Alarm communications system

• US 4,107,464 A
• Filed: 07/26/1977
• Issued: 08/15/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George L. Gallegos, John H. Lynch
• Original Assignee: George L. Gallegos, John H. Lynch
• Inventors: Lynch, John H., Gallegos, George L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Thomas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kemeny, E. S.
• Application Number:
  US05/819,089
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1 B, 179/5 P, 179/1 SW, 340/221, 340/310 R, 340/420
• US Class Current: 381/80
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

An alarm communication system including a circuit for normally transmitting music to a plurality of different locations within a building which includes a source of music, a plurality of speakers selectively positioned throughout the building and a normally closed switch for connecting the source of music to each of the speakers. A source of programmed alarm announcements stored on a tape is converted to an electrical signal, amplified and coupled to each of the speakers via an override switch. Actuation of an override switch in response to the occurrence of an emergency condition, such as a fire, causes the normally closed switch to open and couples the electronic signal corresponding to the programmed alarm announcements to each of the speakers. A microphone is provided which is selectively actuatable upon the closing of a switch to couple instantaneous voice communications to each of the aforementioned speakers while at the same time inhibiting the programmed alarm announcements being coupled thereto. A handset selectively monitors the programmed alarm announcements from a centralized location to insure that appropriate announcements are being coupled to each of the aforementioned speakers.

Claims

1. An alarm system for a high-rise building having a pre-installed non-verbal fire alarm system with at least one master alarm switch, and a pre-installed music transmitting system which includes a music source, amplifier and a plurality of loudspeakers, whereby the alarm system can be simply and conveniently installed to incorporate the pre-installed systems, the alarm system comprising:

(A) a console means comprising a tape unit with recorder-playback means with pre-recorded alarm verbal messages, a microphone, a monitor for the tape unit, a plurality of switching means comprising manual and relay means for operationally modifying modes of said alarm system, a plurality of terminals for convenient interconnection between console means and other components of said alarm system, and a plurality of lamps for indicating operating mode,

(B) emergency alarm speakers or horns located at strategic places throughout the building to which music is not normally coupled, and

(C) A remote alarm switch for manual alarm instigation, wherein said plurality of switching means comprise;

a first relay which provides connection of the music source to the amplifier and loudspeakers in the non-alarm mode;

a second relay which responds to the master alarm switch to cause a third relay to interconnect the tape unit to the amplifier and loudspeakers;

a fourth relay which responds to the remote alarm switch to interconnect the tape unit to the amplifier and loudspeakers;

a fifth relay which responds to a microphone switch to connect the microphone to the amplifier and loudspeakers;

a sixth relay which energizes the tape unit, and a seventh relay which responds to a horn switch to connect the horn speakers and lamp indicators to their respective energy sources.