Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
I, EDWIN WALKER, trading as Edwin Walker and Co., of High Street,
Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to that class of fire extinguisher commonly called a "Sprinkler,"
which consists of a small device attached to the outlet of a pipe in a room, the said
device being so constructed that when a fire in a room shall raise the temperature
thereof to a certain degree, that a sealed disc or valve, connected by white solder or
other material fusible at a given temperature, is displaced, thereby permitting the
escape or discharge of water, which by pressure is forced against the dis:
and rebounds off in the form of spray, for the purpose of extinguishing the
accidental fire.
My improvements in such apparatus consist, firstly, in making a certain portion of
the disc taper or wedge shaped, and also making the part to which the said disc is
soldered also wedge shaped, or with a flange thereon, so that when the two parts
are soldered together, they cannot be accidentally displaced by the pressure of
the water until the solder or other fusible material has melted by increased
temperature.
-
Secondly, my improvements consist in the employment of callis or other dry sand
or non-fatty or -greasy substance, placed between the said disc and the water; and,-
thirdly, in constructing such said sprinklers or devices so that there is no metallic
connection of the various parts forming a sprinkler, between the fusible soldered part
and the water, whether applied to sealed or valve sprinkler.
In carrying out my invention, I use any exterior form of apparatus, one eni of
Within the shell of the
which is connected to the pipes containing the water.
apparatus I place a ferule or short tube, at the bottom of which is a flange or enlarge-
ment which enters into a conical or wedge shaped recess formed in the sprinkling disc,
the two parts being connected together by white solder, or other material or
substance fused at a low or given temperature. The said ferule, (which is kept from

page_text: contact with water by a leather or other suitable washer) is then filled with callis or
dry sand, or non-fatty or -greasy substances, on the top of which sand I place a dise
or plug resting upon the said sand, and on the top of the said disc and resting upon
the upper flange of the ferule, I place a thin washer made of lead or other suitable
material, having a hole therein, of smaller diameter than the hole in the ferule, and
also smaller than the outer diameter of the disc or plug resting upon the sand, and
upon the said thin lead washer I place a washer of leather or other suitable material,
onto the top of which is screwed a ferule, preferably having a taper hole therein, the
opposite end of such said ferule being connected to the water pipe. If, therefore, a
fire occurs in a room in which one or more of these devices are placed, and the
temperature of the said room reaches the degree which would melt or fuse the solder
which for the time being keeps the disc in its place and prevents the escape of water,
if the increasing temperature melted the solder, the disc would be displaced and
lowered, whereupon the pressure of water would act upon the disc or plug resting
upon the sand, forcing both sand and disc from their position out of the orifice or
end of the fernle, and at once establishing a way for the full and free discharge of
water, but as the disc is connected to the apparatus or device by links or other suitable
mechanical devices, which only permit of the disc descending from the orifice of
the ferule a given distance, the said water impinges against the said disc, and
passes off in the form of spray, so as to distribute the water over a considerable area,
consequently automatically extinguishing the fire in the said room without other aid
or assistance.
By the employment of a sprinkler constructed in the manner above described, a
strong sensitive, reliable, and automatic device is obtained, and in consequence of
placing leather or other suitable material between the several parts forming the
sprinkler, no metallic connection takes place between the water and the fusible
joint or disc, therefore there is no waste of heat by continuous metallic conduction,
as is the case where the metallic connections are not broken, whereby this device is
rendered extremely sensitive.

page_text: An Improved Automatic Sprinkler for Extinguishing Fires.
I, EDWIN WALKER, trading as Edwin Walker and Co., of High Street,
Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to that class of fire extinguishers commonly called scaled or
valve "Sprinklers," which consist of a small device attached to the outlet of a water
pipe, placed in a room, the said device being so constructed that when a fire in a room
raises the temperature thereof to a certain degree, a sealed deflector or valve, con-
nected by white solder or other material fusible at a given temperature is displaced,
thereby permitting the escape or discharge of water, which by pressure is forced against
a deflector and rebounds off in the form of spray for the purpose of extinguishing the
accidental fire.
My improvements in such apparatus or devices consist, firstly, in making a certain
portion of the sealed part taper .or wedge shaped, or with a flange thereon,
so that when the two parts are soldered together, they cannot be accidentally
displaced by the pressure of the water until the solder or other fusible material has
melted by increased temperature.
Secondly, my improvements consist in the employment of callis or other dry sand
or non-fatty or -greasy substance, such as caoutchouc, or other elastic substance, placed
between the soldered deflector and the water; and,-thirdly,-in constructing such
said sprinklers or devices so that there is no metallic connection of the various parts
forming a sprinkler, between the fusible soldered part and the water holding part,
whether applied to sealed or valve sprinklers.
In order that my improvements may be more clearly understood, I will now make
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is section of an
automatic sealed "Sprinkler" having my improvements applied thereto. a represents
a ferule or short tube screwed or otherwise attached to the water supply pipe b.
On the bottom or outlet end of the tube a I attach by screw or other means
a rim c, composed of ebonite or other material, which is a non-conductor of heat, and
onto the said ebonite I place a metallic ring d, which ring is fastened by solder m or
other fusible material to the deflector plate or disc e.
I wish here to observe that the ebonite part c is made taper or conical, and fits into
a corresponding recess formed in the deflector or disc e so that when the parts are
soldered together, they cannot be displaced by the pressure of water above, as is
sometimes the case with those at present in use, and in order to keep the water separate
from the fusible solder and deflector plate, I insert in the orifice of the tube a, callis
or other dry sand, but I prefer to employ a hollow cone-shaped piece of caoutchouc f
or other like non-greasy material, so that when the solder which is holding the
deflector in position becomes melted by increased temperature, allowing such deflector
to fall away from the orifice of the tube a, as shewn in Fig. 2, then the pressure of

page_text: water will force the hollow cone-shaped capsule f from the orifice of the pipe, so as
to allow the water issuing therefrom to impinge against the deflector and be diffused
laterally in the form of spray, distributing such water over a considerable area, by
which means any fire taking place in a room would be extinguished without other aid
or assistance.
To allow the capsule f to be freely forced from the orifice of the pipe a I cover
or partially cover such capsule with tinfoil or other thin non-adhesive substance,
whereby the capsule is forced from its position by a very small pressure from
behind.
In order to catch and support the deflector after it falls away from the orifice of the
tube a, I fix to the said deflector three or other number of upright hooks g, which
catch on the edge of the rim h made secure on the outside of the tube a, and for the
purpose of covering the several parts comprising the sprinkler I screw onto the nut i
of the tube a vulcanite shield or cover j, which although forming no essential part of
the sprinkler, gives to it a neat and finished appearance.
By constructing sprinklers in the manner herein shewn and described, a strong,
sensitive, reliable, and automatic device is produced, and in consequence of placing
ebonite or other non-conductor of heat between the sensitive soldered parts and the
water holding parts, the metallic connection is broken, consequently there is no waste
of heat by continuous metallic conduction or radiation from the metal to the water, as
is the case in those sprinklers where the metallic connections between the deflector and
the water are not broken. By this means the heat received from the deflector is
maintained, and not lost by being absorbed by the water, thereby rendering the
sprinkler very sensitive and quick in its action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what E
claim is
Firstly. In automatic sprinklers having deflectors, the combination therewith of
the wedge or conical shaped parts, connected together by a fusible substance,
arranged in the manner substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
drawings.
Secondly. In automatic sprinklers having deflectors, the combination therewith of a
hollow cone-shaped flexible material, employed to keep the water from the fusible
solder until such solder is fused, and the parts separated, all arranged substantially as
shewn and described.
Thirdly. In automatic sprinklers, the use of non-metallic parts for severing
the metallic connection between the sensitive soldered part and the water holding
part.
Dated this 27th day of September 1888.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.