IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR DIS- CHARGING CHEMICALLY CHARGED LIQUIDS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE
Year: 1884

page_text: We JAMES SINCLAIR of 104 Leadenhall Street in the City of London Merchant
and JOHN COTTRELL of the Royal Institution of Great Britain Albemarle Street
Piccadilly in the County of Middlesex Physicist do hereby declare the nature of
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR DIS-
CHARGING CHEMICALLY CHARGED LIQUIDS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR EXTINGUISHING
FIRE" to be as follows:-
Our said invention relates to apparatus or engines of that class termed chemical
fire engines, and comprises various improvements as hereinafter specified. The
said improvements are applicable in 'the construction of new apparatus ór engines
and also for the conversion of ordinary steam or manual fire engines into chemical
fire engines. The most important feature of our said invention is the provision for
discharging chemically charged 'liquids from the apparatus or engine in separate jets
or streams which can be directed to the same point and will there combine and
generate the gas or gases which extinguish the fire.
..
The said improvements comprise various arrangements whereby the engine can
discharge two separate streams of liquid at the same time; It also comprises
a delivery hose specially constructed of india-rubber, lived outside with canvas; and
divided throughout its entire length by an india rubber or other suitable partition.
Also hose composed of two distinct tubes manufactured in one piece placed side by
side and connected by webbing or canvas; the two tubes being of such size that
together they form a 'hose which need not be larger in diameter than the single
hose now in use by fire brigades. It also comprises a delivery or discharging
device which combines two or more distinct nozzles, roses, or êpreaders placed side
by side and connected to each other. Also the provision of means for the adjustment
of this device for the purpose of varying the distance apart of the jet orifices.
The said invention also comprises a flexible tank formed of canvas or other
suitable material, divided into separate parts by a partition of such material. The
said tank is provided with a folding iron frame to ensure the maintenance of its
proper shape.
The said invention also comprises an automatic feeding apparatus for supplying
the divided tank with chemicals; also a stand pipe with branching arms having
means for its ready connection with a street main and provided with a stop valvo.
The said invention also comprises other novel features hereinafter specified.

page_text: In one form of our apparatus it has two cylinders each of which is divided into
separate chambers by partitions extending about half way through the cylinders;
the upper part thereof being undivided.
Between the two cylinders is an air vessel which' is divided into separate air
chambers by a partition. The said cylinders are connected to each other; to the 5
air chambers; and to the suction pipes by suitable tubes-Valves are arranged to
open into the cylinders and into the air chambers. In each air chamber is inserted
a tube which extends outwards from the same. These tubes are separate from each
other and their ends are provided with' suitable devices for attachment to the
aforesaid divided or double hose.
The plungers or pistons of the said cylinders are connected to the ends of a beam
or to cranks in the usual manner.
The aforesaid double delivery nozzle may have the tubes connected by metal
pieces and the ends fitted with screw caps arranged to turn freely on a shoulder for
attachment to the double or divided hose The orifices of the nozzle are separated
from each other and properly arranged to permit the discharge of the separate
streams as above specified.
In some instances we connect the double delivery nozzle to the divided or double
hose by a single screw cap. The two distinct nozzles are in this case united by
a metal piece. The connecting end of the nozzle has a shoulder provided with pins.
Over the shoulder is placed a screw cap which carries a leather washer. The face
of the metal piece is also provided with a similar washer. The divided or double
hose has a metal screw piece in-which are two holes. In connecting the nozzle to
the hose, the pins are placed in these holes and the cap is screwed down to bring
the leather or other washers against the metal surfaces.
: The double delivery nozzle provided with means for adjustment, for varying the
distance apart of the orifices of the jets has its two parts connected to the divided
hose as before described. The two parts or nozzles are jointed or hinged together
and the adjustment is effected by a screw or other convenient means.
The aforesaid flexible divided tank has its folding metal frame provided with
rings for the reception of the legs of the automatic feeding apparatus which is
constructed as follows viz the said apparatus has a light metal frame, which
is capable of being folded; at its lower part this metal frame is extended so as to
form four legs. In its upper part are two cylinders preferably formed of canvas.
Attached to these cylinders are two cones of light sheet metal. The said cylinders
are open at the top for the reception of the chemicals and the cones are open at the
bottom. The conical ends are held firmly by bars attached to the iron frame.
Two slides are attached to rods or bars which can be moved under the open
ends of the cones, thereby opening or closing them; By the movement of a lever
and rod the slides can be caused to open and close the cones, when the engine is in
action for the purpose hereinafter stated.
The metal frame can be quickly erected or taken down and folded in a small
space in a few seconds. The flexible cylinders fold into the metal cones. Thus the
space occupied by the whole apparatus when closed is very slight.
In using this apparatus as a fire brigade engine the divided tank is placed near
the aforesaid stand pipe the latter having been attached to the street main. The
branching arms of the stand pipe are so placed over the tank that water will be
thereby supplied to both divisions of the tank.
The suction pipes leading from the engine are placed one in each division of the
tank.
it
The aforesaid automatic feed apparatus is then placed over the tank its four legs
being dropped into the rings at the corners of the tank frame. The cones are thus
brought in proper relation to the divisions of the tank and in commencing to work
the cones are closed by their. slides. The slide lever is connected to the engine by
its.rod.
Into one of the cylinders of the automatic feeder is placed an alkali. Into the
other cylinder is placed an acid. These acids and alkalies may be supplied either
01:
]

page_text: in a dry or wet condition and it will be understood that we may use any chemicals
that are suitable for use in chemical fire engines.
The two divisions of the tank are then nearly filled with water the quantity
being regulated by the stop valve in the stand pipe.
The divided or double hose is connected to the double attachment device on the
air vessel and the double nozzle is connected to the said hose. The engine is then
ready to be started.
The acid and alkali in the air chambers pass through their respective tubes,
through the divided or double hose and nozzle and are discharged in separate
streams converging to one point in the fire. When they meet in the fire, chemical
combination takes place and an enormous volume of the fire-extinguishing products
will be generated in the very heart of the fire.
Instead of constructing the pump cylinders, and air vessel with partitions as
above described we may use separate pumps either in combination with the
above described air vessel or with separate air vessels for keeping the acid and
alkali separate from each other before discharging the liquids through the divided
or double hose and nozzle.
The invention may be embodied in a hand pump constructed as follows viz
a cylindrical or other shaped vessel has arranged within it a pump cylinder.
The rod of the plunger of this pump extends through the said vessel and is
connected to a handle or lever. Metal partitions divide the said vessel into two
parts. The pump cylinder is also divided for about half its length into two parts
the upper part in which the plunger works, being undivided as in the engine or
pump first herein described.
Below the pump cylinder are two air chambers from each of which a tube
extends these tubes being placed together and attached to a double or divided hose.
and double nozzle as above described.
Acid and alkali each separately dissolved in water are placed one in each division:
of the divided cylinder. When the pump is worked an aqueous solution of Acid is.
drawn into one division of the cylinder through a valve and an aqueous solution of
alkali is drawn into the other division through another valve and on the descent of,
the plunger the contents of these cylinders are discharged through the divided tube
and nozzle separately into the fire where they combine with the result above
stated.
This part of my invention may be modified to be used as a hydrant on the roof.
or other part of a building. In this case the divided tank and other parts should
be formed of or lined with acid proof material and provided with screw valves in
combination with the divided or double hose and nozzles.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: We, JAMES SINCLAIR, of 104 Leadenhall Street, London, Merchant, and JOHN
COTTRELL, the Royal Institution of Great Britain, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, in.
the County of Middlesex, Physicist, do hereby declare the nature of our inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING
CHEMICALLY-CHARGED LIQUIDS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE,"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"
Our invention relates to apparatus for extinguishing fire by means of a gas or
gases generated by the combination of two chemically charged liquids, and com-
prises various improvements, which are applicable in the construction of new
apparatus or engines and also to existing apparatus of that class termed chemical
fire-engines.
Heretofore it has been customary to so construct such fire-engines that the
chemically-charged liquids are combined in the air-vessel and then forced through
the delivery-hose. The gas or gases required for extinguishing the fire
are, there-
forc, generated in the said air-vessel or in the hose, and expand as soon as they.
are discharged into the atmosphere; they thus become dispersed before they reach.
the fire.
The most important feature of our present invention is the provision for dis->
charging the chemically-charged liquids from the apparatus or engine in separate
jets or streams, which are directed to the same point and will there combine and
generate the gas or gases which extinguish the fire.
We prefer to employ an acid and an alkali for the purpose of our invention; but
it will be understood that we may use any other suitable chemicals.
Our improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a chemical fire-engine con-
structed according to our invention.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 4 a plan, partly in horizontal section, illustrating a modification of our
invention.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section,
Figure 5ª an end elevation, and
Figure 6 a transverse section, shewing another modification thereof.
Figure 7 is a central vertical section, and
Figure 8 a horizontal section, shewing a further modification of our invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a, b, are two tanks for containing the acid and alkaline solutions. c, c¹ are the
pumps, and d, d¹ are the delivery-pipes of the said pumps. These parts are con-
structed and arranged upon a suitable carriage in the ordinary manner,

page_text: Instead of using the ordinary air-vessel in which the chemicals are combined
before they are forced through the delivery-hose, we employ an air-vessel divided
into two compartiments and connected either with two separate delivery hose or
with a divided or double delivery hose, so that the engine can discharge two
separate streams of liquid simultaneously, viz:-One stream of acid solution and
one stream of alkaline solution; or in place of the divided air-vessel and double
delivery hose, we employ separate sets of air-vessels and hose, one for the alkali and
one for the acid.
In Figures 1 and 2, e indicates the air-vessel, which is divided into two chambers
or compartments 61, e2, by the partition e³. Each of these chambers is connected
with one of the pipes d, d' and with a pipe for f¹ extending from it to, and
through, the plate g of the said carriage. Delivery-hose h, h¹ are attached to these
pipes by ordinary unions or couplings, and are placed together and secured by
webbing or canvas or in any other convenient manner. They are, moreover,
provided with nozzles i, ¹ (or with roses or spreaders), which are capable of
adjustment, to vary their relative position, by the following means, that is to say,
the two nozzles i, i¹ are jointed or hinged together at 2 and are connected by a
right and left hand screw j¹; by turning this screw in one direction or the other,
the orifices of the said nozzles can be caused to approach, or recedo from, one
"another. By these means, we are enabled to regulate or determine the point at
which the two jets or streams meet and combine. We sometimes, however, provide
other convenient means for effecting this adjustment.
Instead of using a single air-vessel formed or provided with a partition as above
described, we sometimes use a separate air-vessel in combination with each pump,
as shewn at e, e³ in Figures 3 and 4. In these figures, moreover, we have shown
a separato hose connected with each air-vessel, the nozzles of the two hose being
secured together by means of metal rods or pieces k. In this case, one set of the
pumps, air-vessels and hose serves for the acid and the other set thereof for the
alkaline solution.
In some instances, we employ a divided delivery hose h² as shewn in Figures
5 and 6. This hose is made with a longitudinal partition h³ of india-rubber or
other suitable material. Two distinct nozzles i, i¹ are, in this case, cast in one
piece with a disc or plate and are connected with the divided hose h² by a single
union or coupling nut m. The disc or plate is provided with two pins or studs l¹
to enter corresponding holes in the metal screw-piece n at the end of the divided
hose h. In connecting the nozzles to the hose, a washer o is placed between the
disc or plate and the metal piece n, and the coupling nut m is tightened to squeeze
the said washer between the metal surfaces. The divided hose is connected with
the air-vessel by a similar device to that just described.
We, in some cases, use a single nozzle divided longitudinally by a metal partition
formed integrally therewith, or fixed in any suitable manner.
The operation of the above described fire-engine is as follows, that is to say, the
tanks a, b are connected with a water-main or other suitable source of supply; an
acid is put into one tank and an alkali into the other tank, by hand or otherwise,
in suitable quantities as required. The pumps being started, draw the acid and
alkaline solutions from the tanks a, b and force then through the air-chamber or
air-chambers into, and through, their respective pipes fand f¹ and through the
double hose and nozzles, so that they are discharged in separate streams converging
to one point in the fire or burning building. When they meet in the fire, chemical
combination takes place and an enormous volume of the fire-extinguishing products
will be generated in the very heart of the fire.
Instead of using pumps for simultaneously discharging the acid and alkaline
solutions through our divided or double hose and nozzles, we sometimes use
compressed air for this purpose. In the apparatus shewn in Figures 7 and 8, p is a
cylindrical vessel, which is divided into two chambers or compartments a², b¹ by a
partition p¹. In one of these chambers is placed the acid solution and in the other
chamber is placed the alkaline solution. Upon the upper part of the vessel p is

page_text: t
7. 4. 2
screwed a 'splierical receptacle 'g, which is filled in any suitable manner with
compressed air. To the lower portion of the vessel p is attached a doublé stop-cock r
and to this 'stop-cock are coupled the hose h
.
When the 'apparatus is required for use, the tap, 's between the air-chamber q'and
the cylindrical vessel p is 'opened, so that the pressure of the air is exerted upon
the surface of the liquids in the chambers a¹, b'.'
'On opening the double stop-cock r, these liquids are 'discharged separately
through the double hose into the fire, where they meet and combine as above
'explained.
.1
invention is conveniently and advantageously embodied in a hand-pump as
follows, viz:A cylindrical or other shaped vessel is divided into two parts by a
partition and has a pump arranged within each of its divisions or compartments.
These pumps are connected 'with a divided air-cliamber 'as 'above described, and
their plunger-rods extend 'through the said vessel and are connected to a handle or
lever. If desired, each pump is connected with a 'separate air-chamber. Each 'of
these air-chambers, or each compartment of the 'divided air-chamber, is connected
with a separate hose 'or with a separate compartment or passage of a divided hose.
Our invention may be modified for use in a building, by employing two tanks or
a divided tank formed of, or lined with, acid-proof material and provided with
screw-valves in combination with the divided or double hose and nozzles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I déclare 'that what
I claim is
First. An apparatus or engine constructed to contain separately two chemically-
charged liquids and to deliver or discharge them 'in separate streams directed to
the same point, at which they will combine and generate gas or vapour, for the
purposes specified.
Second. The combination of two nozzles, roses or spreaders (with or without
means for adjusting them) so relatively arranged and connected that they can be
used to direct two streams of liquid to the same point, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
Third. The divided or double hose formed of india-rubber or other suitable
material and provided with two distinct nozzles or with a single nozzle divided
longitudinally into two parts, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with the pumps, of a divided air-vessel and two a
distinct hose, or a single divided hose, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Fifth. The modification of our invention wherein we provide for the simultaneous
discharge of the two liquids by means of compressed air, substantially as described
with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1885.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicants.