IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIDE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Dutton, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING
FIDE"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Dutton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1881.
JOSEPH DUTTON, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for extinguishing fire, and
has for its object to provide an inexpensive yet thoroughly efficient apparatus
which can be readily fitted to existing buildings, as well as to those in course of
construction, with the view of confining the fire to that portion of the building
wherein it may originate, thus preserving the building and its contents from total
destruction. My Invention is more particularly applicable to theatres, warehouses,
and other similar structures.
In order to carry out my Invention I make a number of metal troughs or
gutters of a semi-tubular shape, or nearly so, and of any convenient dimensions,
having a curved flange on each side.
I then cover over the tops of such troughs or gutters with metal plates (hereafter
termed) "covering plates," the edges of which may either be perfectly flat or
formed to a corresponding curve with the flanges of the troughs or gutters, to
which such covering plates are so fastened as to leave sufficient space between
then and the flanges for water to flow out freely when the trough is filled with
water, as presently mentioned.
Placed across such covering plates and fastened thereto at convenient distances
apart are metal straps, the ends of which hang down on either side and form arms,
by means of which such troughs or gutters may be readily secured between the
joists of the roof or ceiling of each floor of the building by nailing or otherwise
fastening such arms to the sides of the joists or beams.

page_text: Such troughs or gutters are closed at one end, while at the other end they are
fitted with nozzles, which connect them with a metal conduit running along inside
the ceiling of each floor, preferably at the front of the building.
Each of such conduits communicates with a vertical pipe, which is carried
down the front of the building to the ground floor, where it is connected on the
outside with a union or junction, which in case of fire can at once be connected
with the water main.
Each of such vertical pipes is also fitted at its lower end on the outside of the
building with a throttle valve and tap, or their equivalents, placed in such a
position as to be easily accessible. I prefer where several of such vertical pipes
are employed that they should form a single stack, and be carried up some con-
venient angle of the building, so that the taps and valves at their lower ends are
placed in close proximity to each other, and are all equally easy of access.
The operation of my Invention is as follows:-Suppose a fire occurs in the
second floor of a warehouse fitted with my improved apparatus. Immediately
upon its becoming known the union is connected with the water main, and the
tap fitted to the bottom of the vertical pipe communicating with such floor is
turned on.
The water at once ascends, and entering the conduit running along
one side of the ceiling flows into the troughs or gutters through the nozzles, by
which they are each connected at one end with such conduit. The water then
flows along the entire length of the troughs or channels, and when they are filled
overflows on both sides, falling down in sheets with great force through the spaces
left between the covering plates and the flanges of each trough or channel.
It is obvious that from the simplicity of construction, and facility and efficiency
of action of my improved apparatus, it is of the utmost value in suppressing any
outbreak of fire, and preserving the building and its contents from total
destruction.
In the case of public buildings, such as theatres or business premises, where a
tank or reservoir is placed on the roof, I prefer to carry an outlet pipe from such
reservoir down the front of the building to where the taps and valves aro fitted to
the lower ends of the vertical pipes. If the reservoir is kept properly supplied
such outlet pipe will always be filled with water, and upon turning on such one or
more of the inlet taps as belong to the vertical pipe or pipes in direct communi-
cation with that portion of the building which is on fire an instantaneous supply
of water will be obtained without waiting for connecting the water main with the
union, as before described.
If necessary however such connection can be made subsequently in order to
ensure a continuous supply of water in the event of the reservoir becoming
exhausted. One great advantage is that from the arrangement of my improved
apparatus there is no necessity to enter the building in order to put it into
operation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Dutton in the Great Seal Patent Offico on the 6th April
1882.
JOSEPH DUTTON, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISILING FIRE."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for extinguishing fire, and
has for its object to provide an inexpensive yet thoroughly efficient apparatus
which can be readily fitted to existing buildings, as well as to those in course of
construction, with a view of confining the fire to that portion of the building
wherein it may originate, thus preserving the building and its contents from total
destruction. My Invention is more particularly applicable to theatres, warehouses,
and other similar structures, and may also be applied with great advantage to
ships' holds.
In order to carry out my Invention I make a number of metal troughs or
gutters of a semi-tubular shape, or nearly so, and of any convenient dimensions,
having a curved flange on each side.
I then cover over the tops of such troughs or gutters with metal plates, hereafter
termed "covering plates," the edges of which may either be perfectly flat or formed
to a corresponding curve with the flanges of the troughs or gutters, to which
flanges such covering plates are so fastened as to leave sufficient space between
them and the flanges for water to flow out freely when the trough is filled with
water, as presently described.
Placed across such covering plates and fastened thereto at convenient distances
apart aro metal tangs or straps, the ends of which hang down on either side and
form arms, by means of which such troughs or gutters may be readily secured
between the joists of the roof or ceiling of each floor of the building by nailing or
otherwise fastening such arms to the sides of the joists or beams.
Such troughs or gutters are closed at one end, while at the other end they are
fitted with nozzles, which connect them with a metal conduit running along one
side of the ceiling of each floor, preferably at the front of the building.
Each of such conduits communicates with a vertical pipe, which is carried down
the front of the building to the ground floor, where it is connected on the outside
with a union or junction, which in case of fire can at once be connected with the
water main.
Each of such vertical pipes is also fitted at its lower end either on the outside
or the inside of the building with a throttle valve and tap, or their equivalents,
placed in such a position as to be easily accessible. I prefer where several of such
vertical pipes are employed that they should form a single stack, and be carried
up some convenient angle of the building, so that the taps and valvos at their
lower ends are placed in close proximity to each other, and are all equally easy
of access.
The operation of my Invention is as follows:-Suppose a fire occurs in the
second floor of a warehouse fitted with my improved apparatus. Immediately
upon its becoming known the union is connected with the water main, and the
tap fitted to the bottom of the vertical pipe outside the building and communi-
caling with such floor is turned on. The water at once ascends, and entering the
conduit running along one sido of the coiling flows into the troughs or cutters
through the nozzles, by which they are each connected at one end with such
conduit. The water then flows along the entire length of the troughs or channels,
and when they are filled overflows on both sides, falling down in sheets with great

page_text: force through the spaces left between the covering plates and the flanges of each
trough or channel.
It is obvious that from the simplicity of construction, facility of access, and
efficiency of action of my improved apparatus, it is of the utmost value in sup-
pressing any outbreak of fire, and preserving the building and its contents from
total destruction.
In the case of public buildings, such as theatres, warehouses, or business premises,
where a tank or reservoir is placed on the roof, I prefer to carry an outlet pipe
from such reservoir down the front of the building to where the taps and valves
are fitted to the lower ends of the vertical pipes.
If the reservoir is kept properly supplied such outlet pipe will always be filled
with water, and upon turning on such one or more of the inlet taps as belong to
the vertical pipe or pipes in direct communication with that portion of the
building which is on fire, an instantaneous supply of water will be obtained
without waiting for connecting the water wain with the union, as before
described.
If necessary however such connection can be made subsequently in order to
ensure a continuous supply of water in the event of the reservoir becoming
exhausted.
One great advantage of my Invention is that there is no necessity to enter a
building when on fire in order to put my improved apparatus into operation, as it
is readily accessible from the exterior, and when fitted to a theatre or other similar
public building it can be so arranged as to be easily put into operation from the
stage.
Figure of the accompanying Drawings shews a view in section, Figure 2 n
plan view, and Figure 3 a view in elevation of my improved fire extinguishing
apparatus.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into operation, I would have it understood that what I claim
and desire to secure by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is, the
improved fire extinguishing apparatus constructed, fitted, and arranged in the
manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Dutton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
TACEDIT DIITTON
1