Improvements in and connected with Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
We, PHILIPP WENCK, of 11 Obermarkt Strasse, Worms, Merchant, and JAKOB
TRONSER, of 13 Friedrich Strasse, Worms, Merchant, both in the Empire of Germany,
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:-
This invention relates to a fire-extinguishing apparatus the special feature of which
is that one or more fire extinguishing grenades or shells is or are held normally
in an inclined position by a quick-match until the occurrence of a fire, when the
said quick-match takes fire, is quickly burnt through, and the shell or shells falls or fall
into the vertical position thereby closing an electric circuit and sounding an alarm, after
which the shell or shells explodes or explode, producing gases which extinguish
the fire.
The accompanying drawing shows diagrammatically, and partly in section, an
apparatus arranged in accordance with my invention. 6b are two suspended shells
filled with fire-extinguishing material and held in an inclined position by a quick-
match a as shown in the drawing. On the outbreak of a fire this quick-match
becomes ignited, and when burnt through allows the shells to take a vertical position.
The quick-match a ignites the fuze c and causes the shells to burst and the expansion
of the gases generated showers the contents of the shells in the form of a funnel
on to the flame. As the shells take the vertical position immediately the quick-match
is burnt through, the hitherto separated electrical contact pieces 61 and d are
brought together whereby an electric circuit is closed and an alarm bell, included
in such circuit, is sounded in the house where the fire has occurred or at the fire
station, or other place where the bell may be situated.
It will be observed that in the apparatus above described the shells are not, as in
the systems heretofore in use, thrown into the flames on the outbreak of a fire, but
act automatically and effect the extinction of the fire at its very commencement.
The charge for shells consists of 85 per cent. of commercial flowers of sulphur,
and 15 per cent. of ground wood-charcoal. The shell is preferably closed by a metallic
plug e through which the quick-match a is led and connected to the fuze c which
goes well into the mass for the purpose of effecting a quick and certain ignition.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. Automatically-acting fire extinguishing apparatus in which a fire-
extinguishing shell b is held in an inclined position by a quick-match antil the latter
is burnt through, when the said shell falls into a vertical position thereby closing
an electric circuit through an alarm bell, and is then caused to explode, substantially
as described.
Second. In an automatic fire extinguishing apparatus of the kind herein described,
the special closing device for the fire extinguishing shell constructed and applied
substantially as described for the purpose of enabling the shell to be exploded quickly
and certainly after the electric circuit is closed.
Third. In an automatic fire extinguishing apparatus of the kind herein described

page_text: the use of a compound for charging the shells, which consists of a mixture of
85 per cent. of commercial flowers of sulphur with 15 per cent. of wood charcoal,
substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of November 1806