A Process for the Production of Flames on the Surface of Water for Pyrotechnic Displays, and for other purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1895-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Process for the Production of Flames on the Surface of Water for
Pyrotechnic Displays, and for other purposes.
I, FRIEDRICH LUDWIG FIEDLER, of 10 Gleimstrasse, Halberstadt, in the
Empire of Germany, 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:-
The object of this invention is a process for causing fire flames of all kinds to
appear on the surface of water of every description and to use these flames for
pyrotechnic displays or for other similar purposes.
These
The process consists in placing in the water an inflammable and specifically
lighter liquid and to ignite such liquid by a chemical process or in any other
suitable manner. The liquids more particularly suitable for this purpose are the
products from the distillation of coal and wood such as benzine, ligroine for instance
as well as turpentine, sulphuric ether, sulphide of carbon and the like.
products are scarcely miscible with water, but ascend unaffected, even when they
have to pass through a very thick layer of water, to the surface of such water and
are then in a fit state to produce, after ignition, flaring, high and durable flames
which can be fed or maintained by the continued introduction of liquid. In order
to shew, by an example, the mode of carrying out the process it may be assumed
that a monogram has to appear on the water surface. A pipe of metal or a hose is
first provided for this purpose and is bent to assume the form of the desired initials.
At uniform intervals, this pipe is perforated and it may be placed in a wooden float
or buoy. This pipe, which thus represents the desired monogram, is connected by
another pipe to a reservoir placed at a certain height and filled with the required
liquid or with a mixture of several different liquids. By sinking the float by means
of suitable weights until it reaches the bottom of the water, the liquid will pass,
after opening the outlet tap of the said reservoir, into the pipe on account of its
weight and will escape through the openings formed therein. By reason of its
lower specific gravity the liquid will ascend vertically through the water until it
reaches the surface when, as soon as it is ignited, a flame will spring from every
opening in the pipe which continually fed by the liquid, and there is formed a
line of fire on the surface of the water the configuration of which is similar to that
of the sunken object that is to say in the present case a line of fire representing the
desired initials.
As to the ignition of the liquid, the same can be effected as above stated either
by a chemical process or by mechanical means. In the first case it is only
required to add phosphide of calcium or metallic potassium to the inflammable
liquid. Such material develops such an amount of heat, when placed in contact
with water and in consequence of the chemical reaction taking place, as to form
Hames which extend all over the inflammable liquid. Instead of operating in the
manner set forth, the liquid may be used without any addition of igniting material
by merely throwing pieces of potassium, sodium or phosphide of calcium in the water
so as to spontaneously ignite. The ignition may also be effected by turpentine or
the like supplied by a pipe and spread on the surface of the water this liquid being
ignited by electricity or in a still simpler manner by means of matches and the
like.
The said liquids are likewise highly suitable for producing illuminated fountains.
All that is required for this purpose is to supply inflammable liquid instead of

page_text: water by means of the forcing devices whereby the fountain is fed and to ignite
such liquid at the mouth of the fountain. There arises then instead of the ordinary
water spray, a spray of fire which is unloosened in the air in the shape of sheafs
which drop down on to the surface of the water and continue to burn thereon.
The liquid forced out of the fountain may also be a mixture of water and inflam-
mable liquid, when there will simultaneously arise therefrom a water spray and a
fire spray which will present a very striking appearance.
The methods of using such a liquid are not exhausted by the preceding application;
for this liquid is also suitable for rendering visible motions of every description
which occur in the middle of the night either above or below the water and are
otherwise concealed to the eyes. In the vicinity of shoals, sunken rocks or other
places which are dangerous to navigators, glass or other receivers filled with liquids
igniting in the water may be used in order to signal the danger to the shipping, in
such a manner that as soon as a vessel strikes such a receiver in the dark, at night
or in a fog, it will break or open it when there will appear on the surface of the
water a warning fire signal. The process may likewise be utilized for lighting the
water in canals during the night or in foggy weather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
"
1. A process for producing fire or flames on the surface of water by igniting
inflammable liquids of light specific gravity introduced in the water.
2. In combination with the process claimed above, the ignition of the liquid by
mixing therewith phosphide of calcium, potassium or sodium and causing the
mixture to rise through the water or by conveying the inflammable liquid alone and
subsequently introducing the igniting means, or by igniting the said liquid by
electricity or by open firing.
3. The use of the process set forth in Claims 1 and 2 for pyrotechnic purposes
characterized by the sinking to the bottom of the water of an imitation of the
design to be represented made by means of pipes furnished with suitable per-
forations and by connecting the same to a receptacle by a pipe in such a manner
that the inflammable liquid enters such imitation by gravity or under pressure.
4. The use of the process set forth in Claims 1 and 2 in such a manner that the
inflammable liquid is introduced either alone or mixed with water into the
receptacle or into the forcing devices of fountains and is ignited at the mouth of such
fountains.
5. The use for navigating purposes of the process set forth in Claims 1 and 2 in
such a manner that a vessel filled with inflammable liquid is placed in dangerous
places so as to be exposed to be broken by passing ships and serve as a warning to
them by the production of a flame on the water.
Dated this 21st day of June 1895.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.