in operative condition; also, an open line between a district station and the central station will not impair the district circuits.

My invention further consists in a firealarm box possessing novel features of construction, as will be described.

Other features of my invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view to illustrate my improved system as applied to a large city, the said figure representing the system as divided into three districts com municating with a central office; Fig. 2, a diagram of circuits to more clearly enable the working of my improved system to be understood, the said figure showing a district station connected to a central office and having connected to it two'district circuits; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the fire-alarm boxes employed in my improved system; Fig. 4:, a front elevation of the box, shown in Fig. 3, with the door open; Fig. 5, a vertical section, on an enlarged scale,of the box shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a rear side elevation of the box shown in Fig. 5, with the back plate removed; Fig. 7, a detail to be referred to; Fig. 8, a sectional detail, on an enlarged scale, of the box to more clearly show the circuit controllers in the box operated by the opening and closing of the door; Fig. 9, a detail of the pull-bar and hooks carried thereby; Fig. 10, a diagram of circuits illustrating a central station and two district stations connected thereto; Fig. 11, a detail to illustrate the reversals of the current over the main line, and Fig. 12 a detail on an enlarged scale of the district sta tion shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1,A may represent a city which is eqiiipped with a fire-alarm system embodying my invention.

I have chosen for the purpose of illustrating my invention to represent the city A as subdivided into three fire-alarm districts 2 3 4. Each fire-alarm district, in accordance with my invention, is provided with a district station, respectively designated in Fig. 1 by ct a a. The district stations a. a a as represented in Fig. 1, are all connected to a main or central station a, which may be supposed to be located in the central portion of the city.- Each district station may have connected to it any desired or required number of fire-alarm circuits of novel construction and arrangement, as will be described,

there being six such circuits represented as connected to the district station a, and numbored from one to six,inclusive, and five each connected to the distrlct stations a a and numbered in each district from one to five, inclusive. The district stations and the circuits extended therefrom are alike, and therefore the construction and arrangement of but one need be described in detail, and for this purpose I have represented in Fig. 2 the district station a and circuits Nos. 3 and 4 thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2, I have represented the No. at circuit. as including in it one fire-alarm box a and an engine-house a, and the No. 3 circuit as including in. it three fire-alarm boxes a numbered 23 231 232, the main parts of the box 23 being laid out or shown in diagram to enable the working of my improved system to be more readily comprehended. The individual circuits connected to the district station are of like construction and arrangement, and therefore a detailed description of one will sufiice for all of the said district circuits. I

Referring now to the N0. 3 circuit, (shown in Fig. 2,) (t a represent, respectively, the positive and negative line-wires of a normally-closed metallic circuit provided with the main battery a".

In order that my improved system may be more clearly comprehended, I prefer to specifically describe in turn the construction and arrangement of the different parts of the system necessary to accomplish individual features of the invention.

That feature of the invention which I prefer to describe first is the construction and arrangement of the system by which a signal or box number transmitted to the district station may be retransmitted over the same circurt, and preferably, also, over all the circuits connected to the district station. To effect this result each signal-box a has located in it a polarized hell a of any usual or wellknown construction, the magnets (L a of which are included in one of the main lines. (Herein shown as the positive line a The district station a, haslocated in it two relays a and b, the relay (4 being included, as shown, in the positive line of, and the relay 7) being also included in the positive wire, it being in multiple with the relay a, and connected to the positive wire a by wires 12 b the relay a constituting a signal-receiving relay. The armature a of the relay a cooperates with back stops (1, a", forming terminals of a local circuit provided with a battery a having one pole connected by wire a to the terminal a" and its other pole connected to an electro-magnet a of a receivinginstrument or recordin g-register of any usual or well-known construction, such as now commonly employed, and of which only the main shaft (0 and paper-reel (L22 are shown in Fig. 2. The armature c1 of the register-magnet a is provided with the usual marking device or pen s The register-magnet a is con- .nected by wire a to the back stop a and the said wire has included in it a switch a by which the local circuit may be positively opened. The register (L20 is the one upon which thebox number or signal is recorded when the said signal is transmitted over the metallic circuit, and I shall hereinafter refer to this register as the i'netallic-circuit register. The relay 1) has its armature b in cluded in a normally-open local circuit, as will be described. The metallic circuit a a has included in itbetween the battery and the box No. 23 a pole-changer, which may be of any usual or well-known construction, and which is herein represented as a The pole-changer (L is operated in one direction to reverse the polarity of the current by an electro-magnet located in a local circuit provided with a battery c and the positive and negative line-wires a a of said local current are respectively connected to normally-open circuitterminals a a The circuit-terminals a a are operated by a controlling device, (herein represented as a disk or wheel 9 provided on its periphery with a cam or projection a adapted in the revolution of the said disk or Wheel to engage one of the circuit-terminals, (herein shown as the terminal a and bring the said terminal a in contact With the terminal a and thereby close the local circuit a a at that point. The disk or wheel (W will preferably be revolved by a normallywound-up motor \mechanisrmsuch as a spring or weight. (Not herein shown.) The circuitcontrolling disk or wheel a is itself governed or controlled by the armature (1 of an elec* tro-magneta the said armature being normally in engagement with a stop pin or projection e on the side of the disk or wheel at. The electro-magnet is included in the local circuit governed by the armature b of the relay l). The local circuit just referred to is provided with a battery I), having one of its poles connected,as herein shown, to the armature b and its other pole joined by a wire b to the electro-magnet 60 the other wire 5 of the said electro-magn et, as herein represented, being joined to a wire I), connected to the back-stop b with which co-operates the armature Zr". The local circuit controlled by the armature b of the relay b also includes in it an electro-magnet 11 for operating a bell (J onlya fragment of which is shown in Fig. 2, the bell-magnet (9 being shown in multiple with the electro-magnet (W.

The operation of the parts in the district station as thus far described is as follows, Viz: When the metallic circuit a a is broken, by actuating the signal-transmitting mechanism at abox both relays a b are demagnetized, and their armatures e and b are retracted by their respective springs (r b and the local circuit containing the metallic-circuit register is closed and the register-magnet c0 energized, and at the same time the local circuit containing the electro-magnet e is closed by the armature 19 coming in contact with its back stop 19 and the electro-magnet 0, is energized. As soon as the electro-magnet e is energized its armature (0 is attracted and moved out of engagement with the pin a on the side of the disk or wheel 0, and the latter is revolved by its spring or other motor, and in the revolution of the disk or wheel 60 the cam or projection (1/ on its periphery is brought into engagement With the circuit-terminal e and closes the circuit of the pole- 1 6 j changel magnet a eneiglzlng the said polechanger magnet and causing it to attract its armature and move thepole-changer to reverse the polarity of the main battery a", so that when the main circuit is momentarily closed atthe transmitting mechanism in the box, between the consecutive breaks occasioned by the transmitting mechanism, a reverse current is sent over the main line or metallic circuit a a and the polarity of the polarized bell-magnets e 60 in the main-line circuit is reversed, thereby causing movement of the armature of the polarized magnets, which movement brings a striker in contact withthe polar bell a The movement of the mechanical motor mechanism actuating the circuit-controlling disk or wheel d is very rapid, and the local circuit containing the pole-changer magnet 0, is closed for but substantially an instant, and the said local circuit is opened again at the circuit-closer 0, (1 before the main-line circuit a a is again broken at the transmittingmechanism in the box from which the signal .is being transmitted, so that the pole-changer (1 may be moved back into its normal position to again place the main-line circuit in normal condition before the next break in the said main-line circuit occurs at the transmitting mechanism of the box being operated.

Referring to Fig. 11, the successive breaks in the metallic circuit may be represented by the heavy dark lines 200, and the space between the said lines may represent the closure of the metallic circuit between successive breaks. The duration of reversal of the pole-- changer 0, may be represented by the light lines, (marked 202,) and as represented in Fig. 11, the pole-changer is' reversed before the break-in the metallic circuit closes, so that I when the circuit is again closed between the breaks the metallic circuit is in condition to reverse the current. The movement of the pole-changer back to its normal position may be effected, can readily be perceived, by a spring, (not shown,) or by any other suitable mechanism. When the main-line circuit a a? is momentarily closed at the box between successive breaks, the relays a and Z) are energized and their armatures attracted, thus opening the circuit of the metallic circuit register-magnet a and also the circuit of the electro-magnet 7 When the armature b of the relay b closes its local circuit, the electro-magnet I2 is energized and the bell 6 sounded. The operation of the polechanger, as above described, occurs at each break in the main-line circuit occasioned by the transmitting mechanism in the box from which the signal is being sent. It will thus be seen that with my improved system as thus far described a signal-as, for instance, a box number-may be transmitted over a mainline circuit to a station and therein recorded, and at the same time the same sig nal is being retransmitted to the boxes over the same line circuit. The signal received at the district station a and recorded therein may also be transmitted to and recorded in the main or central station a, as will now be described.

The central office a has located in it a relay c, controlling a local circuit, as will be described. The relay is connected in circuit with the register-controlling relays in the district station ct, the said central-station relay 0, as shown in Fig. 2, having one wire 0 connected toa pole-changerf connected to and controlling a main-line battery f, the said pole-changer being also connected by wire c to the armature c of the register-controlling relay 0 for No. 4 circuit. The operation of the pole-changer f will be more fully de scribed hereinafter in connection with Fig. 10. The armature c co-operates with a front stop 0, connected by wire c to the front stop 0 for the armature a of relay a in No. 3 circuit. The armature (L as shown in Fig. 2, is connected by wire 0 to the back step c for the armature e of an electro-magnet 0 located in a ground-circuit, as will be described. The armature e is connected by wire 0 to an electro-magnet 0 having the other end c of its coil connected, as shown in parallel with one end 0 of the coil of the relay 0, through a resistance 0 abreak-wheel (:Land pen c ,and a normally-closed switch 0 In order that the circuit for the relay 0 in the central oflice may be closed independent of the metallic-circuit relays a in Yo. 3 circuit and relay 0 for No. a circuit, I have provided a normally-open shunt around the said relays, the shunt for the relay 0 consisting of the wires 0 0 and a normally-open switch and the shunt for the relay a consisting of wires e e and normally-open switch 0 \V hen a signal or box number is sent from any box in a district-as, for instance, from box 23-the main line connecting the district station a with the central station a is opened by the armature c1 of the relay a moving out of contact with its front stop 0 and the relay 0 in the main station is demagnetized, permitting its armature f (see Fig. 10) to be moved by its retractile spring f so as to close a local circuit containing a recording-register f upon which the signal is recorded in the central station. In this manner the signal or box number transmitted from any box on one circuit is automatically recorded at both the district station and at the central ofiice or station.

The metallic district circuit may be opened and closed at each box by any suitable transmitting device, preferably by a break-wheel (Z of any usual or well-know11 construction, the said break-wheel, as represented in Fig.

2, being provided with a hub d, fast on a shaft (1 but electrically separated therefrom by insulation (Z The break-wheel (Z has cooperating with it a pen cl, forming a terminal for the main line a and, as herein represented, the hub (Z' of the break-wheel has cooperating with it a pen or brush (1 to which the line-wire a is connected, the break-wheel d forming the terminal for the main line (1 In order to enable the signal or box number to be received at the district and main stations in case of a break in the main line or metallic circuit, I have provided each box with, preferably, two additional signal-trausmitting devices or break-wheels cl d pr0-- vided with the same number of teeth as the break-wheel (Z and designed to be rotated simultaneously with the break-wheel d. The break-Wheels (Z (1 may be simultaneously rotated withthe brealewheel (Z, preferably, as herein shown, by mounting the said breakwheels on a cylinder or sleeve (Z fast on the shaft (Z but electrically separated therefrom by insulation d. The break-wheels, as shown, are made smaller than the break-wheel (Z, and are provided with raised teeth, with which cooperate pens or brushes (Z (1, respectively. The pen or brush (Z is connected by wire (1 to the line-wire a and the pen or brush (1 by wire (1 to the other line-wire (L The sleeve (Z of conducting material has co-operating with it a brush or pen (Z electrically connected to the ground (Z as herein represented, (see Fig. 2,) by a wire (Z arms (Z (1 forming one member of a normally-closed switch located in the box a, the co-operating member of which is a metallic plug b secured to or forming part of the box-door Z1 (see Fi 4,) the arm (Z being connected by wire (1 to the ground. The teeth of the signal-transmitting, or break wheels (Z d are arranged with relation to each other and to the teeth on the main signal-wheel (Z, so that the circuits operated by said break-wheels are actuated in successionthat is, the teeth on the breakwheel (Z engage with and leave the pen (Z to break the main-line metallic circuit before the teeth on the break-wheel cl engage the pen or brush (Z and the teeth on the break-wheel d engage with and leave the pen (Z before the teeth on the break-wheel (l engage the pen (1 The pen (1, joined by wire (Z to the wire (1. may be supposed to be connected to the right of the line or metallic circuit, and the pen (Z joined by wire (Z to wire a", maybe supposed to be connected to the left of the line or metallic circuit. It will be seen that when the transmitting-shaft d is rotated three distinct and independent paths for the signal are closed in succession at the transmitting mechanism from which the signal is being sent. The metallic circuit constitutes path No. 1 and is controlled by the break-wheel (Z. The

left of the line or metallic circuit (represented by wire a forms path No. 2, which is controlled by the break-wheel d, and the right of the line represented by the wire III) a forms path No 3, controlled by the break wheel (1. Normally but one of the paths referred to is in operative condition at,

the district stationnamely, path No. 1 or the metallic circuit. If the metallic circuit should become broken on either sideor line, the metallic-circuit relay 60 would be demagnetized and the local circuit containing the metallic-circuit register would be closed, which fact would be made known to the operator or fireman on duty at the district station by a prolonged signal or continuous mark on the paper, the register continuing to run until its local circuit was broken by opening the switch a. As soon as the operator in the district station is thus notified that the main-line circuit is broken, he immediately connects both sides of the line or metallic circuit with the ground at the district station. The line-wires (110, may be connected to the ground at the district station, as herein shown, by means of switches (Z 61 preferably connected together by an actuating device, (shown-as a bar or rod d so as to be operated simultaneously by one movement of the said actuating device, the

- said switches being joined, as shown, by wires (1 61 to the the line-wires a a respectively. The switches (Z 01 co-operate with contact studs or terminals c1 01 to which is connected one end 01 of the coil of the relaymagnet 0 the other end (1 of the said coil being connected to one pole of a battery (1 having its other pole connected to the ground al In order that this feature of my invention may be more readily comprehended, let it be supposed that the line-wire a is broken at the point indicated by C1 In this case the box-signal will be received at the district station over the line a it being supposed that the operator has thrown the switches d d onto their co-operating studs or terminals (1 d The circuit over the line wire a may be traced as follows, viz: from the positive pole of the battery (I by wire c1 relay-magnet 0, wire 61 to terminal studs c1 d The line a being broken,'the current cannot go over that line, but will pass through the switch (1 wire c1 wires a and (Z to pen (Z and when in therevolution of the main shaft (1 the teeth on the signal-wheel (1 come in contact with the pen (Z the current will pass through the wheel ('1 sleeve 01 to pen (Z thence by wire (Z arm (1 plug W9, arm

d, and wire (Z to ground d at the box,v

thence by the said ground back to the negative pole of the battery (1 at the district station. hen the operator throws the switches (Z (1 at the district'station, the ground circuit is closed at the said station and is normally open at the boxes on the circuit.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that I the wires (Z c1 and switches (V (Z practically form acontinua tion of the main lines (L7 a and that the main-line battery or is located between the main lines a a and connected in multiple therewith. in order that one ground-tap may be used to receive the signals from both line-wires a a the mainline battery of has connected in circuit with it a switch d located between the battery and one of the'line-wires herein shown as the wire a the said switch being shown as connected by wire d to one pole of the battery, and as normally in contact with a contact- Stud 61 joined by wire (Z to the line-wine a The switch c1 is preferably secured to the actuating device or bar d and is moved to open the main battery-circuit and render it inoperative when the switches 01 d are moved to cut in the ground-tap.

WVhen a box is operated, as will be described, the ground circuit over the unbroken side of the metallic circuit is closed at one of the break-wheels d CV, as described, and at each closure the relay 0 which I shall hereinafter designate as the ground-tap relay is energized, thereby attracting its armature 0 at each closure of the ground circuit. At each attraction of the armature e the mainline circuit between the district station and thecentralstationisopened,therebyactuating the register at the saidcentral station' and recording therein the number of the box from which the signal has been sent. At each attraction of the armature c the local circuit in the district station containing the open line-register magnet 01 and a tap-bell magnet d is closed at the terminals {Z (1 one terminal, as 61 being connected by wire cl to one pole of. the battery W, the other pole of which is joined by wire (1 to the registermagnet al connected by wire 61 to the bellmagnet d which is joined by wire @1 to the other terminal (Z If the break in the metallic circuit should occur on the right of the line-that is, in the wire (L -the signal would be transmitted from the box by the breakwheel (1 over the leftof the line, that is, over the wire a It will thus be seen that when the operator in the district station throws the switches d (Z into contact with the studs or terminals (Z d both sides of the line are connected with the ground-tap and the signal will be received over the unbroken line-wire. By this feature of my invention I have increased the chances of receiving a signal or box number threefold, and have thereby increased the efficiency of the fire-alarm service threefold.

In order that the mechanism of each firealarm box may be kept in good mechanical and electrical condition, free from dust, rust, &c., the mechanism of each box should be operated within certain intervals of time, for it frequently happens with the fire-alarm service now commonly in use that some of the boxes are not operated fora very considerable length of time, and when called upon to perform their work are found wanting, owingto the poor electrical and mechanical condition of the mechanism within the box.

In order to maintain the signal service in good electrical and mechanical condition, means are provided, as will be described, whereby the box-number or fire-signal may be transmitted from any box on a circuit to the district station by the same signal-wheel which transmits the fire-signal without givlng an alarm of fire. This feature of my invention may be accomp1ished,as herein shown, by means of a third wire or auxiliary circuit provided with a battery E, having connected to one of its poles a third wire e, and having its other pole joined, as herein shown, to the metallic-circuit battery a" by Wire 8. The

wire e, (indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2,) includes in it a relay 6 which I prefer to designate as the test-relay, and, as herein shown, the wire e alsoincludes in it a circuitl) reaker or key 6 which may be of any desired or usual construction, and which may be used for a purpose as' will be described. The third wire e is electrically connected to each box on the circuit, it being shown in Fig. 2 as connected by wire a, forming practically a part of the third wire, to one member or spring-arm e of a normally-open switch located in the box, the other member or spring arm e of which is joined by wire 8 to one member or terminal of a normally-open circuit-controller, the said terminal being shown as a pen or brush e provided, as shown, with a contact-point c, the other member or terminal being formed bya pen or brush (1, provided with a contact-point e The springarms 6" e of the switch in the box are normally held open or separated from each other by a plug 6 of insulating material fastened to the inside of the box-door. The box a is also provided, as herein shown, with a second normally-open switch or circuit-controller composed of spring-arms e a, normally separated by an insulating-plug e fastened to the box door, the arm e being shown as connected by wire 6 to one line-wire a and the arm 6 being joined by wire (2 to the other line-wire a Normally the box-door is locked or otherwise securely closed, and can only be opened by a fireman or other duly-authorized person, and when the said door is closed the test-circuit is opened at the box, and thus rendered inoperative.

In order to transmit a test-signal from a box to the district station the door I) of the said box is opened, and the insulating-plugs e e are withdrawn, and the arms 6' e e e of the normally-open circuit-controllers spring together, and the metallic plug b is also withdrawn, and the arms (Z (Z remain apart, which opens the ground-tap in the box being tested. Then the spring-arms e e and e e are closed within the box, the thirdwire circuit is closed between the arms 6 e, and a shunt-circuit is established for the metallic circuit around the fire-alarm signaltransmitting wheel (1 by the arms 8 e, which shunt-circuit may be traced as follows, viz: from the positive pole of the metallic-circnit battery a, by wire a through the relays a and b to the wire a" in the box, thence by spring-arms e e to wire a at the point marked 2,Fig. 2, thencethrough the polarized magnets back over the wire a to the wire c1 switch (Z wire (Z to the negative pole of the battery a". In this manner the metallic circuit through the box 23 being tested is maintained intact, so that a fire-alarm signal may be simultaneously transmitted to the district station from any other box on the circuit, at the same time box 23 is being tested.

The test-signal or box number is transmitted by means of the fire-alarm transmittingwheel d of the box, which in its revolution permits the contact-point e on the pen (1" to come in contact with the contact-point e on the pen e at each break in the wheel (I, thereby closingthe test-circuit at the box. When the test-circuit is closed in the box, as ,described, the circuit from the battery E, as herein shown, may flow over two paths, including the right and left of the metallic-line circuit respectively. The path over the right of the line may be traced as follows, viz: from the positive pole of the battery E, by wire 0, through the test-relay e branch wire a, to spring-arm e in the box, thence by spring-arm 6, wire 6 pen c contact-points c e pen dflwire a to point marked 2 in Fig. 2, thence by Wire 6 spring-arms e e, wire a, to line-wire a over the said line-wire, through the relays a and b to the metallic circuit battery a, through a portion of the said battery, thence by wire 6 to the negative pole of the battery E. The path for the current over the left of theline maybe traced as follows, viz: from the positive pole of the battery E, by-wire 6, through the test-relay e branch wire 6, to spring-arm e in the box, thence by spring-arm e, wire a, pen e contact-points e 6 pen (1", wire a to point marked 2, thence through the magnet-coils (1, over the left line-wire a to wire (W, thence by switch (Z wire d, through a portion of the battery a, thence by wire e'-to negative pole of the battery E. In practice the current will take the path of least resistance, which is normally over the left of the line, owing to the high resistance of the relays a and b in the right of the line. When the test-circuit is closed at the contactpoints 6 e which occurs at each break in the transmitting-wheel cl, the test-relay e is energized, and its armature e is attracted and brought in contact with a front stop 6 forming one terminal of a local circuit, the armature 6 as represented, constituting the other terminal of the said circuit. The local circuit just referred to contains within it a register-magnet 8 having its armature e provided with a recording pen, stylus, or device e co-operating with a register-tape e on a reel 6 upon which tape the box number or signal transmitted is recorded. The local cir' cuit also contains within it a tap-bell e of any usual construction, having its magnet e connected in multiple with the register-mag net e The bell-magnet e as shown, has one end 6 0f its coil connected to one pole (shown as the positive pole of the battery or) and its other Wire e connected to the armature-spring e co-operating with the back stop 6 joined by wire 6 to a wire 6 ,jOl116d to the test-register magnet e and to the front stop a, the Wire e including in it a switch e. The register-magnet e is connected by wire e to the wire 6 The armature e of the test-relay e is joined by wire e to the negative pole of the battery a The local circuit containing the test-register magnet e and the bell-magnet e is closed each time the test-relay e is energized, which occurs when the test-circuit is closed by the engagement of the contact-points e e in the box. being tested, and at each closure of the local circuit the test-register magnet e is energized and a record made upon the recording-strip 6 and at the same time the belle is struck, giving an audible signal, by which the operator at the district station may know what boxis being tested. It will be noticed that the fire-signal wheel (Z transmits identically the same signal over the auxiliary circuit that it does over the main circuit, and in this way absolute knowledge of the condition of the fire-alarm-transmitting mechanism is obtained by the test-signal, for the test-signal will reveal any imperfections of the fire-signal. The register for the test-magnet 0 will preferably be an independent register from the metallic-circuit register, and its shaft 6 will be revolved by an independent motor mechanism, for a purpose as will be described.

The operator at the district station may wish to communicate with the operator testing the box, and as one means by which this result may be accomplished I have shown the box as provided with an indicating device, shown as a pointer e co-operating with a scale 6 on a dial 6 the said pointer being secured to or forming part of the armature of a magnet-coil, (not shown,) but after the manner of the ordinary galvanometer, the said coil being included in the main-line or metallic circuit. As herein represented, the indicator-coil is included in the main line a and the main circuit being normally closed the pointer normally stands at rest in register with the highest graduation on the scale. It now the operator at the district station desires to communicate with the person testing the box, the operator intermittingly interposes a resistance R into the metallic circuit, which may be efiiected by means of a makeand-break key 6 of any usual construction, it being located, as herein shown, in the line a in the district station. As the key 6 is opened and closed the resistance R is cut in and out of the main-line circuit, thereby diminishing the strength of the current of the battery it and causing the indicator-pointer to oscillate over the scale, and the person at the box is thus notified that the operator at the district station wishes to communicate with him. In this case a telephone=transmitter e and receiver 6 are connected in circuit at the box, and a telephone e transmitter 6 and condenser e are connected in circuit at the district station. The transmitter e and telephone a, as herein represented, are connected by suitable wires 6 e to contact-plates e5 6 on opposite sides of an insulating-plug e, which in practice is inserted between the spring-arms e e to connect the telephone and transmitter in circuit at the box. The condenser a, telephone e and transmitter e are connected by suitable wires e to contact-strips e on opposite sides of an insulating-plug 6 which may be coupled into the test-circuit by inserting the said plug between normally-open contactarms 6 e e 6 the arms 6 6 being joined to the line-wires a a respectively, and the arms 6 6 being connected to the third wire 6. In order to establish communication, the third-wire circuit, normally open in the box between the contact points 6 e must be completed, and this is accomplished, as herein shown, by establishing a telephonic short (-ircuit between the third wire and a metalliccircuit line-wire, effected by interposing a condenser a between the third wire and one of the metallic-circuit line-wires, one side of the said condenser being connected, as shown, to the spring-arm efland the other to thelinewire a By inserting the insulated plug 6 between the spring-arms e e the operator at the box can talk over either side of the line, while the operator atthe district station may talk over one side of the line, as a by interposing his plug 6 between the arms cf c. Then the plug 6 is insertedbetween either set of contact-arms e e e 6 the third wire 6, between the said contact-arms and the battery E, is opened by means of the k'ey 6 to prevent short-circuiting of the telephone at the district station.

To more completely increase the efficiency of the serviced prefer that the fireman or other operator, commonly known as the floorman, in the district station should be obliged to report to a like person or floorman on duty at the central station. This result may be accomplished by assigning to each district station a distinguishing number and requiring that the said number should be transmitted over the line connecting the district station with the central station regularly at predetermined intervals of timesay, for instance, every twenty minutes. I have herein represented the number 22 as the check-number, which is to be transmitted to the central station from the district station, and for sake of distinction I prefer to designate the said number as the floormans number.

The floornians number or signal is received at the central station upon a register f, (see Fig. 10,) operated by the armature f of an electro-magnet f located in a local circuit controlled by the armature f of a relay f,

.the said armature being joined by wire f to one coil of the magnet f the other coil of which, as herein shown, is connected by wire f to the magnet f of a tapper-bell f, the magnet), as shown,being connected by-wire f to one pole of the battery f the other pole of which is connected by wire f to a backstop f for the relay f. The armature f, as herein shown, co-operates with a front stop f, so located as to prevent the armature f from making contact with the pole-piece of the relay f so that the said armature maybe drawn back against its stop f by its spring f when the current passing through the relayf is weakened, as by the interposition of the resistance 0 in the line circuit connecting the district station with the central station. The resistance 0 may be cut in and out of the main-line circuit joining the dis trict and central stations by first opening the switch 0 and then rotating the notched wheel or disk representing the check or tloormans number. The notched wheel or disk referred to is herein marked 0 in Fig. 2, and in practice the said disk or wheel may be permanently mounted on the shaft (L21; or it may be detachable therefrom and may be placed thereon by the doorman at the time he sends in his signal to the central station. It desired, the wheel or disk 0 may be mounted upon a separate motor mechanism from that which rotates the shaft e \Vhen the floormans number is received in the central station and recorded upon the register f, I prefer to have the operator at the central station stamp or otherwise indicate upon the tape of the register f the time at which the message from the doorman was re ceived. It will thus be seen that the floorman at the district station is under surveillance, as it were, for if his number does not appear on the tape at the central station at the predetermined intervals of time a record of the fact that he was remissin this particular duty stands against him, and at the same time, it the operator does not stamp 011 the tape the time at which the message was received, a record of the fact stands against him. The 1 ime-stamp may be of any usual or well-kn own construction.

I have previously described how a signal or box number transmitted from an y box on one circuit connected to one district station may be retransmitted over the same metallic circuit and overall the other metallic circuits connected to the said district station. In some instances it may be desired to extend this feature of my invention to all the circuits in the system, so that the signal from any box of one district circuit may be retransmitted not only over the same circuit and the other circuits in that particular district,but also over everycireuitin everyother district included in the system.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a diagram of circuits illustrating two districts, as connected to the central station, by which this feature of my invention may be illustrated. This feature of my invention may be accomplished, as represented in Fig. 10, by iuterposing 1n the line-circuit connecting the district station with the central station a polarized electromagnetf herein shown as included in the line-wire c, and connecting the armature f of the said magnet and a stop f for the same in a normally-open branch of the circuit in which is located the pole changer magnets (1 the armature f being connected by wire f to the wire C628 and the stop f being joined by wiref to the wire (L29.

The main line between the district and central stations has located in it, within the central station, a pole-changer f, connected to a local battery f and governed by apolechanger magnet f, one wire f of which is connected to one terminal f of a circuit-controller, the other terminal f of which is connected in circuit with the pole'changing magnetsf of all the line-circuits connecting the district stations with the central station, the terminal f as represented, being joined by wire f to one pole of a local battery f the other pole of which is joined by wire f to the pole-changing magnet f which is connected by wire f to the 'pole'changing magnet f.

The pole-ehanging magnets a controlling the pole-changers in the individual circuits of the second district, are operated to automatically reverse the current in the said district station by a second polarized magnetf included in the line-wire c for said second district, the armature f of said polarized magnet being connected by wiref to the wire (L28, and a front stop f for said, armature being joined by wire f" to the wire a. The pole-changing magnets a in the individual circuits of all the districts are similarly governed by a polarized electromagnet f The Cil'Cllit-COl'ltlOlllDg device located in the central station and governing the circuit of the pole-changing magnets f f may and preferably will be of the same construction as the circuit-controller located in the district station, it consisting of a cam disk or wheel f rotated by a spring, weight, or other suitable mechanism (not shown) and normally held stationary by a detent or fingerf on a lever f, having secured to it an armature f of an electro-magnet f in a local circuit controlled by the relay 0. The detent or fingerf, as shown, engages a stud or projection f" on the cam-diskf". The relay c, as shown in Fig. 10, has its armature f in contact with its pole'piece, so that the armature will be withdrawn by its springf 'only in case of a deadbreak in the line-circuit and not by diminution in strength of the current. The armature f formsone terminal of the local circuit, the other terminal of which is formed, as shown, by the backstopf". The armature f and back stopf' constitute the terminals of the local circuit containing the eleetro-magnet f, and they also, as represented, form the terminals of a second local circuit containing a registeringmagnet f governing the operation of a register or recording mechanism f, upon which is received the signal made by a dead-break in the line-circuit. As represented in Fig. 10, the armature f is connected by wires f f to one pole of a local battery f having its other pole connected by wire f to the register-magnet f, joined by wires f f to the back-stop f, thus completing the local circuit for the register-magnet f.

The local circuit for the controlling-magnet f 44 may be traced as follows, viz: from armature f by wires f f f to one pole of a local batteryf thence by wire f to magnet f, thence by wires f f to back stop f. The operation of this feature of my invention may now be readily comprehended. Let it be supposed that a box in first circuit of district No. 2 has been pulled or operated to send in a fire-alarm signal. At each break in the metalliccircuit in the district the main line between the district station No. 2 and the central station is opened, thereby demagnetizing the relay-magnet c and permitting its armature f to be drawn back into contact with its back-stopf to close the local circuits containing the register-magnet f and the controlling-magnetf. The register-magnet f records the signal or box number at the district station, while the controlling-magnet releases the disk or wheel f and permits it to revolve and cl se the local circuit containing the pole-changing magnets f 'f thereby operating the pole-changers f in the main lines, connecting the central station with the district station. YVhen the polechangers f are operated by their magnets, the current of battery f in each main line is reversed, and at each reversal of the battery f the polarized electro-magnet f in each main line between the district stations and the central station is operated, and the armature of each polarized electro magnet is broughtinto contact with the stop f thereby closing a short circuit for the terminals (L (L31 of the pole-changing magnets in each district station. The short-circuiting of the terminals a (1 energizes the pole-changing magnets 0. and operates the pole-changer in each district circuit to reverse the current of the metallic-circuit battery of, and thereby operate the polarized bells a in the boxes. The current of the battery f in the main line connecting the central station with the district station in whose district the box was pulled or operated is reversed, as well as the current of the batteries f in the other main lines between the stations, and the reversal of the said current does not interfere with the electromechanical circuit-controller governing the pole-changer circuit-terminals a 61, in the station of the district from which the signal was transmitted, but on the other hand serves as an auxiliary for thatparticular station in case the electro-mechanical circuitcontroller should become inoperative. It will thus be seen that a signal or box number transmitted from any box in any circuit of a district may be automatically repeated from the central station over the metallic circuits of all the districts.

In order that a chief officer or other dulyauthorized person provided with a key to the boxes may ascertainwhether or not a firesignal has been sent from any box within his district, I have provided the circuit of the pole-changing magnet 0. of each district with a second or auxiliary set of normallyopen terminals 8 8', connected by wires 3 s to the circuit-wires a a The normallyopen circuit-terminals s s are designed to be closed by a break-wheel or transmitting device s, detachably mounted on the shaft e of the test-register, so that when the officer pulls in his test-signal the revolution of the shaft 2 of the test-register in the district station will cause the signal wheel or disk 8 to intermittingly close and open the circuitterminals 8 s, and therebyenergize the magnet 66260 and operate the pole-changer a and thus sound the polarized bell a in the box. The polarized bell a will be sounded as often as the current is reversed, which will be as often as there are projections or teeth on the disk or wheel 3 In practice there will be located in the central station as many wheels 3 as there are boxes in the district, each wheel having on it a box-number, and preferably after each alarm of fire the floorman orother officer will place upon the shaft 6 a wheel 5 corresponding to the number of the box last operated to transmit a fire-alarm. V

In order to avoid confusion in the drawings, the shaft 6 upon which the break-wheel s is mounted, is shown detached from the testregister in Figs. 2 and 12.

The lirealarm box a employed in connection with myimproved system, possesses novel features of construction, and is preferably made substantially as shown in Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive. The box a preferably made of metal, contains within it the break-wheel shaft d and a suitable motor mechanism for operating said shaft, the said mechanism, as herein shown, consisting of a segmental gear h, (see Fig. 6,) mounted on a shaft h, upon which is mounted a normally-wound-u p spring W, the said segmental gear meshing with a pinion k on the shaft (1 as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 6. The segmental gear h, as herein shown, is connected by a link it to one end of a bar or rod 71. having'its other end preferably fastened to a hook h extended through a slot h in a partition h The'pull-bar if, as shown,is provided with a sloth, through which is extended a hook h normally resting at the bottom of the slot it".

through a slot h in the partition hiand the slot 71 is made of sufficient length to cause the breakwheel shaft (1 to make one complete revolution, whereas the slot h is preferably made three times as long to enable the pull-bar The hook h is extended 7L7 to be moved suflicient to cause the breakwheelshaft (Z to be revolved three times,so that when a fire-alarm is pulled in, three rounds will be transmitted to the district and central stations, whereas when a test-signal is pulled in only one round will be transmitted to the district station. The door 19 is provided with a frangible portion or section, here in represented as a glass plate or pane 72- in its lower portion, preferably secured to the door by a clamping-frame h, fastened tothe back of the door by suitable clamping-screws h the said frame being readily removable, when the door is opened, to permit of a new pane or plate of glass to be placed in the door. When the door is closed and locked, access to the hook 7L may be had by breaking the glass h and a fire-alarm signal may be transmitted from the box. \Vhen the door is closed, the hook 7L5 is at the bottom of the slot h, and when the hook h is pulled down the segmental gear h is moved downward without revolving the transmitting-shaft (P, as in firealarm boxes now commonly constructed, and when the hook 7L8 is released the spring Wrestores the said segmental gear to its normal position and produces a uniform rotation of the shaft (1 the speed of rotation being controlled by the usual escapemenewheel h and pawl h The box a is also preferably provided with an audible signal, (shown as a vibrating bell h having its hammer 72. secured to an escapement-pawl 71. controlling the operation of a normally-wound-up motor mechanism W of any usual or well-known construction. The escapement-pawl 72 is itself governed by a releasing device, rendered operative by the breaking of the glass 7i or by the opening of the door. The releasing device, as herein shown, (see Fig. 7,) consists of a lever 7L extended through a slot h in the partition 7L9 and fast on a shaft 7L having bearings, as herein shown, in lugs or brackets 7W, fastened to the partition h the said shaft having fast on it a crank or arm h to which is pivoted one end of a rod 7L extended up through a slotted lug or bracket 71/ secured to the partition, the said rod having secured to or forming part of it an enlarged head 71., upon which rests an arm or rod 7%, pivoted to a bracket or lug 7L secured to a stationary support in the box, the said arm or red normally standing in the path of movement of an arm or projection 76 on a rockshaft 71., on which the esea 'iement-pawl is mounted. The rod 72?" is normally pressed forward, as herein shown, by a spring 7L In operation the detent or arm h is placed upon the enlarged head and is engaged by the rod or arm It, the rod or lever h at such time being raised into its elevated position, and the said lever is maintained in its ele vated position by closing the door. hen the glass is broken, the lever W falls, and turning the crank-shaft 72/ removes the head 78"" from engagement with the lever h, and permitting the escapement-pawl to be vitest-register shaft a brated by its motor mechanism, thereby sounding the bell 72 which I shall designate as the street-bell.

Referring to Fig. 8. I have shown the springarms e e e e cl (1 previously referred to in connection with Fig. 2, as secured to an insulating-support h, the said arms b ing in line with holes or openings 91 77, n in the partition,and the cooperating plugs e e (Z are shown as fastened to an insulatingsupport h secured to the door.

As shown in Fig. 2, the main line between the district station and the central station may be provided with a normally-open branch around the relay c which branch is shown as composed of a normally-open switch 3 connected by wire .9 to the line-wire c and a contact-stud s joined by wire 5 to the line-wire 0 By closing the switch 3 the armature c of the relay 0 is cut out of circuit and the said relay may be adjusted or otherwise repaired.

Another feature of my invention consists in a novel system of identifying ornumbering the signal-transmitting or fire-alarm boxes, whereby each district of the system, each circuit in the district, and each box in the circuit is made known over all the circuits in the district, so that when any particular box is operated to send in a fire-alarm signal the fire may be substantially positively located by a person atan y other box in another circuit. In accordance with this feature of myinvention the first number of the signal-transmitting mechanism will represent the district in which the said transmitting mechanism is located, thcsecond number will represent the circuit, and the total number the box in the said circuit. This feature of my invention will be more readily comprehended by referring to Fig. 1, wherein it will be seen that all the boxes or signal-transmitting mechanisms in the district 2, which may be supposed to be the second district, there being no first district represented in said figure, have their numbers commence with two (2) and that the next figure of the number corresponds with the number of the circuit in which the said box is located, and that all the figures comprising thenumber indicate the box. This feature of my invention is of special importance in a system in which the alarm is not sounded on the outside bells, but is received in the various engine and hose houses. For instance, let it be supposed that box 231 has been operated. Any oiiicer going to a box in the second district say, for instance, box 262to ascertain if a fire-alarm has been given will pull in his test-signal and the nu inber 31 may be struck on the hell a on the box 262, the doorman in the district station having placed the wheel numbered 31 on the The officer being in the second district knows that the number 31 means that box 231 or box 31 in the second district has been operated to send in an alarm of tire. The box number 231 is received at the central station. a and is transmitted to all the other district stations, as a? a and to all the boxes in the said districts by the polechanger-controlling device, and if an officer should happen to be at any box of the districts 3 4 at that time he would receive the entire box number; but in order that an officer who may go to a box after the signal has been repeated from the central station may know from what district the last signal was sent the floorman in the stations at a may place upon the shaft of the test-register in said stations a wheel or disk having upon it the whole box number 231, or the said disk or wheel may have upon it only the number 2, which would signify'to the officer making the test that an alarm of fire had been sent from the second district.

The door b of the fire-alarm box may be divided into two parts, (marked and 91 in Fig. 3,) and each part may be separately locked, so that the upper part 90 may be opened without disturbing the lower part. It will be noticed that when the testsignal is operated thefire-alarm transmitting-wheel is employed to send in the said test signal and the said wheel and its co-operating pen (1 are kept free from dust,andgood electricalcontact is thus always maintained between the said wheel and pen, so that the danger of false signals, which might be caused by dust or dirt on the wheel or pen, is avoided.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that when the switch 0 1s closed the resistance 0 and the break-wheel c and pen 0 are in a shunt-circuit for the main line.

In practice all-the pole-changing magnets 11 in the district station will be connected in series with the battery a the point at which the magnet-wires are connected being represented by 7 S in Fig. 2.

In order that an officer at a box may notify the floorman at the district-station that he wishes to communicate with him by telephone, I have provided each box with a normallyopen circuit controller or key to included in the test-circuit, the said key, as shown in Fig. 2, being connected to the line-wire a and cooperating with a terminal w, joined by wire Q02 to the wire a. When the officer at the box desires to notify the floorman at the dis trict station that he Wishes to talk with him, he depresses the key to close the third-wire circuit for the test-relay 6 thereby operating the test-register and ringing the hell 6.

The circuit controlled by the key to may be traced as follows, viz: from the positive pole of the battery E by wires 6 and 20 to the terminal to, thence by the key to and wire a over the left of the line to wire at, thence by switch d wire 01 battery of, wire a, to the negative pole of the battery E.

I do not herein claim, broadly, a signaling system in which a single signal-wheel is employed to transmit its signal without additions thereto, subtractions therefrom, repetitions thereof, or changes in the character of its impulses, over two different paths for two different purposes, as the same forms the subj cot-matter of another application, Serial No. 413,154, filed by me November 27, 1891.

I claim 1. In a signaling system, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signal-transmitting mechanism located therein, a polarized bell in said circuit at the transmitting mechanism, a polechanger in said metallic circuit, an electromagnet to operate it, a local circuit in which said magnet is located, a receiving mechanism operated by the transmitting mechanism, a shaft, and a detachable signal-wheel mounted on said shaft and operated by the receiving'mechanism to actuate the pole-changer in the metallic circuit, whereby any one of a series of signal-wheels may operate to retransmit to the transmitting mechanism any one of a series of signals, substantially as described.

2. In a system for transmitting signals, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit provided with one or more signal-transmitting mechanisms, at main-line battery in multiple with the metallic circuit, a ground-tap normally disconnected from themain line and provided with a single relay and battery, and a switch to conmeet both sides of the line with the groundtap, whereby a single relay may receive the signal transmitted over either side of the line, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a metallic circuit, of a signal-transmitting mechanism located therein and consisting ,of three independent signal mechanisms of like significance or character arranged to operate in succession, as described, a normally-open ground-tap at the transmitting mechanisms, adapted to be connected with both sides of the line when the transmitting mechanism is operated, a normallyclosed circuit controller in the said ground-tap, a relay in the metallic circuit responsive to interruptions in the metallic cir cuit, a ground-tap at the receiving end of the metallic circuit, normally disconnected from the metallic circuit and provided with two terminals, a single relay in the ground-tap, a battery in the ground-tap, and switches to connect both sides of the metallic circuit with the terminals of the ground-tap, substantially as described.

4. In a fire-alarm system for transmitting signals, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz a district station, one or more metallic circuits extended from said station and provided with one or more signaltransmitting mechanisms, a relay in the district station included in the metallic circuit,

a local circuit in' the said station including a signal-receiving instrument, an armature for said relay controlling said local circuit, a central station, a normally-closed main line connecting the said stations and controlled by the armature of the relay in the district station, a relay in the central station included in the line connecting the said stations, a local circuit in the central station including a signal-receiving instrument, and an armature for the central-station relay controlling the local circuit in the said central station, a ground-tap in the district station including a relay, an armature for said ground-tap relay normally included in the main-line circuit connecting the stations, and means to connect the ground-tap with both sides of the metallic circuit, substantially as described.

5. In a fire-alarm system, the combination, with a central station, of a series of district stations, each having connected to it one or more district circuits provided with one or more signal-transmitti n g mechanisms, a main line connecting each district station with the central station, a receiving mechanism in the district circuits, a receivingmechanism in the central station responsive to the operation of a signal-transmitting mechanism in a district circuit, a second receiving-instrument in the district station located in a normally-open ground-tap and adapted when operated to change the condition of the main line between the district and central stations, and means to connect the said ground-tap with both sides of a district circuit, substantially as described.

6. In a system for transmitting signals, the combination of the following instrumentalt ties, viz: a metallic circuit provided with one or more signal-transmitting mechanisms, a'

pole-changer in said circuit, an electro-magnet to operate said pole-changer to produce reversals of the current in the metallic circuit, a local circuit in which the said electro-magnet is located, circuit-terminals for said local circuit, an independent circuit-controller to operate said terminals at each break in the main-line circuit, an electro-magnet to govern the said controller, a local circuit in which the controller-magnet is located, a relay in the metallic circuit, and an armature for said relay controlling the local circuit containing the circuit-terminal-controlling magnet operating the said magnet to operate the said circuit-controller at each break in the metallic circuit, whereby the signal transmitted is repeated over the metallic circuit, substantially as described.

7. Ina fire-alarm system, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signal-transmitting mechanism therein, a relay in said circuit operated .by the transmitting mechanism, normallyopen circuit-terminals co-operating with thesign al-transmitting mechanism and to one of which the metallic circuit is connected, a third Wire connected to the other terminal, and an independent relay in the third wire, to operate substantially as described.

8. The combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a district station, a metallic circuitextended therefrom, a signal-transmitting mechanism included in said circuit, a relay in the metallic circuit responsive to the said signal mechanism, a second signal-transmitting mechanism normally disconnected from the metallic circuit and adapted to be connected thereto when thefirst signal mechanism is operated, a ground connection at the transmitting mechanism for said second signal mechanism, a ground-tap at the district station normally disconnected from the metallic circuit, means to connect the groundtap with the metallic circuit, a relay in the ground-tap, a central station, a main line connecting the central station with the district station, and armatures for the metallic-circuit relay and the ground-tap forming part of the main line between the said stations, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the following instrunientalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signaltransmitting mechanism consisting of a main shaft (1 a signal-wheel (I, connected in the me tallic circuit, a signal-wheel d, mounted on the shaft to transmit its signal after the wheel (Z, a pen (Z joined to one line-wire of the metallic circuit and normally electrically disconnected from the wheel d, a signal-wheel d mounted on the shaft (Z to transmit its signal after the wheel (1, a pen (Z joined to the otherline-wire of the metallic circuit, agroundtap electrically connected to the signal-Wheels d LP, a circuit-controller for said ground-tap, a relay in the metallic circuit responsive to the signal-wheel (Z, a ground-tap at the receiving end of the metallic circuit normally disconnected from said circuit, a relay in the groundtap, and a switch to connect the ground-tap to the metallic circuit, substantially as described.

10. In a fire alarm system,the combination of the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signal-transmitting mechanism included in said circuit, a third or auxiliary wire, circuit-terminals in the transmitting mechanism included in the metallic circuit and third wire, a normally-open circuitcontroller at the transmitting mechanism, included in the third-wire circuit, a second normally-open circuit-controller at the transmitting mechanism, controlling a shunt-circuit for the metallic circuit, as described, and a receiving mechanism in the third-wire circuit, substantially as described.

11. The combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signaltransmitting mechanism located therein, a normally-open circuit-controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt-circuit around said transmitting mechanism, an independent signal mechanism normally disconnected from the metallic circuit and adapted to be connected thereto when the first signal mechanism is operated, a ground connection at the transmitting mechanism for said second signal -transmitting mechanism, a normallyclosed circuit-controller in said ground connection, a relay in the metallic circuit, an independent ground-circuit at the receiving end of the metallic circuit, a relay therein, and a IIO IIS

switch to connect the 1 independent groundcircuit with the metallic circuit, substantially as described. I

12. The combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signaltransmitting mechanism located therein, a normally-open circuit-controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt-circuit around said transmitting mechanism, an independent signal mechanism normally disconnected from the metallic circuit and adapted to be connected thereto When the first signal mechanism is operated, a ground connection at the transmitting mechanism for said second signal transmitting mechanism, a normallyclo'sed circuit-controller in said ground connection, a third-wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit-terminals at the transmitting mechanism, connected to the metallic circuit and to the third-wire circuit, a normally-open circuitcontroller in the third-wire circuit, a relay in the meta1lic circuit, a relay in the third wire, an Independent ground tap or circuit,a relay therein, and means to connect the independent ground-circuit With the metallic circuit, substantially as described.

13. The combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signaltransmitting mechanism therein, a normallyopen circuit-controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt circuit around said mechanism, a third-Wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit-terminals connected to the metallic circuit and to the third-wire circuit, and a re:

lay in the third-wire 'circuitoperated by the transmitting mechanism, substantially as deby the transmitting mechanism, and means operated by the said relay to actuate the terminals of the pole-changer magnet and reproduce a signal at the transmitting mechanism, substantially as described.

15. The combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signal-- transmitting mechanism therein, a normallyopen circuit-controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt-circuit around said mechanism, a third-wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit-terminals connected to the metallic circuit and to the third-wire circuit, a condenser connected to the third wire and to the metallic circuit at the transmitting mechanism, a normally-open circuit-controller in the third-wire circuit at the transmitting mechanism', adapted to have coupled to it a telephone, as described, and normally-open contact-arms in the receiving-station, connected to the third wire and to the metallic circuit and adapted to have coupled to them a telephone,as described, and a circuit controller or keyin the third wire to prevent short-circuiting of the telephone at the receiving or district station, substantially as described.

16. The combination ofthe followiuginstrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signaltransmitting mechanism included therein, a relay in the metallic circuit located in a dis trict or receiving station, a relay in a central station responsive to change in current strength, a main-line circuit independentof the said metallic circuit connecting said relays, a shunt-circuit for said main line, a resistance e in said main-line shunt-circuit, a signal-transmitting mechanism in the mainline shunt in multiple with the resistance, and a switch in the main line in multiple with the signal-transmitting mechanism, substantially as described.

17. The combination of the followinginstrumalities, viz: a district station, one or more metallic circuits extended therefrom and provided each with a relayand a pole-changer, a local circuit containing an electro-magnet to operate said pole-changer, a central station, a main line connecting said central station to the district station, a polarized magnet in the line-wire, an armature for said polarized magnet included in the local circuit of the pole-changer magnet, a stop or terminal included in the local circuit and with which said armature co-operates to close said local circuit, a pole-changer in the main line, an electro-magnet to operate it, a local circuit in which. the main-line pole-changing magnet is located, normally-open circuit-terminals for said local circuit in the central station, a circuit-controller to operate the circuit-terminals in the central station, an electro-magnet to operate the circuit-controller, a local circuit in which said electro-magnet is located, a relay in the main line, and an armature for said relay governing the local circuit containing the circuit-controller-operating magnet,

substantially as described.

I, 18. The combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a district station, a metallic circuit extended therefrom, a signal-transmitting mechanism in said metallic circuit, a receiving-instrument in the district station, operated by interruptions in the metallic circuit, a central station, an independent main line connecting said stations, a receiving-instrument in the central station operated by interruptions in the main line connecting said stations, a resistance in the independent main line connecting the stations, a receiving-instrument in the central station operated by changes in the current strength of the main line, and a switch in the main line in multiple with the resistance, substantially as described.

19. The combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signaltransmitting mechanism located therein, a pole-changer in said metallic circuit, a third- Wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit-terminals connected to the third-Wire and metallic circuit and operated by the transmitting mechanism, a receiving-instrnment in the thirdwire circuit, controlled in its operation by the circuit-terminals at the transmitting mechanism, and means, substantially as described, operated by the receiving-instrument to actuate the polechanger in the metallic circuit, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

20. The combination ofthefollowinginstrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signaltransmitting mechanism therein, a third-wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit-terminals connected to the metallic circuit and third wire, a normally-open shunt at the transmitting mechanism for the metallic circuit, a relay in the third wire operated by the transmitting mechanism, an indicator in the metallic circuit at the transmitting mechanism, a circuit.- breaker in the metallic circuit at the receiving-station, and a resistance in the metallic circuit in multiple with the said circuitbreaker, substantially as described.

21. In a signaling system,the combination, with a box provided with a signal-transmitting mechanism, of an audible signal for said box, a motor mechanism for said audible signal, afrangible covering for said box, and a releasing device for the motor mechanism, controlled by the frangible covering and automatically operated thereby, substantially as' described.

22. In a fire-alarm system, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a boX, a signaltransmitting mechanism located therein, an operating mechanism therefor, consisting of a pull bar or rod 7L7, provided with a slot h, a hook it, extended through said slot, and a door for said box, composed of solid. material to cover one of the said pull bars or rods and of frangible material to cover the other of said pull-bars, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

23. The combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signaltransmitting mechanism therein, a normallyopen circuit-controller at the transmitting mechanism in a shunt-circuit around said mechanism, a third-wire or auxiliary circuit, circuit-terminals connected to the metallic circuit and to the third-wire circuit, a polechanger in the metallic circuit, a receivinginstrument in the third-wire circuit operated by the transmitting mechanism, and means, substantially as described, actuated by the said receiving-instrument to operate the pole changer, substantially as described.

24:. The combination of the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a districtstation, one or more metallic circuits extended therefrom, one or more signal-transmitting mechanisms in said circuits, a polechanger in the district circuits, a central station, a main line connecting said district and central stations, a receiving-instrument therein operated by the transmitting mechanism in the district circuit, a polechanger in the main line, mechanism in the central station actuated by the receiving-instrument therein to operate the pole-changer in the main line and reverse the current in the main line, and mechanism in the main line actuated by reversals of current in the said main line to operate the pole-changer in the district circuit and produce reversals of current in the district circuit, substantially as and for the purpose specified, I v

25. In a fire-alarm system, the combination, with a closed metallic circuit, of a signaltransmitting mechanism consisting of a signal-wheel normally included in the closed metallic circuit, a second signal-wheel normally disconnected from the metallic circuit, a pen or brush co-operating with the second signal-wl1eel and connected to one side of the metallic circuit, a third signal-wheel normally disconnected from the metallic circuit, a pen or brush co-operating therewith and connected to the other side of the metallic circuit, the second and third signal-wheels being arranged to be connected to the metallic circuit in succession after the metallic-circuit signal-wheel has been operated, substantially as described.

26. The combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a district station, a central station, a main line connecting said stations, a relay in said central station, a local circuit in said central station, a recording-instrument in said local circuit, an armature for said relay controlling said local circuit, a resistance in the district station in a shunt in the main line, a signal-transmitting mechanism in multiple with said resistance, and a normallyclosed switch in the main line, to operate substantially as described.-

27. In a fire-alarm system, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a metallic circuit, a signal-transmitting mechanism therein, a third or auxiliary wire, a relay e included in said third wire, and a normallyopen circuitcontroller at the transmitting mechanism, having one terminal connected to the third wire and the other terminal joined to a metallic-circuit wire, substantially as described.

28. In a fire-alarm system, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a series of metallic circuits, a signal-transmitting mechanism in each circuit, a receiving-instrument in each metallic circuit, a pole-changer in each circuit, an electro-magnet for operating each pole-changer, a local circuit in which the electro-magnets for the said pole-changers are connected in series, circuit-terminals for said local circuit, and means, substantially as described, rendered effective by the operation of a signal-transu'iitting mechanism in any one IIO of the metallic circuits to reverse the current over all the metallic circuits, substantially as described.

29. In a system for transmitting signals, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: an electric circuit provided with one or more signal-transmitting mechanisms, a pole-changer in said circuit, an electro-magnet to operate said pole-changer to produce reversals of the current in the electric circuit, a local circuit in which the said electro-magnet is located, circuit-terminals for said local circuit, an independent circuit-controller to operate said terminals at each break in the electric circuit to actuate the pole-changer to produce a reversal of the currentin the electric circuit on the closure of the said electric circuit following the break in the said circuit, a relay in the electric circuit, and an armature for said relay operating the independent circuit-controller at each break in theelectric circuit, substantially as described.

30. In a signaling system,the combination, With a box provided with a door and a signaltransmitting mechanism in said box, of an audible signal in said box, a motor mechanism for said audible signal, and a releasing device for said motor mechanism discon nected from and independent of the box-door, but adapted to be operated by the opening of the door, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' HENRY A. CHASE.

Witnesses:

J AS. H. CHURCHILL, E. L. RICHARDS.

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