AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Beck, of 139, Cannon Street, in the
City of London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER." A communication from
abroad by Louis Charles Blon, Mechanician, and Jean Kratzenstein, Merchant,
both of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Beck at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd April 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 139, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER."
[A communication from abroad by Louis Charles Blon, Mechanician, and Jean
Kratzenstein, Merchant, both of Paris, in the Republic of France.]
The essential characteristics of this Invention are simplicity of construction,
suppression of all detached parts such as keys, funnels, and others, the automatic
working of the apparatus, and the means employed for producing the pressure
immediately.
According to this Invention, in order to produce pressure in apparatus auto-
matically and instantly at the moment when it is required to use it, there are
employed the following arrangements of the bottle containing the acid, and of a
piercer for making an opening in such bottle. The said piercer is operated by any
suitable pressure acting upon its outer end, which pressure forces the piercer into
the bottle making a large opening therein. This external pressure is obtained in
portable apparatuses carried on the back, either by acting on one of the shoulder
straps or by means of a movable back plate which is driven forcibly by a shake of
the apparatus or otherwise against the end of the stem of the piercer-carrier.
When the apparatus is mounted on wheels the breakage or piercing of the bottle
ouly requires a lever or handle to be operated by any suitable means.
The apparatus is constructed with a cylindrical case, in which is a perforated
false bottom intended to strain the water and acid, and to prevent foreign and
insoluble substance from being ejected,

page_text: One end of the case has an opening to admit the bottle and the water. This
opening is closed by means of a seat pressed by a screw carried by a plate, which
is held to the end of the case by three lugs which take under three claws. By
turning the plate so as to disengage the lugs from the claws this plate and the seat
can be turned out of the way on a hinge; this method of closing is novel as
applied to fire extinguishers and considerably reduces their height.
The bottle containing the acid is of thick glass of a special shape; it is guided
into place by three rods, one of which holds it securely as it enters a vertical
groove formed in the bottle. The bottle is blown with a thin flat face in front, or
with an opening at that part covered with a metallic capsule. The capsule or the
flat part of the glass, as the case may be, is destroyed by the piercer, which is
formed with or attached to the end of a stem which passes to the outside of the
case and is connected by a pin to the beforementioned movable back plate. In
order to make an air tight joint an indiarubber tube is secured at one end to a
guide piece fixed to the case, and at the other to the head of the piercer. The
stem of the piercer can thus be moved in and out longitudinally without fear of
leakage and without friction. The elasticity of the indiarubber tube serves also
to bring the stem forward again after the piercer has been operated. This novel
expansion joint taking the place of a stuffing box is very important.
The back plate is jointed at bottom to the case, and is pressed outwards by a
spring; it is held at the top by the stem of the piercer. The said back plate is
locked in position by a stop acted on by a spring, but is liberated by pulling a
small chain which raises the stop; when that is done the piercer can be driven
into the bottle by a shake or blow even when the apparatus is strapped to a
person's back.
Instead of the movable back plate one of the shoulder straps may be arranged
to operate the piercer, as before mentioned, or other suitable means for doing so
may be arranged.
When the fire extinguisher is on wheels, a lever or handle may be arranged to
effect the movement of the piercer.
A leather washer is sunk into the base of the jet, and stands out a little beyond
it to make a hermetical joint with the union of the nozzle carrier.
Safety leads are also employed to prevent the opening of the apparatuses after
they are charged.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Beck in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st October 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 139, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.”
The essential characteristics of this Invention are simplicity of construction,
suppression of all detached parts, such as keys, funnels, and others, the automatic
working of the apparatus, and the means employed for producing the pressure
immediately.
According to this Invention in order to produce pressure in the apparatus
automatically and instantly at the moment when it is required to use the same,
there are employed the following arrangements of the bottle containing the acid,
and of a piercer for making an opening in such bottle. The said piercer is
operated by any suitable pressure acting upon its outer end, which pressure forces
the piercer into the bottle, making a large opening therein. This external pressure
is obtained in portable apparatuses carried on the back, either by acting on one of
the shoulder straps or by means of a moveable back plate which is driven forcibly
by a shake of the apparatus or otherwise against the end of the stem of the piercer-
carrier. When the apparatus is mounted on wheels the breakage or piercing of
the bottle may be effected by the operation of a lever or handle arranged for that
purpose, or by other suitable means.
In the Drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portable fire
extinguisher constructed in accordance with this Invention; Figure 2, a plan;
Figure 3, a vertical section; and Figure 4, a horizontal section of same taken
above the support for the bottle; Figure 5 shows the piercer and its connections to
a larger scale than in Figures 1 to 4; Figure 6 is a section through that part of
the piercer and its connections which forms the air tight joint or stuffing box for
passing the stem of the piercer air tight from the inside to the outside of the fire
extinguisher case. Figures 7, 8, and 9 show respectively a front view, side view,
and sectional plan of the acid bottle also drawn to a larger scale than that of
Figures 1 to 4; Figure 10 shows a modification of the nozzle or jet.
The apparatus is constructed as usual with a cylindrical or other suitably shaped
sheet iron case a with two ends b and c, and containing a perforated false bottom k
intended to strain the bicarbonate, and to prevent foreign and insoluble, substances
from mixing with the liquid to be ejected.
The upper end 6 of the case has an opening to admit the acid bottle and the
water. This opening is closed by means of a seat d hinged to the end b, and
pressed firmly by a screw e working in the central boss of a plate e' furnished
with three lugs (more or less) adapted to take under corresponding claws b' rivetted
and soldered to the end b. The screw e, the end of which takes into the seat d,
connects this seat to the plate e'. In order to open the apparatus it is only "
necessary to turn back the screw e to turn round the plate e¹ in order to disengage
its lugs from under the claws b', and lastly to turn the whole over on the hinge d¹.
This simplified method of closing is expeditious, completely air tight, and projects
but little beyond the end b.
The bottle containing the acid is of thick glass and of special shape (see
Figures 7, 8, and 9.) Placed in the case a by the opening in the end b it is guided
into place by three rods h, h', h2, which descend vertically to the ring i, forming a
stand or support for the bottle connected to the case a by three arms j. This
bottle has at the back and extending its whole length a hollow or groove fl which
allows of the bottle being put in place when this hollow or groove is brought,

page_text: opposite the hinder rod h. By this means a flat thin part få reserved in the lower
part of the bottle and opposite the groove f³ is always placed in front and exactly
opposite the piercer m. Instead of the thin part f an opening may be made in
the bottle and closed by a metallic capsule, which capsule or the thin part of the
glass, as the case may be, is perforated by the piercer when the latter is pushed in,
in the manner to be hereafter described.
The piercer m (Figures 5 and 6) is carried at the end of a rod or stem o which
passes to the outside of the case, and is there connected by a pin o¹ to the
beforementioned moveable back plate a¹. In order to make an air tight joint in
the passage of the stem o through the case a the said stem o passes through a
guide piece secured air tight by screwing, soldering, or otherwise to the case; it
extends inside the case, and has secured to it one end of an indiarubber tube or
ferrule n, the other end of which is tied behind or to the head of the piercer m.
The stem o of the piercer can thus be moved inwards and outwards longitudinally
without fear of leakage, the simple effects of these movements being to compress
and stretch the elastic ferrule n. When this ferrule is stretched the back plate a¹
will have pushed inwards the stem o, but immediately the pressure inwards ceases
the elasticity of the india rubber draws forward the piercer m and its stem o.
The piercer m is terminated by a rounded point for breakage, the flat and weak
part of the bottle f, or for the perforating of the capsule, as the case may be.
The back plate a¹ is jointed at bottom to the case a, and is preferably made
somewhat concave to fit the back of the operator; a spring a constantly pushes
forward the said back plate which is held at top by the pin o¹ in the piercer
stem o.
The back plate a¹ is locked in position by a stop 9 acted on by a spring, but is
liberated by pulling a small chain q' which raises the said stop q, and with the
apparatus strapped to a person's back he is then completely at liberty to impart to
the back plate a¹ and to the apparatus the necessary shake or blow to drive in the
stem of the piercer.
Instead of the moveable back plate one of the shoulder straps may be arranged
to act on a lever, the free end of which pushes in the piercer stem. Other means
may also be employed for that purpose whether the apparatus be carried on the
back or on wheels.
The apparatus being previously charged the entrance for water and the bottle
may preferably be sealed with a special lead seal p (Figure 2), which furnishes a
guarantee at the amount of danger that nothing has been deranged or altered.
The flow of liquid under pressure takes place as usual at the tap x fixed near
the bottom of the case a, and to which tap the hose pipe carrying the nozzle t
(Figure 10) is screwed. The tap x is preferably made with a closed bottom, and
with stuffing box and gland at top.
Figure 10 shows a leather washer r sunk into the base of the jet, and standing
out a little beyond it to make a hermetical joint with the unions of the nozzle-
carrier.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim as the Invention to be secured by the herein in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The moveable back plate arranged and adapted for producing auto-
matically when required the opening of the bottle containing the acid enclosed in
the interior of the fire extinguisher case, as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the Drawings.
Second. The special conformation of the glass bottle, the arrangement of the
piercer stem with its elastic joint or stuffing box, and the connection of this piercer
stem with the moveable back plate for giving in a simple manner and suddenly
the required push or pressure for operating the piercer to perforate the acid bottle
when the apparatus is attached to the back of a person, as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the Drawings.

page_text: Third. The means of closing the opening for the admission of the bottle and the
water, consisting of a cover hinged to the end of the case with a covering plate
which bears under claws on the end of the case, and secures by the action of a
pressure screw on the cover the hermetic closing of the apparatus, as herein before
described and illustrated in the Drawings.
Fourth. The arrangement of joint or stuffing box for the piercer stem, consisting
substantially of an elastic ferrule which surrounds and isolates the piercer stem
from the interior of the case, and by its elasticity returns the stem and piercer
outwards when the bottle has been broken, as herein before described and illustrated
in the Drawings.
Fifth. The use of a leather washer sunk into the base of the nozzle to make a
joint with the union of the nozzle carrier, as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the Drawings.
Sixth. The application of lead seals to fire extinguishers for furnishing a
guarantee at the moment of danger of the correctness of the preparations previously
made.
Seventh. The improved fire extinguisher arranged and adapted to be carried on
the back or on wheels, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Beck, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eightyone.
W. H. BECK. (L.S.)
Patentee.