A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINED FIRE ALARM AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Simpson at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1880. A communication from
abroad by Henry H. Rogers, of Pearl Street, in the City, County, and State of
New York, in the United States of America.
WILLIAM SIMPSON, of Fenchurch Avenue, Lime Street, in the City of London.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINED FIRE ALARM AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER." [A
communication from abroad by Henry H. Rogers, of Pearl Street, in the City,
County, and State of New York, in the United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to furnish an improved device to be connected
with a system of water pipes in a building, which shall be so constructed that should
a fire occur the fire itself will open a vent for the water where the fire is, and in no
other place, and at the same time will sound an alarm, and which shall be simple in
construction, inexpensive in manufacture, conveniently applied, and reliable and
effective in use.
The Invention consists in the combination with each other of the water chamber,
its bottom provided with the ring, flanges upon its inner and outer sides, the plug
provided with the head, and the cartridge chamber provided with a perforated
bottom and holes in its side to receive a fuse, and in the combination of the non-
conducting ring, the insulated half ring plates provided with holders for the
circuit wires, and the circuit closing plug with each other, and with the cartridge
chamber provided with a perforated bottom and holes in its side to receive a fuse,
as hereinafter described.
The water chamber before referred to may be made in the shape of an inverted
cup, or cylindrical, or any other suitable shape.
The water chamber is connected at its top with a water pipe, and its sides are
perforated with numerous boles, or it may be connected with or form a part of a
perforated pipe.
The water chamber is closed by a bottom having a screw thread cut upon its edge
to screw into a screw thread cut in the inner surface of the edge of the said
chamber.
In the centre of the bottom of the water chamber is formed a hole to receive the
plug, which has a screw thread cut upon its upper end to screw into a screw hole
in the head. The head is so formed as to fit snugly into the upper part of the
water chamber, and close its inlet opening.

page_text: The upper part of the head has a shoulder recess or groove formed in it to
receive rubber or other suitable packing to be pressed against a corresponding
shoulder in the upper part of the water chamber, and close the inlet opening water
tight. Upon the inner and outer sides of the bottom of the water chamber, around and
at a little distance from the hole through its centre, are formed ring flanges. The
upper or inner flange forms a cup to receive a packing of tallow around the plug to
prevent any water or moisture that may get into the chamber passing into the
cartridge chamber and dampening the cartridge. The cartridge chamber has a
screw thread cut in the inner surface of its upper end to fit upon the screw thread
cut in the outer surface of the outer or lower ring flange. The bottom of the
cartridge chamber has a number of holes formed through it to allow the gases
liberated by the explosion of the cartridge to have a free vent downward. In the
sides of the cartridge chamber are formed holes to receive a fuse and allow it to
come in contact with the charge of the cartridge. The fuse is extended around, so
that it may be ignited at once should a fire occur. To the lower part of the
cartridge chamber is attached a ring or band of hard rubber or other suitable non-
conducting material, which extends below the bottom of the cartridge chamber,
and has two half ring plates attached to its lower part, with their ends at such a
distance apart that electricity cannot pass from one to the other. The half ring
plates are thus insulated from each other and from the other parts of the device.
The insulated half ring plates are provided with sockets and set screws or other
suitable means to receive and hold the circuit wires of a battery. Into the circular
space between the inner edges of the half ring plates is fitted a plug of some good
conducting material, which thus closes the circuit.
The circuit wires are designed to be connected with an alarm placed in the office
or in any other desired place where it will be readily and certainly heard.
The plug also prevents any moisture from passing in through the holes in the
bottom of the cartridge chamber and dampening the cartridge.
So many of the devices should be used in each story that every part of the whole
building may be within the range of the water discharged from the water chamber.
In using the device the cartridge chamber should be screwed up upon the outer or
lower flange so firmly that the pressure of the cartridge against the lower end of
the water chamber plug may hold the head against the upper part of the water
chamber so firmly as to resist any pressure of the water in the pipes. With this
construction should a fire start the fuse will be ignited and the cartridge
exploded.
The explosion of the cartridge will blow out the plug, breaking the circuit, and
sounding the alarm. At the same time the water chamber plug and its head will
drop and uncover the inlet opening of the water chamber, allowing the water to
flow out and extinguish the fire. Where there is not sufficient water pressure to
do this an engine or pump can be connected on the outside of the building with
the water pipes, and water forced into them, which water will be discharged
through the water chamber or chambers where the fire may be, the others
remaining closed, so that it will not be necessary for the firemen to break into the
building to search for the fire, as the water will go to the right place, and at the
same time the fire will not be increased by supplying it with a draft.