Improvements in Fire Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
Improvements in Fire Engines.
We, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER, and CHRISTOPHER JOHN WALLACE
JAKEMAN, of the Firm of Merryweather & Sons Limited, of Greenwich Road,
Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our improvements relate to the construction of portable fire engines to be worked
by the explosion of petroleum vapour, or spray.
One method of carrying out our invention is as follows:-A petroleum motor of
specially light construction is connected to a pump capable of delivering water
under high pressure suitable for fire extinction, together with a tank for containing
the petroleum, mounted upon a carriage with wheels, springs, and box for
appliances similar to that used in ordinary steam fire engines.
In one arrangement, in order to start the engine without a load, we fit the pump
with a bye-pass connecting the suction and delivery outlets, so that no pressure is
formed in the pump until the engine is running at full speed. Upon the motor
attaining its working speed, the bye-pass valve is closed and the pump started to
work.
In some cases we fit a valve on the suction branch of the pump, so that on
starting the engine air only is pumped, and upon full speed being attained the air
valve is closed, and the pump allowed to draw water.
In order that the machine may be always ready to start, we provide a special
heater to keep the vaporiser hot when standing in the engine house. The heater
may be arranged to burn ordinary coal gas or other fuel.
We do not confine ourselves to the details of carrying out this invention as they
may be considerably varied, but claim the construction of a portable fire engine
actuated by a petroleum motor.
Dated this 25th day of October 1893.
J. C. MERRYWEATHER.
C. J. W. JAKEMAN.
Improvements in Fire Engines.
We, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER, and CHRISTOPHER JOHN WALLACE
JAKEMAN, of the Firm of Merryweather & Sons Limited, of Greenwich Road,
Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Engineers, 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 :-
Our improvements relate to the construction of portable fire engines to be worked
by the explosion of petroleum vapour or spray.
One method of carrying out our invention is as follows:-A petroleum motor of
specially light construction is connected to a pump capable of delivering water
under high pressure suitable for fire extinction, together with a tank for containing
the petroleum; mounted upon a carriage with wheels, springs, and box for
appliances similar to that used in ordinary steam fire engines.
In one arrangement, in order to start the engine without a load, we fit the pump
with a bye-pass connecting the suction and delivery outlets, so that no pressure is

page_text: formed in the pump until the engine is running at full speed. Upon the motor
attaining its working speed, the bye-pass valve is closed and the pump started to
work.
In some cases we fit a valve on the suction branch of the pump, so that on
starting the engine, air only is pumped, and upon full speed being attained the air
valve is closed and the pump allowed to draw water.
In order that the machine may be always ready to start, we provide a special
heater to keep the vaporiser hot when standing in the engine house.
may be arranged to burn ordinary coal gas or other fuel.
The heater
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of
one form of fire engine constructed to our Specification,-
"A" represents the motor, which in this case is of a rotary form, and "B" the
pump, which is also on the rotary principle. "C" represents the suction inlet, and
* D the delivery.outlet. Petroleum tanks are shewn at "EE" and the exhaust
box at " F," "G" being the exhaust pipe. "H" is the fly wheel which is
-rotated by hand to start the engine. The vaporiser and heating arrangements are
shewn at "1," and this vaporiser may be kept hot and ready for starting by means
of coal gas or other suitable fuel while the engine is standing in the station.
"J" is the bye-pass valve for starting the engine without a load. "K" is the
usual hose box, and "L" the coachman's seat.
We do not confine ourselves to the details of carrying out this invention, as they
may be considerably varied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is,
-
1. The construction of a portable fire engine actuated by a petroleum motor.
2. The method of relieving the load on the pump for the purpose of starting the
.engine.
Dated this 21th dow of TJ 100s
J. C. MERRY WEATHER.
C. J. W. JAKEMAN.