Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Carbon Dioxide and Sulphur Dioxide, especially for Use in Extinguishing Fires.
Year: 1895

page_text: 'Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nóv., 1895
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Carbon Dioxide and
Sulphur Dioxide, especially for Use in Extinguishing Fires.
"
I, JOSEPH BUFORD GRAHAM of the City of Savannah, State of Georgia,
United States of America, Physician, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to fire extinguishers, the same being especially applicable
to use for extinguishing fires in the holds of vessels. Carbonic acid has long been
used for extinguishing flames, but the use of that gas has been found to be
dangerous by reason of the fact that it is odourless and tasteless and its presence
cannot be detected readily, the inhaling of the same in any large quantities resulting
in death to human beings. It is, however, one of the best nou-supporters of com-
bustion and in my apparatus I use this gas in connection with sulphur dioxide also
a non-supporter of combustion, but which has a very pungent odour which makes
its presence easily detected. These gases I generate on shipboard or other places
where it is desired to use them for extinguishing flames, in an ordinary furnace or
store whose stack communicates with the main smoke stack of the steamer, and
conduct the said gases through suitable pipes to a spark arrester partially filled with
water, lead the same thence to an air pump from which they are forced to a condensing
chamber from which they are discharged by suitable pipes or conduits to the point
where the fire is burning. The same apparatus may be used also for disinfecting
purposes on shipboard and elsewhere and for destroying rats, insects and vermin
without damage to the cargoes by the gas.
My invention consists in the apparatus for generating carbon dioxide and sulphur
dioxide and in the mechanism for conveying the same from their source to the point
or points at which they are used.
My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which is
represented diagrammatically my apparatus as applied to a steamship.
A
1 represents an auxiliary furnace in which charcoal or coke is burnt for generating
carbonic acid gas, and in which sulphur is placed for generating sulphur dioxide.
The stack 2 of this furnace leads through a suitable pipe 3, to the main stack 4 of
the steamer. Also leading from the stack 2 is a pipe 5 which extends outwardly
and downwardly to a closed chamber 6 which is partially filled with water and
serves as a spark arrester or device for clearing the gas from solid matter.
valve 7 is located at the point of connection between the stack 2 and the pipe 5
which is operated by a pair of cords or rods 8, 9, as clearly shown. Ordinarily
this valve is opened through the stack 2 and permits the discharge of the gases
generated through the main smoke stack 4. In case of fire, however, the cord 9 is
drawn downwardly which raises the valve 7 and permits the gases to pass through
the pipe 5.
The lower end of the pipe is perforated and projects below the surface of the
water contained in the chamber 6, the gas by the suction action of the pump being
forced through the water and any solid matter or sparks contained therein being
removed. From the upper end of the closed chamber 6 leads a pipe 11 which is
perforated at its lower end and serves to conduct the gas from the spark arrester
to a compression and suction pump 12. This pump is of the usual form of con-
struction and requires no detailed description. The gases fed thereto are forced
through a pipe 13 to the under side of a closed compression cylinder 14, a suitable
valve 15 being provided in said pipe for regulating the admission of the gases, the
said pipe being further provided with coils 16 through which water is passed for

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the purpose of cooling the gases.. The compression cylinder 14 is provided with
a pressure gauge 17 and also has leading outwardly therefrom, from a point near
the bottom thereof, a pipe 18 which leads to the hold or other part of the vessel
where it is desired to apply the fire extinguishing gases.
The compression cylinder 14 also provided with a water inlet pipe 19 at its
lower end, by means of which the same may be partially filled with water if desired.
A water gauge 20 is provided on the side of the cylinder for the purpose of indicating
the height of the water contained therein. It should be understood that it is not
necessary that any water at all should be admitted to the compression cylinder 14,
as the device will operate by simply passing the dry gases entering through the
When water is used
pipe 13 through the cylinder 14 and out through the pipe 18.
however, it will absorb some of the gases stored in the cylinder 14, making
sulphurous acid and carbonic acid gases which are more powerful than the carbon
dioxide and sulphur dioxide, and which may be more readily applied than the.dry
gases. Also water impregnated with the gases may be used in open places. A
valve 21 is provided in the pipe 18 and a valve 22 in the pipe 19, both for obvious
purposes.
The operation of my device is as follows:-
The carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide generated in the furnace 1 are conducted
by the means described through the pipe 5, spark arrester 6 and pipe 11 to the
compression pump 12. Through the suction action of this pump, the gases are then
forced into the compression cylinder 14 and there condensed and held under high
pressure until required for use. When so required the valve 21 in the pipe 18 is
opened, which at once causes a rush of gases through the pipe 18 to the point where.
..the fire is burning.
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 -
In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a furnace for generating
carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide, with a spark arresting chamber adapted to
hold water, a pipe leading from the stack of said furnace to said spark arresting
chamber and projecting beneath the surface of the water contained therein, a valve
at the point of connection between said pipe and said stack and means for operating
the same, a suction and compression pump and connections between said pump and
the upper end of said spark arresting chamber, a compression cylinder adapted to
hold and convey water and a pipe leading from said pump to the under side of said
cylinder, and a valved distributing pipe leading outwardly from near the bottom of
said cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 28th day of September 1895.
f
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant,