IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Frank Patrick McMurrough Kavanagh, of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES." A com-
munication from abroad by William Johnstone, of Philadelphia, in the United
States of America.
Sealed the 28th March 1879, and dated the 30th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Frank Patrick
McMurrough Kavanagh at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
30th September 1878.
THOMAS FRANK PATRICK MCMURROUGH KAVANAGH, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
EXTINGUISHING FIRES." (A communication from abroad by William Johnstone, of
Philadelphia, in the United States of America.)
This Invention relates, firstly, to the manufacture of a fire-extinguishing
compound, which under the action of heat or fire evolves gases or vapors, which
suppress or extinguish the conflagration; and secondly, to an adjunct to such fire-
extinguishing devices which renders the same automatic and more prompt and
certain in their action.
The second part of the Invention can also be applied with advantage to other
fire-extinguishing devices which evolve carbonic acid or similarly destructive gases
or vapors on the mixture of certain ingredients, such for instance as the addition
of sulphuric, muriatic, or other acid, to carbonate of lime or other alkaline solution
or preparation.
The improved fire-extinguishing compound consists of a mixture of about equal
parts of chlorate of potash, resin, nitrate of potash, and oxide of manganese,

page_text: moistened with a solution of silicate of soda, and compressed into a block, the latter
being surrounded by a fireproof wrapper or case, and provided with a fuse as
herein-after set forth.
A certain number of the boxes or cases of fire-extinguishing compound being
placed on a shelf or shelves (by preference, near to the ceiling or roof of the room
or structure to be protected), one or more lengths of water and ratproof fuses
(preferably of the quick variety) are stretched across the said room or structure,
and are jointly and severally connected to the boxes or cases containing the fire-
extinguishing compound.
It will be evident that upon the occurrence of a fire the fuse becoming ignited
will immediately communicate with the compound, which will then evolve its fire-
extinguishing gas or vapor and suppress the conflagration.
To apply the last-mentioned device to such fire extinguishers as act by the
mixture of two ingredients as above named in order to render them automatic, and
not as now dependent upon human assistance or knowledge, all that is requisite is
to apply a spring or weighted lever to the tap or valve of the acid cistern or
receptacle, such spring or lever having a tendency to open the same, and then to
confine the spring or weighted lever by means of an inflammable band or ligature,
so as to keep the tap or valve closed; a fuse or fuses being connected to the band
or ligature and stretched across the apartment or structure on the occurence of
a fire the fuse ignites, consumes the band or ligature, and allows the spring or
lever to open the tap or valve and admit the acid.
Or the same effect might be produced by suspending a weight above a glass or
other frangible vessel containing the acid, and connecting the fuse to the suspending
cord or band.
Or by other similar means the burning of the fuse may be made to set free any
suitable device for effecting the mixture of the two ingredients without human aid
or intervention.