Improvements in and relating to Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
I, THOMAS JOHN HOVELL-THURLOW-CUMMING-BRUCE, Baron THURLOW, of Thurlow,
in the County of Suffolk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to fire-extinguishing apparatus and is designed to provide
novel means for obtaining the requisite pressure for forcibly expelling chemical
solutions or other fire-extinguishing liquid from a cylinder, tank or other vessel
containing the same.
The main feature of my said invention is the utilization for this purpose of liquid
carbonic acid, whereby I am enabled to obtain very great pressure by means of
apparatus occupying a small space as compared with fire-extinguishers in which
compressed air is used
The liquid carbonic acid is contained in a metal bottle or other vessel closed by a
cock or valve or other suitable device. This bottle is preferably enclosed in the vessel
containing the chemical solution or other fire extinguishing liquid I provide means
whereby the said bottle can be opened and closed at will from the exterior of the said
vessel, so that the pressure can at any time be permitted to act upon the said liquid to
discharge the same into or upon a fire and the bottle can be closed when the pressure
18 no longer required.
The said bottle may, however, be placed outside of the vessel containing the fire-
extinguishing liquid and be connected therewith in any convenient manner.
Dated the 6th day of June 1888
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, THOMAS JOHN HOVELL-THURLOW-CUMMING-BRUCE, Baron THURLOW, of Thurlow,
in the County of Suffolk, 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 :-
My invention relates to fire-extinguishing apparatus and is designed to provide
novel means for obtaining the requisite pressure for forcibly expelling chemical
solutions or fire-extinguishing liquid from a cylinder, tank or other vessel containing
the same.
The main feature of my said invention is the utilization for this purpose of liquid
carbonic acid, whereby I am enabled to obtain the required pressure for working
efficiently for a long period by means of apparatus occupying a small space as
compared with fire-extinguishers in which compressed air is used.
The liquid carbonic acid is contained in one or more tubular vessels or bottles
formed of steel or other suitable material These bottles or containers for the liquid
oarbonic acid are preferably enclosed in the vessel or tank for containing the chemical
solution or fire-extinguishing liquid, and are provided with suitable devices whereby
the pressure can at any time be permitted to act upon the liquid in the said vessel or
tank to discharge the same into or upon a fire.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of one form of my improved apparatus, some
of the parts being shown in side elevation.
Figures 2 and 3 are vertical central sections, drawn to an enlarged scale, illustrating
details of construction, and
Figure 4 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 3.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the vessel or receptacle for containing the chemical solution or fire extinguishing
liquid; B is the discharge or delivery nozzle which is provided with a roughened or
grooved portion for convenience of attaching a pipe or hose thereto.
a is the liquid carbonic acid container, which is a metal tube or bottle having at its
upper extremity a handle a¹. The lower extremity of the said container a is provided
with a valve b, more clearly shown in Figure 3. The valve 6 is provided with a rod
or stem 6 and has its seating c in a nipple el secured to the said tube or bottle a by
means of screw-threads or otherwise A V-shaped annular groove c³ is provided in
the collar or flange c³ of the nipple c', and a correspondingly shaped portion of the
lower extremity of the tube a is fitted, with or without the interposition of suitable
packing, in the said groove, thus forming a perfectly tight joint capable of with-
standing a high pressure. The nipple c¹ is, moreover, provided with a square or other
suitably shaped portion c to receive a wrench or spanner for screwing the said nipple
into its proper position in the said tube a, or for unsciewing it therefrom. The
nipple c¹ has another screw-threaded portion for convenience of attaching the same

page_text: to a pipe or socket to connect the tube or bottle a with a reservoir of liquid carbonic
acid, or other suitable source of supply for filling or charging the said bottle. 6² is a
wing-nut or fly-nut fitting upon a screw-threaded portion 6 of the valve-stem 6', for
the purpose of securing the valve 6 tightly upon its seating when desired. In this
condition, any number of the metal tubes or bottles a containing liquid carbonic acid
and ready for use, may be safely stored up for any length of time. The said valve-
stem 6¹ is, moreover, provided with a groove or passage to permit the escape of the
liquid carbonic acid when the valve b is raised from its seat. 65, 6° are stop-pins or
studs fixed in the stem 6' and arranged to move vertically in grooves or slots cⓇ in
the nipple c¹; these pins or studs limit or control the lift of the said valve b, and
prevent rotation thereof with the nut 6. d is a tubular casing having at its lower
extremity holes d¹ for the passage of the carbonic acid, and at its upper extremity a
collar or flange d² (Figure 2). The tubular casing d is inserted in a socket e attached
to the upper part of the vessel or tank A by means of rivets e' or in any other suitable
manner, and is retained in position therein by the collar or flange d' which fits into a
recess provided for the purpose in the said socket e.
The tube or bottle a is made of such diameter that it fits easily into the casing d,
and it is provided at its upper end with screw-threads a adapted to engage with
corresponding internal screw-threads in the socket e. The tube or bottle a is formed
with a collar or flange a³ adapted to bear against a V-shaped portion or knife-edge e
formed on the upper end of the socket e, a washer of leather or other suitable
material being placed, if desired, between the flange a³ and the part e³ of the said
socket to ensure tightness of the joint The length from the underside of the
flange as of the tube or bottle a to the lower extremity of the valve-stem 6' is such
that this extremity of the said valve-stem will come into contact with the lower end
of the tubular casing d when the screw-threaded portion a² of the said bottle a is
screwed about half way or any other predetermined distance into the socket e.
To retain the bottle a in this position and prevent the accidental opening of the
valve in the handling or transport of the apparatus, I prefer to place a ring, strip
or washer of lead or other suitable material of the required thickness between the
socket e and the collar or flange a³ or the leather or other washer beneath the same.
The said lead ring or washer is so arranged that it can be easily and expeditiously
torn off or removed so as to permit of the tube or bottle a being screwed firmly down
into the socket e by means of the handle a¹, when it is desired to open the valve b
and utilize the pressure of the liquid carbonic acid. When the said tube or bottle is
thus screwed down, the aforesaid leather or other washer is compressed between the
flange a and socket, thus forming a tight joint and preventing leakage when the
pressure is allowed to act upon the liquid in the vessel or tank A.
f1s a safety-valve for permitting the escape of gas from the vessel or tank A
should the pressure therein become excessive. This safety-valve is not, however,
absolutely necessary.
g is a stop-cock for regulating or controlling the discharge or delivery of the
liquid through the nozzle B. The stop-cock g 1s in communication with the lower
part of the vessel or tank A by means of a dip-pipe h.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say -The vessel or tank A
is first filled with the fire-extinguishing liquid, which may be introduced through the
aperture in the socket e, the tube or bottle a and the casing d being removed for this
purpose. The casing d is then replaced and the tube or bottle a containing the liquid
carbonic acid is carefully inserted into the said casing d (the fly-nut or wing-nut b
being first removed) and is screwed a suitable distance into the socket e, as far as
the lead ring or strip (if such be used) will allow. When the apparatus is to be used
for extinguishing a fire, the lead ring or strip is removed and the tube or bottle a is
screwed home in the socket e and the valve b thus opened, as herein before described,
to permit the escape of carbonic acid, through the groove or slot 64 and the holes d¹,
into the vessel or tank A. As soon as sufficient pressure is obtained in the said
vessel or tank, the stop-cock g is opened, and the liquid discharged or expelled by
such pressure from the said vessel or tank is directed into or upon the fire.

page_text: It is evident that the valve 6 can be readily closed by unscrewing the tube or
bottle a from the socket e. The vessel or tank A can thus be relieved from the
pressure of the gas, when the discharge of liquid from the said tank is no longer
necessary.
Although I have herein before described a convenient and advantageous method of
carrying my said invention into practice, it is obvious that I can modify the con-
struction of my appartus without departing from the nature of my said invention.
For instance, the metal tube or bottle for containing the liquid carbonic acid can be
placed outside the vessel or tank for containing the fire-extinguishing liquid and
connected therewith in any convenient manner. Moreover I can, if desired, provide
suitable means for charging the said vessel or tank with fire-extinguishing liquid
without disconnecting therefrom the tube or bottle containing the liquid carbonic
acid. And the said invention is not limited in respect of the size or capacity of the
apparatus to which it may be applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I
claim
First A fire extinguishing apparatus the action of which is based upon the use of
liquid carbonic acid for obtaining the pressure to discharge the fire extinguishing
liquid
Second-The employment, in a fire-extinguishing apparatus, of a container suitably
constructed for storing the liquid carbonic acid and for permitting the use of the
same when required, as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third The valve constructed and applied to the inner end of the container,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings and
for the purposes specified.
Fourth The provision of suitable means whereby the valve for releasing or using
the liquid carbonic acid will be opened when the container is screwed home in the
outer vessel or tank, as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fifth The improved fire-extinguishing apparatus consisting of the parts con-
structed and combined substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated than And do at Marah 1000