IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMP FIRE ENGINES FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES BY CARBONIC ACID GAB
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edouard Pierre Delpech, Civil Engineer, of 82,
Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris, in the Republic of France, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMP FIRE ENGINES FOR EXTINGUISHING
FIRES BY CARBONIC ACID GAB."
Sealed the 8th June 1875, and dated the 12th December 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edouard Pierre Delpech
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 12th December 1874.
I, EDOUARD PIERRE DELPECH, Civil Engineer, of 82, Boulevard
Sébastopol, Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMP FIRE ENGINES FOR
EXTINGUISHING FIRES BY CARBONIC ACID GAS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to project à continuous and unlimited
supply of water saturated with chemical products disengaging carbonic
acid gas non-compressed to the free air, and for saturating the air with

page_text: the gas in a gaseous condition or not in cellars, warehouses, holds of
vessels, or where a fire has occurred.
The chemicals employed and the proportions adopted are 30 grammes
of sulphuric acid at 50 degrees, and 23 grammes of bicarbonate of soda
to each litre of water, or 2 kilogrammes 250 grammes of bicarbonate of
soda, and 3 kilogrammes of sulphuric acid for every 100 litres of water.
This quantity may vary according as it is desired to produce more
carbonic acid gas, or 4 kilogrammes 500 grammes of bicarbonate of soda,
and 6 kilogrammes of sulphuric acid to each 100 litres of water.
The water saturated with sulphuric acid and that saturated with
bicarbonate of soda is kept separate in distinct recipients lined with lead
and quite water-tight, and capable of bearing a pressure of from 2 to 5
atmospheres, the waters thus charged are drawn and forced by special
pumps into a double hose or pipe, and on reaching the playing end of
the hose they unite, here the chemical reaction partly occurs which is
completed on the fire itself in developing torrents of carbonic acid gas,
and moreover depositing on the parts touched by it a saline precipitate,
which solidified in a manner by the heat forms a varnish or coating
which prevents immediate recombustion.
The apparatus consists of a carriage bearing a sheet-iron case divided
into 4 compartments, each provided with a man-hole at the top, and
destined to contain in the two rear ones the water mixed with sulphuric
acid, and in the two front ones the water saturated with carbonate of
soda. The capacity of these chambers varies according to requirements,
but the case should be divided into 4 so that whilst two are being
emptied by the pump, the others are being filled, and vice versa.
The body of the pump consists of 4 cylinders mounted on the case for
transport, but which is removed on reaching its destination; the body of
pump communicates with the case or reservoir by means of a suction
pipe junction.
the
The parts of the pump which are put in communication with the
mixture of water and sulphuric acid should be in bronze or brass, and
lined with lead, and the double hose lined with india-rubber or other
matter, and the double pipes united in one envelope of cloth or canvas.
The pumps may be worked by hand or steam power. The recipients of
the saturated waters may for sea ports be of considerable dimensions, for

page_text: instance, barges or boats may be used divided into 4 parts containing
several tons, the pump communicating with the chambers by means of
suction pipes.
nied by the said Edouard Pierre Delpecn in the Great Deal fatent
Office on the 11th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDOUARD
PIERRE DELPECH, Civil Engineer, of 82, Boulevard Sóbastopol, Paris,
in the Republic of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing dato the Twelfth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Edouard Pierre Delpech, Her special licence that
I, the said Edouard Pierre Delpech, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Edouard Pierre Delpech, my exe-
cutors, 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, exercisc,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PUMP FIRE ENGINES FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES BY CARBONIC ACID GAS,” upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edouard Pierre Delpech,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describo
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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edouard Pierre Delpech, do hereby

page_text: 22 gallons (100 litres).
Saturate with bicarbonate of soda
for 44 gallons (200 litres) of
water, say 355 grains (23
grammes), per 1/pints (litre).
9 lbs. 15 ozs. (4 kilos 500).
22 gallons (100 litres).
Saturate with sulphuric acid for
44 gallons (200 litres) of water,
say 463 grains (30 grammes),
per 1%, pints (litre).
13 lbs. 5 ozs. (6 kilos).
particularly in confined places, like the hold of a ship, where by the
saturation of the air by means of the carbonic acid gas in its gaseous
condition or otherwise, the fire is deprived of its principal element
oxygen.
All kinds of acids and carbonates may be used to produce the carbonic
acid gas, but it will be found preferable to use sulphuric acid at 50
degrees, and bicarbonate of soda, which being more dense occupy less
space and permit a greater number of charges to be carried in less bulk.
A greater quantity of gas is also produced, 55 gallons (250 litres)
per 2lbs., 3ozs., (kilo.) of bicarbonate of soda.
On the annexed Drawing Sheet I represents a pump fire engine of
my Invention which may vary with its destined use, but fixes the idea
of the principle which must preside over all the applications of which
this system is susceptible..
The four cylinders worked by hand may form part of the pump or not.
The pump may be worked by steam forming part of the tank or the
receivers. This system applies equally to the tanks or reservoirs of
theatres, of public buildings, ships, and elsewhere, but in every case by
separating and isolating the waters mixed with acid from those saturated
with carbonates, up to the point where they are to unite, or about 3 feet,
3 inches, (1 mètre) from the cock if it is a reservoir.

page_text: This apparatus is composed,-
-
1°. Of a carriage suspended upon four wheels with springs supporting a
sheet-iron case A divided into four compartments, each having its man-
hole B at the upper part, and intended to contain two; those at the back,
the water mixed with sulphuric acid two; those in front, water saturated
with bicarbonate of soda. These compartments should be coated or
lined with lead, be perfectly water-tight, sufficiently strong to resist a
pressure of from three to five atmospheres, and be of any suitable form
whether for fixed reservoirs or for fitting on board ship; they are pro-
vided with a safety valve. The capacity of these compartments may
vary according to their destined use, but the whole divided into four
compartments, so that while two are being emptied by the play of the
The receivers may
pumps the others are being filled, and vice versa.
however be of considerable capacity, thus for sea ports, for example,
barges or lighters may be used divided into four compartments holding
several tons. The hand or steam pump may be placed in communication
with them by means of suction pipes provided with a rose projecting
outward about 2 inches at the plunging part. This case A has its
chests or divisions for the charges of sulphuric acid E, its chests F for
the charges of carbonate of soda, and the case G for the canvas or other
buckets and tools. Hooks I at the back serve for suspending the pump
when shifting station; and lastly it carries at the sides the union joints
of the suction hose. The carriage may be followed by an appendage
containing a greater number of chemical charges. The places for the
driver and firemen are shown on the case A.
2°. Of a pump barrel composed of four cylinders set upon the case A
for transport, but removed therefrom on arriving at the fire, the pump is
placed in communication with the case or tank A by means of suction
hose passed through the man-holes, and provided as above stated with
roses or nozzles projecting about two inches. It is composed of the pump
chambers Z, with pistons of air reservoir Y, of clack valve boxes X,
levers V, lever arms U, connecting rods T, of pistons, union joints S, of
suction tubes, unions R, of force pipes, angle irons, and rods for fixing the

page_text: pump on the carriage P, and lastly of suction hose O. The parts of this
pump which are placed in contact with the water mixed with sulphuric
acid should be of bronze or brass and coated or lined with lead.
.
4
3°. The jet or mouth of the pipe (Fig. 7, Sheet II.,) is furnished with
moveable tops or nozzles, preferably in form of a lengthened cone with
orifices of ¼, ½, or ½, an inch or more, according to requirement. This
system combines two excellent qualities in one apparatus, readiness and
power of action. Readiness because the tank may be charged before-
hand, and work immediately upon arrival at the scene of disaster.
The .
power is attributed to the water saturated with carbonic acid gas, which
it disengages upon the fire in unlimited quantity and in a continuous
manner, and to the salts which it deposits upon the bodies in com-
bustion.
To sum up :-This system permits throwing on to a fire, using the
same apparatus, either water, water saturated with carbonic acid gas,
and finally the said gas in a gaseous or gaseiform stato.
To produce carbonic acid gas in a gaseiform state in the holds of
ships, it is only necessary to place the chemical products with or without
water into the receivers intended to hold the saturated waters A', B', as.
shown Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet II.
In the case of fire in the ship's hold the compartments are placed in
communication by openings D' of about two inches in diameter by
means of the cock C, as shown, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, (Sheet. II.) The
man-holes E¹ being hermetically closed the gas forms in the compart-
ments containing the bicarbonate of soda, descends without motive-
power other than its own weight and pressure by the conduit F', and.
passes into the hold by means of a handle fitted to the joint H of the
said conduit, or there may be fitted to this handle a hollow cane, copper-
tube, or other similar piece preceded by a cock which by means of joints
may extend to a length of 6, 7, or 8 yards or more, in order to be able to
direct more easily and more efficaciously, and from a short distance the
carbonic acid gas in a gaseiform state upon the liquids or parts in flame.
This hollow cane with screw joints is shown Fig. 10, (Sheet II.), of the

page_text: permit it to escape by the cock G mixed with liquid sulphate of soda,
then charge again by recommencing the operation.
Reservoirs constructed similarly to the tank or case A may be fitted
on board ship by simply removing the carriage. This system of tank
may also if desired be applied to the pump above described for
extinguishing fires in cellars or closed places.
1°. By adding a cock worked from the outside for the purpose of
giving an opening of say two inches in diameter at the bottom, and in
the middle of the partition separating each back compartment (sulphurio
acid) from the front one (bicarbonate of soda), in order to bring about 1
the chemical reaction by contact, and to produce carbonic acid gas, of
course without water.
2°. By establishing behind the partition E a receiver or chamber
communicating by a large opening with the two compartments con-
taining the bicarbonate of soda. From this receiver starts a metal tube 1
of say two inches in diameter running along one of the sides of the tank,
descending about four inches lower and ending by a joint upon which may
be screwed a handle for leading the gas wherever required, using the
aforesaid cane or mouth-piece.
Upon Sheet I. of the accompanying two Sheets of Drawing A
indicates the sheet-iron case divided into four compartments; B, upper
opening in each compartment; E, chest for the charges of sulphuric
acid; F, chest for the charges of bicarbonate and accessaries; G, case
for holding canvas buckets and tools; I, hook for suspending the pump
while the engine is being transported from one place to another; 2
Z, pump barrel with piston; Y, air reservoir; X, valve box; V, lever;
U, lever arm; T, connecting rods of pistons; 8, suction joints; R, force
joints; P, angle irons and rods for securing pump on carriage; O,
suction hose.
Upon Sheet II., A¹, B', indicate sheet-iron reservoirs coated or lined 8
with lead, capable of resisting a pressure of two or three atmospheres
and of any shape and size; C¹³, socket acting as a cock of tinned or
leaded bronze having a key and placing the reservoirs A', B', in com-
munication at pleasure by the orifices D'; D', orifices opened by the
cock C¹; E', man-holes; F, pipe for escape of gas with union joint H¹ 3
for screwing on a handle; H³, union joint; K³, receiver or chamber for

page_text: reservoirs with four compartments communicating with the reservoirs
containing the bicarbonate of soda; L', safety valve above compartments
B¹ containing the bicarbonate of soda.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edouard Pierre Delpech, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
ED. D'AUBREVILLE, fils,
Ing'. Civil,
(Paris.)
E. DELPECH. (L.S.)