Improvements in Means or Apparatus for use in Extinguishing Fire.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for use in Extinguishing
Fire.
We, LEONARD LINDLEY, of Redclyffe, in the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Lace Dyer and Dresser, and JOSEPH ELTON BOTT, of Eyam, in the
County of Derby, Metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus for use in
extinguishing fire, and relates to means whereby on a certain temperature being
reached, or on the apparatus being thrown into a fire, a supply of highly compressed
carbonic acid or other gas inimical to fire will be released, and by permeating the
mass of fire, will greatly assist in extinguishing the same.
In carrying our invention into effect we construct a strong metal shell of
spherical, cylindro-conoidal or of other convenient shape, and we insert therein a
valve of fusible metal to act in combination with a suitable seat formed in the
interior of the shell, and in order to permit of the ready insertion of the valve, we
make an opening at another part of the shell sufficiently large to permit of the
passage therethrough of the valve, and we close such opening preferably by a
screw plug. The valve is formed of an alloy which will fuse at a comparatively low
temperature, so that on such a temperature being reached, or on the shell being
thrown into a fire, the said valve will melt and thereby liberate the gas contained
in the shell. The valve may be of spherical, conical or other convenient form, and
the seat is made of suitable form to receive the same. In some cases we form
the main body of the valve of metal which is not fusible at a low temperature,
but in such case we place between the valve and the seat, a lining of readily
fusible alloy, by which means we are enabled to make use of a large discharge
opening, whereby on the valve being liberated by heat, the imprisoned gas is at
once discharged from the shell.
We fill the said shell with gas at the required pressure by introducing it through
the valve opening, preferably in the manner in which bottles of aerated water are
filled, so that when the shell is filled with gas at a pressure equal to that of the
compressing machine, the valve will fall to its seat and thereby securely imprison
the gas.
Gas shells of the character above described may be attached to a ceiling or to
other part of a building, so that on a given temperature being reached the gas
will be liberated, or they may be thrown by hand or otherwise projected into the
midst of a fire.
Dated May 20th 1890.
LEONARD
LINDLEY.
JOSEPH ELTON BOTT.
By Harris & Mills,
Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.

page_text: Figure 1 is a section of a spherical shaped gas shell, and Figure 2 is a section
of a cylindro-conoidal gas shell constructed according to our invention, and 3
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a section and an elevation of a modified form of
gas shell.
In the gas shell represented at Figures 1 and 2, a represents the body of the
shell, an aperture formed therein to enable the fusible valve c to be inserted, b' a
plug to close the aperture b, and d an opening and valve seat to receive the fusible s
valve e and through which the gas shell is charged.
In the gas shell represented at Figures 3 and 4, A represents the body, which is
preferably of steel or iron tubing, B is the cap or ejecting portion, having
perforations D around the nozzle, and a larger perforation C at its point,
E represents a fusible metal plug cast in position, B' is a collar for retaining same
in the nozzle, G is a screw plug at the base of the shell, J is an opening in said
plug, which is governed by a ball or other valve H closing on a valve seat I
preferably of rubber or other elastic material, F is a perforated cover to the valve
chamber.
Gas shells of the character herein described are filled with gas at the required 5

page_text: pressure by introducing it through the valve opening d, Figures 1 and 2, or J,
Figure 3, preferably in the manner in which bottles of aerated water are filled, so
that when the shell is filled with gas at a pressure equal to that of the compressing
machine, the valve c, Figures 1 and 2, or H, Figure 3, will fall to its seat and thereby
securely imprison the gas.
Gas shells of the character herein described may be attached to a ceiling, or to
other part of a building, so that on a predetermined temperature being reached, the
fusible metal valve c, Figures 1 and 2, or the plug E, Figure 3, melts, flowing away
through the apertures d, Figures 1 and 2, or C, D, Figures 3 and 4, when the
carbonic acid gas is ejected through such apertures and the fire extinguished.
We are aware that carbonic acid gas in a state of compression or otherwise has
been used for the purpose of extinguishing fires; we do not therefore claim the use
of the same broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The combination of a shell or receiver, an opening through which the same
is charged with carbonic acid gas, and a self closing fusible valve for securely
retaining such gas in the shell or receiver, substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.
2. The combination of a shell or receiver, a perforated nozzle closed by a fusible
plug, a filling aperture at the base, and a self acting valve to close the said filling
aperture, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 20th day of Febru 1801
LEONARD LINDLEY.
J. ELTON BOTT.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.