IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING FIREMEN AND OTHERS TO ENTER SMOKE OR FOUL AIR
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Jenkins, of Devonport, in the County of Devon,
a Chief Boatswain in the Royal Navy, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING FIREMEN AND OTHERS TO ENTER SMOKE OR
FOUL AIR"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Jenkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January 1880.
RICHARD JENKINS, of Devonport, in the County of Devon, a Chief Boatswain in
the Royal Navy. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING FIREMEN AND
OTHERS TO ENTER SMOKE OR FOUL AIR."
My Invention has reference to apparatus for enabling firemen and others to enter
smoke or foul air, and will be readily understood from the following description,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, which are given by way of
illustration, and wherein Fig. 1' is an elevation of a jacket forming a covering for
the body, and of which the front and back are the same pattern or shape. 1 and 2
are gore pieces; 3 is a piece put on outside the front of the jacket, only so. as to
make two thicknesses; 4 is a hem on the outside of two thicknesses, with a drawing
string fitted between the two, secured at back, and rove through the eyelet holes
5, 6, for tying in front.
Fig. 2 is a collar of two thicknesses fitted with drawing strings, as shewn, for the
hem on the lower part of the jacket.
Fig. 3 represents one of the sleeves, 7 being a hem on the outside fitted with
drawing string, as in the case of the jacket.
Fig. 4 represents the shoulder pad forming a bearing for the lower part of the
helmet, and which is to be loosely padded with hair.
8, 8, are tapes for tying under the arms.
Fig. 5 is a cross section taken in the line A, B, of Fig. 4.
In conjunction with the jacket having a collar and sleeves, and shoulder pad, as
above described, I employ a helmet, which may be made of tin plates, the joints
being seamed together, and a small wire being provided around the rim of the
shoulder piece, which is soldered to the helmet. A brass connecting pipe is fitted
on the helmet, with a screw to attach the supply pipe. A diaphragm of the same
material as the helmet is fitted over the inner end of the supply pipe, on the inside
IPin 11

page_text: of the helmet. Air is supplied to the helmet through bellows arranged in a box
constructed to receive also the helmet and supply pipe.
Fig. 6 is a plan (cover off) of the box shewing the position of the bellows
when fixed, and also of the helmet and tubing when stowed.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of the box with the cover on shewing the position of the
bellows when fixed, and also of the helmet and tubing when stowed. 10 is the
helmet; 11 are the bellows; 12 is the box; 13 are bearings fitted on the sides of
the box to receive the ends of a bar for working the bellows. A piece of iron plate
to support the middle of the bellows is fitted across the box, and is secured to its
sides; the other side of the bellows is connected to the end of the box by screws
from the outer end of the box through a batten fixed on the inside and under the
middle board. The whole of the iron work is galvanised.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of part of the box shewing the position of the plate for
securing the middle board of the bellows
Fig. 9 is a full size view of the metal fitting for each end of the tubing with nut
for connecting to bellows and helmet, and
Fig. 10 is a section taken in the line C, D, of Fig. 9; 14, 14, is copper wire; 15
is a leather washer.
It will be obvious that in carrying out my Invention the details of construction
may be more or less modified, and it will be observed that by the arrangement
above described I am enabled to produce at a moderate cost a compact and very
portable apparatus whereby firemen and others may enter buildings on fire, or
places where there is foul air.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Richard Jenkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
July 1880.
RICHARD JENKINS, of Devonport, in the County of Devon, a Chief Boatswain in
the Royal Navy. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING FIREMEN AND
OTHERS TO ENTER SMOKE OR FOUL AIR."
My Invention has reference to apparatus for enabling firemen and others to enter
smoke or foul air, and embraces an improved construction of dress and helmet, as
also a novel combination of bellows with operating gear, and a box so arranged as
to form a supporting frame or stand for the bellows when the apparatus is in use,
and also to form a case for containing the bellows and other portions of the
combined apparatus so as to render the whole compact and easily portable when
not in use.
My Invention will be readily understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, of which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a
jacket forming a covering for the body, and of which the front and back are the
same pattern or shape. 1 and 2 are gore pieces; 3 is a piece put on outside the
front of the jacket, only so as to make two thicknesses; 4 is a hem on the outside,
of two thicknesses, with a drawing string 4* fitted between the two, secured at
back, and rove through the eyelet holes 5, 6, for tying in front.
Fig. 2 shews a collar of two thicknesses fitted with drawing string, as shewn
for the hem on the lower part of the jacket.
Fig. 3 represents one of the sleeves, 7 being a hem on the outside fitted with
drawing string, as in the case of the jacket.
Fig. 4 represents the shoulder pad forming a bearing for the lower part of the
helmet, and which is to be loosely padded with hair; 8, 8, are tapes for tying under
the arms.
Fig. 5 is a cross section taken in the line A, B, of Fig. 4.
In conjunction with the jacket having a collar and sleeves, and shoulder pad, as
above described, I employ a helmet which may be made of tin plates, the joints
being seamed together and a small wire being provided around the rim of the
shoulder piece, which piece is soldered to the helmet. A brass connecting pipe is
fitted on the helmet with a screw to attach the supply pipe. A diaphragm of the
same material as the helmet is fitted over the inner end of the supply pipe on the
inside of the helmet.
Referring to Sheet 2 of the Drawings, Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the helmet
(to a larger scale than Figs. 1 to 5); and Fig. 7, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 8 is
a plan of the lower rim or shoulder piece of the helmet; 16 is a face plate or lens
(shewn to a larger scale in elevation and section in Figs. 9 and 10) screwed into a
rim (Fig. 11) secured to the face of the helmet; Fig. 12 is a full size section (in the
line E, F, of Fig. 7) of the brass connecting pipe fitted to the helmet provided with
a screw to attach the supply pipe thereto; Fig. 13 is a full size view of the
diaphragm 17 for directing a current of fresh air supply to the top of the helmet ;
Fig. 14 is a section through G, H; Fig. 15, a section through I, K; and Fig. 16, a
section through L, M, of Fig. 13; 18 (Fig. 17) is an elevation of a slide or valve
fixed to the lower part of the helmet for the escape of foul air therefrom; Fig. 18,
a section of the same; 19 (Fig. 19) is wire gauze fixed on the inside of the hole of
the slide. Air is supplied to the helmet through bellows arranged in a box con-
structed to receive also the helmet dress and supply pipe; Fig. 20 is a full size
view of the metal fitting for each end of the air tubing with nut for connecting to
bellows and helmet; and Fig. 21 is a section taken in the line C, D, of Fig. 20;
14, 14, is copper wire; 15 is a leather washer; Fig. 22 is a plan (cover off) of
the box shewing the position of the bellows when fixed, and also of the helmet and
tubing when stowed.

page_text: for securing the middle board of the Dellows.
Fig. 25 (Sheet 3) is a side elevation of the bellows for supplying air to the
helmet; 20 is the bar for working the bellows through the rods 21, shewn in end
view, Fig. 26.
Fig. 27 is a plan.
Fig. 28 is a plan of the middle board of the bellows.
Fig. 29 is a section through N, O, and Fig. 30 a section through P, Q.
Fig. 31 is a section through R, S, and Fig. 32 a section through T, U, of
Fig. 28.
The bottom board of the bellows is fitted with a valve similar to that shown
in the middle board, Fig. 28.
Figs. 33 and 34 are two views of the handle for working the bellows.
It will be obvious that in carrying out my
struction may be more or less modified, and it
arrangement above described, I am enabled to
compact and very portable apparatus whereby
buildings on fire or places where there is foul air.
Invention the details of con-
will be observed that by the
produce at a moderate cost a
firemen and others may enter
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying it into practical effect, I hereby declare that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me under the Letters
Patent herein before in part recited is,
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the
Drawings for enabling firemen and others to enter smoke or foul air.
2. The combination, substantially as hereinabove described and illustrated, of
bellows, means for operating the same, and a box arranged to serve as a frame
for supporting the said bellows, and also to form a case for containing the same,
and the helmet, dress, and other appliances constituting a complete portable
apparatus for enabling firemen and others to enter smoke or foul air.
3. The improved dress and helmet, as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Jenkins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
RICHARD JENKINS. (L.S.)