An Improved Composition or Compound for Use in Fire- extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 8th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 7th Apr., 1887.
TRUVISIONAL STEATRUATION.
An Improved Composition or Compound for Use in Fire-
extinguishing Apparatus.
I, JAMES SINCLAIR, of 64 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Fire
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved composition or compound for use in fire-
extinguishing apparatus of that kind or class wherein carbonic acid gas is generated,
when required, by the mixture of an acid and an alkaline solution.
Heretofore it has been customary to employ, in apparatus of this kind or class, a
solution of bi-carbonate of soda in water and a suitable quantity of sulphuric acid,
which are kept apart until the apparatus is required for use, when the sulphuric acid
is permitted to mix with the alkaline solution in order to generate the gas. But it
has been found, in practice, that, when the bi-carbonate of soda solution and the
sulphuric acid are mixed, the gas is generated very rapidly and, by reason of its
volatile nature, a considerable quantity thereof escapes from the liquid between the
nozzle of the hose and the fire, and is thus lost.
My present invention is chiefly designed to avoid this loss of gas and to ensure,
more effectually than heretofore, the extinction of fire by means of apparatus of the
class above referred to. For these purposes, I mix, with the bi-carbonate of soda,
some substance which, when acted upon by the sulphuric acid, will generate carbonic
acid gas, but will not readily give off this gas without the application of heat.
My said invention is further designed to provide for preventing the relighting of
the fire at those parts of a burning structure where the fire has been extinguished by
the liquid from the apparatus. For this purpose, I employ borax in my improved
composition or compound.
I prefer to make the said composition or compound of the following ingredients
mixed in, or about in, the proportions stated, that is to say:-
4.5 parts by weight of sesqui-carbonate of ammonia.
4.5 parts by weight of bi-carbonate of soda.
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page_text: This compound is dissolved in water and the solution is poured into the apparatus.
I prefer to use about 3 ounces of sulphuric acid to each gallon of the said solution.
When the acid is allowed to mix with the said solution, the presence of the bi-carbonate
of soda in the latter ensures the rapid generation of sufficient gas to produce, in the
apparatus, the required pressure for discharging the liquid therefrom into, or upon,
the fire. The sesqui-carbonate of ammonia, on being mixed with the sulphuric acid,
does not readily give off carbonic acid gas until the liquid comes in contact with, or in
close proximity to, the fire, but gas is then generated in such a quantity as to have an
immediate effect in extinguishing the flames.
In this manner,
I ensure a result not hitherto attained with apparatus of the class
above referred to, vizt:-the generation of large volumes of gas in the fire instead of
in the apparatus. I thus avoid loss of gas by the escape thereof during the passage of
the liquid from the hose to the fire.
The sulphate of ammonia resulting from the mixture of the sulphuric acid with the
sesqui-carbonate of ammonia, acts, in combination with the borax, to prevent the
relighting of the fire at places where it has been extinguished by the liquid. I can if
desired, dispense with the borax, but with inferior results in respect of the prevention
of the relighting of the fire.
Dated this 8th day of June 1886
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: CACES DE
I, JAMES SINCLAIR, of 64, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Fire
Engineer, 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:-
--
My invention relates to an improved composition or compound for use in fire-
extinguishing apparatus of that kind or class wherein an acid and an alkaline solution
are placed in different chambers or compartments and are to be mixed when necessary.
for the purpose of generating carbonic acid gas.
Heretofore it has been customary to employ, in such apparatus, a solution of
bi-carbonate of soda in water and a suitable quantity of sulphuric acid, which are
kept apart until the apparatus is required for use, when the sulphuric acid is permitted
to mix with the alkaline solution in order to generate the gas within the apparatus.
It has, however, been found, in practice, that the gas generated by the mixture of the
bi-carbonate of soda solution and the sulphuric acid is given off with such rapidity
that, when the liquid containing such gas is directed into or upon a fire, a considerable
quantity of the gas escapes from the liquid during the passage of the latter from the
nozzle of the hose to the fire and is thus lost.
My present invention is chiefly designed to avoid this loss of gas and to ensure
more effectually than heretofore the extinction of fire by means of apparatus of the
kind or class above referred to. For these purposes, I employ a compound of
bi-carbonate of soda with sesqui-carbonate of ammonia or with other substance which,
when combined with bi-carbonate of soda, will retard the generation of the gas at
atmospheric temperatures, whilst ensuring the rapid generation thereof under the
action of heat, that is to say, I employ a solution, which, when acted upon by sulphuric
acid, will generate carbonic acid gas, but will not readily give off this gas without the
application of heat.
My said invention is further designed to provide for preventing the re-lighting of
the fire at those parts of a burning structure where the fire has been extinguished by
the liquid and gas from the apparatus. This result is, in some measure, accomplished
by the use of the sesqui-carbonate of ammonia; I prefer, however, to employ borax in
my improved composition or compound, in order to effectually prevent such relighting
of the fire.
I have found it advantageous to make the said composition or compound of the
following ingredients mixed in, or about in, the proportions stated, that is to say:-
4.5 parts by weight of sesqui-carbonate of aminonia.
4.5 parts by weight of bi-carbonate of soda.
1 part by weight of borax.
This compound is dissolved in water and the solution is poured into the apparatus.
of sulphuric acid to each callon of the said solution.
matuto non aliart 2
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page_text: This acid is kept apart from the alkaline solution in any convenient manner until the
apparatus is required for use. When the acid is allowed to mix with the said solution,
the presence of the bi-carbonate of soda in the latter ensures the generation of
sufficient gas to produce in the apparatus the required pressure for discharging the
liquid therefrom into or upon a fire; whilst the presence of the sesqui-carbonate of
ammonia prevents the too rapid production or generation of the gas until the liquid
comes in contact with, or in close proximity to, the fire. As soon, however, as the
liquid becomes sufficiently heated, gas is generated in such a quantity as to have an
immediate effect in extinguishing the flames.
In this manner, I ensure a result not hitherto attained with apparatus of the class
above referred to, viz:-the generation of large volumes of gas in the fire instead of
in the apparatus. I thus avoid loss of gas by the escape thereof during the passage
of the liquid from the hose to the fire.
The sulphate of ammonia resulting from the mixture of the sulphuric acid with the
sesqui-carbonate of ammonia acts, in combination with the borax, to prevent the
relighting of the fire at places where it has been extinguished by the liquid and gas.
I can, if desired, dispense with the borax, but with inferior results in respect of the
prevention of the re-lighting of the fire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I claim :-
The improved composition or compound of bi-carbonate of soda and sesqui-
carbonate of ammonia or similar substance (with or without the borax) mixed in or
about in the above-named proportions, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 7th day of March 1887
Dated this 7th day of March 1887
JAMES SINCLAIR.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.