Improvements in and connected with Metal Outting or Drilling Appliances for Use by Firemen and others.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
UUM LEIE DIEUTICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Metal Outting or Drilling
Appliances for Use by Firemen and others.
I, JOHN GOTTfried von HoFE, Inventor, of 176th Street and 10th Avenue,
New York, in the County of New York and State of New York, United States of
America, 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 relates to certain new and useful improvements in hose attachments,
and is particularly designed for use by the Fire Department, as an auxiliary tool
or appliance.
Where a building is provided with metallic shutters, doors, or with heavy bars,
the firemen are at a great disadvantage in directing streams of water to the interior
of the building, and to some desirable part thereof. The common practice in
fighting fires in a warehouse or other building having such shutters, is to attempt
to break the bolt holding the same, and to force or pry them open: if this is
unsuccessful, the firemen are obliged to wait until said shutters become red hot,
when a stream of water directed against them will cause them to warp or crack,
and permit the opening thereof. While waiting for the shutters to become
sufficiently heated, much valuable property is frequently destroyed, and it is
therefore the object of my invention to sever one or more of the iron bars with
which the building may be protected or to cut a hole through the shutters of
sufficient size to permit the insertion of a hose nozzle, or to admit the hand to open
the bolt thereof.
To these ends, therefore, my said invention consists in utilizing the pressure of
water in a fire hose to operate appropriate cutting mechanism, to effect the
desired end.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in the figures of which like parts are
similarly designated;
Fig. 1, is an elevation showing one form of apparatus for practicing my invention;
Fig. 2, is an enlarged sectional view of the upper end thereof; and
Fig. 3 illustrates a different form of the cutting mechanism.
To the free end of a fire hose a, the opposite end of which is in communication
with any suitable source of power, such as a fire engine, hydrant, etc., I attach a
small but powerful water motor b, having the exhaust c, and from said motor I run
a flexible shaft d, provided with the usual casing e, on the opposite end of which is
secured the handle or grasping device f, within which is located the drill, saw, or
other cutting or drilling tool spindle g. h, is a drill, saw, burr or other appropriate
cutting mechanistn, preferably provided with the stop or shoulder i, and this tool is
secured to the end of spindle g, by screw-threads, a chuck, or other holding
mechanism. If desired, the cap j, may be placed over the cutting tool, when not in
use, to prevent injury thereto or therefrom, and at some convenient point the
perforated lug or eye l, may be located, through which the device may be strapped
to a ladder and to prevent "kicking" by the pressure in the hose, and the rotation
of the motor. The operation of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing.
Upon reaching a fire, in a building protected by the metal bars or shutters aforesaid,
the hose is run off and attached in the usual manner; the nozzle thereof is unscrewed,
and the connection to water motor b, inserted in its place. Upon pressure being
allowed to flow to said motor, it will rapidly revolve, thereby imparting motion to
the flexible shaft d, and cutting tool h, which is held by the handle f, against the
shutter or bar on the floor where it is desired to direct a stream until the desired
aperture or opening is made therein, or the bar or bars have been severed.
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page_text: If desired, a valve k, for regulating the pressure of water to the motor b, may be
arranged between said motor and hose a, or said regulation may be made at the
fire engine.
I do not desire to limit myself in any way to the particular mechanism here sh
and described, nor to the details of construction thereof, as obviously, many out
forms of apparatus may be used to carry my invention into practice, without
departing from the principle and scope of the said invention, the gist of which lies
in applying the pressure of water in a fire hose. to rotate a water motor, which in
turn, operates a suitable cutting or drilling tool to accomplish the purposes of
my invention.
Obviously, if desired, the connection between hose a, and motor b, may be shorter
than that shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings, and, as stated, valve k, may be omitted,
while by a simple screw thread arrangement on the nozzle, the removal thereof
from the hose, to attach said motor, may be dispensed with. Again, the flexible
shaft d, may, if desired, be entirely omitted, or may be of any construction and of
any length desirable. The invention is also not limited to the particular style of
cutting or drilling tools shown, as any form of tool may be used, provided only that
the tool employed is both powerful and rapid.
I have shown in Fig. 3 a combined drill and cutting tool which consists of a
handle m, through which passes the spindle g, carrying at its end the drill n. The
cutting tool o is circular in form and is provided with teeth or serrations p. The
cutting tool o, is arranged to fit over the end of the spindle g, and to rotate
therewith, at the same time being capable of a sliding movement on spindle said
movement being limited by suitable stops. Between the cutting tool o, and the
handle m,
is arranged a spring g, adapted to hold the said cutting tool in its forward
position. The drill n, extends beyond the cutting tool o, for a short distanc
use the drill strikes the shutter first, drilling a short distance therein, th by
holding the apparatus firmly against displacement until the cutting tool cuts its v
through the shutter or other obstacle.
1
In
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 consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. An apparatus for attacking metallic shutters, doors and like guards for
buildings in case of fire, to enable firemen to gain access thereto from the outside,
which consists of a water motor provided with a coupling for connecting it with
fire hose to receive the hydraulic pressure therefrom to drive it, a metal cutting or
drilling tool and a driving shatt interposed between the cutting or drilling tool and
the motor, substantially as described."
2. An apparatus for attacking metallic shutters, doors and like guards for
buildings in case of fire to enable firemen to gain access thereto from the outside,
which consists of a water motor provided with a coupling for connecting it with fire
hose to receive the hydraulic pressure therefrom to drive it, a metal cutting or
drilling tool, a driving shaft interposed between the cutting or drilling tool and the
motor, and a hand-piece next the cutting or drilling tool, substantially as described.
3. An apparatus for attacking metallic shutters, doors and like guards for
buildings in case of fire, to enable firemen to gain access thereto from the outside,
which consists of a water motor provided with a coupling for connecting it with fire
hose to receive the hydraulic pressure therefrom to drive it, an eye connected with
some part of said motor by which it may be supported in position for operation, a
metal cutting or drilling tool, and a driving shaft interposed between the cutting or
drilling tool and the motor, substantially as described.
Dated this 11th dex of Mon 1204
H D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
H D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.