Apparatus for Extinguishing Fires in Chimneys and for Sweeping Chimneys.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 3rd Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 3rd Nov., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Extinguishing Fires in Chimneys and for Sweeping
Chimneys.
I, JOACHIM AMBROISE FERRAN, of Rue Raymond IV., Toulouse (Haute-
Garonne) France, Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a system of apparatus for extinguishing fires in
chimneys and for cleaning the chimney. Both of these operations are capable of
being performed from the interior of the room or premises to which the chimney
appertains, and the apparatus also presents the further advantage of preventing the
entrance into the chimney of lightning and rain in stormy weather.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, which represent a vertical section of an apparatus arranged according
to my invention.
--
The apparatus is composed of:-
1st. A box or casing a open at bottom and the vertical sides of which are
provided with projecting flanges resting upon the top of the chimney shaft b and
fixed by means of feet embedded therein or simply by nailing. At the top of the
casing an opening c is provided having flared edges upon which the chimney
pot or cowl is erected. This casing is also provided with a door on one of its
vertical sides for charging the chamber containing fire extinguishing bottles or
grenades d.
2ndly. An inner casing or smoke passage e provided at its upper end with a door f
for cutting-off at will the current of air in the chimney and thus extinguishing the
fire at the outset as well as for preventing the admission of lightning to the flue.
The door when lowered to the position shewn in dotted lines at fl also serves to
close the magazine 9 containing the fire extinguishing bottles or grenades, the
composition of which will be hereinafter described.
3rdly. A storage chamber g for the grenades, of triangular form, in one of whose
angles is placed a weight of cast lead, for example, which acts as a counter-
balance. The magazine is mounted on its base by a hinge i at one end and is
supported at its opposite end in a horizontal position by a stop k fixed to the
vertical wall of the outer casing. A chain is attached to the upper edge of the
magazine by which the latter can be oscillated without much effort, the magazine
being returned to position automatically by means of the counterweight.
4thly. A pulley m around which passes a chain for opening or closing the
door f said chain like that of the magazine being carried down the chimney to the
stove or fireplace within reach of the hand, from the apartment.
The boxes, bottles, or grenades d contained in the magazine are attached to a rod
by means of a chain which extends down one-third or one-half the height of, or to

page_text: the bottom of, the chimney and each bursting at the point at which it remains
suspended in the flue. The explosion is effected with the aid of a fuse which fires
a Lefaucheux cartridge forming the stopper of the bottle containing the non-
combustive substance (such as flowers of sulphur or ammonium carbonate) each
substance being contained in a separate bottle.
•
The cords or chains in which tilt the one the magazine containing the bottles,
and the boxes or envelopes enclosing the same, and the other the door f, are carried
down inside the chimney or outside of the same into the apartment where they are
led the one to the left and the other to the right where they terminate in a cord,
similar to a bell-pull, provided with a ring for retaining the door in the closed
position and which on the cord being released assumes a vertical position by its
own weight and at same time protects the open side of the magazine containing the
bottles before described.
At the bottom end of the apparatus where it is supported upon the brickwork of
the chimney, is mounted a cross-bar or rod o at the centre or to one side of which
is preferably fixed a pulley p preferably made of glass or porcelain (with a view
not to attract lightning) around which passes an endless chain g extending down to
the bottom of the chimney, for facilitating the sweeping. To this end any suitable
means for producing an energetic frictional action upon the sides of the chimney is
attached to the chain, such as a metallic brush or "hedgehog," for example, or
simply one or two thick boughs or branches, by means of which the chimney may
be swept by working the chain up and down with both hands at the bottom end of
the chimney, the brush or branches being afterwards detached. This small and
simple sweeping apparatus, which if frequently employed suffices to remove the
soot from the chimney, constitutes an appendage or complement to the fire
extinguisher above described.
In order to avoid the danger, so frequent in stormy weather, of lightning entering
the chimney, it is simply necessary to pull the chain attached to trap fand so close
the latter and when the storm is over the chain is released or its ring unhooked so
as to allow the trap to fall by its own weight.
The working of the apparatus is very simple. Thus in the event of a fire
taking place in the chimney, the chain n is first pulled so as to raise the trap ƒ to
the full line position, from its normal vertical position f³, and close the upper end
of the chimney, after which chain is pulled so as to oscillate the magazine g and
discharge the fire-extinguishing agents into the chimney.
for
It is to be understood that the right is reserved of employing the chain
raising the fire-extinguishing agents into the chimney instead of introducing them
from the top of said chimney.
Lastly, the three essential parts of the apparatus-viz.: the door or trap, fire-
extinguisher magazine, and sweeping arrangement, may be applied either together
or separately; for example, the sweeping apparatus may be used alone or the
latter may be combined with the door or trap.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1894.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Extinguishing Fires in Chimneys and for Sweeping
Chimneys.
I, JOACHIM AMBROISE FERRAN, late of Rue Raymond IV, No. 22 and now
of Rue Remigneres 3, Toulouse, in the Republic of France, Doctor of Law, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the roшowing
statement:-
My invention has reference to apparatus for extinguishing fires in chimneys and
also improved means for sweeping same.
I will first describe that portion of my invention which relates to fire
extinguishing, as follows:-
I provide at the point of exit of the chimney flue through the roof a casing of
iron or other suitable material, inside a recess in which casing is fixed a shelf of
similar material bent to an angle of say 45°; one side of this angular shelf rests
horizontally on a support fastened to the side of the said casing. The shelf is
hinged at the end nearest the flue of the chimney to a support fixed to the base of
the casing. To the upper end of the angular piece is attached a chain which
descends the chimney and comes out into the room for purposes to be hereinafter
described. On this shelf are placed a number of light boxes or wire cases
containing fire extinguishing grenades provided with cartridges forming their corks.
Through these corks project fuses suitable to be ignited by the fire in the chimney.
The boxes are attached to cords or light wires of varying lengths which are
attached to the swinging door hereinafter described.
At a position level with the upper wall of the recess is provided a door hinged
at the outer end of said wall and operated by a chain running round a pulley and
down into the apartment. This door when in its normal position is down and
forms a cover shutting in the recess and keeping its contents free from soot,
rain, etc.
Should a fire break out in the chimney, the chain is pulled and the door raised
shutting the smoke exit and preventing draught feeding the flames.
The chain before mentioned which operates the hinged shelf is now pulled and
tilts the shelf until the boxes thereon slide off and fall down the chimney to
various depths according to the length of the wires attached to them. When the
chain is released the shelf assumes its normal position again by the aid of a weight
fastened to the angle formed by its sides.
The extinguishers or grenades now hanging in the chimney explode as soon as
the fuse is ignited by the burning soot and fires the cartridges, the contents of the
grenades quenching the fire.
The swinging door can also be used when the fire is not alight for the purposes
of preventing draughts etc.
The second portion of my invention, which has reference to an easy means for
cleaning the chimney, is as follows:-
At any convenient position in the shaft, but as near the top as practicable, is
arranged a cross beam carrying a grooved pulley round which runs an endless
chain which may or may not run round a similar pulley at the bottom of the shaft.
The chain is adapted to carry a curved or other brush and by revolving it from its
lower end the chimney may be easily and effectually swept.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried
into effect I will describe the drawing hereunto annexed.
The drawing illustrates a section of the casing or chamber and shows all the
features of my invention.
a is the casing, b the recess, c and d are respectively the upper and lower walls of
said recess, d is the shelf fulcrumed at d' and resting at one end on the bracket e.
is the upper angular piece of the shelf to the end f' of which is attached the
chain g, s is the weighted portion which returns the shelf normal when the chain
has been pulled and released. h is the swinging door hinged at which is
operated to the position shown by dotted lines at i by the chain running over the
pulley and thence down through the casing. I are the boxes or wire cases
containing the grenades which are attached by the eyelets land wires to the
swinging door h by means of the eyelets m. rare the projecting fuses. n is the
outlet of the chamber to which the usual chimney pot may be attached; o is a

page_text: cross beam supporting the pulley p round which runs the chain
the circular or other brush for chimney sweeping purposes.
which supports
It is obvious that in lieu of providing the casing a, the working parts of my
invention may be fitted in a recess provided in the brickwork of the chimney in
the case of houses which are in the course of construction.
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
claim is :-
1. Means for extinguishing fires in chimneys, consisting of grenades suitably
situated near the top of the chimney, which may at will be displaced for creating
an explosion thereby extinguishing the fire, substantially as described.
2. Arranging in chimneys, preferably near their top, a recess, the aperture of
the chimney being normally open and being capable of being closed by a door
worked by a chain or other suitable means to a horizontal position thereby
preventing down draught and the ingress of rain, etc. substantially as described.
3. Means for conveniently sweeping chimneys, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1894
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, Westminster, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.