Apparatus for Applying Electricity to Produce Water Pressure for Fire Extinction and like purposes and to Operating Signals.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1891--Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Applying Electricity to Produce Water Pressure for
Fire Extinction and like purposes and to Operating Signals.
We, ALFRED DE BROUCHERE, Senator, 32, Rue des douze Apôtres, in
Bruxelles, and LUCIEN ANSPACH, Engineer, Professor at the University, 14, Rue
de l'Association, in Bruxelles, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus that can be employed in a house or other
locality supplied with electricity for lighting or other purposes, and also supplied
with water, this apparatus being such that in case of fire or other emergency
requiring the use of water under considerable pressure, the electricity can be applied
to produce the required water pressure. For this purpose, a dynamo electric
machine is connected to a centrifugal or other rotary pump, preferably on the same
shaft with it, and this pump communicates with the water supply, cither directly or
through a by-pass provided with suitable valves or cocks. The conductors for the
dynamo machine are connected to a commutating switch by moving the handle of
which more or less of the electric current can be directed to the dynamo, and at the
same time the lamps or other consumers of the electricity or a greater or less
number of them may be cut out of circuit. It is often of advantage that the same
movement of the switch which brings the dynamo into circuit and excludes a
number of lamps from the circuit should at the same time bring into circuit several
coloured lamps or alarums to operate as signals. The pump worked by the dynamo
delivers a current of water under considerable pressure, which can be directed by
hose and suitable nozzles where required to extinguish fire. When the pump is
situated in the actual line of the water service, it may be permitted to revolve when
water passes through it for ordinary use, or, if this is objectionable, it may be held
at rest by a detent which is withdrawn by an electro-magnet when the dynamo is
put in circuit.
When the pump is in a by-pass to the water service separated from
it by a cock, the commutating switch may be connected to the cock, so that the
movement which brings the dynamo into action may at the same time open the cock
for the service of the pump. It is generally preferable, however, to separate the
ordinary water service from the by-pass for the pump by a self acting check valve
which closes to the one and opens to the other according as the pressure in the one
is less or greater than that in the other. The commutator switch may be enclosed
in a locked case accessible by a key or by breaking a glass front in case of
emergency. By providing near the switch a pressure gauge in communication with
the pump delivery, the person working the switch can adjust the amount of current
sent to the dynamo, to give a greater or less pressure than that indicated by the
gauge. For a large establishment, a single dynamo and pump may be mounted on
wheels so that it can be moved to different parts of the establishment where
connections can be made with the electrical leads and with the water service.
Dated this 12th low of M 1800
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Applying Electricity to Produce Water Pressure for
Fire Extinction and like purposes and to Operating Signals.
We, ALFRED DE BROUCHERE, Senator, 32, Rue des douze Apôtres, à Bruxelles,
and LUCIEN ANSPACH, Engineer, Professeur à l'Université, 14, Rue de
l'Association, à Bruxelles, 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
This invention relates to apparatus that can be employed in a house or other
locality supplied with electricity for lighting or other purposes, and also supplied
with water, this apparatus being such that in case of fire or other emergency
requiring the use of water under considerable pressure, the electricity can be
applied to produce the required water pressure.
electric machine is connected to a centrifugal or other rotary pump, preferably on
For this purpose, a dynamo
the same shaft with it, and this pump communicates with the water supply, either
directly or through a by-pass provided with suitable valves or cocks.
conductors for the dynamo machine are connected to a commutating switch by
moving the handle of which more or less of the electric current can be directed to
the dynamo, and at the same time the lamps or other consumers of the electricity
or a greater or less number of them may be cut out of circuit. It is often of
advantage that the same movement of the switch which brings the dynamo into
circuit and excludes a number of lamps from the circuit should at the same time'
bring into circuit several coloured lamps or alarums to operate as signals. The
pump worked by the dynamo delivers a current of water under considerable
pressure which can be directed by hose and suitable nozzles where required to
extinguish fire. When the pump is situated in the actual line of the water service,
it may be permitted to revolve when water passes through it for ordinary use, or, if
this is objectionable, it may be held at rest by a detent which is withdrawn by an
electro-magnet when the dynamo is put in circuit. When the pump is in a by-pass
to the water service separated from it by a cock, the commutating switch may be
connected to the cock, so that the movement which brings the dynamo into action
may at the same time open the cock for the service of the pump. It is generally
preferable, however, to separate the ordinary water service from the by-pass for the
pump by a self-acting check valve which closes to the one and opens to the other
according as the pressure in the one is less or greater than that in the other. The
commutator switch may be enclosed in a locked case accessible by a key or by
breaking a glass front in case of emergency. By providing near the switch a
pressure gauge in communication with the pump delivery, the person working the
switch can adjust the amount of current sent to the dynamo, to give a greater or
less pressure than that indicated by the gauge. For a large establishment, a
single dynamo and pump may be mounted on wheels so that it can be moved to
different parts of the establishment where connections can be made with the
electrical leads and with the water service.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view of a combined dynamo
electrical machine and rotary pump for operating according to our invention. On
a base B, which may be stationary or may be fixed on a wheeled truck A so that
the apparatus can be moved from place to place, is fixed a dynamo electric
machine D and a rotary pump P, which may be, as shewn, cn one and the same
shaft, or may be on separate shafts coupled.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the commutating switch which presents a number of
contacts C, C, C², &c. circularly arranged to be passed over successively by the
contact lever L as it is turned. The electricity is supplied from the generator to
the conducting segment E with which the lever L is always in contact.
segment F insulated from E is connected at M to such audible or visible alarm
signals as should be given in case of fire. A number of resistances R are arranged
Another

page_text: so as to be successively cut out of circuit as the lever L is turned over the successive
contacts C2 C3 &c., this circuit being continued by H to the dynamo machine for
working the pump. A gauge G communicating with the discharge of the pump
indicates the pressure of the water. The first contact C is connected by conductors
from K to the lamps or other electrical apparatus ordinarily in use, which are put
in action when one end of the lever L bears on C, the other end bearing on E but
not on F. When L is turned so as to bear on both C and C', K is in circuit, and
also H but through all the resistances R. When L is turned so as to bear on C¹ at
one end, the other end bears both on E and F, the pump is then worked and also
the alarm signals given by the circuit through F and M. The operator by turning
the lever L more and more round can cut more and more of the resistances R out
of the pump working circuit, until the gauge G shews him that the water pressure
is sufficient. The commutating switch is in a glass fronted case which may be
locked at N, the conduction from F to M being through the bolt of the lock. If
the lever L be got at by breaking the glass the circuit by F and N to the alarm
signals remains unbroken. But if the lever L is got at by unlocking the case at N,
the alarm signals will not be operated unless a contact plug Q be thrust in the
place usually occupied by the bolt of the lock, so as to connect F to M.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In combination with the electrical supply and the water service of a building,
dynamo-electric machines and rotary pumps driven by them, with connections of the
dynamo machines to the electric supply, and of the pumps to the water service, so
that water pressure can be produced when required for fire extinction or like
purposes, substantially as described:
2. The commutating switch, substantially as described with reference to Figure 2,
whereby the electric current can be directed to lamps or other apparatus ordinarily
in use, or through greater or less resistances to dynamo machines working pumps,
and to alarm signals.
Dated this 24th day of January 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.