IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR RENDERING BUILDINGS FIRE PROOF
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents, of
52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR RENDERING BUILDINGS
FIRE PROOF," '—a communication to me from abroad by George Fletcher Wright
Gentleman and William Child Dewey Gentleman, both of Palmer, Massachusetts,
United States of America,--and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this Specification,
in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section through the basement and two upper stories of a
building mainly sustained by cast metal columns having my improvements applied
to them.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of a building parts of which are broken away also
showing my improvements applied.
Figure 3 is a sectional detail. When buildings having hollow cast iron columns
are subjected to intense heat the columns yield and allow the superstructure to
fall. This has been fully demonstrated in such instances as great fires in Cities.
The cast iron columns when subjected to a heat which would not at once materially
injure hard wood will suddenly give way by reason of sudden expansion and
from other causes. I am fully aware that tubes of wrought iron and cast metal
have been used in building externally and internally, as water conductors, and
that such tubes have been provided with fusible alloys, and other means which it
was essayed would automatically cause a flow of water from a street main or other
"head" to flow into or upon a building in the event of a fire taking place therein.
The object of my invention is to utilize in a manner hereinafter explained the
supporting columns of a building as reservoirs for water, and also to so construct
said supporting columns that they will retain water under ordinary temperatures,
but eject the same over their external surfaces when exposed to an injurious
degree of heat.

page_text: For the purpose of explaining a practical mode of carrying my invention into
effect I refer to the annexed figures of the drawings.
A designates the front wall of the second story of a building which story and
floor together with the basement floor are sustained in part by the hollow iron
columns D. The lower end of these columns are water sealed at a, and these
columns are perforated at or near their upper ends as indicated at F. The columns
in the basement are or may be supplied at their upper ends with water from a
proper head, say a street main or sewer pipe I, through branch pipes, H, G, and E,
and from the branch pipes G, short branch pipes E, lead into the columns of the
first story at or near their lower ends. The upper ends of the columns D, of the
first story communicate with the columns of the second story by means of short
pipes E, which pass through the flooring. I have represented numerous apertures F,
near the upper ends of the columns, and in figure 3, I show a column having
a thin hood J, located just above the said apertures F, the object of which is to
direct downward streams of water in the event of the columns becoming unduly
heated and to keep their external surfaces wet. It is obvious from what I have
stated that a cast iron supporting column in a building is made a reservoir for
water, and that so long as such column contains water it will be practically
uninjured by heat. The columns are thus rendered fire proof.
The apertures F, should be sealed to prevent evaporation of the water in the
columns, such sealing being so fragile that it will give way by steam pressure or
external heat, and allow water and steam to escape and wet the outside of the
columns. A cock could be, if desired, applied to the street main for the purpose of
filling the columns with water.
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:-
First. A hollow cast iron water-holding column closed at its bottom and
perforated at or near its upper end substantially in the manner and for the purposes
described.
Second. A hollow supporting column closed at its lower end, and provided with
perforations at or near its upper end, in combination with a deflecting hood applied
to the column over said perforations substantially as described.
Third. The combination of a hollow supporting column closed at its lower end
and perforated at or near its upper end with a system of pipes connecting said
column or columns with a water supply all substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Fourth. A hollow supporting column or a series of such columns constructed
substantially as set forth, having it, or their perforations scaled with a fragile or
fusible substance which will yield or melt when subjected to heat, all substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 28th day of October 1884