Improvements in and relating to Steam Fire Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam Fire Engines.
I, JOHN BLAKE TARR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
18 South Emerson Street, in the City of New Bedford, County of Bristol and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Machinist, 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 :-
The objects of my improvement are-First, to provide a steam fire engine of
comparatively light weight, but having its pump operating mechanism so adjustable
as to permit it to force when desired, one or more jets of water over the highest
buildings without materially increasing the pressure of steam within the boiler;
second, to so locate the perpendicular force-pump relatively to the steam engine
thereof that the machine can be turned within its length, although, when in action,
there is no sensible shaking motion of the steam fire engine; and thus chafing-wear
of the hose is avoided, and the engine is capable of long service without repairs.
I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a steam fire engine constructed in accordance
with my invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same taken in front of the boiler
and steam engine thereof, the front truck and pump being removed.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section through the pump and through the axle
of the front truck, showing the king-bolt thereof.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the water chamber under the pump.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the brake-lever of the pump.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable pivot pins of the
brake-lever.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the king-bolt shackle.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the clamping bolt and nut for the shackle.
Figure 9 is a vertical section through a modified form of king-bolt shackle.
In said drawings A represents the frame, which consists of two flat bars standing
on their edge and arched about the middle of their length to permit the wheels B
of the front truck to pass thereunder, and thus turn the engine substantially in its
own length in narrow streets. The fore ends of the frame A rest upon and are
bolted to the upper ring B2 of the fifth wheel, while the rear ends of said frame A
are pivotally connected to clips a that rest upon and are attached to the rear end of
leaf springs a². The middle portion of said springs rests upon the rear axle of the
machine, to which they are secured in any well known manner. Said rear axle is
carried by the rear wheels C of the engine. The front ends of the leaf springs a
rest under and are bolted to lugs d that are bolted to the sides of the boiler D.
Said boiler is supported by the frame A by means of bolts a³, passing through said
frame and tapped into the boiler shell.
To the sides of the boiler adjacent to its top are also secured the vertical steam
cylinders D, by means of suitable angle plates. Steam is conducted from the
boiler to the steam chest of the cylinders D through the steam pipe d¹ controlled
by a valve d² suitably located. Steam exhausts from the steam chest through the
pipe d, and is preferably conducted thence into the smoke stack of the boiler.
Each cylinder D is provided with a piston and piston rod d'; the lower end of the
latter being secured to a cross head e adapted to slide on a guide plate a secured
to the frame A. To the lower portion of said frame are also secured the bearing

page_text: plates A, for the horizontal crank shaft F of the steam engine. Said shaft is
supported in the middle of its length by a bearing block A³ secured to the boiler
and carries at each end thereof a crank whose crank pin is received in the lower
end of the connecting rod E. The upper end of said rod is pivoted to the cross
head e, and transmits motion from the latter to the crank shaft F. Upon said
crank shaft are also mounted the eccentrics f" provided with rods f to operate the
valves in the steam chest of each steam cylinder.
To operate the double cylinder pump of the steam fire engine, the crank shaft F
has formed thereon adjacent to its middle portion a crank, on which crank pin is
pivoted the lower end of a connecting rod G. The upper end of said rod is
pivoted to the lower end of the cross head G, that is adapted to slide vertically
upon a guide plate D secured to the boiler. To the upper portion of the same
cross head G2 is pivoted the lower end of a connecting rod G³ that has its upper
end made to receive the crank pin of a crank, that is mounted upon the rear end
of a horizontal shaft H, used to oscillate the brake lever I of the pump.
construction the cross head G2 unites and moves up and down with the connecting
rods G and G³, although the connecting rod G oscillates also at the same time in a
direction fore and aft of the machine, while the rod G oscillates transversely of
said machine. The rear portion of the shaft H is carried in a hearing having two
laterally diverging branches 42 secured to the arched top of the frame A, while the
fore end of said shaft is carried in a bearing mounted on top of a standard 4 resting
upon a cross frame B³ that rests upon and is fastened to the upper ring B' of the
fifth wheel, and also the lower portion of the frame A. To the sides of the
standard h³, divergent braces * are secured, that have their lower ends bolted to
the upper ring B of the fifth wheel.
Upon the front portion of the shaft H is mounted a double crank or brake-lever I
having two slots, lengthwise thereof. Each slot receives adjustably therein a
crank pink, upon which is mounted the connecting rod K of the piston rod K2 of
the piston K of the pump. To retain each crank pink positively in any position
that it may be set within the slot said pin is provided with a collar to bear
against one side of the brake-lever, while a loose collar and nut bear against the
opposite side. Projecting from the inner face of the collar there is a pin that
is adapted to be received in any one of a series of holes made part way into the
lever I above (or under) each slot. The pink is flattened at the point where it
engages with the slot to prevent it from rotating under the impulse of the connecting
rod K. Each piston Kis received in a pump-barrel or water cylinder K. Said
cylinders are open at both ends and rest upon and are secured to a water chamber L,
and the latter is mounted upon and secured to the cross frame B³, by means of
screws passing through the bottom of said chamber and into the cross frame. The
water chamber is divided into four parts by means of vacuum valves and pressure
valves 1. Said valves are flap valves of ordinary construction, preferably
rectangular, and set inclined at an angle of nearly forty-five degrees. The
vacuum valves are covered by removable cap plates * so as to be easily reached
when desired.
The four spaces within the water chamber are the vacuum space L' adjacent to
the suction hose, and on top of which the vacuum air chamber is mounted; the
two pump chambers L³ under the pump barrels, and the water pressure chamber L
on top of which the pressure air chamber is mounted. In the sides of the
chamber L are three nozzles or hose couplings L' to which leading-hose can
be coupled. The chamber L' is also in communication at times with the chamber L
by means of the side pipe L' that carries the relief valve L' as usual in steam fire
engines.
The upper ring B of the fifth-wheel rests upon the ring B of the front truck
Said ring B' rests upon a cross-shaped frame B that has on the sides of each arm
two perforated lugs to receive screws to secure it to the ring B. To the rear
arm of the frame B, on the under side thereof, is secured an arched bar B, the
outer ends of which are suspended from the rear ends of leaf springs a' by mean

page_text: of links, as usual. The front ends of said springs a¹ are secured to the underside
of a bowed bar B' in front of the ring B', and properly braced and secured to the
latter. Said bar B7 has in its centre a rectangular perforation 67 to receive the
tongue of the machine.
The two rings B B of the fifth wheel are retained in proper relative position
by means of the king-bolt M, the square or polygonal head of which is received,
in part, in the frame, B3. Said bolt passes through said frame and through the
centre of the frame B, and extends below the latter. Its lower portion is screw-
threaded and made to engage with the screw-tapped hole in the top of the shackle m,
the branches of which straddle the axle carried by the front wheels B. The
shackle m is adjustably clamped to the axle by means of a small bolt n preferably
passing through a horizontal perforation in the axle and through vertical slots m
in said shackle. The head of the bolt is provided with a handle n² to easily rotate
it. Upon said bolt is placed a nut n³ having a flat boss n that is received within
one of the slots m² and thus kept from rotating, while the bolt is rotated. When
the engine is going to a fire or returning therefrom, it is proper that its weight
should rest on the springs thereof, and for this purpose the shackle m is left free
to move up and down over the axle by slackening the bolt n. But, while the
engine and pump is working it is best that it should be free of oscillation and that
it should rest upon the axle. This is accomplished in part by tightening the shackle
on the axle by means of the bolt n. But to prevent the fifth wheel and its
frames B B from playing up and down upon the king-bolt, a nut N, preferably
provided with a rim of large diameter to be operated as a hand wheel, is mounted
upon the king-bolt between the shackle m and the bottom frame B. When the
engine is in operation said nut N is run up on the king-bolt tightly against the
underside of the frame B, and the weight of the engine thus rests solidly upon
the axle.
In the modified form of king-bolt shackle shown in Figure 9, the slots for the
clamping bolt are dispensed with, and the clamping hand screw n¹ is made to pass
through the bottom of the shackle, so that its upper end can be forced against the
under side of the axle.
The boiler is provided, as usual, with water gauges p, whistle, P, steam gauge S,
and safety valve R.
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
I claim, is:-
1. In a steam fire engine, the combination of a steam boiler, four wheels carrying
it, a pair of pump cylinders standing upon the front truck, pump pistons, a brake-
lever slotted at both ends and connected with each piston, a horizontal shaft for
said brake-lever, a steam engine to rock said shaft, and an arched frame connecting
the front and rear trucks whereby the front wheels are permitted to pass under
said frame, substantially as described.
2. In a steam fire engine, the combination of a steam boiler, two trucks carrying
it, a pair of vertical pump cylinders upon the front truck, pump pistons controlled
by a brake lever upon a horizontal shaft, and a steam engine to rock said shaft,
said engine baving a vertical cylinder, its piston connected with a horizontal crank
shaft, two connecting rods and a crank uniting said crank shaft with the brake-
lever shaft, and a cross-head between said connecting rods and uniting them,
substantially as described.
3. In a steam fire engine, the combination of a steam boiler, wheels carrying it,
a pair of vertical pump cylinders upon the front truck, pump pistons having the
upper end of their connecting rods mounted upon pins & having a collar provided
with a projecting pin k³, a slotted brake-lever having a series of holes adjacent
to its slots, a horizontal shaft carrying the brake-lever at one end and a crank at
the other end, and a steam engine connected with said crank to rock said shaft,
substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In a steam fire engine, the combination of the front truck thereof, a pair of
vertical pump-cylinders upon said front truck, a horizontal frame B³ having the
upper ring of the fifth wheel attached thereto, the horizontal frame B carrying
the lower ring of said fifth wheel, the king bolt passing through said frames B³ B³,
a shackle in engagement with the screw-threaded lower end of the king-bolt, a
clamping bolt passing through the shackle, and a band nut upon the king-bolt, and
located above said shackle, substantially as described.
.5. In a steam fire engine, the combination of a steam boiler, wheels carrying it,
a pair of vertical pump cylinders upon the front truck, pump pistons adjustably.
controlled by a slotted brake lever connected at each end with said pump pistons,
a horizontal shaft carrying said brake lever, a crank on one end of said shaft,
and a steam engine connected with said crank to rock said shaft, substantially as
described.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of September 1896.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.