Improvements in Means and Apparatus for Extinguishing Fires.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 15th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Mar., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means and Apparatus for Extinguishing Fires.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LILLY, of Norwood House, Riseholmne Road, Lincoln,
Insurance Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to he as
follows:-
:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture a simple appliance which may be
always kept ready for immediate use at the first outbreak of Fire, and by the prompt
use of which, the Fire may be extinguished.
My invention consists of a tin cylinder, closed at the lower end. The end is
upper
funnel shaped, the tube of the funnel being covered by a moveable cap, when not in
use. At the lower end inside the cylinder, I place a small glass or stone bottle, having
a parallel sided neck. This bottle is filled with any suitable acid solution for producing
carbonic acid gas, when mixed with or coming in contact with a carbonate in solution.
An india rubber stopper is inserted in the neck, in such a manner that it may be
readily pressed inwards by the rod hereinafter mentioned. The rod is of sufficient
length to touch the stopper in the bottle, and project beyond the tube of the funnel
shaped end. This end is sealed in the tube of the funnel, and covered by the moveable
cap, when the apparatus is placed ready for use.
The rod has a fluted collar or stop, formed of sealing wax, surrounding it near its
upper end, which acts in a twofold manner; firstly, preventing the rod from being
ejected, when the apparatus is in action; and secondly, by preventing the solution in
the cylinder from being forced out in a column by the gas; the fluting having the
effect of discharging it in the form of spray.
A somewhat similar collar is placed at its lower end, to keep the rod in a central
position in the neck of the bottle in contact with the stopper.
The space in the cylinder surrounding the rod, is filled with any suitable carbonate
in solution, and the conical end is soldered to the top of the cylinder after the insertion
of the bottle, rod, and carbonates in solution.

page_text: In using the apparatus the cap is first removed; the tube is then held in the hand.
and the projecting end of the rod is pressed or struck against the wall, floor, or other
convenient resisting substance. This breaks the seal in the funnel end, thus at onco
opening the apparatus and causing the lower end of the rod to press the stopper inwards,
into the bottle, the liquid contents of which immediately mix with the carbonate in
solution, and thereby a large quantity of carbonic acid gas is produced and discharged,
and such gas being directed upon the fire, the latter is thereby extinguished.
I usually solder two staples to the tube, suspend it to a shield, or other ornamental
object, and place the same in a conspicuous position, ready for use.
It is obvious that my invention may be very much varied in detail, and made to
assume ornamental and other forms; the size, ingredients and materials being suited
to the building to be protected, and the furniture and materials contained therein.

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LILLY, of Norwood House, Riseholme Road, Lincoln,
Insurance Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to manufacture a simple appliance, which may be
always kept ready for immediate use at the first outbreak of fire, and by the prompt
use of which, the fire may be extinguished.
My invention consists of a tin cylinder containing carbonate in solution, and a
closed bottle filled with an acid solution, the stopper of which is capable of being
forced inwards by a rod contained in the cylinder, and extending a little beyond the
mouth of the same.
And in order that my said invention may be clearly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged
sectional elevation of the upper part of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation
of the bottle, and Fig. 4 is an illustration, shewing the invention suspended, ready
for use.
a is a tin cylinder, closed at the lower end, and formed at the upper end, as shewn,
as an inverted funnel.
An annular channel y is formed to receive the lower end of the glass dome b. The
channel is used to seal up the contents by means of shellac, or other suitable
cement. is a tin cap which is placed over the glass dome for protection against
breakage, when the apparatus is not in use.
At the lower end, inside the cylinder, I place a small glass or stone bottle c. This
bottle is filled with any suitable acid solution, for producing carbonic acid gas, when
mixed with, or coming in contact with a carbonate in solution. An india-rubber, cork,
or other suitable stopper d, is inserted in the neck in such a manner that it may be
readily pressed inwards by the rod e. This rod is of sufficient length to rest upon or
enter the stopper d of the bottle e, and also to project above the end of the tube; the
upper end being enclosed in the glass dome b, as shewn in Fig. 2. This end is sealed
in the tube at f. The rod e has a fluted collar or stop h, formed of vulcanite, scaling
wax, or any other suitable material, surrounding it, near its upper end, which acts in
a two-fold manner; first, in preventing the rod from being ejected, when the apparatus
is in action; and, secondly, in preventing the solution in the cylinder being forced out
in a column by the gas; the fluting having the effect of discharging it in the form of
spray. A somewhat similar collar may be placed at its lower end, to keep the rod in a
central position in contact with the stopper; or the same object may be secured by
placing the end of the rod e in a hole made in the stopper d, as shewn in Fig. 3.

page_text: The space in the cylinder, surrounding the rod e, is filled with any suitable
carbonate in solution and the conical end is soldered to the top of the cylinder a,
after the insertion of the bottle, rod and carbonates in solution.
I usually solder two staples II to the tube, for suspending it to a shield, or other
ornamental object, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and place the same in a conspicuous position
ready for use.
In using the apparatus, the cap b' is first removed; the apparatus is then held in the
hand, and the upper end is pressed or struck against the wall, floor, or other convenient
resisting substance. This breaks the glass dome, surrounding the end of the rod, and
also breaks the cement (thus opening the outer end) and also causing the lower end of
the rod e to press the stopper d inwards and force it into the bottle c, the liquid
contents of which immediately mix with those in the cylinder, and thereby a large
quantity of carbonic acid gas is produced and discharged; and such gas being directed
upon the fire, the latter is thereby extinguished.
m is a lead capsule, which is placed as shewn in Fig. 3, when a cork stopper is used,
to prevent the acid coming in actual contact with the cork or stopper.
It is obvious that my invention may be very much varied in detail, and made to
assume ornamental and other forms; the size, ingredients and materials being suited
to the building to be protected and the furniture and materials contained therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
b
1. The manufacture and use of apparatus for extinguishing fire, in its initial stage.
consisting of the cylinder a, acid bottle c, rod e, fluted sprinkler cone h, glass cap
and metal cap severally operating substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
on the drawings.
2. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my improvements in means and apparatus for
extinguishing fires, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the drawings.
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.