Improvements in Fire Extinguishers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1892-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Extinguishers.
I, EUGENE LOUIS ANTOINE LECHLARTIER, of 97 Rue de la Pompe, Passy, Paris,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
The subject of this invention which it is preferred to call "The Infallible" is an
improved apparatus for extinguishing fire substantially consisting of a suitable
chamber of cylindrical or other shape, containing water and a salt of an appro-
priate description, and of a glass vessel filled with acid arranged directly underneath.
or a short distance below, the top plate or wall of the chamber. A shock sustained
by this plate or wall or if preferred by a special device provided for the purpose
will result in the breaking of the said receptacle and instantaneously set the
fire-extinguisher in operation.
The apparatus in one form consists of a cylindrical vessel tightly closed by top
and bottom plates.
Below the top plate is situated an acid reservoir preferably in the shape of a
glass tube completely or partly filled with acid and permanently retained
underneath the top wall by collars or brackets preferably soldered to that
wall.
Within the cylindrical vessel is arranged a pipe supported by the bottom plate
while its upper open end passes through the top wall of the case. At its lower
portion the pipe has a perforation which connects the interior of the vessel with
the outside. To cut off the connection at this point a piece of indiarubber or
other clastic material is provided in such a position as to be compressible by
means of a bent plate or lever. One arm of this lever situated at right angles
to the other arm engages with a loop secured to the case while the other arm
engages with a bracket also suitably secured to the chamber.
Into the chamber is poured the required amount of water with the addition of
a given quantity of salt (such as bicarbonate of soda, common salt, or the like).
The liquid is thus gradually raised until it reaches a level a short distance
below the upper end of the bent tube. Then the tubular acid reservoir being
attached in place underneath the top plate this plate is adjusted in position upon
an air-tight closing. The orifice of the bent pipe is then closed by applying the
before-mentioned packing and by compressing it by means of the bent bar or
lever. The apparatus when thus charged may remain in this condition for any
length of time until required in case of an emergency.
To operate the apparatus the bent plate or lever is released from the bracket and
loop so as to disengage the packing. Then by a strong blow struck by hand or by
means of the bent plate on the centre of the top plate the glass tube or acid reservoir is
broken, the acid being diffused in the liquid contained in the chamber so that it
combines with the salt and instantly produces considerable internal pressure. The
liquid then escapes through the perforation in the bent pipe and rushes out at the
open end of same in a powerful jet to which the required direction is given by
adjusting the vessel by hand which for this purpose may be provided with handles
soldered or hinged to the said vessel.
In another arrangement the closed chamber receives in its centre a vertical tube
the lower portion of which fits into a sleeve provided with perforations. Similar
perforations formed in the end of the tube are made when required to coincide
with these perforations so that unless this coincidence takes place the tube is
effectively closed.by the sleeve.
The upper end of the tube passes through a stuffing-box and projects beyond
the top plate, where it is provided with a branch tube and terminates in a head or

page_text: press button.
The branch bears frictionally against a vertical surface fixed to
the top plate and perforated. So long as the branch is not opposite to the perfora-
tion of the vertical plate said branch remains closed and connection between the tube
and the outside is cut off. When the branch and the opening in the vertical plate
are opposite each other the apertures in the sleeve and lower end of tube also
coincide so that connection is established at both ends.
To the vertical tube is secured a preferably sharpened arm which is intended to
strike the glass tube or reservoir containing the acid. This tube is maintained in
a horizontal position by fitting at one end into a socket soldered to the wall of
the chamber while its other end is held in the recess of a plug screwed within a
sleeve secured to the chamber.
The boss or ring to which is attached the glass-tube-breaking arm is secured
to the tube in such a position as will limit its upward stroke, its downward
motion being limited by a collar or equivalent provided on the said tube. A bow
or handle enables the fire extinguisher to be suspended or carried from place to
place and other handles facilitate the adjustment of its position by hand according
to the direction in which the jet of water should be discharged.
For charging the apparatus a plug is removed and after the acid reservoir or tube
has been introduced the said plug is replaced. In case of an emergency the head
is struck so as to break the glass tube by means of the arm and also cause the
beforementioned openings or perforations and branch to properly coincide. The
internal pressure will then send forth through the branch the jet of water which
may be directed on to the flame to be extinguished.
When it is desired to stop the operation of the extinguisher all that is necessary
is to raise the tube until the boss or collar meets the stuffing-box. The openings
at the lower end of the tube are then covered by the sleeve and the water jet is
cut off by the vertical shutter or plate.
A cap secured to the top plate protects the head from accidental shocks while
the apparatus is not in use.
In a modified form of the last described arrangement the branch outlet is
dispensed with and a hole in the upper part of the tube is adapted to coincide with
a hole in the stuffing-box fitting, suitable means being provided to prevent the
vertical tube from turning on its axis.
The apparatus may however be modified in other than the last described manner
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Extinguishers.
I, EUGENE LOUIS ANTOINE LECHARTIER, of 97 Ruc de la Pompe, Passy,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Gentleman, 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 :-
The subject of this invention which it is preferred to call "The Infallible," is an
improved apparatus for extinguishing fire, substantially consisting of a suitable:
chamber of cylindrical or other shape, containing water and a salt of an appropriate
description, and of a glass vessel filled with acid, arranged directly underneath or a
short distance below, the top plate or wall of the chamber.
A shock sustained by this plate or wall, or if preferred by a special device pro-
vided for the purpose and arranged in proximity thereto, will result in the breaking
of the acid receptacle and instantaneously set the fire-extinguisher in operation..
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which are shown two different types of the improved fire-extinguisher..

page_text: corresponding plan.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a front view and a section of the bent plate or
lever whereby the closing is effected.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of another form of the apparatus, Fig. 6 being a
detached view of the operating device.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section similar to that shown at Fig. 5 of a modified form of
apparatus substantially similar to the arrangement shown in Figs 5 and 6.
Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line 1-2 of Fig. 7.
The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 consists of a cylindrical vessel a
tightly closed by the top and bottom plates e and respectively.
Below the top plate e is situated an acid reservoir d preferably in the shape of a
glass tube completely or partly filled with acid and permanently retained underneath
the top wall e by collars or brackets e preferably soldered to that wall.
Within the vessel a is arranged a pipe / supported by the bottom-plate while its
At its lower portion the
upper open end passes through the wall of the case a.
pipe has a perforation which connects the interior of the vessel a with the
outside. To cut off the connection at this point a piece of indiarubber or other
elastic material g is provided in such a position as to be compressible by means of a
bent plate or lever . As shown this lever by its arm h' situated at right angles to
the other arm engages with a loop or hook secured to the case a while the other
arm engages with a bracket soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the
chamber a.
Into the chamber a is poured the required amount of water with the addition of
a given quantity of salt (such as bicarbonate of soda, carbonate of ammonia,
common salt or the like). Then the tubular acid reservoir d being attached in
place underneath the top plate c this plate is adjusted in position upon the case a
so as to obtain an air-tight closing. The orifice of the pipe fis then closed by
applying the packing g and by compressing it by means of the bent bar or lever h.
The apparatus when thus charged may remain in this condition for any length of
time until required in case of an emergency.
To operate the apparatus the beut plate or lever is released from the bracket l
and the lever head is disengaged from the hook k. Then by a strong blow struck
by means of the bent plate or lever forming a hammer by its head upon the
centre of the top plate c the glass tube or acid reservoir d is broken, the acid being
diffused in the liquid contained in the chamber a. so that it combines with the salt
and instantly produces considerable internal pressure. The liquid then escapes
through the perforation in the pipe and rushes out at the open end of in a
powerful jet to which the required direction is given by adjusting the vessel a by
hand, which for this purpose may be provided with handles o o' soldered or hinged
to the said vessel.
"strike
In the centre of the plate c within a ring c is inscribed a notice such as
here" for the guidance of the operator. The apparatus may when out of use be
hung up by means of a ring or loop a' or it may be placed upon any suitable
supporting surface.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the closed chamber receives in its
centre a vertical tube the lower portion of which fits into a sleeve m provided
with perforations m'.
Similar perforations f¹ formed in the lower end of the tube are inade when
required to coincide with these perforations m' so that unless this coincidence takes
place the tube is effectively closed by the sleeve m.
The upper end of the tube passes through a stuffing box c' and projects beyond
the top plate e where it is provided with a branch tube and terminates in a head
or press button f³. The branch bears frictionally against a vertical surface p
fixed to the top plate and perforated at pl. So long as the branch is not
opposite to the perforation p' it remains closed and connection between the tube f
and the outside is cut off. When the branch fand the opening p' are opposite

page_text: each other the apertures m³ and in the sleeve m and lower end of tube falso
coincide so that connection is established at both ends.
To the tube is secured a preferably sharpened army which is intended to strike
the glass tube or reservoir d'containing the acid. This tube d is maintained in a
horizontal position by fitting at one end into a socket soldered to the wall of the
chamber while its other end is held in the recess of plugs secured to the
chamber a.
The boss or ring to which as shown in Fig. 6 is attached the arm
is secured
to the tube in such a position as will limit its upward stroke, its downward motion
being limited by a collar for equivalent provided on the said tube f. A bow or
handle a² enables the fire extinguisher to be suspended or carried from place to
place and other handles o facilitate the adjustment of its position by hand
according to the direction in which the jet of water should be discharged.
For charging the apparatus the plugs is removed and after the acid reservoir or
tube d has been introduced the plug is replaced. In case of an emergency the
head 3 is struck so as to break the glass tube d by means of the arm and also
cause the openings or perforations fand m' and the branch and aperture p¹ to
properly coincide. The internal pressure will then send forth through the branch"
the jet of water which may be directed on to the flame to be extinguished.
When it is desired to stop the operation of the extinguisher all that is necessary
is to raise the tube f until the boss or collar meets the stuffing-box c'. The
openings are then covered by the sleeve m and the water jet 2 is cut off by the
vertical shutter or plate p.
The arrangement shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 may be modified as indicated in
Figs. 7 and 8. The tube is here arranged to pass through a stuffing-box e in the
body of which is provided a jet orifice. The said tube is perforated at 5. When
the head is struck the acid-reservoir d breaks and the perforation is brought
exactly opposite the opening so that the liquid under the gas pressure escapes
through the tube and the orifices and A rod adjacent to the head³
prevents the said tube from turning so that the relative position off to v never
varies. As indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the upper part of the tube / is
above the acid reservoir d and to admit of its being raised and lowered its lower
part is bent or has a set-off so as to be out of the way of the acid reservoir or
tube d.
A cap secured to the top plate as shown in Fig. 5 may be used for protecting
the head from accidental shocks while the apparatus is not in use.
The apparatus may be modified without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is,
1. A. fire extinguisher consisting of a chamber a containing water and salts and
provided below its top plate or cover or in the vicinity thereof with a glass tube
such as d containing acid so arranged as to be breakable by a shock or blow
sustained directly by the cover for the purpose of obtaining a considerable internal
pressure for ejecting the extinguishing liquid through a suitable pipe or nozzle f
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In a fire-extinguisher the combination with a chamber such as a of a glass
reservoir such as d arranged underneath or in the vicinity of the top plate of the
chamber in brackets such as e e' secured to the top of the chamber, a tube such as
open at and ordinarily closed at and a bent plate or striking lever such as h
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. A fire-extinguisher consisting of a chamber a containing water and salts and
provided underneath its cap or cover or in the vicinity thereof with a glass tube

page_text: such as d containing acid which is so arranged as to be breakable by a shock or
blow sustained by a sliding piece such as arranged in a line with the vertical axis
of the said chamber the said sliding piece at the same time constituting the tube or
nozzle conducting the extinguishing jet substantially as described and shown in
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a fire extinguisher the combination with a chamber a having top and
bottom plates such as b and c of a glass acid reservoir and socket and recessed plug
such as r and s for supporting it a tube such as with perforations and sleeve or
guide such as m provided with perforations m³ a lateral arm 7 and branch tube such
as a shutter such as p and a head or press button substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In apparatus such as described the chamber a acid reservoir such as d tube
such as traversing a stuffing box within which it is perforated at a jet
orifice provided in the stuffing box and with which is made to coincide the
perforation of the tube whenever the head is struck for the purpose of starting
the apparatus whose operation may be stopped by raising the tube with the
head by hand substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.