IMPROVEMENTS IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES AND IN APPARATUS OR MEANS " TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES AND IN APPARATUS OR MEANS
"
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR. A communication from abroad by La
Société Bañolas et Cie., of Madrid, in the Kingdom of Spain.
Sealed the 22nd March 1872, and dated the 1st December 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st December 1871.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES, AND IN APPARATUS
OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR," a communication to him from abroad
by La Société Bañolas et Cie., of Madrid, in the Kingdom of Spain, to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of fire extinguishing apparatus
wherein a liquid holding chemicals in solution is expelled in the form

page_text: of a jet from a closed portable vessel by the generation of gas in the
interior of the said vessel, and consists of a peculiar construction and
arrangement of the apparatus and in the application of and mode of
employing certain chemicals or substances in conjunction with the said
improved apparatus.
The apparatus consists of a closed vessel of any suitable metal, such
as bronze or hard brass, provided with a screwed central opening in the
top into which is screwed a tube forming the recipient of the acid
ingredients herein-after mentioned in solution, which are thereby
maintained separate from the herein-after mentioned alkaline solution
contained in the main body of the apparatus. This central tube is
provided with a number of valves of india-rubber or other suitable
material closing certain apertures in the tube, which aperture com-
municate directly with the main vessel, the valves being all worked from
one common valve rod actuated by a screw. On opening the valves
the acid solution inside the tube immediately mixes with the alkaline
solution in the main vessel, and the combined liquids are ejected by
the gas generated in the vessel by their admixture through a hose and
nozzle attached to the lower part of the apparatus. The pressure thus
obtained may be assisted at or about the time of producing the reaction
by means of an air pump attached to one side of the main vessel or body
of the apparatus and worked by hand.
The apparatus may be made of various sizes capable of containing
from 15 quarts of liquid up to 45 quarts, the larger size being by
preference mounted on running wheels, whilst the smaller sizes are
provided with straps so as to be carried on the back of the user.
.
The liquid in which the ingredients are dissolved or held in suspension
is plain water, and the quantity necessary for each charge of the
apparatus is divided into two parts in the proportions of 96 parts and
4 parts. The larger proportion of water in which the salts or alkaline
ingredients are dissolved is introduced into the main vessel or body of
the apparatus:-The-smaller-proportion.of_the_water_which contains the
acids in solution-is-to-be-introduced-into-the-central tube, the valves
having been first closed.
+
The following are the ingredients which are to be mixed with the

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st May 1872.

page_text: WHEREAS Her-most-Excellent. Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
35th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said. John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN EXTINGUISHING. FIRES AND IN APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, a
communication to me from abroad by La Société Bañolas et Cic., of
Madrid, in the Kingdom of Spain, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar. months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
.”
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
The said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement
of apparatus for extinguishing fires, which apparatus is based upon the
It offers numerous
employment of carbonic acid in solution in water.
advantages over apparatus of a similar character hitherto designed and
is essentially different in construction, whilst it is especially distinguished
by its simplicity and cheapness of production.
441
First. This apparatus is always ready for immediate operation, its
contents retaining their full effect for an indefinite-period.
Secondly. The substances employed are absolutely inoffensive both
before and after the reaction, which is one of the characteristic features

page_text: of this Invention; they are inodorous, do no cause suffocation nor
produce any deleterious effect, moreover they neither burn nor stain
furniture or other objects with which they come in contact, all of which
constitute important features of this system.
Thirdly. The substances to be combined are maintained separately in
a state of solution in water, and by mixing the two solutions carbonic
acid is instantaneously evolved, which raises the pressure in the apparatus
to a high degree and it is then ready to separate.
Fourthly. The substances employed are readily and cheaply obtained,
moveover the addition of alum or other substance capable of facilitating
the vitrifaction of the salts in solution to the liquid thrown by the
apparatus constitutes an important feature of this Invention.
to
Fifthly. This apparatus works at a considerable pressure (130
150 lbs.) which enables the requisite quantity of carbonic acid to be
projected in a given place; and the results produced are such that
ten gallons of the liquid mixture thrown by the apparatus produce the
effect of at least four-hundred-gallons of water.
Sixthly. The apparatus is of small size, light, simple, and economical
in construction, and perfectly adapted to the use to which it is to be
applied:
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a vertical section, and Figure 2 a
corresponding plan of the apparatus. It is composed of an external
cylindrical casing a of metal closed at its lower end by a concave
bottom b, and at its upper end by a cap or crown c, which carries a
metal standard d intended to serve as a point of support for the nut
which raises or lowers the rod e, and consequently effects the opening
and closing of the valves of the internal tube f as herein-after described.
The cap or crown is also provided with an orifice g for the introduction
into the apparatus of one of the two liquids or solutions with which it is
charged, such orifice being closed by a screw plug. The casing a is
provided with two side handles in order to facilitate the transport of

page_text: the apparatus; leather straps are also attached to it when it is of small
size intended to be carried on the back. When these straps are not used
the apparatus is disposed on a carriage specially designed for the
particular purpose to which it is to be applied. To the lower part of the
casing a a cock i is attached which admits of regulating the efflux of the
liquid, and is connected with a flexible pipe or hose terminating in a
nozzle (Figure 3). In order to prevent impurities from entering the
cock i a plate k of hard brass perforated with holes is placed over the
outlet orifice in the casing a. The central part of the casing is occupied.
by a metal tube f, so arranged as to form a second receptacle which is
capable of being placed at the required moment in communication with
the receptacle formed by the casing a. For this purpose the tube fis
closed at its lower part by a disc or partition / perforated with several
openings, but which are closed by a stopper m covered with a sheet of
india-rubber, the said stopper being secured on the lower end of the
rod e.
A screw thread cut on this rod at its upper extremity, which
works in a thumb nut, by turning which in one direction or the other
the rod e is raised or lowered.
.
In order to render the communication between the two receptacles
a and f more complete the receptacle fis also provided with one or more
transverse tubes n leading to the exterior thereof, and having at their
lower part two openings o which are closed by a stopper p covered with
india-rubber and secured like the stopper m to the rod e. The portion
of the rod e'which is outside the apparatus carries a metal washer q,
which by coming against a leather washer disposed over the orifice
formed for the passage of the rod e makes a tight joint at the moment
when by lowering the rod the valves are opened and a communication
is established between the two receptacles. The tube f is supplied in a
similar manner to the receptacle a through an aperture which is closed
by a screw plug r. The bottom of the tube f and the external orifices
of the tubes n are covered with wire gauze s.in order to prevent the
passage of any extraneous matter contained in the liquids.
I have shewn in Figure 1 on one side of the apparatus a force pump.t
(which may be of any suitable construction) for forcing air, which-pump-
may be added if desired in order to enable the pressure of the gases
contained in the apparatus to be increased at the moment when it is
required for use. For this purpose the compression orifice of the pump
is connected with a vertical tube u which conducts the air to the upper

page_text: part of the apparatus, and prevents the liquid contained in the receptacle a
from entering the valves.
'
Figures 4, 5, and 6 shew a modification of the tube f herein-before
described, in which the tube is moveable in the receptacle a and may be
readily withdrawn therefrom for the purpose of inspection and repairs
when required. In this case the receptacle a has but one aperture on
the top, to which is fitted the screwed socket to receive the screw cap
or cover w of hard brass for the tube f which forms a tight joint by
being screwed up against a leather washer interposed for that purpose.
This cap is provided with a lever x to facilitate the tightening of the
screw and a cock Y, which admits of the liquid with which the tube is
to be charged being introduced therein; it is moreover perforated in the
centre with a hole, which is tapped to receive the screw z, such screw
being actuated by means of a thumb piece or of a lever (as shewn dotted
in Figure 6), the flange on which when the screw z is lowered comes
against a leather washer and forms a joint. The screw z is connected at
its lower end to a rectangular block A, to which the rod e is secured, and
in which the screw is capable of rotating whilst carrying the block with
it in its upward and downward motion by means of a pin in an annular
groove formed at the lower part of the screw z. The block A is also
guided in its motion by a piece B (shewn detached in Figures 7 and 8)
fixed inside the tube f. As in the preceding arrangement the tube f
carries at its lower part a piece 7 (see Figure 11) which is closed by a
stopper m, and the tube is also provided with one or more transverse
tubes n, shewn detached in Figure 9, the orifices o of which are closed
by a common stopper p (Figure 10), and the bottom of the tube f and
the ends of the tubes n are covered with wire gauze s to prevent
impurities entering and interfering with the action of the valves.
Whatever may be the special arrangements and forms adopted for the
apparatus the precaution is taken to coat the said apparatus both on the
interior and exterior with any suitable enamel capable of resisting the
action of acids, thereby ensures their preservation and durability.
The apparatus, the various parts of which have been herein-before
described, may be made of any size; it may be mounted on wheels for
convenience of transport or carried by men on the back, and the quantities
of liquid it receives may be varied. The base of the charges is common
water divided into two parts in the proportion of 96 to 4. The larger
part or proportion, which is deposited in the main body of the apparatus,

page_text: holds in solution about 13 drachms of bicarbonate of soda and about
3/ths of bicarbonate of alum to about one quart of water. The smaller
charge of water, which is deposited in the tube f, holds in solution
2 lbs. 8 ozs. 0 drachms of tartaric acid and 2 ozs. 6 drachms of oxalic
acid to about one quart of water.
The above quantities are calculated for pure substances, they will
therefore be varied in proportion to the quantities of foreign substances
they may contain. These products are preferable to any others, since
they are inodorous and have no caustic effect upon the objects with
which they come in contact; they are moveover inoffensive to health.
They constitute liquid charges, since the bicarbonate and alum being
mixed in the water form a solution instantaneously by reason.of.the
proportions which have been ascertained and described. With regard to
the tartaric acid this is supplied already prepared and in solution.
The Inventors reserve to themselves the right to use other products
fulfilling the necessary conditions either in conjunction with or in sub-
stitution for those herein-before mentioned.
It will thus be seen that the apparatus is in fact formed of two
receptacles hermetically closed, each containing a mixture in solution,
which mixtures when brought into contact with each other cause a large
quantity of carbonic acid gas to be instantaneously evolved at a con-
siderable pressure, which causes the liquid in the apparatus to rush out
with force and promptly arrests or extinguishes combustion or fire.
I
Figures 12 and 13 represent a peculiar arrangement of nozzle which
enables a jet of water of a variable size charged with carbonic acid to be
instantaneously projected on to the fire, the size of the jet employed
being of course in proportion to the effect to be produced and the
distance to which the liquid is to be projected. This result is attained
by providing the nozzle with a certain number of tubes C fixed on a
common socket and supplied through a species of cock seat D, in
which the nozzle terminates; the nozzle being curved for this purpose at
-its-extremity, as shewn in Figure 12. A-handle E.is provided on the
socket, which admits of the tubes being mixed-with-facility_so_as_to
bring the one which is required for me in front of the orifice in the cock
seat D.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
t

page_text: carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, -
First. The application and use to and in a fire extinguishing apparatus
of liquid chemical compositions, the mixing together of which produces
instantaneously a volume of carbonic acid at such a pressure as will
render the apparatus serviceable for immediate use to project a jet of
water charged with carbonic acid gas for the purpose specified.
Second. Combining a tube with the main body or receptacle of an
apparatus for extinguishing fires, such tube being disposed inside the
main vessel, and protected both on its interior and exterior surfaces
by a metallic or vitrified coating unaffected by acids, fitted with valves
and suitable mechanism for hermetically closing and instantaneously
opening the same at will, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described..
Third. The combination with the said apparatus of an auxiliary pump
for forcing additional air therein as herein-before described.
Fourth. The combination of a carriage mounted on wheels with the
said apparatus when of large size for the purpose of rendering the same
more easily transportable.
Fifth. The use for the purpose specified of substances which are in-
offensive both before and after their reaction; the maintaining of those
substances separate before the reaction, the dissolving of them previously
in water in order to obtain an immediate and instantaneous effect when
the contact takes place, and the addition thereto of alum or other
substances answering the same purpose in order to produce vitrifaction
on the objects subjected to the action of the fire, and thereby to isolate
them to some extent and shield them from the direct action of the
flames, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Thirty-first day of
May One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)