AN IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM FIRE ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustav Witte, major h.s. and Director of the Berlin Fire
Brigade Berlin in the German Empire for an Invention of AN IMPROVEMENT
IN STEAM FIRE ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustav Witte at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December 1882.
GUSTAV WITTE, major h.s. and Director of the Berlin Fire Brigade, Berlin in the
German Empire "AN IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM FIRE-ENGINES,"
My invention has for its object to avoid the necessity of raising steam before a
steam-fire engine can be set in action.
For this purpose I provide the fire-engine with a metallic receptacle for liquid
carbonic acid said receptacle being connected with the steam-space of the boiler by
a pipe conduit, in which there is a valve or valves for establishing communication
with the boiler immediately before starting the engine, and after the heating of the
boiler has commenced.
The liquid carbonic acid then introduced into the boiler evaporates and its
moistened vapours are allowed to enter the steam engine in order to drive the latter
until sufficient steam is raised
The receptacle for carbonic acid with the pipes and valve may be permanently
secured to the carriage of the fire-engine, or form a separate attachment,
The receptacle is preferably cylindrical, made of cast-iron or copper and secured
to the base-plate of the engine by bolts or clamps.
I prefer to use a valve having an intermediate chamber of a given capacity,
which chamber can be put alternately in communication with the receptacle and
the boiler, so as to allow only a given quantity of carbonic acid to enter the boiler
within a certain time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gustav Witte in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th May
1883.
GUSTAV WITTE, major h. s. and Director of the Berlin Fire Brigade, Berlin, in the
German Empire. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM FIRE-ENGINES,"
It is well known, that the common use of the Steam Fire-Engines for
extinguishing fires is prevented by the inability of setting them in action at any
moment, so that often several minutes will pass, before the required steam-pressuro
has been obtained.
The purpose of my invention is to obviate this drawback by the use of liquid
carbonic-acid. A sufficient quantity of liquid carbonic acid brought along with the
carriage of the Steam Fire-Engine is to be introduced into the steam-space of the
boiler immediately before starting the Engine through a conduit of pipes provided
with a valve.
The heating of the boiler as well as the generation of steam will go on meanwhile
in the usual manner.
The carbonic acid, after its introduction into the boiler, is volatilized and
conducted to the Steam-Engine, so as to drive the latter until sufficient steam
(aqueous vapor) is raised to drive the engine in the usual manner. By this method
the carbonic acid will enter the steam-cylinders after having been slowly heated
and moistened, which is very important for the safety of working.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 represents an elevation and Fig. 2 plan
of a fire engine fitted up according to my invention, while Figs. 3 and 4
illustrate details of construction. In these drawings A represents the boiler, B, B
receptacles or flasks containing carbonic acid and secured in any convenient
manner to the carriage frame of the fire engine. C represents a valve for controlling
the flow of carbonic acid to the boiler. D is a pipe conduit between receptacles
and boilers. E is a valve inserted between the boiler and the pipe conduit and
serving to prevent the flow of fluid from the boiler towards the receptacles; it may
be shut off from the boiler by a stop-cock e. The valve-spindle f of the valve C is
adapted to be turned by means of a key F.
Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed I wish it to be understood that I claim: The introduction of liquid
carbonic-acid into the boiler of steam-fire-engines, simultaneously with the heating
of the boiler substantially as and for the purpose described.
In Witness whereof I the said Gustav Witte have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 24th day of May. A.D. 1883.