Improvements in or relating to Automatic Fire Extincteurs applicable to the Furnaces of Steam Boilers, Stills, and other like Vessels under Pressure.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Fire Extincteurs applicable
to the Furnaces of Steam Boilers, Stills, and other like Vessels
under Pressure.
I, JOHN HORSFALL, of Woodland View, Sowerby Bridge, in the County of York,
Mechanical Draughtsman and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of improved appliances to be used in combination with
what is known as the Hopkinson low water safety valve or other like device, or it
may be applied independently, and the object is that when the water becomes
reduced below a predetermined level that steam or water from the boiler shall
be discharged into the fire-box, and onto the fire, so as to extinguish the latter.
According to this invention within the chamber of the Hopkinson valve is an
additional but smaller dead weight valve within a casing, and which is operated
or moved by the weighted beam lever of the Hopkinson valve, i.e., soon as the
lever shall have made a predetermined amount of movement in connection with
the Hopkinson valve, the lever then acts on the second or supplementary valve and
opens the same, and in connection therewith is a steam pipe extending from the
smaller safety to the front of the boiler and to a reducing valve, a pipe from the
latter extends to an opening above the fire door terminating in a nozzle.
The action is as follows:-When water supply runs short the main valve is
lifted by the action of the floats and lever so as to allow the steam to blow off
such movement then operates the smaller or supplimentary valve and steam is
discharged into the fire box, so as to extinguish the fire.
In cases where the Hopkinson or other like blow off valve is applied, the
supplementary valve and apparatus described may be as stated applied in con-
nection therewith, or it may be applied independently, and the fire extinguishing
pipe may discharge steam into the fire box or the discharge pipe may dip into
water below its lowest working level, so as by the pressure of steam to discharge
water into the furnace box and extinguish the fire.
Like apparatus is applicable to stills and other vessels containing fluids or gases
under pressure.
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIE CATION.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Fire Extincteurs applicable
to the Furnaces of Steam Boilers, Stills, and other like Vessels
under Pressure.
I, JOHN HORSFALL, of Woodland View, Sowerby Bridge, in the County of York,
Mechanical Draughtsman and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed; to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists of improved appliances to be used in combination with
what is known as the Hopkinson or Compound high steam and low water safety
valve or other like devices, or.'it may be applied independently, the object being
that when the water becomes reduced below a predetermined level, steam or water
from the boiler shall be discharged into the front of the fire-box and onto the fire
so as to extinguish the latter.
The water or steam being discharged onto the front and towards the back of
the fire or furnace there is no liability of the burning coal, cinders, steam; or-hot
water being forced or blown outwards, with consequent danger to anyone-standing
in front of the furnace.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved automatic fire extincteur combined
with a Hopkinson or compound high steam and low water safety valve.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1..
Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the improved automatic fire extincteur as
used independently.
Fig. 4 is a sectional end view on line A. B. of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a sectional end view on line C. D, of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of part of Figs. 1 and 2.
According to this invention at 1 is the chamber of the Hopkinson or compound
high steam and low water safety valve to which is attached by bolts or otherwise
an additional chamber 2 in the dome of which is the valve 3 maintained in the
closed position on its seating 4 by means of the spring 5. The bottom of the
valve 3 is hollowed out and receives the ball top of the chisel pointed spindle 6,
the lower end of which rests on the forked lever 7 free to move on its fulcrum
stud 8 and the forked end loosely clips the spindle 9 of the low water and high
steam pressure valve 10. Below the forked end of the lever 7 and on the spindle 9
is the adjustable chisel pointed cross head 11 and the lower end of this spindle 9
is connected to the ordinary float on the water. An open ended pipe 12 dips into
the water below low water level, and the upper end extends to the valve 3 and
thence by way of the discharge pipe 13 to the front of the furnace or fire, preferably
above the fire door, and there terminates in a nozzle.
The action is as follows:-When the water in the boiler or still runs low, the
spindle 9 is by the action of the ordinary float and levers lifted and the valve 10
is opened so as to allow the steam to blow off. As the spindle 9 is lifted the
cross head 11 operates and lifts the forked lever 7 and the latter through the
chisel pointed spindle 6 opens the supplementary valve 3 and steam or steam and
water is forced up the pipe 12 through the valve 3 and discharge pipe 13 into the
front of the furnace or fire-box so as to extinguish the fire. In a normal state
steam passes into the pipe 12 by way of the hole 14 through which the spindle 6
passes and the pressure of the steam balance the water in the pipe 12 at the same
level as the water in the boiler.
In cases where the Hopkinson or other like blow off valve is employed it is
preferable to combine therewith the supplementary valve and apparatus in the
manner described.
When the Hopkinson or compound high steam and low water safety valve is
not employed, the improved apparatus is utilized in the manner illustrated by
Fig. 3, in which the several parts are indicated by like figures of reférence to those
used when describing Figs. 1 and 2. The valve 3 is closed on its seating 4 by
means of the weights 15 on the spindle G and on such spindle is a collar or
washer 16.beneath which is a leyer 17 forked or double so as to pass on each side
of the pipe 12, and free to work on its, fulcrum stud 18 and to one end of this

page_text: lever is a pendant rod 19 to the lower end of which is attached the ordinary
float 20. The opposite end of the lever 17 is weighted.
When the water sinks below a predetermined level and the float 20 falls, the
lever 17 is moved on its fulcrum stud 18 and the part of the lever below
the washer or collar 16 comes into contact with the latter and raises it and the
spindle 6 which opens the valve 3 and allows water or water and steam to pass
by way of the pipe 12, valve 3, and discharge pipe 13 to the front of the firebox
or furnace to extinguish the fire therein.
At 21 is a lever projecting through a slot in the cap or cover 22, and by this
lever the valve 3 can be opened and closed to test its working and prove whether
or not the valve is in working order.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
(1) The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting
the improved automatic fire extincteur, combined with a compound high steam
and low water safety valve as and for the purpose herein described and substantially
as illustrated by Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings.
(2) The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting
the improved automatic fire extincteur, as and for the purpose herein described
and substantially as illustrated by Fig. 2 of the annexed drawing.
(3) In automatic fire extincteurs the open ended pipe 12, chamber 2 in which
is the valve 3 automatically controlled by the level of the water in the boiler or
vessel and a discharge pipe 13 leading to the front of the furnace, all in combination
for the purpose herein described.
D
01
11907
JOHN HORSFALL,
By his Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.