U.S. patent number 3,794,765 [Application Number 05/229,075] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-26 for zone speaker relay system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Audio Alert Corporation. Invention is credited to Harry C. Goodwater.
United States Patent |
3,794,765 |
Goodwater |
February 26, 1974 |
ZONE SPEAKER RELAY SYSTEM
Abstract
A zone speaker relay system is provided for selectively
transmitting over loud speakers audio warning signals and audio
evacuation instructions to personnel on selcted floors or in
selected zones of a floor in a building in the event of an
emergency. A separate zone speaker relay assembly is provided for
each such floor and zone. When, for example, there is one speaker
zone per floor, the zone speaker relay assemblies effect automatic
switching of the loud speakers associated with the floor on which
the emergency occurs, called the involved floor, and the floors
immediately above and below the involved floor. The switching
assemblies ensure that the speakers associated therewith receive a
proper alarm signal and taped message when an alarm station is
activated on the involved floor for directing personnel on those
floors away from the location of the emergency. Personnel on the
involved floor and the floor immediately below the involved floor
are warned and directed to evacuate via lower floors. Personnel on
the floor immediately above the involved floor are warned and
directed to evacuate via upper floors. Provision is also made for
permitting activation of alarm stations on other floors and in that
event for the giving of proper evacuation instruction to personnel
on those floors to prevent directing these personnel into
previously involed areas.
Inventors: |
Goodwater; Harry C. (San
Francisco, CA) |
Assignee: |
Audio Alert Corporation (San
Francisco, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
26787886 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/229,075 |
Filed: |
February 24, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
93768 |
Nov 30, 1970 |
3656158 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
381/77;
381/123 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
27/00 (20130101); G08B 29/00 (20130101); G08B
17/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
17/06 (20060101); G08B 29/00 (20060101); G08B
27/00 (20060101); H04q 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;179/1SW,1B,1AT,1.1PS,5P |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Claffy; Kathleen H.
Assistant Examiner: Olms; Douglas W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Becker; Warren M.
Parent Case Text
RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No.
93,768, filed Nov. 30, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,158, entitled
Integrated Fully Supervised Fire Alarm System, assigned to the same
assignee as the present application.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A zone speaker switching system comprising: a plurality of zone
speaker switching assemblies, each of said assemblies having a
speaker buss, a plurality of audio signal busses and switching
means for selectively coupling a predetermined one of said
plurality of audio signal busses to said speaker buss; and a first
means for interconnecting said switching means in a first one of
said plurality of switching assemblies to said switching means in a
second one of said plurality of switching assemblies, said
switching means in said second assembly including means responsive
to a signal from said first assembly for selectively coupling a
predetermined one of said plurality of audio signal busses in said
second assembly to said speaker buss in said second assembly.
2. A switching system according to claim 1 further comprising: a
second means for interconnecting said switching means in said first
one of said plurality of said switching assemblies to said
switching means in a third one of said plurality of switching
assemblies, said switching means in said third one of said
plurality of switching assemblies including means responsive to a
signal appearing on said second interconnecting means for
selectively coupling a predetermined one of said plurality of audio
signal busses in said third assembly to said speaker buss in said
third assembly.
3. A switching system according to claim 1 wherein each of said
switching means in said plurality of switching assemblies
comprises: a first switchbank coupled to a first and a second one
of said plurality of audio signal busses; a second switchbank
coupled to said first switch-bank and to a third one of said
plurality of audio signal busses; a third switchbank coupled to
said second switchbank and to a fourth one of said plurality of
audio signal busses; and a first, a second, and a third means for
switching said switchbanks for selectively coupling said first,
said second, and said third one of said plurality of audio signal
busses to said speaker buss.
4. A switching system according to Claim 3 wherein each of said
switchbanks comprise: a plurality of normally open and normally
closed signal paths and further comprising means for coupling said
first one of said plurality of audio signal busses to said speaker
buss through said normally closed signal paths of each of said
switchbanks.
5. A switching system according to claim 4 further comprising means
for coupling said second one of said audio signal busses to said
speaker buss through said normally open signal paths of said first
switchbank and said normally closed signal paths of said second and
said third switchbanks.
6. A switching system according to claim 5 further comprising means
for coupling said third one of said audio signal busses to said
speaker buss through said normally open signal paths of said second
switchbank and said normally closed signal paths of said third
switchbank.
7. A switching system according to claim 6 further comprising means
for coupling said fourth one of said audio signal busses to said
speaker buss through said normally open signal paths of said third
switchbank.
8. A switching system according to claim 7 wherein each of said
switchbanks has a first and a second state of operation, and
further comprising: a means for coupling said first switchbank of
said first one of said switching assemblies to said first and said
second switchbank of said second one of said switching assemblies
for changing said second switchbank in said second one of said
switching assemblies from its first state of operation to its
second state of operation when said first switchbank in said second
one of said switching assemblies is changed from its first state of
operation to its second state of operation after said first
switchbank in said first one of said switching assemblies is in its
second state of operation for coupling said third one of said audio
signal busses to said speaker buss in said second one of said
switching assemblies.
9. A switching system according to claim 8 further comprising means
for coupling said first switchbank of said first one of said
switching assemblies to said first switchbank in said third one of
said switching assemblies for changing said first switch-bank in
said third one of said switching assemblies from its first state of
operation to its second state of operation when said first
switchbank in said first one of said switching assemblies is
changed from its first state of operation to its second state of
operation.
10. A switching system according to claim 9 wherein said third
switchbank in said first one of said switching assemblies further
comprises: means for coupling said second switchbank in said first
one of said switching assemblies to said second switch-bank in said
second and said third one of switching assemblies and means for
changing the state of operation of said third switchbank in said
first one of said switching assemblies for decoupling said second
switchbank in said first one of said switching assemblies from said
second switchbank in said third one of said switching assemblies
for preventing a change of state of operation of said second
switchbank in said third one of said switching assemblies when said
first switchbank in said first one of said switching assemblies is
in its second state of operation.
11. A switching system according to claim 10 wherein each of said
switchbanks are relay controlled switchbanks.
12. A zone speaker switching system comprising:
a first means for selectively coupling a first and a second audio
signal buss to a first speaker buss;
a second means for selectively coupling said first and said second
audio signal busses to a second speaker buss; and
a third means for selectively coupling said first and said second
audio signal busses to a third speaker buss; said first, said
second, and said third coupling means including means responsive to
a control signal for automatically coupling said first audio signal
buss to said first speaker buss and said second audio signal buss
to said third speaker buss when said second audio signal buss is
coupled to said second speaker buss.
13. A switching system according to claim 12 wherein said first,
said second and said third coupling means comprise relay controlled
switching means.
14. A switching system according to claim 12 wherein said first,
said second and said third coupling means further comprise:
a means reponsive to a control signal for automatically coupling
said first audio signal buss to said first and said second speaker
busses when said first audio signal buss is coupled to said third
speaker buss.
15. A switching system according to claim 14 wherein said first,
said second and said third coupling means comprise relay controlled
switching means.
16. A switching system according to claim 12 wherein said first,
said second and said third coupling means further comprise:
a means responsive to a control signal for automatically coupling
said second audio signal buss to said second and said third speaker
busses when said second audio signal buss is coupled to said first
speaker buss.
17. A switching system according to claim 16 wherein said first,
said second and said third coupling means comprise relay controlled
switching means.
18. A switching system according to claim 12 further
comprising:
a third audio signal buss; and
means coupled to said responsive means for automatically
simultaneously coupling said third audio signal buss to said first,
said second and said third speaker busses.
19. A switching system according to claim 18 wherein said first,
said second and said third coupling means comprise relay controlled
switching means.
20. A zone speaker switching system comprising:
a first speaker buss for coupling to a speaker in a first speaker
zone;
a second speaker buss for coupling to a speaker in a second speaker
zone adjacent said first speaker zone;
a third speaker buss for coupling to a speaker in a third speaker
zone adjacent said second speaker zone;
a first and a second audio signal buss;
a first source of audio signals including timing means responsive
to a first indicator signal originating from said second speaker
zone coupled to said first and said second audio signal busses for
generating a first audio signal for a first predetermined length of
time;
means reponsive to said first indicator signal for selectively
coupling said first audio signal buss to said first and said second
speaker busses and said second audio signal buss to said third
speaker buss for transmitting said first audio signal over said
first, said second and said third speaker busses for said first
predetermined length of time;
means for generating a first control signal upon the termination of
said first audio signal;
a second source of audio signals including means responsive to said
first control signal coupled to said first and said second audio
signal busses for transmitting a second audio signal over said
first, said second and said third speaker busses for a second
predetermined length of time;
means for generating a second control signal upon the termination
of said second audio signal;
a third audio signal buss; and
means responsive to said second control signal for coupling said
third audio signal buss to said first, said second and said third
speaker busses for sequentially transmitting said first, said
second and a third audio signal over said first, said second and
said third speaker busses.
21. A zone speaker switching system according to claim 20 further
comprising:
means responsive to said first indicator signal for inhibiting the
generation of a second alarm signal in response to a second
indicator signal while said first and said second audio signal
busses are coupled to said first, said second and said third
speaker busses.
22. A zone speaker switching system according to claim 21 further
comprising:
means responsive to said second control signal for inhibiting the
transmission of a second alarm signal generated in response to a
second indicator signal to said first, said second and said third
speaker busses while said third audio signal buss is coupled to
said first, said second and said third speaker busses.
23. A zone speaker switching system according to claim 22 wherein
said first source of audio signals includes means for generating a
first audio alarm signal and said second source of audio signals
includes a source of a first pre-recorded audio message coupled to
said first audio signal buss and a source of a second pre-recorded
audio message coupled to said second audio signal buss for
sequentially transmitting said first audio alarm signal and said
first audio message over said first and said second speaker busses
and said first audio alarm signal and said second audio message
over said third speaker buss.
24. A zone speaker switching system according to claim 23 further
comprising:
a fourth speaker buss for coupling to a speaker in a fourth speaker
zone adjacent said first speaker zone;
a fifth speaker buss for coupling to a speaker in a fifth speaker
zone adjacent said third speaker zone;
means responsive to a second indicator signal coupled to said first
and said second audio signal busses for generating a second alarm
signal for a third predetermined length of time; and
means reponsive to said second indicator signal for selectively
coupling said first audio signal buss to said fourth speaker buss
for sequentially transmitting said second alarm signal and said
first pre-recorded audio message over said fourth speaker buss if
said second indicator signal originates from said fourth speaker
zone and said second audio signal buss to said fifth speaker buss
for sequentially transmitting said second alarm signal and said
second pre-recorded audio message over said fifth speaker buss if
said second indicator signal originates from said fifth speaker
zone.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the event of an emergency, such as a fire, in a high-rise
building or a large single- or two-store building, there is an
immediate need to communicate to the personnel located therein the
manner in or the direction by which they may safely evacuate the
involved areas.
Heretofore, it has been necessary for security personnel to
determine the nature and extent of the emergency and to pass along
to the personnel affected instructions as to how to evacuate the
involved areas. If due to the emergency or other reasons the
responsible security personnel are unsuccessful, panic often ensues
and personnel become trapped and perish.
Not infrequently, a localized condition or a false alarm has
needlessly resulted in the evacuation of an entire building due to
the inability of security personnel to rapidly and accurately
access the situation.
It is therefore highly desirable to have means by which an
emergency can be rapidly and accurately localized to effect
immediate and automatic evacuation of personnel from an involved
area without the need for human intervention.
It is also desirable, in the event of an actual or false emergency,
to minimize the confusion which ordinarily results by restricting
the evacuation of personnel to the areas immediately involved and
the areas immediately adjacent the involved areas, be they floors
or zones on a given floor.
The zone speaker relay system of the present invention is suitable
for use with any audio alarm generating system and has been adapted
for compatable operation with the system disclosed in the
aforementioned application. Accordingly, the switching assemblies
of the present invention receive certain of their inputs from and
provide certain outputs to that system. Certain features of that
system, conveniently called an audio fire alarm system (AFA), are
therefore modified to provide those inputs and receive those
outputs. For example, the audio alarm signals generated by the AFA
upon activation of an alarm indicating station, such as a pull box,
are routed through the switching assemblies to loud speaker busses
under the control of a timer in the AFA. Power to the pull boxes or
other alarm condition signaling devices coupled to the AFA system
which activate the switching assemblies and AFA is removed from the
pull boxes under the control of the timer to prevent subsequent
alarm signals from the same pull box circuit. After a predetermined
period, the audio alarm generated by the AFA is terminated by the
timer, and taped messages from recorders with taped evacuation
instructions are transmitted over the speaker busses through the
switching assemblies. Upon termination of the recorded messages, a
reset signal is generated and by means of the switching assemblies,
the AFA and timer are reset as by momentarily opening an alarm
relay circuit readying the AFA for subsequent alarms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is an automatic
loudspeaker switching system and in particular an alarm and
evacuation switching system which automatically and selectively
provides for the evacuation of personnel from floors of a high-rise
and from zones or a large one- or two-story building in the event
of an emergency.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a zone
speaker relay switching assembly for each zone or floor of a
building for controlling one or more loud speakers coupled thereto
in each of those areas. In a typical high-rise environment, when
there is but one speaker zone per floor and when an alarm station
is actuated on a given floor, conveniently called the "involved
floor," an energizing voltage level, such as a positive 24 volts,
is applied to a timer in a source of audio signals, such as an
audio fire alarm system (AFA). The voltage level is also applied to
a "down" relay coil in the switching assembly associated with that
floor. The "down" relay connects an associated group of speakers on
the involved floor to an output of an audio alarm portion of the
AFA for a period of time determined by the timer and then to a
"down" amplifier and taped message delivery system to instruct
personnel to evacuate via the lower floors. The "down" relay, thus
actuated, is then held by a positive potential supplied by its own
contact, when closed. This positive potential is also applied to
the "down" relay coil on an identical zone speaker relay switching
assembly associated with the floor immediately below the involved
floor to sequentially effect an audio alarm and an audio
instruction of the personnel thereon to evacuate via lower floors.
This positive potential is also applied to an "up" relay on an
identical zone speaker relay switching assembly associated with the
floor immediately above the involved floor to couple in an "up"
amplifier and taped message delivery system to sequentially effect
an audio alarm and an audio instruction of the personnel thereon to
evacuate via higher floors. Thus three floors are selectively
coupled to an audio alarm and a proper taped message amplifier in
the event of an emergency of a given floor.
The relay coupling in the "up" amplifier associated with the above
described group of three floors also places a potential, such as a
positive 24 volts, on a diode buss in all zone speaker relay
switching assemblies associated with the floors above this latter
floor. This will, if an alarm is actuated on any of these floors,
cause the "up" relay of the zone speaker relay switching assembly
associated with these latter floors to activate coupling in an
audio alarm and the "up" amplifier and taped message delivery
system associated therewith instructing all personnel to evacuate
via still higher floors and thus up and away from the latter and
the three originally involved floors.
Of the original three floors involved, the "up" relay in the zone
speaker relay assembly associated with the involved floor also
provides a standing potential, as of a positive 24 volts, on an
associated "hold" relay coil. After the taped messages have been
transmitted to each of the three floors, the taped message delivery
system applies a momentary negative potential or ground to the
"hold" relay coil. The application of the momentary negative
potential causes the "hold" relay to energize and close a first set
of associated contacts and then hold via current drawn through its
contacts and the coil of an associated "instruct" relay.
Operation of the "instruct" relay opens a negative 24 volt or
ground lead to all "up" relays associated with lower floors thus
making it impossible to send alarm information and instructions
which would move personnel up into an existing involved floor. The
"instruct" relay also couples an audio system to the loud speakers
on the involved floor for permitting the transmission of audio
instructions via, for example, a microphone.
As soon as the "hold" relay is operated, a second set of normally
closed contacts controlled thereby are opened removing a short in
the alarm indicating station circuitry in the AFA to permit the AFA
to reset and ready itself for another alarm call. The details of
resetting the alarm indicating circuits depends, of course, on the
specific nature of the audio alarm generating circuits used with
the present invention.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be apparent from the following detailed description
and accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of the present invention
illustration a typical coupling of a plurality of zone speaker
relay assemblies in a multiple floor high-rise environment;
FIG. 2 is a schematic of one of the plurality of zone speaker
assemblies of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the zone speaker relay system of the
present invention comprises a plurality of zone speaker relay
switching assemblies 100-104. Each one of switching assemblies
100-104 is associated with a separate floor or zone in a building.
For example, switching assembly 100 is associated with the first
floor or zone, while switching assemblies 101-104 are each
associated with the second through fifth floors or zones,
respectively. When used in a building having but a single zone per
floor, such as a high-rise, it will be appreciated that a single
one of assemblies 100-104 is associated with each such floor. Thus,
for convenience, the present invention will be described with
regard to its used in a high-rise and hence the terms "up" and
"down" refer to the relative location of floors and their
associated switching assembly.
As with the switching assemblies, a plurality of alarm indicating
station devices, such as pull boxes (not shown), are associated
with each zone or floor of a building. These devices are located in
convenient locations about the zone or floor for ready access by
personnel in those areas. Typically, a number of such devices are
coupled together to form an alarm indicating circuit for covering a
specified zone or floor. Thus, in accordance with the present
invention there is further provided a plurality of alarm indicating
circuits 110-114 each associated with a given zone or floor and
switching assembly. Alarm indicating circuit 110 is coupled to
switching assembly 100, while alarm indicating circuits 111-114 are
coupled to assemblies 101-104, respectively.
The present invention is designed for compatible use with any audio
alarm system, that is, a system which generates signals for
transmitting warning sounds over loud speakers in response to an
alarm signal. Such a system is described and claimed in copending
application Ser. No. 93,768, filed Nov. 30, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No.
3,656,158, entitled Integrated Fully-Supervised Fire Alarm System.
As described in that application, the audio fire alarm system (AFA)
is responsive to a signal from any one of a plurality of alarm
indicating station devices such as comprise alarm indicating
circuits 110-114 to generate an audio alarm which is transmitted
over loud speaker busses for providing an audio indication of an
emergency condition. As further stated in that application, the
advantage of an audio alarm system is that the loud speaker busses
may be used normally for paging and music transmissions and in the
event of an emergency may be used for transmitting audio
instructions for advising personnel in accordance with the nature
of the emergency.
Since the alarm signal which activates the switching assemblies may
also activate the AFA, an output of each of alarm indicating
circuits 110-114 and an input of each of switching assemblies
100-104 are coupled in parallel to an audio fire alarm system (AFA)
120 via a plurality of alarm signal busses 115-119,
respectively.
In addition to any supervisory capability and tone generating
circuits such as described in copending application Ser. No.
93,768, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,158, AFA 120 is further provided
with an audio alarm circuit 121 and a timer circuit 122. The output
of each of alarm indicating circuits 110-114 is coupled to AFA 120
via the audio alarm circuit 121. Audio alarm circuit 121 typically
comprises a relay (not shown) which is energized upon receipt of an
alarm signal from one of circuits 110-114 to initiate generation of
a warning tone which is transmitted over a plurality of audio
signal busses 138, 139, 135 and 136 as hereinafter described.
Power is provided to each of alarm indicating circuits 110-114 via
the timer circuit 122 on a power buss 123. In a typical system, the
power comprises a positive 24 volt potential level. When an alarm
indicating signal is generated upon the activation of any one of
alarm indicating circuits 110-114, the 24 volt level is transmitted
to the AFA 120 via the alarm indicating busses 115-119 and also to
an associated one of the switching assemblies 110-104 via the
second set of alarm signal busses 124-128, respectively. Thus if,
for example, one of the alarm indicating station devices in alarm
indicating circuit 112 is activated, a signal will be transmitted
to AFA 120 via buss 117 and to switching assembly 102 via buss
126.
For the transmission of audible warning and evacuation instructions
to each floor or zone of a building, there is further provided a
plurality of speakers S coupled to switching assemblies 100-104 via
a plurality of speaker busses 105-109, respectively.
In addition to AFA 120 there is further coupled to switching
assemblies 100-104 a plurality of audio signal sources 130-133
which are referred to as an "instruct" audio amplifying circuit, an
"up" amplifying and taped message delivery system, a "down"
amplifying and taped message delivery system, and a "switch-bank"
circuit, respectively.
As will be described in more detail herein below, audio
instructions from "instruct" audio amplifying circuit 130, "up"
amplifying and taped message delivery system 131, "down" amplifying
and taped message delivery system 132, and "switchbank" circuit
133, are selectively transmitted to the speakers and speaker busses
associated with switching assemblies 100-104 via an "instruct" buss
134, an "up" buss 135, a "down" buss 136, and a "switch-bank" buss
137, respectively. As previously described, audio warning signals
generated by AFA 120 upon activation of one of alarm indicating
circuit 110-114 are coupled to speaker busses 105-108 under the
control of timer 122 via the pair of busses 138, 139, coupled in
parallel with "up" buss 135 and "down" buss 136, respectively.
At the conclusion of a taped message provided by "up" and "down"
amplifying and taped message delivery systems 131, 132, there is
generated an end of message or reset pulse for resetting alarm
circuit 121 and timer 122 in AFA 120 to ready AFA 120 for
subsequent alarms. As described in more detail below, the reset
pulse is transmitted from systems 131 and 132 to the audio alarm
circuit 121 via a first reset buss 140 coupled to an input of
switching assemblies 100-104 and a second reset buss 141 coupling
circuit 121 to an output of switching assemblies 100-104. The timer
122, on the other hand, is coupled directly to buss 140 for
receiving the reset pulse.
Upon the generation of an alarm indicating signal by one of alarm
indicating circuits 110-114, there is generated in AFA 120 an audio
warning signal or tone such as a siren or a warble sound which is
transmitted over busses 138 and 139 for a predetermined period
under the control of timer 122. Once timer 122 is energized upon
receipt of an alarm indicating signal from one of the alarm
indicating circuits 110-114, it immediately thereafter interrupts
the power being delivered to alarm indicating circuits 110-114 via
buss 123 to deactivate said circuit to prevent the generation of
further alarms from that circuit. The audio alarm is transmitted as
previously mentioned under the control of timer 122 for a
predetermined length of time; say, for example, 30 seconds to 1
minute. Thereafter, the audio alarm is interrupted and signals are
generated by timer 122 on a pair of busses 142 and 143 coupled to
the "up" and "down" amplifying and taped message delivery systems
131 and 132 respectively to start those systems for the delivery of
taped audio instructions to selected speakers S under the control
of appropriate ones of switching assemblies 110-104.
For convenience, switching assemblies 100-104 are preferably
identically constructed and intercoupled via pin connectors (not
shown). This permits ready expansion of the system of the present
invention as well as rapid removal of each module if necessary for
repair and/or replacement. As will be more clearly understood with
reference to FIG. 2, each of switching assemblies 100-104 is for
this reason therefore provided with a plurality of pin connections
1-23.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, pin 1 of assembly 100 associated with
the first floor is coupled to pin 4 of assembly 101 associated with
the second floor. Similarly, pin 1 of assembly 101 is coupled to
pin 4 of assembly 102 associated with the third floor. Thus a
signal appearing on pin 1 of any of assemblies 100-104 will be
transmitted to the assembly associated with the floor immediately
above. Similarly, pin 3 of assembly 100 associated with the first
floor is connected to pin 2 of assembly 101 associated with the
second floor while pin 3 of assembly 101 associated with the second
floor is coupled to pin 2 of assembly 102 associated with the third
floor. Pin 22 of assembly 100 is coupled to pin 21 of assembly 101.
Pin 23 of assembly 100 is coupled through a diode D to pin 5 of
assembly 101. For reasons which will become apparent from the
description of FIG. 2, diode D serves to prevent a positive
potential appearing on pin 23 from appearing on pin 5 of the
assembly associated with the floor above.
Referring to FIG. 2, whenever an alarm indicating signal is
generated upon the activation of one of alarm indicating circuits
110-114, a positive 24 volt dc level is applied to input 5 of the
associated switching assembly.
For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that such a signal is
first generated by alarm indicating circuit 112 and that such a
positive 24 volt signal is applied to pin 5 of assembly 102
associated with the third floor. The positive level is also coupled
to pin 23 of assembly 101 associated with the floor below through
diode D which is coupled between pins 5 and 23 with the appropriate
polarity.
Keeping in mind that under the assumed conditions that an emergency
exists on the third floor, the third floor will hereinafter be
sometimes referred to as the "involved floor." consequently the
fourth floor and associated assembly 103 will be referred to as the
"above floor" or "floor above," and the second floor and associated
assembly 101 will be sometimes referred to as the "below floor" or
"floor below."
Returning to the description of FIG. 2, each of assemblies 100-104
comprise a plurality of switchbanks which in turn comprise a
plurality of relays conveniently called a "down" relay R1, an " up"
relay R2, an "instruct" relay R3, and a "hold" relay R4. "Down"
relay R1 controls a plurality of switch contacts S21-S25.
"Instruct" relay R3 controls a plurality of switch contacts
S31-S35. "Hold:" relay R4 controls a plurality of switch contacts
S41-S42. Each of relays R1, R2, R3, and R4 are normally
de-energized. Each of switch contacts such as S11 associated with
R1 which do not have a diagonal line crossing the two parallel
lines is a normally open switch contact. Whereas a switch with a
diagonal line crossing the two horizontal lines such as S13 is a
normally closed switch contact. The switchbanks are coupled to a
plurality of audio signal busses 150-153 which are in turn coupled
to audio signal busses 134-137 via pins 13-20 for controlling the
transmission of audio signals on the busses to the speaker buss
107.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B it will be noted that the reset pulse
appearing on buss 140 is coupled to the switching assemblies
100-104 via pin 9 and to AFA 120 via buss 141 coupled to pins 6 and
7. Busses 134-137 are coupled respectively to pins 13-20 and
speaker busses 105-109 are coupled to pins 11 and 12 of assemblies
100-104.
Referring again to FIG. 2, it is understood that in the absence of
an alarm condition, none of relays R1-R4 are energized. Under such
circumstances it will be noted that the switch-bank circuit 133
coupled to assembly 102 via buss 137 will have an uninterrupted
audio path via pins 13 and 14, switch contacts S13 and S15, S22 and
S24, S32 and S34 to speaker buss 107 via pins 11 and 12. In the
absence of an alarm condition, switchbank circuit 133 is thus
coupled through to all speaker busses associated with each of
switching assemblies 100-104. Accordingly, switchbank circuit 133
is used to couple conventional paging and music systems to the
speaker busses under normal conditions.
When as is assumed for purposes of this description a positive 24
volt level appears on pin 5 of assembly 102, the 24 volt level is
coupled to the coil of "down" relay R1 through a diode D1 to ground
through pin 8. The energization of "down" relay R1 effects a change
of state of each of switches S11-S16. With S13 and S15 thus opened,
and S14 and S16 closed, continuity is established between "down"
buss 136 coupled to pins 15 and 16 through S14 and S16, S22 and
S24, and S32 and S34, to speaker buss 107 and speakers S via pins
11 and 12. As previously described, the audio alarm signal
generated by the AFA 120 will then be transmitted over busses 139
and 136 under the control of timer 122 for the preselected period
of time, after which, "down" amplifying and taped message delivery
system 132 will transmit its taped message over the same lines to
instruct all personnel on the third floor to evacuate the building
via lower floors. Since switch S11 is also closed, a 24 volt alarm
hold level coupled to pin 10 will hold "down" relay R1 in an
energized state after the removal of the 24 volt level supplied
alarm indicator 112 by timer 122 as previously described.
As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, pin 23 of each of assemblies
100-104 is coupled to its "down" relay R1. The positive level from
alarm indicator circuit 112 appearing on pin 5 of switching
assembly 102 is directed through diode D to pin 23 of assembly 101
associated with the floor below to energize the "down" relay R1 in
assembly 101 to couple in the "down" buss for also instructing
personnel on the second floor to evacuate via lower floors.
However, it will be noted that the positive level appearing on pin
23 of assembly 101 will be blocked by diode D1 of that module so as
to prevent energizing the "down" relay associated with any of the
still lower floors, e.g., the first floor. This prevents needless
evacuation of those floors. Similarly, diode D coupled between pin
5 of assembly 103 associated with the fourth floor and pin 23 of
assembly 102 associated with the third floor will block the
positive potential appearing on pin 23 of assembly 102 from
appearing on pin 5 of assembly 103 to prevent the issuance of
instructions to personnel on the fourth floor which would cause
them to evacuate down into an involved area; namely, the third
floor.
To ensure that personnel on the fourth floor are directed up and
away from the involved floor, the 24 volt level appearing on the
"down" relay R1 of assembly 102 is coupled to pin 1 of assembly 102
through a diode D8. As seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, pin 1 of
assembly 102 is coupled to pin 4 of assembly 103 and pin 4 of
assembly 103 is coupled to the coil of the "up" relay R2 of
assembly 103 through a diode D6. Energization of relay R2 of
assembly 103 changes the state of its associated switch contacts
S21-S25. Since "down" relay R1 of assembly 103 is not energized,
there is no continuity between "down" buss 136 and speaker buss
108. There is continuity, however, between "up" buss 130 and
speaker buss 108 via pins 17 and 18, switch contacts S23 and S25,
S32 and S34. With such continuity the taped message delivered by
"up" amplifying and taped message delivery system 131 will be
transmitted to personnel on the fourth floor directing them to
evacuate via upper floors and hence up and away from the involved
third floor. The positive 24 volt alarm hold potential level which
holds "down" relay R1 of assembly 102 is also applied to the pin 10
of assembly 103 to hold the "up" relay R2 of assembly 103 through
switch contacts S21 which are closed upon energization of "up"
relay R2 in assembly 103. Referring again to assembly 102, it will
be noted that the positive potential level appearing on the coil of
"down"relay R1 is also coupled to its "hold"relay R1 to place a
standing positive potential thereon through a diode D2. The
negative or lower potential side of the coil of "hold" relay R4 of
assembly 102 is coupled to pin 9 of assembly through a diode
D3.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B it will be noted that pin 9 of each of
assemblies 100-104 is coupled to an output of "up" and "down"
amplifying and taped message delivery systems 131 and 132. As
previously described, an end of message or reset pulse is generated
at the termination of the messages from systems 131 and 132. This
pulse is caused to be a momentary negative pulse or ground
potential so as to provide the potential across the coil of "hold"
relay R4 of assembly 102 sufficient to energize relay R4. In
addition to energizing relay R4 of assembly 102, the momentary
negative pulse also rests timer 122 of audio fire alarm system 120
as previously described and results in a change of state of switch
contacts S41 and S42 associated with "hold" relay R4. Normally
closed switch contacts 41 associated with "hold" relay R4, are
coupled to pins 6 and 7 of assembly 102. As previously described,
pins 6 and 7 of each of assemblies 100-104 are coupled to the audio
alarm circuit of audio fire alarm system 120.
As used with the audio fire alarm system described in copending
application Ser. No. 93,768, the opening of switch contacts 41
serves to open the alarm relay circuit in the audio fire alarm
system as therein described to reset the audio fire alarm system.
Referring again to FIG. 2, the closing of switch contacts S42
associated with "hold" relay R4 of assembly 102 causes the positive
potential standing on the coil of "hold" relay R4 to be applied to
the coil of "instruct" relay R3 through a diode D4 to the negative
side of the 24 volt supply or ground coupled to pin 8 of assembly
102 thus latching up both "hold" relay R4 and "instruct" relay R3
of assembly 102. The energizing of "instruct" relay R3 causes
switch contacts S31-S35 associated therewith to change state. The
previously continuous audio path between "down" buss 136 coupled to
pins 15 and 16 of assembly 102 is then interrupted and a continuous
audio path provided between "instruct" buss 134 coupled to pins 19
and 20 and speaker bus 107 via pins 19 and 20 and switch contacts
S33 and S35.
Referring to "up" relay R2 of FIG. 2, it will be noted that in
order for any "up" relay R2 in any of assemblies 100-104 to be
energized a negative level or ground must appear on the negative or
low potential side of the coil of the relay R2. Referring to FIGS.
1 and 2, it will be noted that this negative or ground potential is
applied to the negative or low potential side of the coil of the
"up" relays R2 of each of assemblies 100-104 via a diode D5 and
normally closed contact S31 associated with "instruct" relay R3 in
each of the assemblies. So long as switch contact S31 remain
closed, a continuous path will be provided for this negative or
ground potential level from pin 22 of the assembly associated with
the highest floor through diode D5 and switch contacts S31 to pin
21 of the highest floor and then to pin 22 of the next lower floor
through a corresponding diode D5 and switch contacts 31 and so
on.
Recalling that in the example given, the third floor is assumed to
be the involved floor. The "instruct" relay R3 of assembly 102 will
be energized and switch contacts S31 associated therewith will be
opened thus interrupting this negative or ground level path. As
shown more clearly with reference to S31 of assembly 102 in FIGS.
1A and 1B, with the ground level or negative path to the
corresponding "up" relays R2 of each of the assemblies associated
with the floors below the third floor interrupted, it will be seen
that under no circumstances can an "up" buss 135 be coupled into
the speaker busses associated with these floors so as to direct
personnel on these floors up into involved areas.
Referring again to FIG. 2, the positive potential applied to the
coil of the "down" relay R1 of assembly 102 is also applied to pin
1 of assembly 102 through a diode D4. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,
pin 1 of each of assemblies 100-104 is coupled to pin 4 of the
assembly associated with the floor above. In addition to causing
the energizing of the "up" relay R2 of the assembly of the floor
above, the positive potential is also applied to pin 3 of the
assembly associated with the floor above, in this case assembly
103, through a diode D7 and a diode D9. As shown in FIGS. 1A and
1B, pin 3 of each of assemblies 100-104 is coupled to pin 2 of the
assembly associated with the floor above. The positive potential
appearing on the line intermediate diodes D7 and D9 of each of the
assemblies thus appears as a standing potential on the switch
contacts S12 associated with the "down" relay R1 associated with
the assemblies of these higher floors. The purpose of this
arrangement is to energize the "up" relay R2 associated with any
floor above an originally involved floor so as to effect the audio
instruction of personnel to evacuate via higher floors.
Thus, for example, if following an alarm indicating signal from
alarm indicating circuit 112 which established as in our example
that the third floor was an involved floor, there occurred
thereafter an alarm indicating signal from alarm indicating circuit
113 coupled to assembly 103, it would be inappropriate for the
system of the present invention to operate as previously described
with respect to assembly 102 directing personnel on the floor to
evacuate via lower floors, the third floor being assumed to still
be an involved floor. It will be noted that this safety feature
will serve to effect the appropriate instructions to personnel on
any floor above an initially involved floor, such that they will
not be directed to evacuate via lower floors but rather up and away
from the originally involved floor.
In addition to the diodes D1-D10 previously described, there is a
diode D11 coupled between Diode D2 and the coil of "up" relay R2.
Diode D11 serves merely to prevent any positive potential appearing
across D2 from appearing on the coil of "up" relay R2.
Thus, in summary, the zone speaker relay system of the present
invention rapidly, accurately, and automatically localizes an
indicated emergency condition to three floors or zones in a
building unless subsequent alarm indicating signals are generated
on other floors or in other zones such as may occur in the
spreading of an emergency throughout a building. In the event that
subsequent alarm indicating signals are generated, the system
provides safety measures whereby personnel located on the floors or
zones associated with these subsequent emergencies are directed
away from the subsequent as well as from the original emergency
condition.
It is understood that various changes and modifications of the
invention as described may be made by those skilled in the art and
that the invention as described is to be limited only by the claims
appended hereto.
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