ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEM

• US 3,653,041 A
• Filed: 12/02/1969
• Issued: 03/28/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Administratrix Reichle, Deceased Reichle, Robert B. Mcleod, William W. Mcgrath
• Original Assignee: Administratrix Reichle, Deceased Reichle, Robert B. Mcleod, William W. Mcgrath
• Inventors: McGrath, William W., McLeod, Robert B., Reichle, deceased, Reichle, administratrix
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US04/881,479
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 340/409,213,420,253R 317/39,8 307/127,151
• US Class Current: 340/508
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/06 Monitoring of the line circuits, e.g. signalling of line faults

Abstract

There is provided an annunciator system for indicating that an alarm condition exists at any of a plurality of remote station monitoring circuits having a like plurality of supervisory circuits, each associated with one of the monitoring circuits, and a central station common circuit which is coupled to each of the supervisory circuits. An alarm signal, indicative of an alarm condition at the remote station, is detected by an associated supervisory circuit, which in turn actuates an alarm indicator in the supervisory circuit and in the central station common circuit. A disruption in the circuit connection between one of the remote station monitoring circuits and the associated supervisory circuit is detected by the associated supervisory circuits, which in turn actuates a trouble indicator in the supervisory circuit and in the central station common circuit. The supervisory circuits are compatible with both remote station monitoring circuits which provide an alarm signal by increasing the magnitude of a current flowing in the monitoring circuit, and remote monitoring circuits which provide an alarm signal by changing the direction of a current flowing in the monitoring circuit.

Claims

1. An annunciator system comprising:

a first remote station monitoring circuit including means for changing the magnitude of a supervisory current flowing therein from a preselected value in response to an alarm condition to thereby transmit an alarm signal indicative of an alarm condition at the first remote station;

a second remote station monitoring circuit including means for changing the direction of a supervisory current flowing therein from a predetermined direction in response to an alarm condition to thereby transmit an alarm signal indicative of an alarm condition at the second remote station;

a first and second supervisory circuit each respectively electrically connected to an associated one of said monitoring circuits, each said supervisory circuit including alarm indicating means and first circuit means for energizing said alarm indicating means in response to a said alarm signal, and trouble indicating means and second circuit means for energizing said trouble indicating means in response to a disruption in said electrical connection between said supervisory circuit and its said associated monitoring circuit; and

, a central station common circuit including common alarm indicating means, and third circuit means for energizing said common alarm indicating means when the supervisory alarm indicating means of either of said supervisory circuits becomes energized

2. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical connection between a said supervisory circuit and its associated monitoring circuit includes a supervisory current circuit, said current circuit is adapted to be connected to a source of voltage so that a said supervisory current of a given value normally flows in said current circuit.

3. An annunciator syStem as set forth in claim 2, wherein said central station includes common trouble indicating means and fourth circuit means for energizing said common trouble indicating means when the supervisory trouble indicating means of either of said supervisory circuits becomes energized.

4. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first monitoring circuit includes means for increasing the magnitude of a said supervisory current in response to an alarm condition.

5. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said supervisory circuit associated with said first monitoring circuit includes a first timing means for preventing said first circuit means from energizing said supervisory alarm indicating means for a predetermined period of time after an alarm signal is transmitted by said first monitoring circuit.

6. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said supervisory circuit associated with said second monitoring circuit includes a second timing means for preventing said second circuit means from energizing said supervisory trouble indicating means for a predetermined period of time after a disruption occurs in the electrical connection between said first monitoring circuit and its associated supervisory circuit.

7. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first timing means includes a capacitive means, and actuatable electronic control means having a first and a second condition, said capacitive means being coupled to said actuatable electronic control means in such a manner so that when a voltage developed across said capacitive means in response to an alarm signal attains a predetermined value said actuatable electronic control means is actuated from said first condition to said second condition to thereby energize said supervisory alarm indicating means.

8. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third circuit means comprises a latching circuit means including:

circuit means for, upon actuation in response to the change in magnitude of the supervisory current flowing in the first remote station monitoring circuit from a said predetermined value, energizing said common alarm indicating means; and

, circuit means for maintaining said common alarm indicating means in an energized condition after the supervisory current returns to a said predetermined value.

9. An annunciator system comprising:

at least one remote station monitoring circuit including power means at the station to provide a supervisory current flowing therein, and means at the station for reversing the direction of a supervisory current flowing therein from a predetermined direction in response to an alarm condition to thereby transmit an alarm signal indicative of an alarm condition at the remote station;

at least one supervisory circuit electrically connected to an associated monitoring circuit, each said supervisory circuit including alarm indicating means and first circuit means in response to a said alarm signal from at least one said remote station, and trouble indicating means and second circuit means for energizing said trouble indicating means in response to a disruption in the said electrical connection between any said supervisory circuit and at least one said remote station monitoring circuit.

10. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 9, including a central station common circuit having common alarm indicating means, and third circuit means for energizing said common alarm indicating means when the supervisory alarm indicating means of said supervisory circuit becomes energized.

11. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the electrical connection between a said supervisory circuit and said remote station monitoring circuit includes a supervisory current circuit, said current circuit is adapted to be connected to a source of voltage so that a supervisory current of a given value normally flows in said current circuit.

12. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said central station includes common trouble indicating means and fourth circuit means for energizing said common trouble indicating means when the supervisory trouble indicating means of said supervisory circuit becomes energized.

13. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said supervisory circuit includes a first timing means for preventing said first circuit means from energizing said supervisory alarm indicating means for a predetermined period of time after an alarm signal is transmitted by said remote monitoring circuit.

14. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said supervisory circuit includes a second timing means for preventing said second circuit means from energizing said supervisory trouble indicating means for a predetermined period of time after a disruption occurs in the electrical connection between said remote monitoring circuit and said supervisory circuit.

15. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said first timing means includes a capacitive means, and actuatable electronic control means having a first and a second condition, said capacitive means being coupled to said actuatable electronic control means so that when a voltage developed across said capacitive means in response to an alarm signal attains a predetermined value, said actuatable electronic control means is actuated from said first condition to said second condition to thereby energize said supervisory alarm indicating means.

16. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said third circuit means comprises a latching circuit means including:

circuit means for, upon actuation in response to the energization of said supervisory alarm indicating means, energizing said common alarm indicating means; and

, circuit means for maintaining said common alarm indicating means in an energized condition after the supervisory alarm indicating means becomes deenergized.

17. An annunciator system comprising:

a first remote station monitoring circuit including means for changing the magnitude of a supervisory current flowing therein from a preselected value in response to an alarm condition to thereby transmit an alarm signal indicative of an alarm condition at the first remote station;

a second remote station monitoring circuit including means for changing the direction of a supervisory current flowing therein from a predetermined direction in response to an alarm condition to thereby transmit an alarm signal indicative of an alarm condition at the second remote station;

a first and second supervisory circuit each respectively electrically connected to an associated one of said monitoring circuits;

said supervisory circuits each having detecting means for respectively providing a first output signal upon receipt of a said alarm signal transmitted by said first remote station monitoring circuit and providing a second output signal upon receipt of a said alarm signal transmitted by said second remote station monitoring circuit.

18. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said first and second supervisory circuits each include alarm indicating means and first circuit means for energizing said alarm indicating means in response to a said alarm signal, and trouble indicating means and second circuit means for energizing said trouble indicating means in response to a disruption in said electrical connection between the associated supervisory circuit and its said associated monitoring circuit.

19. In an annunciator system a remote station monitoring circuit comprising:

a DC voltage supply source at the station;

actuatable circuit means having a normal first condition and a second condition and connected to the voltage supply source;

first and second bistable circuit means each having a first condition and a second condition;

said first bistable circuit means being diode coupled to said actuatable circuit means in such a manner so that when said actuatable circuit meaNs is actuated from said normal first condition to its said second condition said bistable circuit means is actuated from its said first condition to its said second condition;

said second bistable circuit means being diode connected to said actuatable circuit means in such a manner that said second bistable circuit means is actuated from its said first condition to its said second condition in response to a disruption in said electrical connection between said actuatable circuit means and said second bistable circuit means.

20. In an annunciator system a supervisory circuit adapted to be connected to a remote station monitoring circuit and comprising:

trouble indicating means and first circuit means for energizing said trouble indicating means in response to a trouble signal;

alarm indicating means and second circuit means for energizing said alarm indicating means in response to the receipt of an alarm signal from a said remote station monitoring circuit; and

, first timing means for preventing said first circuit means from energizing said alarm indicating means for a predetermined period of time after the receipt of a said alarm signal from a said remote station monitoring circuit.

21. In an annunciator system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said first timing means includes a capacitive means, and actuatable electronic control means having a first and second condition, said capacitive means being coupled to said actuatable electronic control means in such a manner so that when a voltage developed across said capacitive means in response to an alarm signal attains a predetermined value said actuatable electronic control means is actuated from said first condition to said second condition to thereby energize said alarm indicating means.

22. An annunciator system comprising:

a remote station monitoring circuit including means for changing the magnitude of a supervisory current flowing therein from a preselected value in response to an alarm condition at the remote station;

a supervisory circuit electrically connected to said remote station monitoring circuit and including;

trouble indicating means and first circuit means for energizing said trouble indicating means in response to the disruption of said electrical connection between said supervisory circuit and said remote station monitoring circuit;

alarm indicating means and second circuit means for energizing said alarm indicating means in response to the receipt of an alarm signal from a said remote station monitoring circuit; and

, first timing means for preventing said first circuit means from energizing said alarm indicating means for a predetermined period of time after the receipt of a said alarm signal from a said remote station monitoring circuit.

23. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 22 including a central station common circuit coupled to said supervisory circuit and comprising:

common alarm indicating means;

first circuit means for energizing said common alarm indicating means in response to the energization of said alarm indicating means in said supervisory circuit; and

, second circuit means for maintaining said common alarm indicating means in an energized condition after said alarm indicating means in said supervisory circuit becomes deenergized.

24. An annunciator system as set forth in claim 23 including a plurality of supervisory circuits wherein said first circuit means includes a latching circuit means having:

circuit means for, upon actuation in response to the receipt of a said alarm signal from any supervisory circuit, energizing said common alarm indicating means; and

, circuit means for maintaining said common alarm indicating means in an energized condition after the removal of a said alarm signal from said central station common circuit.