Improvements in Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
A communication from GUSTAVE BERNHEIM, of 27, Rue du Pont Neuf, Rheims,
in the Republic of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct an improved fire-extinguishing
apparatus, extremely simple in its arrangement, and capable of being charged at
the very moment when it is to be used, in such a manner that the charge of acid,
which remains in the interior of the apparatus while at rest, is caused by the
operation of a screw, as hereinafter described, to come into contact with bicar-
bonate of soda; the operation of the said screw resulting in a cut being made
in the bottom of the acid chamber by means of a knife or cutter, sccured within
the chamber and moving in a direction opposite to that of the upper screw.
66
It is intended to introduce this fire-extinguisher under the name of the
Simplex."
The improved fire-extinguisher consists of a body or case of sheet metal (copper
or the like) preferably cylindrical in shape and of any suitable size. At its
lower part which is slightly convex, there is provided a central perforation which
is kept tightly closed by means of a screw carrying a cap. Within this screw is
securely fitted a rigid rod extending to a distance of about two-thirds of the
cylinder in the vertical direction. The rod may be removed from the capped
screw by means of a nut retained in position by a screw and its head. The upper
portion of the rod is supported by a metal cross-piece projecting from the two
opposite sides of the cylinder, and terminating at the top in a tube having a sharp
helical cutting edge. The arrangement of this tubular cutter, which is one of the
essential features of this invention, may vary to suit the shape and construction of
the acid reservoir or chamber more fully described further on.
The upper part of the cylinder is closed by a funnel-shaped orifice in the centre
of which is a cylindrical opening of a diameter one-third that of the cylinder and
within this opening is secured a screw-threaded ring into which is screwed the acid
chamber or reservoir. Within the extinguisher there is also arranged a tube
reaching to the bottom of the apparatus secured to one side thereof, and projecting
from the upper part. This arrangement prevents the contents of the cylinder from
escaping through any accidental leakage and also prevents any clogging or
obstruction of the apparatus.
The reservoir or chamber which is to contain the charge of acid and whose
upper part forms a nut, consists of a metal cylinder and is cast or otherwise formed
of a compound of lead copper or other suitable metai. Its depth and diameter may
vary at will though the diameter should always be less than that of the upper
orifice of the apparatus. This metal cylinder at its lower part terminates in a lid
or cover or thin metal plate tightly fitted upon the flanges of the cylinder by means
of a metal ring screwed, like a nut, upon the lower part of the metal cylinder.
The upper part is firmly fitted within the nut.
When the vessel is filled with the solution of bicarbonate of soda, and the rod of
the circular cutter or cutting plunger adjusted in position by means of the capped
Screw, which at the same time tightly closes the orifice opposite, the acid reservoir
is filled with acid, and closed by means of the thin metal plate and ring. The
reservoir is then inserted into the apparatus i.e. screwed therein the desired distance.
The depth of this reservoir and the length of the rod are so proportioned that

page_text: when the parts screw threaded ring and upper part are screwed together about
half way, the sharp edge of the cutter touches the lead bottom-plate of the
chamber.
The fire-extinguisher is then ready for use in an emergency, without any
auxiliary devices, excepting suitable pressure.
The apparatus being filled with a solution of bicarbonate of soda, which is to
produce carbonic acid, the object is to mix this liquid instantaneously with the
acid re-agent contained in the chamber or reservoir. This takes place in the most
simple and safe manner, and to fulfil this purpose, it is sufficient to screw home
the upper screw of the chamber wheu the cutter will at once cut open the thin
plate of lead or other metal, and bring the acid directly into contact with the
solution of bicarbonate of soda with which the main chamber is filled.
The circular cutting plunger mounted upon the rod may be varied in shape
according to circumstances, the main object, as will be understood, being to present
a sharp edge or point to the descending bottom-plate of the acid-chamber, so
that it is cut open and its contents instantaneously discharged into the apparatus.
The arrangement of the cock for closing the discharge pipe when the apparatus
is under pressure may also be altered if required; it may be arranged in con-
nection with the jet-tube or nozzle and at the end of a flexible pipe, the object
being to facilitate the operation of the said cock. It, however, may be arranged
if preferred upon a horizontal tube or nozzle, or between it and the flexible tube.
A pressure-gauge may be arranged upon the discharge-nozzle so as to enable
the pressure to be controlled.
The stationary cylinder of lead may be replaced by a glass bottle with two necks
turned true.
Dated this 8th day of June 1892.
ALFRED J. BOULT,
Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
A communication from GUSTAVE BERNHEIM, of 27, Rue du Pont Neuf, Rheims,
in the Republic of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent 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 :-
The object of this invention is to construct an improved fire-extinguishing
apparatus, extremely simple in its arrangement, and capable of being charged at
the very moment when it is to be used, in such a manner that the charge of acid,
which remains in the interior of the apparatus while at rest is caused by the
operation of a screw, as hereinafter described, to come into contact with bi-
carbonate of soda; the operation of the said screw resulting in a cut being made
in the bottom of the acid chamber by means of a knife or cutter, secured within
the chamber and moving in a direction opposite to that of the upper screw.
66
It is intended to introduce this fire-extinguisher under the name of the
Simplex."
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows the apparatus in a central vertical section and in real size.
Fig. 2 is a partial plan thereof, showing the external shape or outline of the
apparatus and the devices enabling it to be carried on the back by means
of straps.
Figs. 3 and 4. are detail views illustrating the arrangement and operation of
certain parts.

page_text: The improved fire extinguisher consists of a body or case A of sheet metal
(copper or the like) preferably cylindrical in shape, and of any suitable size. At
its lower part B which is slightly convex, there is provided a central perforation C,
which is kept tightly closed by means of a screw D carrying a cap.
Within this
screw D is securely fitted a rigid rod E extending to a distance of about two-thirds
of the cylinder A in the vertical direction. The rod E may be removed from the
capped screw D by means of a nut F retained in position by a screw G and its
head. The upper portion of the rod is supported by a metal cross-piece H pro-
jecting from the two opposite sides of the cylinder, and terminating at the top in
a tube having a sharp helical cutting edge (see Figs. 1 and 3). The arrange-
ment of this tubular cutter which is one of the essental features of this invention,
may vary to suit the shape and construction of the acid reservoir or chamber
(Fig. 4) more fully described further on.
The upper part of the cylinder A is closed by a funnel-shaped orifico K in the
centre of which is a cylindrical opening of a diameter one third that of the
cylinder A and within this opening is secured a screw-threaded ring L into which
is screwed the acid chamber or reservoir M. Within the extinguisher there is
also arranged a tube T reaching to the bottom of the apparatus, secured to one side
thereof, and projecting from the upper part, as shown in Fig. 1. This arrangement
prevents the contents of the cylinder A from escaping through any accidental
leakage and also prevents any clogging or obstruction of the apparatus.
The reservoir or chamber M which is to contain the charge of acid and whose
upper part forms a nut, consists of a metal cylinder M and is cast or otherwise
formed of a compound of lead, copper or other suitable metal. Its depth and
diameter may vary at will though the diameter should always be less than that of
the upper orifice of the apparatus. This metal cylinder M at its lower part
terminates in a lid or cover or thin metal plate N tightly fitted upon the flanges
of the cylinder M by means of a metal ring P screwed like a nut upon the lower
part Oof the metal cylinder. The upper part Q is firmly fitted within the
nut L.
When the vessel A is filled with the solution of bicarbonate of soda and the rod
of the circular cutter or cutting plunger J adjusted in position by means of the
capped screw D which at the same time tightly closes the orifice opposite the acid
reservoir M is filled with acid and closed by means of the thin metal plate N and
ring P. The reservoir M is then inserted into the apparatus i.e. screwed therein
the desired distance. The depth of this reservoir and the length of the rod E are
so proportioned that when the parts L and Q are screwed together about half-
way, the sharp edge of the cutter J touches the lead bottom-plate N of the
chamber M.
The fire-extinguisher is then ready for use in an emergency without any auxiliary
devices excepting suitable pressure.
The apparatus being filled with a solution of bicarbonate of soda which is to
produce carbonic acid, the object is to mix this liquid instantaneously with the
acid re-agent contained in the chamber or reservoir M. This takes place in the
most simple and safe manner and to fulfil this purpose it is sufficient to screw home
the upper screw Q of the chamber M when the cutter will at once cut open the
thin plate N of lead or other metal and bring the acid directly into contact with
the solution of bicarbonate of soda with which the main chamber A is filled.
The circular cutting plunger J mounted upon the rod E may be varied in shape
according to circumstances. Figure 4 shows some of the modifications by way of
example; the main object as will be understood being to present a sharp edge or
point to the descending bottom-plate of the acid-chamber so that it is cut open and
its contents instantaneously discharged into the apparatus.
In Figure 4 A represents a knife with two cutting edges and a central point;
B is a tapering piece not unlike a countersink. C is a species of drill made of
wood; D is a metal bit; E F and G are treble drills for perforating wood.
It

page_text: will be seen that whatever the shape of the tool the instantaneous perforation of
the bottom of the acid reservoir is the chief object to be attained.
The arrangement of the cock U for closing the discharge-pipe T when the
apparatus is under pressure may also be altered if required. In the accompanying
drawings the cock is arranged in connection with the jet tube or nozzle and at the
end of a flexible pipe V the object being to facilitate the operation of the said
cock. It however may be arranged if preferred upon a horizontal tube or nozzle X
or between it and the flexible tube V.
The drawing also shows that a pressure-gauge may be arranged upon the
discharge-nozzle so as to enable the pressure to be controlled.
The stationary cylinder of lead may be replaced by a glass bottle with two
necks turned true.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
The improved fire-extinguishing apparatus styled "Simplex" characterized by
the arrangement of a rod such as E on which is provided a cutter J of any suitable
form, either circular or provided with points in combination with an acid chamber
or reservoir M screwed at its upper part to the centre of the vessel of the apparatus
the dimensions and respective distances of which are determined in such a manner
that when the screw of the suspension of the acid chamber is partly screwed in the
nut the cutting-edge of the knife touches the bottom of the chamber and when the
screw is entirely screwed in the nut the cutting edge has cut open the bottom and
effects the immediate discharge of the acid all substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 10th day of April 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.