Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1888.
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Dec., 1888
I, JOHN FLETCHER WILES of No. 3 Park Place Old Charlton in the County of Kent
Insurance Broker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention has for its object the localising of Fire and the prevention of panic in
cases of Fire in Theatres and other public buildings.
For this purpose I construct a waterfall screen in the place of iron or other curtains
to localise the Fire by placing a large pipe (round or shaped or otherwise) across
and above the front of the stage as high up as possible and connect the same with the
water supply preferably by an upright pipe on each side of the stage in which within
easy reach are ordinary cocks or screw valves. The said pipe over the front of the
stage has a slot or row of perforations about half an inch wide on its under side
throughout its entire length through which the water would pour down in one solid
sheet when turned on from the Water Companys Main or from a tank in the roof at
any of the said ordinary cocks or screw valves. A small quantity of petroleum oil
supplied from a chamber attached to the pipes in any convenient manner ensures
the consolidation of the water into one sheet while falling. The floor of the stage
should be so constructed that certain boards could be raised directly beneath the pipe
so that the water would fall into a Trough beneath the stage and then run into the
drains and consequently the stage floor would not be touched by the falling water and
my reason for doing this is that the water may be turned on at any time for a short
time while the audience are in the Theatre so that they would see the arrangements
for securing their safety against fire originating behind the stage curtain and so be
less liable to panic and at the same time ensuring that the apparatus was in working
order.
I also claim that this plan could be adopted to large Warehouses and could be
so simplified that anyone on the basement could turn on the water to any part
provided the parts are previously arranged and thus localise the Fire.

page_text: I claim the following advantages.
1. Simplicity.
2. Inexpensiveness of adaptation to any Building.
3. Certainty of being always in order.
4. The formation of a solid sheet of water through which smoke or flame could not
penetrate.
5. Engendering a feeling of security in the minds of all present.
6. Localising the Fire and consequently in all probability saving the Main
building.

page_text: in Theatres and other Public Buildings.
I JOHN FLETCHER WILES of Rosina House 23 Oakhurst Grove East Dulwich S.E.
Insurance Broker 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 has for its object the localizing of Fires and the prevention of
Panic amongst the audience in cases of fire or alarms of fire in Theatres and other
public buildings.
For this purpose in its adaptation to a Theatre I place one or more pipe or pipes
of any suitable material or shape about three or four inches internal diameter
across and above the proscenium or in any other suitable position on the stage side
which is connected with the water main or with a suitable reservoir or tank of water
above it.
The above mentioned pipe has a slot of any convenient width along its under
surface or is pierced with small holes a short distance apart or preferably small tubes
of about one quarter of an inch in internal diameter and about eight inches long are
screwed into it as close as possible to each other so that when the cock or screw valve
is turned on the pipe or pipes become filled with water which will then pour down in
almost a solid sheet and form a Waterfall Screen and so isolate the stage from the
auditorium The floor of the stage is so constructed that the boards directly beneath
the pipe or pipes should open upwards on hinges through which the falling water shall
pass into an open trough beneath the stage and from thence into a drain or tank in
any convenient manner. In case of actual fire it would not be necessary to use the
troughs but my reason for supplying them is that the Waterfall screen could be used
every evening for a short time both to ensure the perfect working at a critical
moment and to inspire the audience with confidence and so reduce any chance of panic
even from a false alarm of fire as everyone would feel secure from danger in the event
of an actual fire occurring. The opening in the floor of the stage with the trough
underneath would allow this to be done whenever thought fit either for scenic
purposes by illuminating the falling water with various colors by means of the Lime
or any other Light or it could be utilized as an advertising medium of any description
and the stage floor would not be injured by the falling water and the trough being
below the stage no splashing would occur-The audience seeing this Waterfall screen
in action at every performance ensures the Water supply being always ample and the
apparatus ready for use.
A small quantity of Petroleum or other oil supplied from a small chamber attached
to the pipe or pipes in any convenient manner ensures the falling of the Water in a
more solid form and prevents splashing but it is not absolutely necessary and may
be dispensed with-This invention could also be adapted to large Warehouses or
buildings and could be so arranged that anyone in the basement or elsewhere could