Improvements in or relating to Automatic Sprinklers or Fire Extinguishers.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1336.
Complete Left, 28th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1887.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Sprinklers or Fire
Extinguishers.
Í JAMES HENRY LYNDE, of 17 Cooper Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS OR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS to
be as follows:-
My invention consists in certain improvements on the Invention for which Applica-
tion for Letters Patent was made by William Woodhouse on the 20th April 1886
No. 5440.
In carrying my improvements into effect. I take Paraffin or other allied or suitable
substance or mixture of such substances and mix it intimately with some inert
material of high specific gravity such as the compounds of Barium or other suitable
substance or mixture of substances and I interpose this compound or admixture
between the water and the solder seal or joint of the sprinkler. The above described
admixture of substances forms a body or mass of low conducting power which is solid
at ordinary temperatures but melts at a lower temperature than the fusible solder used
in the seal or joint. It is unaffected by and of higher specific gravity than water
either when solid or melted and thus retains its position in the sprinkler after melting
thereby effectually preventing any contact between the water and the solder before or
during the separation of the seal.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Sprinklers or Fire
Extinguishers.
I JAMES HENRY LYNDE, of 17 Cooper Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS OR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists in certain improvements on the Invention for which Applica-
tion for Letters Patent was made by William Woodhouse on the 20th April 1886
No. 5440.
In automatic sprinklers of what is known as the sealed type the contact of water'
with the fusible solder retards its fusion.
According to my improvements I take paraffin wax or other allied or suitable
substance or mixture of substances and mix it intimately with some inert material of
high specific gravity such as the compounds of Barium or other suitable substance or
mixture of substances and I'interpose this compound or admixture between the water
and the solder seal or joint of the sprinkler. The above described admixture of
substances forms a body or mass of low conducting power which is solid at ordinary
temperatures but melts at a lower temperature than the fusible solder used in the seal
or joint. It is unaffected by and of higher specific gravity than water either when
solid or melted and thus retains its position in the sprinkler after melting thereby
effectually preventing any contact between the water and the solder before or during
the separation of the seal and preventing the heat absorbed by the seal and its
adjacent parts from being directly conducted into the water contained in the sprinkler.
Where as for instance in the sprinkler illustrated by the Drawing the sensitive
solder joint is situate at the lower part of the sprinkler it is necessary that the specific
gravity of the substance used should be higher than that of water in order that
it may retain its position when in the melted" state. If paraffin wax or any similar
substance the specific gravity of which is less than that of water were used in such a
sprinkler it would on melting rise into the body of the sprinkler and water pipes and
thus become displaced and its utility would be lost.
It will thus be seen that the substance used must have a specific gravity greater
than water and at the same time a melting point below that of the sensitive solder.
I have found that the substance which best answers the requirements of the case is
a mixture of paraffin wax and carbonate of Barium.

page_text: A suitable mixture may be made by melting any quantity of paraffin wax and
stirring into it while hot twice its weight of Carbonate of Barium and when the
mixture is thoroughly incorporated allowing it to cool.
On examining it after it has cooled and solidified it will be seen that there are two
distinct layers of substances the lower one being a mixture of paraffin wax and
Carbonate of Barium and the upper one being almost entirely paraffin wax. The two
layers may now be parted and the lower one consisting of the Carbonate of Barium
and paraffin wax is a suitable mixture for use in performing this Invention. This
mixture has the peculiar property of declining separation into its component parts
when boiled in water which property specially adapts it to the purpose of this
Invention. When prepared in the manner indicated the specific gravity of the
mixture is about 16 (one decimal six) or six tenths heavier than water.
Having thus prepared the mixture I melt it and cast it into moulds of the required
shape and size to fit the space into which it is to be placed and I insert one of the
castings in the sprinkler which I then immerse in water at a temperature of 150° F
(one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit) which readily melts the mixture but has
no effect on the sensitive solder seal. By this means I cause the mixture to completely
fill and adhere to the cavity into which it is placed so that the water is effectually
prevented from coming into contact with the sensitive solder seal before and during
its separation.
By casting the mixture into moulds as described I insure an equal quantity being
used in each sprinkler and the impracticable operation of pouring a very thick and
quickly cooling substance into the small interior of a sprinkler is avoided.
The annexed Drawing represents a sectional view of an automatic sprinkler of the
sealed type to which my Invention is applied.
a
A designates the metal body terminating at its lower end in a metal tube b; c is a
metal distributor with a cup or thimble shaped centre the interior of which is attached
by means of sensitive solder to the exterior of the lower part of the tube b. In tho
centre of the cup of the distributor is fixed a stem d passing upward through the
gallery e into the body of the sprinkler and terminating with a nut f; g designates
short metal tube or distance pièce between the gallery e and the nipple which is the
means employed to connect the sprinkler to the water pipe; o represents the mixture
of paraffin wax and Carbonate of Barium before described which is covered by a lead
or other washer p to prevent it splashing in consequence of the shock or jerk which
the deflector receives when the sprinkler opens.
When a fire occurs near to the apparatus the mixture of paraffin wax and Carbonate
of Barium o melts and becomes of the consistency of thick porridge. When the
temperature has been sufficiently raised the solder joint parts and the internal pressure
of the water forces the cup and distributor c together with the stem d nut plug of
mixture o and lead or other washer p downward until the nut frests upon the gallery e
which prevents further downward movement. The tube is then clear for the free
passage of water which is discharged through the orifice on to the distributor c which
may be provided with tangential wings or vanes and thus cause it to revolve or not as
desired.
The Drawing represents one method of applying my Invention. It is obvious that
it may be applied to sealed sprinklers of various constructions and in some cases the
lead washer may be dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is-
1. In automatic sprinklers of the scaled type the use and application of a low
conducting but easily fusible substance with a specific gravity greater than water and
a melting temperature less than the sensitive solder seal said substance being interposed
between the water and the seal for the purpose of preventing contact between the
water and the seal and thereby rendering the seal more sensitive to the action of heat
than it otherwise would be.

page_text: 2. The combination with an automatic sprinkler of the type herein before described
of a protecting substance of low conducting power having a greater specific gravity
than water and a lower melting point than the sensitive solder seal and placed so as to
protect the said seal from contact with water substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In automatic sprinklers of the sealed type the use and application of a mixture
of paraffin wax and Carbonate of Barium substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. The combination with the interposed mixture of a lead or other washer
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for Applicant.