IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Robert Brown of Providence, State of Rhode
Island, United States of America, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Joseph Robert Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1882.
JOSEPH ROBERT BROWN of Providence, State of Rhode Island, United States of
America. IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.”
"
My invention has reference to improvements in devices for distributing water or
other fire extinguishing fluid on a fire automatically that is to say; the devices are
operated by the action of the heat caused by a fire, and will distribute the fire
extinguishing fluid at once on the fire, without any external aid or human agency,
so that a disastrous fire will be impossible.
The invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of the devices, and
of an alarm valve by which the reliability is materially increased and prompt
action ensured. Figure 1 is a view, and Figure 2 a vertical section of an automatic
fire extinguisher provided with a check valve, a deflector forming the seal and
arranged to move away from the outlet when released, so as to spread the dis-
charging fluid, and a slitted distributor surrounding deflector. Figure 3 is a view
and Figure 4 a vertical section through the center of an automatic fire extinguisher
provided with a perforated distributor, a seal secured by a solder fusible at a low
temperature, and a valve by which the fluid is prevented from reaching the soldered
seal. Figure 5 is a view and Figure 6 a vertical section of an automatic fire
extinguisher provided with a deflector secured by a solder fusible at a low tem-
perature, and a valve secured to a stem and made in part or whole of a material
fusible at a low temperature. Figure 7 is a sectional view of a double distributor
provided with a differential valve secured by solder. Figure 8 is a sectional view
of a perforated distributor the outlet to which is closed by a ball secured by a
solder fusible at a low temperature. Figure 9 is a sectional view of an automatic
fire extinguisher provided with a hollow globe having slits cut into the same, and

page_text: a deflector valve, the stem of which is secured by fusible solder. Figure 10 is a
sectional view and Figure 11 a top view of an alarm valve, placed into the supply
main of the system of pipes by which the fire extinguishing fluid is supplied to the
automatic fire-extinguishers, arranged to give an alarm when one or more of the
automatic fire extinguishers have been put in operation by a fire. In the drawings,
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. Referring
now to Figures 1 and 2 a is the inlet; b is an enlargement; c is a check valve dis
a deflector closing the outlet; it is provided with the stem e; the face of the
deflector may be secured and preferably is secured by solder to the outlet, but the
steme e, may be secured by solder in the guide or bridge f; g is an annular shield
provided with slits and openings, by which the fluid discharged from the outlet,
and spread by the deflector, is broken up into fine spray and thus discharged on
the fire. The check-valve c performs an important function by separating the air
from the fluid in the system of pipes. When in the ordinary use a building is
fitted with pipes to supply water to a system of automatic fire extinguishers, the
sealed extinguishers are secured to the outlets of the pipes; when now the water is
let onto the system the air is compressed and forced into the extinguishers; in the
course of time the water will absorb the air and will enter the extinguisher; the
presence of water will retard the prompt action of the heat on the solder, and the
extinguisher will not act as quickly as it would were air only contained therein.
By the use of the check valve c the air is kept from contact with the water and as
it cannot escape and cannot be absorbed the quick and prompt action is ensured.
Referring now to Figures 4 and 6 h is a valve placed near the inlet, to exclude the
water from the extinguisher, and as these devices are used in a pendant form, the
water may, from time to time be drawn from the whole system of pipes, which is
not the case when the inlet is left open and the water enters the extinguisher.
The second advantage is, that no water being near the soldered joint at the action
of the extinguisher is more prompt and reliable. The valves h h may be made of
any suitable metal and may be in part or whole made of a metal fusible at a low
temperature, so that, should by any means the seal at i stick, in case of a fire, the
valve will in a short time melt, and allow the water to reach the perforated dis-
tributor to be discharged on the fire. In Figure 7 two valves of different diameter
are shown, both are secured by solder; k is the smaller valve, whilst is of much
larger area; both are connected together by the stem e; the internal pressure
acting on the larger area of the valve will force both valves from their seats, as
soon as the solder has become sufficiently weakened by heat and allows the water
to flow through the perforated distributors. These distributors are made of sheet
inctal secured to the central metal part either by bending the edge over the rim
of the central cast-metal part or by otherwise securing the same as is shown in the
drawing, Referring to Figures 10, and 11, a sectional view of an attachment to
a system of pipes distributed over a building and provided with sealed automatic
fire extinguishers, is shown. In such a system it is important that an alarm be
given as soon as one or more of the automatic fire extinguishers are put into action
by the heat of a fire: but it is also important that no false alarm shall be given.
a is the inlet pipe, extending into the pipe m which is of much larger diameter
than the inlet pipe; n is a branch pipe placed near the bottom of the pipe m; in
the ascending portion of the pipe n is located a valve o the spindle of which is
connected by means of a rock shaft with any means desired to operate an alarm.
When the valve rises from its seat the motion of the valve will be transmitted to
the rock shaft and may release a button to which a weight is attached or release
any other device by means of which an alarm is given. Such a valve would be
liable to rise by the exertion of a sudden increase in pressure such as is known as
the water-hammer caused by the sudden closing of a valve in a system of pipes
having a water supply under pressure and will also open by the diminution of
pressure caused by the gradual absorption of the air in the pipes by the water;
and to prevent such rising of the valve the check-valve r is used which will rise
when there is a change in the relative pressure, and will close automatically thus

page_text: forming a relief-valve and by-way. When, however, one or more of the automatic
fire extinguishers are in operation the valve r will rise to the seat q and close the
by-way. p is the outlet to the system of pipes. No false, alarm is possible when
this device is used, and in case of fire a prompt alarm is ensured. Having thus
fully described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent.
First: In an automatic fire extinguisher the deflector valve d secured by fusible
solder to close the outlet, and constructed to disperse the water as described.
Second: The combination with the deflector valve, of the slitted distributor g
constructed to break up the water into spray, as described. Third: in combination
with an automatic fire extinguisher, a check valve constructed, to separate the
water from the air in the distributor as described. Fourth in an automatic fire
extinguisher the combination with a scal secured by fusible solder of a valve placed
above the seal so as to prevent the entrance of water to the distributor until it is
opened by the action of heat. Fifth in an automatic fire extinguisher the com-
bination with a seal secured by fusible solder, of a valve made in part or whole of
a fusible material as described. Sixth. In an automatic fire extinguisher the
combination with two distributors of two valves of different diameters as described.
Seventh: a perforated distributor, the inlet of which is closed by means of a ball
secured by fusible solder as described. Eighth in a system of automatic fire
extinguishers the combination with an alarm valve of a by-way provided with a
check-valve constructed to relieve any sudden pressure of the main and close the
by-way when one or more extinguishers are in operation, to ensure the rising of
the main valve and the operation of the alarm, as described.
:
In witness whereof I, the said Joseph Robert Brown have hereunto set my
hand and seal this, the Fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord,
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness
JOSEPH A. MILLER.
JOSEPH ROBERT BROWN. (L.S.)