Apparatus for Preventing Spontaneous Ignition or Combustion of Readily Combustible Materials.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Preventing Spontaneous Ignition or Combustion of
Readily Combustible Materials.
We, CARL VON BALZBERG, of R R Bergrath in Ischl, Province of Salzburg,
Austria, Imperial and Royal Councillor of Mines and BERNHARD EGGER of
X Simmeringerstrasse 187-189 Vienna, Austria, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object to prevent the spontaneous ignition or combustion
of easily combustible substances. As is well known, an increase in temperature
precedes all cases of spontaneous ignition or combustion which increase in tempera-
ture appears first chiefly in the lower parts of the heaped up substances such as coal
or charcoal, and has its origin in the combined action of pressure, increase of
surface by reason of the comminution of the material, the collection of moisture,
and insufficient ventilation.
Now according to this invention, we utilize such increase of temperature to
actuate apparatus of the kind hereinafter described for the purpose of counteracting
some or all of the foregoing causes.
This apparatus is constructed with a valve adapted to be opened by reason of
said increase of temperature, and allow an extinguishing fluid, such as a gas which
does not support combustion, to enter the material and displace the air therefrom,
and at the same time cause a cooling of the material so that ignition thereof is
rendered impossible.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 illustrates partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, a convenient
form of apparatus for the purpose mentioned.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line A, B, of Fig. 1.
The apparatus shown consists of a cast iron or other cylinder a filled with oil,
mercury, zinc, or other substance having a co-efficient of expansion greater than
that of the cylinder, which latter is closed at its two ends by elastic diaphragms b
of hammered cast steel similar to the so-called corrugated pressure gauge plates
which are tightly held between the flanges of the cylinder and the covers c bolted
thereon, by means of rings or washers 6¹. The cylinder a is connected by the
frame d with a steel pipe e whose narrow bore e¹ communicates at one end K with
a vessel or receiver (not shown) which is screwed on the tube e and contains liquid
carbonic acid or other fluid under pressure that does not support combustion. The
other end of the tube is formed or provided with a valve casing with valve seats
screwed in for a double-beat or differential valve (ff') whose connecting spindle g
passes through the upper cover c and presses by means of a shoe o upon the
upper diaphragm b. The valve is normally closed by a coiled spring f" and by the
excess of pressure of the gas passing through the bore e' and acting upon the larger
surface of the lower valve, so that the outflow of the gas is prevented. i is a
powerful whistle such as a steam whistle mounted on the valve casing, through
which the gas escapes, when the double-beat valve ff opens, and thus gives an
audible signal.
"
A micrometer screw k, which passes through the lower cover c of the receiver a,.
is provided with a head, divided into degrees, an index or hand being provided;
to facilitate adjustment. The screw acts upon the lower diaphragm b, and by it
the said diaphragm and the contents of the receiver a can be moved or allowed to.
move slightly up or down, whereby the double beat valve can be adjusted so as to
open when a predetermined temperature is attained. In the steel pipe e is mounted
astop valve m which is subject to the upward pressure of a spring n. This
i

page_text: valve m is kept pressed down upon its seat by the gas in the bore e¹, but when
the gas pressure ceases, the valve m is opened by the spring n and an electrical
contact o, the movable part of which is carried by the stem of the valve m is
completed whereby an electrical audible or other alarm apparatus is caused to
operate thereby indicating that there is a deficiency of gas in the gas vessel or
receiver.
The apparatus is first adjusted for the desired or precise temperature, at which
it is to begin to operate. For this purpose the cylinder a is filled with oil or
one of the other substances mentioned, and is then closed, the vessel or receiver
containing the carbonic acid or other extinguishing fluid is then screwed up tightly
on the steel pipe e, and the gas allowed to enter the steel tube.
The adjustment may be effected as follows:-
The apparatus is placed in a water bath heated to the temperature at which
the apparatus is to begin to operate, say for example at 60° C. When the cylinder a
has assumed the temperature of the bath, the micrometer screw is adjusted in
such a manner that a slight escape of gas through the valve f can be perceived. On
cooling, the valve will close by the contraction of the contents of the cylinder.
The apparatus is thus set for this temperature (60° C.).
In using the apparatus it is surrounded with a sheet metal casing and is placed
in the material to be protected from spontaneous ignition and as near as possible to
the bottom of such material.
If now an increase of temperature should occur in the said materials from any
cause and if the temperature reaches the predetermined, or as we call it, the critical
point, the apparatus will commence to operate in consequence of the upper
diaphragm and consequently also the spindle g of the double valve ff being raised
by the expansion of the contents of the cylinder a, whereby an outflow of gas will
take place through the valve f and cause the whistle to sound.
This gas will displace the air in the interstices of the material into which it
escapes and cause at the same time a considerable fall of temperature it may be
down to 78° C. in the case of carbonic acid whereby the heated material will
be cooled and spontaneous ignition and fires resulting therefrom entirely obviated.
When the temperature has again fallen below the critical point, the double
valve will close automatically.
It is obvious that the form of the apparatus may be modified in various respects
without departing from the nature of our said invention.
Dated this 24th day of January 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Preventing Spontaneous Ignition or Combustion of
Readily Combustible Materials.
We, CARL VON Balzberg, of Ischl, Province of Salzburg, Austria, Imperial
and Royal Councillor of Mines and BERNHARD EGGER, of X Simmeringer-
strasse 187-189 Vienna, Austria, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention has for object to prevent the spontaneous ignition or combustion
of easily combustible substances. As is well known, an increase in temperature
precedes all cases of spontaneous ignition or combustion which increase in
temperature appears first chiefly in the lower parts of the heaped up substances.
such as coal or charcoal, and has its origiu in the combined action of pressure..

page_text: increase of surface by reason of the comminution of the material, the collection of
moisture, and insufficient ventilation.
Now according to this invention, we utilize such increase of temperature to
actuate apparatus of the kind hereinafter described for the purpose of counteracting
some or all of the foregoing causes.
This apparatus is constructed with a valve adapted to be opened by reason of
said increase of temperature, and allow an extinguishing fluid, such as a gas which
does not support combustion, to enter the material and displace the air therefrom,
and at the same time cause a cooling of the material so that ignition thereof is
rendered impossible.
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 illustrates partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, a convenient
form of apparatus for the purpose mentioned.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line A B of Fig. 1.
The apparatus shown consists of a cast iron or other cylinder a filled with
oil, mercury, zinc, or other substance having a co-efficient of expansion greater
than that of the cylinder, which latter is closed at its two ends by elastic
diaphragms 6 of hammered cast steel similar to the so-called corrugated pressure
gauge plates which are tightly held between the flanges of the cylinder and the
covers c bolted thereon, by means of rings or washers 6'. The cylinder a is con-
nected by the frame d with a steel pipe e whose narrow bore e¹ communicates at
one end K with a vessel or receiver (not shown) which is screwed on the tube e
and contains liquid carbonic acid or other fluid under pressure that does not support
combustion. The other end of the tube is formed or provided with a valve casing
with valve seats screwed in for a double-beat differential valve (ff¹) whose con-
necting spindle 9 passes through the upper cover c and presses by means of a shoe g¹
upon the upper diaphragm b. The valve is normally closed by a coiled spring f
and by the excess of pressure of the gas passing through the bore e¹ and acting
upon the larger surface of the lower valve f', so that the outflow of the gas is
prevented. is a powerful whistle such as a steam whistle mounted on the valve
casing through which the gas escapes when the double-beat valve ƒ f' opens and
thus gives an audible signal.
A micrometer screw k, which passes through the lower cover c of the receiver a,.
is provided with a head, divided into degrees, an index or hand / being provided
to facilitate adjustment. The screw acts upon the lower diaphragm b, and by it
the said diaphragm and the contents of the receiver a can be moved or allowed to
move slightly up or down, whereby the double beat valve can be adjusted so as to :
open when a predetermined temperature is attained. In the steel pipe e is mounted
a stop valve m which is subject to the upward pressure of a spring n. This valve m.
is kept pressed down upon its seat by the gas in the bore e¹, but when the gas
pressure ceases, the valve m is opened by the spring n and an electrical contact o,
the movable part of which is carried by the stem of the valve m is completed
whereby an electrical audible or other alarm apparatus is caused to operate thereby
indicating that there is a deficiency of gas in the gas vessel or receiver.
The apparatus is first adjusted for the desired or precise temperature, at which it.
is to begin to operate. For this purpose the cylinder a is filled with oil or one of
the other substances mentioned, and is then closed, the vessel or receiver containing
the carbonic acid or other extinguishing fluid is then screwed up tightly on the steel
pipe e, and the gas allowed to enter the steel tube.
The adjustment may be effected as follows:-
The apparatus is placed in a water bath heated to the temperature at which the
apparatus is to begin to operate, say for example at 60° C. When the cylinder a
has assumed the temperature of the bath, the micrometer screw k is adjusted in such
a manner that a slight escape of gas through the valve can be perceived. On
cooling, the valve will close by the contraction of the contents of the cylinder.
The apparatus is thus set for this temperature (60° C.).
In using the apparatus it is surrounded with a sheet metal casing and is placed in

page_text: the material to be protected from spontaneous ignition and as near as possible to the
bottom of such material.
If now an increase of temperature should occur in the said materials from any
cause and if the temperature reaches the predetermined, or as we call it, the critical
point, the apparatus will commence to operate in consequence of the upper diaphragm
and consequently also the spindle g of the double valve ff being raised by the
expansion of the contents of the cylinder a, whereby an outflow of gas will take place
through the valve fand cause the whistle to sound.
This gas will displace the air in the interstices of the material into which it
escapes and cause at the same time a considerable fall of temperature, it may be
down to 78° C. in the case of carbonic acid, whereby the heated material will be
cooled and spontaneous ignition and fires resulting therefrom entirely obviated.
When the temperature has again fallen below the critical point, the double valve
will close automatically.
°
It is obvious that the form of the apparatus may be modified in various respects
without departing from the nature of our said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. For preventing spontaneous ignition or combustion of readily combustible
material apparatus comprising a vessel closed at the ends by flexible diaphragms
and serving for the reception of material whose co-efficient of expansion is greater
than that of the said vessel, a double beat valve ff the casing of which is connected
by a pipe with a gas holder in such a manner that the valve is kept pressed upon its
seat by the pressure of the gas, and its spindle is arranged to be operated by one of
the said diaphragms whilst the portion of the lower diaphragm can be adjusted by
means of a micrometer screw k according to the temperature at which it is desired
the apparatus shall commence to operate, the arrangement being such that when the
temperature of material of the kind mentioned and into which the apparatus is
placed, exceeds a predetermined degree, gas that is a non-supporter of combustion
and is under pressure will be allowed to flow out of the gas holder and into the
mass of the material so as to displace the air or oxygen therein and cool the said
material and upon the temperature being reduced below the critical point, the
outflow of gas will be automatically stopped substantially as herein described.
2. In apparatus of the kind specified in the preceding claim, a device such as the
whistle through which the gas will escape when the valve ff¹ is opened and
produce an audible signal for the purpose of indicating that the normal temperature
of the material is being exceeded.
3. In apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, a valve m arranged in the con-
necting pipe e between the gas receiver and the valve ff, in such a manner as to
be normally kept closed by the gas pressure, but to be opened inwardly by a
spring n when the gas holder is emptied and to thereby close an electrical circuit
for the purpose of operating an audible or other alarm apparatus substantially as
described.
4. Apparatus for preventing spontaneous ignition or combustion of readily com-
bustible material, constructed, arranged and operating as described and shown.
Dated this 30th day of January 1893.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.