A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF EXTINGUISHING FIRES, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki, Proprietor of the
firm of J. Brandt and G. W. v. Nawrocki, Patent Solicitor and Civil Engineer
of 124 Leipzigerstrasse, Berlin, Germany, for an Invention of A NEW OR
IMPROVED METHOD OF EXTINGUISHING FIRES, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
à communication from Carl J. Mönch; of Gothiä,' in the German Empire
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von
Nawrocki at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May
1883:
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, Proprietor of the firm of J. Brandt and
G. W. v. Nawrocki, Patent Solicitor and Civil Engineer of 124 Leipzigerstrasse,
Berlin, Germany, "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF EXTINGUISHING FIRES, AND
APPARATUS THEREFOR," a communication from Carl J. Mönch; of Gotha; in the
German Empire,
This invention consists chiefly in the application of compressed carbonic acid;
without the addition of water, and in conducting the acid to the places where fires
are apt to occur, through pipes, some parts of which are made weaker than the
rest, so as to burst at a certain temperature thereby allowing the carbonic acid to
escape into the rooms where the high temperature occurs. The said weak portions
may be formed by spherical terminals or hollow buttons, or by fusible plugs
covered with thin plates of metal.
The carbonic acid is preferably stored in a cylindrical wrought iron receptacle
surmounted by a three way valve by which it may be directed into either of two
systems of pipes, one system being for automatic action by the rise of température,
and the other system for regulation by hand. The latter is provided with several
branch pipes which start from a distribution pipe having several valves for directing
the carbonic acid at will into any of the branch pipes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th November 1883.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, Proprietor of the firm of J. Brandt and
G. W. v. Nawrocki, Patent Solicitor. and Civil Engineer of 124 Leipzigerstrasse,
Berlin, Germany, "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF EXTINGUISHING FIRES AND
APPARATUS THEREFOR," a communication from Carl J. Mönch, of Gotha, in the
German. Empire,
This invention relates to apparatus for extinguishing fire either automatically or
by hand, by the application of compressed carbonic acid in a gaseous state and
without the addition of water.
This method of extinguishing fires is of great practical value, as in many, cases of
fire far more damage is caused by the application of great quantities of water
than by the fire itself.
Owing to the certain and efficient manner of its working the arrangement is
specially suitable for factories and other establishments which owing to the great
risks are not insured by the insurance companies or only on payment of heavy
premiums.
In describing this invention reference will be made to the accompanying
drawings of which Figs 1 to 8 represent the various appliances and the manner
in which the same are used for the purpose of extinguishing fire.
On a receptacle A (Fig. 1) filled with carbonic acid and tested to resist an
interior pressure of about 250 atmospheres, is arranged an outlet valve B having
two connecting tubes c and d by means of which the carbonic acid is conducted
into the pipe c¹ which is arranged for automatically extinguishing fires, and into
the pipe d' provided with an arrangement to be operated by hand for the purpose
of allowing the carbonic acid to escape. The two connecting tubes c and d are
provided with separate valves by means of which either of the conduits may be
shut off at will or when required.
1. The automatic arrangement consists in making some parts of the pipe, at
places where fires are apt to occur, weaker than the rest. These weak portions
(represented in two modifications by Figs. 2 and 3) are constructed in such manner
that when a fire breaks out near the same the rise of temperature raises the
pressure of the carbonic acid contained in the pipe which causes the weak sections
to burst, thereby permitting the carbonic acid to escape.
soon
From the above it will be easily understood that a fire will be extinguished as
as it breaks out, the whole process of extinction is performed in a few
seconds, and the quantity of carbonic acid required is insignificant especially as
the ingress of the same into the pipe c may be cut off at will as soon as the danger
is over.
The pipes are made of wrought iron or copper, and, like the receptacle A, tested
to the pressure of 250 atmospheres, while the spherical terminals or hollow
buttons (represented in Fig.2) arranged at suitable places of the pipes are capable
to resist a pressure of 70 to 80 atmospheres only. In the modification represented
by Fig 3 the sleeve k, screwed on the pipe or otherwise suitably attached to the
same, is closed by means of a small copper plate and a plug m of easily fusible
metal. When the temperature is raised to such a degree as to melt the metallic
plug, the plate is forced out, and thus the carbonic acid is allowed to escape.

page_text: In this arrangement the communication between the connecting tube cand
the pipe c is constantly open and the pipe c constantly filled with carbonic acid.
2. The arrangement for extinction by hand has for its object to afford means
to put out a fire as soon as discovered and which may be operated at will
without requiring a rise in the temperature as is the case with the automatic
arrangement.
For this purpose the receptacle A is connected by means of the tube d with the
distribution pipe f tested to the same pressure as the receptacle A. The pipe f¹ is
provided with a series of connecting tubes (corresponding to the number of rooms
connected with the apparatus) provided with valves or cocks (Fig 4) and con-
necting the pipe f¹ with the branch pipes leading to the different parts of the
building. The branch pipes d¹d are provided with openings at suitable places,
through which the carbonic acid escapes, when the valves or cocks are opened and
the communication is established between the branch pipes and the distribution
pipe f¹. The distribution pipe or intermediate apparatus f1 is placed within
easy reach of attendants so that carbonic acid may be turned on as soon as the
fire is discovered.
In the accompanying drawing the different stories of the building and the cocks
of the distribution pipe f1 by means of which communication with the apparatus
is established are designated with I-IV.
The reservoir A is placed in the cellar or in a fire proof space where it is least
subject to variations of temperature.
.
The modification represented in Figs 6, 7, 8 consists substantially in the addition
of a reservoir of larger size which serves, so to say, as an air vessel between the
receptacles filled with liquid carbonic acid and the pipes.
This reservoir has for its purpose to reduce the pressure in the pipes to 10 atmos-
pheres, thus giving security against any danger of explosion.
As shown by Figs. 6 and 7 a series of receptacles A A A are placed on a common
base plate symmetrically, to the reservoir B.
Each receptacle is placed in a cast iron cylinder and connected with the
reservoir B by means of a pipe b provided with a valve a.
The reservoir B rests on
a frame and is provided with two upright discharge pipes c and d and a pressure
gauge.
The pipes c and d are connected with the pipes c¹ and d¹ in the same manner, as
in the arrangement described above.
The reservoir B is generally in communication with one of the receptacles A A
only, so as to contain a quantity of carbonic acid equal to the contents of one
receptacle, and when this quantity is used a second receptacle is opened.
To increase the effect of the carbonic acid escaping from the pipes in case of fire,
fans W (see Fig 8) are mounted in suitable places so as to be set in motion by the
escaping acid and thereby dispersing the same over the whole surrounding space.
CLAIMS.

page_text: 4. The use of fans W; Fig 8, for dispensing the carbonic acid escaping from the
pipe conduits.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated.
İn
witness whereof I the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki have hereunto
set my haud and seal this 10th day of November: A.D. 1883.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKÍ. · (L.S.)