IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING PERSONS SAFELY TO ENTER PLACES FILLED WITH SMOKE, AND IN LANTERNS FOR LIGHTING SUCH PLACES
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Griffith Brewer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th October 1875.-A communication from abroad by
Bernhard Loeb, of Giessen, Germany.
I, EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING PERSONS SAFELY TO ENTER PLACES FILLED WITH
SMOKE, AND IN LANTERNS FOR LIGHTING SUCH PLACES," (a communication to
me from abroad by Bernhard Loeb, of Giessen, Germany,) to be as
follows:
The object of this Invention is to enable persons to enter places filled
with smoke for the purpose of saving lives or objects without being
suffocated or suffering in health, also by means of a peculiar lantern to
light such places when obscured by smoke. The leading idea is to
filter the air pervaded with smoke by means of some smoke absorbing
bodies, and to supply enlivening, nerve strengthening, and life supporting
vapors to the breathing organs of the person fitted with the apparatus.

page_text: Although these filtering means may be known, the whole arrangement
of the apparatus is supposed to be new for the purpose, and also the
mode of using the various means. The main part of this apparatus
consists in a hat which is made of as strong and light material as possible.
It is made large and with an internal bottom of elastic webbing to rest
on the top of the head but not to fit around it, hence it does not press
uncomfortably with an edge on the head, while it wards off the strongest
blows from above. The peak of the cap carries a plate iron mask with
a visir in front. The visir consists mainly of a window pane, a grating,
and a wiping contrivance which is packed air-tight with hemp steeped
in glycerin.
The grating is required as even when using a lantern (which will be
presently described) the wearer might knock against some object. The
visir is to turn up in order to see better, and for wiping off any vapor
that might come on it..
Under the visir there is a double respirator, mainly consisting of two
sheet iron tubes, going off right and left, closed at the outer ends by
means of wire nettings, and containing cotton wool steeped in glycerin,
and well burned pieces of charcoal in alternate layers. Both respirators
terminate in a central chamber, which by a passage communicates with
the interior of the apparatus, so that the air from without passing
through the layers of prepared cotton wool and pieces of coal through
the central chamber and the passage to the interior, at last comes to the
interior and to the breathing organs of the wearer. These two
respirators completely filter the air and absorb the smoke particles and
aerial oils; the air cannot get through and into the mask
other way,
as a string around a projecting mantle round the neck of the wearer
shuts off all other ingress; the mantle may if desired be kept damp.
any
In order to protect the filtering layers from the noxious influence
of the air when the mask is out of use small covers are fitted on the
respirators, and these covers are only taken off or opened at the moment
the mask is actually to be used, and then be suspended in a chain each.
Round the inner orifice of the respirator chamber is formed a chamber
containing sponge soaked in strengthening essences, spiced vinegar,
concentrated ozone water, or other suitable fluids; it is so arranged that
the nose of the wearer always touches the sponge, and by turning the
respirator from without new and cool parts of the sponge are always

page_text: presented to the wearer's nose as required. Facing the mouth of the
wearer the respirator is fitted with an elastic wind bag or ball, which by a
small passage communicates with the respirator passage, leading past the
sponge; on compressing this ball a draught of air is created causing
by releasing it again a greater evaporation of the refreshing materials,
and thus a refreshing strengthening breath of air.
The hat is fastened to the head by a strap fastened to the back of a
belt round the waist, the overweight of the visir and respirator in front
secures it there. To another waist belt is by a ring attached a line
which is used for guiding the wearer, so as to enable him to find his way
back; he will not be hindered in his movements by it because the ring
can slide round the belt. A signal whistle fastened to a large india-
rubber ball may be attached to the dress, and servos in case of need to
give any previously arranged signal.
According to an improved modification of this apparatus the main
features are the same as in the other apparatus, but the general arrange-
ment is different and more convenient and suitable. There is also a
special appliance for the removal of the used and vitiated air which
seems a decided advantage. The hat is as before fastened to the belt
and rests on the head with webbing, it is fitted with wiper and visir as
before; the filtering layers are however here separated and terminate
each in a separate chamber, which is filled with a similarly soaked
sponge as in the previous arrangement.
The two chambers are separated by a middle chamber in which a
mouth-piece or lip is inserted.
As the head has free movement in the mask the mouth may be at
will placed against part of the mouth-piece, and the nose against an
opening leading to the chamber between the respirators, or the face
may be drawn back and then the air will communicate with all
chambers. The chamber facing the mouth is closed below by ball
valves opening upwards, hence they form suction valves, and above by
ball valves which open upwards towards an upper tube, which is closed
by means of strainer and cotton wool soaked in glycerin.
The space under the suction valves communicates with a pipe
leading downwards, and in which there is a respirator placed vertically

page_text: and is filled same as before described. The annular space between the
respirator and the tube is filled with pieces of sponge which is damped
from without by pouring spiced vinegar or other fluid producing nerve
strengthening vapors in through a filling spout. The air entering
through the lower respirator into the space or tube, hence jets impreg
nated with the vapors from the sponge, and becomes particularly
strengthening and refreshing. When the wearer draws back his face
from the mouth-piece or lip he breathes through the respirators going
off to each side as before, but with the difference that when on breathing
the air becomes somewhat compressed the delivery valves open, and
some bad air comes in. But when, perhaps because of the presence of
too much used air, the air becomes bad in the apparatus, then the wearer
takes the mouth-piece in the mouth and with the nose closes the whole
inner space, so that mouth and nose in this case only communicate with
the middle chamber while the side chamber and side respirators are
closed. If the wearer draws his breath he will draw in the purified and
strengthening air through the bottom respirator space above same and
the lower or suction valve, and breathe out the vitiated air through the
upper or delivery valves and strainer, and will thus regenerate the air
and get strengthened. He has consequently by this apparatus double
assistance or means for getting fresh, wholesome, and strengthening air
now in one and now in another way; while the mouth-piece is in use
the air in the other chambers will also by this increased circulation of
air be purified and improved and made fit for repeated use. All the
other appliances, signal whistle, guiding rope, &c., are the same as in
the first described apparatus.
The lantern made according to this Invention facilitates the employ-
ment of the apparatus herein-before described, as it enables the wearer
thereof to see in the smoky space, and thus quicker and better do that
which he has to do there. The lamp has a similar filtering appliance
as the cap, and consists mainly of a glass body wherein the light burns,
as for instance with carriage lamps, and is pressed up by a spiral spring,
the glass body is closed by means of a top cover pressed on to it by
means of a spiral spring, and is to take off. The air is supplied in two
ways, either by filtering layers at the bottom or through filtering layers
which close upper tubes, which by descending tubes carry the air down
close to the flame. No smoky air can choke or obscure the flame which
thus burns as well as in the open.

page_text: The products of combustion pass off through a chimney or cylinder
to two side flues which are also closed by filtering layers, so that the air
cannot enter there. There is a movable handle at the top for carrying
the lantern by. The lamp has also a wire netting guard suspended in a
chain for protecting the glass.