US846336A - Automatic fire-signal system. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MARE, 1907. J. G; NOLEN. YSTEM.

R. L. MOELROY, J. E. SHEPHERD &

AUTOMATIC FIRE SIGNAL APPLICATION FILED DEO.12, 1 03. RBNEWE D JULY 23,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

h n i MM. u 1 wru enm M3 1? m Z M B No. 846,336. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.12, 1903. RENEWED JULY 23, 1906,

7 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

Zac'fimesdex i WOAHTI, .M zzr /Q @E v finIE'S/reflherd, Z; 5

PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. R. L, McELROY,-J. SHEPHERD & J. G. NOLEN.

AUTOMATIC FERE SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.12, 1903; RENEWED JULY 28, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907v J. G. NOLEN. YSTEM.

R. L. MHELROY, J. E. SHEPHERD &

AUTOMATIC FIRE SIGNAL S APPLIQATION FILED 1326.12, 1903. RENEWE I) JULY 23,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4 [Viimaaed PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

R. L. MOELROY,-J. E. SHEPHERD & J. G. NOLEN. I

AUTOMATIC FIRE SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 12, 1903. RENEWED JULY 23, 1906.

7 SHEETSSHEET 5.

"hazy- 1 WWI Tahiti? ALLA/[ 31M John I .Sihefiherd J Qm Q M0221 TTO. 846,336. PATENTEID MAR. 5, 1907.

SHEPHERD & J. G. NOLEN.

- E. L. MQELROY AUTOMATIC FIRE SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1903. RENEWED JULY 23,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6 Robert L ..M I.'1r0

John I Shepher l. 361mm (1' Nolen.

No. 846,386. .PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

L. MGELROY; J. E. SHEPHERD & J. G. NOLEN.

1903. RENEWED JULY 23,1906.

S WAY. m P 8 A m N K mwm m 0 F m w \A A u 3:. L n n 5 .XMN; m 12A mi m a v 0 PM ow? W \2 a A n A Q A w A A w WAV is a view similar to Fig. 23, showing the magnetic actuating or trip mechanism for end. of the latch-lever in two positions. Fig. I

relation of the trip armature and the long end of the latch-lever. l igs. 26 and 27 are i respectively a top. plan view and a longitiuhl nal section through. the latch-lever,fragmen- J tarily illustrated in the preceding figures. I Figs. 28 to 35, respectively, are diagram- 1 matic views illustrating the operation of our system under the various conditions indi-l cated by the legends written below the respective figures. 1

Throughout the drawings like numerals of reference refer always to'like parts. i

Referring now to the diagrammatic views, it will be seen that oiinsystem contemplates'l the provision of a normally closed main or I primary circuit A, (shown in heavy'linesJ energized by central-station batteries (J B and including at the central station suitable signal-responsive instrumentalities K and K and a subcircuit B, local to the protected area or fire risk, in parallel to a local por tion of the main circuit, said subcircuit being itself divided into two parallel legs or. branches, between which are connected the thermostats.

The two parallel branches of the local subcircuit B are respectively designated as B" and BY and for purposes of distinction will be termed the red and white sides, respec tively, of the subcircuit.

In the portion of the main circuit local to the risk or protected area is arranged an electromagnetic device 0, controlling an alarm signal-boX, while in the subeircuit'is arranged a normally balanced differential electromagnet 1), whose balancin -coils form part of the parallel branches of said subcircuit and which controls the trouble call-box.

A suitable mechanical construction and arrangement of magnet and box devices forcarrying out our invention is fully illustrated in li igs. 3 to .6, and these devices will now be described. 3 7 3 The mechanismsillustrated ini igs. 4 to 6 are also shown in'l ig; 8 in conjunction with supplementary mechanism for accomplishing a result not attained by the simpler mechanism, and we will first describe those devices common toboth embodiments of our invention.

' Reterring now to Figs. 3, 4, 5, and. 6, 1 indieates a backboard whereon are mounted two springimpelled .calhboxes or signal devices2end'3 of a well-known type, electroe said boxes, and suitable circuit-terminals. The box 2 is provided with a spring-actuated train of gearing and includes a winding-stem 2 carrying a stop-screw 2, a numberwheel arbor 2 projeeting'above the front face of the'box, and a triparni-c'ar ying-arbor 2, projecting from its rear The gearingpletes two revolutions to one of the arbors 2 and 2, the movement of arbor 2" being limited to one revolution of the stop-screw 2, which is arranged to strike some fixed portion of the box-frame after substantially completing a revolution. Similar mechanism is-provided in the l)OX 3, like parts to those in box 2 being indicated by. numeral 3 with the corresponding exponent letter.

Referring again to box 2, 2 is a number wheel carried'by arbor 2*, having upon its periphery the number of teeth peculiar to the stationsa'y live. Associated with said wheel are a spring-pen 5 and its stationary pring-con tact 6,norm ally arranged in contact and adapted to be separated by the passage of the teeth of the wheel 2 beneath the pen 5. The mechanism thus described constitutes the "trouble-box, as we will hereinafter arbitrarily term it, the operation of which is controlled by theelectromagnet D, through trip mechanisms arranged as follows: d indicates the magnetically-responsive armature oi the electromagnet, provided with an arm d, projecting toward the trouble-born .2 indicates a latch-arm centrally securedto the arbor 2 of the trouble-box and provided at its-opposite extremities with upturned lips 2 whose horizontal paths of rotation intersect fthevertieal are of movement of the arm d of the magnet-armature. The parts are so constructed that when the armature d is held away from the magnet-poles by the tension of the armature-spring it lies in'the path of the latch-arm 2 as best illustrated in Fig. 16, while when attracted by the magnet D its arm d is removed from the path of the latch-arm 2 as shown in Fig. 17.

ICC.

Thebox 3, whichwe will hereinafter desig- I nate the fire-alarm box, (although under some conditions it acts to transmit troublesignals) is provided with two circuit-breaking wheels mounted'on thecormnon arbor 3 One- 0f said wheels 3 is toothed, with, say, three groups of five (the box-number) teeth each upon its periphery. This is the true fire-signal wheel. The second wheel 3 occupies a constant position relative to the wheel 3 and is provided with a peripheral portion of even height with the teeth of the wheel 3 and of slightly-greater peripheral extent than the toothed portion of the said wheel 3*, followed.(in the direction of its operative rotation) by a group of teethsay titute an identifying signali1veto cons transmitter. Associated 1n the usual man-- her for coaction with the wheel 3 are the with spring-pen 7 and its contact 8, While assoarranged the ese pen-springs are normally in contact tl1(]IT( spective contact-sprlngs.

'Ihe lire-alarm box 3 1S arrangcd for control by the electromagnet C; but its coaction train is so arranged that the arbor 2* cornwith the tripmcehanism thereof is peculiar.

elated in like manner with the wheel 3 are its ciii "no-1, c projects in adi ('3 latch-lever carried by the :1. cc: of the fire-alarm box- 3 ii a horizontal plane at a n rinedia'l' e the ends of arms c and shorter rad. to engegc theend c of the inagnet-armatnre when th la ttcr is in open 'posi tion' and to pass he nth the same when the] armature is closed, as host iilustrated in Figs. 20 and 2:1.

.The opposite longer end the latchdever 3 tin. st

as a simple means balancing no is" long enough to r'eachthe finthc'armatnrelis adapted to pass r (1 when the armature is in open i to he engaged thereby whcn'the closed best illustrated in Figs. it will therefore an ear that in s movement tie armature oted to interrupt the passage 'o'f-one lie iatchdeverz3 and to'pcrmitsage of the otl'ierend oi thesaid lei er. ll tho ho sset with it's levees-tod- .th finger c of armature c, -,.2o.' 3, l-er, 15,. in; arr-11 17 represent hindlnw csts for electric wiring mounted he hackho in" anis' described are" shown). insimb i a e thejcircnit conned-- enumerated. which h embodiments of our 111-- ry 'J the main-line i ced'throngh wireiS, inegister K; to the binding-post wire it to the tronhle hox pen .ct ('3, thence by wire 20 to the electromr ;net C, returning the alarin-hox contactspring thence by wire to hindingid oy line-wire through register to the cen 'al hattery i) This the prim r circuit A. I u now to the ti ier rnostat-sr h circuit l he seen. the; the pen 7 is tied by a I to the pen 9, l tho peircontact 8 led a w with coil 25 :rrornagnet C, which coil 'is wound :1 Monfopposite tothat oi? the coil 20 he electro- U when both the prim c'ircnitand are one i. rrorn the coil a wireflo extends o thcjunctnre of the in e and Bf, respectively, of the thermostatcircuit.

To trace first the redhranch B of the thermostat-circuit, 27 indicates a connection from wire 26 to a coil 27 f the e'lectromagnet connected with the wire of the main circuitA. To trace-now the white side of the parallel, 32 indicates a connection-from wire extends. a wire 35, connected to resistance lt whose opposite end is connected to the wire 20 of the primary circuit A. v

I The electromagnets in the circuits described are so wound and adjusted that under normal conditions the magnetizing eli'cct of the current flowing through the coil '20 of the magnet G is so nearly neu tralizedhy the current flowing through the coil of the parallel suhcircuit B that the armature c is not attracted, while the two branches B and B? of the suboircuit 11 are exactly balanced as to resistance and as to magnetic e'liect on the magnet D. Consequentlyit will be apparent that under norincl conditions neither of the elcctromagnets is magnetically active, but that any variance of the resistance in any circuit or suhclrcult will obviously effect the balance of one or the other of the magnets.

'26 to a coil 32 of the electromagnet D,"

red andwhite sides or parallel branches B? Referring now to the refinement particularly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, E indicates an electromagnet, the coil 22 whereof is in cluded in the wire 22 of the main circuit to be normally energized by the main-line current. e is the armature of magnet E, nor mally attracted by said magnet and held away ciated with the hell-crank arm cof the armature oi the magnet E are four in number, ar ranged in pairs, and indicates from top to. hottom by thcnninerals 35 3.5 and 83 and 33.

The spring 33 is somewhat longer than i-ts i'ellows and overlies and makes constant contact with the arm cf of the armature e.

from its hack contact 40. The springs ass0- tery C B.

wherein are mounted jiolll' flat 33 and 33 make contact. When, however, the magnet E becomes denergized, so that the armature-spring withdraws the armature into contact with its rear stop 40, the spring 33 is thereby lifted out of contact with its subjacent fellow and by its insulated connection with spring 35 lifts the latter from contact with its coacting spring member 35 Springs 35 and 35 are cut into the white wire 35 of the thermostat-circuit in series therein, while the springs 33 and 33 are similarly. cut in series into the wire 33 of said white side of the.thcrmostat-circt;it. It will be noted, therefore, that when the ar mature e of the magnet E falls into contact with its baclostop 4:0, lifting the springs 33 and 35 out of contact with their normally coacting fellow springs, the effect is to se regatethe white thermostat-wire 34, as both .the wires 33 and 35 are broken at the springs, as described, The purpose of this segrega tion of the single thermostat-u ire nill be hereinafter made apparent.

I (lcll'ocated upon the backboard 1 with the electromagnet E is a call-boa: 37, similar in general arrangement to the boxes 2 and 3 heretofore described, and parts whereof are indicated by numeral 37 with exponentsflilie similar parts of box 2. in d? box mechanism F indicates an electl'oniagnet. findieates the armature thereof, adapted when attracted to trip the springnctuated train of the box37s. i

37 indicates the toothed number-wlieel having upon its periphery, say, three groups of five teeth each.

38 indicates the pen assotiated with said wheel, and 39 the pen-contact spring. These parts are electrically connected as follows: From the back contact 40 of the armature e of the main-circuit magnet E extends a wire 40, connected to the core 40 of magnet F. The other terminal of coil 40" is connected by Wire 41 with the pen 33, the contact 39 whereof is connected by wire 42 to the binding-pos 17 upon the board. From said bihdingost 17 extends wire 43, grounded at its other terminal. To complete the subcircuit to be established through tltis ground connection, as hereinafter described, wire 44 is led from ground to split the central bat- W'e will now describe in general the construction of a thermostat such as is employed in conjuncticn with our system.

Each tl'iermcstat T ccmpri csseiitiall y, a casing t of suitable configuration and design, springs 6 i, t, and t arranged in pairs, the springs-cl each pair being arranged end to end and the pairs arranged in parallelism. I isa rod vertically arranged to pass beneath the pens r l a l of springs at the print cf stmarcfthn of the springs of each pair and bearing a suitable weight t7. t" is a piece of insulation circuit) th the binding-post 1c, and thence back to the rod and having disposed on opposite ends thereof in pesiiion of registration with the openings between the pairs ol companion-springs metallic conducting-pieces of wedge shape t and t Mounted on the upper extremity of the rod in parallelism to the part last described is an inverted-wedge shaped. member of conductive material t, adapted to bridge across both pairs of springs. The springs t F, constituting one pair, are connected in series in one wire 34 of the thermostat-loop, and the pair t t are connected in the other wire 30. Under normal conditions the rod t is secured with fusible n1atcrial, su ch as solder or the like, in the position shown in Fig. 8, with the insulationmelted the. weight it will cause the rod 1- to drop, first removing the conductors t and i from contact with the pairs cfsprings to simultaneously break both sides of the thermostat-subcircuit extending therethrough and subsequently (almost instantaneously) bridging the gap with the conducting-bar t to close the circuit through both of said pairs of springs and constitute a cross'between the thermostat-wires.

, it will be apparent that the conditions just described are such as are hardly of possible occurrence from any natural cause, and as the oper breaking both of the thermostat-wires and subsequently crossing them is essential to the sending of a true tire-signal the transmission of a false fire-alarm through some ordinary cause, such as the derangement of a circuit or the brealaing of a wire, is practically rendered impossible.

Haring thus described the physical em Liens just described of simultaneously bor'iments of our invenii .n, we will now do 28 (which shows a normal condition of the at current from central battery C B flowing through n ire-23 to bindingmat 1 5 finds a closed circuit through .the a ire 22, (and coil 22 oli'thc magnet 15,) the pen and contact 9 and 10 of they alarmb ox, thence througl-r the coil 20", Wire 20, pedandcon tact 6 and 5 of the troublc-.box, nire' 19'to by ire l8 tothe central battery C 13. fThe circuit I just traced constitutes the primary or main secured 1 circuit A. Under normal conditions the.

energized, liolrlin its urine-ti c I net 0.

coil 252211031 ire 26', who

' coil 32, Wire 33, (inducing t we said magnet,

v. nnbolnncing the n'izignet indicated-in Figf' il,--Sneh comiiiion pro to the better by ground-Wire e41.

parellei subeireuit B isielso clo. both branches and maybe 22 by wireil through the pen and 8 ofthe'olorrn-bor: to ii lo of equal resistance ihreu o. Br dBw' TL? 1 a) ry ,L i 7 v u u soon time In is L-iunu 27, 001i 27 resisl" 'therrnostiitwnfe 3U, main-line Wire L White branch ciose 33? en'fi 3 3 White tlif: wire fi {infiuiding the 5 and 35 resis'twi the lnein-iine wire U1 ions it Wlii he noted that the moo.

out of cononrl permitting springs to occupy tact with the one stop 40 the group of nssociutet their normzii closed nositions. The i is C and D, it 1 3e 'einemhcrcil, he; entinlly wound and both oi the pores 0 through the windings oi czrchhcir ere in non-no or inactive con The actions ioliowing the ii iii 1 against which system prorid 'W'ili he as follows:

Break in the white wire 3!},- es xiii/coir? Fig. 29.- "his breaking of the suhcircoi rl stops the flow of current through the coii end nnbslenees the magnet D, the entire current of the subeireuit {ions through the branch B" thereof, inolndin the coil 24 or in consequence the cr neture d of the magnet i) is attracted and heir} by the magnet, releasing the latch-arm 2 of the troubieJoox 2, as indicated in Fig. 37. consequence the no. [1ll)8I Wl18l0'f the troublebox makes two complete revolutions, in each revolution breaking the main circuit A five times at its pen anti 'conizct and ii and. transmitting hire nnnuises to the centrnh ii ill be noted that no current current-flow in the winding z-gnet unbelzinces the magnet armature, thereby releasing.

uni to central, es heretofore deirough sulieircuit branch B by wire 33 to he crossyrire or juniper (avoiding the resistance l) and heel: to the main line by subit brunchBPthroughthe Wire 31, (avoidrcsis'ience it?) The result isobviously a trouble-signiii, heretofore described, the inn gnet liming rocticellyunafiected. It will oterl iliet none of these troubles heretofore edverterl to causes the magnet C to attrsict its armature and trip the alarm-box.

A break in both the thermostat-wires, as indicated in Fig. 83.--Sucl1 a double break in the thermosmt wires outs oif entirely the therniostzit-snbcircuit and causes the entire it C, attracting the armature c and holdu in consequence the latch-lever 3 of ne-eierni our. is released, permitting the i mike e half-revolution until its long strikes the "J r c, e'arfled by the are, as indicated in Fig. 24. During this l-revolotion or" the lever the w heels 3 and make a full revolution.

en 9 onto contact with its contect- 11g 8 during the entire time of the passage he nurnheroiheel 3 under its pen 7. It

Of f

"to e pen 7 under the conditions named, assaid pen is included in the thermostat-circuit and no current is at present passing therethrough. The current being interrupted at the pens?) Lind 10 during the oi the peripheral to cause a trensniission of a, 7O

3," --Sueh condition 1111- lameness the magnet as e'pathis afiorded nt to flow through the Winding 20 of the The wheel 3 flows through earn of the wheel 3, a single long (lash is re corrlcl by the registering nleclninisni 8,1} central Stiiilllll, lhereliyindicatingexactly the nastation releasing mechanism, as will iie'a'reli ture of the trouble, said dushys'gnel being. understood. Under these conditions no iollm'nl by the proper lmX-nui'nber signal operative effect is proilnceal upon the nning and musing the ierl.

seine operetion as that lost rie;

A ground mum the rinccs the some results 1L3 the brooks shove imnsinittcil hon-Jet i men J.

i u L u n truejzrcnZnm n signal, caused by the {using of (L thermostut.;--As horelzolore descri ed, the first action oi the thermostat when ltS as the teeth of snirl wheel 3 passes in "ole nmtcriol is melted is to break-both wires of the thermostot-circuit, thereby msin lire nipping of the alarm-box 3 in- 1451' lust above described. Instantly however, the circuit through the ruires is closed by the thermostat and n cross between said wires is xii i cil. niein linc circuit 1 Ii. it wili no noteil theta circuit is turbo but :2 prepo'niierzitir 'il'ml through the thermostat-sub current of the thermostot-onei is 2Ll OV0 described with roierenceto. a course as iioiioWs: through t Z and the rnogneti/isaccordingly egain wire 32, coil 32, and White Wire K thermostat-circuit to the ground,

iiihcliy restoring the finger 0 carried by nature, to such position that the end 3 so that its spring retracts its armu- 1 of the alarm-box latch-lever 3 ma pass thereby, as illustrated in. Fig. 23. t will also be noted that the current now flows through thepells? and 8 in the subcircuit B.

The trouble-and alarm boxes 2 and 3, respectively, are preferably so timed that they do not operate upon their pens simultaneously. So, assuming that the trouble box is timed to operate first, the following results ensue from the conditions just described.

The main circuit is first broken at the gen eel and contact-5 and; 6 by the trouble-W 2 sending a round of five to the central station, which is immediately followed by a signal from the alar'irnbox; Under the present conditions it will be seen that when the pen 9 is lifted by the cam-wheel 3 the main circuit is thereby broken and the entire current caused to flow through the thermostat-circuit, and consequently through the pen 7 and con tact 8 in said circuit. As these contacts are broken by the number-wheel 3" the true firealarm signal (three rounds of five) is sent in, followed by another round of five from the Wheel 3. Both of the wheels being then ready for a second revolution, the foregoing signal is re eated, thus completing a signal I Which can e in no way confused with any trouble-signal capable of being sent by the boxes, It will be understood however, that the receipt of the predeterminedfire-signal (three rounds of five) under any conditions is assumed to indicate a fire even though the full signal above described is not comolete, as the wheel 3 acts to send its signal on y when fire conditions (double breakfollowed by a cross in the thermostat-subcircuit) have oc curred.

It will be noted that under any condition of trouble heretofore mentioned the subsequent occurrence of a fire will result in the proper transmission of a true fire-alarm that is to say, at least the single operative revolution of the fire-alarm wheel 3.

To refer again to Figs 29 to 33, in each of which figures an operating thermostat is in cluded in dotted lines, it will be seen that under the conditions shown in either-Figs. 29 or 30 that is to say, the condition of a break in either of the thermostat-wires the subseuent fusing 9f a thermostat, as indicated in t e dotted lines, will first cause complete severance of the subcircuit B (thereby tripping the alarm-box 3) and the subsequent reestablishment of the path through the subcircuit left by the unbroken therinostat-wire. It follows, therefore that the alarm-magnet C will be first unbalanced, when all of the current of the main-lire circuit flows through the coil 20 thereof and subsequently bal- 'anccd again by the completion of the thermostat-subcircuit, including its coil 25". Further, it will be seen that under this last named condition the circuit'through the pen and contact 7 and 8 is completed, enabling senses current of the thermostat-circuit to flow through the resistance R across the jumper or cross and back to the line through the resistance lt, thereby including said resistances in series and more than doubling the total resistance of the. subcircuit. This causes 1 a preponderating flow of current through the main-line coil of the magnet C,

su llicient to attract its armature, tripping the alarm-box so that it makes one round and causing the transn'iission to central of a true alarm-signal in the manner heretofore described. in the event that break in both wires has occurred, as indicated in Fig. 33, it will be recalled the lire-alarm box will have been tripped by the magnet C, but will have made but a single revolution, as the armature c of magnet (l is held in attracted position. The box is accordingly now in ,"condition to make a second revolution of its numberwheels in the event of the restoration of the armature of the said magnet to 0 en posinon. ii now a thermostat is fuse asmdzcated in. dotted lines in Fig. 33, the breaking of both thermostat-w1res by the thermostat produces no client, (as a double break 18 already present) but the subsequent cross upon the lines establishes a circuit through the thcrmostat-wires as follows: through the wires 32, 33, and 34 of the white side of the subcircuit across the thermostat-cross and back by wires 30 and 11 to the. main line. This closes the circuit through the coil 25 of the magnet C, balancing the said magnet so that the spring may restore its armature c to openposition. Thereby the latehdever 3 of alarm-box 3 is again released, as indicated in Fig. 23, so that the wheels 3. and 3 may make their second round. that the wheel 3 breaks the main-liue eir cult, causing allot the current to How through the subcircuit B while the teeth of wheel are passii'ig its pen 9, so that a true alarm of three rounds of live-is sent in by the wheel 3.

The mechanism shown in Figs, 1 and 3 and not found in the simplified circuit of Fig. 2 is provided to the end thatshould a break of an outside main-line wire or a cross on said wires occur, or a jumper be placed across the terminals of the outside wires, or should all ol these troubles occur the system is not incapacitated to send in a fire-alarm signal in the event of the fusing of a thermostat in the protected area. it will be noted that under any of the conditions specified all current is cut oil from the local portion both main and sub circuits. Consequcntly the signaling devices in the said circuits incapable it will be noted I his break produces no e'fi'ect; but the subsethermostatic devices in said subcircuit i eeacac of transmitting any signals to, the central 1 ener lze the main circuit, a stat on. It wrli be noted, however, that the --=two oranchesin paraiiei o cutting out of the local portion of the main circuit deenergizes the magnet E, which per-- mits the armature e to be retracted by the spring into contact with the back contactstop 40, which has a connection to ground through the magnet F and pens 3-8 and 39 of the auxiliary boX 37. The bell-crank arm of the armature 6 during this operation liftsthe spring 33, thereby, .asheretofore described, isolating the thermotsatavire 34 and con necting it tog-round through the path above described. Should now a thermostat he come fused in a thermostat-circuit, the douquent cross of the thermostat-Wires gives a path from the ground through wire e3, binding-post 17, wire 42, pen and contact 39 38, wire 4] magnet-coil 40 wire e0, contact 40 arrn'at'ure e to spring 33 thence by wire 33 to the cross occurring at the thermostat, thence by wires 30 and 31 to the main line 20, and thence by Wires 19 and 16 to the central battery, through which it passes to ground by wire 44. The establishment of the circuit just described energizes the magnet F, pulling its armature f and tripping the auxiliary signal box 37, the numbenwheel of which transmits through pen 38 its arbitrary signal for instance, the true "fire-signal oi three fives. While We have herein fully described 'tion, and therefore j What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a firesignal system, a main circuit including a signal'responsive instrument, source of supply of electric energy for said circuit, a subcircuit having two branches in parallel to the main circuit, a signal-transmitting device in one of said circuits, an, 'eler troinagnetic actuating device for said signal device arranged in a portionof' the main circuit paralleled by the subcircuit, said actuating device being adapted to become opera- I two on the rupture of the subcircuit, and.

ranged and adapted to simultaneously rupture both branches thereof.

2. In a fire-signal system, a main circuit including a central signal-responsive instrument, a source of current-supply arranged to specific embodiments of our invention which will @lllliiiiil a signaling device in one of said oirc' electromagnetic actuating nice having its magnet in the pcriio circuit paralleled by sivnaiing device arranged in one a cults, an BlECt-EGillt oetic ectuat therefor having a rlrfhn'e net, oi the coils wi each branch of the suhr. rcu" static devices conuuon to bot-iii. said subcircuit. In a fi naling device arrange circuit and. having a co l. of its 12 ranged in said circuit, suhcir 'iuit in FL around'said c ii inciudin said e-lectroin agnet, diiiicre respect to the if iii subci u two paraiicl branch 5, a i, vice arranged in one of s ferentialiyavound eieotro devicefor said second coils whereof are *i' branches of tlic devicessdapted to or tiou inbo'th branches of the.

taneously. 5

i. In a fire-sign system, a niai': 'circ.

including a sign ai nsive device of current-Supp circuit'having L 0 main circuit. si, ice

thermostats in said subcircuit ln'anches.

adapted to cross said branches, means-for breaking a subcireuit branch to isolate a 'sec-,

tion of said branch from electrical connec: 'tion with the other, an electromagnet in the portion of the main circuit paralleled by the subcircuit adapted when energized to maintain said circuit-breal er in inoperative position, a grounded subeircuit adapted to be connected to the isolated section of the thermostat-subcircuit by the action of the circuitbreaker, and a signaling device -and operating means therefor operatively associated with said grounded suhcircuit.

7. In a signal system, two circuits having portions oppositely disposed so that current may flow theretlu'ough in opposite directions, a common source of supply for said circuits, a means for establishing a cross between the oppositely-disposed portions of said circuits, and signaling instrumentilities associated with said circuits and arranged to be actuated on the occurrence of a cross between such circuits.

8. In a signal system, a source of current; supply, two circuits deriving current from said source of supply and having. proximate portions wherein the circuit flows in opposite directions, said circuits having definite relative resistances and the resistances being so disposed that the relation is not preserved in the corresponding portions of the two cir cuits lying between their proximate portions and the negative terminal of the source of su ply, a signaling; apparatus responsive to reliitive variations of current-flow in said two circuits, and means for establishing a cross between the circuits in the proximate portions thereof.

9. In a fire-signal systeni, a'niain circuit, a subcircuit hav ng two branches in parallel to a portion of the main circuit, signaling instrumentalities comprising two circuit-interrupters arranged for successive operation, one located in the subcircuit and one in the main circuit, electromagnetic actuating; devices arranged and adapted to actuate the circuit-breal ers upon an abnormal decrease of current-ilow in the subcircuit, and a thermostat arranged and adaptezil when fused to break both subcircuit branches and then reest'a'blish a circuit. v

10. In a fire-signal system, a main circuit, a subcircuit having two branches in parallel to the main circuit, a signaling instrumentzllty in the main circuit,actuati ng device therefor responsive to abnormal decrease in current-flow through the subcireuit, another signaling instrumentality in one of the circuits, an actuating-device therefor responcurrentpath through the subsive to relative variations in chrrent-flow with circuits to be supervised comprising two wires, of signahtransmitting means for indicating a variation in the relative current-flow through said two wires, another signal-transmitting means for indicating a cessation of currentdlow in both of said wires, signal-responsive devices and suitable circuit connections between signal-transmitting means and f the signal responsive devices.

13. In a fire-alarm system, a main circuita subcircuit', an electromagnetic signaling apparatus comprising van. actuating-magnet responsive to rupture of the subclrcuit, and

a normally set signal device associated with the magnet to be actuated'thereby Wire 1 the subcircuit 1S ruptured. and I again actuated when the subcircuit is reestablished, said signal device comprising two sets of signalingpens, one in the subcircuit and one in the main circuit, signal-responsive devices inthe main circuit, a battery in said main circuit, and a thermostat in the 'subcircuit adapted when fused to first rupture said subcircuit and then reestablish it. i

in testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HUBERT L. MCELRQY. JOHN E. SHEPHERD. JAMES G. NOLEN. In presence of- For: its RAIN,

MAR F, ALLEN.

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