IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN WAREHOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOSEPH BENJAMIN ADAMS, of 4, Cable Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN WAREHOUSES
AND OTHER BUILDINGS to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that type of apparatus for extinguishing fires, in which
a system of pipes provided with valves which are released by heat acting upon a
metal fusible at a comparatively low temperature, such heat being generated by a
fire in the building and the valves are opened by the pressure of water upon them,
the pressure being that of a main, or other head of water.
My Invention consists in providing for an additional pressure and volume of
water to the above system and, so to the fire, other than that of the main, or other
head of water, such additional supply being obtained by pumps, such as fire engines.
The means whereby I effect this consists in providing a branch connection to the
"main of the system and positioning such connection in a readily accessable.
locality, such as outside the building.
33
My Invention further consists in keeping the water back in the main and from
the system of pipes, so long as the valves are closed which I effect by compressed
carbonic acid gas which acts against the water in the main, the gas being main-
tained at a superior pressure to the water in the main, such pressure being obtained
from an air pump and also maintained by an accumulator.
The improved apparatus according to my Invention consists in the construction
of the valves employed in the system. Such a valve consists of an ordinary disc,
or like valve, provided with a spindle which passes through the valve cover and to
the cover there is attached a bracket provided with an adjustable stud between
which and the valve spindle is placed a bar of soft metal, or metal fusible at a
comparatively low temperature. The valve is provided with a distributing rose
and to prevent the rose from being choked up by dust, or dirt, it is covered with a
light covering, which will be removed by the action of the gas, or water from the
pipes.
I provide a valve in the main to prevent the water being forced back too far in
the main from the pressure of gas, or by the additional supnlv.

page_text: When a fire occurs in a building, the operation of my Invention is as follows:
the heat of the fire which may occur in any portion of the building raises, the
temperature of the soft, or fusible metal of the valves which being affected by the
heat, bends, or melts and the pressure of the gas in the pipes opens the valves and
allows the carbonic acid gas to escape into the room and onto the fire first.
When
the pressure of the gas is exhausted, the water in the main flows into the system of
pipes and through the open valves onto the fire. This supply of water from the
main is within the least possible time augmented by an additional volume, and
pressure is supplied to the main and system by a fire engine, or other pump through
the connection above specified.
Among others of the attendant advantages of my Invention are: the valve being.
kept from the system of pipes when quiescent, there is no leakage of water in the
building from the pipes and valves, and the possibility of the water freezing in the
pipes is entirely obviated. The Invention provides a means whereby fire engines
are in reality able to play, or force water outo the exact parts of the structure which
are burning without entering the building.

page_text: I JOSEPH BENJAMEN ADAMS of 4 Cable Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN, AND IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN WAREHOUSES
AND OTHER BUILDINGS 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 that type of apparatus for extinguishing fires, in which
there is used a system of pipes provided with valves, which are released by heat
acting upon a metal, fusible at a comparatively low temperature, such heat being
generated by the fire in the building and the valves are opened by the pressure of
water upon them, the pressure being that of a main, or other head of water.
My Invention consists in providing for an additional pressure and volume of
water to the above system, and so to the fire, other than that of the main, or other
head of water, such additional supply being obtained by pumps, such as fire
engines. The means whereby I effect this consists in providing a branch connection
to the "main " of the system and positioning such connection in a readily accessible
locality such as outside the building.
My Invention further consists in keeping the water back in the main and from
the system of pipes, so long as the valves are closed, which I effect by compressed
carbonic acid gas, which acts against the water in the main, the gas being main-
tained at a superior pressure to the water in the main, such pressure being obtained
from an air pump and also maintained by an accumulator.
The improved apparatus according to my Invention consists in the construction
of the valves, or sprinklers employed in the system. Such a valve consists of an
ordinary disc, or like valve, provided with a spindle which passes through the valve
cover and to the cover there is attached a bracket provided with an adjustable stud
between which and the valve spindle is placed a bar of soft metal, or metal fusible
at a comparatively low temperature. The valve is provided with a distributing
rose and to prevent the rose from being choked up by dust, or dirt, it is covered
with a light covering which will be removed by the action of the gas, or water from
the pipes.
I provide a valve in the main to prevent the water being forced back in the main
from the pressure of gas, or by the additional supply.
The above being a general description of my Invention that the same may be
more clearly understood, I will now proceed to describe with the aid of the
Drawings hereto annexed and which form a part of this Specification how my
Invention may be carried out into practical effect by others skilled in the art to
which it appertains, like letters and figures in the Drawings being used to denote
like, or corresponding parts throughout the views.

page_text: Figure 1 illustrates and arrangement and assemblage of parts suitable for carrying
out my Invention into practical effect.
Figure 2 is a front sectional elevation of a sprinkler when closed according to
my Invention.
.
Figure 3 shows the same when open.
Figure 4 is an outside elevation of the sprinkler shown at Figure 2 slightly
modified.
Figure 4 is another modification of the sprinkler shown at Figure 2.
Figure 4B is another modification of the sprinkler shown at Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan in section through X X Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a section showing a non return valve according to my Invention.
With reference to Figure 1 A represents a street water main. B is a branch
leading from the street main through a wall C and into a building, which may in
the present instance be a warehouse and throughout this description, I shall speak
of it as such. D and E are respectively the ground floor and first floor of the
warehouse. The branch B is provided with a sluice stop vulve F provided to
separate the system from the street main. G is the auxiliary branch to which the
hose of a fire engine or other pump may be attached to provide for a supply of an
additional, namely a greater pressure and volume of water to the system of pipes
and sprinklers and so to the fire than that of the street main. The valve F and
auxiliary branch G are shown provided with suitable accessible doors f g laid in
the street pavement. The branch G may however form connection with the rising
main B above the non return valve herein after described, which is positioned
at H. II are carbonic acid gas producers which may be of any known suitable
construction. The gas generated in the producers has communication with the
rising main B¹ through the pipe 12. This pipe leading into the rising main B¹
above the non return valve at H.
.
The system of pipes and the rising main above the non return valve are first
filled with the gas under pressure from the producers I la constant pressure being
maintained throughout the system by the accumulator J, which may be of any
known suitable construction and connected to the pipe 1' in any suitable manner.
The gas in the system is arranged to be at a pressure that will prevent the water.
when admitted to the warehouse from the street main from flowing up the rising
main, above the non return valve at H up to which point the rising main and
branches are protected from frost by suitable lagging. Thus by the presence of the
gas in the system above this point all danger of the system becoming inoperative
through frost is obviated.
The main B¹ rises up through all the floors and rooms of the warehouse and under
each floor as shown under the floor E. The rooms are provided with pipes K such
as shown in Figure 1 of the Drawings, or any other known suitable method of
leading and distributing the water and gas to the sprinklers may be employed.
L are the sprinklers (which are hereinafter fully described) interspaced under the
floors of the rooms at certain and suitable distances apart; such distances may be
varied to suit the circumstances under which they are to be employed.
The sprinklers, or valves L consist of a disc a provided with a spindle a¹ which
passes through the screwed valve cover b. Upon the cover b there is formed, or
attached a bracket b¹. This bracket is provided with the adjusting and adjustable
stud das in Figures 2 and 3, or the required adjustment may be obtained by
screwing the cover b more, or less into the rose e as in Figures 4 and 5. Between
the stud d, or socket d and the spindle a' there is provided a piece of soft metal n
fusible at a comparatively low temperature such as 120° Fahrenheit. The valve a
is thus by the nut d or screwed cover b kept up to its seat. The valve or sprinkler L

page_text: is provided with a distributing rose e having holes e! and a screwed stem e* and to
prevent the rose from becoming choked up with dirt, or dust, it is covered with a
light covering i, which will. be removed by the action of the gas, or water from
the pipes. The distance that the cover is allowed to rise is regulated by the set
nut j.
In the modification of sprinkler shown at Figure 4ª the holes e¹ are formed in
the side of the rose e and the covering i is made to slide loosely over the rose e..
In the modificator of sprinkler shown at Figure 4B an adjustable cap d is
substituted for the stud d in Figure 2. This adjustable cap d is screwed onto the
valve spindle a¹ and the fusible plug n is placed between the cap d and the guard,
or bracket b'..
•
The non return valve above referred to and positioned at H in Figure 1 is
illustrated in detail at Figure 7. It consists of a double valve h the two discs being
connected together by the stem k. On the stem k there is provided an annular
piston having a port in its periphery. The piston works against the interior
surface of the casing h¹ which also is provided with a port h. These two ports k²
and are arranged so as to form an escape for gas, or water that may leak past
the discs of the valve h when the valves are shut. The gas, or water after
passing his led away by a waste pipe h³ to a drain, or gutter as shown in
Figure 1. When the valve h is opened communication through the port 1³ and h
is cut off simultaneously in the opening of the valve h by the travel of the
piston k¹.
.
When a fire occurs in the warehouse the operation of my Invention is as
follows: the heat of the fire which may occur in any portion of the building
raises the temperature of the soft, or fusible metal n of the valves L which being
effected by the heat, bends, or melts and the pressure of the gas in the pipes opens
the valves and allows the carbonic acid gas to escape into the room and onto the
fire first. When the pressure of the gas is exhausted the water in the main flows
into the system of pipes and through the open valves onto the fire. This supply of
water from the main can be within the least possible time augmented by an
additional volume and pressure which can be supplied to the system by a fire
engine, or other pump through the branch G.
.
Among others of the attendant advantages of my Invention are: the water being
kept from the system of pipes, when quiescent, there is no leakage of water into
the building from the pipes and valves and the possibility of the water freezing in
the pipes is entirely obviated. The Invention provides a means whereby fire engines
are in reality able to play, or force water onto the exact parts of the structure,
which are burning without entering the building.
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
First In automatic fire extinguishing systems of the type herein described the
combination of a branch (such as G) and a stop valve, the branch being so arranged
that water coming through the branch at a greater pressure than that in the street
main is prevented from flowing into such main as set forth.
Second The employment in combination with fire extinguishing systems of the
type herein described of carbonic acid gas whereby the water from the street main
is prevented from entering such system as set forth.
Third The combination in fire extinguishing systems of the type herein
described of a non return valve whereby the fluid in the system is prevented
from entering, or flowing back and mixing with the fluid in the main as set
forth.
Fourth The combination with a fire extinguishing system as herein set forth of
a non return valve such as h provided with a means of escape, or drain of fluid
past such valve as and for the purposes set forth.
'

page_text: Fifth The combination in an inverted sprinkler, or valve such as L of a rose
provided with holes e¹, cover i and a regulating set nut j substantially as set forth
for the purposes described and shown in the Drawings..
Sixth The combination in an inverted valve, or sprinkler such as L of a rose (e)
having a hollow screwed stem (62) and vertical holes (e¹) a screwed cover b having
a bracket (b¹) a valve (a) provided with. a spindle a¹ adjusted to its seat as
described, a piece of fusible metal n and a cover i substantially as and for the
purposes set forth,