A Fire Extinguisher or Sprinkler.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 18th Jan., 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Fire Extinguisher or Sprinkler.
I JOHN TONGE of Henry Street Works Rochdale in the County of Lancaster, Gas
and Water Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for an apparatus
as titled above, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
22
My invention relates to fire extinguishers better known as "sprinklers used in
works manufactories or places and applied at such parts thereof, as may be subject to
the ravages of fire or conflagration, and is adapted and arranged so as to operate in
an automatic manner, being effected by the aid of the expansive properties of a liquid
or liquids, in such a manner, that upon the origination of fire in the place or places
wherein one or more of my apperati is or are provided, the heat which may be due to
fire or conflagration causes my apparatus to operate, and to discharge water therein,
and at convenient parts thereof.
An important feature of my invention consists of an effective control of the water
discharge, especially, at the time when the fire or conflagration has been put out, at
such a time the apparatus is caused to reverse itself and the discharge of water is
discontinued, thus avoiding any unnecessary damage to machinery or goods, by water,
which, as is well known, often results in loss or damage thereto quite as great and as
serious as loss or damage caused by fire.
My invention will supply the demands of a want much felt, as the same being
automatic in its action, and its automaticity being subject to the dilation of fluids,
such fluids are employed, as are subject to dilation in the event of a slight elevation
or increase of temperature, and being governed by, and simultaneous with with a rise
of temperature, beyond any standard or normal temperature, to which, my apparatus
is capable of being adjusted or regulated, at the same time maintaining a condition of
equilibrium, such rise of temperature being caused by the agency or instrumentality
of fire, thus my apparatus truly becomes, and may be termed a "fire detector" and
its position being permanent, it will defect or discover fire at times and in places,
when it would not be convenient or even possible, otherwise to be detected, and will
immediately commence to operate and thus suppress fire at its origin, and obviate its

page_text: panying sheet of drawings which fully illustrate my invention wherein like letters of
reference indicate like parts. Fig. 1 is a side elevation in section shewing the position
of apparatus when closed or in equilibrium.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation part in section shewing position of apparatus when in
operation.
Fig. 3 is an end view.
Fig. 4 is a plan.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view shewing a method of securing the rubber cover in
position.
:: a liquid
My invention consists of what I will term for convenience of description
containing vessel A" of metal or other suitable material, as may be necessary, in order
to resist the action of certain kinds of liquids which may be contained therein; I
preferably employ materials being good conductors of heat, when metal is employed,
I construct the vessel A of copper, which may if desired, be provided in the interior
with a lining of earthenware or covered with a solution of any suitable composition
so as to obtain an enamelled, hardened or impenatrable surface in order to resist the
corrosive action of certain liquids, The said vessel may be of spherical or any other
desired form, by preference I adopt the form as shown and illustrated in the drawings
herein, for a reason which I will hereinafter describe. I supply the vessel A with a
liquid of a volatile nature, which, may be benzoline, or any other suitable hydro-
carbon, or spirituous fluid, or sulphurous acid; In a case where the fluid by contact
may be injurious to the rubber cover B situated at the upper part of the vessel A I
interpose oil in a convenient space between the underside of the cover and the surface
of the liquid contained in the vessel, by such means the cover B maintains its
pliable or elastic quality. On the upper side of the cover B is situated in the chamber C
formed by the screwed or affixed part D see Figs. 1 and 5, is provided a semi-solid
substance, such as glycerine, linseed oil, or any convenient liquid of a heavy bodied
nature, such heavy bodied liquid, fills the chamber C, passes and extends into the
tubular portion E of the connection D, being in contact with the underside of the
piston F, which is free to move in an upward and downward direction in the tubular
portion E of the connection D: the piston F is provided with suitable leather or
rubber packing, consisting of a screw threaded piece G and a leather or rubber
ring H.
The upper side or part, is in contact with the underside of a gradated
lever J, which is provided with a moveable weight or counterpoise K, the weight K is
situated in any convenient position on the gradated lever J, so as to equalise or
counterbalance a pressure of water passing through the tube or pipe L, and to
maintain a position of rest or equilibrium at any temperature being the normal
temperature of the place wherein the apparatus is situated, the functions of the lever J
are to respectively open and close a communication between thoroughfare L-which is
the source through which water is allowed to pass-and the rose or jet M, accordingly
as it is actuated by the piston F, the jet M may be of any form, and contain any
number of suitable perforations as may be desired, and may extend in any direction
or terminate at any distance from the water source or supply passing through L.
I will now proceed to describe the mechanism which controls the delivery of water
the rose or jet M; such mechanism being in conjunction with the lever J.
The lever J is held in position and supported by a pin or pivot N, upon which it is
free to turn or oscillate, one extremity of the lever J, that is, the extremity or end
opposite the weighted end, conveniently engages with a piston 0,-as shewn in the
drawings herewith the lever enters into a slot or recess P of the said piston, the piston O
is free to slide or move in the vertical tubular branch piece R, which has a fixed or
stationary position, at the lower part of the piston is provided a spindle S, having at
its lower part, being the upper part of the spindle S with proper packing to ensure
efficiency in working, the lower part of the stationary branch piece is provided with a
rose or jet M.

page_text: At any convenient part of the underside of the liquid containing vessel A. I affix
thereto a vessel or receptacle W, in which I place or provide a suitable spirituous
liquid or combustible substance, such liquid or substance being connected or in
communication with a fuse X leading from, extending, and terminating at a place.
where goods or articles which may be liable to take fire and which it is desired to
protect therefrom.
The mode of operation is as follows.
My apparatus may be connected or applied at the part Z. of the branch pipe I, to
any pipe or tube conveying water at high or low pressures, any number may be applied
and used, being fixed or situated and carried by a support D at the upper part of a
room or place which is desired to ensured against damage by fire, or fixed in any other
convenient position as may be found necessary with relation to machinery or goods.
In the event of a fire, or increase of temperature in the neighbourhood of my
apparatus, caused by such fire &c, at such a time the volatile fluid contained in the
vessel A, will consequently become dilated or expanded, and will actuate or press in
an upward direction the cover B, and will compress or force the glycerine or heavy
bodied substance contained in chamber C, against the diaphragm D2 at the upper part
of such chamber, consequently the glycerine will be forced into the tubular part E,
against the lower part of the piston F, manifestly, upon such occurrence the lever J
will be actuated, and thus raised to the position see Fig. 2.
The lever then actuates the mechanism contained in the vertical tubular part of the
branch piece R; the cover T at the lower part of the spindle S then assumes the posi-
tion see Fig. 2, thus water is allowed to pass fromt he thoroughfare L, into the rose or
jet chamber L, thence through the perforations Z in the form of a finely divided
spray, issuing therefrom in more or less force, accordingly as a more or less number
of perforations are provided therein, or accordingly as the water passing through the
same is of high or low pressure.
I affix an arrangement on the underside or other convenient part of the vessel A,
which arrangement may be employed or discarded accordingly as it may be desired
and as the case may be.
The said arrangement is provided to augment or accelerate the dilating or expansive
properties of the fluid contained in vessel A, in case of fire; which, is effected by
means of a fuse X or any suitable combustible connection, being in communication at
one end with a spirituous liquid or combustible substance, its other end leading thence
conveniently to, and terminating at, a place or part where machinery or articles are
situated, which may be liable to easily fire, therefore requiring special protection, in the
event of such an occurrence amongst articles so connected, obviously, the fuse will
fire and transmit a flame to the liquid or substance in the vessel or receptacle W, thus
the liquid in vessel A, will be caused to dilate more readily than without such an
arrangement as described, thus my apparatus will be more quickly caused to operate.
Upon a decrease of temperature in the neighbourhood of my apparatus, which, may
be due to the fact of flames having been extinguished, the liquid in vessel A will
become contracted, consequently the piston F will fall or lower its position, thus the
normal position of piston O, will be restored see Fig. 1. The water under such
circumstances will then cease to flow through the jet M. thus unnecessary damage
caused by water will be obviated, which is as serious as loss or damage caused by the
ravages of fire.
In conclusion would have it clearly understood, that I do not, and it will be
inferred from the foregoing description, that I cannot bind myself to the exact details
as illustrated in the drawings herein, as it may be, and will be necessary to depart
therefrom without deviating from the principle of my invention, for instance, the
water source or supply may not be in a horizontal direction as shewn herein, but may
have an angular or vertical direction; I may employ a spiral coil in lieu of the
vessel A. Again the rose or jet M or jets may if desired be attached to one service or
water supply source, and may have many various position or direction, in order to be
situated immediately above, or about any place or part where it may be necessary or
essential to have the water discharge or discharges in close proximity thereto.

page_text: 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
1. In an apparatus for extinguishing fire the use and employment of a liquid or
liquids having expansive properties, that when subject to, or under the influence of
heat such apparatus is caused to discharge water, also when such heat is withdrawn to
close automatically, substantially as, and for the purposes herein fully set forth and
described, in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. The combination of the vessel A, the cover B, the chanter C, formed by the
piece I see figs. 1 and 5; piston F the lever J. weight K the pivot N, the mechanism
OS and T in combination with the water supply tube or pipe the jet M. substantially
for the purposes herein fully set forth and described in the annexed drawings.
3. An apparatus as herein described in combination with the vessel or receptacle W
and fuse X substantially as and for the purposes herein fully set forth and described
in the annexed drawings or if desired without such vessel or receptacle W and
fuse X.
JOHN H. BUTTERWORTH,
Agent to Applicant.