Year: 1886

page_text: -
Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 31st Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 8th Feb., 1887.
We, JAMES WAINWRIGHT of 11 Park Grove, Carter Street, Greenheys, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster Pattern Maker, and HENRY BRIGGS of Moss Lane East,
Moss Side Manchester aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention has reference to the arrangement in a room or building of a supply
pipe or pipes and a valve or valves, normally kept closed by pressure of water within
the supply pipe or pipes as hereinafter described, but in connection with which valve
(or with each if more than one he employed) there is arranged apparatus such that
should the temperature in the room or building rise excessively (as on the occurence
of fire) the said valve will be caused by the expansion or evaporation of fluid of any
suitable kind, such as mercury or spirit, to open, thus allowing water to flow into the
room or building for the purpose of extinguishing the fire. An arrangement of such
apparatus is as follows: At the upper side of the water supply pipe a valve is provided
that is, by preference, of conical form and closes against a correspondingly formed
seat. This valve is provided with a stem that projects through an opening in the
lower side of the pipe to a vessel containing the mercury or other substance by the
expansion or evaporation of which (on increase of temperature in the room or building)
the valve is to be opened. The lower end of the stem forms a stopper or plunger and
has attached to it an elastic diaphragm or the equivalent thereof, that forms a closure
to the orifice in the lower side of the water supply pipe, which orifice is of larger area
than that in the upper side that is closed by the valve. The diaphragm may be in the
form of a washer secured on to the stem by nuts, and at its periphery held between a
nozzle on the supply pipe and a screw cap, which is also formed with a nozzle on to
which the vessel containing the mercury or its equivalent is screwed.
With the above described arrangement it will be evident that as the area of the
diaphragm or its equivalent exposed to the water pressure in the supply pipe exceeds
the area of the valve the latter will be kept normally closed, but should the contents of
the vessel containing mercury or its equivalent expand, the resulting pressure against
the end of the valve stem will have the effect of causing the valve to rise from its seat.
As will be evident, apparatus to operate on the principle of my invention as above
set forth may be constructed in various forms; and means may be employed to
prevent comparatively cool water flowing directly on to the vessel containing the
substance by whose expansion or evaporation the valve is to be opened.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
We, JAMES WAINWRIGHT, of 11 Park Grove, Carter Street, Greenheys, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Pattern Maker, and HENRY BRIGGS, of Moss Lane East,
Moss Side, Manchester, aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to the arrangement in a room or building of a supply
pipe or pipes and a valve or valves, normally kept closed by pressure of water within
the supply pipe or pipes as hereinafter described, but in connection with which valve
(or with each if more than one be employed) there is arranged apparatus such that
should the temperature in the room or building rise excessively (as on the occurrence
of fire) the said valve will be caused by the expansion or evaporation of a suitable
substance expansible by heat and hereinafter referred to as the expansible body, to
open, thus allowing water to flow into the room or building for the purpose of extin-
guishing the fire. An arrangement of such apparatus is as follows:-At the upper
side of the water supply pipe a valve is provided that is hy preference of conical form,
and closes against a correspondingly formed seat. This valve is provided with a stem
that projects through an opening in the lower side of the pipe to a vessel containing
the expansible body by the expansion or evaporation of which (on increase of tem-
perature in the room or building) the valve is to be opened. The expansible body
used in carrying out our invention may advantageously be the ordinary methylated
spirit of commerce; but mercury may be employed, or bisulphide of carbon, or
glycerine, may be used, according to the temperature at which it is desired to cause
the valve to open. As examples we may mention that if it be desired that the valve
should be opened at a temperature in the room or building below 110 degrees
Fahrenheit, Methylated spirit will answer well. If it be desired that the valve should
not be opened whilst the temperature in the room or building remains below 110
degrees Fahrenheit, glycerine will answer the purpose.
The lower end of the stem forms a stopper or plunger, and has attached to it an
elastic diaphragm or the equivalent thereof that forms a closure to the orifice in the
lower side of the water supply pipe, which orifice is of larger area than that in the
upper side that is closed by the valve. The diaphragm may be in the form of a
washer secured on to the stein by nuts, and at its periphery held between a nozzle on
the supply pipe and a screw cap, which is also formed with a nozzle on to which the
vessel containing the expansible body is screwed, or of which it forms part.
With the above described arrangement it will be evident that as the area of the
diaphragm or its equivalent exposed to the water pressure in the supply pipe exceeds
the area of the valve the latter will be kept normally closed, but should the expansible
body be caused by heat to expand, the resulting pressure against the end of the valve
stem will have the effect of causing the valve to rise from its seat, to which, however,
it will of course return on contraction of the expansible body which will naturally
occur on the reduction of temperature after extinction of the fire.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that so long as the temperature

page_text: in the room or building remains below that at which the expansible body' employed
will expand or evaporate, the valve will remain closed; when the temperature rises
(as on the occurrence of fire) and causes expansion or evaporation of the expansible
body, the valve will be opened and will allow water to flow into the room or building
to extinguish the fire, and when the temperature in the room or building again falls
(as on extinction of the fire) the expansible body will contract or condense, the
valve will close, and thus further damage to the building or contents such as might
happen from continued flow of water will be prevented.
As will be evident, apparatus to operate on the principle of our invention as above
set forth may be constructed in various forms; and means may be employed to
prevent comparatively cool water flowing directly on to the vessel containing the
substance by whose expansion or evaporation the valve is to be opened.
Referring to the accompanying 3 sheets of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of fire extinguishing apparatus according to this
invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively an elevation and a vertical transverse section of a
modified arrangement of the apparatus adapted for attachment to the side of a water
supply pipe.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of fire extinguishing apparatus such as shown in Figs. 2
and 3, provided with a shield or deflector that is shown in section.
Fig. 5 represents partly in vertical section and partly in elevation a modification of
the apparatus shewn in Figs. 2 and 3.
in
Referring to Fig. 1, 1 is a chamber constituting part of a water supply pipe;
the example illustrated it is made to form a junction piece, into the ends of which the
ends of lengths of water supply pipe may be screwed. 2 is a slotted casting screwed
into a nozzle at the upper part of the chamber 1; it is provided with a seat at 3 for a
conical valve 4. 55 is the valve stem formed in the example shewn in two parts;
the upper part is provided with wings 6 within the casting 2 for guiding the valve in
its vertical movements. The lower part 5" extends through a nozzle 8 at the lower
side of the chamber 1, and into a vessel 9 secured to the said nozzle as shewn. The
vessel 9 contains an expansible body such as hereinabove referred to. 10 is an elastic
diaphragm of suitable material such as vulcanized india rubber secured at its inner
elge between a flange 11 on the lower part 5 of the valve stem 5 and a nut 12
screwed upon the stem as shown. The outer edge or periphery of the diaphragm is
held between the end of the nozzle 8 and the annular surface 13 of the part or
extension 14 of the vessel 9. The diaphragm 10 forms a fluid tight closure to the
vessel 9 and has exposed to the water in chamber 1 a greater area than the valve 4.
The arrangement therefore, as will be seen, is such that the valve 4 is kept normally
against its scat 3. If however the vessel 10 be subjected to increase of temperature
such as would arise in the event of an outbreak of fire within the room or the part of
a building in which the apparatus is situated the expansible body will be caused to
expand and the resulting pressure in the vessel 9 below the diaphragm 10 will cause
the valve stem and valve 4 to rise thus allowing water to escape past the valve for the
purpose
of extinguishing the fire. When this has been effected and the temperature
of the room or part of the building has fallen sufficiently low to contract or condense
the expansible body to its normal volume or thereabout the valve 4 will be closed.
In order that the apparatus may be capable of being set in action before the expansible
body has become expanded the vessel 9 may be provided with a rod or plunger 15
passing through a stuffing box 16. By pressing this rod or plunger the valve stem
and valve can be raised. The downward movement of the rod or plunger 15 is limited
by a flange or projection 17. 18 is a button or plate at the end of the rod or
plunger 15.
In the modification illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 the tubular projection 19 of the
chamber 1 is screwed into a nozzle 20 at the side of the water supply pipe 21. 22 is
a projection of square or polygonal form to receive a spanner for screwing the parts
together. is a disc valve of suitable material such as india rubber that normally
bears against the seat 3. The valve is held between a cap 23 and a collar or annular

page_text: projection 24 on the part 5 of the stem. 25 are nuts for securing the cap on the stem.
Wings 6 on the valve stem serve to guide the valve in its vertical movements. 10 is
the elastic diaphragm secured in place as before. The lower end of the valve stem
rests against the upper end of a plunger 26, the lower end of which is exposed to the
action of the expansible body in the vessel 9. The vessel 9 may be charged through
the opening at the bottom closed by the cap 27.
Fig. 4 shews the application of a shield or deflector 28 to prevent contact of
descending water with the vessel 9 and consequent cooling thereof. Such a shield
may be used with either of the modifications illustrated.
Fig. 5 illustrates the application of a perforated dished rose plate or distributor 30
such as may be used with either of the modifications illustrated. The vessel 9 is
provided with a device similar to that shewn in Fig. 1 for opening the valve by
manual power. In other respects this apparatus is similar to that shewn in Figs.
and 3 and is similarly figured.
In practice it is desirable to provide an apparatus such as above described for every
100 square feet of area of a room or building to be protected.
Although water alone has been mentioned as the medium for extinguishing fire it
will be readily understood that apparatus as described may be used for automatically
opening and closing apertures for the escape of other fire extinguishing fluid; it may
be for example water charged with carbonic acid gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we do not claim broadly
the use of a body expansible by heat for the purpose of actuating a valve, but that
what we do claim is :-
1. The use of automatic fire extinguishing apparatus in which a body expansible by
heat is applied in such a manner that on the expansion of the said expansible body
when the apparatus is subjected to increase in temperature, as on the outbreak of fire
in the room or part of a building wherein the apparatus is located, an orifice or
orifices for discharge of fluid such as water to extinguish the fire will be opened, and
thai on the temperature falling as on the extinction of the fire, and consequent
contraction of the expansible body; the said discharge will be automatically arrested,
as above set forth.
2. In fire extinguishing apparatus the use in conjunction with a valve that normally
closes a discharge orifice or orifices of a vessel containing an expansible body such as
hereinabove referred to and a diaphragm, the arrangement being such that on the said
vessel being subjected to increase in temperature as on the outbreak of fire in the
room or part of a building wherein the apparatus is located, the expansible body will
be expanded, the diaphragm will be moved, and the said valve will be caused to open,
thereby allowing fluid such as water to flow out of the said orifice or orifices for the
purpose of extinguishing the fire, and that on the temperature in the said room or
part of a building falling as on the extinction of the fire, the said expansible body will
contract or condense and the valve will again close the said orifice or orifices substan-
tially as described.
3. Fire extinguishing apparatus substantially as hereinabove described with reference
respectively to and shown in Fig. 1; in Figs. 2 and 3; in Fig. 4; and in Fig. 5 of
the drawings annexed.