The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-11
A MARyELoUs HOSE Nozzle.
Rubber Ball and Water Pressure
Produce Astonishing Results.


Pittsburg Commercial Gazette.
There was private test of a new fire
nozzle at the Highland-avenue fire station
zle. 1t is a scientific paradox. 1t upsets
every calculation which. a master of
physics can make. The faculties at Har-
given it up and the inventor never at
tempted to explain it, 1t is a good thing,
he thinks. but he doesn't know just why 1t
The nozzle is manufactured in New York
The inventor is CHARLES Y. Pollock, of Des
straight fire nozzle. About six inches from
the tip is branch, ending in a bell
diameter. Lying loosely in it is polished
solid rubber ball. three inches In diameter.
A three-way cock shuts the water on or off
at the nozzle or shoots 1t out the straight
tip or through the bell tip. The rubber ball
furnishes the spray.
contrivance, however. The curious thing.
and the one that is making scientists all
the world over scratch their heads, is
that the rubber ball cannot come out of
the bell-nouthed nozzle while the water
is running. 1t is not fastened in, but it
will neither fall out of itself nor can it
can reach in through the spray and seize
the ball in n the hand it cannot be pulled
the water is pressing against 1T from be-
hind. No amount of pressure will force
it out. The greater the water pressure
behind the more firmly is the ball seated
in the bell A pound OF pressure will
hold 1t in It's place. A hundred pounds fixes
it so firmly that it could not be pried out
with a crow bar
at. At the same sam q, time the ball is held 50
straight tip. The difference is that it is
fitting bali whiris around 'i inside the g bell
like turbine wheel. i4sAt the same time
the spray stream is slowly revolving. Its
the stream most peculiar appearance
The spray is made at an angle of about SO
The advantages of the new nozzle are
manifold. In the first place. and really
the principal thing it does not interfere
with the flow of water as do the old
style sprays Just as much water pours
out of the bell nozzle with the ball in it as
is shot from the straight one. 1t comes
with far greater force and one man can
hold the nozzle and direct the stream
whittier he Will. ssti7as
given for the purpose of demonstrating just
what the new nozzle will do. Chief Coates,
Of the second fire district, the members of
the engine company, several citizens and
representatives of the press were present.
A section of hose was attached to a plug
pounds to the square inch. The peculiar
looking nozzle was attached and everything
was ready. The signal was given TO turn on
the water. An instant later a solid stream
shot forth from the straight tip and struck
the ground two hundred feet away. Now
give it the spray, said Chief Coates .'he
fireman holding the nozzle turned the cock
and Immediately the water flying from
The rubber ball whirled around like top
while the hollow cone of water revolved
slowly. THAT will drive back any fire or
smoke any fireman ever needs to get into
remarked the chief.
The fireman holding the nozzle he'd it
with one hand. He turned it up and down,
| to the right and left. That's another curl
Gus thing about it, said Chief Coates
Now, the old style spray REQUIRES a couple
| only one The men following him need
| only drag up the hose. When a man drives
| the fire turn of the wrist throws that
| cock. In an instant he has solid stream
of water to shoot right at the fire. If the
smoke rolls up on him again he just throws
the cock and in second the spray is driv-
| ing it back again.
! Then the chief astonished the crowd still
| further. Reaching through the spray he
| caught the rubber ball and tried to draw it
out. 1t would not come. Selling a screw
| lever. Inserting it behind the ball and
| taking a purchase the side of the bell
| never budged At signal the water was
shut off Instantly the ball rolled out of
| the bell and fell to the ground. The audi
| What keeps the ball ,n?" was the uni
| versal question. II don't know" answered
| Chief Coates. 81 don't know and no one
else knows The inventor sent one of these
nozzies TO the professors of physics at Yale
| and also at Harvard. Those learned gentle
1 theorized about it, and then sert it back
/ with the statement: We don't know what
/ Keeps the pail III. 1t Is certainty contrary
to all the known laws of nature
The firemen who witnessed the new noZze
/ were delighted with it. 1t is simple and
| cannot get out of order easily. 1t is also
| used as lawn sprinkler and for fountains.
/ The lawn sprinklers are little, bell
i mouthed nozzles on a small cast-iron stand.
| They spray the water over a circle about
/ thirty feet in diameter The ordinary lawn
| sprinkler costs from $40 to $25. These cost
| $780,
1t was while sprinkling his lawn that
| Mr. Pollock discovered this novel sprinkler.
] He was squirting water upon II with a
/ garden hose the nozzle of which had a bell
| mouth Picking up small potato he stuck
| it in the mouth of the nozzle to see it shoot
| across the yard. To his surprise it STAYED
\ right there and began to revolve RAPIDLY
1 He tried to remove the potato but could not
/! Mr. Pollock realized that he had made a
/ wonderful discovery. Then he made. the
| spray nozzle and had 1t patented Old fire
| fighters pronounce it revolution in noz-
! zies and predict its universal adoption.
/ Mr. Pollock made his discovery and hao
| ii patented in 1893. Strange to say, VIII
4 kinsburg boy made similar discovery
| about six months ago. He also found tina;
| a ball would remain in a bell-mouthed noz
| zle as long as there was water being forced
| through it, AS his discovery Is antedateC
! by that of Mr.. Pollock Il will not benefit
| him any. However the nozzle is of interes
| 10 more than firemen. and is producing no
| little discussion in the scientific world