Improvements in Automatic Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
2
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declaro the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPA-
RATUS to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus.
The distributors used with this class of apparatus have heretofore been made
with a valve secured to the end of a water pipe by a frame in which is a cross-bar
attached by fusible solder that melts when the temperature of the air rises to
about 150° Fahrenheit; so that the valve drops.
I
In this character of valve two difficulties exist; the first arises from the fact
that there is a lateral pressure upon the soldered cross bar which tends to prevent
a central and accurate bearing upon the valve so that the valve is liable to leak,
and if it does, there is difficulty in rendering the valve tight. The second difficulty
arises from the fact that the pressure of the water alone is depended upon to move
the valve and throw the support and cross bar out of the way.
This invention consists essentially in the combination with the valve, of a two
part axial support, by means of which the valve is compelled to bear evenly upon
its seat, and of a spring that is under compression and acts to move the axial
support entirely away from the valve as soon as the fusible solder that holds the
axial supporting bars in place has softened by the heat. By this device the risk
of the valve leaking is lessened and the certainty of the valve opening automatically
is promoted.
1.
I
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a coupling adapted to be
screwed to the vertical branch of a water supply pipe, and the lower end of which
forms the seat for the valve.
.
Upon the said coupling is formed a screw thread, upon which is screwed the
ring of a frame, and the bars of this frame enter notches in the edges of the valve
and steady the latter. Upon the frame are lugs or, projections upon, which the
valve rests when it is open.
.
3.
.
1

page_text: Around the edges of the valve are formed inclined teeth or projections, and upon
the surface of the valve outside its bearing for the valve seat, are arranged the
studs.
The object of these studs and teeth is to cause the margin of the valve to
separate the water into small streams as it issues from the pipe and to cause it to
act upon the fire to the best advantage. A corrugated deflecting central cone
upon the valve gives an outward direction to the water, and holes in the valve
allow a portion of the water to pass down to any fire that may be directly below
the distributor.
The edges of the ring of the frame project in the form of serrations or corru-
gations which aid in scattering the water, and they also facilitate the grasping of
the ring to turn the same and screw the valve firmly to its seat.
Below the centre of the valve are two axial bars; the lower end of the lower
- bar rests upon the frame at the bottom part; the said bars rest upon each other
endwise, and the upper end of the upper bar rests against the centre of the valve.
These parts being in line with each other support the valve firmly and centrally,
and very little power is required to support these bars laterally.
In some instances I support these bars laterally by a cross bar having a hole in
the centre for the reception of the ends of the said bars where they come together.
The ends of the cross bar are soldered to the frame with solder that melts at a
low temperature, say 150° Fahrenheit, so that the bar ceases to be a support to the
axial bars at the desired temperature.
In order to throw the axial bars entirely away from below the valve when the
solder melts I employ a spring which is carried between supports upon the frame,
which spring is under compression, so that it throws off the cross bar and dis-
connects the axial bars the instant the solder becomes sufficiently soft. The ends
of the axial bars, are rounded so that, they will turn freely as the spring moves
them.
In cases where it is desirable to secure the end or ends of the cross bar by the
fusible solder at any other places than those described, the same can easily be
effected as it is not necessary to place such cross bar horizontally.
For instance the supporting bar may be arranged vertically, in which case it
only requires to be soldered at the lower end. The said bar is preferably made at
its upper part as a tubular sleeve into which the adjacent ends of the axial bars
enter and the fusible: solder is applied between the lower part of the bar and the
side of the frame at the bottom thereof."
:
In this construction, as well as in that first described, the pressure against the
valve is received endwise upon, and in line with, the straight axial bars, and when
the solder inelts by the heat the spring presses the axial bars away, and the valve
opens. If the upper axial bar, the supporting bar, and its tubular sleeve were all
in one piece, the endwise pressure upon the said upper bar might injure the
soldered joint. This may be prevented by passing the lower end of the supporting
bar into a mortice behind a plate soldered to the frame.
It is to be understood that when the ring of the frame is screwed to the coupling
pipe the, valve is thereby pressed against its seat, and is supported by the axial
bara.
I sometimes modify the construction above described and keep the valve closed
by a loose pin pressing against the underside of the valve and held by its point in
a small recess in a lever hinged to one side of the frame. This lever is kept from
noving by its free end being soldered to a lip or projection on the frame by an
easily fusible solder, or it may be retained in position by a ring of fusible solder,
or by the two combined.
.
8
The melting of the solder, releases the lever and pin and with them the valve.)
I am aware that a single bar or stem, has been used to support the valve in a
distributor, also that a support, in two pieces has been used, one of which is
diagonal to the axis of the valve. In the first named form the central, stem has
to move endwise the same distance that the valve is opened, and in case of-slight

page_text: obstruction the valve only partially opens. With supports that are not in line
with the valve axis, the valve is liable to leak, because the ram action of the
water, produced by opening or closing the faucet, is not taken in a straight line
upon its support and the support is liable to bend or give way..
With my improvement the spring throws the parts entirely off when the solder
melts, hence the valve opens fully and suddenly, but when the valve is closed, no
leakage is likely to arise because the,supporting devices are in the axial line of the
valve, and there is no lateral action from the water pressure.
I am also aware that a stationary rim or deflector has been used to divide up
the water after the valve falls within the rim, but the rim is inoperative unless the
valve falls the entire distance.
By my improvement the distributor being upon the valve itself is always
operative regardless of the distance the valve may descend.

page_text: Improvements in Automatic, Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
TT
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Oo. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
:-
This invention relates to Automatic Fire Extinguishing apparatus.
The distributors used with this class of apparatus have heretofore been made
with a valve secured to the end of a water pipe by a frame in which is a cross bar
attached by fusible solder which melts when the temperature of the air rises to
about 150 degrees Fahrenheit so that the valve drops.
In this class of valve two difficulties exist, the first arises from the fact that
there is a lateral pressure upon the soldered cross bar which tends to prevent a
central and accurate bearing upon the valve, so that the valve is liable to leak;
and if it does, there is difficulty in rendering the valve tight. The second difficulty
arises from the fact that the pressure of the water alone is depended upon to move
the valve and throw the support and cross bar out of the way.
This invention consists essentially in the combination with the valve of a two
part axial support, by means of which the valve is compelled to bear evenly upon
its seat, and of a spring that is under compression and acts to move the axial
support entirely away from the valve so soon as the fusible solder that holds the
axial supporting bars in place has softened by the heat. By this device the risk
of the valve leaking is lessened and the certainty of the valve opening auto-
matically is promoted.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical section and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of my improved fire extinguisher.
Figure 3 is a section on the line x. x. Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an elevation showing the axial support in a slightly modified form.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the same on the line ¹¹ and
Figure 6 is a sectional plan on the line y y of Figure 4 showing the manner of
holding the lower end of the vertical bar when it is made in one with the upper
axial bar.
Figure 7 is an elevation shewing another modification.
a is a coupling which is screwed to the vertical branch b of a water supply pipe,
and the lower end of which forms the seat for the valve d.
Upon the said coupling a is formed a screw thread onto which is screwed the
ringe of the frame f. The side bars of this frame f form guides for the valve d
which has notches c at the edges for receiving the said bars and steadying the
valve. To the frame fare secured lugs or projections f¹ upon which the valve
rests when it is open.
Around the edges of the valve d are formed inclined teeth or projections i and
upon the surface of the valve outside its bearing for the valve seat are arranged
the studs k.

page_text: The object of these studs and teeth is to cause the margin of the valve to
separate the water into small streams as it issues from the coupling a and to cause
it to act upon the fire to the best advantage. A corrugated deflecting central
cone upon the valve gives an outward direction to the water; and holes n allow
a portion of the water to pass down to any fire that may be directly below the
distributor.
The edges of the ring e project in the form of serrations or corrugations, which
aid in scattering the water; and they also facilitate the grasping of the ring to
turn the same and screw the valve firmly to its seat.
Below the centre of the valve are two axial bars p q. The lower end of the
bar q rests upon the frame f at the bottom part. The lower end of the bar prests
upon the bar g and the upper end of the bar p bears against the centre of the
valve. These parts being in line with each other support the valve firmly and
centrally, very little power being required to support these bars laterally.
In some instances I support these bars laterally by the cross bar
in the centre for the reception of the adjacent ends of the bars p and q.
The ends of this bar are soldered to the frame f with solder that melts at a
low temperature, say 150° Fahrenheit, so that the bar ceases to be a support to the
axial bars at the desired temperature.
having a hole
+
In order to throw the axial bars entirely away from below the valve when the
solder melts, I employ the springs carried between the supports t't upon the
frame f; which spring is under compression, so that it throws off the cross. bar and
disconnects the axial bars the instant the solder at u, becomes sufficiently soft
The ends of the axial bars p q are rounded so that they will turn freely as the
spring moves them.'
:
In cases where it is desirable to secure the end or ends of the bar r by fusible
Bolder at any other places than those shown in Figures 12 and 3 the same can
easily be effected and it is not necessary to place such, bar horizontally!
In Figures 4 and 6 this bar is shewn placed vertically in which case it only
requires to be soldered at the lower end. The bar 1 is preferably made at its
upper part as a tubular sleeve into which the lower end of the bar p and the
rounded upper end of the bar q enter. The fusible solder is applied at u between
the lower part of the bar r¹ and the side of the frame f at the bottom thereof.
.
In this construction as well as in that shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3 the pressure
against the valve is received endwise upon, and in line with, the straight axial
bars, and when the solder at u, melts by the heat the spring & presses the axial
bars away and the valve opens.
If the axial bar p, the bar r¹ and its tubular sleeve were all in one
endwise pressure upon the bar p might injure the soldered joint at u.
be prevented by inserting the lower end of the bar into a mortice
plate u soldered at u to the frame f as seen in Figure 6.
piece, the
This may
behind a
The position of this plate u¹ is indicated in Figure 4 by dotted lines.
It is to be understood that when the ring of the frame is screwed to the coupling.
pipe the valve is thereby pressed against its seat and is supported by the axial
bars.
According to the modification shown in Figure 7 the valve is kept closed by a
loose pin p pressing against the underside of the valve d and held by its point in
a small recess in a lever q¹ pivoted at q². This lever is kept from moving by its
free end v being soldered to a lip or projection on the frame by easily fusible
solder u.
Or it may be retained in position by a ring of fusible solder placed
around the.said ends or by the two combined.
The melting of the solder releases the lever and pin and with them the valve,
the said lever and valve dropping to the positions shown in dotted lines in
Figure 7.
I am aware that a single bar or stem has been used to support the valve in a
distributor; also that a support in two pieces has been used, one of which is
diagonal to the axis of the valve. In the first named form the central stem has

page_text: to move endwise the same distance that the valve is opened and in case of slight
obstruction the valve only partially opens. With supports that are not in line
with the valve axis, the valve is liable to leak because the ram action of the water,
produced by opening or closing the faucet, is not taken in a straight line upon its
support and the support is liable to bend or give way.
With my improvement the spring throws the parts entirely off when, the solder
melts, hence the valve opens fully and suddenly, but when the valve is closed, no
leakage is likely to arise because the supporting devices are in the axial line of the
valve, and there is no lateral action from the water pressure.
I am also aware that a stationary rim or deflector has been used to divide up
the water after the valve falls within the rim, but the rim is inoperative unless the
valve falls the entire distance.
By my improvement the distributor being upon the valve itself is always.
operative regardless of the distance the valve may descend.
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 as the invention communicated to me is :-
First. The combination with the water pipe and valve seat, of a valve;
a frame with a ring screwed upon the coupling above the valve seat; two bars in
line with each other and with the axis of the valve, said bars abutting against
each other and against the valve and frame respectively; a support, secured by
solder, for the central part of the two bars; and a spring to throw the bars out of
line with each other when the solder melts, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with the water supply pipe and valve seat in an
automatic fire extinguisher, of a valve having a projecting water distributing rim
around it; perforations and projections with inclined surfaces at their inner sides,
and the studs k, an axial support for the valve which is liberated by the action of
the heat; and a frame and ring screwed upon the coupling above the valve seat
between which and the serrations of the valve the water issues, substantially as
specified.
Third. The combination in an automatic fire extinguisher, of a supply pipe ;
a valve at the end of the same; a frame connected with the supply pipe; two
bars p. q. in line with each other, and having rounding ends and bearing at the
top against the valve and at the bottom against the frame; and an arm secured
to the frame by solder and having a hole through it for the reception of the ends of
the bars p, q, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the valve and frame in a fire extinguisher of two
abutting bars, in line with each other and resting at the lower end upon the frame
and at the upper end against the underside of the valve; a support for the
central part of the bars, formed as a tube having a bar projecting therefrom, which
bar is secured by fusible solder to the frame; and a spring to remove the bars when
the solder melts, substantially as specified.
Fifth. The combination with the valve frame in a fire extinguisher, of the
lever q pivoted to the said frame and maintained in a raised position by means of
the extensions v vl and solder u, the said lever supporting the pin p, and with it
the valve, substantially as specified.
Deted this 97th day of March 1886
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.