Improved Means and Apparatus for the Automatic Extinction of Fires.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 1893-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
¡Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM NERACHER, of 1075, Superior Street,
Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.]
Improved Means and Apparatus for the Automatic Extinction
of Fires.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 115 Cannon Street, in the City of London,
Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates in part to an improved dry pipe system for automatic
fire extinguishers, and in part to an improved form of automatic sprinkler.
The first part is designed to render the action quick and certain in supplying
water to the sprinklers, and the object of the second part is to improve the
automatically released holding devices, and to diffuse the water more effectively.
A check valve is provided intermediate of the supply valve and the dry pipe
system, combined with mechanism adapted to be operated, in order to release the
air, between the check valve and the water supply valve and thus cause the opening
of the water supply valve previous to the opening of the sprinkler, and without
waiting for the gradual escape of the air through the said sprinklers to reduce the
pressure sufficiently for said valves to operate.
Valved mechanism, for supplying the water to the pipe is also provided, which is
held normally closed by the pressure of the water, and which, when operated by the
escape of air from the dry pipe system, will also be acted upon by the pressure of
the water and will be forced quickly open and held so by said pressure.
The main pipe extends throughout the building and conveys the water to various
branches leading to the sprinklers. The part of it above the water supply valve
is the dry pipe normally containing air under pressure. To one side of the supply
valve box, is secured by flanges and bolts, the diaphragm and piston cylinder.
Upon the cylinder is secured a box containing a supplemental inlet valve
connected with a diaphragm, located in a casing supported on the valve box.
The inlet valve controls the admission of water to the cylinder which is .supplied
thereto by a branch inclined pipe connecting with the main supply pipe below the
main water supply valve.
The diaphragm which controls the supplemental inlet valve is under pressure of
air from the dry pipe system so that the pressure of the air in the dry pipe system
will force the diaphragm downward and keep the supplemental inlet valve upon
its seat to cut off the pressure of water from the rear side of the piston, and allow
the main supply valve to remain closed under pressure of the water in the lower
part of the main. When the air pressure is reduced however, in the dry pipe
system by reason of the air escaping through the automatic sprinklers, or by hand
operating devices, the diaphragm will be relieved of air pressure and the inlet
valve will be free to rise and the water will fill the cylinder in the rear of the
piston, forcing the same forward and lifting the main supply valve to which the
piston is connected from its seat against the pressure of the water. The area of
the piston to that of the main supply valve, is as that of 3 to 1 and the action
of the parts in opening is quick and certain. In order that the cylinder chamber
may be emptied readily after the parts have been operated, an automatic waste and
exhaust valve is provided. The escape of the waste or leakage from the cylinder
chumber takes place when the valve is normally raised by a spring in the lower
part of the valve chamber, surrounding the valve stem, the upper part of the spring
bearing against a collar. When the water is admitted to the cylinder, under
pressure from the main pipe, the exhaust valve is forced to its seat by the pressure

page_text: and held firm to prevent escape of any water. In resetting the apparatus the
valve is raised by hand against the pressure of water in the cylinder for the
escape of the water from the pressure end of the cylinder, at which end the valve
is located.
In order that the pressure may be reduced to cause the opening of the supply
valve, without waiting for the sprinklers to open, and the air to escape through
these, the following mechanism is provided-A check valve is placed in the main
pipe at a suitable distance from the supply valve (five, ten or fifteen feet, for
example) and a branch pipe communicates with the main pipe above and below
said check valve. This pipe has a supplemental check valve which normally rests
upon its lower seat to hold the air pressure within the system and when raised upon
its upper seat, it allows the air to escape from the section of the pipe below the
main check valve adjacent to the water supply valve, while it cuts off this section
by resting upon its upper seat, from the main part of the system as does also the
main check valve. By this action it will be seen that the air in the main system
is entirely cut off from the air adjacent to the water supply valve and each volume
of air escapes independent of the other and by reason of the small quantity of air
at the water supply valve, the effect here is instantaneous when the supplemental
valve in the branch pipe is opened as the pressure is reduced at once and the water
supply valve is opened. During this time the sprinklers, being acted upon by the
heat, are opening, and it will be seen that the water being already admitted will
force the air before it, throughout the system without waiting for further reduction
of the pressure and the water reaches the sprinklers immediately after they are
opened and in fact may assist in opening them. In order that the supplemental
check valve in the branch pipe may be operated from any point in the building,
by the watchman or other attendant, a weighted lever is provided, its upper end
being engaged by an armature of an electro-magnet supported on the branch pipe.
These magnets are in open circuit with push buttons located at various points
throughout the building, and when said buttons are operated by the attendant, the
armature will be raised, allowing the lever to fall and open the check valve.
It is however not desired to limit the invention to the employment of these
means for operating the supplemental check valve as such action may be made
automatic. It will be clear from the above arrangement, that the automatic
operation of the system is not interfered with, the check valve not offering any
obstruction to the free flow of the water when the sprinklers open automatically
or to the free flow when the operation performed through the hand operation.
It will also be apparent that other means may be used in the place of the
electrical releasing mechanism by which the air pressure is reduced between
the valve which receives the air pressure in the main part and the water supply
valve.
on the
The above described arrangement may be modified, in which case the main water
supply valve is held upon its seat by the pressure of air in the dry pipe system and
also by the pressure of water as hereinafter shown. On the stem of this valve a
diaphragm, larger in exposed area than the valve, is secured; a suitable casing
being provided surrounding the diaphragm. Upon the enlarged end
diaphragm casing is bolted a supplemental casing. This has a port communicating
with a passage through the diaphragm casing which leads into a space in the rear
of the diaphragm. A branch pipe leads from the main supply pipe at a point below
the water supply valve, and communicates with the supplemental casing and the
diagram casing through the port and the passage mentioned, so that the pressure of
the water which fills these passages and passes into the rear of the diaphragm will
force the main supply valve to its seat against the pressure of the water in the main
supply pipe, and as the diaphragm is much larger in area than the water supply
valve, it will hold the same hard against its seat. The supplemental chamber
communicates also with the chamber in front of the diaphragm through a passage
and this passage is controlled by a puppet valve which is provided with a channel
extending through it and bears at its lower end upon a seat held by a screw for

page_text: adjustment. When this valve is raised, as hereinafter described, the water will
flow to the forward side of the diaphragm and acting here in conjunction with the
pressure in the main pipe will open said main supply valve and supply the water
to the system. At the same time the water on the rear of the diaphragm will
escape through the puppet valve and to the outside, thus rendering the action
quick and positive. The puppet valve is operated through the following
mechanism It is held down when the water pressure is behind the diaphragm.
A lever pivoted to the supplemental casing is held normally upright by a stop
formed by a stem of a supplemental diaphragm. This is held normally outward
by the pressure of the air in the dry pipe system, with which it communicates by a
branch pipe. When the air pressure in the system is reduced as will be the case
when the sprinkler is opened, or the hand operating devices are actuated, the
supplemental diaphragm springs inwardly and the lever then falls, it being weighted.
Its lower end strikes another lever and elevates it, thus raising the puppet valve,
and allowing the water to flow to the front side of the diaphragm, and that on the
rear side to escape as before described. The same form of hand operating device is
used in this modified arrangement.
The sprinkler of the second part of this invention is fixed up on the terminals
of the pipe system. It has a valve seat part on the nozzle, on which is clamped a
ring, carrying a frame. The cross-piece of the frame carries a distributing plate
or disc of special construction. It is held upon the frame rigidly with its face
toward the discharge orifice, so that a stream of water projected from the said
orifice, strikes directly against the face of the disc. The disc has near its edge an
annular row of holes and outside these on the face is an annular row of studs, one
outside of every hole, with its end bent inward so as to overhang the hole on the
face of the disc. On a circle within this row of holes, and within the overhanging
ends of the studs, is another row of short studs, set alternating with the studs of
the outside row so that between adjacent studs there is a groove or passage leading
to the hole beneath the overhanging stud. These studs obstruct the passage
between the overhanging studs and are formed with slightly hollowed inner faces.
Grooves run from the central boss to the holes and there are slight radial ridges
in line with the studs. It will be understood that this disc is preferably arranged
with its faces downward, and the stream of water strikes upward and is dashed
into spray by the configuration of the face of the disc above described, a portion
of the water being forced through the holes.
The nozzle is closed by means of a valve. Two bent levers are set in a recess in
the center of the valve, and extend outwardly and around the edge of the disc, the
upper ends being made straight with a slight outward spur at the end. The inner
edges of the lever are notches to receive braces, which bear also at their upper
ends upon notches in the central boss of the disc. This arrangement causes the
levers when their upper ends are brought together to bear with force against the
valve, and hold it firmly to its seat. The upper ends of the levers are held together
by a two-part link. The parts are made of sheet metal, one part slightly flaring
from the loop to the free ends, and the other part having its ends correspondingly
bent inward. The outwardly flaring ends are placed outside and lap upon the
inwardly bent ends and these are fixed by a solder fusible at comparatively low
temperature so that, when in place at or near the ceiling, and by reason of a fire
the heat is raised materially above the ordinary temperature, the solder is
melted and the link falls apart, releasing the levers which fall out and leave the
valve free.
The levers are put under some strain in order to lock the valve securely and in
order that the soft metal of the solder may more securely hold the parts of the
link together; the outer part is perforated, and the solder, when sweated in, flows
into the holes and more securely connects the parts.
Dated this 31st day of Dece 1
1000
W. H. BECK,
115, Cannon Street, London, Applicant.

page_text: Improved Means and Apparatus for the Automatic Extinction
of Fires.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 115 Cannon Street, in the City of London
Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the accompanying three sheets of drawings and to the letters and figures marked
thereon that is to say :-
My invention relates in part to an improved dry pipe system, for automatic fire
extinguishers, and in part to an improved form of automatic sprinkler.
The first part is designed to render the action quick and certain in supplying
water to the sprinklers, and the object of the second part is to improve the
automatically released holding devices, and to diffuse the water more effectively.
I have provided a check valve intermediate of the supply valve and the dry pipe
system, combined with mechanism adapted to be operated, in order to release the
air, between the check valve and the water supply valve and thus cause the opening
of the water supply valve previous to the opening of the sprinkler, and without
waiting for the gradual escape of the air through the said sprinklers to reduce the
pressure sufficiently for said valves to operate.
I have also provided a valved mechanism for supplying the water to the pipe,
which is held normally closed by the pressure of the water, and which when
operated by the escape of air from the dry pipe system, will also be acted upon by
the pressure of the water and will be forced quickly open and held so by said
pressure.
Figure 1, is a side elevation, partly in section.
Figure 2, is a section of a portion of the apparatus.
Figure 2*, is a detail.
Figure 3, is a side elevation of a modified form of apparatus partly in section.
Figures 4 and 5, are views of details in plan.
Figure 6, is a front view.
Figure 7, shows an elevation of the sprinkler.
Figure 8, a section on line - Figure 7.
Figure 9, is a face view of the sprinkler disc.
The main pipe A, extends throughout the building and conveys the water to
various branches leading to the sprinklers. The part of it above the water supply
valve B, is the dry pipe, normally containing air under pressure. The stem of the
supply valve B, which holds back the water in the other part of the pipe A, slides
through, a suitable casing or box b, and the valve rests on a seat 1. The valve box b,
is located in the main supply pipe A, having proper flanged connections 25, for
this purpose. The valve seat 1, is screwed into an opening in the partition wall 26,
between the inlet 27 and the outlet 28, of the box.
The stem projects through a removable head 28, provided with suitable packing.
The valve consists of a disc 29, having an annular depression to receive the
packing 30, which is held by the ring 31, screwed upon the disc. The disc bears
upon a second disc or plate 32, which in turn bears upon the shoulder 33, on the
valve stem, where it is held by the recessed nut surrounding the stem on the
opposite side of the shoulder. The plate 32, overlaps and holds the packing 30.
To one side of the valve box, is secured by the flanges 26*, and bolts, the diaphragm
and piston cylinder 34. In the present instance I show a piston in said cylinder,
consisting of one of the two discs 27* clamped by the nut 28* upon the reduced
end of the valve stem, and having an interposed packing 29* in a recess between
them. The head of the piston cylinder has suitable packings at 35. Upon the
cylinder is secured a box containing a valve connected with a diaphragm C,

page_text: located in a casing 38, connected to the valve box. The valve is recessed to
receive a packing 39, held by a screw. This forms the bearing surface of the valve
which rests upon the seat 36* screwed into the stud or coupling 37, within the box,
which stud is hollow, its interior being connected with the main supply pipe below
the main inlet valve, B, by an outside pipe E, valved at 2, and extending diagonally
to the lower part of the main valve box. Communication between the main water
supply and the interior of the piston cylinder is formed through this outside pipe, the
interior hollow stud and valve seat 36* the valve box and the passage 40, through
the wall of the cylinder and the valve box. The valve F, is held to its stem 42,
by a recessed nut 43, and the stem engaging a head thereon and screwed into a
recess in the valve.
The diaphragm C1, is clamped by its edges between the parts of its casing, the
lower part being perforated to receive the stem of the valve F, to which it is
connected as shown. The upper part of the casing is formed with grooves 44,
which receive any dirt which would be likely to interfere with the working of the
diaphragm. The diagonal pipe connects with an interior trumpet shaped exten-
sion 45, formed with the lower part of the main valve casing. The flaring mouth
of this extension is directly across the stream of water which thus enters the same
freely. The air pipe 11, connects with the dry pipe system through the pipe, K,
and opens into the diaphragm casing above the diaphragm so that the pressure of
the air in the dry pipe system will force the diaphragm C1 downward and keep the
valve F, upon its seat to cut off the pressure of water from the rear side of the
piston. When the air pressure is reduced however, in the dry pipe system by
reason of the air escaping through the automatic sprinklers, or by hand operating
devices, the valve F, will be free to rise and the water will fill the cylinder 34, in
the rear of the piston forcing the same forward and lifting the main supply valve B,
from its seat against the pressure of the water. The area of the piston, to that of
the valve, is as that of 3 to 1 and the action of the parts in opening is quick and
certain. In order that the cylinder chamber may be emptied readily after the
parts have been operated, I provide an automatic waste or exhaust valve 51, the
casing 52 of which is formed in two parts secured together, the upper part being
secured into the lower wall of the chamber. The lower portion carries the seat 52*
for the valve and has the opening 53 for the escape of the water which takes place
when the valve is normally raised by the spring 54 in the lower part of the chamber,
surrounding the valve stem, the upper part of the spring bearing against the
collar 55. When the water is admitted to the cylinder 34, under pressure from the
main pipe, the exhaust valve is forced to its seat by the pressure and held firm, but
in resetting the apparatus the valve is lifted by hand and opens the passage for the
escape of the water from the pressure side of the cylinder. This valve remains
normally open and this provides for the escape of leakage.
In order that the pressure may be reduced to cause the opening of the supply
valve, without waiting for the sprinklers to open and the air to escape through
these, I provide the following mechanism :-A check valve L, is placed in the
main pipe at a suitable distance from the supply valve (five, ten or fifteen feet, for
example) and the branch pipe K, communicates with the main pipe above and
below said check valve. This pipe has a supplemental check valve L, Figures 1, 3
and 4, which normally rests upon its lower seat 14, to hold the air pressure within
the system and when raised upon its upper seat 15, it allows the air to escape from
tbe cut off section of the pipe below the main check valve L, adjacent to the water
supply valve, while it cuts off this section by resting upon its upper seat, from the
main system as does also the main check valve L. By this action it will be seen
that the air in the main system is entirely cut off from the air adjacent to the water
supply valve and each volume of air escapes independent of the other and by
reason of the small quantity at the water supply valve, the effect here is
instantaneous when the supplemental valve L' is opened as the pressure is
reduced at once and the water supply valve is opened. During this time the
sprinklers being acted upon by the heat, are opening and it will be seen that the

page_text: water being already admitted, will force the air before it, throughout the system;
without waiting for further reduction of the pressure, and reaches the sprinkler
soon after they are opened. In order that the supplemental check valve may be
operated from any point in the building, by the watchman or other attendant, a
weighted lever K is provided, Figure 3, its upper end being engaged by an
armature k, of an electro magnet M, supported on the branch pipe K. These
magnets are in open circuit, with push buttons located at various points throughout
the building and when said buttons are operated by the attendant, the armature
will be raised, allowing the lever K¹ to fall and open the check valve L'. I do
not wish to limit myself to these means for operating the supplemental check
valve L' as such action may be made automatic.
It will be clear from the above arrangement, that the automatic operation of the
system is not interfered with, the check valve not offering any obstruction to the
free flow of the water when the sprinklers open automatically this together with
the supplemental check valve L' being provided for operation independent of the
operation at the sprinklers.
:
It will also be apparent that other means may be used in the place of the
electrical releasing mechanism by which the air pressure is reduced between
the valve L, which receives the air pressure in the main part A, and the water
supply valve.
The
In Figures 3 and 4; I show a modified form of operating mechanism, in
connection with the main valve. The valve B in this case rests upon the seat 1*,
and is held by the pressure of air in the dry pipe system and also by the pressure
of water as hereinafter shown. On the stem of this valve a diaphragm Clarger
in exposed area than the valve B is secured between the plates 3*, and the outer
edge of this diaphragm is secured between the two sections c, c, of the diaphragm
casing which is held together by bolts. 4. This casing is held to the valve casing
by means of threaded bars 5.. The outer end of the stem slides in a cap piece 6,
secured to the diaphragm casing to form a water tight connection. Upon the
enlarged end of the diaphragm casing is bolted a supplemental casing D. This has
a port d, communicating with the passage 7, through the diaphragm casing which
leads into a space in the rear of the, diaphragm. A branch pipe E' leads from the
main supply pipe A, at a point below the water supply valve, and communicates
with the supplemental casing D, and the diaphragm casing through the port d, and
the passage 7, so that the pressure of the water which fills these passages and
passes into the rear of the diaphragm C will force the valve B to its seat against
the pressure of the water in the supply. A³, and as the diaphragm is much larger in
area than the water supply valve, it will hold the same hard against its seat.
supplemental chamber D, communicates also with the forward side of the
diaphragm through a passage 8, and this passage is controlled by a puppet
valve F which is provided with a channel extending through it and bears at its
When this
lower end upon the seat, held by a screw for adjustment marked 9.
valve is raised as hereinafter described the water will flow through the passage 8,
to the forward side of the diaphragm C and acting here in conjunction with the
pressure in the main pipe will open said valve and supply the water to the system.
At the same time the water on the rear of the diaphragm will escape through the
passage 7, into the channel in the valve F and to the outside thus rendering the
action quick and positive. The puppet valve is operated through the following
mechanism. It is held down when the water pressure is behind the diaphragm C
as shown in Figure 1. A lever 1, pivoted to the casing D, is held normally upright
by a stop formed by a stem 10 of a supplemental diaphragm C. This is held
normally outward by the pressure of the air in the dry pipe system, with which it
communicates by pipe 11, from the branch pipe K entering through the port 20.
When the air pressure in the system is reduced as will be the case when the
sprinkler is opened, or the hand operating devices are actuated, the supplemental
diaphragm C, springs inwardly with its stem 10, and the lever I then falls, it being
weighted at 12, Its lower end strikes the lever H, and elevates it, thus raising the

page_text: puppet valve, and allowing the water to flow to the front side of the diaphragm,
and that on the rear side to escape as before described. The same form of hand
operating or automatic device is used in this modified arrangement.
Referring to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9,
The sprinkler X, of the second part of my invention, is fixed upon the terminals
of the pipe system, one of which is shown at 31. It has a valve seat part 1, on the
nozzle on which is clamped a ring 2, carrying a frame 3. The cross piece of the
frame carries a distributing plate or disc 4, of special construction. It is held
upon the frame rigidly with its face toward the discharge orifice, so that a stream
of water projected from the said orifice, strikes directly against the face of the disc.
The disc has near its edge, an annular row of holes 5, and outside these on the face,
is an annular row of studs 4*, one outside of every hole, with its end bent inward
so as to overhang the hole on the face of the dise. On a circle within this row of
holes and within the overhanging ends of the studs 4* is another row of short
studs 5*, set alternately with the studs of the outside row, so that between
adjacent studs 5*, there is a groove or passage 6, leading to the hole beneath the
overhanging stud. The studs 5*, obstruct the passage between the studs 4*, and
these studs are formed with slightly bollow inner faces.
Grooves 6, run from the central boss to the holes, and there are slight radial
ridges in line with the studs 5*. It will be understood that this disc is preferably
arranged with its face downward, (but it is here shown as facing upward for
convenience) and the stream of water strikes upward and is dashed into spray by
the configuration of the face of the disc, above described. A portion of the water
being forced through the holes.
The nozzle is closed by means of the valve 13, two bent levers 14, are set in a
recess in the centre of the valve, and extend outwardly and around the edge of the
disc the upper ends being made straight with a slight outward spur, at the end.
The inner edges of the levers are notched to receive braces 1, which bear also at
their upper ends upon notches in the central boss of the disc. This arrangement
causes the levers when their upper ends are brought together, to bear with force
against the valve, and hold it firmly to its seat. The ends of the levers are held
together by a two part link 16, 17. The parts are made of sheet metal, the
part 16, slightly flaring, from the loop to the free ends, and the other part 17,
having its ends correspondingly bent inward. The outward flaring ends are
placed outside, and lap upon the inwardly bent ends and these are fixed by a solder
fusible at comparatively low temperature so that, when in place at or near the
ceiling, and by reason of a fire, the heat is raised, materially above the ordinary
temperature, the solder in elted, and the link falls apart releasing the levers, which
fall out and leave the valve free.
The levers are put under some strain, in order to lock the valve securely, and in
order that the soft metal of the solder may inore securely hold the parts of the link
together the outer part is perforated, as shown at x, and the solder when sweated
in, flows into the holes and more securely connects the parts.
It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that pet or draining
cocks may be arranged at any suitable points throughout the system to relieve
the various chambers and operating parts of the water when resetting the
apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination in a dry pipe system the main supply valve with mechanism
acted upon by the air pressure for controlling said supply valve, a cut off valve in
the dry pipe for cutting off a section of said pipe adjacent to the main supply valve,
from the system and the sprinklers, and the means for allowing the air to escape
from the section thus cut off, substantially as described.
2. In a dry pipe system of water sprinklers, the water supply valve and

page_text: mechanism for holding it, a valve as L located in the dry pipe, a branch conduit
connecting the dry pipe above with the dry pipe below the said valve L,
connections between the branch conduit and the mechanisms for operating the
water supply valve and a valve for reducing the air pressure in the dry pipe below
the valve L with operating connections, all substantially as described.
3. In combination with the water supply valve located in the pipe A having
mechanism whereby it is held to the seat by the pressure of the water, a valve L,
located in the dry pipe, a branch or conduit K, connected with the dry pipe above
and below said valve connection, a conduit between the branch pipe or pipe A, and
the connection which controls the water supply valve, and a valve L' held to its
seat by the pressure and mechanism arranged to be controlled by the operator for
releasing said valve, substantially as described.
4. In combination in a dry pipe system adapted to hold compressed air, the main
supply pipe, the water supply valve therein the sprinklers operating automatically
under the action of the heat for releasing the air, the check valve L mechanism for
controlling the supply valve, said mechanism being under pressure of the air in the
system, a valve for controlling the air pressure on said mechanism independently
of the sprinklers and the hand operating connections to said valve, substantially as
described.
5. In combination the water supply pipe, the valve casing interposed in said
pipe, a valve therein, a piston casing on the valve casing, the piston therein
connected with the valve, the supplemental valve box above the piston cylinder,
the diaphragm casing above the valve box, the vertically operating valve, the
vertically operating diaphragm on the valve stem, the inclined pipe E, extending
from the lower part of the main casing to the supplemental valve box, and
the air pipe from the diaphragm casing to the dry pipe system, substantially
as described.
6. In combination, the sprinkler frame and the disc having the holes, the
exterior row of overhanging studs and the inner alternately placed row of studs.
7. In combination, the sprinkler frame, the valve disc the levers for holding
the same and the two part link, one part being formed with holes and having solder
therein.
Dated this 15th day of July 1893
W. H. BECK,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Applicant.