A NEW OR IMPROVED FIRE-EXTINGUISHER
Year: 1884

page_text: DIECIFICATION,
I EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED FIRE-EXTINGUISHER
" and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
The said Invention consists of a vessel or bottle of glass or other refrangible
material of about two to four pints capacity, convenient for handling and filled
with a fire-extinguishing solution of the nature hereinafter described and then
tightly corked and sealed or otherwise effectually closed in which condition said
vessel together with its contents may be violently thrown or be otherwise broken
in the fire and the contents be discharged thereon.
The solution in the vessel derives its fire-extinguishing quality principally from
the free carbonic acid gas and a carbonate salt which it contains, the free gas
serving also by its tension to distribute the solution, when the vessel is broken
and its contents released over the flames. In conjunction with the fire-extinguishing
agents stated there are also in solution certain other salts or compounds not
inimical to the presence of said free gas and carbonic salt in efficient state which
salts or compounds enable the solution to withstand a very low degree of temperature
say (-15°) Fahrenheit without congealing, besides which they also possess some
cooling and fire-extinguishing properties themselves.
In the preparation of the fire-extinguishing solution the process is as follows:-
To 200 gallons of cold water are added 400 lbs. of sodic chloride and 200 lbs. of
ammonic chloride and when solution is effected, 156 lbs. of hydro-chloric acid (18°).
Carbonate of potassa is now gradually stirred into the solution in quantity
sufficient to exactly neutralise the free hydrochloric acid (about 105 lbs. will be
required), the stirring being repeated with each fresh addition of the potassic
carbonate.
When the necessary quantity of potassic carbonate has been used, there is
added to the liquid 75 lbs. of bicarbonate of soda and stirring is resumed until
solution is effected. The liquid is now ready for use and it should be placed in
the containing vessels as soon as practicable.

page_text: This vessel A (illustrated by the Drawing annexed) is charged with the solution,
the stopper a inserted in the neck and a filling b of Portland cement of the
consistency of thick cream poured into the recess above the stopper. When the
cement sets it holds the stopper firmly. and hermetically seals the outlet. Just
prior to inserting the stopper a a quantity of dry tartaric acid in a gelatine capsule
may be dropped into the vessel which capsule being dissolved enables the tartaric
acid to react on a portion of the carboanate salt and so to develope 'the free carbonic
acid gas. The free gas should not exceed one or two atmospheres in pressure,
otherwise the vessel, which is purposely made thin, would be prematurely broken.
Sufficient free carbonic acid gas is ordinarily developed in practice by the reaction
of the hydrochloric acid upon the carbonate of potassa as before described so that
the addition of tartaric or other acid portion becomes unnecessary. But if chloride
of potassa be used directly instead of being formed in the solution by the reaction
stated then it becomes desirable to make the tartaric or other acid addition.
Changes in proportions of the several ingredients or substitutions of other salts
for those specified may be made for example calcic, magnesic or baric chlorides or
sulphates or nitrates of the alkalies or alkaline earths but these are not
recommended.
+
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
First. A fire-extinguisher consisting of an hermetically sealed frangible vessel
containing a fire-extinguishing solution of free carbonic acid gas, a carbonate salt
and certain other salts which keep the solution liquid at-low temperatures.
Second. A fire-extinguisher consisting of an hermetically sealed frangible vessel
containing a fire extinguishing solution of free carbonic acid gas and a carbonate
salt substantially as set forth.
Dated this Fourteenth day of June 1884.