IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Coats, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Thread Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES." A communication from
abroad by Hezekiah Conant, residing at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in the
United States of America.
Sealed the 11th May 1877, and dated the 17th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Coats at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November 1876.
THOMAS COATS, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Thread
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING
FIRES." A communication from abroad by Hezekiah Conant, residing at Pawtucket,
Rhode Island, in the United States of America.
This Invention has for its object the extinguishing of fires in cotton factories and
other structures by means of more certain and effectual automatic apparatus than
that hitherto used.
Automatic extinguishers as at present made are sealed by a plug and a com-
position, which latter melting at a certain temperature releases the plug from its
position and allows the discharge of the water. Such extinguishers are not reliable,
as they are apt to get out of order in the course of time by the growth of fungi,
rust, or other causes, and after a fire they require to be resealed with the composition,
which is not always convenient and at hand.
The improved apparatus is positively reliable in operation, may be tested at any
time, and be made ready for action with great facility, and comprises a water supply
pipe to be fixed at the top or ceiling of a room, and which provided at suitable
points with short downward projecting pipes. To each short pipe a valve box is
attached having a valve of any suitable kind closing against the pressure, to the
outer end of whose horizontally sliding spindle is fixed a slightly. curved and
grooved piece, round which and another piece at the end of a spindle attached
to the valve box in a diametrically opposite position is tightly bound a yarn or
thread of cotton or other inflammable material. A screw cap on the valve spindle
is used to stretch the material bound round the apparatus, and thus secures the
perfect closing of the valve.

page_text: When the yarn is reached by flames and burned it releases the valve which the
water by its pressure forces open, and the water is then discharged in all directions
by a rose attached to the valve box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Coats in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th May
1877.
THOMAS COATS, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Thread
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING
A communication from abroad by Hezekiah Conant, residing at Pawtucket,
Rhode Island, in the United States of America.
FIRES."
The said Invention has for its object the extinguishing of fires in cotton factories
and other structures by means of more certain and effectual automatic apparatus
than that hitherto used.
Automatic extinguishers as at present made are sealed by a plug and a com-
position, which latter melting at a certain temperature releases the plug from its
position and allows the discharge of the water. Such extinguishers are not reliable,
as they are apt to get out of order in the course of time by the growth of fungi,
rust, or other causes, and after a fire they require to be resealed with the com-
position, which is not always convenient and at hand.
The improved apparatus is positively reliable in operation, may be tested at any
time, and can be made ready with great facility. It comprises a water supply pipo
with branch couplings at suitable points, each of which is fitted with a valve, the
horizontally sliding valve spindle of which is provided at its outer extremity with
a T piece, round which and a similar spindle fixed on the valve box, yarn, thread,
or other suitable inflammable material is tightly bound.
When the yarn is reached by flames and burned the valve is released and forced
open by the pressure of the water, which is then discharged in all directions by a
rose attached to the valve box.
And in order that the said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings,
to be herein-after referred to, and representing the improved automatic extinguisher.
In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a sectional plan, and
Figure 2 a sectional elevation of one modification of the improved apparatus.
A water supply pipe 3 to be fixed at the top or ceiling of a room is provided at
suitable points with branch couplings 4, to each of which there is screwed a valve
box 5 fitted with a valve 6, which may be of any suitable kind closing against the
pressure of water. A horizontally sliding valve spindle 7 is extended outwards
through a stuffing box 8, and has a screw thread formed upon its outer end to carry
an internally screwed cap 9, whose outer end fits into a socket in a grooved and
slightly curved T piece 10. Round this T piece 10 and another grooved and
slightly curved T piece 11 formed on the extremity of a stationary arm 12 fixed on
the valve box 5 in a position diametrically opposite to that of the valve spindle
yarn or thread 14 of cotton or other suitable inflammable material is tightly bound,
and may be further stretched by means of the screw cap 9 so as to secure the perfect
closing of the valve 6.
When the yarn or thread is reached by flames and burned, the valve 6 is released
and forced open by the pressure of the water, which issuing through a rose 13
attached to the valve box 5 is discharged in all directions.
Having thus particularly described the said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details

page_text: herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the combination of the supply pipe (3) having a stationary arm (12) with
the T piece (11) and the sliding valve rod (7) having the T piece (10) with the
adjustable screw cap (9) and with the inflammable binding (14), substantially as
and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Coats, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
THOMAS COATS. (L.S.)