Cooper Wheelock
Encyclopedia
Cooper Wheelock is a Long Branch, New Jersey
, company founded in 1922 specializing in fire alarm and general signaling products. The company is known as an industry leader in fire and industrial signals. Cooper Wheelock products are often used by other companies to complement their products.
.
The 3x/700x series of electromechanical and vibratory horns and horn/strobes is an earlier Wheelock creation. In the early 1970s, Wheelock introduced the 31 and 34 series horns, a vibratory and electromechanical horn, respectively. Around 1978, Wheelock created the 7001 (flush-mount electromechanical), 7002 (surface-mount electromechanical), and 7004 (surface-mount vibratory) horn/strobes. These were the first audiovisual alarms to use xenon
strobes instead of incandescent lights. The horn and strobe on the 7001 and 7002 models are wired together, resulting in a distinctive "skipping" sound. In the mid-1980s, Wheelock redesigned the horn's grilles, making them vandal resistant. These models contain the letter "T" in their model numbers (i.e. 34T, 7002T, etc.). This series became extremely popular among safety companies and resellers. In 1994, Wheelock discontinued this series, due to the ADA
requiring that all strobes have clear lenses instead of translucent lenses. The 31T is still in production today for general signaling purposes.
The Series MT (Multi-tone) was introduced in the early 1990s. It featured not only a continuous horn sound and the Code-3 temporal pattern, but five other tones: bell, hi-lo, march time, siren, and slow whoop. These could be set using DIP switches on the back of the horn. However, most of the tones did not grab the attention of bystanders. The commonly used tones were march time, continuous, Code-3, and slow whoop. The strobes have been replaced on these several times. The current model uses a horizontal strobe, which allows for greater strobe coverage than a vertical strobe. However, the original vertical-strobe versions are still ADA-compilant, and continue to be seen today.
In 1995, Wheelock introduced the AS, a combination horn
and strobe
, which is one of their most commonly used products. The AS was first created in a vertical position with the strobe on the right side of the horn facing vertically, but currently, the strobe is in a horizontal position above the horn, like most other current Wheelock strobes.
In 1998, Wheelock released the NS series. The NS is similar to the AS, except the design is much less boxy, and the piezoelectric speaker disc is slightly visible through the grille. Its strobe is similar to that of the RSS.
The RSS strobe replaced the vertical LSM strobe series, since a horizontal strobe allows for greater coverage. They also introduced the RSSP, a retrofit plate which allows the easy addition of a strobe to older electromechanical horns and bells, such as the 3x series and 43T. Cooper Wheelock also produces several bells as well as speakers
, manual pull stations, synchronization modules, and voice evacuation products. Cooper Wheelock does not manufacture fire alarm control panel
s, smoke detector
s, or heat detector
s. Many fire alarm control panels are compatible with Cooper Wheelock's line of notification appliances and other products.
In 2008, Wheelock introduced the ZNS, ZRS, and "Exceder" series horn/strobes and remote strobes. The ZNS and ZRS features a "snap-on" mounting system, which allows the base to be installed before the horn is attached.
As of March 31, 2010, the AS, NS, ZNS, ZRS and portions of the RSS products have been discontinued and replaced by the Exceder series.
Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,719.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
, company founded in 1922 specializing in fire alarm and general signaling products. The company is known as an industry leader in fire and industrial signals. Cooper Wheelock products are often used by other companies to complement their products.
Corporate history
In March, 2006, Wheelock, Inc was acquired by Cooper Menvier of the United Kingdom, a division of Cooper IndustriesCooper Industries
Cooper Industries is a former US-based company that in 2009 switched its incorporation office from Bermuda to Ireland, maintaining its chief operational offices in Houston, Texas. It produces transformers, tools and electrical equipment, employing 29,000 staff around the world. Revenue in 2007 was...
.
Products
Xenon
Xenon is a chemical element with the symbol Xe and atomic number 54. The element name is pronounced or . A colorless, heavy, odorless noble gas, xenon occurs in the Earth's atmosphere in trace amounts...
strobes instead of incandescent lights. The horn and strobe on the 7001 and 7002 models are wired together, resulting in a distinctive "skipping" sound. In the mid-1980s, Wheelock redesigned the horn's grilles, making them vandal resistant. These models contain the letter "T" in their model numbers (i.e. 34T, 7002T, etc.). This series became extremely popular among safety companies and resellers. In 1994, Wheelock discontinued this series, due to the ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
requiring that all strobes have clear lenses instead of translucent lenses. The 31T is still in production today for general signaling purposes.
The Series MT (Multi-tone) was introduced in the early 1990s. It featured not only a continuous horn sound and the Code-3 temporal pattern, but five other tones: bell, hi-lo, march time, siren, and slow whoop. These could be set using DIP switches on the back of the horn. However, most of the tones did not grab the attention of bystanders. The commonly used tones were march time, continuous, Code-3, and slow whoop. The strobes have been replaced on these several times. The current model uses a horizontal strobe, which allows for greater strobe coverage than a vertical strobe. However, the original vertical-strobe versions are still ADA-compilant, and continue to be seen today.
In 1995, Wheelock introduced the AS, a combination horn
Horn (acoustic)
A horn is a tapered sound guide designed to provide an acoustic impedance match between a sound source and free air. This has the effect of maximizing the efficiency with which sound waves from the particular source are transferred to the air...
and strobe
Strobe light
A strobe light or stroboscopic lamp, commonly called a strobe, is a device used to produce regular flashes of light. It is one of a number of devices that can be used as a stroboscope...
, which is one of their most commonly used products. The AS was first created in a vertical position with the strobe on the right side of the horn facing vertically, but currently, the strobe is in a horizontal position above the horn, like most other current Wheelock strobes.
In 1998, Wheelock released the NS series. The NS is similar to the AS, except the design is much less boxy, and the piezoelectric speaker disc is slightly visible through the grille. Its strobe is similar to that of the RSS.
The RSS strobe replaced the vertical LSM strobe series, since a horizontal strobe allows for greater coverage. They also introduced the RSSP, a retrofit plate which allows the easy addition of a strobe to older electromechanical horns and bells, such as the 3x series and 43T. Cooper Wheelock also produces several bells as well as speakers
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker is an electroacoustic transducer that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Non-electrical loudspeakers were developed as accessories to telephone systems, but electronic amplification by vacuum tube made loudspeakers more generally useful...
, manual pull stations, synchronization modules, and voice evacuation products. Cooper Wheelock does not manufacture fire alarm control panel
Fire alarm control panel
A Fire Alarm Control Panel , or Fire Alarm Control Unit , is the controlling component of a Fire Alarm System. The panel receives information from environmental sensors designed to detect changes associated with fire, monitors their operational integrity and provides for automatic control of...
s, smoke detector
Smoke detector
A smoke detector is a device that detects smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. Commercial, industrial, and mass residential devices issue a signal to a fire alarm system, while household detectors, known as smoke alarms, generally issue a local audible and/or visual alarm from the detector...
s, or heat detector
Heat detector
A heat detector is a fire alarm device designed to respond when the convected thermal energy of a fire increases the temperature of a heat sensitive element....
s. Many fire alarm control panels are compatible with Cooper Wheelock's line of notification appliances and other products.
In 2008, Wheelock introduced the ZNS, ZRS, and "Exceder" series horn/strobes and remote strobes. The ZNS and ZRS features a "snap-on" mounting system, which allows the base to be installed before the horn is attached.
As of March 31, 2010, the AS, NS, ZNS, ZRS and portions of the RSS products have been discontinued and replaced by the Exceder series.