US712525A - Fire-alarm signaling apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 4`, |902.

n J. HAMER. FIRE ALARM SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application med Nov. i1. 1901.)

(No Model.)

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` the skin at the point where the mechanism i UNITED ySTATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HAMER, OF BUFFALO, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT E. ERDMAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ALARM SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslfatent No. 712,525, dated November 4, 1902. Application led November 11. 1901. Serial No. 81,921. (No inodel.)

T0 @ZZ whmn it may concer-7e.-

Be it known that I, JOHN HAMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at-BuEalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Alarm Signaling Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of tire-` alarm signaling apparatus which are provided with mechanism for engaging and locking the arm of the party sounding the alarm to detain such party until the arrival of the iremen or such other persons having authority and means to release the party so detained.

The object of this invention is to produce an eflicient fire-alarm signaling apparatus of this character whichis reliable inaction, simple and durable in construction, and which will quickly and positively engage the Wrist of the party operating the apparatus with but littlek inconvenience and Without in the slightest injuring or even causing abrasionof engages the signaler.

The invention consists of the combination of elements or parts, as willbe hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of a fire-alarm box provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section ot' the same. Fig. `3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3, Fig.2, looking toward the left. Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts of t-hedetain# ing mechanism in a dierent position. Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3,showing a different position of theparts. Fig. 6 is ahorizontal section taken on line 6 6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7iis a similar section taken on line 7 7, Fig.

4. Fig. 8 is a detached rear elevation of the locking-block. Fig. 9 is avertical section taken on line 9 9, Fig." S; Fig.` 10' is an en-f larged vertical section taken on line l0 10, Fig. 9, looking towardthe right.

4tie or no inconvenience.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like 5o letters of reference refer to like parts in the `several figures.

The letter A represents the box or casing, having a vertical wall or partition'B arranged therein, between which and the rear wall the usual signaling apparatus B' is confined. A lever C is pivotally attached to the rear Wall and extends forward-through an elongated opening c, against theupper end of which the said lever is normally held. The lever C 6o is connected to the signaling mechanism B' by a rod O'; but it is manifest that any other suitable connection may be employed. It is `therefore evident that on lowering the lever the signaling apparatus is operated and the alarm given to any distant point having connection therewith.

The lever B' is operated by inserting the `hand through a hand-hole D, formedin the front wall of the box, the lower edge of the 7o hand-hole, in, addition to a buffing-block E, acting as a support for the arm when retained by the mechanism. This buiiing-blockis secured to the inner side of the front wall with its upper face preferably covered with rubber or like material and arranged even with the lower edge of the hand-hole.

F designates vertical guide-bars located on either side of the hand-hole and having their lower ends secured to the ends of the buiing- 8o block E'and their upper ends to the front wall by bolts or in any other suitable manner. Arranged to move verticallyin the said guidebars is a locking member orblock G, which has a depression or cavity g arranged in its 8 5 under side'and which may be lined with soft rubber or padded in any desired manner to leave the cavity of proper size to grasp the wrist and lock the arm of the signaler without causing the slightest injury and with lit- 9o It is also more or less yielding to aocommodateitself to the size of the signalers wrist. The under side of the locking-block on either side of the cavity vided at its lower corners with lateral extensions g2 for a purpose to be hereinafter disclosed.

Arranged parallel with the upper face of the locking-block G and located above the same is a guide-block H, provided with apertures h, in which guide-rods I slide, said rods extending upwardly from the lockingbloek in or to which they are secured. Surrounding these guide-rods are spiral springs J, which bear with one end against the under side of the guide-block H and with their other ends against the upper face of thelocking-block G, serving to force the latter downward as soon as released,which is done simultaneously with the sounding of the alarm.

The locking-block is heldnormally in an elevated position against the pressure of the springs J, and it has an eye K, which is engaged in a hook L, pivoted to the front wall of the box, preferably between the two springs and above the locking-block. This hook has a rearward extension Z, to which one end of a cord or chain M is secured, which passes over'pulleys N, secured to the top of the box, and is secured with its other end to the lever B', whereby the signaling apparatus is operblock strikes the buffer-block E swing in and vfaces ofthe same.

engage the lateral extensions g2,tl1us preventing the locking-block from being elevated. To assure quick action of the swinging arms, springs P are made to bear against. the outer These swinging arms are each provided with an inwardly-projecting extension O', which have the outer end enlarged and preferably concaved, as at 0, and against these concaved ends the releasing mechanism is designed to operate, as will presently appear.

For convenience in disengaging the swinging arms frointhe lateral extensions on the locking-block I provide the releasing mechanism R, which consists of a spindle S, held in the locking-block and extending through the rear face of the same, said spindle having a handle s at its rear end and a crosspiece s' between the handle and the rear face of the locking-block. Journaled in the ends of the cross-piece s are friction-rollers s2 for a purpose to be presently disclosed. Surrounding the spindle S and confined loetween the cross-piece thereof and the lockingblock is a spiral spring T, one end thereof being secured in the locking-block and its other end bearing against a pin t, projecting from the cross-piece. This spring serves to keep the cross-piece s in the position shown in Fig. 8, causing the same to bear against a stop V, projecting from the rear face of the 1ocking-block,in which position it is normally held.

A door U is provided which is to be opened by a reman or any other authorized person, and through the door-.opening such authorized person maydisengage the swingingarms from the lateral extension on the locking-block by turning the spindle S, which brings the cross-piece formedthereon into a substantially horizontal position, which swings the said swinging arms outwardly,after which the locking-block may be elevated and attached to the hook L,whieh places the device in condition for the sounding of another alarm. Thus it is apparent that any person who illegally tampers with the fire-alarm will bevdetained until an authorized person releases him, and if the party so sounding` said alarm proves to have illegally tampered with the same he may be punished according to law.

It is to be understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minor details of construction can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of myinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl l. The combination with an alarm signaling-box having the usual signaling apparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a locking device having operative connection with the' signaling apparatus and being caused to operate and engage the wrist ofthe signaler when sending a signal. Y

2.`The combination with an alarm signalving-box having the usual signaling apparatus mand an opening in an exterior wall through which the hand of the signaler is inserted to send a signal, of a locking device, and mechanism intermediate of the signaling apparatus and said locking device for causing the latter to engage the Wrist of the signaler when the signaling apparatus is actuated to send the signal.

'3. The combination with the lire-alarm box having the usual signaling apparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovable locking-block, means for connecting said locking-block with the signaling apparatus, which latter on being operated causes said locking-block to engage the wrist of the signaler, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the fire-alarm box having the usual signaling apparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovable locking-block, a hook havinga tixed position, and being in engagement with said lockingblock to keep the same elevated, means for connecting said hook with a movable part ot' the signaling apparatus, which IOO IIO

latter on being operated causes said locking1 block to engage the wrist of the signaler,substantially as set forth.

- 5. The combination with the fire-alarm box having the usual signaling apparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovable locking-block, means for connecting said locking-block with-the signaling apparatus and springs for causing said lockingblock to engage the wrist of the signaler when the signaling apparatus is operated, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the fire-alarm box having the usual signaling apparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a buerblock located at or near one edge of said opening, a locking-block located at or near the opposite edge of said opening, means for connecting said locking-block with the signaling apparatus, which latter, on being operated causes said locking-block to move againsty said buffer-block and engage the wrist of the signaler, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the fire-alarm box having the usual signaling apparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovable locking-blockheld elevated above said hand-hole, a buffer-block below said hand-hole, and means for connecting said locking-block with the signaling apparatus to cause the same to strike the buffer-block and engage the wrist of the signaler when the signaling apparatus is operated, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with theiire-alarm box, having the usual signaling apparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a verticallymovable locking-block held normally above said hand-hole and having a recessor cavity in its under face, a buffer-block below said hand-hole, means forconnecting said lockingblock With the signaling apparatus, which latter on being operated will `permit said locksaid hand-hole and having lateral extensions at its lower end, a lbuffer-block below said hand-hole,f1neans for connecting said lockingblock-` with the signaling apparatus, which latter on being operated will permit said locking-block to lower against the buffer-block to engage the wrist of the signaler, and pivoted arms adapted to swing against said lateral extensions of the locking-block to lock said block in its lowermost position, substantially as set forth. p 4

10. The combination with the fire-alarm box, having the usual signaling apparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a buffer-block securedto said wall beneath said hand-hole, guide-bars also secured to said wall, a locking-block held elevated between said wall and the guide-bars and having upwardlyextending guide-rod, a guide-block secured to said wall and in which said guiderods are held, spiral springs surrounding said guide-rods and bearing with their lower ends against said locking-block and with their upper ends against the said guide-block, a hook pivotally secured to said wall and being engaged with the locking-block to keep the same elevated against the pressure of said springs,

`a chain or cord passing over pulleys and connecting said hook with a movablepart of the signaling apparatus, whichon being operated will disengage the hook' from the `lockingblock and cause the same to be lowered against said buffer-block by said springs, pivoted arms adapted to engage said locking-block when lowered to hold the same in such position, and springs serving to swing said arms in engagement with said 4locking-block, substantially as set forth.

ll. The combination with the fire-alarm box, having the usual signaling apparatus and a hand-hole in an exterior wall, of a vertically-movable 4locking-block Vheld normally above said hand-hole and having a recess or cavity in its under face, a buffer-blockbelow said hand-hole, means 4for `connecting said locking-block with the signaling apparatus, which latter on being i operated will-permit said locking-block to loweragainst said buffer-block to engage the wrist of the signaler,

`locking mechanism for holding the lockingblock` in its loWermostposition, and means for releasing the Ylocking mechanism to permit the locking-block to be elevated, substantially as set forth. i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence 0f two `Witnesses.-

Witnesses:

CEAS. F. BURKHART, M. SENNERT.

JoHN HAMER.

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