AN IMPROVED FIRE-EXTIN- GUISHING LIQUID, AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING THE SAME
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustav Bernheim, of Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium,
Engineer and Chemist, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FIRE-EXTIN-
GUISHING LIQUID, AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING THE SAME."
Sealed the 15th April 1879, and dated the 15th October 1878.
<
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustav Bernheim at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th October 1878.
GUSTAV BERNHEIM, of Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer and Chemist.
AN IMPROVED FIRE-EXTINGUISHING LIQUID, AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING
THE SAME."
The object of this Invention is (1st), the production of a fire-extinguishing liquid
which shall have the property of instantly extinguishing the fire as soon as the
liquid reaches it by gases generated from such liquid, which shall render incom-
bustable any goods upon which it is thrown; and (2ud), a novel and simple form of
forcing pump and vessel for throwing the liquid upon the fire.
The composition of my improved fire-extinguishing liquid is as follows, per
thousand parts of liquid :-
-
bicarbonate of potass.
"
"
tungstate of soda.
20
22
"
"
10
"
"
50
muriate of ammonia.
"
100
chloride of sodium.
"
"
sulphate of magnesia.
water.
"
25
75
I prefer to keep the fire-extinguishing liquid, as above described, in barrels ready
for use, and before putting it into use I dilute it in the proportion of about five
gallons of water to one and a half of the liquid.

page_text: My improved forcing pump for throwing the liquid consists of a suitable metallic
chamber or vessel for receiving the liquid, which vessel is provided with a foot step
let into the body of the vessel for receiving the foot of the operator, in order to
steady the apparatus and to enable him to get a better power over the pump in the
upward stroke.
Through the top of this vessel I fit my improved pump, consisting of a cylinder
fixed at an angle with respect to the vertical axis of the vessel, so as to be conve-
nient for the full employment of the operator's strength when in use. This cylinder
is fitted with a combined piston and hollow plunger; the plunger passing through
a stuffing box at the upper end of the cylinder, where it is fitted with a suitable
handle, the lower end of the cylinder being provided with an inlet valve. A ball
valve is fitted in the hollow plunger immediately above the piston, the whole
forming a double-acting force pump.
The liquid is delivered at the upper end of the cylinder through a flexible tube
and distributing nozzle.
The nozzle consists of a taper jet, with the end of the jet cut at an angle with
the axis of the nozzle, so as to better accomodate one of the fingers of the hand
in regulating the quantity discharged.
A metallic sheath is let into the top of the vessel to receive the jet when not in
action, and so prevent it being damaged and the liquid from being wasted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gustav Bernheim in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th April
1879.
GUSTAV BERNHEIM, of Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer and Chemist.
"AN IMPROVED FIRE-EXTINGUISHING LIQUID, AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING
THE SAME."
The object of this Invention is, 1st, the production of a fire-extinguishing liquid,
which shall have the property of instantly extinguishing the fire as soon as the
liquid reaches it by vapours generated from such liquid, and by the salts in the
liquid crystallising on the surface of the ignited mass, which shall render incom-
bustible any goods upon which it is thrown; and, 2nd, a very convenient arrange-
ment of vessel and forcing pump for holding and throwing my improved liquids or
any other suitable fire-extinguishing liquid.
The following is the composition of my improved liquid, the quantities may be
varied more or less, but I have found the quantities stated to give the best results
in actual work.
In a 1000 parts of the liquid,-
700 parts chloride of calcium at 44° Beaumé.
20 do. concentrated solution of borax.
20 do. concentrated solution of bicarbonate of potass.
10 do. concentrated solution of tungstate of soda.
50 do. muriate of ammonia.
100 do. chloride of sodium.
25 do. sulphate of magnesia.
75 do. of water.
·
The liquid is kept ready prepared for use in barrels or other convenient vessels,
and may be used either as prepared or diluted with water. The stronger the solution
the more effective is it in extinguishing fire or rendering incombustible materials
saturated or impregnated with it, but for ordinary purposes I find it quite sufficient
when diluted with water, in the proportion of four gallons of water to one of liquid.
I do not confine myself to the proportions above given, as a more or less effective
liquid may be made with other quantities, and even with some of the ingredients
omitted altogether, the most essential ingredients being the chloride of calcium and
the borax.
And in order that the second part of my Invention may be better understood and
more readily carried into effect, I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings,
showing a vertical section of my improved apparatus for throwing fire-extinguishing
liquids, in which A is a metallic vessel, preferably of galvanised iron, with a suit-
able handle B, to enable it to be easily carried from place to place; C is a footstep
let into the body of the vessel, and which receives the foot of the operator when in
use, in order to steady the apparatus in the upward stroke. Through the top of
the vessel I pass a double-acting force pump D, securing it in the top of the vessel
and in a cross bar E, at an angle with the vertical axis of the vessel, as illustrated.
This force pump consists of a cylinder "d" provided with a foot valve d³.
"d" is a hollow plunger acting as an air vessel to equalise the discharge, and
provided with a piston d fitting the cylinder d'. A ball or other valve 5 is fitted
so as to allow the liquid to pass the piston in its downward stroke, but prevents the
returning of the liquid in the upward stroke. The hollow plunger passes through
a cupped leather contained in the box do, so as to be perfectly tight.
The liquid is delivered through a flexible tube d and nozzle d³.
The whole arrangement constitutes a very handy and efficient double-acting
force pump for the purpose of this Invention, or for throwing fire-extinguishing
liquids generally.
The fixing of the pump D at an angle combined with the foot step C enables the
operator to get the full effect of bis power ou the pump, which is not possible when

page_text: the pump is fixed vertical, or nearly vertical, as heretofore. The jet of the nozzle d°
is cut off at an angle, as illustrated, so as to better accomodate one of the fingers
of the band in regulating the quantity of liquid, or spreading the liquid over an
extended service when in use. A sheath do is fixed to the outer vessel or tank, as
illustrated, and which serves to receive the jet when not in use, and so prevents its
being damaged and the liquid from being wasted.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying the
same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to using all the ingredients of my improved liquid, nor in the exact proportions
herein-before mentioned, but what I claim is,-
1st. The improved liquid for extinguishing fires and rendering materials incom-
bustible, substantially as herein-before described.
2nd. The improved apparatus for throwing fire-extinguishing liquids, consisting
of an outer vessel or tank A, force pump D fixed at an angle, foot step C, and
spreading nozzle d³, substantially as and for the purposes described, and illustrated
on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustav Bernheim, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 10th day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
ATTA
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NITIATMמת NTTA
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