IMPROVEMENTS IN CHEMICAL Fire EXTINGUISHERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Kensett Platt, of the City of Phila-
delphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, and United States of America,
Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHEMICAL Fire
EXTINGUISHERS.'
"
Sealed the 4th November 1873, and dated the 8th May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Kensett Platt
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th May 1873.
I, WILLIAM KENSETT PLATT, of the City of Philadelphia, in the State
5 of Pennsylvania and United States of America, Mechanic, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHEMICAL
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS," to be as follows:-.
This Invention relates to portable apparatus for extinguishing fires by
means of water charged with carbonic acid gas, in which the gas is
) generated at the moment when needed for service by precipitating into
the water, previously impregnated with soda or its equivalent, a proper
proportion of strong acid It has for its object the construction of the

page_text: apparatus in such manner that it shall be best adapted for resisting great
internal pressure, for being most conveniently carried, and for being
readily charged and instantly prepared for service when charged, and so
that it will not be subject to corrosion and leakage from the action of
the chemicals therein contained, or rendered inoperative or useless by
being carelessly or accidentally tampered with.
The nature of this Invention consists,―
First. In so placing and arranginging in the construction of a chemical
fire extinguisher an acid receptacle with reference and in relation to one
or more pressure chambers for containing an alkaline solution that the
contents of the acid receptacle shall be discharged into the pressure
chamber or chambers upon half inverting or overturning the apparatus.
Second. In placing and securing the acid receptacle of a chemical
fire extinguisher within the pressure chamber in an inclined position to
facilitate the discharge of the acid when the apparatus is overturned.
Third. In combining with the mouth of the acid receptacle confined
within the pressure chamber of a chemical fire extinguisher a weighted
lid or cover so hinged or pivotted to the receptacle that it shall close
the same when the apparatus is in an upright position, but will open
automatically when the apparatus is half inverted or overturned.
Fourth. In constructing an improved chemical fire extinguisher with
two main or pressure chambers communicating with each other to
contain water charged with an alkali, and in combining with the two
pressure chambers to serve for them both a single acid receptacle con-
tained within one of them.
Fifth. In so arranging communicating pressure chambers, an acid
receptacle, and a discharge cock, in the construction of a chemical fire
extinguisher that the acid from the receptacle must traverse both
chambers before reaching the cock.
Sixth. In pivotting the acid receptacle of a chemical fire extinguisher a
within a frame secured in a plug or other suitable device screwing into
or otherwise closing an opening in its pressure chamber, so that the
centre of gravity of the receptacle shall be below the pivots, and the
tendency of its mouth will be to remain upward, and in combining with
the receptacle so pivotted, and with its frame, a set screw for the purposo
of fixing and locking the former.

page_text: In its ordinary form this improved fire extinguisher consists of two
strong metallic communicating cylinders, or generating and pressure
chambers, which, when the apparatus is not in use, are kept in an
upright vertical position. Within one of these cylinders a suitable
3 receptacle for acid is fixed and secured, so that its mouth shall be near
the upper end of the cylinder. The discharge cock for the apparatus is
fixed in the upper end of the remaining cylinder.
The acid receptacle is closed by means of a weighted lid so hinged in
the receptacle that its gravity shall serve to close the latter when the
apparatus is in its upright position.
.
If the apparatus be so inverted or overturned that the cylinder in
which the discharge cock is fixed shall be brought beneath the cylinder
containing the acid receptacle, the acid will flow out of the latter (the
weighted lid opening automatically to allow its free exit) into the upper-
cylinder, and by its combination with the alkaline solution with which
the cylinders are charged will instantly generate carbonic acid gas.
This generation of gas takes place in the lower cylinder to the same
extent as in the upper one by reason of the free communication between
the cylinders.
The acid receptacle may be closed by a screw stopper or other devico
operated from without the cylinder to be opened by hand when the
apparatus is needed for service, and before it is overturned.
As the acid receptacle is fixed with its mouth in the upper end of the
apparatus its contents cannot be poured into the cylinder without
upsetting the apparatus, and as the discharge cock is likewise placed
above the liquid contents of the apparatus the solution therein cannot
accidentally leak out or be maliciously withdrawn without overturning
the cylinders.
Owing to the small diameter of the two cylinders as compared with a
single cylinder of the same capacity the apparatus is capable of with-
standing a much greater internal pressure than if constructed of a single
cylinder. The two cylinders, moreover, are more convenient to carry
than an ordinary single cylinder of larger diameter, as when half inverted
to a horizontal or nearly horizontal position they will fit snugly against
the back of the bearer, and can be very conveniently and steadily
carried.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Kensett Platt in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th November 1873.
1.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
KENSETT PLATT, of the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Penn-
sylvania and United States of America, Mechanic, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirtieth-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Kensett Platt, Her
special licence that I, the said William Kensett Platt, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Kensett Platt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Kensett Platt, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Kensett Platt, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 that class of portable apparatus for extin-
guishing fires by means of water charged with carbonic acid gas in
which the gas is generated at the moment when needed for service,
by precipitating into the water previously impregnated with soda or
its equivalent a proper proportion of strong acid; and it has for its
object the construction of the apparatus in such manner as that it

page_text: hall be best adapted for resisting great internal pressure, for being
Lost conveniently carried, and for being readily charged and instantly
repared for service when charged, and so that it will not be subject to
orrosion and leakage from the action of the chemicals therein contained,
or rendered inoperative or useless by being carelessly or accidentally
shall be best adapted for resisting great internal pressure, for being
most conveniently carried, and for being readily charged and instantly
prepared for service when charged, and so that it will not be subject to
corrosion and leakage from the action of the chemicals therein contained,
nor rendered inoperative or useless by being carelessly or accidentally
tampered with.
The nature of my Invention consists,-
1. In so placing and arranging, in the construction of a chemical
fire extinguisher, an acid receptacle with reference and in relation to
one or more pressure chambers for containing an alkaline solution as
that the contents of the acid receptacle shall be discharged into the
pressure chamber or chambers upon half inverting or overturning the
apparatus.
2. In placing and securing the acid receptacle of a chemical fire
extinguisher within the pressure chamber in an inclined position to
facilitate the discharge of the acid when the apparatus is overturned.
3. In combining with the mouth of the acid receptacle, confined
within the pressure chamber of a chemical fire extinguisher, a weighted
lid or cover so hinged or pivotted to the receptacle as that it shall
close the same when the apparatus is in an upright position, but will
open automatically when the apparatus is half inverted or overturned.
4. In constructing an improved chemical fire extinguisher with two.
main or pressure chambers, communicating with each other, to contain
water charged with an alkali, and in combining with the two pressure
chambers to serve for them both a single acid receptacle contained
within one of them.
5. In so arranging communicating pressure chambers, an acid re-
ceptacle, and a discharge cock, in the construction of a chemical
fire extinguisher, as that the acid from the receptacle must traverse
both chambers before reaching the cock.
6. In pivotting the acid receptacle of a chemical fire extinguisher
within a frame secured to a plug or other suitable device, screwing
into or otherwise closing an opening in its pressure chamber, so that
the centre of gravity of the receptacle shall be below the pivots, and
the tendency of its mouth will be to remain upwards, and combining.

page_text: with the receptacle so pivotted and with its frame a set screw for the
purpose of fixing and locking the former.
In the accompanying Drawing which forms a part of this Specifi-
cation Figure 1 is a view in perspective, and Figure 2 a central vertical
section of my improved fire extinguisher.
Figure 3 is a sectional view thereof, illustrating the apparatus when
overturned ready for use.
Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating the
manner of closing the mouth of the acid receptacle by means of a screw
actuated stopper.
And Figure 5 is a view partly in section illustrating the use and
application of a hinged cover for the acid receptacle.
1
In its customary form my improved fire extinguisher consists of
two strong metallic communicating cylinders or generating and
pressure chambers A and B, which when the apparatus is not in use 1
are kept in an upright vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1.
Within one of these cylinders A a suitable receptacle D for acid
is fixed and secured so that its mouth shall be near the upper end
of the cylinder. The discharge cock E for the apparatus is fixed in
the upper end of the remaining cylinder B, and is fitted with a flexible 2
hose pipe, as shown in the Drawings. The cylinders or pressure
chambers A and B communicate freely with each other through a
pipe a and equalizing tube b, and are partially filled with a mixture
of soda or other equivalent, alkali and water.
The acid receptacle D may be of any suitable material, and is inclined 2
within the cylinder A for a purpose which will be presently made
apparent. It consists in the present instance of a glass bottle contained
within a metal casing d, which is pivotted at the points above the
centre of gravity of the bottle to a metal frame e to which the said
casing and bottle are also secured at the bottom by a set screw f. 3
The frame e is secured to a screw plug g adapted to a threaded opening
in the top of the cylinder A. from which it can with the said frame
and acid receptacle be removed. The mouth of the acid receptacle
is closed by a lead or rubber-clothed metal stopper h swivelled to a
screw rod adapted to a nut in the plug 9, and passing through a 3
stuffing box in the latter (see enlarged section, Fig. 4). The acid

page_text: receptacle is filled (after withdrawing it from the cylinder with the
casing and frame e) by raising the swivelled stopper h, and then
withdrawing the set screw f so as to permit the said receptacle to be
turned in the frame e upon its pivots or trunnions x to a sufficient
5 extent to enable access to be obtained to its mouth, and after filling the
said receptacle it is restored to its original position in the frame, fastened
by the set screw, closed by the stopper, and again introduced into the
cylinder. The extinguisher thus constructed and properly charged with
an alkaline solution and an acid is made ready for instant use in
O extinguishing a fire by simply raising the stopper h, and half inverting
the whole apparatus, so that the cylinder in which the discharge cock
is fixed shall be brought, as shown in Fig. 3, beneath the cylinder
containing the acid receptacle. The acid in such case will flow out
of the latter into the upper cylinder, and by its combination with the
5 alkaline solution contained in the cylinders will instantly generate
carbonic acid gas; this generation of gas taking place in the lower
cylinder to the same extent as in the upper by reason of the free com-
munication between the cylinders.
Instead of closing the acid receptacle by means of a stopper /
) swivelled to a screw rod passing through the plug g, I contemplate
using a weighted cover or stopper M, Fig. 5, hinged to the frame d
of the receptacle so as to rest in an inclined position upon and over
the mouth of the acid receptacle when the cylinder is in an upright
position, the mouth of the acid receptacle being formed with an inclined
edge to receive it, as illustrated in Fig. 5. When the cylinders are
overturned the hinged stopper will automatically open by reason of its
gravity.
From the fact that the acid receptacle is fixed with its mouth in
the upper end of the apparatus its contents cannot be poured into
the cylinder without upsetting the apparatus, and as the discharge
cock is likewise placed above the liquid contents of the machine the
solutions therein cannot accidentally leak out, or be maliciously with-
drawn through the cock without overturning the cylinders. Owing
to the reduced diameter of the cylinders respectively as compared with
a single cylinder of the combined capacity of the two the apparatus is
capable of withstanding a much greater internal pressure than if con-
structed of a single large cylinder. The two cylinders moreover are
much more convenient to carry than an ordinary single cylinder of

page_text: larger diameter, as when half inverted to a horizontal or nearly hori-
zontal position they will fit snugly against the back of the bearer,
and can be very conveniently and steadily carried, as shown in Fig. 1.
I claim as my Invention,-
1. A fire extinguisher in which two chambers communicating with 5
each other, and both containing alkaline solutions, are combined with
an acid receptacle contained within one chamber, but common to both,
substantially as set forth.
2. A fire extinguisher having communicating chambers, and an
acid receptacle and an exit cock, all so arranged that the acid must 1
traverse both chambers before reaching the cock, as herein set forth.
3. A fire extinguisher in which the acid receptacle is arranged in
respect to the alkaline chamber or chambers, substantially as set forth,
so that the contents of the acid receptacle shall be discharged into
the said chamber or chambers on half inverting the apparatus, sub- 1
stantially as specified.
4. The acid receptacle D inclined in respect to the pressure chamber
within which it is contained, for the purpose specified.
5. The acid receptacle D pivotted to a frame e above its centre of
gravity, and arranged to be fixed to the said frame by a set screw ƒ 2
or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Kensett Platt, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in
the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred-and-seventy-three.