Improvements in or Applicable to Fire-extinguishers.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 17th May, 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Fire-extinguishers.
I, BERNHARD LOEB, Junior, of 47 Fehrbellinerstrasse Berlin, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in or applicable to fire extinguishers, the
object of the improvements being to provide more simple and convenient means for
filling the apparatus and for introducing the acid into the solution of soda; further
the improvements consist in the combination with the said extinguishing apparatus
of a respirator or breathing apparatus, by the use of which a person is enabled
to enter, without danger and inconvenience, rooms or spaces filled with smoke
or injurious gases; conflagrations can therefore be successfully attacked by a person
whilst in close proximity thereto and the utility of the extinguishing apparatus
is thereby considerably increased.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can
be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings in which figure 1
represents an elevation of my fire extinguisher provided with a respiratory or
breathing-apparatus; figure 2 is a vertical section of a fire extinguisher with my
improvements applied thereto, the introduction of the acid into the solution of soda
being effected from a blow from the hand or the like; figure
is a vertical section
of the screw cap of a fire extinguisher illustrating my improvements when the
introduction of the acid into the solution of soda is to be effected by pressing
a lever; figure 4 is an elevation partly in section the view being taken at right
angles to figure 3; figure 5 is an elevation partly in section of the central part
of figures 3 and 4; figure 6 is a plan of figures 3 and 4.
I will first describe my invention by reference to figure 2.
The screw-cap A of the apparatus is provided as usual with two handles a, a,
for the purpose of screwing and unscrewing the said cap when the agents arc
to be introduced into the apparatus.
The bush b, has a screw thread cut upon its lower part and its lower end d,
is formed to receive an elastic tube h. A rod e, with a knob f, at its upper end

page_text: passes through a cylindrical hole in the bush b, and at its lower end carries
a head or ram g, formed to receive the lower end of the tube attached to the bush b.
The bush b, and head g, are in this manner connected by the elastic tube h, which
may be of india rubber or it may consist of a spiral spring inside an impermeable
fabric; the length of the tube 4, is such that when the apparatus is as rest, the 5
head rests upon the neck i, of the jackets, surrounding the acid bottle u.
By means of the elastic tube h, obtain a perfect and reliable tightness of the
working parts of the upper portion and at the same time I prevent during the
development of the gas-pressure inside the apparatus the diluted acid from coming
In fire extin-
into contact with the said working parts and corroding the same.
guishers as hitherto known and used this gas-tight and impermeable, covering
is not provided and in consequence the gas is liable to escape and greatly impair the
efficiency of the apparatus and even cause a total failure of its action.
The interior cylinder B is open at its upper end and at its lower end is provided
with a disc 4, with apertures m, m; similar openings o, are provided in the lower
part of the cylinder to allow the acid fluid to flow out. A collar p, serves to support
the spring, the upper end of which carries a flat ring, which is soldered to it.
Upon this ring the acid-bottle rests with its jacket s. The neck of the jacket s,
is closed by a cap t, secured to it by a stud and groove or by any other suitable
means.
The construction of the bottle or acid-receiver as far as its stoppering cap and
its sides and bottom are concerned is partly known. My improvement consists in
making the neck
of the receiver of sufficient length to allow the ground stopper w,
to descend far enough to leave over it a space, into which an impermeable
acid-proof matter is poured.
The bottom y, of the bottle u is thicker than the sides, and on its under side
the bottom y, has a recess z, which when the bottle is forced down, as indicated
by the dotted line, bears upon the point of a pin n, which will easily break the thin
portion a', of the bottom y.
The operation is as follows
On striking the knob f, of the rod e, the head or ram g, resting upon the stoppering
cap t, is forced down and with it the jackets, and acid-bottle u, descend as the
pressure of the spring 7, will be overcome. The pin n, pierces the thin part a',
of the bottom y, of the bottle and the acid contained in the bottle flows out and
escapes through the apertures m, and o, into the solution of soda, whereupon the
gas is developed and the apparatus is ready for discharging the water contained
therein. As soon as the bottom of the bottle u, has been broken, the pressure
is released from the knob, and the spring 2, forces the bottle and jacket up again,
the india-rubber tube h, contracts and carries the head or ram and rod upwards, the
acid quickly flowing out.
For fire-extinguishing apparatuses which are intended to be carried on the back
of a person, I prefer to employ the stoppering arrangement shown in figures 3, 4, 5,
and 6.
The bush b, shown in figure 2 is substituted by a cylinder c', so formed at its
lower end d', as to receive the elastic tube h, and provided with a screw-thread el,
fitting into the female screw-thread of the screw-cap A. At the upper portion of the
cylinder c', two slots ₁, are provided opposite to each other. A vertical rod g¹,
passes through a central hole in the lower or closed part of the cylinder c', and
at its lower end carries a head or ram h', formed to receive the lower end of the
elastic tube . The upper end of the rod g¹, carries a plate or disc i figures 3 and 4,
serving as a guide for the rod within the hollow part of the cylinder and it is
also intended to be acted upon by the pressure of the lever k¹. The disc, is provided
with a bifurcation 1, serving as a guide to the knee of the lever ¹, the fulcrum
of which is provided in a bracket m³, formed on or secured to the screw-cap A
as shewn in figure 4.
The operation is substantially the same as that described with reference to figure 2.
The operator, carrying the apparatus on his back, takes hold of the handle n

page_text: of the lever, and presses it down; the rod gl, is forced down by the lever, the head
or ram, resting upon the cap t, of the jackets, forces the same down with the
bottle and the remainder of the operation is automatic as before described with
reference to figure 2.
In figure 1 I have shown the combination with the fire-extinguishing apparatus of
a respirator with flexible pipe s', and mouthpiece t', constructed according to
my invention forming the subject of an application of even date with the present
application, but any other suitable respirator or breathing apparatus may be used
which will allow the operator to enter and remain in rooms filled with smoke
or irrespirable gases or vapours, by which means the practical use of the extinguishing
apparatus is considerably increased.
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. The arrangement of the interior cylinder B fitted with disc 1, and pin n,
spring 7, and collar p, to support the same, the said cylinder being loosely suspended
within the casing of the fire-extinguishing apparatus and enclosing the jacketed
acid-receiver, in such a manner that on setting the apparatus at work, metal only
will strike on metal, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The arrangement within a jacket s, open at its lower end, of an acid-receiver u,
the bottom of which has a recess or weaker part which is pierced by a pin, arranged
below the said part, either by a blow with the hand or the like, carrying down the
head or ram, which bears upon the cap t, of the jackets, and overcoming the
counter-pressure of a spring 7, or other suitable contrivance and whereby the pin n,
breaks the thin partition a, of the bottle, substantially as described with reference
to figure 2, or by a lever with a handle pressed down by hand and acting on the head
or ram h, jackets, and acid-receiver as described.
3. The separation of the acid-feed-mechanism from the solution of soda by means
of an elastic tube h, figures 2 and 3, for the purpose of preventing the acid from
coming into contact with the working parts and for allowing the head or ram
to be automatically lifted substantially as described.
4. An acid-receiver for use in fire-extinguishing apparatus the neck v, of which
receiver or bottle is of sufficient length to leave a free space, above the stopper w,
the said space being filled up with an impermeable acid-resisting material, and the
bottom of which receiver is thicker than its sides and provided with a recess z, and
thin portion a', which is easily broken by a pin, the receiver otherwise being very
strong.
5. The combination with a fire-extinguishing apparatus of a respirator for enabling
the operator to enter rooms filled with smoke and moisture and to attack the fire
whilst in close proximity thereto.