A VESSEL IN WHICH CARBONIC ACID GAS IS GENERATED TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Year: 1879

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by Jacob Henry Radcliffe at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th September 1879.
JACOB HENRY RADCLIFFE, Marlborough Street, Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster. "A VESSEL IN WHICH CARBONIC ACID GAS IS GENERATED TO BE USED
FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTINGUISHING FIRES."
.
I construct a cylindrical vessel of tinned iron sufficiently strong to withstand a
great pressure, in which I purpose generating carbonic acid gas to be used for the
purpose of extinguishing fires. I affix my improvement to a screwed plug or cap
which fits a screwed she part that is firmly soldered on the top of the cylindrical
vessel, and consists in the mode and apparatus to contain an acid closed up by
means of washers and a cap with or by springs or screws and springs, apart from
any other compound in solution with water which would generate carbonic acid
gas if combined within the cylindrical vessel, and the mode of releasing the
enclosed acid by the action of a spring, and closing a valve within to prevent the
escape of generated carbonic acid gas, also causing a combination to take place
within the vessel by the acid and the other solution, thereby generating carbonic
acid gas within the vessel equal to nine atmospheres, which would cause a pressure
within the said vessel equal to about one hundred and fifty pounds on the square
inch, instantaneously ready for extinguishing fires. In order to fully explain the
nature of my Invention or improvement, I herein give the following explanation and
refer to the accompanied Drawings :-
A, Fig. 1st, Drawing No. 1, represents a screwed plug or cap with improvement
attached, and Fig. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, the parts
composing the same which I herein explain the same as follows:-The parts are
shewn half size for a cylindrical vessel shewn Fig. 16, in which is shewn with the
screw attached equal to one-eighth size, the cylinder A, 5, may be in same
proportion if required; Fig. 8, No. 1 Sheet, shews the plug or screwed cap with a
hole bored through the centre A with an interior screwed shell B; Fig. 7 shews
the spindle for the catch valve and spiral spring; Fig. 6 represents a tube which
the spring Fig. 5 is placed; Fig. 12 represents the screwed cap or plug and a
perforated tube which screws in the bottom of the cap with the tube attached at P
and the spiral spring within, which acts between the bottom of the tube and
underneath the valve spindle. This perforated tube has four square holes at right
angles with each other, so that when the ends of the rubber cords are placed in and

page_text: the valve spindle when pushed down fixes the rubber cords firmly, the part
marked T, P, has no communication with the perforated tube within; this perforated
tube is for the purpose of holding tartaric acid; Fig. 4 represents a case for the
perforated tube, the bottom of which is weighted sufficiently to cause it to fall from
its own gravity in a solution of soda and water, and having pegs at the bottom
outside at right angles with each other, so that when this case is placed over the
perforated tube and a rubber washer, as Fig. 11, placed on the tube up to the line
at P Fig. 12, and the rubber cords which ends are fixed in the holes in the tube, as
before described, then being stretched at right angles over the bottom of the case,
as shewn in Fig. 1, A, B, & C, makes the perforated tube perfectly tight from
the solution of soda and water getting to the acid; Fig. 10 represents a rubber
washer to form a seat for the valve which is placed on spindle valve, Fig. 7, at V;
Fig. 3 represents a cord of rubber; Fig. 2 represents a steel pin which passes
through the hole in the top of the spindle valve, and when pressed down into a slot
at the top of the cap and turned a small distance locks itself, and the whole parts are
then fixed together, as shewn at Fig. 1, with the acid inside the perforated tube T,
and the washer, Fig. 9, placed on the cap at W. I then screw this apparatus in
the cylindrical vessel, which I have previously filled with a solution of soda and
water, and will remain in this state until such time as it may be required for the
extinguishing of fires; then I turn the spindle out of the groove which has formed
a catch, thereby the spiral spring forces up the spindle, closes the valve, releases
the ends of the rubber at A, and the casing of the tartaric acid falls from its place,
and an instantaneous combination of the tartaric acid and the solution of soda and
water takes places, which generates a great amount of carbonic acid gas absorbed
by the water, giving a pressure within the cylinder to about one hundred and fifty
pounds to the square inch. Fig. 13 represents a tube to act in the same manner as
previously described with exception of the bottom part A, which is made of lead
for the purpose of using a liquid acid in place of the tartaric acid; Fig. 14 represents
the bottom of this lead tube with pegs at the bottom to keep the rubber cord at
right angles when put in its place with a rubber washer in, as shewn Fig. 15, which
makes it perfectly tight, and the bottom falling when the catch and rubber cords
are released, as before described, which causes the liquid acid in the tube A to
combine with the soda and water, and thereby generates carbonic acid gas, as
previously described.
Drawings on Sheet No. 2.-Fig. 1st, represents a screwed plug or cap for a
cylindrical vessel with apparatus specially for using liquid acid, the screwed cap
being made similar to the previous one with exception of the form of a catch. The
catch of this is formed by a groove on the spindle, as shewn at A, Fig. 3, and the
top, which is shewn at B with a pin through the seat of the valve, is formed in the
same manner as previously described in No. 1 Drawings, and the part marked B,
which forms a bridge for the spring; the parts marked C are two wire rods with a
pin hole near the bottom; the part marked E is a lead cistern with pins attached
at F which works freely in the pin holes at D; the part marked G is a cap for the
cistern E having a rubber washer in marked H pinned or fixed to the cap at I,
a screwed thread chased inside at K to receive the spindle; Fig. 2 represents
a small spindle catch which is passed through a hole near the top of the cap at R
when the spindle is pressed down, so that the groove in the spindle comes in direct
line with the hole near the top of the cap and allows the spindle catch Fig. 2 to
pass through, thereby fixing the spindle when the lead cistern E is filled with
liquid acid; then to close the cistern I turn the handle P at the top of the
spindle, which withdraws at K and forces the cap firmly on the cistern É; Fig. 4
represents a bridge for the spring, so that it can be taken out and a new spring put
in if required; Fig. 5 represents a washer for the top of the screw at W. The
Drawing on this Sheet is full size, and is screwed into the top of the cylindrical
vessel, and when the catch is pulled out the valve is closed by the spring, the cap
removed from the vessel E, and an instantaneous combination of the liquid acid and

page_text: solution of soda and water takes place, giving the same result as previously
described.
Fig. 16, No. 1 Sheet, represents the machine complete with the exception of hose
pipe, jet, and straps.
Having now described the nature of this Invention, the object of which is to
have a complete machine in itself, and not requiring any other instrument apart
from itself to cause a combination to take place to generate carbonic acid gas in
solution with water, although I do not exactly bind myself to the details berein
stated, but the details set forth are the best means I know, and thereby what I
claim is the arrangement in principle herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Henry Radcliffe, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this
day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
WILLIAM DEARDEN.
JACOB HENRY RADCLIFFE. (L.S.).