Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Discharging Gas or Liquid in Case of Fire.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Discharging Gas or
Liquid in Case of Fire.
I, CHARLES PRESTON PEAK, of Bridgewater Chemical Works, Pimberton, in the
County of Lancaster, Chemical Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
The invention relates to that class of apparatus by which carbonic acid gas or
a liquid saturated or impregnated with such gas is diffused in a confined or limited
space for the purpose of extinguishing fire. The apparatus of this class hitherto
made have been dependent on mechanical action to set them in action and the
object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which will be automatic on the
temperature of the compartment reaching any specified degree.
It consists essentially in constructing the acid container with a fusible plug or
stopper, or the plug or stopper so arranged with a fusible support, that on a given
degree of temperature being reached the plug or stopper will be fused or released and
the mixing of the acid and alkaline preparations will take place as soon as the
temperature around the apparatus rises.
In carrying out the invention I construct two vessels or compartments one prefer-
ably placed above the other so that its contents can be readily discharged thereinto.
The upper vessel I arrange to contain acid or acid solution and the lower one to
contain an alkaline or other solution capable of giving off carbonic acid gas in the
presence of acid preferably a solution of bicarbonate of soda. The out let of the
upper vessel is stopped with a material or compound adapted for the purpose easily
fusible such as paraffin wax or is covered with a cover or stopper supported by a lever
or support attached thereto with cement or solder fusible at a low temperature.
The stopper itself or the cement or solder may be made fusible at any desired
temperature.
In case of fire the fusible plug or stopper or the solder holding the support thereof
will be fused, and the acid retained in the upper vessel thereby released when it will
flow into the second vessel generating carbonic gas therein. The lower vessel
may be quite open at the top to allow of the free diffusion of the gas as soon as
generated or it may be closed and fitted with pipes through which either the gas
or gas and water may be discharged in a fine stream or spray in several directions.
The whole may be enclosed in a casing but in its simplest form there will be two
separate vessels one superimposed above the other from which the contents will flow
when liberated. On admixture of the acid with the alkaline solution a large volume
of gas will at once be generated which will retard or subdue the conflagration.
In addition an alarm may be sounded by placing a cord or other connection there-
from in contact or otherwise with the plug which will be severed or released as soon
as the flow of acid commences thus setting free a catch or other apparatus operating
an alarm signal of any suitable construction.
At present I prefer to make the apparatus a fixture and use one, two or more in a
room according to its size though if desired they may be made in such form as to be
portable and quickly.set in action if the fire originates in a different part of the
building.
I am well aware that nozzles or sprinklers which open automatically on becoming
heated and discharge a flow of water from service pipes are in use also that in the
class of apparatus to which this invention relates the actuating mechanism for causing
the admixture of the two solutions has been caused to work automatically on fire
breaking out but neither of these form any part of my invention.
1000

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Discharging Gas or
Liquid in Case of Fire.
I, CHARLES PRESTON PEAK, of Bridgewater Chemical Works, Pemberton, in the
County of Lancaster, Chemical Manufacturer, do hereby 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 :-
The invention relates to that class of apparatus by which carbonic acid gas, or a
liquid saturated or impregnated with such gas, is diffused in a confined or limited
area for the purpose of extinguishing fire. Such apparatus are generally constructed
with two vessels, one containing an acid and the other an alkaline solution which
must be mixed together to set it to work. The apparatus of this class hitherto made
have been dependent on mechanical or electrical action to set them in operation and
the object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which will be automatic on
the temperature of the compartment reaching a specified degree, sufficient to fuse a
solid of low melting point.
It consists essentially in constructing one vessel with a fusible plug or stopper, or
the plug or stopper so arranged with a fusible support that on the temperature around
the apparatus rising sufficiently high to fuse a solid having a low melting point, the
plug or stopper will be fused or released and the contents discharged into the
other vessel, causing the mixing of the acid with the alkaline preparation to take
place.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the annexed drawings in
which, as an example I have shown the apparatus in its simplest form.
Fig. 1, is an elevation.
Fig. 2, sectional elevation.
The apparatus is constructed with two compartments or vessels A and B so placed
that the contents of one can be readily discharged into the other. In its simplest
form I make the apparatus with two separate vessels, the vessel B placed above the
vessel A as shown and provided with a discharge orifice at or near its lowest point but,
if desired, the two vessels may be enclosed by one casing.
One vessel, preferably the upper one. B, is filled with a strong acid or acid solution
such as sulphuric acid and the other one, preferably the lower one A, with an alkaline
or other solution capable of giving off carbonic acid gas (CO2) in the presence of an
acid. The solution prefer to employ is a solution of bi-carbonate of soda such as is
customary with this class of fire extinguisher.
The vessel B, may be of any desired shape but I prefer to make it funnel shape and
of either glass or earthenware, to resist the action of the acid. It is supported above
the vessel A, by a stand or bracket composed of the ring C, and the uprights D.
The outlet bis preferably stoppered as shown with a material or compound such as
paraffin wax which will not be attacked by the acid and which is easily fusible at a
low temperature as may be required from 80° to 150° F. Instead, however, of being
stoppered with the fusible material the outlet may be stoppered or covered with a
non-fusible material and such cover or stopper supported by a lever or bar attached
thereto with a cement or solder fusible at a low temperature.
The vessel A, is fitted with a nozzle or funnel E, or the top may be inclined to
receive the fluid flowing from the outlet of the vessel B. The vessel A, is also fitted
with one, two or more pipes F, to which nozzles or spray diffusers of any suitable
form may be attached, through which the liquid and gas will be discharged in a fine
spray in several directions. A back pressure valve e, is placed on the top to close the
opening as soon as the pressure in the vessel rises.
If desired the top of the vessel A may be left open for the free diffusion of the
(CO2) gas as soon as generated, where it is not desirable to have a spray of water or
liquid.
In case of fire the fusible plug or stopper 1 (or the solder or cement holding the

page_text: support thereof) of the vessel B, will be melted as soon as the heat rises to any
appreciable degree or the flame comes in contact therewith and the contents of this
vessel will be thereby released and immediately precipitated into the other chamber A,
at once generating a large volume of gas therein. The pressure of the gas thus
generated will at once set the apparatus in operation by forcing the liquid out through
the pipes F.
In addition, an alarm may be sounded on the fusing of the plug by having a cord
or other connection from such alarm attached to or moulded into the plug which will
be released as soon as the plug melts or such cord or connection may be stretched
below the plug and will be severed by the action of the acid upon it as soon as the
flow of acid commences. A catch or other apparatus in connection with or operating
an alarm signal of any suitable construction will thus be freed or set in motion.
At present I prefer to make the apparatus a fixture and use one, two, or more in a
room according to its size, though if desired they may be made in such form as to be
portable and quickly brought in contact with a fire should it originate in a different
part of the building.
I am well aware that nozzles or sprinklers which open automatically on becoming
heated and discharge a flow of water from service pipes, are in use, also that in the
class of apparatus to which this invention relates, the actuating mechanism for causing
the admixture of the two solutions has been caused to act automatically on fire break-
ing out but neither of these form any part of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A fire extinguishing apparatus which is set in operation by the mixing of two
materials capable of generating carbonic acid gas having the outlet of one vessel
stoppered or sealed with a fusible plug-or with a plug or cover supported by a lever
or rod secured by a cement or solder-fusible at a temperature sufficiently high to fuse
solid of low melting point substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. An apparatus for discharging liquid or gas operating automatically in case of
fire constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 13th day of June 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.