Year: 1887

page_text: 1 LIZZIE ANNA WALKER of Poplar Cottage, Oulton, Leeds in the County of York
do hereby declare the said invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention is designed with the object of providing better security against fire
in theatres and other structures and means for quickly and readily extinguishing fire
when such occurs.
In carrying out the invention I propose to place main water carrying pipes
through the building as is now customary in many large and public buildings, but.
instead of merely coupling to such pipes a hose through the nozzle of which the
water supply is to be directed I will connect with each water carrying pipe one or
more perforated pipes which will conduct the water and deliver a spray over a
portion of the room or building within its range, acting thus much more quickly
to extinguish fire than is at present the case when a hose has to be connected and
carried to the seat of the fire. Such perforated pipes may be carried round
the side walls or across the ceiling and in large rooms or buildings a trellis work
of perforated pipes may be placed over the ceiling to give a copious discharge
when required.
For theatres the main water supply pipe should be connected to the front centre
of the stage and from it four or more pipes branch to different parts of the house.
At the junction of each of these with the main I place a suitable stop valve or cock
for each or a fourway valve by means of which all the pipes may be controlled.
One set of pipes I carry from the main along the front of the stage and up each
side across the top of the proscenium. These are formed of curved perforated pipes
and from them a spray of water may be thrown over the front of the auditoriumi and
stage either of this set of pipes are formed into a trellis work or otherwise arranged to
traverse the space above the scenery so that water can be quickly thrown into this
very inflammable part. Should fire break out on the stage or among its accessories

page_text: the turning of the water on through these would allay the fears of the audience as to
danger and prevent panic. A second and third set of pipes I carry from the main
central pipe, one to the right and the other to the left round each of the tiers of seats.
The perforated portion of these pipes are preferably placed round the back of the
ceiling so that water may be simultaneously thrown from them over the seats and
down the walls. In addition to pipes round the ceilings one may be placed round the
edge of the top tier or gallery, the water falling from which would form a curtain of
water in front of each tier or circle, or a similar pipe may be placed round each tier
or circle.
A fourth set of pipes I carry to the passages and stairways with a perforated pipe
running along each. I prefer to make each set of pipes equal to the main so that
the whole force of water may be concentrated on any particular-part of the building
if desired and to place the valves in such position that they may be easily operated
and a view of the whole house obtained, for this purpose a small fire proof box might
be placed below the stage behind the orchestra or in any other suitable position where
an attendant could be placed so that he could be communicated with from either side
of the building.
In order to do as little damage as possible to the structure of the building with
the water thrown upon it I provide drainage or overflow pipes leading to a cistern
where the water will collect and may be discharged at pleasure. This might be
placed beneath the orchestra and an open iron grating either there or in front of
the pit would allow the water to run off. Pipes with open gratings running along
the front of the tiers or circles may be placed to carry away the water from there to
the cistern or drain. The passages should be drained in a similar way and perforated
indiarubber matting may be used to cover the open iron grating. The cistern may be
provided with any suitable valve to empty it such as a cover with suitable seating which
can be drawn across or removed, from the outlet by means of a chain passing over a
drum or pulley. The several sets of pipes should each be provided with drain taps or
cocks to free them from water after use.
It is obvious that this invention may be applied to factories public buildings,
ships and other structures the arrangement of the pipes being modified so as to suit
each having separate sets of pipes for staircase and for each story and a trellis
work across the ceiling when deemed necessary.
Overflow or drainage pipes may be arranged so that water from the upper tier
or story may run into the pipe of the next and so on until the bottom level is
reached.
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page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Extinguishing of Fire in
Theatres, Mills, or other Structures.
I, LIZZIE ANNA WALKER, of Poplar Cottage, Oulton, Leeds, in the County of
York, 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 :-
This invention is designed with the object of providing better security against
fire in theatres and other structures, and means for quickly and readily extinguishing
fire when such occures.
In carrying out the invention I propose to place main water carrying pipcs
through the building as is now customary in many large and public buildings but
instead of merely coupling to such pipes a hose through the nozzle of which the
water supply is to be directed I will connect with each water carrying pipe one or
more perforated pipes which will conduct the water and deliver a spray over a
portion of the room or building within its range, acting thus much more quickly to
extinguish fire than is at present the case when a hose has to be connected and
carried to the seat of the fire. Such perforated pipes may be carried round the side
walls or across the ceiling and in large rooms or buildings a trellis work of per-
forated pipes may be placed over the ceiling to give a copious discharge when
required.
Referring to the annexed drawings which show the invention as designed for and
applied to a theatre.
Fig. 1, is an elevation looking towards the stage showing the position of the water
distributing pipes as they rise from the valves.
Fig. 2, is a plan showing the position of the pipes as arranged over the house.
A, is the main water supply pipe which is conducted to an open or central position
preferably as shown, to a position in front of the centre of the stage. It is there
connected by suitable valves to a number of branch pipes, B, C, D, E, F, which run
to different parts of the house.
Instead of the separate valves G, H, I, J, to connect, the branch pipes with the main
a single four-way valve may be used by means of which all the pipes may be controlled
but the arrangement shown is at present preferred.
The set of pipes B, C, are carried from the main in front of the stage and at each
side of the procenium to the top. From the upright pipes is carried a perforated
pipe along the top of and down each side of the procenium and from these a spray
of water will be thrown over the front of the stage and auditorium, the water forming
a curtain of spray between the stage and the body of the house. To the top of the

page_text: pipes B, C, is connected a number of pipes c forming a trellis work, or they may be
arranged in gridiron form or otherwise, above the scenery so that water can be
quickly thrown into this very inflammable part. Should fire break out on the stage
or among its accessories the turning of the water on through these would allay the
fears of the audience as to danger and prevent panic.
The pipes D, E, are carried from the main pipe A up each side of the house and
have connected to them a number of perforated pipes d, e, which pass round the back
of the pit and the several galleries or tiers of seats. The pipes d pass half way
round the house in one direction and the pipes e half way round in the other
direction meeting at the back. The perforated pipes d and. e are preferably placed
round the back of the several ceilings so that water may be simultaneously thrown
from them over the seats and down the walls. In addition to the pipes d and e
round the ceilings at the back perforated pipes and e¹ may be placed round the
edge of the top tier or gallery, the water falling from which would form a curtain of
water in front of each tier or circle, and similar pipes may also be placed round each
tier or circle.
The pipe F leads to the passages and stairways and to it is connected a perforated
pipe running along each which will direct a spray of water, over the walls and floor
to keep them cool and prevent fire spreading in case of necessity.
Each set of pipes may be made equal to the main so that if desired the full
quantity of water may be concentrated in one place. But where there is a large
supply of water the main may be equal in size to two or three sets of the pipes.
The valves are placed in a position where they will be easily operated and from
which can be seen where the supply of water should be directed, for theatres the
position indicated in the drawings will be found a good one.
In order to do as little damage as possible to the structure of the building by the
water thrown upon it from the pipes, drainage or overflow pipes may be provided
either leading to a central cistern where the water will collect, or to the street drains.
If a collecting cistern is used it may be placed beneath the orchestra. Pipes with
open gratings running along the front of the tiers or circles may be placed to carry
away the water from there to the cistern or drain. The passages may be drained in
a similar way and perforated indiarubber matting may be used to cover the open iron
grating.
The several sets of water pipes are provided with taps K to drain the water from
them after use.
When applying this invention to other structures such as factories, warehouses,
public buildings, churches, and the like the pipes will be carried and arranged after
the manner herein before described. The valves which connect them with the main
will be placed in some central or convenient position, not necessarily inside the
structure, and the several sets of pipes carried therefrom to the different rooms or
parts of the structure each supplied with a single perforated pipe, or perforated
pipes arranged in trellis work or otherwise to discharge water over the required
portion of the structure. Pipes across the ceilings of very large rooms and around
the walls of smaller rooms would I consider be the best arrangement. The pipes
will be carried so as to suit the construction of each building with separate ones
leading to each.story and to the staircases.
As herein before described with reference to theatres, over-flow or drainage pipes
may be arranged to carry the water away and deliver it into a cistern or into the
drains.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a theatre, mill, or other structure, the arrangement or combination of water
pipes for the extinguishing of fire hereindescribed, which consists, of a main water
pipe connecting in a central or easily accessible position by means of valve or valves

page_text: with a series of sets of pipes each pipe separately controlled and leading to a distinct
part of the structure and having a perforated pipe placed in position where the water
is to be discharged, through which when the water is turned on it is discharged onto
the desired portion of the structure substantially as described.
2. In a theatre mill or other structure the arrangement of a series of pipes
separately controlled for the extinguishing of fire, each pipe leading to a different
storey or part of the structure and perforated for a portion of its length at the place
where the water is to be discharged substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 18th day of June 1888.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.