IMPROVEMENTS IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS THEREFOR."
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Duncan Mac Iver Campbell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th July 1878.
DUNCAN MAC IVER CAMPBELL, of Asknish, and Loch Gair House, in the County
of Argyll.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR
MEANS THEREFOR."
The said Invention has for its object to more rapidly effect the extinguishing of
fire, and to prevent the injury to property which is caused by the present system
of extinguishing fire, by the forcible projection thereon of large volumes of water.
The said Invention is applicable to the extinguishing of fires which may occur in
ships, houses, and buildings generally.
According to the said Invention a tank or chamber is fixed upon the roof of the
building or other structure, or in other elevated position, as far above the level of
the highest apartment thereof as is practicable. A pipe or pipes is or are attached
to the said tank or chamber, descending therefrom to a convenient position for the
attachment of the hose of a fire engine, or other water pumping apparatus; and also
attached to the said vessel are pipes leading therefrom to receptacles or shallow
chambers which I call "jet vases," they being pierced with small holes in their
under sides, and fixed in the ceiling or upper part of each apartment of the
building. The holes in the said "jet vases are preferably fitted with perforated
nipples, the perforations of the said nipples being of different sizes, and being
inclined in various directions the one from the other. The pipes which lead from
the tank on the roof to the said "jet vases" in each apartment are provided at or
near the said tank or in other convenient position with cocks or taps.
In using the aforesaid apparatus for extinguishing fire, the hose of a fire-engine
or other water pumping apparatus is attached to the first-mentioned pipes, and
water is pumped into the tank on the roof, from which tank the said water may be
caused to flow by gravity to any particular apartment or apartments by opening
the cock or cocks upon those pipes which lead to the "jet vases" in the ceiling of
the apartments into which it is desired to admit the water, and the water will
descend from the said tank to the said “jet vases," and will be dispersed therefrom

page_text: in a fine state of division over the whole of the apartment, the nozzles of the said
"jet vases" being so arranged as to effect this dispersing of the water.
In place of leading to a "jet vase" in the ceiling, the pipes from the tank may
lead to nozzles or to chambers provided with nozzles, arranged around the cornice
of the apartment, or in other convenient position. The cocks upon the pipes from
the tank to the "jet. vases "will be numbered to indicate with which apartment
cach particular pipe communicates.
The said apparatus is applicable also to ships or other vessels, the tank being
placed on the bulwarks or in other position, which will give the necessary elevation.
The piping employed with this apparatus not being used except on t the occurrence of
a fire, and therefore not being subjected to much wear may be of a light and
inexpensive character.
By the use of this Invention the water is distributed in a manner which is best
calculated to extinguish fire, and property is not liable to injury from the force of
the projection of a body of water as obtains under the existing practice.