IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1885

page_text: Apparatus Connected therewith.
I THOMAS WITTER of 190 Blackburn Road, Bolton in the County of Lancaster,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,"
to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to improvements in automatic apparatus and is intended
to provide means whereby buildings and other places may be automatically pro-
tected in case of fire by the agency of the fire itself, so that as soon as a fire takes
place the heat of the same will not only automatically release an extinguisher
or sprinkler, but by the spreading of the heat will open other extinguishers or
sprinklers, and thus deluge the fire by sprays or showers of water or other agents,
thus confining the same to the space in which it originated, and consists in arranging
a system of main and branch pipes through a building or other place to which it
may be applied, provided with a suitable number of extinguishers or sprinklers,
the outlets of which are provided with a valve and spindle held in position by
levers, cross bars and studs, or other equivalents, mounted on suitable centres'
secured to the casing of the extinguishers or sprinklers. The end of the crossbar
supporting the spindle and valve is notched or booked on a preparation on the side
of the extinguisher or sprinkler, the opposite side or end being provided with a
cam or hooked projection, or other mechanical equivalents, being supported on-
a vertical or other lever mounted in a convenient manner on the side of the
sprinkler or otherwise, which is held in position by being sealed or soldered to.
a projection by a material fusible at a low temperature, which when a fire breaks.
out the heat releases the said levers, when they drop away and allows the valve to
open, when the water or other extinguishing agent is liberated and directed on the
fire, by which it is extinguished automatically.
For the purpose of spreading or diffusing the water or other extinguishing agent
in the supply pipes the valve spindle is provided with a semi-circular or other
perforated dish or plate, which drops with the valve spindle and thus forms a
spreader or sprinkler. To prevent the choking of the perforations in the spreader
when not in use by "fly," "fluff," or other imperfections, the spindle is provided>
with a loose shield and nipple, being held in position by the levers and other appli-
ances for securing the valve and spindle, and which drops off with the appliances.
when set in operation by the melting of the solder or other fusible metal,

page_text: My invention also relates to a novel method of arranging the supply pipes, hy
which their sizes can be considerably reduced, thereby minimising the cost con-
siderably, which consists in placing the main or supply pipes in the centre of a
range, the branches being directed in the various ways as required. The supply
or main pipes are also provided with a peculiar arrangement of apparatus for
operating an alarm which consists of a worm or spiral or other equivalents, which,
immediately the water or other extinguishing agent is set in motion, is operated
and opens a valve or other equivalents, which communicate with suitable connec-
tions to a whistle, bell, or electric appliances, by which an alarm will be raised that
a fire has broken out and that the automatic fire apparatus is in operation.
E. CHADWICK, C.E.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Apparatus Connected therewith.
»
I THOMAS WITTER of 190 Blackburn Road, Bolton in the County of Lancaster
Plumber do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,'
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in automatic apparatus and is intended
to provide means whereby buildings and other places may be automatically pro-
tected in case of fire by the agency of the tire itself, so that as soon as a fire takes
place the heat of the same will not only automatically release an extinguisher
or sprinkler, but by the spreading of the heat will open other extinguishers or
sprinklers, and thus deluge the fire by sprays or showers of water or other agents,
thus confining the same to the space in which it originated.
In order that my invention may be more completely understood reference is
given to the accompanying drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
similar letters referring to similar parts throughout the several views.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 2 a side elevation of an automatic fire
extinguisher or sprinkler constructed according to my invention.
A is the casing of the extinguisher or sprinkler constructed in halves and jointed
by the screw B in the centre or otherwise which is necessary to admit the valve C
into the throat or inlet D of the extinguisher or sprinkler. The valve C is cast or

page_text: attached to the spindle E and passes downwards through the crossbar F in the
bottom half of the casing A. The crossbar G is provided with the centres H and
is supported on one side by the notched or hooked projection I on the side of the
casing A, the other end of the crossbar G being supported on the cam or hooked
projection J on the lever K. The lever K is mounted on the centre L on the
casing A, being held in position by being soldered to the projection M by a material
fusible at a low temperature. The crossbar G is provided on the bottom side with
the boss N to receive the screw O for the purpose of adjusting and closing the
valve C when sealing or soldering of the lever K to the projection M has taken
place.
For the purpose of spreading or diffusing the water or other agent in a shower
the valve spindle E is provided with the semi-circular dish or spreader P provided
with the perforations and vanes R, the latter being for the purpose of revolving
the dish or spreader by the action of water or other agent when the extinguisher
or sprinkler is in action. The dish or spreader P is mounted loosely on the valve
spindle E to allow of its being easily revolved by the action or force of water or
other agent emitted, being held in position by the washer S, which is pinned
or secured in any other convenient way to the said spindle.
To prevent the perforations Q in the dish or spreader P-when not in use-
becoming choked by "fly," "fluff," and other imperfections, it is covered with the
loose shield T and is held in position by the adjustable nipple or nut V mounted
on the screw O.
This sprinkler operates as follows:-When a fire breaks out the heat therefrom
releases the lever K from the projection M, which with the pressure on the valve C
causes the lever K to move outwardly from the casing A and the cam or hooked
projection J to move inwardly and release the centres H, when the crossbar G,
screw O, and shield T drop entirely away, which allows the valve C to drop onto
the crossbar F and thus places the dish or spreader P below the outlet of the
casing A; the dish or spreader P being revolved by the action or force of the water
or other agent impinging on the vanes R, and thus spreads and diffuses the water or
other agent in a shower over the fire.
In another modification I construct the revolving flat plate or spreader P similar
to that shewn in Fig. 3, being mounted loosely on the valve spindle E and secured
in position as before described by the washer S. To ensure this flat plate or spreader
revolving by the action or force of water or other agent emitted when the valve C
is released, it is provided with the segmental vanes R as shewn in Fig. 7, which is
a plan of the top side of the flat plate or spreader P.
If desired the flat plate or spreader P can be fixed on the valve spindle E by the
pin W, as shewn in Fig. 4, in which case the revolving action is dispensed with.
The shield T can be made semi-circular as shewn in Fig. 4 or of any other convenient
form.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 6 a side elevation of my improved auto-
matic extinguisher or sprinkler when intended to deliver water or other agents in
a spray. The casing A is made in halves as before and for the purpose described,
the crossbar F being disposed at the bottom end of same. The valve C and spindle E
are held in position by the screw O, the latter being mounted in the crossbar G.
The crossbar G is provided with the centres H which sit on the projection I and
lever K. The lever K is supported at one end on the pin L and soldered to the
projection M at the opposite end.
In this modification I dispense with the dish or spreader Pand substitute therefor
the perforations Q in the casing A, which are drilled or otherwise in any suitable
angle or position to enable a fine spray to be thrown in all directions. The per-
forations are protected from dust and other substances by the shield T which is
held by the arms Z on the crossbar G. When the lever K is released from the
projection M by the melting of the solder or other fusible metal the lever K, cross-
bar G, screw O, and shield T drop away, and allows the valve C to fall onto the
circular projection Y on the crossbar F.

page_text: I would have it understood that I lay no claim to the use of solder for the
purpose of holding the valve to its seating until the solder is fused by the action
of heat.
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
1. The construction, combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved
automatic fire extinguisher or sprinkler, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn on the drawings in Figs. 1 and 2.
2. The construction, combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved
automatic fire extinguisher or sprinkler, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn on the drawings in Fig. 3.
3. The construction, combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved
automatic fire extinguisher or sprinkler, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn on the drawings in Fig. 4.
4. The construction, combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved
automatic fire extinguisher or sprinkler, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn on the drawings in Figs. 5 and 6.