IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Miller, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark
North Britain Merchant for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE
EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Miller at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1883.
WILLIAM MILLER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Merchant, "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS
"
This Invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus of the kind described in
the Specifications of Patents obtained by the present applicant and Nedrick Jarvie
and officially numbered 3648 of 1879 and 3177 of 1880.
In apparatus of the kind referred to a closed vessel fitted with a suitable
discharging pipe and nozzle is nearly filled with a solution of an alkaline carbonate
and has also in it a bottle containing sulphuric or other suitable acid which acid is
made to mix with the alkaline carbonate when the apparatus is to be used, and
causes an evolution of carbonic acid gas which not only extinguishes flame but
also by its elastic force carries and projects the liquid where it may be directed by
means of the nozzle. By the present Invention, according to one modification the
acid bottle is provided with a stopper which whilst fitting quite tightly with or
without cement, is of a hollow or other construction allowing of its being broken
with certainty in the manner hereinafter described. The vessel is formed with a
neck and inlet orifice for introducing the carbonate solution and the acid bottle,
and a cap is provided, which can be closed by screwing or otherwise so as to be
quite tight. The acid bottle is held by means of a float or of a spring or even of
a rigid support so as when the cap is closed to have its stopper almost if not quite
in contact with the inside of the cap or in contact with a bar or other piece fixed.
to the inside of the cap. A mallet or other convenient instrument is used for
setting the apparatus in action and a smart blow is struck with it on the outside
of the cap, whereupon the concussion transmitted through the cap causes the
fracture of the stopper of the acid bottle, and sets the acid free to mix with the
'
D

page_text: carbonate solution whenever the vessel is turned down. In this way the objections
to a loose stopper are completely obviated, whilst the parts are arranged so that
the apparatus can be set in action in the simplest way and without any movement
of rods or plungers through stuffing boxes or of similar devices.
In a second modification the cap is fitted with a short rivet-like stud the shank
of which passes through a hole in the cap whilst a rubber ring or washer is placed
on each side between the cap and each head. The stud or rivet is struck when
it is wished to set the apparatus in action and the rubber washers being elastic
allow of its moving a little inwards whilst keeping the hole tight.
It will be obvious that the principle of the Invention namely the liberation of
the acid by fracture produced by simple concussion caused by a blow suitably
Thus the
struck on the outside-may be practically carried out in various ways.
acid bottle may be arranged to receive the concussion on any part of it instead
of the stopper, and arrangements may be made for holding the acid bottle against
any convenient part of the top, sides, or bottom of the vessel, such part being
marked externally to indicate where the blow is to be struck for concussively
breaking the bottle or its stopper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Miller in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th October
1883.
WILLIAM MILLER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Merchant "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS
"
My said Invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus of the kind described
in the Specifications of Patents granted to Nedrick Jarvie and myself and officially
numbered 3648 of 1879 and 3177 of 1880.
In apparatus of the kind referred to a closed vessel fitted with a suitable
discharging pipe and nozzle is nearly filled with a solution of an alkaline
carbonate, and has also in it a bottle containing sulphuric or other suitable acid,
which acid is made to mix with the alkaline carbonate when the apparatus is to
be used, and causes an evolution of carbonic acid gas, which not only extinguisbes
flame but also by its elastic force carries and projects the liquid where it may be
directed by means of the nozzle. The principle or distinguishing feature of my
present Invention is the liberation of the acid by fracture of its bottle or stopper
produced by simple concussion caused by a blow suitably struck on the outside
of the vessel. The stopper of the acid bottle fits tightly and may be cemented;
and whilst there is thus no liability, as with a loose stopper, for any of the acid
to be prematurely mixed with the carbonate solution, there is also avoided all risk
of leakage through an opening through which a rod has to be moved for setting
the apparatus in action, as is the case in some existing kinds of apparatus for the
same purpose
.
The acid bottle may be arranged to receive the concussion on any part of it
instead of the stopper, and arrangements may be made for holding the acid bottle
against any convenient part of the top, sides, or bottom of the vessel, such part
being marked externally to indicate where the blow is to be struck for concussively
breaking the bottle or its stopper.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing various modifications of my improved
apparatus..
Figures 1, 2, and 3 on the accompanying sheet of drawings are vertical sections
of three modifications of the vessel and parts for holding the acid bottle. Figures,
4, and 5, are enlarged sectional views of a fourth and fifth modification; and
figures, 6, 7, and 8 show different forms of stopper for the acid bottle. In these
drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
In the modification shown in figure, 1, the cylindrical vessel, 11, for containing
the carbonate solution is formed with an opening at the top to which there is titted
a screw cap, 12, and this cap has attached to it so as to project down inside of the
vessel, 11, a cylindrical casing or cage, 13, of perforated zinc or other suitable metal.
The lower part of the perforated casing or cage, 13, is in a separate piece from the
top part fixed to the cap, and is connected to the top part by a bayonet joint, and
can be disconnected for the purpose of inserting the acid bottle, 14. A spring, 15,
s placed in the lower part of the perforated casing or cage, 13, for the purpose of
pressing up the acid bottle, 14, so that its stopper, 16, may be in contact with the
nside of the metal cap, 12, Any convenient hammer or equivalent instrument may
be used for giving the blow; but I prefer to provide each vessel or machine with a
pecial hammer, 17, to be always in readiness, and I make the handle of this:

page_text: hammer to fit a hole in a nipple or projection, 18, formed on the cap, 12, so that
whilst a place is thus provided for the hammer it can also be used as a lever for
screwing or unscrewing the cap, 12. When the apparatus is to be used the
hammer, 17, is drawn out and with it a smart blow is struck on the nipple, 18, of
the cap, 12; and this blow is transmitted concussively to the stopper, 16, of the
acid bottle, 14, and causes the fracture of the stopper, or bottle, or both. The
vessel is then turned down so that whilst the handle, 19, becomes uppermost, the
vessel rests partly on 'the feet, 20, in an inclined position with that end lower which
is shown uppermost in figure, 1. This turning down of the vessel, insures the
proper intermixture of the acid and the carbonate solution as is now well under-
stood, and the intended action immediately takes place.
In the modification shown in figure, 2, the parts are arranged for the apparatus
to be used in its standing or vertical position. A neck, 21, for introducing the
materials is formed in an inclined position at one side near the bottom of the
vessel, 11, and the screw cap, 12, is fitted so as to hold the perforated casing or
cage, 13, attached to it, in an inclined position. When the acid bottle, is in its
place it rests by its own weight with its stopper, 16, against the inside of the
cap, 12, the spring (15) of the first modification not being required. For breaking
the acid bottle or its stopper a blow must be struck with the hammer (17) or an
equivalent, on the nipple, 18, of the cap, 12.
The modification shown in figure, 3, is also designed to be used in the standing
or vertical position. The screw cap, 12, is however fitted at the top whilst the
casing or cage, 13, is extended down so that the acid bottle, 14, may be at or near
the bottom, and a rod, 22, is fixed inside of the cap, 12, so as to extend down and
have its bottom end in contact with the stopper of the acid bottle, 14, or it might
be, in contact with the bottom of the acid bottle placed in an inverted position.
When a blow is struck on the nipple, 18, of the screw cap, 12, the concussion will
be transmitted through the rod, 22, down to the acid bottle, 14.
In the modification shown in figure, 4, the screw cap is formed with a central
hole through which there passes the shank of a double-headed rivet like piece, 23.
Rubber washers, 24, are applied between the heads and the cap, 12, on each side,
and make the hole perfectly tight whilst allowing of a slight inward movement when
the piece, 23, is struck on its outer end or nipple, 18. The shank of the piece, 23,
and its hole in the cap, 12, are by preference made square so that the cap can be
screwed or unscrewed by means of the hammer handle inserted in the hole formed
for it across the nipple, 18.
In the modification shown in figure, 5, the acid bottle, 14, is placed within a
spring clip, 25, which simply holds it against the side of the vessel, 11; and a mark
is applied to the outside at 26, to indicate the position of the acid bottle. Then if
a snart blow is struck against the outside of the vessel, 11, at the mark, 26, the
concussion.being directly communicated to the acid bottle will cause its fracture.
The acid battle, 14, and its stopper are by preference of glass or glazed
earthenware. The stopper may be of an ordinary kind as shown in figure, 6, in
which case the concussion acting on the stopper will break the bottle. Or a thin
hollow stopper, 16, may be used such as is shown in figure, 7, the stopper being
shaped to enter the neck of the bottle. Or again the stopper, 16, may be made
hollow and thin but of a form to fit on the outside of the neck of the bottle as
shown in figure, 8. The bottle or stopper or both may be formed with one or
more contracted parts or indentations to facilitate their fracture when acted on
concussively.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is:-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of fire extinguishing
apparatus operating with a carbonate solution and an acid substantially in the

page_text: improved manner hereinbefore described, the essential feature consisting in the
liberation of the acid by fracture produced by simple concussion.
2. The combination of parts herein before described with reference to figure, 4,
of the accompanying drawings.
In Witness whereof I, the said William Miller, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this seventeenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witness-
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow
WILLIAM MILLER (L.S.)