Improvements in Hand Fire Extinguishers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hand Fire Extinguishers.
I, CHARLES BRUCE MURRAY, of 523, Euclid Avenue, in the City of Toronto,
in the County of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, 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 :-
My invention relates to improved hand fire extinguishers and the object of the
invention is, First, to provide means whereby the liquids used in fire extinguishers
may be hermetically sealed in a chamber enclosed in the main cylinder so that
there is no danger of any vapor arising therefrom in order to fill up the exit nozzle
during the continued disuse of the extinguisher, and thereby impede the free
passage of the combined liquid when it is desired to use the extinguisher,
Secondly, to provide a simple and cheap means whereby acid may be inade to mix
with the liquids without the necessity or expense of breaking the acid receptacle,
and, at the same time provide a common cover for both the acid receptacle and the
other liquid used, Thirdly, to provide a nozzle which may be capable of ready
adjustment in order to direct the stream to the point required, and it consists
essentially, First, in providing within the main outer casing or cylinder an inner
cylinder, the normal top of which is provided with a fragile diaphragm, of glass or
other suitable fragile material, which is imbedded in or otherwise secured by suitable
cement or plaster, upon the top of the inner cylinder so as to cover the opening
in the top and the mouth of the acid receptacle, as hereinafter more particularly
explained, Secondly, in providing suitable guides for the inner cylinder whereby
when the main cylinder is inverted for use the fragile diaphragm at one end of
the inner cylinder may be brought against one or more studs to break it,
Thirdly, of hinging the nozzle by means of a socket joint in the end of the faucet,
which is preferably secured in the head of the cylinder, the extinguisher being
otherwise constructed and arranged in detail as hereinafter more particularly
explained.
The drawing represents a sectional perspective view of a fire extinguisher made
in accordance with my invention, the cylinder being intermediately broken away,
as indicated.
A, is the outer cylinder of my fire extinguisher, B, the head, and, C, the bottom.
The bottom and the head are suitably secured to the cylindrical portion. D, is the
handle. E, is the inner cylinder, which is made of metal or any other suitable
material and provided with a suitable head and bottom, E', and, E'. F, and, F³, are
two openings made in the head, E', of the cylinder, E. G, is the acid receptacle
which is preferably cylindrical in form and made of glass or any other suitable
material. The acid receptacle, G, has preferably a rim, g, formed around its open
end which is supported upon a ledge, f¹, formed in the head, E', around the
opening F. H, is a fragile diaphragm, made of glass or other suitable fragile
material, which will not be affected by the acid in the receptacle, G. The fragile
diaphragm is held in place by a wall, I, which surrounds it entirely and preferably
abuts it on all sides. J, is a beading of putty, plaster of Paris or other suitable
soft material which hardens and which is placed around the edge of the fragile
diaphragm so as not only to hold it in place but also to hermetically seal the
openings, F, and, F', in the head, E'. j, is a layer of plaster of Paris which is
preferably placed between the rim, g, and the fragile diaphragin so as to
hermetically seal the acid receptacle. The inner cylinder, E, is preferably filled
with salt and water instead of soda and water as the former will not freeze except

page_text: at a very much lower temperature than the latter. The walled space at the top of
the inner cylinder is. preferably filled with dry soda, as indicated by dotted lines in
drawing.
K, are vertical guideways secured inside of the main cylinder diametrically
opposite each other. Only one side of each guideway is shown, but it will of
course be understood that the other side is made exactly alike. k, are stop pins
which extend through the main cylinder in proximity to the top of the guideways
and between the sides of each. k, is a boss or projection formed slightly above
the bottom of each side of each guideway. There is only one boss of each
guideway shown.
e, are two bent pins which are secured diametrically opposite to each other
on the outside of the inner cylinder and extend into the guideways, K. e', are two
bent pins similarly secured to the sides of the inner cylinder and extending into the
guideways, K, beneath the bosses, k', when the inner cylinder is in its normal
position.
L, is a plug which is secured into a threaded hole eccentrically situated in the
top of the head, B.
11, are two lugs formed in the top of the screw plug, L, and designed to form a
means, by a stick laid crosswise between them, to unscrew the plug, L.
M, is a stud secured in the bottom of the screw plug, L, and, m, is a similar stud
screwed in the inner side of the head, B. Both plugs, M, and, m, extend down
vertically into the cylinder opposite the fragile diaphragm, the plug, m, being
especially situated however so as to come opposite the centre of the acid
receptacle. Although I show two plugs, it will be understood that one plug might
be sufficient.
N, is a faucet, the passage, n, of which leads into the passage way, o, in the
socket, O, which is pivoted or hinged in the enlarged end, N', of the faucet, N.
P, is the nozzle which extends into the right angle turn of the socket, O.
Having now described the principal parts of my invention I shall briefly describe
its advantages and operation:
When the cylinder is in its normal position, as shown in the drawing, it will be
seen that the contents of the inner cylinder are hermetically sealed and consequently
there will be no danger of any vapor arising which would have a tendency to
choke up the passage way, n, of the faucet, N, when the fire extinguisher is left
for an extremely long period without being used. It will also be seen that there
will be no possibility of the contents of the fire extinguisher losing its strength.
In order to bring my fire extinguisher into position for use I invert it, and by
so inverting it the inner cylinder will of its own gravity and as it is being gradually
inverted, have a tendency to drop against the head. This will be effectively
prevented by the bosses, k¹, on each side of the guideways, K, forming a stop for
the bent pins, e', but as the bent pins are of less diameter than the distance
between the bosses, k', it will be seen immediately upon the extinguisher being
brought to the perpendicular or almost so, the inner cylinder will be precipitated
suddenly towards the head, C. As it falls the studs, M, and, m, will come against
the fragile diaphragm and break it, thereby freeing the contents and allowing of
their co-mingling with the soda to form carbonic acid gas, and this without
destruction of the acid receptacle. The downward movement of the inner cylinder
is of course limited by the bent pins, e, coming against the stops, k, at the end of
the guideways, K. The faucet may now be turned on, and the nozzle being hinged
as hereinbefore described, the stream may be directed by the user towards any
point desired. The handle, D, may of course be utilized to more conveniently
hold the extinguisher during its use.
By providing a fragile diaphragm as hereinbefore stated, it will be readily seen
that the fragile diaphragm being very cheap may be readily replaced when broken.
Not only is this so, but it forms a very perfect means for hermetically sealing the
contents of the acid receptacle and inner cylinder and with the wall I forms a
receptacle for the reception of the soda.

page_text: 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. In a hand fire extinguisher the combination with the outer cylinder of an.
inner cylinder capable of longitudinal movement within the outer cylinder and
provided with a fragile diaphragm secured to the head and normally separating
the ingredients, and means whereby the fragile diaphragm is broken, as and for
the purpose specified.
2. In the hand fire extinguisher the combination with the outer cylinder of an.
inner cylinder capable of longitudinal movement within the outer cylinder and
provided with a fragile diaphragm secured to the head and normally separating the
ingredients, and studs secured in the head and arranged to come in contact with the
fragile diaphragm upon the extinguisher being inverted, as and for the purpose.
specified.
3. The combination with the outer cylinder of an inner cylinder capable of
longitudinal movement within the outer cylinder and provided with a fragile
diaphragm secured to the head and normally separating the ingredients, two.
guideways secured to the outer cylinder situated diametrically opposite each other,.
bent pins secured to the inner cylinder and extending into the guideways and
means whereby the fragile diaphragm is broken, as and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with the outer cylinder of an inner cylinder capable of
longitudinal movement within the outer cylinder and provided with a fragile
diaphragm secured to the head and normally separating the ingredients, two.
guideways secured to the outer cylinder situated diametrically opposite each other,
bent pins secured to the inner cylinder and extending into the guideways, retarding
bosses, k¹, formed on each side of the guideways near the bottom end and means
whereby the fragile diaphragm is broken, as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with the outer cylinder of an inner cylinder capable of
longitudinal movement within the outer cylinder and provided with a fragile
diaphragm secured to the head and normally separating the ingredients, two.
guideways secured to the outer cylinder situated diametrically opposite each other,
bent pins secured to the inner cylinder and extending into the guideways, and the
stops. k, extending into the opposite ends of the guideways and means whereby the
fragile diaphragm is broken, as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination with the outer cylinder, A, and the inner cylinder, E, capable
of longitudinal movements within the outer cylinder and having the fragile.
diaphragm, H, secured by suitable cement in the head of the inner cylinder so as to
cover the opening in the same and the opening in the acid receptacle and
hermetically seal both and means whereby the fragile diaphragm is broken, as and
for the purpose specified.
7. The combination with the outer cylinder of the inner cylinder provided with
a fragile diaphragmn H, extending over the openings, F, and, F, the opening, F,
having the rim, g, by which it is supported upon the ledge, f, the layer, j, of
plaster of Paris situated between the top of the rim of the acid receptacle and the
fragile diaphragm, and the bead, J, of plaster of Paris, or other suitable material,.
surrounding the edge of the fragile diaphragm as and for the purpose specified.
8. The combination with the outer cylinder of the inner cylinder provided with a
fragile diaphragm to normally hermetically seal the acid in the receptacle and the
liquid in the inner cylinder of the wall, I, surrounding the fragile diaphragm and
arranged as shown, and for the purpose specified.
9. In a fire extinguisher, the combination with the outer cylinder, A, and the
inner cylinder provided with a fragile diaphragm for normally separating the
ingredients as specified, and the screwed plug eccentrically situated in the head,
and the faucet, N, also eccentrically situated in the head and provided with the
nozzle, P, hinged in the enlarged end of the faucet, N, as and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: 10. In a fire extinguisher, the combination with the cylinder and the head of
the screwed plug, L, with the lugs, 1, arranged as shown, and for the purpose
specified.
11. In the fire extinguisher the combination with the cylinder and head of the
faucet, N, and nozzle, P, continuing the passage way from the faucet and hinged
socket, O, within the enlarged end of the faucet, as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 6th day of July 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.