VÚES Brno KIRKE
| VÚES Brno KIRKE | |
 A Type KIRKE 400, photographed by Czech Siren Tech. | |
| Company | VÚES Brno |
|---|---|
| Produced | 1947-1950? |
| Type | Omnidirectional Electromechanical |
| Sound output | 136 dB @ 30 m (98 ft, Type KIRKE 400, claimed) |
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
| Horsepower | 6.7 hp (Type KIRKE 400) |
| Voltage | 300/400 V AC 1/3 ph |
The Type KIRKE, also known as the Type KIRKÉ, is an omnidirectional siren which was produced by VÚES Brno s.r.o., which was a Brno, JC-based electric manufacturing company founded in 1947 under Moravské Elektrotechnické Závody (MEZ).
History
The Type KIRKE was introduced sometime in 1947 after VÚES Brno, a division of Moravské Elektrotechnické Závody, was founded in Brno, JC. The sirens would see a moderate amount of success but was greatly out shadowed by the MEZ H1/B2 and MEZ H4/A2. In 1950, MEZ was dissolved and all of the companies under its umbrella were forked over to the government and the companies under its umbrella, including VÚES Brno, were forked over to the state, becoming national enterprises. The Type KIRKE would likely be discontinued around this time, as very little units were installed, likely due to a short production span. As for VÚES Brno, the company would continue operation, becoming an independent company in the 1990s when the communist government was deposed during the Velvet Revolution. In 2007, the company was renamed to VUES Brno a.s., making it a joint stock company and dropping the acute in Ú. In 2018, VUES Brno was acquired by Moog, Inc., an Elma, NY-based designer and manufacturer of electric, electro-hydraulic and hydraulic motion, controls and systems, renamed to Moog BRNO.
Design
Type KIRKE 40A
The Type KIRKE 40A is the weakest of the Type KIRKE series and was advertised as a fire siren. It consists of an 8-port rotor and stator (which is relatively uncommon in Czechia, as most mechanical sirens there are 9-port) and is driven by a 1 ph motor under the stator. Type KIRKE 40A units can be differentiated from Type KIRKE 40 units by the taller motor. The motor rests on a circular base which has 4 holes in each corner, allowing for the siren to be mounted to a flat surface. The Type KIRKE 40A is protected a large rain shield bolted on top of the stator (though some units had the rain shield held up via 4 support beams). Because of the rain shield, the siren has to intake from below. Metal screens are wrapped around the stator and the intake to prevent debris from entering the siren. The Type KIRKE 40A is relatively similar to the VEM DS977, though it can be told apart by the appearance of the motor, which is serrated, the (usually) red painted rotor, and the slightly higher pitch compared to a DS977.
Type KIRKE 40
The Type KIRKE 40 is a slightly heavier-duty version of the Type KIRKE 40A. It consists of an 8-port rotor and stator (which is relatively uncommon in Czechia, as most mechanical sirens there are 9-port) and is driven by a 3 ph motor under the stator. Type KIRKE 40 units can be differentiated from Type KIRKE 40 units by the shorter motor. The motor rests on a circular base which has 4 holes in each corner, allowing for the siren to be mounted to a flat surface. The siren is protected a large rain shield bolted on top of the stator (though some units had the rain shield held up via 4 support beams). Because of the rain shield, the Type KIRKE has to intake from below. Metal screens are wrapped around the stator and the intake to prevent debris from entering the siren. The Type KIRKE 40A is relatively similar to the VEM DS977, though it can be told apart by the appearance of the motor, which is serrated, the (usually) red painted rotor, and the slightly higher pitch compared to a DS977.
Type KIRKE 400
The Type KIRKE 400 is the largest of the Type KIRKE series and was intended as a civil defense siren, unlike its smaller counterparts. It consists of an 8-port rotor and stator (which is relatively uncommon in Czechia, as most mechanical sirens there are 9-port) and is driven by a 300/400 V 3 ph 5 kW (6.7 hp) motor which spins the rotor at around 2900 rpm. The motor rests on a circular base which has 4 holes in each corner, allowing for the siren to be mounted to a flat surface. The Type KIRKE is protected a large rain shield bolted on top of the stator (though some units had the rain shield held up via 4 support beams). Because of the rain shield, the Type KIRKE has to intake from below. Metal screens are wrapped around the stator and the intake to prevent debris from entering the siren. The Type KIRKE is relatively similar to the VEM DS977, though it can be told apart by the appearance of the motor, which is serrated, the red painted rotor, and the slightly higher pitch compared to a DS977. The Type KIRKE 400 has an operating temperature range of -40°C (-40°F) to +60°C (140°F). The entire siren weighs around 96 kg (211.6 lbs). The Type KIRKE 400 apparently reaches 136 dB at 30 m (98.4 ft)[1], though this is likely inaccurate.