Sump pump detection and alarm system
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a sump pump detection and alarm system to indicate one or more abnormal conditions at the site of the pump to enable corrective measures to be taken before damage is done. 
     There are a number of prior art devices which detect the presence of water at an overflow or high water level, having a relay or switch which is actuated by a float reaching such level to then energize an alarm circuit. However, at such time the sump pump may be working normally at full capacity, and the overflow condition may be only temporary. Conversely, a condition might prevail at the sump pump site in which electrical power has failed, but at the time there is no overflow or high water condition. It can be just as important to be warned of that condition, so corrective measures can be taken before a high water level condition occurs. 
     The present invention overcomes such problems by providing an alarm system which detects and distinguishes between three different conditions, namely (1) a high water condition when electric power is still available, (2) a high water condition and electric power has failed at the pump site, and (3) a failure of electrical power to the pump at a time when no high water condition is present. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a sump pump alarm system which is able to detect and distinguish between a plurality of different abnormal conditions at the sump pump site, and to energize an alarm upon the occurrence of such conditions. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a sump pump alarm comprising an electrical circuit and components to detect and signal the presence of a high water-no power condition, a high water-power available condition, and a no power-no high water condition at the pump site, providing a different signal to indicate the presence of each condition. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a sump pump alarm system comprising an electrical circuit and components to detect and signal the presence of abnormal conditions at the pump site, and remote alarm stations for placement at locations remote from the sump pump site. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a sump pump alarm system comprising an electrical circuit and components to detect the presence of an abnormal condition at the pump site, and to impinge a signal on an incoming telephone line to indicate the presence of such abnormal condition. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a sump pump alarm system comprising an electrical circuit and components to detect the presence of an abnormal condition at the pump site, and to feed a signal of such abnormal condition to a radio transmitter for transmission of such signal by radio waves. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the sump pump alarm system in accordance with this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic showing the detection and alarm circuits of the sump pump alarm in accordance with this invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic showing a remote alarm station circuit in accordance with this invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the primary control and monitoring console in accordance with this invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a remote alarm station console in accordance with this invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic of telephone circuitry to which the detection and alarm system in accordance with this invention may be connected, shown with the handset in place on the body of the telephone and the respective circuit connections in such position. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic of the telephone circuitry of FIG. 6 shown with the handset removed from the phone and the respective circuit connections in such position, including the addition of a distinguishing signal device to supplement or substitute for a busy signal an occurrence of an abnormal condition detected by the invention described herein. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A sump pump detection and alarm system in accordance with this invention includes a detection and alarm circuit 201 in detect and signal the presence of a plurality of abnormal conditions at the site of an electrical sump pump 202 located in the basement or lowest floor of a building for the purpose of pumping out water which enters and flows to the site of the pump. 
     The abnormal conditions detected include (1) a high water condition with electric power still available, (2) a high water condition when electrical power to the sump pump has failed, and (3) a failure of electrical power even though there is no high water condition at the time. 
     A signal may also be transmitted to a radio transmitter 204 and to the circuit of a telephone receiving station 205 located at the premises where the sump pump 202 is located. 
     The detection and alarm circuit 201 is electrically connected to a public service 110 Volt A.C. source by means of a pair of relay coils 1 and 2 which are connected across the 110 Volt conductors 3 and 4. Coil 1 operates relay contacts 5, 6 and 7 and coil 2 operates relay contacts 8, 9 and 10 in a manner described subsequently herein. 
     The detection and alarm circuit 201 is powered by a battery 11 and includes an alarm device 12 which may be a buzzer, bell, horn or other device which emits an audible source when energized. 
     A remote D.C. switching circuit 206 is connected across the detection and alarm circuit 201 by means of conductors 13 and 14 leading from their respective connections to conductors 15 and 16 of the detection and alarm circuit 201 to terminals 17 and 18 of the remote D.C. switching circuit 206. The purpose of this circuit 206 is to open and close the connection of circuit 201 to the battery 11 or D.C. power source. 
     A remote A.C. switching and testing circuit 207 is connected across the 110 Volt conductor 3 of the main A.C. power line source by means of conductors 19 and 20 which lead to terminals 21 and 22 of the A.C. switching and testing circuit 207. The purpose of circuit 207 is to connect and disconnect the detection and alarm circuit 201 and the relay coils 1 and 2 from the main line A.C. power source, as well as to test the operation of the D.C. detection and alarm circuit 201 from a remote location. 
     The circuit for a loss of power but no high water condition will be described first. While 110 Volt A.C. power is available to the sump pump 202, the relay coil 2 is energized and its corresponding relay contacts 8 are held in the contact open position, relay contacts 9 are held in the contact closed position, and relay contacts 10 are held in the contact open position. When 110 Volt A.C. power fails, the relay contacts 8, 9 and 10 are biased to their respective opposite positions so that relay contacts 8 close, relay contacts 9 open and relay contact 10 closes. 
     At this time, since there is no high water level at the sump pump 202, a limit switch 23 connected to the float of the sump pump is open. 
     The relay coil 1 when energized by the 110 Volt A.C. main line power source holds its corresponding relay contacts in the following positions, contacts 5 open, contacts 6 closed and contacts 7 open. When loss of 110 Volt A.C. power occurs, these relay contacts 5, 6 and 7 are biased to their respective opposite positions so that contacts 5 close, contacts 6 open and contacts 7 close. 
     The only completed circuit at this time, loss of 110 Volt A.C. power but no high water at the sump pump location, between the battery 11 and the alarm 12 is therefore through closed contacts 10, conductor 24 leading to the alarm 12, conductor 25 leading to the battery 11, conductors 26 leading to conductor 15 of the remote D.C. switching circuit 206, through toggle switch 27, conductors 28 and 29 back to the closed relay contacts 10. At this time a circuit is also completed through closed relay contacts 7 and conductor 30 to a signal lamp 31 mounted on the control console 32 for the detection and alarm circuit 201 to signal at that location that a loss of 110 Volt A.C. power condition exists but without an accompanying high water level condition at the sump pump site. 
     The alarm 12 may be turned off or de-energized by a push button 33 mounted on the console 32 for circuit 201 which closes switch 34 which is in parallel with normally open relay contacts 35 associated with relay coil 36. When switch 34 is closed, relay coil 36 is energized moving its relay contacts 35 to the closed position to provide a holding circuit across conductors 37 and 38 thereby shorting out the alarm 12. The signal lamp 31 remains energized and lit until the toggle switch 27 is opened, or until the remote D.C. switching circuit 206 is opened, to break the circuit between the battery 11 and the signal lamp 31. 
     The circuit for a loss of 110 Volt A.C. power condition with a high water condition at the sump pump site will be described next. With loss of 110 Volt A.C. power, the relay contacts 8, 9 an 10 associated with relay coil 2 and relay contacts 5, 6 and 7 associated with relay coil 1 will be in the same positions as described above for a loss of power-no high water condition. Thus, relay contacts 8 and 5 will be in the closed contact position. 
     In addition, the limit switch 23 will be in the closed position as a result of a high water level at the sump pump site. 
     The completed circuit at this time between the battery 11 and the alarm 12 is through limit switch 23, closed relay contact 8, conductor 39 leading to relay coil 40 and its associated normally open relay contact 41. This relay coil 40 is connected across the battery 11 through conductors 42 and 25 on one side and to the limit switch 23 connection to battery 11 on the other side. It therefore becomes energized when limit switch 23 closes, thereby moving its associated normally open relay contacts 41 to the closed contact position and completing a circuit through conductor 43 and a normally closed relay contact 44 to the alarm 12, then conductor 25 to battery 11 and back to limit switch 31 through closed toggle switch 27 and remote switching circuit 206. At this time a circuit is also completed through closed relay contact 5 and conductor 47 to energize signal lamp 48 mounted on the control console 32 for the detection and alarm circuit 201 to signal at that location that a loss of 110 Volt A.C. power condition exists and that a high water level condition also exists at the sump pump site. 
     The alarm 12 may be turned off or de-energized in this mode by the push button 33 mounted on the console 32 for circuit 201 which closes switch contact 49 which is in parallel with normally open relay contacts 50 associated with relay coil 51. When contact 49 is closed, relay coil 51 is energized moving its normally open relay contacts 50 to the contact closed position to provide a holding circuit across conductors 52 and 53 thereby shorting out the alarm 12. The signal lamp 48 remains energized and lit until the toggle switch 27 is opened, or until the remote D.C. switching circuit 206 is opened, to break the circuit between the battery and signal lamp 48. 
     The circuit for a high water level condition at the sump pump site but with no loss of 110 Volt A.C. power will now be described. With 110 Volt A.C. power available, relay coils 2 and 1 will be energized and their corresponding relay contacts will be in the following positions: Contacts 8 open, contacts 9 closed, contacts 10 open, contacts 5 open, contacts 6 closed, contacts 7 open. 
     The limit switch 23 will be in the closed position. 
     The completed circuit at this time between the alarm 12 and battery 11 is through limit switch 23, conductor 54 leading to relay contact 9 and is now in the contact closed position, through conductor 43 and the normally closed relay contact 44 to the alarm 12, then conductor 25 to battery 11 and back to limit switch 23 through closed toggle switch 27 and remote switching circuit 206. 
     At this time, a circuit is also completed through relay contacts 6 which are now in the contact closed position since relay coil 1 is energized, such circuit leading through conductor 55 to energize signal lamp 56 mounted on the control console 32 for the detection and alarm circuit 201 to signal at that location that a high water level condition exists at the sump pump site but that 110 Volt A.C. power is still available to the sump pump 202. 
     The alarm 12 may be de-energized in this mode by depressing the push button 33 on the console 32 for circuit 201 which closes contact 49 with the same effect as described above for the high water-no power mode. The signal lamp 56 remains energized or lit until either the toggle switch 27 or remote D.C. switching circuit 206 is opened to break the circuit between the battery and signal lamp 56. 
     A relay comprising relay coil 57 and associated pairs of relay contacts 58 and 59 are connected across the battery 11 by connections to conductor 54 on one side and to conductor 25 on the other side to energize the radio transmitter 204 and the incoming telephone circuit 205. Relay contacts 50 are connected through conductors 60 and 61 to the incoming telephone circuit 205, and relay contacts 59 are connected through conductors 62 and 63 to the radio transmitter 204. 
     When a high water level condition exists at the sump pump site, limit switch 23 closes to complete a circuit to the battery 11 as previously described. Since relay coil 57 is connected across the battery 11 through its connection to conductor 54 leading to the limit switch 23 it becomes energized when a high water at the sump pump condition exists to move limit switch 23 to the closed contact position. The normally open relay contacts 58 are then moved to the contact closed position, thus completing a circuit through conductor 60 to relay coil 64 electrically connected to the incoming telephone circuit 205 which operates the telephone incoming call circuit in the same manner as if the handset were removed from the telephone receiver. The result is therefor to provide a busy signal at the incoming telephone circuit 205 for anyone attempting to reach that number. A timing switch 65 is provided to periodically open the circuit through conductor 60 after pre-determined time intervals, such as each two minutes, to remain in the circuit open position for a pre-determined time such as thirty second, and then return to the circuit closed position for another two-minute interval. In this way, a person dialing such number who gets a busy signal, can wait up to thirty seconds before re-dialing one, two and no more than three times. During one of such re-dials, the phone should ring if the busy signal had been the result of relay contacts 58 being closed and timing switch 65 likewise being closed for the two-minute interval in the example given. In this way, the person dialing would know that the busy signal indicated a high water condition at the pump site. 
     In similar fashion, the normally open contacts 59 leading to the radio transmitter 204 are moved to the contact closed position when relay coil 57 becomes energized as a result of limit switch 23 closing because of a high water condition at the sump pump site. A circuit is then completed to terminal 66 of the radio transmitter 204, thereby turning the radio transmitter on to transmit a desired pre-determined signal such as a beeper signal on a pre-determined wave length. 
     Remote alarm stations 203 may also be provided one of which is shown schematically in FIG. 3. A remote audible alarm device 67 is mounted in a room or building at some distance from the site where the sump pump 202 is located. The remote alarm 67 is connected on one side by a conductor 68 to a terminal 69a connected in turn to the negative terminal of the battery 11. On the other side, the remote alarm 67 is connected to the detection and alarm circuit 201 as described below for each condition. 
     For the condition of loss of 110 VAC power to the sump pump 202, but no high water level condition, a circuit to remote alarm 67 is provided through terminal 70 of the circuit 201 console and 70a of remote alarm console 77, to which is connected conductor 71 leading to relay 91, through corresponding normally open contacts 92 which are now closed, to conductor 72, through normally closed relay contacts 73 through closed toggle switch 74, to the remote alarm 67. At the same time, a circuit is completed from conductor 71 through conductor 75 to remote signal lamp 76 mounted on console 77 at the remote location to signal at that location that a loss of 110 VAC power condition but no high water level exists at the sump pump site. The alarms at both the remote location and at the main console location may be de-energized or turned off at the remote location, that is both main alarm 12 and remote alarm 67. To do this, a push button switch 78 on the remote console is pushed to the circuit closed position which completes a circuit through relay coil 79 causing normally open contacts 80 in parallel with switch 78 to close and provide a holding circuit between conductors 68 and 72 thereby shorting out the remote alarm 67. At the same time a circuit is completed through conductor 81 to terminal 82a of remote console 77 and terminal 82 of the main console 32 of circuit 201. Conductor 83 of the main circuit 201 leads inside of the main console from terminal 82 to the junction between the main circuit de-energizing switch 34 and coil 36, which upon receiving the electrical signal on conductor 83 from terminal 82 connected to the remote station de-energizing circuit responds in the same manner as described above when the de-energizing push button is pushed to close switch 34 and short out the main alarm 12. The remote signal lamp 76 may be de-energized by opening toggle switch 84. Opening of toggle switch 84 will also de-energize the corresponding signal lamp 31 of the main detection and alarm circuit 201. 
     For the condition of loss of 110 VAC power to the sump pump 202, combined with a high water level at that location, a circuit to remote alarm 67 is provided through terminal 85 by conductor 86 of the circuit 201 console to which is connected conductor 87 leading from terminal 85a of remote console 77 to normally open relay contacts 88 and corresponding relay coil 89 which becomes energized to thereupon close relay contacts 88, the circuit then leading through conductor 90 to normally closed relay contacts 93, to the remote alarm 67 through closed toggle switch 74. 
     A circuit is also completed at this time through conductor 94 to signal lamp 95 mounted on the remote control console 77, which becomes energized to signal the existence of a combined loss of 110 VAC power plus high water level condition at the sump pump site. 
     The remote alarm 67 may be turned off in this mode by closing push button switch 96 on the remote control console 77 which completes a circuit across the remote alarm 67 between conductor 68 and 90 thereby energizing relay coil 97 to open normally closed relay contacts 93 and interrupting the circuit to the remote alarm 67. A circuit is also completed through conductor 98 to terminal 99a on remote console 77 and terminal 99 on the main circuit 201 console 32, to which conductor 100 of the main detector and alarm circuit 201 is also connected thereby completing a circuit to the junction between main circuit push button switch 49 and relay coil 51. The main alarm 12 is thereby also turned off in the same manner as described above with reference to the loss of power-high water mode. The remote signal lamp 95 may be turned off by opening toggle switch 84 on the remote console. If toggle switch 84 is opened, the corresponding signal lamp 48 on the main console for circuit 201 will be de-energized also. 
     For the third condition of high water level at the sump pump site, but no loss of power, a circuit is provided to remote alarm 67 through terminal 101 of the circuit 201 console by conductor 102 leading from conductor 55. Conductor 103 leads from terminal 101a of the remote alarm console 77 and to relay coil 104 with its associated relay contacts 105 which are biased to the normally open position. When energized by a signal on terminal 101a indicating the presence of a high water condition at the sump pump site but no loss of 110 VAC power, relay coil 104 causes the normally open relay contacts 105 to close thereby completing a circuit through conductor 90, normally closed relay contacts 93, through closed toggle switch 74 to the remote alarm 67. 
     At the same time, a circuit is completed to the remote signal lamp 106 through conductor 107 to indicate at the remote location that there is a high water level condition at the sump pump but no loss of 110 VAC power. 
     The remote alarm 67 may be de-energized in this mode by push button 96 being closed which energized relay coil 97 to open relay contacts 93 and interrupt the circuit to the remote alarm 67. A circuit is also completed at the same time to terminal 99 on the main circuit console 32 as described above with reference to the high water plus loss of 110 VAC power mode, thereby de-energizing the main alarm 12. 
     The remote signal lamp 106 and corresponding main signal lamp 56 may be turned off in the same manner respectively as described above for the other signal lamps. 
     An additional toggle switch 108 may be provided in conductor 3 leading to the main 110 VAC power line to shut off power from the main line when the detector and alarm is not in use. 
     A push-to-test button switch 109 is provided in conductor 3 leading from the main 110 VAC power source to test the operation of the main D.C. detection and alarm circuit 201 prior to use, and in particular to test the functioning of the circuit on occurrence of a loss of 110 VAC power condition. When switch 109 is pushed to open the circuit causing relay coils 1 and 2 to become de-energized, the alarm 12 should sound and signal lamp 31 should light if the circuit is working properly. 
     A signal lamp 110 is connected across the 110 VAC conductors 3 and 4 to provide a positive visual signal that power is available at the 110 VAC power line source. If signal lamp 110 is out, indicating loss of 110 VAC power, signal lamp 31 should be on. However, if signal lamp 31 were burned out, or if there were some defect in the main D.C. detection and alarm circuit, the signal lamp 31 may not be lit and the audible alarm 12 may not sound, even though there was a loss of 110 VAC power. Thus, signal lamp 110 provides a positive indication that 110 VAC power is available, and a double check to signal visually that 110 VAC power has failed if and when such condition does occur. 
     The toggle switch 84 in the remote D.C. switching circuit 206 is mounted on the remote control console 77. It is connected to interrupt and to complete a circuit in conductor loop 111 of remote switching circuit 206 which terminates at the exterior panel of remote control console 77 in terminals 17a and 18a. Terminals 17a and 18a of the remote control consoles 77 are connected respectively to terminals 17 and 18 of the main control console 32. When toggle switch 84 is moved to the open circuit position, the D.C. detection and alarm circuit 201 is disconnected from its D.C. battery source 11. 
     The remote A.C. switching and testing circuit 207 includes a conductor loop 112 mounted in the remote control consoles 77, and a toggle switch 113 mounted on the control panel of such consoles 77. The toggle switch 113 is connected in conductor loop 112 to interrupt and to complete a circuit therein when moved from one switching position to the other. When moved to the circuit open position, the connection of the entire system to the 110 VAC power source is interrupted. The conductor loop 112 terminates at the exterior panel of remote control console 77 in terminals 21a and 22a. The terminals 21a and 22a of the remote control consoles 77 are connected respectively to the terminals 21 and 22 of the main control console 32. 
     The other connections of remote control console 77 and the remote alarm circuit 203 to the main control console 32 are as follows: 
     
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Terminals on Remote  Terminals on Main                                    
Control Console 77   Control Console 32                                   
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Terminal 82a   to        Terminal 82                                      
Terminal 99a   to        Terminal 99                                      
Terminal 70a   to        Terminal 70                                      
Terminal 85a   to        Terminal 85                                      
Terminal 101a  to        Terminal 101                                     
Terminal 69a   to        Terminal 69                                      
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     The respective terminals on the remote control console 77 are connected as follows to conductors of the remote alarm circuit 203: 
     
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Terminals             Conductors                                          
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Terminal 82a  to          Conductor 81                                    
Terminal 99a  to          Conductor 98                                    
Terminal 70a  to          Conductor 71                                    
Terminal 85a  to          Conductor 87                                    
Terminal 101a to          Conductor 103                                   
Terminal 69a  to          Conductor 68                                    
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     A remote push-to-test button and switch 114 is provided on the remote control console 77, the switch 114 being connected in conductor loop 112. When push-to-test button 114 is pushed, the conductor loop 112 is opened thereby interrupting the circuit connection of the system to the 110 VAC power source which simulates a loss of power condition at the sump pump site. In such event, the main alarm 12 and remote alarms 67 should sound and signal lamp 31 on the main console 32 as well as signal lamp 76 on the remote consoles 77 should light. If they do, this means that the system is working properly and the push-to-test button can be released thereby re-completing the circuit in conductor loop 112 causing the alarms and signal lamps to be de-energized or &#34;turned off.&#34; This occurs because power is again available to relay coils 1 and 2, which when energized open contacts 7 and 10 respectively thereby interrupting the circuits to the battery source 11 of the alarms 12 and 67 as well as of the signal lamps 31 and 76. 
     A telephone incoming call circuit 205 and its sub-circuits for communication between telephones, for ringing a bell or buzzer to announce an incoming call, and for producing a busy signal when the communication circuit is closed are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 to show in greater detail how the sump pump detection and alarm system in accordance with this invention causes a busy signal or other signal, in telephone incoming call circuit 205 when one or more of the abnormal conditions are present at the sump pump location. 
     A telephone body 115 and handset 116 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and their interior circuits are shown schematically, FIG. 6 illustrating the respective circuits when the phone is not in use and the handset 116 is in place to depress button switch operator 117 moving the respective contacts 118 and 119 to one position, FIG. 7 illustrating the respective circuits when the phone is in use and the handset 116 is removed to allow the upwardly biased switch operator 117 to move contacts 118 and 119 to different positions. Switch operator 117 is biased upwardly by a compression spring 120. 
     When the phone is in the not in use position with switch operator 117 depressed, contact 118 is in the contact open position to interrupt the communication circuit 121. At the same time contact 119 is moved to a closed contact position with incoming call bell or buzzer circuit 122. In these contact positions, a signal of an incoming call can be transmitted through the call bell circuit 122 to cause the bell or buzzer 123 to ring or make an audible sound at the telephone 115. 
     When the handset 116 is lifted from the telephone body 115, the switch operator 117 is biased upwardly by spring 120 causing switch 118 to move to the contact closed position in communication circuit 121 whereupon communication can be conducted from the telephone handset 116 through circuit 121 to the telephone from which the call originated. At the same time contact 119 is moved out of contact with the incoming call bell circuit 122 thereby interrupting that circuit causing the bell 123 to stop ringing. In the telephone circuit shown, contact 119 is moved into contact closed position with a &#34;busy signal&#34; circuit 124 when contact 118 is moved into contact closed position with communication circuit 121. At this time, the &#34;busy signal&#34; device 125 becomes energized to transmit a busy signal on circuit 124, and through conductor 126 which is in common with the incoming call bell circuit 122 in the particular telephone circuitry illustrated here. 
     The connection of the sump pump detection and alarm circuit to an incoming telephone circuit 205 described briefly above, will now be described in greater detail with reference to the particular telephone circuitry illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and described hereinabove. 
     When relay coil 64 is energized as described above, normally closed relay contacts 127 connected in call bell circuitry 122 are opened to interrupt the incoming call bell circuit 122. The call bell or buzzer 123 can therefore not sound if an incoming call signal is received on conductor 126. At the same time, relay contacts 128 which are normally open are closed when relay coil 64 becomes energized. These contacts are connected through conductor 129 in parallel across contact 119 and its operable switching connection in the &#34;busy signal&#34; circuit 124 and conductor 126. Thus, when relay contacts 128 are closed, a circuit is completed between &#34;busy signal&#34; circuit 124 and conductor 126 to energize the busy signal device 125 and provide a &#34;busy signal&#34; on conductor 126. Thus, an incoming call intended for the telephone 115 whose signal appears on conductor 126 will be met with a busy signal originating from circuit 124 rather than the ringing of the telephone bell or buzzer 123 on circuit 122, in the same manner as if the handset 116 had been lifted from the phone causing contact 118 to close the communication circuit 121, and contact 119 to open connection of the incoming bell circuit 122 to conductor 126 while at the same time closing the connection of the busy signal circuit 124 to conductor 126. 
     It is understood that telephone circuits may vary, but it is within the scope of this invention to provide an operable connection of the detection and alarm system in accordance with this invention to any telephone circuitry to provide a signal to a caller that an abnormal condition exists at a sump pump location related to the location of such telephone. 
     The timing switch 65 will alternately open and close the circuit to relay coil 64 as described above, so after a pre-determined lapse of time the busy signal induced by operation of relay contacts 127 and 128 will disappear on conductor 126 enabling the telephone to ring by connection of call bell circuit 122 to conductor 126. Thus, after another pre-determined lapse of time, the timing switch 65 will cause relay contacts 127 and 128 to move to their alternate positions, reintroducing a busy signal on conductor 126. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a separate distinguishing signal device 130 connected in conductor 129 which becomes energized when relay contacts 128 are closed by energization of relay coil 64. The distinguishing signal device 130 emits a signal which is readily distinguishable from the usual &#34;busy signal&#34;, and it may be selected to produce a signal which is unique to the existence of an abnormal condition at the location in question. When the circuit through conductor 129 is closed to energize distinguishing signal device 130, such inique signal is transmitted to conductor 126 and to any caller who attempts to call the telephone in question while relay contacts 128 are in the closed position indicating the presence of an abnormal condition at the location referred to.