IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN BUILDINGS, OIL TANKS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATTER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN BUILDINGS, OIL TANKS,
AND OTHER RECEPTACLES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATTER." A communication from
abroad by James Lancelot Hastings and William Henry Hastings, both of
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America,
Sealed the 23rd June 1876, and dated the 12th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1876.
"
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING
FIRES IN BUILDINGS, OIL TANKS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES OF COMBUSTIBLE
MATTER."
This Invention relates to the supply of carbonic acid gas or other gas that does
not support combustion, either by itself or along with water or steam, or both, to
buildings or compartments of buildings, oil tanks, or other receptacles of com-
bustible matter for the extinction of fire therein, and to the arrangment and
construction of a system of apparatus for that purpose.
Carbonic neid produced in any known manner, as for example, by the action
of an acid upon an alkaline carbonate is collected under considerable pressure in
receivers, into which when it is not generated under pressure as in its evolution
from a lime kiln it may be forced by pumping. These receivers are always by
preference in duplicate, so that while the contents of the one are being discharged
the other may be receiving a charge, but they may be in any number or of any
size suitable to the extent of the buildings or receptacles for which they have to
provide.
Where there is a range of buildings as in a street, it is preferred to use stationary
receivers placed in vaults or subways, and to connect them with a main pipe liko
a gas main provided with branches to the several buildings or compartments whero
fires may occur. Where such an arrangement of carbonic acid mains does not exist
or cannot be conveniently applied, a battery or set of portable receivers may be
mounted on a truck or waggon by which they can be conveyed charged from a
producing station to the locality where fire breaks out. From the carbonic acid

page_text: main service pipes are connected to the water service pipes of buildings or
compartments, which pipes are provided with nozzles or sets of hose, such as can
conveniently command all places where fire may occur. At the junction of each
carbonic acid pipe with the water pipe there are provided suitable cocks or valves,
whereby either the acid or the water supply can be cut off, or both may be allowed
to pass to a common nozzlo or hose in any desired proportions. In like manner
where there is no carbonic acid main a connection can be temporarily made from
the portable receivers to the water main or to hydrants or service pipes branching
therefrom, and in cases where there are no service pipes, to a particular building
the connection may be made to a hydrant provided with a hose, such as is usually
employed when water alone is used for extinction of fire. At the point where the
carbonic acid pipe joins the water service pipe or hydrant the former is made with
a nozzle arranged centrally in the latter, so that when the gas under pressure
issues from the nozzle there is an action like that of an injector, the current of gas
sustaining or increasing the flow of water and becoming thoroughly mingled
therewith in passing to the discharging nozzle. In cases where there is no water
main supplying water under pressure, this injector arrangement is applied to a stand
pipe which can be immersed in any convenient reservoir of water, the rush of the
acid gas having the effect of drawing water from the reservoir and discharging it
"mingled with the gas at a consderable velocity along the hose which is applied to
the stand pipe.
By the arrangements described above either water may be applied in the usual
way for the extinction of fire or carbonic acid gas alone may be so applied which is
of great advantage in cases where it is desirable to do the least possible damage to
goods, or a mixture of water and carbonic acid gas may be applied, such mixture
having great efficiency in extinguishing fire. And in this manner gases other than
carbonic acid having extinguishing properties may be used, carbonic acid being
generally preferable because it can be most easily obtained.
Steam may also be employed either by itself or along with carbonic acid or
water, and for this purpose a portable boiler or steam generator mounted on wheels
may be connected with the mains, service pipes, or hydrants, with injector
junctions as described. When such connections are made by means of flexible hose,
as these when conveying steam are too hot to handle, they are provided with
handles of non-conducting material, such as wood, attached to them at suitable
intervals.
For extinction of fire in oil tanks pipes with numerous jet nozzles are floated on
the surface of the oil, being connected by flexible or jointed pipes to the carbonic
acid main or supply, so that they can rise or descend as the level of the oil may
vary. In case of fire these jets discharge the extinguishing gas over the surface of
the oil, effectually preventing the access of oxygen thereto, and consequently
arresting its combustion. Water may be mingled with the gas so supplied, being
thus rendered effective for extinction of the fire, water alone being generally
ineffective for that purpose as it sinks in the oil leaving the surface exposed to the
atmosphere, and in like manner other receptacles of combustible goods may be
provided with service pipes and nozzles for the discharge when required of carbonic
acid, water, or steam, or of these combined.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th June
1876.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County 50
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING
FIRES IN BUILDINGS, OIL TANKS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES OF COMBUSTIBLE
MATTER." A communication to me from abroad by James Lancelot Hastings and

page_text: William Henry Hastings, both of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in the United States of
America.
This Invention relates to the supply of carbonic acid gas or other gas that does
not support combustion, either by itself or along with water or steam or both to
buildings, or compartments of buildings, oil tanks, or other receptacles of com-
bustible matter for the extinction of fire therein, and to the arrangement and
construction of a system of apparatus for that purpose.
Carbonic acid produced in any known manner, as for example, by the action of
an acid upon an alkaline carbonate, is collected under considerable pressure in
receivers, into which, when it is not generated under pressure, as in its evolution
fron a lime kiln, it may be forced by pumping. These receivers are always, by
preference, in duplicate, so that while the contents of the one are being discharged,
the other may be receiving a charge, but they may be in any number or of any
size suitable to the extent of the buildings or receptacles for which they have to
provide.
At the
Where there is a range of buildings, as in a street, it is preferred to use
stationary receivers placed in vaults or subways, and to connect them with a main
pipe like a gas main provided with branches to the several buildings or com-
partments where fires may occur. When such an arrangement of carbonic acid
inains does not exist or cannot be conveniently applied, a battery or set of portable
receivers may be mounted on a truck or waggon, by which they can be conveyed
charged from a producing station to the locality where fire breaks out. From the
carbonic acid main service pipes are connected to the water service pipes of
buildings or compartments, which pipes are provided with nozzles or sets of hose,
such as can conveniently command all places where fire may occur.
junction of each carbonic acid pipe with the water pipe, there are provided suitable
cocks or valves, whereby either the acid or the water supply can be cut off, or both
may be allowed to pass to a common nozzle or hose in any desired proportions.
In like manner where there is no carbonic acid main a connection can be tem-
porarily made from the portable receivers to the water main or to hydrants or
service pipes branching therefrom. And in cases where there are no service pipes
to a particular building the connection may be made to a hydrant provided with a
hose such as is usually employed when water alone is used for extinction of fire.
At the point where the carbonic acid pipe joins the water service pipe or hydrant,
the former is made with a nozzle arranged centrally in the latter, so that when the
gas under pressure issues from the nozzle there is an action like that of an injector,
the current of gas sustaining or increasing the flow of water, and becoming
thoroughly mingled therewith in passing to the discharging nozzle. In cases where
there is no water main supplying water under pressure this injector arrangement is
applied to a stand pipe which can be immersed in any convenient reservoir of water,
the rush of the acid gas having the effect of drawing water from the reservoir and
discharging it mingled with the gas at a considerable velocity along the hose which
is applied to the stand pipe.
By the arrangements described above, either water may be applied in the usual
way for the extinction of fire, or carbonic acid gas alone may be so applied, which
is of great advantage in cases where it is desirable to do the least possible damage
to goods, or a mixture of water and carbonic acid gas may be applied, such mixture
having great efficiency in extinguishing fire. And in this manner gases other than
carbonic acid having extinguishing properties may be used, carbonic acid being
generally preferable because it can be most easily obtained.
Steam may also be employed either by itself or along with carbonic acid or
water, and for this purpose a portable boiler or steam generator mounted on wheels
may be connected with the mains, service pipes, or hydrants, with injector
junctions as described. When such connections are made by means of flexible hose,
as these when conveying steam are too hot to handle, they are provided with
handles of non-conducting material, such as wood, attached to them at suitable
intervals.

page_text: For extinction of fire in oil tanks pipes with numerous jet nozzles are floated on
the surface of the oil, being connected by flexible or jointed pipes to the carbonic
acid main or supply, so that they can rise or descend as the level of the oil may
vary. In case of fire these jets discharge the extinguishing gas over the surface of
the oil, effectually preventing the access of oxygen thereto, and consequently
arresting its combustion. Water may be mingled with the gas so supplied, being thus
rendered effective for extinction of the fire, water alone being generally ineffective
for that purpose as it sinks in the oil, leaving the surface exposed to the atmosphere.
And in like manner other receptacles of combustible goods may be provided with
service pipes and nozzles for the discharge when required of carbonic acid, water, or
steam, or of these combined.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shews by a perspective view, partly in section, the system of apparatus
referred to above in different modes of its construction and application; and Figs.
2 to 7, inclusive, illustrate by detached views the construction and arrangement of
details not fully shewn in Fig. 1.
A is an ordinary water main supplying fire plugs A¹ by branch pipes A², and
also a pipe A³ leading to the building A+, which may represent either an isolated
building or one of the buildings of a city. B is a gas generator of any known
construction for the preparation of carbonic acid gas.
Although only one generator is shewn, it is to be understood that the number
and capacity of such generators may be increased as required. From the generator
a pipe b, b1, leads to a street gas main B', from which at suitable intervals side
service pipes 63, 63, lead to one or more tanks or receivers D, D', which may be
arranged in or in convenient proximity to each building, as for example, in the
vaults under the side walk. The pressure produced in generating the gas, or by a
pump, or other equivalent means, forces the gas along the main B¹, and thence
into the receivers D, D', through cocks or check valves a by which the pressure in
the receivers can be regulated as ascertained by pressure gauges c. A pipe d having
cocks a leads from the receiver or receivers D and makes a junction at any con-
venient point, as at k, with the water pipe A³, the latter being provided with a
cock a so that the water supply can be shut off if it bo desired to use the
alone. From the junction the pipe leads in any desired direction through the
building to be protected, and a hose connection d with a cock a³ is made in each
room or compartment, so that the supply can be turned on and used only at the
place of the fire, the pressure of the gas as well as that of the water forcing both
through the pipes to the jet.
gas
By closing the water cock a the gas may be used alone, but it is better to
employ both the water and the gas together thoroughly intermixed, the gas acting
as a means of throwing the water. This is effected by introducing at the junction
of the pipes & and A³ an injector of any known construction, such as that which is
represented in section in Fig. 2. The gas escaping under a high pressure through
the nozzlo c¹ raises and forces the water to the place of discharge, and at the saino
time becomes thoroughly intermixed with it. A like result is attained by using
steam with the gas or with the gas and water, the steam being taken from a
generator G either portable, as shewn, or fixed by a pipe g leading the steam into
the gas pipe & with an injector nozzlo c", as shown in Fig. 4.
When the gas
pressure is insufficient steam may be thus employed to produce the required current
of gas or gas and water.
By the arrangement of ejector gas nozzle, shewn in Fig. 2, water can be drawn
from a reservoir and thrown on a fire, A³ being an ordinary stand pipe. A service
pipe e being taken from the gas main B' to a fire plug A¹, as shown by the
enlarged section Fig. 6, the discharge nozzle e¹ of the gas pipe enters that of the
fire plug a, so that the gas pressure co-operates with the hydrant pressure in
throwing the water through a length of hose, the commingled fluids issuing on the
fire.

page_text: In order to send gas and steam together without water through flexible hose a
hose g¹ (Fig. 1) may be connected to the steam hose 2 by an ejector nozzle as
shewn in Fig. 3, so that the mingled steam and gas may be thrown through. the
nozzle H on to the fire. D, Fig. 1, represents a series or battery of receivers charged
with carbonic acid gas and mounted on a truck for convenience of transport to places
not supplied with stationary receivers. These receivers D2 have pipe and cock con-
nections, such that the gas in each receiver can be sent by a hose g³ to a hydrant
hose g, or by a hose g³ connecting with a pump hose g leading from a steam firo
engine F. The connections of these hose are preferably made of ejector form as
shewn in Fig. 5. When the nozzle H is employed for throwing hot steam, non-
conducting handles h are arranged on the hose, as shewn in Fig. 7.
For extinguishing fires in tanks P containing inflammable hydrocarbons, one or
more of the receivers D³ fitted with pressure gauges care charged with carbonic
acid gas.
Within the tank P are arranged pipes s, preferably around its inner
periphery and in large tanks transversely across, and these pipes s have jet holes or
jet pipes 8 so arranged that the gas escaping therefrom under pressure is projected
across the surface of the fluid in the tank, and settling as a stratum thereon
extinguishes or prevents combustion. The pipes s are kept at the level of the oil
by counterweights ? or floats 2, and the pipe m connecting them with the
receivers D3 has a flexible or telescopic joint at n, so that the pipes accommodate
themselves to the level of the fluid in the tank.
Gas and water may be used in combination by introducing water by the pipe A³
into the receivers D, and charging such water with carbonic acid gas introduced by
the pipe b². The mixture can then be drawn off through the pipe d and applied as
already described. For ordinary purposes the gas receivers should be arranged in
pairs or sets of two or more, so that one may be recharged while the gas is being
used from the other; or the gas may be pumped into the receivers when the
requisite pressure cannot be obtained in the generator. The perforated pipes in the
tank P may be employed for the introduction of any gases or vapours which are
incombustible or not supporters of combustion. Where a pump or injector is
employed the gas may be obtained from a lime kiln or calcining oven, and an
ordinary gas holder may be substituted for the receiver.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,-
-
First. For applying carbonic acid gas either alone or with water or steam to the
extinction of fire, the use of apparatus consisting of gas generators and receivers
comununicating with a system of water mains, steam, and service pipes provided
with stop-cocks and nozzles for the discharge of gas, or gas with water, or
with steam into the separate compartments of a building, substantially as herein
described.
Second. Arranging the junctions of the gas and water pipes, or the steam and
gas pipes to act as ejectors, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
Third. Providing in a tank containing inflammable hydrocarbon liquid pipes with
jet openings adjustable to the level of the liquid for the introduction of a gas that
does not support combustion, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The construction of a steam hose with non-conducting handles, sub-
stantially as herein described in reference to Fig. 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Ninteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
ד ז
JOHN IMRAY. (L.S.)