AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the In-
vention of "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER, PARTS OF
WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES." -A communication from
abroad by Henry Spencer Parmelee, of New Haven, State of
Connecticut, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 12th December 1874.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER, PARTS
OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," a communication to me from
abroad by Henry Spencer Parmelee, of New Haven, State of Connecticut,
United States of America (to be as follows):
:-
This Invention relates to a device for attachment to distributing pipes
in buildings for extinguishing fires, the construction being such that the

page_text: therefrom in numerous jets; F is a valve standing below the chamber,
and so as to prevent the flow of water to the chamber G; the valve stem
extends up, and over this a cap H is arranged bearing upon the said
spindle. Around the valve chamber is a spiral spring I, the spring
attached to the cap H by eyes L. These eyes are of a material which
will fuse at a comparatively low temperature, say at 150 or 200 degrees
of heat. Through the cap is an adjusting screw N, which bears upon
the spindle, so that by turning the screw N the pressure may be brought
to bear upon and hold down the valve. The strength of this spring
should be a little greater than the maximum pressure of the water or
whatever the fluid may be.
The sprinklers E are arranged in different parts of the apartment
whenever it may be desirable to discharge the water, and the water
supplied thereto under pressure. If at any time a fire occurs in the
apartment, so soon as the heat has become so great as to fuse the eyes L
or any one of the distributors the pressure above the valve will be
removed, and the water will then force the valve up, pass into the
sprinklers E, and be thrown therefrom in jets. In order that the jets
from one sprinkler may not fall upon the eyes L, and thus prevent the
subsequent fusing of these plugs by the continuation of the fire the
cap extends down so as to inclose the eyes L, and prevents the water
from one sprinkler entering the eyes of another.
There is liable to be more or less drip from the sprinklers by leakage
from the valves. To prevent this from running down or dropping a
cup d is arranged beneath the sprinkler E, into which the drip will pass,
and then may be wiped out, or if a small quantity it will evaporate. In
order to prevent the cold water, with which the valve G is always in
contact, from communicating its low degree to the cap H, and thereby.
prevent as early a fusion of the eyes L as there would otherwise. be,
I place between the valve stem and the cap a non-conducting
material a.
To avoid keeping the full head from the supply pipe A upon the dis-
tributors the valve B is employed to cut off the principal communication
between the pipe A and the distributors, and in order that the valve B
may be opened to allow a full supply of water whenever a fire occurs I
attach the valve lever D to the rod P of a piston R by means of a wire b.
When the piston drops, as denoted in broken lines, a spring S will draw ·

page_text: the lever D forward and open the valve. The piston R is held up. to
secure the valve, and its action made automatic in the following
manner: From the supply pipe below the valve B a tube T of less area
than one of the sprinklers leads to beneath the piston R, and also to the
pipe above the valve, to which the several sprinklers are attached. A
spring U bears upon the piston R with a pressure less than that of the
water; hence, when the sprinklers are closed the piston will be held up
with the full pressure of water, but so soon as one sprinkler valve is
raised then the pressure between that valve and the sprinkler will be
reduced, because the supply through the tube T will be less than the
capacity of the sprinkler; hence the pressure beneath the piston will be
correspondingly reduced and the pressure above the piston will force it
down, releasing the connection between the piston and the lever D, so
that the valve will be instantly opened to furnish the full supply.
Instead of the tube T leading from the pipe below to above the valve
a slight perforation or passage may be made through the valve to allow.
sufficient water to pass up to maintain the pressure, but in such cases
there must be a communication from above the valve to the piston R.
I therefore intend to be understood in my claim for the tube T as
embodying broadly a passage from beneath to above the valve, whether
it be through the valve or otherwise.
In order to sound an alarm when the sprinkler is open a steam whistle
is connected to the piston P in like manner as to the valve in the supply
pipe described, and as also seen in the Drawing; hence whenever the
sprinkler is open the alarm will be sounded.
I have represented the alarm as being that of a steam whistle, but
any other alarm, which may be tripped or made by disconnection, as
described, may be employed. This alarm will be sounded if a leak
should occur at any point if that leak be larger than the tube T.
If desirable fusible metal may be placed between the valve stem and
the screw V. In that case the eyes L may be a hard or non-fusible
metal, it only being essential that a fusible material be placed at some
point to sustain the pressure upon the valve until fused.
In Fig. 2 I illustrate a modification of the fusible material in which
the "
eyes
L" are dispensed with. In this modification e is the fusible
material in the lower end of the screw N, or it may be a piece of metal

page_text: soldered into the lower end of the screw, the piece being made to slide
freely into the cavity in the screw, and so that when the solder is melted
or fused the piece will be driven up into the screw to allow the valve to
open.
I will now procede to describe the modification shown in Fig. 3.
A is the pipe or tube to which the perforated distributor B' is attached.
Over the distributor the cap C¹ is loosely fitted, and is secured thereon
by a metal or material fusible at low degree, say 120°, but so as to make
a tight joint and prevent the escape of water, gas, or whatever it may be.
So soon as this cap shall have become heated to the previously determined
degree the material which secures it in place will fuse, thus freeing the
cap from its connection, and the pressure within the pipes will force the
cap off the distributor, and thereby allowing the water to flow freely
through the said distributor. D' is the valve arranged within the
chamber E¹ to fit upon the seat F in substantially the usual manner,
with the spindle G' running out through the stuffing box, also in the
usual manner. Upon the under side of the valve is a cylindrical pro-
jection L', which nearly fills the opening through the valve seat. N' is
the inlet through which the water or whatever it may be is to flow to
the distributor; and in order to hold the valve at rest upon its seat, that
is, to balance the valve, a slight opening a¹ is made through the valve,
which will allow the water to flow through and fill the chamber E' on
the back side of the valve; hence, so long as the distributor is closed,
the valve must also remain closed, but as soon as the cap is thrown off
the pressure upon the back of the valve will be removed, and the valve
will open to allow the free flow of the water.
Instead of the opening or passage a¹ an arrangement of a tube T, as
shown in Fig. 1, may be employed.
To sound the alarm (here represented as a steam whistle actuated
through the valve stem P¹) a considerable motion of the valve spindle G¹
is necessary, more than would naturally be given by the opening of
the valve.
By the addition of the cylinder L' of the valve the passage cannot be
fully open until this part L' of the valve has passed back or above the
seat; hence there must be given to the valve an additional movement,

page_text: according to the length of the part L', and this is sufficient to give the
required movement for the alarm applicable to other purposes than for
a fire extinguisher where it is desirable to sound an alarm.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year
of our Lord. One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her
special licence that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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
" AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES," a communication to me from abroad by Henry Spencer
Parmelec, of New Haven, State of Connecticut, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature. of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the figures and
letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say :-
-
This Invention relates to a device for attachment to distributing pipes
in buildings for extinguishing fires, the construction being such that the
heat which may be generated in the apartment will automatically open
the valve and allow the discharge of water.

page_text: A is the main pipe by which the water or other extinguishing fluid is
conducted to the different points. In this pipe is a valve B, by which
the flow of water is cut off the valve stem held out in a closed position
through a lever D, as more fully herein-after described. E is the
sprinkler, which consists of a hollow chamber numerously perforated, so
that water passing into said chamber under pressure will be forced
therefrom in numerous jets; F is a valve standing below the chamber,
and so as to prevent the flow of water to the chamber G; the valve stem
extends up, and over this a cap H is arranged bearing upon the said
spindle. Around the valve chamber is a spiral spring I, the spring
attached to the cap H by eyes L. These eyes are of a material which
will fuse at a comparatively low temperature, say at 150 or 200 degrees -
of heat. Through the cap is an adjusting screw N, which bears upon
the spindle, so that by turning the screw N the pressure may be brought
to bear upon and hold down the valve. The strength of this spring
should be a little greater than the maximum pressure of the water or
whatever the fluid may be.
The sprinklers E are arranged in different parts of the apartment
whenever it may be desirable to discharge the water, and the water
supplied thereto under pressure. If at any time a fire occurs in the
apartment, so soon as the heat has become so great as to fuse the eyes L
or any one of the distributors the pressure above the valve will be
removed, and the water will then force the valvo up, pass into the
spinklers E, and be thrown therefrom in jets. In order that the jets
from one sprinkler may not fall upon the eyes L, and thus prevent the
subsequent fusing of these plugs by the continuation of the fire, the cap
extends down so as to inclose the eyes L, and prevents the water from
one sprinkler entering the eyes of another. .
There is liable to be more or less drip from the sprinklers by leakage
from the valves. To prevent this from running down or dropping a
cup d is arranged beneath the sprinkler E, into which the drip will pass,
and then may be wiped out, or if a small quantity it will evaporate. In
order to prevent the cold water, with which the valve G is always in
contact, from communicating its low degree to the cap H, and thereby
prevent as early a fusion of the eyes L as there would otherwise be, I
place between the valve stem and the cap a non-conducting material a.
To avoid keeping the full head from the supply pipo A upon the dis-

page_text: tributors the valve B is employed to cut off the principal communication
between the pipe A and the distributors, and in order that the valve B
may be opened to allow a full supply of water whenever a fire occurs I
attach the valve lever D to the rod P of a piston R by means of a wire b.
When the piston drops, as denoted in broken lines, a spring S will draw
the lever D forward and open the valve. The piston R is held up to
secure the valve, and its action made automatic in the following
manner-From the supply pipe below the valve B a tube T of less area
than one of the sprinklers leads to beneath the piston R, and also to the
pipe above the valve, to which the several sprinklers are attached. A
spring V bears upon the piston R with a pressure less than that of the
water; hence, when the sprinklers are closed the piston will be held up
with the full pressure of water, but so soon as one sprinkler valve is
raised then the pressure between that valve and the sprinkler will be
reduced, because the supply through the tube T will be less than the
capacity of the sprinkler; hence the pressure beneath the piston will be
correspondingly reduced, and the pressure above the piston will force it
down, releasing the connection between the piston and the lever D, so
that the valve will be instantly opened to furnish the full supply.
Instead of the tube T leading from the pipe below to above the valve
a slight perforation or passage may be made through the valve to allow
sufficient water to pass up to maintain the pressure, but in such cases
there must be a communication from above the valve to the piston R.
I therefore intend to be understood in my claim for the tube T as
embodying broadly a passage from beneath to above the valve, whether
it be through the valve or otherwise.
In order to sound an alarm when the sprinkler is open a steam whistle.
is connected to the piston P in like manner as to the valve in the supply
pipe described, and as also seen in the Drawing; hence whenever the
sprinkler is open the alarm will be sounded.
I have represented the alarm as being that of a steam whistle, but
any other alarm which may be tripped or made by disconnection, as
described, may be employed. This alarm will be sounded if a leak
should occur at any point if that leak be larger than the tube T.
If desirable fusible metal may be placed between the valve stem and
the screw N. In that case the eyes L may be a hard or non-fusible.

page_text: metal, it only being essential that a fusible material be placed at some
point to sustain the pressure upon the valve until fused.
'
In Fig. 2 I illustrate a modification of the [fusible material in which
the "
eyes L" are dispensed with. In this modification e is the fusible
material in the lower end of the screw N, or it may be a piece of metal
soldered into the lower end of the screw, the piece being made to slide
freely into the cavity in the screw, and so that when the solder is melted
or fused the piece will be driven up into the screw to allow the valve to
open.
I will now proceed to describe the modification shown in Fig. 3.
A is the pipe or tube to which the perforated distributor B' is attached.
Over the distributor the cap C¹ is loosely fitted, and is secured thereon
by a metal or material fusible at a low degree, say 120°, but so as to
make a tight joint and prevent the escape of water, gas, or whatever it
may be. So soon as this cap shall have become heated to the previously
determined degree the material which secures it in place will fuse, thus
freeing the cap from its connection, and the pressure within the pipes
will force the cap off the distributor, and thereby allowing the water to
flow freely through the said distributor. D' is the valve arranged within
the chamber E¹ to fit upon the seat F" in substantially the usual manner,
with the spindle G₁ running out through the stuffing box, also in the
usual manner. Upon the under side of the valve is a cylindrical pro-
jection L', which nearly fills the opening through the valve seat. N¹ is
the inlet through which the water or whatever it may be is to flow to
the distributor, and in order to hold the valve at rest upon its seat, that
is, to balance the valve, a slight opening a¹ is made through the valve,
which will allow the water to flow through and fill the chamber E¹ on
the back side of the valve; hence, so long as the distributor is closed,
the valve must also remain closed, but as soon as the cap is thrown off
the pressure upon the back of the valve will be removed and the valve
will open to allow the free flow of the water.
Instead of the opening or passage a¹ an arrangement of a tube T, as
shown in Fig. 1, may be emploved.

page_text: it may be, above the valve, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have here.
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- {
five.