IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPAREL FOR PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE AND SMOKE
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Jensen, of Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPAREL FOR PROTECTION
AGAINST FIRE AND SMOKE.”—A communication from abroad by Johan
Wilhelm Näthau
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of Steakholm Sweden
Wilhelm Ostberg, of Stockholm, Sweden.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Peter Jensen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 13th November 1875, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
•
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
JENSEN, of Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS OR APPAREL FOR PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE AND SMOKE," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad
by Johan Wilhelm Ostberg, of Stockholm, Sweden.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Jensen, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to
the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to say :-
-
The object of this Invention is by a peculiar dress to protect the whole
human body against the effects of fire and smoke, as well as the
penetration of water, in order that the man clothed therewith may not
only approach nearer to the flames than heretofore possible, but also
unscathed enter therein. It will thus be much easier to extinguish the
fire completely and quickly, because the fire engine hose may be
brought so close to it that the water stream does not spread and lose
nearly its whole force as heretofore. The occupants of the house on fire
will also thereby be saved easier.
The apparatus or apparel employed is an air and water-tight dress,
which is continuously poured over with water. The air required for
breathing is supplied by a small hose, by which the air. is introduced
between the body and the dress of the wearer, escaping by special
openings.
The dress may be constructed in various ways, but the following
appears the best, and will be described with reference to Figs. 1, 2,
and 3.
The dress consists mainly of three parts (Figs. 1 and 2), namely, the
cap or helmet, the framing of which is made of thin steel springs, and is
covered by several layers, viz., an inside leather layer, then padding,
then a layer of india-rubber or other suitable water and air-tight
material, and lastly an outer covering of plush velvet, moleskin, or
similar material. The framing of the helmet has in front a round
hollow metal disc a (Fig. 1), which fits air-tight, and has, say, four holes,
one of which is central; its edge is covered by another disc which can be
moved by means of knobs or handles, and has, say, ten holes, of which
three may be set with one or more glasses or perforated pummice stone
cylinders, three others may be closed by stoppers of some fireproof or
heat non-conducting material, but the remaining four, one of which is
central, are left open. The lower part of the helmet consists of a metal
ring, whence long springs project down over the chest and back.

page_text: The second part 6 of the dress is a complete suit, arms, legs, feet, and
body all in one; it is made of india-rubber or other air and water-tight.
material, covered outside with plush velvet or moleskin. The foot soles
are besides strengthened by cork, thick felt, and wire gauze.
At the back of the dress, by preference where shewn on Fig. 2, there
is a hole c for a metal cylinder which is fastened to a belt inside the
dress, and to which the air hose is screwed on. These two main parts
of the dress must be united perfectly tight, for instance, as follows :-
The neck collar of the suit is placed on the lower inside part of the
helmet framing, the joint being made by means of seams of air-tight.
material and tightened well by a string, and lastly by letting the helmet
cover be drawn down over the joint.
In order to keep the dress constantly poured over with a stream of
water, a cape e stitched together of double canvas is drawn over the
helmet, and partly or wholly covers the body. Into the upper part of
this cape at d, there is an outlet from a water hose ƒ proceeding from
the metal face mask; there is in front an opening opposite the same
mask.
In order to convey the necessary air to the space between the body.
and the dress, and to supply the cape and hose with water, an air and
water hose g is so combined that the water hose quite encloses the air.
hose; they part at both ends, so that one end of the air hose is carried.
into the metal cylinder at e, but the water hose h is carried to the
mouth-piece i and branches off to the upper part of the cape, and so
that the water first passes through the face mask in order to cool it.
At the other end of the double hose the water hose k (Fig. 1) is united
to the fire engine hose, and the air hose 7 to an air pump or to a
blower m. By this arrangement the air is kept almost as cool as the
water, at the same time one hose is more convenient and less impedi- ;
ment than two, and as the short mouth-piece n can be easily fastened
under the left arm, the man will have both his hands free for climbing,
working, or for guiding a fire engine hose stand pipe.
The air is supplied by means of an air pump or simply a large hand
blower m with long handles as shown here, the suit is constantly kept
blown out and the air escapes continuously through the holes in the
metal mask; in consequence of this strong cool stream of air the eyes do
not suffer from fire or smoke.

page_text: In case of a fire the dress is put on as follows:-Put on the suit and
helmet, make the joint well between them as explained, screw on the
one end of the air hose to the metal cylinder at e at the back of the
dress, screw the other end on to the blower m or air pump; connect
similarly one branch i of the water hose to the entrance pipe at the face
mask, and the other branch or end k to the fire engine main hose.
A torch or lantern and a signal horn may be placed in front on the
suit, the lantern receiving the required air from the air hose. By
turning the movable plate on the face mask the holes may be grouped
in threes, so that the eyes are either quite free or covered by the glazed 1
or stoppered holes.
Where it is not required to go right into the flames, or where the man
that directs the hose stand pipe is only to be assisted, a lighter dress may
be used than the one described.
The cloak p, Fig. 3, is used for saving the occupants of a burning 1
house; they may assist in saving themselves or not. This wide cloak p
is made of felt lined with air and water-tight material, at one end it has
a round wooden ring 9 sewn on, close by it is a small brass pipe i for
attaching an air hoses from the helmet of the dress described; the
person enclosed in this cloak may follow the salvage man as shown. 2
But if the person to be saved is not able to walk he must be wrapped up
in the cloak with the ring q below, and be carried by the salvage man
in the strap t; the air hose may also be assisting somewhat.
I claim as the Invention herein-before described.
..
over it and with air forced under it, substantiany as and for the purposes
set forth.
Secondly. A water-tight dress or apparel constructed and operating,
substantially as here set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Jensen, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.