IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING PERSONS TO REMAIN WITHOUT DANGER IN ROOMS OR SPACES FILLED WITH SMOKE, DUST, HOT OR VITIATED AIR OR OTHER SUCII LIKE UNBREATHABLE ATMOSPHERE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lorentz Albert Groth K.G.V Civil Engineer and Managing
Director of The Universal Inventors and Patentees Financial Company Limited,
30 Finsbury Pavement London EC. for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR ENABLING PERSONS TO REMAIN WITHOUT DANGER IN ROOMS
OR SPACES FILLED WITH SMOKE, DUST, HOT OR VITIATED AIR OR OTHER SUCII
LIKE UNBREATHABLE ATMOSPHERE communicated to him from abroad by
B Loeb Jun', of Berlin in the German Empire
บ
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lorentz Albert Groth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1883.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH K.G.V. Civil Engineer and Managing Director of the
Universal Inventors and Patentees Financial Company Limited 30 Finsbury
Pavement London E.C. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING PERSONS
TO REMAIN WITHOUT DANGER IN ROOMS OR SPACES FILLED WITH SMOKE DUST
HOT OR VITIATED AIR OR OTHER SUCH LIKE UNBREATHABLE ATMOSPHERE
"
communication to me from abroad by B. Loob Jun of Berlin in the German
Empire
The object of the said apparatus is to enable persons to make a lengthened stay
in spaces or rooms in which breathing is made impossible by the presence therein
of dust smoke hot or vitiated air or other such like unbreathable atmosphere
The improvements consist of the following arrangements
A smoke cap is placed over the head and is fastened to the body Elastic cross
bands effect a close fit of the cap to the head The adjustment of the apparatus to
tho face is effected by straps which are fixed to the waist band The apparatus is
fitted with a valve case having two eccentrically arranged cylinders which are

page_text: connected to the smoke cap A mouth piece connects the inner chamber of one of
the cylinders with the mouth of the person At the bottom of this cylinder are
fitted inspiring valves which only open inwards on the cover are fitted the
respiring valves which only open outwards The other cylinder is closed at the
upper end by a screwed cover so that the air breathed out is forced to pass through 5
a wadding chamber and a sieve. finally the air is discharged through holes formed
in the side of the second cylinder The object of the wadding chamber is to prevent
the outside vitiated air from entering the interior of the valve case.
By means of a screw a breathing pipe is screwed into the valve case a tight joint
being made by a leather ring Concentric with the breathing pipe is arranged an 1
inner cylinder connected with it by flanges The annular space thus produced is
filled with a bad conductor of heat in order to keep out the heat of the hottest
rooms from the inner cylinder In order to clean the air for breathing which passes
through the inner cylinder the latter is filled with suitable material. such as
Glycerine wadding guaze charcoal antiseptics and suchlike and these are held by a 1
sieve A bow handle is fitted to the sieve and scrves for the easy handling thereof
The lower end of the breathing tubo is screwed into a sponge holder which is
constructed of two cylinders the annular space thus formed is filled with a bad
conductor of heat This sponge holder is closed at the bottom by a cover which
has in its centre à hole for the passage of the air In the upper part of the spongo
holder is fitted a sieve which is connected with the bottom of the holder by several
sieve cylinders The sponge holder is thus divided into separate spaces which.
serve to receive wet sponge while other free spaces form channels for the passage
of the air The sponge holder may also be made separately and placed in the
hollow space of the air passage The air is cooled by the moist sponge and passes
the sieve and the collecting channel on its way to the breathing tube When the
air is specially fouled with smoke and the contents of the principle breathing tube
loses its cleansing action on the air-flowing through-there are fitted--two sido
respirators to the smoke cap These side breathing tubes consist of a principal
respirator a valve case and a breathing tube with sponge holder The valve case of
the side respirators is arranged as follows a cylinder enters the front of the smoke
cap and is screwed into the breathing tube The other end of the.cylinder is closed
with a cover which receives a mouth piece In the inside of the cylinder there is a
partition which has four inspiring valves The respired air flows through a valve
on the other side and in the middle of the partition through a channel and a box
filled with wadding which closes the front of the sieve The wadding prevents the
enterance of smoke &c The other parts of the side breathing tubes are constructed
with their sponge holders like the principal breathing tubes but without the small
tubes There is also a second sieve arranged for the purpose of separating the wadding
wood charcoal antiseptics and suchlike contained in the first sieve from the collecting
channel The top of the smoke cap is preferably made pointed at the top so that any
ashes dust or suchlike flying about are not allowed to lie upon it but fall off An
apparatus for the same purpose as that above described but without cap or hat may
be arranged as follows the valve case the breathing tube the sponge holder and in
fact the parts in general are arranged similarly to those connected with the smoke
cap but the valve case is furnished with a special moveable breathing apparatus for
the nose This apparatus is fastened to the head by bands another band serves to
fasten a protecting eye glass From the sponge holder at the lower part of the
apparatus a hose is led to a hose-coupling fixed to a waist-band This hose
coupling consists of a girdle plate and a short length of pipe If the apparatus is
employed where there is no breathable air fresh air can be introduced from outside
by the hose pipe It may be observed that the sponge holder and the breathing
tube can be fixed direct to the cylinder so that the hose pipe is then inserted
between the breathing tube and the valve case The mouth piece of the apparatus
can be constructed in various ways According to one arrangement what is called
a lip mouth piece is adapted to lay closely around the mouth With this lip mouth

page_text: piece is connected a signal whistle the mouth piece of which can be conveniently
touched by the lips when a signal is to be given The whistle is surrounded by a
fixed sheet iron cylinder which carries at the top a short pipe directly over the holo
in the whistle The short pipe is closed airtight by a cover turning on a hinge
When a signal is given the cover is to be opened by hand such opening being
limited by a stop a spring closes the cover again automatically According to
another arrangement of the mouth pieco with a signal whistle the channel of the
lip mouth piece leads to the valve case and the signal whistle either projects
beyond the petition of the valve case whereby a given signal is heard better or it
may be arranged inside the valve case In the first case there is a short pipe
arranged on the front part similar to that abovo described According to another
construction of the mouth piece with a signal whistle an elastic noso bow is adapted
to lay saddlowise on the nose and is kept in place by straps fastened to lugs so as
to secure the position of the mouth pieco
For the protection of the eyes there are two apparatuses one of which is
constructed as follows:-A frame surrounding a glass or mica disc is passed air-
tight into a groove In a second groove there moves a double curved wire which
actuates sight tubes fixed to it in order to enable a good sight to be had of each
object The ends of the wire go through small stuffing boxes filled with glycerine
wadding whereby the entrance of smoke into this part is prevented To enable the
glass to be cleaned while in use there is placed close behind it a wiper covered
with wool or leather which when not required is placod in the middle between the
two glassos without obstructing the sight a handle is provided to move the said
wiper.
In the other apparatus the smoke glasses consist of two separate sight tubes
fitting close to to the oyes and which tubes are connected together by an elastic
band The glasses or plates of mica aro oither surrounded by and cemented to
the tubes or they are pushed into grooved frames Each frame is furnished with
a special wiping apparatus
For the completion of apparatus to be employed in burning places there are
specially constructed auxiliary apparatuses for the protection of the respiratory
organs from smoke dust hot air &c. In these apparatuses the construction of the
valves is the same as that of the beforementioned side respirators The mouth fits
close to the mouth piece and a suitablo part is fitted closely over the nose there is
an opening in the nose capsule towards the valve case The apparatus acts as
follows
.
On drawing in a breath the air enters through the holder the siove and through
the valve in the space in front of the lips mouth piece which opens towards the
mouth piece Thence the air goes to the mouth and noso The respired air passos
out through the outlet valve and a channel connected therewith Another apparatus
differs from that above described only in having a box placed in it filled with
suitable materials for moistening and cooling of dry or hot air or for the absorption
of noxious gases and vapours
The air has here on entering to pass through a
channel and a spaco which is filled with antiseptic filtering material
A similarly acting apparatus is adapted to the shape of the mouth and is furnished
with a lip mouth piece The outer partition has on each side a large opening
which is closed by a hinged cover Vertical walls furnished with holes enclose the
hollow space which is filled with the material beforementioned At the top is
fitted the respiring valve In this apparatus the breath only passes through the
partitions the air passes at inspiration through the sieve the antiseptic material
and the valve to the mouth at respiration it passes through the valve.
Another arrangement of apparatus is similar to that before described but instead
of being oval in form it is round It may here be observed that both apparatuses
can be furnished with nose caps according to another arrangement of apparatus
which protects the respiratory organs while in places where the air is specially
vitiated by a large quantity of dust Three large spaces serve to receive the air

page_text: cleaning material the holder filled with wet sponge is closed with a cover the air
enters in this apparatus through the three seive like doors fitted to the jackot goes
through the contents of the three spaces through the three sponge channels and
finally through the inspiring valve to the nose and mouth The outflow of the
respired air takes place in the same way as in one of the before described apparatusos
A channel conducts away the moisture which is separated from the wet sponge
and a slide serves for letting it out
In one arrangement of the lip mouth piece it is furnished direct with inspiring
& respiring valves This mouth piece can be connected with holders containing air
cleaning material in any suitable manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Lorentz Albert Groth in the Patent Office on the 26th January
1884.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH, K.G.V. Civil Engineer, and Managing Director of the
Universal Inventors and Patentees Financial Company Limited, 30 Finsbury
Pavement, London E.C. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING PERSONS
TO REMAIN WITHOUT DANGER IN ROOMS OR SPACES FILLED WITH SMOKE, DUST,
HOT OR VITIATED AIR OR OTHER SUCH LIKE UNBREATHABLE ATMOSPHERE
communication to me from abroad by B. Loeb Jun of Berlin in the German
Empire.
"
The object of the said apparatus is to enable persons to make a lengthened
stay in spaces or rooms in which breathing is made impossible by the presence
therein of dust, smoke, hot or vitiated air or other such like unbreathable
atmosphere.
The improvements consist of the following arrangements.
Fig. I of the drawings shows a front view of the new apparatus in combination
with a smoke cap which is placed over the head and fastened to the body.
Fig. 2, shows a corresponding longitudinal section. Elastic cross bands a effect
a close fit of the cap to the head. The adjustment of the apparatus to the face is
effected by straps which are fixed to the waist band
Fig. 3 shows the valve caso V of the apparatus having two eccentricly arranged
cylinders a &b which are connected to the smoke cap as shown in Fig. 2.
A mouthpiece m connects the inner chamber of one of the cylinders b with the
mouth of the person. At the bottom of this cylinder b are fitted inspiring valves
cc which only open inwards; on the cover are fitted the respiring valves & d
which only open outwards. The other cylinder a is closed at the upper end by
a screwed cover f so that the air breathed out through d d is forced to pass through
a wadding chamber g and a siove h; finally the air is discharged through holes i
formed in the side of the cylinder a. The object of the wadding chamber g is to
prevent the outside vitiated air from entering the interior of the valve case..
By means of a screw a breathing pipe p (Fig. 4) is screwed into the valve
case V, a tight joint being made by a leather ring . Concentric with the
breathing pipe p is arranged an inner cylinder m connected with it by flanges n
and o.
The annular space q thus produced is filled with a bad conductor of heat
in order to keep out the heat of the hottest room from the inner cylinder m.
In order to clean the air for broathing which passes through the inner cylinder m;
the latter is filled with suitable material such as Glycerine wadding, guaze, charcoal,
antiseptics and such like, and these are held by a sieve t. A bow-handle s is fitted
to the sievo t and serves for the easy handling thereof. The lower end of the
breathing tube p is screwed into a sponge holder u which is constructed of two
cylinders as shown in Fig. 37 the annular space thus formed is filled with bad
conductors of heat. This spongo holder u is closed at the bottom by a cover v
which has in its centre a hole w for the passage of the air. In the upper part of
the sponge holder u is fitted a sieve a¹ which is connected with the bottom d¹¹ of
the holder by several sieve cylinders x y z & 2¹.
The sponge holder is thus divided into separate spaces b & c which serve to
receive wet sponge while other free spaces & & & form channels for the passage
of the air. The sponge holder may also be made separately and placed in the
hollow space of u.

page_text: The air is cooled by the moist sponge & passes the sieve a¹ & the collecting
channel e¹ on its way to the breathing tube. When the air is specially fouled with
Binoke and the contents of the principal breathing tube (Fig. 4) loses its cleansing
action on the air flowing through, there are fixed two side respirators ff to the
smoke cap (Fig. 1). These side breathing tubes consist of a principal respirator
a valve case (Fig. 32 to 35) and a breathing tube with sponge bolder (Fig. 19 to 21).
The valve case of the side respirators is arranged as follows:
A cylinder a (Fig. 33) enters the front of the smoke cap at b and is screwed into
the breathing tube (Fig. 20). The other end of the cylinder a is closed with a
cover d (Fig. 20) which receives a mouth piece-m (Fig. 35). In the inside of the
cylinder a there is a partition c (Fig. 33 & 34) which has four inspiring valves l.
The respired air flows through a valve I (Fig. 33) the other side and in the middle
of the partition c, through a channel h and a box i filled with wadding which closes
the front of the sieve h.
: The wadding prevents the entrance of smoke &c. as shown in Fig 19 to 21.
The other parts of the side breathing tubes are constructed with their sponge
holders, like the principal breathing tubes in Fig 4 but without the small tubes
z & s'. There is also a secoud sieve ¹ arranged for the purpose of separating the
wadding, wood, charcoal, antiseptics & such like contained in the sieve k from the
collecting channel g¹.
The top of the smoke cap (Fig. 1. & 2.) is preferably. made pointed, as shown in
dotted lines so that any ashes dust or such like flying about are not allowed to lie
upon it but fall off. An apparatus for the same purpose as that above described
but without cap or hat may be arranged as shown in Fig. 4b & 22; the valve
caso m the breathing tube r the sponge holder v and in fact the parts in general
use arranged similarly to those connected with the smoke cap, but the valve case m
is furnished with a special moveable breathing apparatus. q for the nose. This
apparatus is fastened to the head by bands 8 & t¹ another band t serves to fasten
a protecting eye glass T. From the sponge holder at the lower part of the
apparatus a hose is led to a hose-coupling fixed to a waist band e". This hose-
coupling consists of a girdle-plate 21 and a short length of pipe if the apparatus
is employed where there is no breathablo air, fresh air can be introduced from
outside by the hose-pipe p¹. It may be observed that the sponge holder o¹ and
the breathing-tuber can be fixed direct to the cylinder so that the hose-pipe 2¹
is then inserted between the breathing-tuber and the valve case m. Fig. 22 shows
the apparatus to a larger scale.
The mouth-pieces of the apparatus can be constructed in various ways. Fig. 27,
28 & 38 show one of these arrangements in which is what is called a lip-mouth
piece & g¹¹ an extension of the same which is adapted to lay closely round the
mouth.
With g is connected a signal whistle "the mouth piece of which can be
conveniently touched by the lips when a signal is to be given. The whistle ¿" is
surrounded by a sheet iron cylinder kl fixed to gl which carries at the top a
short pipo (Fig. 27 & 28) directly over the hole in the whistle. This short
pipe is closed air tight by a cover pl turning on a hinge q". When a signal is
given the cover which is held closed by the spring m" is to be opened by hand;
such opening being limited by a stop n¹ and the spring mll closes the cover again
automatically.
According to another arrangement of the mouth pieco with a signal whistle
shown in figures 24, 25 & 36, the channel d' of the lip mouth piece leads to the
valve case and the signal whistle ell either projects beyond the partition to of the
valve case (as shown in dotted lines Fig. 25) whereby a given signal is heard
better, or it may be arranged inside the valve case. In the first case there is a
short pipe arranged on the front part similar to that shown at c in Fig. 27
and 28. Figure 41 shows another construction of the mouth piece with a signal
whistle i¹, an elastic nose-bow w¹ is adapted to lay saddlewise on the nose and is

page_text: kept in place by straps t¹¹ fig. 46 fastened to lugs v¹ so as to secure the position of
the mouth-picco.
For the protection of the eyes there are two apparatuses one of which is shown
in Fig. 31. 39, & 40, and the other in Fig. 26. 29 & 30.
The first is constructed as follows; A frame a surrounding a glass or mica
disc is passed airtight into a groove 811 (Fig. 40). In a second groove (11 there
moves a double curved wire o" (Fig. 39) which actuates sight tubes wll fixed to it
and moveable in the groove u" in order to enable a good view to bo had of every object.
The ends of the wire go through small stuffing boxes fitted with glycerine
wadding, whereby the entrance of smoke into this part is prevented. To enable
the glass to be cleaned while in use, there is placed close behind it a wiper y
(Fig. 39) covered with wool or leather, which when not required is placed in the
middle between the two glasses, without obstructing the sight, a handle 2111
(Fig. 39) is provided to move the said wiper.
In the other apparatus the smoke glasses or spectacles (Fig. 26, 29 and 30)
consist of two separato sight tubes w (Fig. 26) fitting close to the oyes, and
which tubes are connected together by an elastic band g (Fig. 29). The glasses or
plates of mica 2 are either surrounded by and cemented to the tubes or they aro
pushed into grooved frames similar to that shown in Fig. 39. Each frame. is
furnished with a special wiping apparatus shown in Fig. 39.
-
For the completion of apparatus to be employed in burning places there aro
specially constructed auxiliary apparatuses shown in Figs. 5 to 18 and 23 for the
protection of the respiratory organs from smoke, dust hot air &c. Figuro 5 is á
front view, and Fig. 6 a longitudinal section of such an apparatus. In these
apparatuses the construction of the valves is the same as that of the before-
mentioned sido respirators Fig. 19 to 21
The mouth fits close to the mouth piece t, and a collar o is fitted closely over
the nose, thero is an opening s in the nose-capsulo towards the valve case. The
apparatus acts as follows;
On drawing in a breath the air enters through the holder p the siever and
through the valve v in the space in front of the lip mouth piece which opens
towards the mouth piece, thence the air goos to the mouth and nose. The respired
air passes out through the outlet valve u and a channel t connected therewith.
Another apparatus shown in Fig. 7 & 8 differs from that above described only
in having a box z placed in it filled with suitable materials for moistening and
cooling of dry or hot air or for the absorption of noxious gases & vapours. Tho
air has here on entering to pass through a channels and a space A which is filled
with antiseptic filtering material
A similarly acting apparatus is shown in plan in Fig. 9 in front view in Fig. 11
and in section in Figs 10 & 12, it is adapted to tho shape of the mouth and is
furnished with a lip mouth picco i¹ (Fig. 12).
The outer partition o has on each side a large opening c' (Fig. 10) which is closed
by a hinged cover d. Vertical walls e¹ furnished with holes enclose the hollow
spaces (Fig. 10) which are filled with the material beforementioned. At the
top is fitted the respiring valve g' (Fig. 12). :
In this apparatus the breath only passes through the partitions tho air passes
at inspiration through the sieve d' the antiseptic inatorial în ≈≈ and the valves &
to the mouth, at respiration it passes through the valve g¹.
Another arrangement of apparatus shown in Fig. 17 & 18 is similar to that
before described but instead of being oval in form it is round. It may here be
observed that both apparatuses (Fig. 9 to 12 & 17 & 18) can be furnished with
nose-caps as shown in Fig. 5 & 7. Another arrangement of apparatus is shown
in Fig. 13 to 16 which protects the respiratory organs while in places where tho
air is specially vitiated by a large quantity of dust. The three large spaces o¹ in
Fig. 15 serve to receive the air cleaning material. The holder (Fig 15) filled
with wet sponge is closed with a cover p². Through the adjutage g¹ of the

page_text: cover p¹ (Fig. 16) the sponge bolder is passed into the position shown at ? pushed
into the middle cylindrical chamber the air channels a correspond with the middle
of the holder o¹.
The air enters in this apparatus through the three sieve like doors 8¹ (Fig. 15)
fitted to the jacket, goes through the contents of the three spaces of through the
three sponge channels a and finally through the inspiring valve to the nose &
mouth. The outflow of the respired air takes place in the same way as in the
apparatuses shown in Fig. 5 & 6. A channel x (Fig. 15) conducts away the
moisture which is separated from the wet sponge and a slide u' serves for letting
it out.
Fig 23 shows a lip mouth piece furnished direct with inspiring and respiring
valves &y. This mouthpiece can be connected with holders containing air
cleaning material in any suitable manner.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner in which
the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the forms of the apparatus shown in the drawings, but that
what I do claim in an apparatus for enabling persons to remain without danger in
rooms or spaces filled with smoke, dust, hot or vitiated air or other such like
unbreathable atmosphere is :
First. The arrangement of valve cases with inspiring & respiring valves as herein-
before described & illustrated in Fig. 3, 5. 10. 12. 18 and 32 to 35 of the
drawings.
Second. The arrangement of separate inspirations through the nose and mouth as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Fig. 5 & 7 of the drawings.
Third. The double ended pipes and channels, the annular hollow spaces of which
are filled with bad heat-conductors for, receiving the glycerino wadding
gauze, wood charcoal, antiseptics sponge & other air cleaning material as
hereinbefore described & illustrated in the drawings
Fourth. The arrangement of sponge chambers which can be inserted into or
connected with the apparatus as hereinbefore described & illustrated in
Fig. 4, 37, 7, 15, 10 and 20 of the drawings.
Fifth. The arrangement of signal whistles either inside or outside the valve case
and connected with the mouth piece of the apparatus as boreinbefore
described & illusustrated in Fig. 24. 25. 27. 28. 38 & 41 of the drawings.
Sixth. The combination of the mouth piece h" with its whistle g" as hereinbefore
described & illustrated in Fig. 38 of the drawings.
Seventh. The connection of a nose-bow w' with a mouth piece as herein before
described & illustrated in Fig. 41 of the drawings.
Eighth. The arrangements for receiving the air cleaning material as hereinbefore
described & illustrated in Figs. 6. 7. 10. 15 & 18 of the drawings.
Nineth. The direct connection of inspiring and respiring valves with lip mouth
pieces as herein before described & illustrated in Fig. 23 of the drawings.
Tenth. The construction of adjustable sight tubes and the arrangements of the
wiping apparatus y for the eyeglasses as herein before described &
illustrated in Fig 45 31. 39. 40 of the drawings.
Eleventh. The specially arranged wiping apparatus for the eye-glasses in smoke
spectacles as herein before described & illustrated in Fig. 26. 29. & 30 of
the drawings.
Twelvth. The smoke spectacles with eye glasses or mica plates sliding in a
grooved frame as hereinbefore described & illustrated in Fig. 26. 29. 30
of the drawings.
Thirteenth. The combination with the apparatus shown in Fig. 9. 12. 17 & 18, of
arrangements whereby breathing apparatuses can be connected for the
nose, as herein before described & illustrated in Fig. 6 & 16 of the

page_text: Fourteenth. An apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 4b & 22 for fire extinguishing
purposes & other similar objects, firstly with the individual parts arranged
as illustrated, & secondly so constructed that the respiration tubes &
the sponge holder o' are connected immediately with the short tube ¹ &
the hose pipe is adapted to the valve case; also the construction of
the metallic strap connecting piece z in combination with the short
Lube and the strap c" as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said Lorentz Albert Groth have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twonty sixth day of January in the year of Our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and oighty four.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH (L.S.)