Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
A Communication from ALEXANDER OSKAR RICHTER of 1 Sachsenplatz 3, Dresden
A, Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 111 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
There are in existence fire-extinguishing apparatus (in the form of vessels or
grenades) which, in case of fire, are thrown into it and are supposed to extinguish
it by generating gases. Experience has shown that the efficiency of these apparatus
has been over-estimated; they are, in reality, suitable only for closed spaces and
give a false sense of security; for they give an impression that all necessary,
precautions have been adopted when several such grenades are kept ready for use.
This improved extinguishing compound is. much to be preferred to such
grenades, and is used, not in receptacles, or vessels, but dissolved or mixed in water
and is pumped or thrown on the fire together with the water. As it is possible
in this way to increase the extinguishing action of the water, the hitherto used
grenades are eclipsed in every respect. As water is always used in cases of fire,
and it is not pretended that it has become superfluous, it becomes necessary to have
water ready in case of fire, and to maintain the necessary vessels and pipes in
proper order. The extinguishing compound is delivered on to the fire in a natural
manner together with the water.
Such an extinguishing compound forms the object of this invention. The
compound was discovered by my correspondent during experiments when chief
of a fire-brigade. It has been found highly efficacious, is cheap, and is not
subject to deterioration or chemical decomposition when kept for a long time,
and can be conveniently stored in a dry state. It is so concentrated that for
1 hecto-litre of water only two small boxes of a joint capacity of 1 litre are required,
and the compound is easily dissolved in water. It is only necessary to keep the
substances ready in boxes or packets and, in case of fire add them to the water;
so that it can be readily and easily used.
The compound is constituted by 5 parts by weight of alum and 1 part of
natron. This proportion has been found very effective, but need not be observed
very strictly. The compound acts by coating or impregnating burning objects
and excluding the air, thus extinguishing the fire or preventing the objects not
yet attacked by the fire from igniting. Experience shows for instance that brooms,
straw, hay and woodwork which began burning in a room can be extinguished
in a few minutes, which objects were burning brightly before the act of
extinguishing began, and part of them even formed a red-glowing mass.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A compound for use in extinguishing fire composed of about 5 parts by
weight by alum and 1 part of. natron.
2. A fire extinguishing liquid composed of about 5 parts by weight of alum and 1
part by weight of natron dissolved in water substantially as, described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1897
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant. 1