Improvements in Electric Fire Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Fire Engines.
A communication by GEORGE W. Cox and ELMER E. SMULL, both of Stuart,
in the County of Guthrie and State of Iowa, United States of America.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND, M.I.M.E., of W. P. Thompson & Co., The Agency
for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an electric fire engine adapted to
be operated as required to move it to and from a fire without any extraneous force
to operate it when stationary at a fire by means of a storage battery on the
carriage combined with the motor on the engine or by connecting the same motor
with an extraneous electric conductor, and to carry a water supply to be utilised
at a fire before connection is made with an extraneous source of water supply.
The invention comprises an electric motor of the usual form having its shaft
extended the length of the vehicle and projecting rearwardly from the motor; a
rotary pump; an induction pipe leading to one side of the pump and an eduction
pipe leading therefrom; a branch pipe leading from the eduction pipe to the water
tank and provided with a valve so that communication between the pump and
tank can be opened and closed at pleasure; a branch pipe extending from the
eduction pipe and adapted for connecting a flexible hose therewith and also pro-
vided with a valve, so that when the valve is closed and the valve in the branch
open, the pump can be advantageously operated for filling the tank with water
by connecting the hose with a water supply opening one valve and closing another;
a water tank which may be of any desirable size and shape; a T joint on the
eduction pipe, one member of which communicates direct with the tank and the
other with a hose designed to be connected with any suitable source of water supply
such as a well, fire plug or the like. The hose may be attached to the eduction
pipe to direct the water as desired. Cut-off valves are provided to direct the
water through either the tank pipe or the hose.
When the valve is closed and the other valve opened, the water supply in the
tank can be immediately utilised to suppress a fire while the hose is being con-
nected with an extraneous source of water supply and the valve then closed and
the other valve opened as required to utilise water secured from an extraneous
source of supply. Corresponding cut-off valves are located in the branches of the
eduction pipe and as required for filling the tank by the operation of the pump.
By closing the valve and opening the other valve in the induction pipe and open-
ing the valve in the branch and closing the valve in the branch of the eduction
pipe and then connecting the hose with a water supply and operating the pump,
the tank will be readily and advantageously filled with water.
When this engine is used, it is desirable to place at suitable points adjacent to

page_text: the water supply stations plug switches connected with a live electric wire bearing
a light or power current, said plug switches being located at points easily accessible
to firemen Mounted on the engine are two wires arranged to be coupled to the
switch and leading to a rheostat mounted on the machine in the rear of the driver's
seat. The wires lead from the rheostat to the motor. Hence when the wires are
connected with the plug switch and the current turned on the motor is operated
and the pump of course driven.
In a modified form a chamber is provided above the water tank to receive a
storage battery cushioned on all sides by the springs. Wires lead from 'the battery
to the cut-out switch and from thence to the motor. By this means the engine
can be utilised advantageously at places where it is impracticable to make con-
nection with an extraneous electric conductor.
There is a shaft mounted rotatably in the machine frame and having a bevel
gear wheel on its upper end arranged to be placed in mesh with a like gear wheel
on the shaft of the motor. This shaft is moved vertically as required to throw
it in and out of gear by means of a bell crank lever connected with the shaft
and with a hand lever fulcrummed in proximity to the driver's seat. A spring
actuated pawl on the lever engages a segmental rack to hold the lever in position.
On the lower end of the shaft is a gear wheel in mesh with a wheel on a shaft,
and this latter shaft is geared to the axle of the driving wheel by means of the
sprocket or other gearing. It is obvious that the carriage may be readily con-
trolled by the manual operation of the lever to propel it as required to move the
engine from place to place without the application of any extraneous force.
A hand wheel on the shaft is mounted in the forward portion of the engine
and connected with the front axle in a common way to control the direction of the
engine.
A hose carriage also of ordinary construction is detachably coupled to the rear
end of the engine.
Dated 101
A communication by GEORGE W. Cox and ELMER E. SMULL, both of Stuart,
in the County of Guthrie and State of Iowa, United States of America.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND, M.I.M.E., of W. P. Thompson & Co., The Agency
for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
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:-
The object of this invention is to provide an electric fire engine adapted to
be operated as required to move it to and from a fire without any extraneous force
to operate it when stationary at a fire by means of a storage battery on the
carriage combined with the motor on the engine, or by connecting the same motor
with an extraneous electric conductor, and to carry a water supply to be utilised
at a fire before connection is made with an extraneous source of water supply, and

page_text: the results contemplated are accomplished by this invention, hereinafter set forth,
pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 shows the engine in side elevation;
Figure 2 shows a top or plan view of the same,
Figure 3 shows a transverse section through the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and
illustrates the manner of connecting the pump with the tank as required to fill
the tank with water by the operation of the pump;
Figure illustrates, diagrammatically, the means for conducting an electric
current from suspended wires to the motor carried by the vehicle;
Figure 5 shows a side elevation of a modified form and also showing a hose
carriage connected with the engine;
Figure 6 shows a transverse section through the line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 shows a transverse section through line 7-7 of Figure 5;
Figure 8 shows a detail view illustrating the device for throwing the motor
in and out of gear.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference letter A is used to
indicate the vehicle frame, A2 the front wheels, and A³ the rear ones.
A seat A⭑
is mounted on the frame upon which the driver or operator may sit. Directly
above the rear axle, on a suitable base B is mounted an electric motor B2 of the
usual form having its shaft B3 extended longitudinally of the vehicle and project-
ing rearwardly from the motor.
C indicates a rotary pump of ordinary construction mounted on the base B and
having the shaft B2 extended therethrough, with the valve C of the pump attached
to the said shaft.
Cindicates an induction pipe leading to one side of the pump, and C' an eduction
pipe leading therefrom.
C is a branch pipe leading from the eduction pipe C to the water tank and is
provided with a valve, so that communication between the pump and tank can
be opened and closed at pleasure.
Co is a branch pipe extending from the pipe C and adapted for connecting a
flexible hose therewith and also provided with a valve, so that when said valve
is closed and the valve in the branch C³ open the pump can be advantageously
operated for filling the tank with water by connecting the hose D³ with a water
supply opening the valve D³ and closing the valve D.
D indicates a water tank which may be of any desirable size and shape mounted
on the frame A.
D indicates a T-joint on the induction pipe C³, one member of which com-
municates direct with the said tank and the other with a hose D³ designed to be
connected with any suitable source of water supply, such as a well, fire plug, or
the like. A hose 14 may be attached to the eduction pipe to direct the water as
desired. Cut-off valves D³ and Do are provided to direct the water through either
the tank pipe or the hose.
When the valve 15 is closed and the valve De opened, the water supply in the
tank can be immediately utilised to suppress a fire while the hose 10³ is being
connected with an extraneous source of water supply, and the valve Do then closed
and the valve D³ opened as required to utilise water secured from an extraneous
source of supply. Corresponding cut-off valves D and D are located in the
branches C5 and C of the eduction pipe C, as indicated in Figure 3, and as
required for filling the tank by the operation of the pump. By closing the valve D
and opening the valve D³ in the induction pipe C and opening the valve in the
branch C and closing the valve in the branch C of the eduction pipe C and then
connecting the hose D with a water supply and operating the pump, the tank will
be readily and advantageously filled with water.
When this engine is used, it is desirable to place at suitable points adjacent to
the water supply stations plug switches F connected with a live electric wire bear-

page_text: ing a light or power current, said plug switches being located at points easily
accessible to firemen. Mounted on the engine are two wires 1 arranged to be
coupled to the switch and leading to a rheostat H mounted on the machine in the rear
of the driver's seat. The wires lead from the rheostat to the motor. Hence when
the wires are connected with the plug switch and the current turned on, the
motor is operated and the pump of course driven.
In the modified form shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, a chamber J is provided
above the water tank to receive a storage battery J2 cushioned on all sides by
the springs J³. Wires J lead from the battery to the cut-out switch J5 and from
thence to the motor. By this means the engine can be utilised advantageously at
places where it is impracticable to make connection with an extraneous electric
conductor.
K indicates a shaft mounted rotatably in the machine frame and having a bevel
gear wheel K on its upper end arranged to be placed in mesh with a like gear
wheel K3 on the shaft of the motor. This shaft is moved vertically as required
to throw it in and out of gear by means of a bell crank lever L connected with
the shaft and with a hand lever L fulcrummed in proximity to the driver's seat.
A spring actuated pawl L³ on the lever engages a segmental rack L to hold the
lever in position.
On the lower end of the shaft L is a gear wheel M in mesh with a wheel Mon a
shaft M³, and this latter shaft is geared to the axle of the driving wheel by means
of the sprocket or other gearing M. It is obvious that the carriage may be
readily controlled by the manual operation of the lever L³ to propel it as required
to move the engine from place to place without the application of any extraneous
force.
N indicates a hand wheel on the shaft №2 which is mounted in the forward
portion of the engine and connected with the front axle in a common way to
control the direction of the engine.
P indicates a hose carriage also of ordinary construction detachably coupled to
the rear end of the engine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an electric fire engine, a water tank and a rotary pump mounted on a
carriage, an induction pipe C3 connected with the pump and provided with a
T-joint D, one branch of which is connected with the tank and the other branch
provided with a branch C5 leading to the tank and a valve in the branch for closing
communication between the pump and tank, and also provided with a brunch C
and a valve in said branch, and a hose attached to said branch for distributing
water, all arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth for the
purposes stated.
2. In an electric fire engine, an electric motor, a pump, a water supply tank,
a pipe communicating with the pump and tank and provided with an intervening
valve and also provided with a branch for connecting a hose leading to a water
supply and a valve in said branch and a second pipe communicating with the
pump and tank and provided with a valve between the pump and the tank and a
branch having a distributing hose attached thereto, and a valve for closing com-
munication with said hose, arranged and combined to operate in the manner set
forth for the purposes stated.
3. The combination in an electric fire engine upon a suitable carriage, a pump,
a water supply tank, a pipe leading from the pump to the tank and a valve for
closing communication between the pump and tank and a branch extending
from said pipe having a hose attached thereto for filling the tank and a valve
for closing communication with said hose, a storage battery, an electric motor,
means for electrically connecting the motor and battery, a second pipe leading

page_text: from the pump to the tank and provided with a valve for closing communication
with the tank and a branch for attaching hose thereto to distribute water and a
valve in the branch for closing communication with the hose, means for connecting
the storage battery with an extaneous electric conductor and means for transmitt-
ing power from the motor to the traction wheels of the carriage for the purposes
stated.
4. In an electrical fire engine, the combination of an electric motor and a rotary
pump on the same shaft, a suitable water tank supported between the wheels of
the carriage, a storage battery mounted on the tank, wires for connecting the
storage battery and motor and the pipes leading from the tank to the pump, a
hose connected with one of said pipes to draw water from a suitable source of
water supply to the pump and tank and a hose connected with the other pipe to
distribute water from the tank and pump, as and for the purposes stated.
5. In an electrical fire engine, the combination of an electric motor and a
rotary pump on the same shaft, a suitable water tank supported between the wheels
of the carriage, a storage battery mounted on the tank, wires for connecting the
storage battery and motor, a T-pipe connected with the pump and one branch
thereof communicating with the tank and the other branch provided with a hose
for drawing water and a second T-pipe connected with the pump and the tank
and provided with a hose for distributing water and suitable gearing for connecting
the motor and pump shaft with the driving axle, substantially as and for the
purposes stated.
6. An electric fire engine comprising a suitable carriage, an electric motor, a
pump, a water supply tank, a pipe leading from the tank and a valve for closing
said pipe, a pipe leading to an extraneous water supply and a valve for closing
said pipe, a pipe leading from the pump to the tank and provided with a valve
for closing said pipe, a hose for distributing water from said pipe and a valve in
the pipe for closing communication with said hose, a storage battery, means for
detachably connecting said battery with the motor, means for detachably connect-
ing the motor with an extraneous electric conductor and means for detachably
connecting the motor with the traction wheels of the carriage, all arranged and
combined to operate in the manner set forth.
7. In an electric fire engine, the combination with a carriage of a tank for
storing water, a storage battery located on top of the tank, an electric motor,
means for connecting the motor and storage battery, a pump, a pipe communicat-
ing with the pump and tank and provided with an intervening valve and also
provided with a branch for connecting a hose leading to a water supply and a valve
in said branch and a second pipe communicating with the pump and tank and
provided with a valve between the pump and the tank and a branch having a dis-
tributing hose attached thereto and a valve for closing communication with said
hose, means for connecting the storage battery with an electric conductor that
is extraneous to the engine, and means for transmitting power from the motor to
the traction wheels of the carriage to propel the engine for the purposes stated.
DOCAL
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.