AN IMPROVED PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Reynolds, the younger, of Number 31, Great
Saint Helen's, Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES, ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Alexander
Allen Murphy, of the City of Montreal, in the Dominion of Canada.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Reynolds at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th February 1876.
'
THOMAS REYNOLDS, the younger, of Number 31, Great Saint Helen's, Bishops-
gate Street, in the City of London. "AN IMPROVED PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR
EXTINGUISHING FIRES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
The improved apparatus consists of an air-tight vessel divided by a diaphragm
into two air-tight compartments, the said compartments being so connected by a
tube and cock that when water is forced into the lower compartment, a quantity of
air is compressed through the said pipe and cock into the upper compartment, where
it is secured by closing the aforesaid cock. The water may then be run out of the
lower compartment through a cock at or near the bottoin of the said lower com-
partment, and a fresh charge of air admitted into the latter through a suitable air
valve. Water may then be again forced into the lower compartment, displacing
therefrom the second charge of air, and forcing it through the communicating pipe
and cock (the latter being reopened for that purpose) into the upper compartment.
The double charge of compressed air so forced into the upper compartment will be
found sufficient to eject with force all the water from the lower compartment
through the discharge hose and nozzle when required.
The communicating tube and cock and the air valve are by preference so arranged
that the stuffing box, through which the handle of the said cock passes, and the
said air valve shall be below the water line, whereby the apparatus is made perfectly
air tight.
The apparatus is charged with water by a pump or other hydraulic force through
the discharge hose.
The apparatus is not only applicable to the purpose of extinguishing fires, but
also for washing cattle, carriages, and windows, watering, plants or' lawns, com-
pressing gases, and other such like purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Reynolds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th July
1876.
THOMAS REYNOLDS, the younger, of Number 31, Great Saint Helen's, Bishops-
gate Street, in the City of London. "AN IMPROVED PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR
EXTINGUISHING FIRES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
The improved apparatus consists of an air-tight vessel, see Figures 1 and 2 of the
Drawing, divided by a diaphragm G, G, into two air-tight compartments, the said
compartments being so connected by a tube E, E, and cock F, that when water is
forced into the lower compartment through the hose D and cock C, a quantity of
air is compressed through the said tube E, E, and cock F into the upper compart-
ment, where it is secured by closing the aforesaid cock. The water may then be
run out of the lower compartiment through a cock at or near the bottom of the said
lower compartment, as, for example, by the cock C and hose D, and a fresh charge
of air admitted into the latter through a suitable air valve B. The latter being then
closed water may be again forced into the lower compartment until it is half filled,
when the cock F being opened by the handle A the lower compartment is filled
with water, and the second charge of air is forced through the connecting tube E, E,
into the upper compartment. The nozzle J being then fastened to the hose D, the
apparatus is ready for future or immediate use. The double charge of compressed
air forced into the upper compartment will be found sufficient to eject with force all
the water from the lower compartment through the discharge hose D.
The communicating tube and cock and the air valve are by preference so arranged
that the stuffing box, through which the handle of the said cock passes, and the
said air valve, shall be below the water line, whereby the apparatus is made perfectly
air tight.
The apparatus is charged with water by a pump or other hydraulic force through
the discharge hose D.
Figure 3 represents the application of the same principle of action to two or
more separate vessels, each vessel having one air-tight compartment provided with
two cocks, as at C and C, C, and being so constructed that it may be stood on
either end. The nozzles J, J, are removed from the hose D, D, and the hose of the
vessel W is secured to the cock C of the vessel U, while the hose of the vessel U is
secured to the pump H or any other hydraulic force. The vessel U being then
inverted, as shewn in the Figure, the cock C, C, of the vessel W closed, and all the
other cocks opened, water is forced through the cock C, C. into the vessel U until
it is filled, the air therefrom being forced through the cock C and hose D, D, into
the vessel W, the vessel W will then contain two charges of atmospheric air. The
cock C of the vessel W is then closed, the hose detached from the vessel U at
cocks and C, C, the vessel U turned on to its base or end at which are the
cocks C and C, C, and the water allowed to run out by opening the said cocks C
and C, C. The hose is then secured to the vessel U at the cocks C and C, C, both
vessels being kept in the same position. The cock C of vessel W is opened, and
the pressure of air in W is allowed to equalize in both vessels. Water is then pumped
in until each vessel is about four-fifths filled, or until the pressure reaches, say,
100 pounds per square inch. The hoze and nozzles are then to be so arranged that
each vessel will be furnished therewith at cocks C, and the two or twin extinguishers
are ready for use.
In discharging any of the above described extinguishers care should be taken to
prevent the escape of any air through the cock C, as the vessel can then be re-
charged by simply forcing in one charge of water.
It is proposed to designate these apparatuses "Murphy's Improved Pneumatic'
Fire Extinguishers." They may be manufactured from metal of sufficient strength
to resist the required pressure, and they may be made of various sizes and shapes.
The apparatus is not only applicable to the purpose of extinguishing fires, but also

page_text: for washing cattle, carriages, and windows, watering plants or lawns, compressing
gases, and other such like purposes, and by mixing suitable drugs or acids with the
water it may also be used for removing insects from plants or trees.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to or may be performed, I would have it understood that what is claimed
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is,―
First. The arrangement of cocks and hose for charging the extinguisher by
hydraulic force through the discharge hose, as herein-before described and illustrated
in the Drawing.
Second. The arrangements of compartments or vessels for compressing air in one
compartment or vessel by forcing water into the other compartment or vessel, as
herein-before described and illustrated in the Drawing.
Third. The arrangement of the cock F and tubes E, E, whereby the stuffing box
at the handle A with the air valve B are all placed below the water, and the
machine thereby made perfectly air tight, as herein-before described and illustrated
in Figure 2 of the Drawing.
Fourth. The vessels U and W in connexion with the arrangement of cocks and
hose, as herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Reynolds, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
THO". REYNOLDS, J. (L.S.)