IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thilo von Trotha; Gentleman, of Gaensefurth near
Hecklingen, Dukedom of Anhalt Germany for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES a communication to
him from Victor von Schlippe of Moscow Russia
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thilo von Trotha at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st May 1883.
وو
THILO VON TROTHA, Gentleman of Gaensefurth near Hecklingen Dukedom of
Anhalt Germany "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
(A Communication to me from Victor von Schlippe of Moscow Russia)
This invention consists of a means of extinguishing fires, which is stored up in
the form of a cartridge, that is laid in the water used for putting out the fire. The
shell of the cartridge is made either of thin rolled lead, parchment paper or
cardboard and of a rather long cylindrical shape. In the leaden cartridge case the
cylinder is closed by a double seam at the joint, and if made of parchment the seam
is closed by shellac. The top and bottom are specially put in. The cartridge
contains two divisions, the larger of which is filled with four parts (in weight) of
nitrate of alum, the smaller one of sulphite of soda, chlornatrium or chlorcalcium.
Both parts are separated from each other by a partition of parchment covered with
tinfoil.
The nitrate of alum is composed of a mixture of 34-3 parts (by weight) of
sulphate of aluminium and 14-2 parts (by weight) of sulphate of soda and
43-2 parts (by weight) of water and the double salt thus formed is allowed to
crystallize.
In using the cartridge, it is broken and the contents thrown into the water to
be used for putting out the fire, which is either conducted direct to the fire engine,
or by means of an injector or pump conducted to the delivery hose which brings
the water to the place of burning. Of course in the latter case, less water is used
for the solution of the salts, as the water delivered by the fire engine must be taken
into account.

page_text: The cartridges may be made in different sizes. One pound of nitrate of alum
and 300 grammes sulphite of soda will be found to be enough for 21 to 33 gallons
of water. A correspondingly smaller cartridge is used for smaller quantities of
water.
The effect of the nitrate of alum is, that it enters into the object already dried
by burning, and makes it very uninflammable; whilst the effect of the finely
subdivided sulphite of soda is that it oxydizes at the expense of its surroundings, i,e
takes up the oxygen from the burning surface, and thereby the possibility of
burning further is prevented; besides that, it covers the surface with a crust of
salt which makes it very uninflammable.
As before mentioned chlornatrium chlorcalcium and other analogous salts may be
used instead of the sulphite of soda, but not with such good results.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thilo von Trotha in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st November 1883.
"
THILO VON TROTHA Gentleman of Gaensefurth near Hecklingen, Dukedom of
Anhalt, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
A communication to me from Victor von Schlippe of Moscow, Russia
This invention consists of a means of extinguishing fires, which being stored up
in the form of a cartridge, is thrown into the water used for putting out the fire.
The shell of the cartridge is made either of thin rolled lead, parchment, paper, or.
cardboard and of a rather long cylindrical shape. In the leaden cartridge case the
cylinder is closed by a double seam at the joint, and if made of parchment the
seam is closed by shellac. The top and bottom are specially put in. The cartridge
contains two divisions the larger of which is filled with four parts in weight of
soda alum and the smaller one with one part of sulphite of soda, chlornatrium, or
chlorcalcium Both parts are separated from each other by a partition of parchment
covered with tinfoil.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section through a
charged leaden cartridge, Figure 2 is a cross section and Figures 3 and 4 are
longitudinal and transverse section through a part of the leaden outer shell.
The inner part a of the outer shell A coming in direct contact with the charge is
made of paper while the outer part a¹ is of lead which imparts the required
strength to the whole; a² is an outer paper covering. The arrangement of the
layers of paper and of lead is the same at the bottom B and the lid C. Figure 3
illustrates the joint of the cylindrical shell a viz two pleats that take into each
other. Figure 4 shows a similar double fold joint of the lid C (or bottom D) with
the cylindrical shell. E is a disc which divides the two compartments from each
other. The larger compartment F contains the soda alum and the smaller.
compartment G the sulphite of soda or the chlornatrium or the chlorcalcium.
The soda alum is composed of a mixture of 34.3 parts (by weight) of sulphate of
aluminum and 14.2 parts (by weight) of sulphate of soda and 43.2 parts (by
weight) of water, and the double salt thus formed is allowed to crystallize.
In using the cartridge it is broken and the contents thrown into the water to be
used for putting out the fire, which is either conducted direct to the fire engine or
by means of an injector or pump conducted to the delivery hose which brings the
water to the place of burning. Of course in the latter case less water is used for
the solution of the salts, as the water delivered by the fire engine must be taken
into account.
The cartridges may be made in different sizes: One pound of soda alum and
4 ounces sulphite of soda will be found to be enough for 21 to 33 gallons of water.
A correspondingly smaller cartridge is used for smaller quantities of water.
The effect of the soda alum is that it enters into the object already dried by
burning, and makes it very uninflammable, whilst the effect of the finely subdivided
sulphite of soda is that it oxydizes at the expense of its surroundings, ie takes up
the oxygen from the burning surface and thereby the possibility of burning further
is prevented besides that it covers the surface with a crust of salt, which makes it
very uninflammable.
As before mentioned chlornatrium, chlorcalcium and other analogous salts may
be used instead of the sulphite of soda, but not with such good results.
Although I think it best to make the cartridge with two compartments, yet the
salts may be put into two separate cases without deviating from the character of
the invention.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim as the invention communicated
to me.
First-The simultaneous application of the means or appliances described viz
certain proportions of soda alum and of sulphite of soda (or chlornatrium or
chlorcalcium) with water for the purpose of putting out fires therewith, substantially
as set forth.
Second: A cartridge containing a large compartment for soda alum, and a small
compartiment for sulphite of soda (or chlornatrium or chlorcalcium) substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Thilo von Trotha have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fifteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
THILO VON TROTHA (L.S.).