A SELF-ACTING FIRE ALARM AND EXTINGUISHER.
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles John Adams, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the
County of Durham, Architect, for the Invention of "A SELF-ACTING
FIRE ALARM AND EXTINGUISHER.'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles John Adams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd December 1867.
I, CHARLES JOHN ADAMS, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A SELF-
ACTING FIRE-ALARM AND EXTINGUISHER," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of a glass tube of any length or size fitted into two
caps of brass or any other material, each end being connected together by
strong springs exterior to the glass. The glass tube to be filled with some
explosive material, such as gunpowder, gun cotton, or any other substance or
liquid of an explosive nature. This apparatus is to be fixed on some wall or
other convenient place by the bottom end, and the upper brass end is to be
connected by wire or a rod or any other means with a bell or bells or any
other instrument or material capable of causing an alarm, the bottom end is to
have an inflammable line or train fastened to it and connected with the
interior of the glass tube. It may be of any length, and can have as many
branches as may be deemed requisite, and may be distributed in any places
where deemed necessary. Should a fire occur this train will ignite and

page_text: communicating with the interior of the glass tube will ignite and explode its
contents, breaking the tube, which will cause the springs to come into play and
draw down the top end and ring the bells attached to it; or the contents may
be exploded by the excessive temperature caused by the fire and break the
tube and produce the same result. Where convenient the top end may be
so connected with the main water tap as to turn it on and to cause the water
to flow at once into pipes pierced with holes which can be distributed in
convenient position for extinguishing fire.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles John Adams in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
JOHN ADAMS, of Stockton, in the County of Durham, Architect, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles John Adams, Her special licence that I, the said Charles John
Adams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles John Adams, my executors, administrators, and 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 "A SELF-ACTING FIRE-ALARM AND EXTINGUISHER," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles John Adams, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 Charles John Adams, 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 (that is to say) :-

page_text: My Invention consists of a tube of glass or any other material of any length,
size, or shape fitted into two caps of brass or any other material, each end
being connected together by strong springs exterior to or inside the tube or
dependent on the action of gravity alone. The tube to be filled with some
explosive material, such as gunpowder, gun cotton, or any other substance or
liquid of an explosive nature. The tube to be open at either one or both ends
for the admission of charge. This apparatus is to be fixed on some wall or
other convenient place by the bottom end and the upper end is to be connected
by wire or a rod or any other means with a bell or bells or any other instru-
ment or material capable of causing an alarm or giving warning, the bottom
end is to have an inflammable line or train passed through it and connected
with the interior of the tube. It may be of any length, and can have as many
branches as may be deemed requisite, and may be distributed in any places
where deemed necessary. Should a fire occur this train will ignite, and
communicating with the interior of the tube will ignite and explode its con-
tents, breaking the tube, which will cause the springs to come into play and
draw the top end and ring the bells and work other instruments attached to it;
or the contents may be exploded by the excessive temperature caused by the
fire and break the tube and produce the same result. Where convenient the
top end may be so connected with a water tap or any apparatus as to turn it
on and cause the water, or liquid, or gases to flow at once into pipes pierced
with holes which can be distributed in convenient positions for extinguishing
fire.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles John Adams, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
CHARLES JOHN ADAMS. (L.B.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the said Charles John Adams,
in the presence of
HENRY J. PARRINGTON.