IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR SUBDUING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Scott, of Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND IN
THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR SUBDUING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES, PARTLY
APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 29th November 1867, and dated the 31st May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Scott at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st May
1867.
I, JOHN SCOTT, of Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND
IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR SUBDUING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES, PARTLY
APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to the construction of a comparatively in-
expensive fire engine or apparatus for extinguishing fires, which is so simple,
compact, and portable that when placed ready charged in some accessible
part of a building or ship it may be easily brought into action by a person of
ordinary ability and strength (even by a boy or girl), who may thereby readily
extinguish a fire of considerable magnitude occurring within a building or
ship.
The said engine or apparatus, which. I propose to name "the fire gun,"
consists of a strong air-tight barrel or vessel made of metal or other suitable
[Price Sd1

page_text: material capable of resisting a great internal pressure, furnished with a strong
plug firmly fixed into the barrel, and formed with inlet and outlet passages for
the purpose of charging and discharging the same. The plug consists of a
block of strong hard metal or other suitable material, within and through
which are formed two distinct but contiguous channels, each communicating
separately with the interior of the barrel or vessel. The charging chamber is
opened and shut by means of a valve placed in or near its inner end opening
inwards when pressure is applied from the outside, but when the external
pressure is removed or overcome the valve closes the inlet channel or passage.
The discharge channel is opened and closed by means of a valve orslide fitted
therein, and connected with a hand lever, spring, or trigger, or by a cock or
tap, or other suitable contrivance. There is a nipple to each channel pro-
jecting outwards to connect hose or tubes thereto, in order to facilitate the
charging or discharging of the apparatus. In place of the inlet and outlet
passages being arranged together, as previously described, they may be
separate, and placed in any convenient part of the barrel or pressure vessel.
I charge the barrel or vessel with air and water, or with other suitable fluid
or fluids by means of an apparatus, the arrangement and construction of which
constitute another part of my present improvements, and which I propose to
name the "three fold," because it serves three purposes, viz., it is employed
to charge the portable self-acting fire engine previously described, named
"the fire gun," it forms a reservoir to hold the charge in readiness, and is
in itself a handy and efficient engine for extinguishing fires, it consists, by
preference, of a cylinder open at the top or otherwise, and in the said cylinder
is a powerful force pump (fixed or otherwise), the outlet pipe of which passes
through the side of the cylinder on a level, or nearly so with the plug of the
"fire gun" or pressure chamber, so that the nipple thereof can be readily
connected with the said outlet tube, and receive therefrom the contents of the
reservoir of the charging vessel by means of a force pump combined therewith
actuated by hand power. I prefer to charge the "fire gun or pressure
chamber generally with air and water as follows:-First, I charge it with
compressed air at a pressure of fifteen pounds or thereabouts to the square
inch by means of the "three-fold" or charging vessel previously described,
after which I force in water, either simple, or holding in solution some
chemical or other substance which will not support combustion until the air
in the barrel is at a pressure of fourteen or fifteen atmospheres, more or less.
I then disconnect the charging apparatus and close the charging nipple ofthe
"fire gun" or pressure chamber with a screw or other cap to exclude dust
from the valve and channel, the apparatus being then ready for use. Thusa
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page_text: "
considerable number of "fire guns" or pressure chambers may be charged by
means of one "three-fold" or charging apparatus in a short time without
much labor or expense. If the pressure chamber or barrel of the "fire gun
is large, I prefer to attach a flexible hose with a nozzle to enable a person
more easily to direct the contents of the vessel on to the flames, while
the "fire gun" itself being heavy rests upon the ground. If however the
apparatus is small the flexible tube is not required, as a person of only
moderate strength could aim the discharge nipple thereof so as to strike the
fire with great precision by holding the barrel of the apparatus at the requisite
angle for so doing, the compressed air within the barrel discharging the water
or other fluid with a force proportioned to its compression as soon as the
discharge channel is opened. When the "fire gun or pressure vessel is
made with a handle, I prefer to fix the plug thereof with inlet and outlet
passages on the same side of the barrel as the handle, which thus serves to
protect the nipples of the plug. This arrangement has also the advantage of
saving space in packing and conveyance. I prefer to form the handle of the
apparatus with projections at the top and bottom, between which and the
vessel the flexible tube can be wound when out of use. The "fire gun or
pressure vessel and the "three-fold" or charging apparatus previously
described may be used as garden engines, or for cleaning windows, or for
defence against burglars, and for other similar domestic purposes. The "fire
gun" or pressure chamber may, if preferred, be of considerable size, in which
case I mount it upon a carriage and wheels, the force pump for charging,
according to this part of my improvements, being attached thereto and
actuated by means of a lever (or levers), which also serve as shafts, by which
the apparatus can be drawn from place to place as required, and if desired
several outlet passages may be arranged in combination with the charging and
discharging plug or plugs.
"
Another part of the Invention consists in charging the "fire gun" or other
suitable pressure vessel or chamber with carbonic acid gas or other elastic
fluidwhich will not support combustion, and by opening the discharge passage,
causing the said fluid to be discharged on to a fire by its own elastic force,
thereby extinguishing the fire by means of its own natural power over com-
bustion. For this purpose I first exhaust the barrel or pressure vessel of its
natural supply of air, and thus form a vacuum, after which I fill the said
vacuum with carbonic acid gas, or other elastic fluid or fluids incapable of
supporting combustion by means of a force pump at a considerable pressure,
and then the inlet valve being closed the apparatus is ready for use, and is
capable of extinguishing a fire of considerable magnitude and extent.

page_text: Another part of my improvements relates to an improved mode of con-
structing the barrel of the "fire gun" or pressure vessels employed for
extinguishing fires, and consists in forming them with cast or other solid ends,
by preference connected by a seamless cylindrical tube or cylinder,and formed
with projections for receiving and holding a portable force pump, which can
be employed for charging a series of such vessels by connecting and dis-
connecting the same from time to time as required. By thus constructing
the pressure vessels the inlet and outlet passages may be formed or cast in
connection therewith,greatadditional strength and soundness being obtained
thereby.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SCOTT, of Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Scott, Her special licence that I, the said John Scott, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Scott, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR SUBDUING AND EXTINGUISHING
FIRES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Scott, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 John Scott, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention relates, first, totheconstructionofacomparativelyinexpensive
engine or apparatus for extinguishing fires, which is so simple, compact, and
portable that when placed ready charged in some accessible part of a
building or ship it may be easily brought into action by a person of ordinary
ability and strength (even by a boy or girl), who may thereby readily
extinguish a fire of considerable magnitude occuring within a building or
ship.
And in order that this part of my Invention may be most fully understood
I will proceed to describe the same, reference being had to Sheet 1 of the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
The said engine or apparatus, which I prefer to construct as shewn in
section at Figure 1 (Sheet 1 of the Drawings), and which I propose to name
"the fire-gun" cousist of a strong air-tight cylinder or vessel a made of
metal or other suitable material capable of resisting a great internal pressure
furnished at the lower end with a strong plug 6 firmly fixed into the barrel a,
and formed with inlet and cutlet passages c, d, for the purpose of charging
and discharging the same. The plug consists of a block of strong hard
metal or other suitable material, within and through which are formed two
distinct but contiguous channels c,d,each communicating separately with the
interior of the barrel or vessel a. The charging channel c is opened and
closed by means of a valve e placed in or near its inner end opening inwards
when pressure is applied from the outside, but when the external pressure is
removed or overcome the valve e closes the inlet, channel, or passage c. The
discharge channel d is opened and closed by means of a valve or slide fitted
therein and connected with a hand lever, spring, or trigger, or by a cock or
tap d', or other suitable contrivance. There is a nipple (or screw socket) to
each channel projecting outward to connect hose or tubes thereto in order to
facilitate the charging or discharging of the apparatus. In place of the inlet
and outlet passages c, d, being arranged together as previously described they
may be placed further apart and in any convenient part of the barrel or
pressure vessel a, I charge the barrel or vessel a with air and water, or with
other suitable fluid or fluids by means of the apparatus shewn in section at
Figure 2 (Sheet 1 of the Drawings), the arrangement and construction of
which constitutes another part of my present improvements, and which I
propose to name the "three-fold" because it serves three purposes viz., it is
employed to charge the portable self-acting fire-engine previously described
named "the fire gun," and shown combined therewith at Figure 3; it forms

page_text: chamber
a,
"
"
"
a reservoir to hold the charge of water in readiness, and is in itself a handy
and efficient engine to be worked by hand for extinguishing fires, watering
gardens, or for other purposes; it consists of a cylinder fopen at the top or
closed by a moveable lid or cover, and in the said cylinder f' there is a powerful
force pump g, the outlet pipe g¹ of which passes through the side of the
cylinder f on a level or nearly so with the plug b of the "fire gun" or pressure
so that the charging orifice thereof can be readily connected with
the said outlet tubeg'and receive therefrom the contents of the reservoirf by
means of the force pump g combined therewith and actuated by hand power.
I prefer to charge the "fire gun or pressure chamber a generally with air
and water as follows:-First, I charge it with compressed air at a pressure of
fifteen pounds or thereabouts to the square inch by means of the "three-fold"
or charging vessel f previously described, after which I force in water either
simple or holding in solution some chemical or other substance which will not
support combustion until the air in the barrel is at a pressure of fourteen or
fifteen atmospheres,more or less; I then disconnect the tubeg' of the charging
apparatus, and close the charging orifice c of the "fire gun or pressure
chamber with a screw or other cap e' to exclude dust from the valve and
channel, the apparatus being then ready for use. Thus a considerable number
of "fire guns
or pressure chambers may be charged by means of one "three-
fold" or charging apparatus in a short time without much labour or expense.
If the pressure chamber or barrel a of the "fire gun" is large I prefer to
attach a flexible hose h with a nozzle ¹, to enable a person more easily to
direct the contents of the vessel on to the flames while the "fire gun" itself
being heavy rests upon the ground; if however the apparatus is sinall the
flexible tube is not required as a person of only moderate strength could aim
the discharge nipple thereof so as to strike the fire with great precision by
holding the barrel a of the apparatus at the requisite angle for so doing, the
compressed air within the barrel discharging the water or other fluid with a
force proportioned to its compression as soon as the discharge channel is
opened. When the "fire gun or pressure vessel a is made with a handle a'
as shown I prefer to fix the plug 6 thereof (formed with inlet and outlet
passagesc,d,)on the same side of the barrei as the handle a', which thus serves
to protect the nipples of the plug b. This arrangement has also the advantage
of saving space in packing and conveyance. I prefer to form the handle a
of the apparatus with projections a²,a², at the top and bottom, between which
and the vessel the flexible tube can be wound when out of use as shown at
Figure 1. The "fire gun or pressure vessel a and the "three-fold" or
charging apparatus previously described may be used as garden engines, or
"

page_text: for cleaning windows, or for defence against burglars, and for other similar
domestic purposes.
"
Figure 4 (Sheet 2), shows the apparatus applied for producing a portable
fountain. The "fire gun or pressure chamber a may if preferred be of
considerable size, in which case I mount it upon a carriage and wheels as
shown in section at Figure 5, and side view at Figure 6 (Sheet 2 of the
Drawings); the force pump i for charging, according to this part of my
improvements is attached to the pressure vessel a and actuated by means of a
leverj (or levers), which also serve as shafts by which the apparatus can be
drawn from place to place as required, and if desired several outlet passages
may be arranged in combination with the charging and discharging plug or
plugs. The same pump i may be employed for charging other pressure
vessels besides the one with which it is combined, by closing the inlet
channel with a tap, and thereby diverting the stream of water into another
channel which may be placed in communication with so as to charge another
vessel or cause the water to be discharged by the pump in the form of a jet.
Another part of my improvements relates to an improved mode of con-
structing the barrel of the "fire gun" or pressure vessels employed for
extinguishing fires, and consists in forming them with cast or other solid
ends 6 (as shown at Figures 7 and S,) by preference connected with a
seamless tube or cylinder a, and formed with projections or guides b, b', for
receiving and holding a portable force pump c (Figure 9) which can be
employed for charging a series of such vessels a by connecting and discon-
necting the said pump c from time to time as required. There is a projection c¹
on the pump c which enters a recess in the upper guide b' to lock and hold
the pump firmly in position, there is also a turn button or clip c² which when
turned over the handle c³ of the piston rod when down (as shown at Figure 7)
prevents the piston rod from rising, and enables a person to use the handle c³
to assist in carrying the apparatus from place to place, and thereby avoid the
expense and incumbrance of an additional handle for that purpose which
would otherwise be required. By thus constructing the pressure vessels the
inlet and outlet passages may be formed or cast in connection therewith or
form part of such solid ends, great additional strength and soundness being
obtained thereby.
37
Another part of my Invention consists in charging the "fire gun or other
suitable pressure vessel or chamber with carbonic acid gas or other elastic
fluid which will not support combustion, and by opening the discharge passage
causing the said fluid to be discharged on to a fire by its own elastic
force thereby extinguishing the fire by means of its natural power over

page_text: combustion. For this purpose I first exhaust the barrel or pressure vessel of
its natural supply of air, and thus form a vacuum, after which I fill the said
vacuum with carbonic acid gas or other elastic fluid or fluids incapable of
supporting combustion by means of a force pump, or otherwise, at a con-
siderable pressure, and then the inlet valve being closed the apparatus is
ready for use and is capable of extinguishing a fire of considerable magnitude
and extent
combustion. For this purpose I first exhaust the barrel or pressure vessel of
its natural supply of air, and thus form a vacuum, after which I fill the said
vacuum with carbonic acid gas or other elastic fluid or fluids incapable of
supporting combustion by means of a force pump, or otherwise, at a con-
siderable pressure, and then the inlet valve being closed the apparatus is
ready for use and is capable of extinguishing a fire of considerable magnitude
and extent
In witness whereof, I, the said John Scott, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings, .
Chancery Lane, W.C.
J. SCOTT. (L.S.)