Year: 1886

page_text: ALFRED WILLIAM BIRD N° 8 Coburg Buildings Coburg Row Westminster
London S.W. Fireman 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:-
This engine consists of three main portions, viz-an air chamber "A" a water
chamber "B" and a force-pump "G."
The air vessel "A" is a round copper chamber about 9 inches in diameter and
is surmounted by a pressure gauge "K."
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This air vessel "A" is connected with the water chamber "B" by a gun-metal
valve-box "CD" having two valves; the inlet valve "D" having a waterway of
about inch and the outlet valve "C" a waterway of about 8 inch the outlet
valve "C" being larger to allow the air and water to pass one another. To the
valve "C" is fitted a key to open or shut the valve, and screwing into the valve
box in such a manner that when the valve "C" is shut the key is half a turn loose
thus allowing any air left in the water chamber to escape and shutting closely
when the valve is open. Between these two valves is a water space leading from
the air chamber and connected with it is a gunmetal cock having a male screw on
its outer extremity to receive the hose.
The water chamber "B" is of copper oval in shape and containing when full
about 5 gallons. Inside of this chamber is a copper tube leading from the
valve "D" to pump delivery "J" about 6 inches from the bottom and fitted
with a gunmetal male screw on the outside to receive the valvebox of the force
pump. The same distance from the bottom and about 2 inches in front of the
screw "J" is a gunmetal cock having a male screw to receive the hose and con-
nected on the inside with a copper tube running down to about inch from the
bottom of the water chamber thus enabling as much as possible of the water to be
utilised.
The pump is an ordinary single acting force-pump about 14 inches long and
having a waterway of about 11 inches. It is fitted with a telescope handle which
can be used as a lever by a weak person.
To charge the machine :-
Open valve "C" and pump in about 26 lbs of air pressure only then place the

page_text: then shut valve "C" and any air remaining in the water chamber will escape by
the key "C" Screw the hose on to the delivery cock "H" and the engine is ready
for use.
In case of fire:-
Open valve "C" take the engine on the back by means of the leather straps
with which it is fitted. On arrival at the fire open cock "H" and a stream of
water will flow continuously for about 8 minutes and will reach a distance of
about 60 feet. Immediately air is heard coming with the water shut cock "H"
place the engine on the ground close valve "C" unscrew the hose from cock "H"
screw it on to cock "E" place the suction in the water and work the force pump
and without exertion a steady jet of water will be maintained at about a pressure
of 50 lbs.
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 :-
That, whereas all other engines, of this kind, whether charged chemically or
with compressed air, once their charge is expended cannot again be used until
recharged which cannot be done at the very quickest with any of them under six
minutes, during which time the fire, if not extinguished at the first onset, must be
allowed to burn, my engine by having two separate chambers for air and water,
when the force of its charge is expended, by shutting off the water chamber which
would hold too much air to be easily compressed, can be worked as an ordinary
pumping engine with an air vessel and in most cases water would be procurable
during the time it took to exhaust the charge.
It can also be enlarged to any size to suit requirements and mounted on wheels
and drawn by hand or horse power according to size see sections Nos 2 and 3.
These larger engines would be charged with a pressure of about 150 lbs and
would work with a pumping pressure of about 50 lbs and would hold from
20 gallons to 80 gallons of water. For convenience sake the second delivery "E"
would be brought lower down by substituting a copper tube for the cock "E" and
placing the cock at the end of the tube wherever required. They would also be
fitted with plug cocks instead of the valves "C" & "D" see section N° 2 to prevent
disarrangement while travelling.
If preferred the pumps could be put in front and the delivery cocks behind.