Automatic Fire Extinguishers.
Year: 1890

page_text: · Date of Application, 8th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1891 --Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by FREDERICK GRINNELL, of Providence, State of
Rhode Island, in the United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Automatic Fire Extinguishers.
I, OLIVER IMRAY of No. 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the
County of London, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is an improvement in automatic fire extinguishers or sprinklers,
adapted to be attached to a water-pipe, and provided with an outlet closed by a
valve, the valve being held to its seat by a fusible joint or other heat-actuated
device, so that at a predetermined temperature, the valve is released, and allows
the water to discharge and extinguish the fire.
In systems of this kind, the "sprinkler valve" as it is termed, is the most
important factor and presents a difficult mechanical problem that has only been
imperfectly solved up to the present time.
It must be borne in mind, that a perfect valve for this service, must be left with-
out care and attention for many years, and often in most unfavorable locations; it
is exposed on the outside to the action of the elements and to corrosive gases and
other deleterious substances employed in the various factories where this sprinkler
system is in use: while on the inside there are deposits from the contained water,
often in several layers as the pipes are successively charged and discharged, and
impurities in the water act to corrode and choke the valve.
In spite of all such severe conditions, it is necessary that the valve open
promptly, completely and surely at any moment of the long period whenever the
restraining device is released by the heat of the fire and a failure to act on such
occasion may cause untold damage, while on the other hand, it is equally necessary
that it act at no other time and cause nearly equal injury by leakage.
As a matter of fact, all valves heretofore constructed, (and a great number have
been tried) have been more or less unreliable and imperfect, liable to leak, and not
opening when required. While required to be practically permanent and inde-
structible, they become often so corroded and clogged that they refuse to open
under the air or water pressure, even after the heat-actuated device has operated.
The infinitesimal leak that occurs when the corrosion has eaten through the joint,
allows by its slow evaporation the formation of an adherent cement that effectually
seals the valve to its seat.
Even when a metal or alloy is used that will be proof against destruction by
corrosion, there is always enough surface corrosion to render the valve liable to
stick.
It has been found moreover, that all kinds of rubber or fibrous packing are
destroyed, while with soft metals such as lead, or a valve of metal and a seat of
rubber or vice versa, the soft member becomes indented and sticks so closely as to
fail to operate at the required moment, especially when sufficient pressure has been
applied to prevent leakage under the changing external and internal conditions to
which the valve is subject.
To overcome these; difficulties, many different devices have heretofore been
employed.
In some cases the valve and the seat have been made of metals which have the
least tendency to corrode and stick together. It has also been proposed to cover
the valve with a fusible protecting material like paraffine, and others have
enclosed it in a frail protecting case, and still others have reduced the area of con-
tact to a knife edge, which avoided some trouble, but increased the indenture of

page_text: The contour of the valve, though not geometrically perfect, has no abrupt
irregularities, and the thin flexible valve-seat easily bends, so as to conform to the
valve surface.
Fig. 2 shows another form in which my invention may be applied.
In this case, the valve-seat, is made of glass, and the valve 5, of flexible sheet
metal. The glass valve-seat may be secured to the base 1, in any suitable manner.
I have shown it cemented into a seat in the base by plaster of paris or other
cement 14.
"
The flexible valve may be slightly "dished' as shewn, so as to give it just
sufficient stiffness and also in order that it may bear on the glass valve-seat at its
edges only.
The glass valve seat may be a flat annular ring, cut from a sheet of window glass
or moulded or blown in any suitable manner. Owing to the flexibility of the valve,
the natural surface of the glass need not be improved or corrected by grinding or
other process, so that the valve will bend to conform to the surface of the valve-
seat, notwithstanding slight irregularities in the latter's contour.
Fig. 3 shows still another form in which the broad invention may be applied.
In this instance, both the valve and its seat are of glass, and both the valve
and its seat are preferably ground and polished so as to make a tight joint. The
devices for holding the valves in place in the form in Figs. 2 and 3, are the same
as in the form in Fig. 1.
The advantage in the use of glass for the valve or its seat or both, by virtue of
which it overcomes the difficulties above described, are quite obvious. It will
never be attacked by acids, alkalies, gases, and other corrosives; thereby avoiding
the adhesion that would otherwise occur at this point. It cannot become indented
and stick, while the joint can be made tight and reliable. Foreign substances will
not adhere to it, and while it is of course brittle and fragile, it is so employed in
my construction that no strain is given to it. It will be understood from the fore-
going that the main advantages in the use of glass appertain to the nature of the
surface of the glass.
A valve of this material is perfectly sensitive however long and in whatever
locations it may be left, and at the same time forms a valve that can be held tight
enough to withstand any sudden impact of the water from within, as for instance,
when the pipes are suddenly charged or a section suddenly cut off and the water
backs up with a ramming effect against the valves in the rest of the system.
Another advantage deserving special notice, is that the glass is a comparatively
poor conductor of heat, and the heat-actuated device is insulated by it from the
connected mass of pipes and water which would tend to delay its melting. The
heat actuated device is thus more likely to respond quickly to an abnorinal increase
of temperature. This feature is of particular value when the heat actuated device
forms a part of the strut that holds the valve.
My invention further relates to a valve and valve-seat which are so constructed-
that the cementing or sticking together of the two valve members by deposits,
corrosion or other causes will be counteracted, when the valve is released, by a
relative inovement of the two valve members resulting in a sudden rupture at the
joint and a consequent freeing of the valve from its seat.
To accomplish this, I make one of the valve members with a flexible, resilient
bearing edge, which will be bent out of its normal shape under the pressure of the
restraining device, and which will, when released by said devices, suddenly return
to its normal shape, thereby sliding or turning on the other member, so as to prize
apart or otherwise rupture any deposit or cement that may have accumulated at
the joint, and which would, without such relative movement between the valve
members, be very liable to hold the valve fast to its seat.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an automatic fire extinguisher having a flexible
valve-seat.
Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the valve released.

page_text: Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the valve released and the deposit at the joint
ruptured.
Fig. 8 shows a flexible valve in its normal positon and
Fig. 9 shows the same when released.
The extinguisher consists of a base 1, adapted to be screwed into a pipe-fitting,
an arch 2 supporting a deflecting plate 3, a heat-actuated device 4 with an adjusting
screw 5, a valve 6 and a valve seat 7.
The heat actuated device 4, may consist of two bevelled ended struts 8, 8,
secured together at 9 by fusible solder, the joint being further held by the two
half sleeves 10, which are also secured together and to the strut by fusible
solder.
In Figs. 4 to 7 I have shewn a valve seated on a thin diaphragm which is made
of resilient sheet metal. This diaphragm valve-seat is made perfectly flat without
any stiffening flanges or reinforcement of the bearing edge as has heretofore been
customary. Its bearing edge is therefore flexible and springy, so that when the
valve is pressed down upon it, it will bend out of its norinal shape and assume a
distorted position as shown in Fig. 6.
When the valve is released by the operation of the heat-actuated device the
diaphragm valve-seat will assume its original unstrained shape as shown in Fig. 7
and any deposit such as 11, that might be formed at the joint would be instantly
and completely ruptured in the manner shown, so as to leave the valve free.
It will be observed that the relative movement between the valve and its seat is
independent of the bodily upward movement common to both valve members. It is
a combined sliding and turning movement that takes place at the joint only and
which acts with a peculiarly strong and sudden force that in practice has been
found to be exceedingly effectual. It has the same good effect, whatever the
sticking may be due to. Thus there may be a deposit on the inside of the sprinkler
instead of on the outside as shewn, or there may be no deposit but only a surface
adhesion at the joint, which will be overcome by the movement aforesaid.
In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shewn a valve made of resilient sheet metal in the form
of a watch crystal. In this case it is the valve that moves on the seat and it will
be readily seen that the action is substantially the same as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
My invention further relates to an improved form of heat actuated locked joint
to be used for releasing automatic fire extinguishers or other fire apparatus. This
part of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 17.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent respectively top and side views of a locked joint,
showing the invention applied to a tension cord or wire.
Fig. 12 is a side view of an automatic fire extinguisher, showing the invention
applied to a strut for holding the valve closed.
Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the same, in a plane at right angles to that of
Fig. 12.
Figs. 14, 15 and 16. shew the parts of the joint separately, and
Fig. 17 shews the device illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 with the joint released
and the valve opening.
The joint consists essentially of three parts, 1, 2 and 3.
plate, the part 2 the hook, and the part 3 the key, but these
The part 1, I call the
terms are used simply
as names and should not be considered as limiting my invention to the particular
forms shown.
The plate has a projecting portion 4 which forms an abutment, against which,
the heel 5 of the hook 2 has pivotal bearing.
The hook 2 has a hooked portion 6 which passes through a slot in the plate,
and is locked in position by engaging over the end of the key 3.
The key 3 is soldered to the plate along the surface x-x as indicated by the
dotted line, and the hook 2 may also be secured to the plate by solder, so that the
parts will not become dislocated until released by heat.
The key, instead of being constructed so as to turn or slide over an edge, as

page_text: heretofore, is provided with projections 7, overlapping the edges of the slot, so
that when the solder is melted and the hook pulling on the key tends to turn it,
the key will turn on its own edge instead of on the edge of the plate.
The key therefore, cannot be dragged after the hook, but must be immediately
released.
As a matter of fact, after the key has been turned through a certain angle, it is
forced to slide along the surface of the plate, being, so to speak, wedged out of the
way by the hook.
By means of this construction, I am able to obtain any desired amount of leverage,
for it will be seen that the edge of the hook that bears on the key, may be brought
very near to the edge of the key that bears on the plate.
This distance may, in fact, be much less than the thickness of the key, which is a
desirable feature, for otherwise, the key would have to be so thin to obtain the
desired leverage that it would not have sufficient strength. It will be seen that this
advantage would not be present, if the key had its bearing, when turning, against
the edge of the plate.
The locked joint may be placed between the two ends of a tension wire or cord 8,
which may be used to control an alarm, a fire door, a pump valve or other fire
apparatus.
In Figs. 12, 13 and 17 I have shown my improved joint applied to an automatic
fire extinguisher.
In this case the joint takes a thrust strain, the hook having a pivotal bearing.
against the arch 9 of the extinguisher instead of the wire connection.
The plate 1 forms an abutment at 4 upon which the hook is fulcrumed, the other
end of the plate hearing against the valve 10, so as to hold it forcibly to its seat on
the flexible diaphragm 11.
Fig. 17 illustrates the manner in which the key is forcibly ejected by the hook,
showing how slight a movement of the valve is sufficient to not only rupture the
soldered joint but to also free the hook froin the locking key.
My invention further consists in combining with a moveable valve seat, a valve
and a tripping device so that the movement that is given to the valve by its seat,
will cause the former to come in contact with the tripping device, or otherwise so
bring it into operation as to force or prize the valve from its seat.
Fig. 18 is a sectional view of an automatic fire extinguisher, embodying one form
of my invention and showing the valve closed.
Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the valve in the act of opening.
The extinguisher consists essentially of a base 1, adapted to be secured into a
pipe-fitting, an arch 2 supporting a deflecting plate 3, a heat-actuated device 4 with
an adjusting screw 5, a valve 6 and a valve-seat 7.
The heat-actuated device 4, may consist of two bevelled ended struts 8, 8, secured
together at 9 by fusible solder, the joint being further held by the two valve
sleeves 10, which are also secured together and to the strut by fusible solder.
The valve 6 is shown seated on a flexible diaphragm valve-seat 7, made of
resilient sheet-metal.
Any other suitable form of movable valve-seat may be used so long as it is of
such a construction that it will move under the influence of the internal pressure
when the valve is released from the restraining pressure of the heat-actuated device.
Such equivalent devices are well known in the art and need not be described here.
The valve 6, is provided with an arm or projection 11, adapted to strike against
a lug 12, or other fixed stop on the frame of the extinguisher when the valve is
thrown outward by the movement of the valve-seat. The effect of this is to wrench
or prize the valve off of its seat, and it will be understood that the whole force of
the pressure against the diaphragmn, is utilized for this purpose.
The lug 12, may be so extended as to overlap the edge of the valve itself, in
which case, the arm 11 would be unnecessary, and it is very evident that many
other varieties of the invention might be practised.
:

page_text: It wish it therefore to be understood, that I do not bind myself to the specific
means shown, for tripping the valve, as any other suitable devices accomplishing
the same result in substantially the same way, would be within the scope of my
invention.
1 1
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Automatic Fire Extinguishers.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 :-
My invention is an improvement in automatic fire extinguishers or sprinklers,
adapted to be attached to a water-pipe, and provided with an outlet closed by a
valve the valve being held to, its seat by a fusible joint or other heat actuated
device, so that at a predetermined temperature, the valve is released, and allows
the water to discharge and extinguish the fire.
.
In systems of this kind, the "sprinkler valve" as it is termed, is the most
important factor and presents a difficult mechanical problem that has only been
imperfectly solved up to the present time.
It must be borne in mind, that a perfect valve for this service, must be left
without care and attention for many years, and often in most unfavourable locations
it is exposed on the outside to the action of the elements and to corrosive gases and
other deleterious substances employed in the various factories where this sprinkler
system is in use; while on the inside there are deposits from the contained water,
often in several layers as the pipes are successively charged and discharged, and
impurities in the water act to corrode and choke the valve.
In spite of all such severe conditions, it is necessary that the valve open promptly,
completely and surely at any moment of the long period whenever the restraining
device is released by the beat of the fire and a failure to act on such occasion may
cause untold damage, while on the other hand, it is equally necessary that it act at
no other time and cause nearly equal injury by leakage.
As a matter of fact, all valves heretofore constructed, (and a great number have
been tried) have been more or less unreliable and imperfect, liable to leak, and not
opening when required. While required to be practically permanent and inde-
structible, they become often so corroded and clogged that they refuse to open
under the air or water pressure, even after the heat actuated device has operated.
The infinitesimal leak that occurs when the corrosion has eaten through the joint,
allows by its slow evaporation' the formation of an adherent cement that effectually
seals the valve to its seat.
Even when a metal or alloy is used that will be proof against destruction by
corrosion, there is always enough surface corrosion to render the valve liable
to stick.
It has been found moreover, that all kinds of rubber or fibrous packing are
destroyed, while with soft metals such as lead, or a valve of metal and a seat of
rubber or vice versa, the soft member becomes indented and sticks so closely as to
fail to operate at the required moment, especially when sufficient pressure has been
applied to prevent leakage under the changing external and internal conditions to
which the valve is subject. The pressure necessary to prevent leakage with
certainty is so much as, in many cases, to cause the valve and valve seat to adhere
together, after the pressure has been continued for some time, without any corrosive

page_text: effect whatever, the metallic surfaces in contact adhering as if they had become
partially welded together or superficially interpenetrated.
To overcome these difficulties, many different devices have heretofore been
employed.
In some cases the valve and the seat have been made of metals which have the
least tendency to corrode and stick together. It has also been proposed to cover
the valve with a fusible projecting material like paraffine and others have enclosed
it in a frail protecting case of harder metal, and still others have reduced the area
of contact to a knife edge, which avoided some trouble, but increased the indenture
of the parts. Caskets of various metals and thin metal facings on softer metals
have also been used.
In fine, many attempts have been hetetofore made with more or less success, to
obviate corrosion by the use of various materials, and to obviate adhesion by various
expedients, but none of these have resulted in disposing at one and the same
time of the various difficulties which stand in the way of a thoroughly reliable
sprinkler.
I find that the objectionable adhesion which exists even with absence of corrosion,
between metal (and especially soft metal) surfaces in contact, together with other
difficulties herein before mentioned are entirely obviated by the use of various hard
smooth non-metallic substances, it being of course requisite that the substance used
should be at the same time practically incorrodable.
According to my invention I make the valve or valve seat or both of glass or a
similar non-metallic mineral substance having the essential qualities of hardness,
smoothness, non-corrosibility and non-adhesiveness. I may employ other similar
non-metallic substances such as porcelain or vitrified clays or even marble or other
polished stone, provided they are equivalent to glass, as regards the essential
qualities above mentioned. Moreover the glass or its equivalent may be applied in
the form of a thin layer between the valve and valve seat, either in the form of
an enamel upon one of the surfaces or in any other suitable manner.
In order to overcome the difficulty of making a tight joint, which exists when
glass or its equivalent is used for the valve or valve seat, I have devised various
specific forms of sprinkler, which are included in another Patent of even date, and
to which no claim is made herein. In order, however, to explain how my invention
may be carried into effect, I now proceed to describe one of the best forms of
sprinkler. which I have devised in accordance therewith, it being understood that
the detailed construction of this sprinkler is not the subject of the present Patent.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to describe
the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved fire-extinguishing sprinkler, with
a valve of glass or its equivalent, on a metal seat.
The base 1 of the sprinkler may be of any desired form, and it may support the
yoke or bridge 2, for the purpose of forming an abutment for the valve-holding
device 3. The valve-seat 4, which I have shown secured in the base in the usual
way, is made of resilient sheet metal in the form of a flat annulus. The valve 5
which consists of a button of glass or its equivalent is preferably of the forum shown,
and it is held against its seat by the valve holding device 3, consisting of two
pieces 7 and 8, having oblique meeting surfaces secured together by fusible solder
at 9, the two pieces being further held from moving on each other by a sleeve of
hard metal 10 made in halves and secured together with fusible solder. An
adjustable screw 11 may be used to set the valve in its seat with the required
amount of pressure. The flexibility of the thin metal valve seat allows it to
conform to the irregularities in the contour of the glass or vitreous material,
thereby making a perfectly air-tight joint. This flexibility is especially necessary
when the glass or vitreous material is used with its natural glaze which is the way
I prefer to use it. In such case, the glass or vitreous material has a very smooth
glazed surface that foreign matter will not adhere to, although it lacks the precision

page_text: of geometrical contour that an artificial grinding would give. The contour of the
valve though not geometrically perfect has no abrupt irregularities, and the thin
flexible valve-seat easily bends, so as to conformn to the valve surface.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a sprinkler with a metal valve on vitreous or
equivalent hard and smooth material seat. In this case the valve seat 4 is made of
glass or vitreous or equivalent hard and smooth material, and the valve 5 of flexible
sheet metal. The vitreous valve seat may be secured to the base 1 in any suitable
manner. The flexible valve may be slightly convexed as shown, so as to give it
sufficient stiffness, and also in order that it may bear on the glass or vitreous or
equivalent hard and smooth valve seat at its edges only, the flexibility of the valve
permitting a tight joint to be made.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a sprinkler wherein the metal valve is coated
or lined with glass, or equivalent material in conjunction with a metal seat. To
the valve 5 is secured in any convenient manner the layer or coating or lining of
glass or equivalent material. If desired the layer or coating 6 can be loosely
interposed between the metal valve 5 and seat 4, being held in position by the
valve-holding device 3.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of my invention wherein the metallic valve seat
is coated or lined with glass or equivalent material in conjunction with a metal
valve. To the valve seat 4 is secured in any convenient manner the layer or
coating or lining 6 of glass or equivalent material. If desired the layer or coating 6
of glass or equivalent material can be loosely interposed between the metal valve
5 and seat 4, being held in position by the valve holding device 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of my invention wherein the valve of glass or
equivalent material is made in a conical form.
The advantage in the use of glass or its equivalent for the valve or its seat or
both, by virtue of which it overcomes the difficulties above described, are quite
obvious. It will never be attacked by any acids, alkalies, gases, or other corrosives
which are met with in practice; thereby avoiding the adhesion resulting from
corrosion that would otherwise occur at this point. It cannot become indented and
stick, and sufficient pressure can be used to make the joint tight and reliable
without risk of adhesion after either a long or short interval.
Thus the valve will be perfectly sensitive however long and in whatever locations
it may be left, and at the same time it can be held tight enough to withstand any
sudden impact of the water from within, as for instance, when the pipes are
suddenly charged or a section suddenly cut off and the water backs up with a
ramming effect against the valves in the rest of the system.
Another advantage deserving special notice, is that the glass is a comparatively
poor conductor of heat, and the heat-actuated device is insulated by it from the
connected mass of pipes and water which would tend to delay its melting. The
heat actuated device is thus more likely to respond quickly to an abnormal increase
of temperature.
This feature is of particular value when the heat actuated device forms a part of
the strut that holds the valve, as the heat of the strut is thus prevented from being
conducted to the water. But the combination of a non-conducting valve, with a
heat actuated device is the subject of another Patent of even date, and is not
claimed herein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I
claim is :-
1. In automatic sprinklers having an orifice furnished with a valve and valve
seating, the use of a valve or a valve seating of glass or equivalent material for the
purpose of preventing the adhesion of the valve and valve-seat, substantially as
described.
2. In automatic sprinklers having an orifice furnished with a valve and valve

page_text: seating, the use of a layer of glass or its equivalent interposed between the valve
and valve seating, for the purpose of preventing the adhesion of the valve and
valve seat, substantially as described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1891 -Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by FREDERICK GRINNELL, of Providence, State of
Rhode Island, in the United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Automatic Fire Extinguishers.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the
County of London, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention is an improvement in automatic fire extinguishers or sprinklers,
adapted to be attached to a water-pipe, and provided with an outlet closed by a
valve, the valve being held to its seat by a fusible joint or other heat-actuated device,
so that at a predetermined temperature, the valve is released, and allows the
water to discharge and extinguish the fire.
In systems of this kind, the sprinkler valve" as it is termed. is the most
important factor and presents a difficult mechanical problem that has only been
imperfectly solved up to the present time.
It must be borne in mind that a perfect valve for this service, must be left
without care and attention for many years, and often in most unfavourable
locations; it is exposed on the outside to the action of the elements and to
corrosive gases and other deleterious substances employed in the various factories
where this sprinkler system is in use; while on the inside there are deposits from
the contained water, often in several layers as the pipes are successively charged
and discharged, and impurities in the water act to corrode and choke the valve.
In spite of all such severe conditions, it is necessary that the valve open
promptly, completely and surely at any moment of the long period whenever the
restraining device is released by the heat of the fire and a failure to act on such
occasion may cause untold damage, while on the other hand, it is equally necessary
that it act at no other time and cause nearly equal injury by leakage.
As a matter of fact, all valves heretofore constructed, (and a great number have
been tried) have been more or less unreliable and imperfect, liable to leak, and
not opening when required. While required to be practically permanent and
indestructible, they become often so corroded and clogged that they refuse to open
under the air or water pressure, even after the beat-actuated device has operated.
The infinitesimal leak that occurs when the corrosion has eaten through the joint,
allows by its slow evaporation the formation of an adherent cement that effectually
seals the valve to its seat.
Even when a metal or alloy is used that will be proof against destruction by
corrosion, there is always enough surface corrosion to render the valve liable to
stick.
It has been found moreover, that all kinds of rubber or fibrous packing are
destroyed, while with soft metals such as lead, or a valve of metal and a seat of
rubber or rice Bersa. the soft member becomes indented and sticks so closely as to
fail to operate at the required moment, especially when sufficient pressure has been
applied to prevent leakage under the changing external and internal conditions to
which the valve is subject.
To overcome these difficulties, many different devices have heretofore been
employed.
In some cases the valve and the seat have been made of metals which have the
least tendency to corrode and stick together. It has also been proposed to cover
the valve with a fusible protecting material like paraffine, and others have enclosed
it in a frail protecting case, and still others have reduced the area of contact
CD 017

page_text: to a knife edge, which avoided some trouble, but increased the indenture of the
parts. Caskets of various materials and thin metal facings on softer metals have
also been used. It is sufficient to say, that all of these are unsatisfactory.
My invention overcomes these difficulties in the simplest manner possible, by a
device never before employed by the many inventors who have endeavoured to
solve the problem.
It consists in making, the valve or valve-seat or both of glass or a similar non-
metallic mineral substance having the essential qualities of hardness, smoothness
and non-corrodibility. Thus I may employ other siliceous substances such as
porcelain or vitrified clays or even marble or other polished stone, or the body of
the valve or valve-seat may be of metal and an enameled surface applied to it.
Therefore while 1 describe and claim my invention as an automatic fire
extinguisher having a valve, valve-seat or both made of glass or similar material,
I desire it to be definitely understood that I do not limit myself to that particular
substance, but being the first inventor of an automatic fire extingusher having
valves of this nature, I intend to embrace by the term "glass" all equivalent
materials having the essential qualities of non-corrodibility, hardness and smooth-
ness, and being bad conductors of heat.
The following Specification discloses the best form in which I contemplate
applying my invention, and also sets forth important details of construction.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 shows a glass valve with a metallic seat.
Figure 2 shows a metallic valve with a glass seat, and
Figure 3 shows a glass valve with a glass seat.
I will first describe the form shown in Fig. 1.
I have discovered that a button of glass with its natural fire glaze and without
artificial polishing, will, when pressed to a flexible metallic seat, make a perfect air
and water-tight joint, notwithstanding the fact that the surface of the glass is not
geometrically true.
I therefore use a button of glass, having a spherical or rounded surface pressed
into a central orifice in a flexible diaphragm of thin sheet metal.
I prefer to use a valve having a rounded surface as it is more securely held in
place and moreover presents an oblique bearing surface to the valve seat so that
only a narrow edge of the latter bears against it.
It will be understood that there is an advantage in having the bearing edge as
narrow as possible providing the surface against which it rests is hard enough not
to be indented by it.
Referring to the drawings, the base 1, of the sprinkler may be of any desired
form, and it may support an arch 2, for the purpose of forming an abutment for the
valve-holding device 3.
The valve-seat 4, which I have shown secured in the base in the usual way, is
made of resilient sheet metal, in the form of a flat aumulus. The edge of the
orifice against which the valve rests, may be either turned up or left flat as shown.
The glass valve 6, is preferably of the form shown, and it is held against its seat
by a compound strut 3, consisting of two pieces 7 and 8, having oblique meeting
surfaces secured together by fusible solder at 9. the two pieces being further held
from moving on each other by a sleeve of hard metal 10 made in halves and secured
together by fusible solder.
An adjustable screw 11, may be used to set the valve in its seat with the
required amount of pressure.
The flexibility of the thin metal valve-scat, allows it to conform to the
irregularities in the contour of the glass, thereby making a perfectly air-tight joint.
This flexibility is especially necessary when the glass is used with its natural
glaze, which is the way I prefer to use it. In such case, the glass has a very
.smooth glazed surface that foreign matter will not adhere to, although it lacks
the precision of geometrical contour that an artificial grinding would give.
The contour of the valve, though not geometrically perfect, has no abrupt

page_text: Irregularities, and the CHITH HEXIDIC
the valve surface.
Fig. 2 shows another form in which my invention may be applied.
In this case, the valve-seat, is made of glass, and the valve 5, of flexible sheet
metal. The glass valve-seat may be secured to the base 1, in any suitable
manner. I have shown it cemented into a seat in the base by plaster of paris
or other cement 14.
The flexible valve may be slightly dished" as shewn, so as to give it just
sufficient stiffness and also in order that it may bear on the glass valve-seat at
its edges only.
The glass valve seat may be a flat annular ring, cut from a sheet of window glass
or moulded or blown in any suitable manner.
Owing to the flexibility of the valve, the natural surface of the glass need not be
improved or corrected by grinding or other process, so that the valve will bend to
conform to the surface of the valve seat, notwithstanding slight irregularities in the
latter's contour.
Figure 3 shows still another form in which the broad invention may be applied.
In this instance, both the valve and its seat are of glass, and both the valve and
its seat are preferably ground and polished so as to make a tight joint. The
devices for holding the valves in place in the form in Figures 2 and 3 are the same
as in the form in Figure 1.
The advantage in the use of glass for the valve or its seat or both by virtue
of which it overcomes the difficulties above described, are quite obvious. It will
never be attacked by acids, alkalies gases and other corrosives; thereby avoiding
the adhesion that would otherwise occur at this point. It cannot become indented
and stick, while the joint can be made tight and reliable. Foreign substances
will not adhere to it, and while it is of course brittle and fragile, it is so employed
in my construction that no strain is given to it.
It will be understood from the foregoing that the main advantages in the use of
glass appertain to the nature of the surface of the glass.
A valve of this material is perfectly sensitive however long and in whatever
locations it may be left, and at the same time forms a valve that can be held tight
enough to withstand any sudden impact of the water from within, as for instance,
when the pipes are suddenly charged or a section suddenly cut off, and the water
backs up with a ramming effect against the valves in the rest of the system.
Another advantage deserving special notice is that the glass is a comparatively
poor conductor of heat, and the heat actuated device is insulated by it from the
connected mass of pipes and water which would tend to delay its melting. The
heat actuated device is thus more likely to respond quickly to an abnormal increase
of temperature. This feature is of particular value when the heat actuated device
forms a part of the strut that holds the valve.
My invention further relates to a valve and valve-seat which are so constructed
that the cementing or sticking together of the two valve members by deposits.
corrosion or other causes will be counteracted, when the valve is released, by a
relative movement of the two valve members resulting in a sudden rupture at the
joint, and a consequent freeing of the valve from its seat.
To accomplish this I make one of the valve members with a flexible resilient
bearing edge, which will be bent out of its normal shape under the pressure of the
restraining device, and which will when released by said devices suddenly return to
its normal shape, thereby sliding or turning on the other member so as to prize
apart or otherwise rupture any deposit or cement that may have accumulated at
the joint, and which would, without such relative movement between the valve
members, be very liable to hold the valve fast to its seat.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 4 is a sectional view of an automatic fire extinguisher having a flexible
valve seat.
Figure 5 is a similar view showing the valve released;

page_text: Figure 6 is an enlarged section shewing the valve pressed to its seat.
Figure 7 is a similar view showing the valve released, and the deposit at the
joint ruptured.
Figure 8 shows a flexible valve in its normal position, and
Figure 9 shows the same when released.
The extinguisher consists of a base 1 adapted to be screwed into a pipe fitting.
an arch 2 supporting a deflecting plate 3, a heat acinated device 4 with an adjusting
screw 5 a valve 6 and a valve seat 7.
The heat actuated device 4, may consist of two bevelled ended struts 8, 8, secured
together at 9 by fusible solder, the joint being further held by the two half
sleeves 10, which are also secured together and to the strut by fusible solder.
In Figures 4 to 7 I have shewn a valve seated on a thin diaphragm which is
made of resilient sheet metal. This diaphragm valve seat is made perfectly flat
without any stiffening flanges or reinforcement of the bearing edge as has
heretobefore been customary. Its bearing edge is therefore flexible and springy, so
that when the valve is pressed down upon it, it will bend out of its normal shape
and assume a distorted position as shown in Figure 6.
When the valve is released by the operation of the heat-actuated device, the
diaphragm valve seat will assume its original unstrained shape as shewn in Figure 7.
and any deposit such as 11, that might be formed at the joint would be instantly
and completely ruptured in the manner shown, so as to leave the valve free.
It will be observed that the relative movement between the valve and its seat is
independent of the bodily upward movement common to both valve members. It
is a combined sliding and turning movement that takes place at the joint only, and
which acts with a peculiarly strong and sudden force that in practice has been
found to be exceedingly effectual. It has the same good effect, whatever the
sticking may be due to. Thus there may be a deposit on the inside of the
sprinkler instead of on the outside as shewn, or there may be no deposit, but only a
surface adhesion at the joint, which will be overcome by the movement aforesaid.
In Figures 8 and 9 I have shown a valve made of resilient sheet metal in the
form of a watch crystal. In this case it is the valve that moves on the seat, and it
will be readily seen that the action is substantially the same as shown in Figures 6
and 7.
My invention further relates to an improved form of heat actuated locked joint
to be used for releasing automatic fire extinguishers or other fire apparatus. This
part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 10 to 17.
Figures 10 and 11 represent respectively top and side views of a locked joint,
showing the invention applied to a tension cord or wire.
Figure 12 is a side view of an automatic fire extinguisher, showing the invention
applied to a strut for holding the valve closed.
Figure 13 is a sectional view of the same in a plane at right angles to that of
Figure 12.
Figures 14, 15 and 16 shew the parts of the joint separately, and
Figure 17 shews the device illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 with the joint
released and the valve opening,
The joint consists essentially of three parts, 1, 2 and 3. The part I call the
plate, the part 2 the hook and the part 3 the key, but these terms are used simply
as names and should not be considered as limiting my invention to the particular
forms shown.
The plate has a projecting portion 4 which forms an abutment, against which
the heel 5 of the hook 2 has pivotal bearing.
The hook 2 has a hooked portion 6 which passes through a slot in the plate, and
is locked in position by engaging over the end of the key 3.
The key 3 is soldered to the plate along the surface a, 2. as indicated by the
dotted line, and the hook 2, may also be secured to the plate by solder, so that the
parts will not become dislocated until released by heat.
The key. instead of being constructed so as to turn or slide over an edge, as

page_text: heretofore is provided with projections 7, overlapping the edges of the slot, so that
when the solder is melted, and the hook pulling on the key tends to turn it, the
key will turn on its own edge, instead of on the edge of the plate.
The key therefore cannot he dragged after the hook, but must be immediately
released.
As a matter of fact, after the key has been turned through a certain angle, it is
forced to slide along the surface of the plate, being so to speak, wedged out of the
way by the hook.
By means of this construction. I am able to obtain any desired amount of
leverage, for it will be seen that the edge of the hook that bears on the key, may
be brought very near to the edge of the key that bears on the plate.
This distance may in fact be much less than the thickness of the key which is a
desirable feature, for otherwise, the key would have to be so thin to obtain the
desired leverage, that it would not have sufficient strength. It will be seen that
this advantage would not be present, if the key had its bearing when turning,
against the edge of the plate.
The locked joint may be placed between the two ends of a tension wire or cord 8.
which may be used to control an alarm, a fire door, a pump valve or other fire
apparatus.
In Figures 12, 13 and 17 I have shown my improved joint applied to an automatic
fire extinguisher.
In this case the joint takes a thrust strain, the hook having a pivotal bearing
against the arch 9 of the extinguisher instead of the wire connection.
The plate 1. forms an abutment at 4 upon which the hook is fulcrumed, the other
end of the plate bearing against the valve 10, so as to hold it forcibly to its seat
on the flexible diaphragm 11.
Figure 17 illustrates the manner in which the key is forcibly ejected by the hook.
showing how slight a movement of the valve is sufficient to not only rupture the
soldered joint but to also free the hook from the locking key.
My invention further consists in combining with a moveable valve seat, a valve
and a tripping device so that the movement that is given to the valve by its seal.
will cause the former to come in contact with the tripping device, or otherwise so
bring it into operation as to force or prize the valve from its seat.
Figure 18 is a sectional view of an automatic fire extinguisher, embodying one
form of my invention and showing the valve closed.
Figure 19 is a similar view, showing the valve in the act of opening.
The extinguisher consists essentially of a base 1. adapted to be secured into a
pipe-fitting, an arch 2, supporting a deflecting plate 3. a heat actuated device 4
with an adjusting screw 5, a valve 6. and a valve-seat 7.
The heat-actuated device 4, may consist of two bevelled ended struts 8, 8 secured
together at 9 by fusible solder, the joint being further held by the two valve
sleeves 10, which are also secured together, and to the strut by fusible solder.
The valve 6 is shown seated on a flexible diaphragm valve-seat 7. made of
resilient sheet metal.
Any other suitable form of moveable valve-seat may be used so long as it is of
such a construction that it will move under the influence of the internal pressure
when the valve is released from the restraining pressure of the heat-acinated
device. Such equivalent devices are well known in the art. and need not be
described here.
The valve 6 is provided with an arm or projection 11. adapted to strike against.
a lug 12 or other fixed stop on the frame of the extinguisher when the valve is
thrown outward by the movement of the valve-seat. The effect of this is to
wrench or prize the valve off its seat, and it will be understood that the whole
force of the pressure against the diaphragm, is utilized for this purpose.
The lug 12, may be so extended as to overlap the edge of the valve itself, in
which case the arm 11 would be unnecessary, and it is very evident that many,
other varieties of the invention might be practised.

page_text: I wish it therefore to be understood, that I do not bind myself to the specific
means shown, for tripping the valve, as any other suitable devices accomplishing
the same result in substantially the same way would be within the scope of my
invention.
ABEL & IMRAY.
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Fire Extinguishers.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of London, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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:---
My invention is an improvement in automatic fire extinguishers or sprinklers
adapted to be attached to a water pipe, and provided with an outlet closed by a
valve, the valve being held to its seat by a fusible joint or other heat-actuated
device, so that at a predetermined temperature, the valve is released, and allows
the water to discharge and extinguish the fire.
In systems of this kind, the "sprinkler valve," as it is termed, is the most
important factor and presents a difficult mechanical problem that has only been
imperfectly solved up to the present time.
It must be borne in mind, that a perfect valve for this service, must be left.
without care and attention for many years, and often in most unfavourable
locations; it is exposed on the outside to the action of the elements and to
corrosive gases and other deleterious substances employed in the various factories
where this sprinkler system is in use; while on the inside there are deposits from
the contained water, often in several layers as the pipes are successively charged
and discharged, and impurities in the water act to corrode and choke the valve
In spite of all such severe conditions, it is necessary that the valve open promptly.
completely and surely at any moment of the long period whenever the restraining
device is released by the heat of the fire and a failure to act on such occasion may
cause untold damage, while on the other hand, it is equally necessary that it aci al
no other time and canse nearly equal injury by leakage.
As a matter of fact all valves heretofore constructed. (and a great number have
been tried) have been more or less unreliable and imperfect, liable to leak, and
not opening when required. While required to be practically permanent and
indestructible, they become often so corroded and clogged that they refuse to open
under the air or water pressure, even after the heat actuated device has operated.
The infinitesimal leak that occurs when the corrosion has eaten through the joint,
allows by its slow evaporation the formation of an adherent cement that effectually
seals the valve to its seat.
Even when a metal or alloy is used that will be proof against destruction by
corrosion, there is always enough surface corrosion to render the valve liable
to stick.
It has been found moreover, that all kinds of rubber or fibrous packing are
destroyed, while with soft metals such as lead, or a valve of metal and a seat of
rubber or vice versa, the soft member becomes indented and sticks so closely as to
fail to operate at the required moment, especially when sufficient pressure has been
applied to prevent leakage under the changing external and internal conditions to
which the valve is subject.
To overcome these difficulties, many different devices have heretofore been
employed.
In some cases the valve and the seat have been made of metals which have the

page_text: least tendency to corrode and stick together. It has also been proposed to cover the
valve with a fusible protecting material like paraffine and others have enclosed it in a
frail protecting case, and still others have reduced the area of contact to a knife edge,
which avoided some trouble, but increased the indenture of the parts. Caskets of
various materials and thin metal facings on softer metals have also been used. In
Sine many attempts have been heretofore made with more or less success, to obviate
corrosion by the use of various materials, and to obviate adhesion by various expe-
dients, but none of these have resulted in disposing at one and the same time of the
various difficulties which stand in the way of a thoroughly reliable sprinkler.
I find that the objectionable adhesion which exists even in the absence of
corrosion between metal (and especially soft metal) surfaces in contact, together with
other difficulties hereinbefore mentioned are entirely obviated by the use of various
hard smooth non-metallic substances, it being of course requisite that the substance
used should be at the same time practically incorrosible.
I make the valve or valve seat or both, or an interposed layer between them, of
glass or a similar non-metallic mineral substance, having the essential qualities of
hardness, smoothness, non-corrosibility and non-adhesiveness. I may employ other
similar non-metallic substances, such as porcelain or vitrified clays or even marble
or other polished stone. provided they are equivalent to glass as regards the essential
qualities above mentioned. These broad features of my invention are the subject
of another Patent of even date herewith and this present Specification relates to
various forms and parts of sprinklers in which the general principle above described
is carried out or is or may be used, and also to the other features to which reference
is hereafter made.
I have discovered that a button of glass with its natural fire glaze and without
artificial polishing, will when pressed to a flexible metallic seat, make a perfect air
and water-tight joint, notwithstanding the fact that the surface of the glass is not
geometrically true.
I therefore use a button of glass, having a spherical or rounded surface pressed
into a central orifice in a flexible diaphragm of thin sheet metal.
I prefer to use a valve having a rounded surface as it is more securely held in
place and moreover presents an oblique bearing surface to the valve seat so that
It will be understood that there
only a narrow edge of the latter hears against it.
is an advantage in having the bearing edge as narrow as possible providing the
surface against which it rests is hard enough not to be indented by it.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved fire extinguishing sprinkler, with
a valve of glass or its equivalent on a metal seat.
The base of the sprinkler may be of any desired form, and it may support the
yoke or bridge 2. for the purpose of forming an abutment for the valve-holding
device 3. The valve seat 4. which I have shewn secured in the base in the usual
way, is made of resilient sheet metal in the form of a flat annulus. The valve 6
which consists of a button of glass or its equivalent, is preferably of the form
shewn, and it is held against its seat by the valve holding device 3. consisting of
two pieces 7 and 8. having oblique meeting surfaces secured together by fusible
solder at 9. the two pieces being further held from moving on each other by a
sleeve of hard metal 10 made in halves and secured together by fusible solder. An
adjustable screw II may be used to set the valve in its seat with the required amount
of pressure. The flexibility of the thin metal valve seat allows it to conform to
the irregularities in the contour of the glass or vitreous material, thereby making a
perfectly air-tight joint. This flexibility is especially necessary when the glass or
vitreous material is used with its natural glaze, which is the way I prefer to use it.
In such case, the glass or vitreous material has a very smooth glazed surface that
foreign matter will not adhere to, although it lacks the precision of geometrical
contour that an artificial grinding would give. The contour of the valve though
not geometrically perfect has no abrupt irregularities, and the thin flexible valve
seat casily bends, so as to conform to the valve surface.
I prefer the rounded or convex form of valve, but so long as the horizontal

page_text: cross section of the valve is circular, the form may be varied, as for instance by the
use of a valve of conical or conoidal shape.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a sprinkler with a metal valve on vitreous or
equivalent hard and smooth material seat. In this case the valve seat 4 is made
of glass or vitreous or equivalent hard and smooth material, and the valve 6 of
flexible sheet metal. The vitreous valve seat may be secured to the base 1 in any
suitable manner as indicated at 14. The flexible valve 6 may be slightly convexed
as shown, so as to give it suflicient stiffness, and also in order that it may bear on
the glass or vitreous or equivalent hard and smooth valve-seat at its edges only,
the flexibility of the valve permitting a tight joint to be made.
The glass valve seat may be a flat annular ring, cut from a sheet of window
glass or moulded or blown in any suitable manner. Owing to the flexibility of the
valve, the natural surface of the glass need not be improved or corrected by
grinding or other process, so that the valve will bend to conform to the surface
of the valve-seat, notwithstanding slight irregularities in the latter's contour.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a sprinkler with a flat valve 6 and scat 4
either or both of which may be of glass or vitreous or equivalent material, or
may be faced with such material.
The advantage in the use of glass for the valve or its seat or both, by virtue
of which it overcomes the difficulties above described, are quite obvious. It will
never be attacked by acids, alkalies, gases, and other corrosives: thereby avoiding
the adhesion that would otherwise occur at this point. It cannot become indented
and stick, while the joint can be made tight and reliable. Foreign substances will
not adhere to it, and while it is of course brittle and fragile, it is so employed in
my construction that no strain is given to it. It will be understood from the fore-
going that the main advantages in the use of glass appertain to the nature of
the surface of the glass.
A valve of glass or equivalent material constructed as above described is per-
fectly sensitive however long and in whatever locations it may be left, and at the
same time forms a valve that can be held tight enough to withstand any sudden
impact of the water from within, as for instance, when the pipes are suddenly
charged or a section suddenly cut off, and the water backs up with a ramming
effect against the valves in the rest of the system.
My invention also relates to the combination of a valve of glass or equivalent
material with a heat actuated device to which it acts as an insulator. The glass
or equivalent material being a comparatively poor conductor of heat, the heat
actuated device, which in the construction above described forms a part of the strut
that holds the valve in its place, is insulated by it from the connected mass of pipes
and water, which would tend, to delay its melting. The heat actuated device is
thus better enabled to respond quickly to an abnormal increase of temperature. I
regard the use of a layer or coating of glass between the valve and valve seal as
an equivalent for the use of a glass valve for the purpose of this combination.
My Invention further relates to a valve and valve-seat which are so constructed
that the cementing or sticking together of the two valve members by deposits.
corrosion or other causes will be counteracted, when the valve is released, by a
relative movement of the two valve members resulting in a sudden rupture at the
joint and a consequent freeing of the valve from its seat.
To accomplish this. I make one of the valve members with a flexible, resilient
bearing edge, which will be bent out of its normal shape under the pressure of the
restraining device, and which will, when released by said devices, suddenly return
to its normal shape, thereby sliding or turning on the other member, so as to prize
apart or otherwise rupture any deposit or cement that may have accumulated at the
joint, and which would, without such sudden relative movement between the valve
members, be very liable to hold the valve fast to its seat.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an automatic fire-extinguishing sprinkler having à
flexible valve seat.
Figure 5 is a similar view showing the valve released.

page_text: Fig. 7 is a similar view shewing the valve released and the deposit at the joint
ruptured.
Fig. 8 shews a flexible valve in its normal position and
Fig. 9 shews the same when released.
The extinguisher consists of a base 1, adapted to be screwed into a pipe fitting,
an arch 2 supporting a deflecting plate 3, a heat actuated device 4 with an adjusting
screw 5, a valve 6, and a valve seat 7.
The heat actuated device 4 may consist of two hevelled ended struts 8, 8, secured
together at 9 by fusible solder, the joint being further held by the two half
sleeves 10 which are also secured together and the strut by fusible solder.
In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 I have shown a valve seated on a thin diaphragm which is
made of resilient sheet metal. This diaphragm valve-seat is made perfectly flat
without any stiffening flanges or reinforcement of the bearing edge as has heretofore
been customary. Its bearing edge is therefore flexible and springy, so that when
the valve is pressed down upon it, it will bend out of its normal shape and assume a
distorted position as shewn in Fig. 6.
When the valve is released by the operation of the heat actuated device the
diaphragm valve-seat will assume its original unstrained shape as shown in Fig. 7
and any deposit such as 11 that might be formed at the joint would be instantly and
completely ruptured in the manner shewn, so as to leave the valve free.
It will be observed that the relative movement between the valve and its seat is
independent of the bodily upward movement common to both valve members. It is
a combined sliding and turning movement that takes place at the joint only and
which acts with a peculiarly strong and sudden force that in practice has been
found to be exceedingly effectual. It has the same good effect, whatever the
sticking may be due to. Thus there may be a deposit on the inside of the sprinkler
instead of on the outside as shewn, or there may be no deposit but only a surface
adhesion at the joint, which, will be overcome by the movement aforesaid.
In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shewn a valve made of resilient sheet metal in the form
of a watch glass. In this case it is the valve that moves on the seat and it will be
readily seen that the action is substantially the same as shewn in Figs. 6 and 7.
My invention further relates to an improved form of heat actuated locked joint
to be used for releasing automatic fire extinguishers.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 17.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent respectively top and side views of a locked joint,
showing the invention applied to a tension cord or wire.
Fig. 12 is a side view of an automatic fire extinguisher, showing the invention
applied to a strut for holding the valve closed.
Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the same, in a plane at right angles to that of
Fig. 12.
Figs. 14. 15 and 16 show the parts of the joint separately, and
Fig. 17 shows the device illustrated in Figs 12 and 13 with the joint released
and the valve opening.
The joint consists essentially of three parts 1, 2 and 3. The part 1, I call the
plate, the part 2 the hook and the part the key, but these terms are used simply
as names and should not be considered as limiting my invention to the particular
forms shown.
The plate 1 has a projecting portion 4 which forms an abutment, against which,
the heel 5 of the hook 2 has pivotal bearing.
The hook 2 has a hooked portion 6 which passes through a slot in the plate, and
is locked in position by engaging over the end of the key 3.
The key 3 is soldered to the plate along the surface -- as indicated by the
dotted line, and the hook 2 may also be secured to the plate by solder, so that the
parts will not become dislocated until released by heat.
The key instead of being constructed so as to turn or slide over an edge, as
heretofore, is provided with projections 7, overlapping the edges of the slot, 50 that

page_text: when the solder is melted and the hook pulling on the key tends to turn it, the key
will turn on its own edge instead of on the edge of the plate.
The key therefore cannot be dragged after the hook, but must be immediately
released.
As a matter of fact after the key has been turned through a certain angle. it is
forced to slide along the surface of the plate, being, so to speak, wedged out of the
way by the hook.
By means of this construction, I am able to obtain any desired amount of leverage,
for it will be seen that the edge of the hook that bears on the key may be brought
very near to the edge of the key that bears on the plate.
This distance may, in fact, be much less than the thickness of the key, which is a
desirable feature, for otherwise the key would have to be so thin to obtain the
desired leverage that it would not have sufficient strength. It will be seen that
this advantage would not be present, if the key had its bearing when turning,
against the edge of the plate.
The locked joint may be placed between the two ends of a tension wire or cord 8,
in place of the lock-joint in compression as otherwise described.
In Figs. 12, 13 and 17 1 have shown my improved joint applied to an automatic
fire extinguisher.
In this case the joint takes a thrust strain, the hook having a pivotal bearing
against the arch 9 of the extinguisher instead of the wire connection.
The plate forms an abutment at 4 upon which the hook is fulcrumed, the other
end of the plate bearing against the valve 10, so as to hold it forcibly to its seat on
the flexible diaphragm 11.
Fig. 17 illustrates the manner in which the key is forcibly ejected by the hook,
showing how slight a movement of the valve is sufficient to not only rupture the
soldered joint, but to also free the hook from the locking key.
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of a sprinkler showing how my improved key
joint for holding the valve to its seat may be applied in tension. Fig. 10 is an
enlarged side elevation of key-joint, and Fig. 11 is a plan of same.
Fig. 20 illustrates one of my improved sprinklers as at present made.
Fig. 21 is a sectional view of Fig. 20.
In Fig. 20 the base 1 of the sprinkler supports the arch 2 for the purpose of
forming an abutment for the valve holding device. In Fig. 21 the valve seat 4 is
secured in the base as shown and is made of resilient sheet metal, in the form of a
flat annulus or diaphragm. The edge of the orifice against which the valve rests is
left flat. The glass or vitreous valve 5 is convexed, and it is held against its seat
by the key-joint valve-holding device. On the upper side of the glass or vitreous
valve 5 is disposed the metallic cap 6 against which the valve-holding device bears
At the end of the arch 2 is disposed the serrated deflector plate 7 to distribute the
water in a spray over a wide area..
My invention further consists in combining with a movable valve seat, a valve
and a tripping device so that the movement that is given to the valve by its seat
will cause the former to come in contact with the tripping device, or otherwise so
to bring it into operation as to force or prize the valve from its seat.
Fig. 18 is a sectional view of an automatic fire-extinguishing sprinkler embodying
one form of my invention and showing the valve closed.
Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the valve in the act of opening.
The extinguisher consists essentially of a base 1, adapted to be secured into a
pipe-fitting, an arch 2 supporting a deflecting plate 3, a heat-actuated device 4 with
an adjusting screw 5, a valve 6 and a valve-seat 7.
The heat-actuated device 4 may consist of two bevel ended struts 8, 8, secured
together at 9 by fusible solder, the joint being further held by the two half
sleeves 10, which are also secured together and to the strut by fusible solder.
The valve 6 is shown seated on a flexible diaphragm valve-seat 7 made of
resilient sheet metal.
.
Any other suitable form of moveable valve seat may be used so long as it is of

page_text: such a construction that it will move under the influence of the internal pressure
when the valve is released from the restraining pressure of the heat actuated device.
Such equivalent devices are well known in the art and need not be described here.
The valve 6 is provided with an arm or projection 11 adapted to strike against a
lug 12, or other fixed stop on the frame of the extinguisher when the valve is
thrown outward by the movement of the valve-seat. The effect of this is to wrench
or prize the valve off its seat, and it will be understood that the whole force of
the pressure against the diaphragm is utilised for this purpose.
The lug 12 may be so extended as to overlap the edge of the valve itself, in
which case, the arm 11 would be unnecessary, and it is very evident that many
other varieties of the invention might be practised.
I wish it therefore to be understood. that I do not bind myself to the specific
means shown, for tripping the valve, as any other suitable devices accomplishing
the same result substantially the same way, would be within the scope of my
invention.
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 an automatic fire extinguisher, the use of a valve and valve seat in con-
bination, one of which is of glass or equivalent material and the other of flexible
metal, constructed substantially as herein before described, so that a sound joint is
secured and adhesion is prevented.
2. In an automatic fire extinguisher, the use of a button of glass having a rounded
convex or coned surface in combination with a flexible diaphragm, substantially as
described.
3. In an automatic fire extinguisher, the use of a valve seating of glass or its
equivalent, in combination with a flexible metal valve, substantially as described.
4. In an automatic sprinkler having an orifice furnished with a valve and valve
seating, the use of a valve or valve seat of glass or equivalent material in com-
"bination with a resilient valve seat, or valve, for the purpose of preventing the
adhesion of the valve and valve seat and rupturing any deposit at the junction,
substantially as described.
5. In an automatic sprinkler, the use of a locked joint, consisting of the plate 1,
the hook 2, and the key 3, and its projecting edges 7, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
6. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a valve of glass or equivalent
material (or with alternative of a valve and valve seat having a layer or coating of
glass or equivalent material interposed) with a heat actuated device which normallly
keeps the valve in place, so that the heat actuated device is insulated from the
connected mass of pipes and water substantially as described.
7. An automatic sprinkler constructed substantially as hereinbefore described,
and consisting essentially of a nozzle adapted to be attached to a water pipe and
furnished with a valve seat, and a valve made of glass or equivalent material (or
with a layer of glass or equivalent material interposed) held against the valve seat
by a suitable heat actuated device, by which construction the adhesion of the valve
to the valve seat is obviated and at the same time the flow of heat from the heat
actuated device to the water is checked.
8. An automatic fire extinguisher substantially such as is shewn in Figs. 20
and 21 in which there is a valve of glass or equivalent material having rounded or
convex or coned bearing surface, with a diaphragm formed of a resilient-metal-
plate, having a central orifice and a valve holding device secured by fusible solder
which holds the valve in the orifice, a valve cap, and arch, and a deflector plate,
combined substantially as shown.
9. An automatic fire extinguisher having two valve members, a valve and seat,
and a heat actuated device pressing the valve to its seat, one of the said members
being thereby sprung out of its original shape, so that when the heat actuated

page_text: device releases the valve there will be a relative movement between the valve
members at the joint substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. An automatic fire extinguisher having a valve, a movable valve seat, and a
heat actuated device for restraining the movement of the valve and valve seat until
released by heat, combined with a tripping device for forcing the valve from its
seat, said tripping device being brought into action by the movement of the valve
seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 6th day of April 1891.