A SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM BLACK of 117 Cobden Street Leicester in the County of Leicester
Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A SELF-ACTING
APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES, to be as follows:-
The apparatus is suspended from the ceiling by a pendent attached to a water
supply or other ingredient the lower part of the apparatus consists of a brass
globe the bottom half of the same being perforated--By a simple contrivance the
water or other ingredient is not allowed to discharge until a fire originates in the
vicinity of such apparatus-The moment a fire comes in contact with the apparatus
it immediately begins to act and a supply of water or other ingredient is obtained
thereby.
The supply of water for the apparatus where water-works exist is conveyed into
the buildings by means of pipes fitted to the main and where waterworks do not
exist the supply is obtained from a tank or vessel fixed in the top room of the
building and to either source is attached pipes fitted with T sockets at intervals
for the apparatus to be suspended by means of a pendant or pipe. Directly under
the brass globe mentioned on other side is a weight which is held to the apparatus
by means of a flamable cord in convenient lengths so as to be laid down in
different places when the building is left—Directly fire comes in contact with the
cord it ignites and the flame runs to the apparatus liberating the weight mentioned
above which immediately slides down a rod and is stopped by being caught at the
bottom of the rod by means of a nut the sharp jerk occasioned by the weight
sliding down causes a stopper which is placed on the top of rod to hold back the
water supplying the globe, to be removed from its position and therefore make an
opening for the water to pass into the globe by which means the water is distributed
in every conceivable direction.

page_text: WILLIAM BLACK 117 Cobden Street Leicester Mechanic, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for A SELF ACTING APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The apparatus in question is suspended from the ceiling by a pipe or pendant
(Fig. 1) of any length to suit convenience such pipe or pendant being attached to
a water supply, the said water supply where waterworks exist being conveyed into
the building by means of piping with T sockets at intervals where such pipe or
pendant is screwed into, and where waterworks do not exist the supply is obtained
from a tank or vessel fixed in the upper part of the building and conveyed to the
apparatus by pipes and T sockets as herein before stated. At the bottom of the
pipe or pendant is fitted a perforated brass globe or spreader (Fig. 3) of any size
or shape that may be required. At the bottom of such spreader is a hole through
which is passed a rod or pipe (Fig. 6) which reaches to the top or inlet of the said
globe or spreader-At the top of such rod or pipe is affixed a stopper which consists
of two parts Fig. 7 representing the first part is screwed to the top of the rod or
pipe mentioned above and Fig. 8 representing the second part is a flat ring or
washer which is adjusted to Fig. 7 therefore Fig. 8 rests on the top or inlet of the
spreader and Fig. 7 (which is the centre) stops the water or other ingredients from
passing into the spreader-Immediately under the spreader is a weight (Fig. 4)
which is made to slide on the rod or pipe before mentioned, the weight in question
having arms (Fig. 5) attached to it which are shaped in order to catch on a plate
(Fig. 2) which is fitted on the pipe or pendant supporting the spreader, the arms in
question are kept in position by a cord (Fig. 11) passing round such arms to keep
them from slipping off the catch plate mentioned above, thus holding the before
mentioned weight. To the cord which is round the arms are attached other cords
in suitable lengths in order that they may reach the floor or can be collected and
hung to the bottom of the apparatus or in any other position that may be required,
Directly any of the cords that hang from the apparatus become ignited the flame
runs to the circular cord that holds the arms in position thus burning it and so
releases the arms hereinbefore mentioned allowing the before mentioned weight to
fall down the rod or pipe on which it slides and on the top of which is affixed the
stopper before mentioned. In its descent it is caught at the bottom of the rod or
pipe by a nut (Fig. 10) the sharp jerk occasioned thereby causes Fig. 7 of the
stopper to separate from Fig. 8 thus leaving an opening into the spreader, which
discharges the water or other ingredients, in every direction. There is also another
stopper (Fig. 9) made of glass or other brittle substance and in one part, which can
be affixed to the top of the rod or pipe, which passes through the spreader and in
the place of the stopper first mentioned. Directly the weight falls the stopper
breaks, thus leaving an opening into the spreader, therefore either of these stoppers
can be used to suit convenience.

page_text: 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 manner in which the fire is conveyed to the apparatus.
2. The liberating and falling of the weight down the rod or pipe occasioned by
the cord being burnt.
3. The stopper in two parts (Fig. 7 & 8) which becomes separated by the falling
of the said weight.
4. The stopper (Fig. 9) that is made of glass or other brittle substance and in
one part, which is broken by the falling of the weight.
5. The spreader which receives and discharges the water in all directions
immediately the weight has fallen.