IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ENGINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ENGINES." A communication from
abroad by Silas B. Babcock, of Geddes, State of New York, United States.
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th August 1881.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE-ENGINES." A communication from abroad by Silas B. Babcock, of Geddes,
State of New York, United States.
"
This Invention relates to a simple and comparatively inexpensive portable fire-
engine or fire-extinguisher designed to be operated by horse-power and to supplant
the more inconvenient and laborious hand-engines as well as the more expensive
steam-engines at present in use.
The Invention consists chiefly of two or more double-acting force-pumps grouped
at the center of a horizontal driving-wheel, and connected with said wheel by
suitable actuating mechanism, all mounted on a suitable vehicle and having
extended from the driving wheel a lever adapted for the connection thereto of the
animal power required for operating the said driving-wheel and pumps connected.
therewith.
The Invention also consists in certain peculiarities in the detail construction and
arrangement of the aforesaid apparatus, being the combination with the pumps of
frames extended respectively from opposite ends of the pumps and supported at
their free ends by the two axles of a vehicle, the cranks journaled on the frames
and connected each with one of the piston-rods, and provided above the aforesaid
frames with pinion and spur-wheel mounted central over the pumps and engaging.
the respective pinions, and provided with a lever.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st January 1882.
"
"
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE-ENGINES.' A communication from abroad by Silas B. Babcock, of Geddes,
State of New York, United States.
This Invention relates to a simple and comparatively inexpensive portable fire-
engine or fire-extinguisher designed to be operated by horse power and to supplant
the more inconvenient and laborious hand-engines as well as the more expensive
steam-engines at present in use.
The Invention consists chiefly of two or more double-acting force-pumps grouped
at the centre of a horizontal driving-wheel, and connected with said wheel by
suitable actuating mechanism, all mounted on a suitable vehicle and having
extended from the driving wheel a lever adapted for the connection thereto of the
animal power required for operating the said driving-wheel and pumps connected
therewith.
The Invention also consists in certain peculiarities in the detail construction and
arrangement of the aforesaid apparatus, as hereinafter fully described.
In the annexed Drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective side-view of my improved fire-
extinguishing apparatus; Fig, 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the same;
Fig. 3, a top view; Fig. 4, a transverse section on line x, x, and Fig. 5, a transverse
section on line y, y.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts; P, P, P, represent
three pump cylinders arranged horizontally side by side. Said cylinders have
open ends communicating directly with chambers V, V, which are extended across
the ends of the three cylinders and are divided into compartments by partitions
across the said chamber between the respective cylinders. Each of said compart-
ments is provided with two suitable valves, one of which communicates with a
subjacent water-induction chamber B, and the other with a superposed water-
eduction chamber B', which chambers B, B¹, are extended respectively across the
several compartments of the two valve chambers U, U, and are united with the
chambers B, B1, at the opposite end of the pump-cylinders by ducts G, G¹. The
duct G is provided with a pipe H adapted to have connected thereto the suction
hose or pipe, and the duct G₁ is provided with suitable means of connecting thereto
the discharge pipe I. The described pump cylinders and induction and eduction
chambers are firmly united by tie rods c, c, connected with ears or flanges on the
ends of the chambers B, B', and the whole apparatus is mounted on a vehicle by
stout iron or steel frames F and F¹, F¹, one of which is extended forward from the
united pumps and in line with the axis of the central pump cylinder P and
mounted on the forward axle of the vehicle, the other frames F, F, being extended
rearward from the united pumps in line with the axis of the two outside pump-
cylinders and mounted on the hind axle of the vehicle. On each of the said frames
is pivoted a vertical crank C which by a rod is connected with the piston of the
pump which is in line with said frame.
To the upper end of the cranks C is connected a pinion D in which meshes a
horizontal spur wheel E pivoted on the neck n of a vertical duct which is extended
from the top of the eduction-chamber B¹ to a superposed air-chamber K. Upon
the spur wheel which constitutes the driving-wheel of the apparatus are secured
hounds N, N, having boxes e, e, in which slides a lever L of proper length to reach
over the ends of the vehicle when said lever is carried forward in said boxes and
distended. A set screws connected with one of the boxes e serves to retain the

page_text: other suitable device for hitching thereto the horse or horses designed to furnish
the power for operating the driving wheel E and pumps grouped around the centre
thereof and connected therewith in the manner before described.
CLAIMS.
1st. A horse power fire engine consisting essentially of two or more double
acting force-pumps grouped at the centre of a horizontal driving wheel and
connected with said wheel by suitable actuating mechanism, all mounted on a
suitable vehicle and having extended from the driving wheel a lever adapted for
the connection thereto of the animal power required for operating the said driving-
wheel and pumps connected therewith, all as set forth and shown.
2nd. The combination with the pumps P, P, P, of the frames F and F¹, F',
extended respectively from opposite ends of the pumps and supported at their
free ends by the two axles of a vehicle, the cranks C, C, C, journaled on the
frames F, F, F1, and connected each with one of the piston-rods and provided
above the aforesaid frames with the pinion D, the spur-wheel E mounted central
over the pumps and engaging the respective pinions, and provided with the lever L,
substantially as set forth and shown.
3rd. In combination with the pump-cylinders P, P, P, arranged side by side, the
valve-chambers U, U, extended respectively across opposite ends of the several
pump cylinders, the water induction and water eduction chambers B, B, and B', B',
arranged respectively above and below the valve chambers and extended the length
thereof, the ducts G, G', connecting respectively the two induction-chambers and
the two eduction-chambers and provided the one with the suction pipe H and the
other with the discharge pipe I, as shown and set forth.
4th. The combination of the pumps P, P, P, connected at their ends by the
valve-chambers U, U, the water induction-chambers B, B, C, arranged underneath
the valve-chambers, the eduction-chambers B¹, B, G', placed above the valve-
chamber, the air-chamber K connected with the eduction-chamber by the neck n,
the driving wheel E pivoted on said neck, the pinions D, D, D, attached to
cranks C, C, C, and the piston-rods connected with said cranks, all as described
and shown.
5th. In combination with the pumps P, P, P, carried on a vehicle as described,
the driving-wheel E mounted horizontally on said pumps and provided with
hounds N, having boxes e, e, with set-screw 8, and the lever L. adapted to slide
endwise in said boxes and clamped by the set-screw, substantially as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, bave hereunto set