Improved Means of Destroying the Glass Bottle or Acid Container of Fire Subduing Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Destroying the Glass Bottle or Acid Container
of Fire Subduing Apparatus.
I THOMAS RALPH DOUSE of 28 Clover Street, Chatham, Kent, Clothing Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
According to a provisional specification lodged by me on the 9th day of August
1888 1 describe various means by which apparatus, for checking, extinguishing and
preventing the spread of fire and for giving the alarm, is controlled electrically. Now
the object of my present invention is to dispense with the striker, pusher hammer or
plunger for breaking the bottle containing an acid which is to mix with an alkali
contained in an outer vessel and thereby generate a powerful fire subdueing gas, and
I employ a detonator, fuze, or other exploder to be fired electrically within a tube, the
concussion due to the explosion being sufficient to break the bottle and release the
acid.
Dhe yea 1
11000'
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said T. R. Douse.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Destroying the Glass Bottle or Acid Container
of Fire Subduing Apparatus.
I THOMAS RALPH DOUSE of 28 Clover Street, Chathamn, Kent, Clothing Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
According to a provisional specification lodged by me on the 9th day of August 1888
No. 11514, now completed I describe various means by which apparatus for checking,
extinguishing and preventing the spread of fire and for giving the alarm is controlled
electrically. Now the object of my present invention is to dispense with the striker,
pusher, hammer or plunger for breaking the bottle containing an acid which is to mix
with an alkali contained in an outer vessel and thereby generate a powerful fire sub-
duing gas, and employ a detonator, fuse, or other exploder, to be fired electrically
within a tube the concussion due to the explosion being sufficient to break the bottle
and release the acid.
The annexed drawings show how I carry my invention into practice.
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of a tank A containing an alkali and suspended
by lugs B, B, attached to a frame from the ceiling of a room such as in a dwelling
house, warehouse or store.
This tank A is provided at about its central upper part with a screw aperture for
the reception of a ferrule or cap D shewn more clearly in section at Figure 2, to
close the opening or aperture except to an insulated conductor E which passes through
it and support a detonator F this being held within a fragile receptacle G. The
mouth of the receptacle G is sealed by a plug H within which the electrical conductor
is arranged. The receptacle G has a spread out flange and this rests upon the neck I
of a glass bottle J which contains an acid, said bottle being suspended from the cap D
by wires K, K.
'
The bottle J and detonator F with the receptacle G are suspended in the tank A
by the screw cap D and when electrical circuit is completed from any cause, the
detonator is exploded, the force of which breaks the receptacle G and also the bottle J
this causing the acid to mix with the alkali in the tank A and produce a powerful fire
subdueing gas.

page_text: The gas thus formed escapes along with a portion of the liquid by the bent
pipes L, L, and issues in jet or spray like form from the perforations of distributors
or nozzles M, said nozzles being on the exposed ends of the pipes 1 L for an all round
sprinkling of the Fire Extinguishing gas.
N, N, are gauze or openworked partitions in the tank A to prevent spread of
broken glass or other material to the tubes L, L, that might interfere with the proper
action of the apparatus.
The explosion of the detonator F may be made automatic by the apparatus shewn
at Figures 3 and 4 consisting of a shell P having apertures around it for the passage
of heat to the diaphgrams Q, Q, which by expansion would put the tip R into
contact with the adjustable screw pin S for completing circuit through the terminals
to which the wires U, U, are connected. The screw pin S can be set to any degree of
heat by the finger V when moved over the dial W.
One apparatus would be sufficient for an ordinary sized room but such as a ware-
house, a store, and large floors, several of such apparatus may be fitted and bo
simultaneously discharged on the closing of electric circuit by the pushing in of a
button.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to he performed I declare that what I claim is :-
In connection with an automatic action or other fire subduing or extinguishing
apparatus as set forth, the employment of a detonator F in a receptacle G and con-
tained in a glass bottle J as shewn in the annexed drawings for electrically breaking
the bottle containing acid for admixture with an alkali liquid and the generation of a
fire subduing or fire extinguishing gas as described.
221
1000
'
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said T. R. Douse.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said T. R. Douse.