Improvements in and relating to Fire Extinguishers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Late of Application, 2nd July, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Fire Extinguishers.
We, SAMUEL BABCOCK, residing at Number 271, Main Street, Middleton, in the
County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, Engineer, and HENRY AUGUSTUS
MANSFIELD, residing at Number 111, Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, in the County of
Fairfield and State of Connecticut, United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in Fire Extin-
guishers, but more particularly to that class of machines in which a fire extinguishing
Huid is driven out of its reservoir by the force of a compressed gas, or compressed
air contained in a receptacle in the machine and under control of the operator, and
the object of our invention is to simplify the construction of the apparatus so that
the reservoir may be as simple and cheap as possible, and may be readily detachable
and replacable by another when such change becomes desirable from any cause, as the
exhaustion of pressure; and with these ends in view our invention consists in the
construction and combination of elements hereinafter fully explained and then recited
in the claims.
In our machine the cylinders may readily be changed and one operating handle,
cover, valve stem, etc. serve to operate as many cylinders as are required. We
propose to furnish a plurality of the inexpensive cylinders herein shown and described
with each machine and the change from an exhausted to a newly filled cylinder can
be made in a very short space of time.
In order that those skilled in the art to which our invention appertains may fully
understand its construction and operation, we will describe the same in detail,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specifi-
cation, and in which-
Figure 1, is a central vertical section through a machine constructed in accordance
with our invention.
Figure 2, is a similar view at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a detail of the bracket for supporting the air holding cylinder, and
Figure 4, is a detail plan of the annularly grooved valve-seat.
1, is the outside cylinder or reservoir which is adapted to contain water or a
chemical fire extinguishing fluid; and, 2, is an outlet pipe extending from the lower
end of the reservoir upward and outward through the top thereof. To the outer end
of this outlet pipe, 2, is adapted to be attached any convenient flexible hose.
4, is a screw-threaded cap having thereon any convenient handles as, 5; and, 6,
is a valve operating stem which passes downward through a stuffing-box, 7, in said
cap, (see Figure 2,) and terminates in a square sectioned key, S.
From the underside of this cap depends a bracket, 9, shown in detail at Figure, 3,
which is secured astride the valve stem and stuffing-box, and the central part of
whose lower side is cut away, as seen at, 10.
11, is the air holding cylinder which is constructed so that the air may be forced
and retained therein under heavy pressure; and, 12, is a valve casting, screw-
threaded into the top of the cylinder and having at its lower end an annularly grooved
valve seat, 13. It has also, just above the top. of the cylinder, outwardly projecting
flanges, 14, which, when the cylinder is in position, rest upon the flanged edges of
the bottom of the bracket and so support the cylinder, see Figure 2.
15, is a valve-stem formed at its top into a square key, 16. It is screw-threaded
through the top of the valve casting and extending downward through the bottom of

page_text: said casting, carries a valve disk, 17, on which is a soft metal washer, 18, adapted,
when the valve is shut to form a tight packing against the annularly grooved valve
seat.
A way, 19, controlled at its bottom by the valve just described extends from the
interior of the cylinder upward and then outward through the side of the valve casting
into the outer cylinder.
20, is a coupling sleeve of square interior section whereby the two square keyed
ends of the respective valve stems may be joined; and, 21, is a spiral spring longer
than said coupling sleeve, whereby the latter is held in engagement with both stems
by the abutment of said spring against the cap and the flanged lower end of the
sleeve, respectively.
In operating our invention the gas or compressed air is liberated from the interior
cylinder by means of the valve stem and wheel at the top of the cap, and the force
of this gas escaping into the outer cylinder throws the liquid therein contained
outward through the outlet pipe and hose.
When it is desired to replace one cylinder by another for any cause, the cap is
unscrewed from the top of the outer cylinder, and the interior cylinder, which is sup-
ported on the bracket and is thereby secured to the cap, is lifted out through the
opening. Then, by raising the spring actuated coupling-sleeve out of engagement
with the end of the lower valve-stem, the air cylinder may be drawn outward from
its engagement with the bracket. In putting a fresh cylinder in place, the spring-
actuated coupling-sleeve is raised so that the lower valve-stem may pass under it as
the cylinder is slid into. place upon the bracket, when the sleeve is allowed to drop
over the top of said stem and so form a rigid connection between it and the upper
valve stem which may be turned by the hand-wheel.
The coupling therefore performs the double function of joining the valve stems and
of locking the inner cylinder fast upon its bracket.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. The combination with the outer liquid holding cylinder and a discharge pipe
leading therefrom, of the screw-threaded cap adapted to fit the top of said.cylinder,
a valve stem extending downward through said cap, an air holding cylinder supported
in the outer cylinder and provided with a valve and valve stem, and a removable
connection between the upper and lower valve stems, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the outer cylinder and the cap at the top thereof, of the
upper valve stem, the bracket depending from the cap, the inside cylinder engaged by
and supported upon said bracket, an outlet valve at the top of the inner cylinder, and
means, as a sleeve, for connecting the outer valve stem with the stem of the valve of
the inside cylinder, substantially as specified.
3. The combination with the outer liquid holding cylinder having a valve stem at
the top thereof, of an air holding cylinder supported in said outer cylinder, a valve
and valve stem for the control of the contents of the air holding cylinder, and a
removable connection, as a sleeve, engaging the ends of both valve stems and whereby
the inner valve may be operated from without the outer cylinder, substantially as set
forth.
4. The combination with the outer liquid holding cylinder, of a cap secured thereon,
and a valve stem extending through said cap, a bracket open as to one side thereof
depending from said cap, an air holding cylinder having a valve and stem, and a
flanged upper end adapted to engage the bracket, and a coupling embracing the ends
of the two valve stems, and whereby the lower stem may be rotated by the upper
stem and the lower cylinder retained as against displacement on the bracket, substan-
tially as set forth.
5. In a fire extinguisher the combination with the outer cylinder adapted to
contain an extinguishing fluid and provided with an outlet pipe, of the inner cylinder

page_text: adapted to contain air or gas under pressure, and provided with a valve leading to
the outer cylinder, the handle and outer valve stem, and the connection, whereby the
inner and outer valve stems are joined, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1889
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.