The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-04-17
A NOVEL. FIRE NOZZLE.
Its Main Feature Is a Paradox to Hy-
draulic Engineers.

A new nozzle for fire hose, which the in
ventors claim will so spread a stream Of
water that it will be twice effective as
a solid stream, was exhibited at 1871 Broad
way yesterday to a thousand PERSONS
among them being many fire department Of
fcials from this and adjoining cities, says
the New York Sun. The invention is known
as the ball nozzle. and is based on dis
covery made by Vice-president Pollock, of
the Ball Nozzle Company. 1t is a remark
able contrivance and the officers of the
company say that they have submitted it
to men of science, but have never obtained
any eXplana ton of the way in which the
ball in the nozzle acts sesti ~
Briefly, the nozzle is almost exactly the
same in construction as the ordinary one
now in use in our fire department. The
only difference is that the end is shaped
like bell, and in this bell is placed a ball
Of solid, polished rubber. The ball is loose
and there is nothing to hold it in position
except loop of brass over the front of
the bell to prevent it from rolling out when
the hose is not in use. When the stream
is on full force the guard is unnecessary,
although one would imagine that the force
of water would drive the ball out of the
bell like a shot from cannon. On the
contrary, however, it holds it in, and the
more pressure turned on the more secure
is the ball in the bell. The ball does not
stick tightly against the outlet, but is held
at a distance of about a quarter of
inch. The flow is not in any way retarded
by the presence of the ball. but the stream
is spread to a remarkable extent, and there
in lies the efficacy of the nozzle says the
inventor. A second nozzle for solid
stream Is attached to the hose, SO that the
man who is manipulating it can have either
sort of a stream
Several weeks ago the company resolved
to hold the exhibition which was given
yesterday, and they rented the entire
ground floor, covering a full acre, of the
Roosevelt building, at Broadway and Thir-
teenth street They fitted the place up in
sumptuous fashion, and yesterday IT was
crowded with firemen, insurance men, bus
mess men, property owners, and others in
terested in an improved fire extinguisher
One-half of the floor has been transformed
into a miniature village, with lawns and
other accompaniment, while huge Sec
ton has been given over to a fountain
with the ball nozzle attachment for the
idea is to use the invention as lawn
sprinkler and fountain attachment, as we'll
as for a fire eXtnguisher
The exhibition with the fire hose was
given in a huge glass case in the center
Of the room, and despite the fact that the
pressure of the water was rather weak it
was a success The flow of water didn't
seem to be in the least retarded by the
pressure of the ball, which spread it at an
angle of about SIS degrees. The greatest
surprise was manifested by the firemen :
over. the way In winch the ball remained
in the bell. Even when the stream was
turned on full force the ball did not come
nearer than a quarter of an inch of thel
brass guard. 1t kept revolving rapidly,
which mystified the firensen the more, and
dumfounded a number of hydraulic engi-
neers who were present and who made
careful examination of the contrivance.
A better opportunity of studying the
principle of the thing was given to the.
visitors by means of a number of little
tubes which lined the walls of the room.
The tubes projected some inches from the