An Improved Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
I, ANTOINE LOUIS EUGÈNE LECHARTIER, of 97, Rue de la Pompe, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Insurance Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a fire extinguishing apparatus which is of extremely
simple construction reliable and easily charged.
The apparatus comprises a reservoir of cylindrical or other suitable form
intended to hold water and salts such as bi-carbonate of soda or chloride of sodium
and a glass vessel for containing an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, a tube
extending down to the bottom of the reservoir and passing through a stuffing box
fixed at the top and in the axis of the aforesaid reservoir the said tube extending
outside the reservoir and a kind of piston working in the stuffing box and adapted
when raised to close the passage in the tube, and capable, when forced inwards of
breaking the glass acid-vessel placed beneath it, and at the same moment opening
the tube, in such a way that the apparatus is instantly put under pressure and in
action.
The acid-vessel is so arranged that it allows of the removal of the fragments of
glass resulting from a previous action, and the subsequent insertion of a fresh
charge. The apparatus will thus last indefinitely, it is only necessary to be
provided with the required salt, and reserve charges of acid, which take up little
room, in order to attain the absolute certainty of being able to combat successfully
against any outbreak of fire, and even against large fires.
Deted the 6th der of July 1802
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
I, ANTOINE LOUIS EUGÈNE LECHARTIER, of 97, Rue de la Pompe, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Insurance Agent, 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:-
My invention relates to a fire-extinguishing apparatus which is of extremely
simple construction reliable and easily charged.
The apparatus comprises a reservoir of cylindrical or other suitable form
intended to hold water and salts such as bi-carbonate of soda or chloride of sodium
and a glass vessel for containing an acid, such as hydro-chloric acid, a tube
extending down to the bottom of the reservoir and passing through a stuffing-box
fixed at the top and in the axis of the aforesaid reservoir, the said tube extending
outside the reservoir and a kind of piston working in the stuffing-box and adapted
when raised to close the passage in the tube, and capable, when forced inwards of
breaking the glass acid-vessel placed beneath it, and at the same moment opening
the tube, in such a way that the apparatus is instantly put under pressure and in
action

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The acid-vessel is so arranged that it allows of the removal of the fragments of
glass resulting from a previous action, and the subsequent insertion of a fresh
charge. The apparatus will thus last indefinitely, it is only necessary to be
provided with the required salt, and reserve charges of acid, which take up little
room, in order to attain the absolute certainty of being able to combat successfully
against any outbreak of fire, and even against large fires.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a fire-extinguishing apparatus constructed
according to my invention, the apparatus being supposed to be charged:
Figure 2 is a similar view of part of the apparatus which is supposed to be in
action.
Figure 3 represents a key (hereinafter described) in elevation and longitudinal
section :
Figure 4 shews a sectional view of the stuffing-box with the tube which
traverses it :
Figure 5 is a horizontal section along the axis of the tube shewn in Figure 4:
Figure 6 shews detail views of the stopper which closes the principal reservoir,
and supports one end of the acid-vessel:
Figure 7 shews detail views of the top of the stuffing-box:
Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the forms of my fire-extinguishing-
apparatus which I prefer, the apparatus being in the position it occupies when
suspended from a post or the like; and,
Figure 9 is a vertical section of such apparatus ready to be put in action.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
I will first describe my invention by reference to Figures 1 to 6.
The apparatus is constructed of the reservoir a preferably of a cylindrical form
though this is not essential. This reservoir is hermetically closed above and below
by the ends b and c.
In the reservoir a is fixed the tube f, f¹ made up of an immersed portion f
reaching to the bottom 6 and a horizontal part 1, both of these ending in the
brass piece which is soldered to the end c. This piece forms the case of a
double stuffing-box formed by a movable socket or lining e introduced into the
case and resting upon a leather washer placed upon its bottom h³, a plug or
stopper being screwed into the box and pressing a leather washer upon the
socket or lining e. In the lining is placed the piston g the rod 92 of which
passes through the washer and plug i and then has the plug g' screwed to it.
It will be seen from the figures in the drawing that the socket e provided with
holes e¹, e corresponding to the tubes f, f' is marked with relation to these
tubes by means of a vertical groove e³ into which projects the end of the
tube f¹ to the extent of about a millimetre, that is to say to the depth of the
groove. It will also be seen that in the hole e continuous with the tube f I
fit a leather washer et against which the piston 9 comes to press in such a way
as to make on this side an absolutely tight joint. The piston 9 ends below in
a point which, when the apparatus is ready for use (Figure 1) stands a short
distance away from the acid-vessel d.
The acid-vessel d is made of glass, and is placed horizontally in the reservoir a,
one of its ends resting in a socket d¹ soldered to the wall of the reservoir and
the other in a cylindrical socket m soldered to the bottom of a plug d², which
plug is screwed on to a ring 1 soldered to the reservoir a. A leather washer
interposed between the edge of the ring and the bottom of the plug d² ensures
a perfectly tight joint.
In order to avoid shifting of the glass vessel d, the socket m, of the plug d
is furnished with spring-clips m¹ which grip the end of the vessel and prevent
it from shifting' in any direction. On the opposite side the other socket d¹
carries clips d³ which are intended merely to guide the end of the vessel when
it is desired to insert it in the socket d¹.

page_text: The screwing up and unscrewing of the plug d² are effected by means of a
key k having an annular head, the internal diameter of which is slightly greater
than the external diameter of the plug a³, two notches dare cut at diametrically
opposed points on the milled edge of the plug, and two projections or teeth are
left on the inside of the annular head of the key in such a position that these
teeth engage with the notches d on the plug and establish a firm hold for the
key, the tightening and release being thus very easily effected.
When the key k is not in use it may be placed alongside the reservoir a, as
shewn in Figure 1.
The other end of the key k ends in two branches k', k² which are intended
for the tightening and release of the plug i of the stuffing-box, this plug being
notched in a corresponding manner, as shewn in Figure 7.
Method of action. Supposing the glass-vessel d filled with hydrochloric acid,
for instance, has been put in place, the reservoir a filled with water and salts
(bicarbonate of ammonia or chloride of sodium) and the double stuffing-box having
the piston raised to the top of its stroke, the apparatus is ready for action
(Figure 1). In this condition the extinguishing apparatus may be transported
to a distance, and kept without fear of leakage or breakage. To guard against
accidents, the piston g is kept in place by means of a wedge or prop 9* inserted
and fixed between the top of the plug i and the bottom of the plug gl. The
end of the tube f¹ may also be covered by a suitable cap or hood which will
prevent accidental leakage.
In order to make use of the extinctor, the wedge 9 and the cap of the
tube flare removed, the plug g' is then struck and this breaks the acid-vessel d.
Immediately thereupon, chemical action begins and the pressure inside attains
its maximum almost immediately. The extinguishing jet issues from the nozzle f
immediately, and it is only necessary to direct this jet on to the seat of the fire,
in order to ensure a prompt and successful result.
After use, the splinters and pieces of glass are easily removed through the
opening left when the plug d2 is unscrewed.
The charged extinctor may be kept at any required point, and may also be
suspended by hanging it up by means of a ring ; on the upper part of the
reservoir a.
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the form of my fire extinguishing apparatus which
I prefer to employ. Its construction is substantially the same as that of the
apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 but the method of using the apparatus
is somewhat different; this consists in taking the extinctor by the handle and
striking it, by a downward movement, on a hard surface so that the plug g
may receive a blow; the rod g³ of the piston y is thereby forced upwards and
its point breaks the acid-vessel d.
P
This method of operating has the advantage of giving the operator great
power over the apparatus as he is enabled to utilize the weight of the charged
apparatus itself, and of avoiding the trouble in case of a fire occurring of
finding a suitable instrument with which to strike the plug g' as might be the
case with the example illustrated in Figure 1, for I have found that when the
apparatus has been charged for a long time the piston g is liable to offer a
resistance in sliding in the socket e which it is difficult to overcome by merely
striking the plug g₁ with the hand.
By reason of the difference in the described method of manipulation I am
enabled to somewhat simplify the construction of the apparatus by dispensing with
the immersed portion of the tube shewn in Figure 1 and only employing the
portion which effects communication of the case with the exterior. The
point-end of the rod y³ is, as shewn in Figure 9, guided by a semi-tubular cross-
On this cross-
piece q connected at its two ends to the sides of the reservoir a.
piece rests a strap r which surrounds the vessel d and supports it conjointly with
the clipping sockets m and d'.
The charged apparatus is hooked to a post or the like by means of the ring j

page_text: and in this position the double stuffing-box h is situated at the upper part so that
its tightness, protected from the destructive action of the contained liquid, can be
indefinitely preserved and the proper working of the piston
without liability to resistance.
can be insured
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is : :-
1. A fire-extinguishing apparatus comprising a reservoir of suitable shape and
dimensions containing water and salts; a glass acid-vessel placed, for example
horizontally, in the reservoir and supported on the one hand in a fixed seating or
socket and on the other hand in a clipping socket of a plug or stopper which screws
into and forms a hermetic joint over an aperture provided near the top of the
reservoir for placing the acid-vessel in position and renewing it; a tube extending
to the bottom of the reservoir from the upper part of the latter where it passes
through a double stuffing-box and out of the reservoir forming a delivery nozzle
projecting more or less therefrom; and a double stuffing-box traversed by the said
tube and provided with a piston which tightly stops the tube and which upon a
blow directed from the outside unstops the tube after its striking end has caused
the breakage of the acid-vessel and consequently the putting in action and working
of the apparatus, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1
to 7 of the accompanying drawing.
2. A fire-extinguishing apparatus similar to that claimed in the preceding
claiming clause but in which the striking point of the piston is directed upwardly
for the purpose of utilizing the weight of the apparatus in addition to the power
exerted to produce the concussion, the piston-rod being guided by a semi-tubular
cross-piece fixed to the reservoir of the apparatus and on which cross-piece is fixed
a strap which surrounds the glass vessel for the purpose specified and substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawing.
3. In the fire-extinguishing apparatus claimed in the first claiming clause
the double stuffing-box traversed by the conducting tube of the extinguishing
liquid and provided with a piston which is made to tightly stop the tube when the
apparatus has been charged and to unstop the said tube the moment the apparatus
is required for use by being driven inwards by a blow or otherwise until it breaks
the acid-vessel which is placed beneath or above it so that it will become fractured
by the piston in its downward stroke, substantially as herein before described.
4. The improved fire-extinguishing apparatus herein before described and
illustrated respectively in Figures 1 to 6 and Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawing.
D
1 .
$11004
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.