Apparatus to Extinguish Fire in Ships' Holds, Goods in Bulk, as Coal, Grain, and General Merchandise, by the Injection of Water, Steam, or other Vapour.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 1st Dec., 1890-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus to Extinguish Fire in Ships' Holds, Goods in Bulk, as
Coal, Grain, and General Merchandise, by the Injection of Water,
Steam, or other Vapour.
LEWIS JOHN MAYER, Double House, Aldboro' Hatch, Ilford, Essex, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a steel tube, 6 ft. in length, pierced spirally with holes
in. in diar. and 6 inches apart-one end of the tube to be fitted with a case hardened
point, which point is gradually to increase upwards till it attains a larger diameter
than the tube, so that a suitable protection can lead therefrom to protect the
aforesaid holes from being closed; the opposite end to have a proper screw con-
nection to attach other lengths of tube of the said diar. but not pierced; this
connection to be also suited to receive a proper connection conducting the water,
steam or other vapour from the source of supply to the tube.
The working of the apparatus, say in the case of a steam ship, consists in
placing the tube point downwards, without removing the hatches, over the presumed
seat of the fire and then driving the tube through the cargo by means of power,
to be obtained by a modification of the pile driving apparatus; when the tube is
driven a sufficient depth into the interior of the cargo, the means of extinction,
under pressure as steam from the boilers, water from the pumps, is applied by
the aforesaid connection.
1 1000
Dated 11
CITTA
LLY L
4th day of
HAITIT
LEWIS JOHN MAYER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus to Extinguish Fire in Ships' Holds, Goods in Bulk, as
Coal, Grain, and General Merchandise, by the Injection of Water,
Steam, or other Vapour.
LEWIS JOHN MAYER, Double House, Aldboro' Hatch, Ilford, Essex, 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 :-
This invention consists of an apparatus to be called the Injector Fire Extinguisher
to inject water, steam or other vapour, under pressure, into the interior of a burning
mass: the injector to be constructed of a strong steel tube, pierced longitudinally
with a number of holes and formed with a point or cutter to enable the injector to
be driven through hard substances as cargo in ship's holds, coal in bulk &c. The
working action is to put the injector point downwards over the presumed seat
of the fire and drive it downwards, the necessary power to do this to be obtained
by a modification of the pile driving apparatus when it is thought that the
injector has reached the burning mass or is in close proximity to it-the means of
extinction, under pressure, as steam from boilers, water from pumps, is to be
conducted to the injector by a proper connection with the source of supply and being
under pressure, the water, steam or other vapour escaping from the holes in the
injector will most efficiently and rapidly extinguish the heat in anything that may
be in process of combustion.
This invention consists of a strong steel tube (Fig. 1) to be called the injector,
which is to be 6 feet in length and 4 inches internal diameter (see note A) pierced
longitudinally with holes (Fig. 2) of an inch in diameter, these holes to be placed
6 inches apart in the direction of the length of the tube and 2 inches from centre to
centre so that they may rise obliquely from the base of the tube.

page_text: One end of the tube to be fitted with a hardened steel cutter or drift (Fig. 3)
which cutter is to gradually increase from a point upwards for a length of 24 inches
till it attains a diameter of 2 inches in excess of the outside diameter of the tube to
which it is fixed.
Strips of steel to be called the protectors or guards (Fig. 4) ascending the tube
from the summit of the cutter or drift obliquely will efficiently protect the aforesaid
holes from becoming closed and also guard the injector from receiving any check in
its passage downwards (see note B).
The protectors or guards formed of steel 3" x 3" are to be shrunk on or fixed in
any other approved manner.
The injector is to have a proper screw-connection (Fig. 5) or other approved
fastening to attach other lengths of tube, 4 feet in length (see note C) of the same
internal diameter as the injector but not pierced with holes and without the
aforesaid guards or protectors, the connection on the injector to be also suited to
receive a proper connection conducting water, steam, or other vapour from the source
of supply.
The aforesaid extra lengths of tube to be fitted with the same connection as the
injector to receive the connection conducting water, steam or other vapour from the
source of supply.
Note A These dimensions are given as an example, but the injector is to be
constructed of tubes either smaller and a larger in diameter than the example
given, the exact size to be determined by the purpose for which the injector is
intended.
Note B-These protectors rising obliquely on the injector would save the injector
from being stopped or caught by any impediment that might project after the cutter
has passed.
Note C-These lengths of tube would be of the same internal and external
diameter as the injector and being fitted with the same screw connection or
approved fastening, a sufficient length could be attached to the injector to enable
the apparatus to reach the presumed seat of the fire.
MODE OF PUTTING THE INJECTOR IN ACTION.
The working of the apparatus for example, in the event of a fire in the hold
of a steam ship, consists in placing the injector cutter end downwards, without
removing the hatches more than would be necessary to insert the point of the
injector, over the presumed seat of the fire (see note D) and then driving the injector
into the interior of the cargo by means of a power to be obtained by a modification
of the pile driving apparatus (see note E) when the injector is thought to be driven
a sufficient depth into the interior of the cargo to reach the fire, the means of
extinction, under pressure, as steam from the boilers, water from the pumps, is applied
to the injector.
Note D-The fire could be reached in any part of the holds by cutting a hole
in the deck to insert the injector, over the seat of the fire.
Note E-This would consist of providing a length of tube to place in the mouth
of the injector to act as a guide; a heavy monkey constructed to allow the afore-
said guide to pass freely through its centre also a cap or cover properly constructed
to protect the head of the injector from damage when being driven; the fittings of
ship, as winches, windlass &c., would supply the necessary power to raise the monkey
to drive the injector downwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Simplicity of construction and few parts, therefore is not liable to be useless,
when occasion arises to nut it in nation live hoing out of anda L
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page_text: 2. Always ready for the purpose intended and does not require any special and
particular knowledge to use it in an efficient manner.
3. Perfect and sure in its action, the means of extinction being injected directly
into the fire will most effectually quench combustion.
Dated this 1st day of December 1890.
LEWIS JOHN MAYER.