IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Kenyon and James Kenyon, both of Black-
burn, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinners, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE."
Sealed the 2nd June 1876, and dated the 29th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Kenyon and
James Kenyon at the Ollice of the Commissioners of Patents on the .29th
March 1876.
JOHN HENRY KENYON and JAMES KENYON, both of Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Spinners. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING
FIRE."
Our Invention consists of a series of pipes or other apparatus running in the
required directions in the rooms or apartinents of buildings, or of ships, or other
structures, or in mines. At suitable parts of the apparatus are placed cocks or
taps, to which flexible or other piping is attached. These cocks or taps can he
used immediately in case of fire; also at suitable parts of the apparatus are self-
acting nozzles or perforated portions, which can be stopped by soft metal, india-
rubber, tallow, canvas, rosin, pitch band, or other suitable material capable of being
easily melted or consumed by the action of the fire. Such nozzles or perforated
portions would act by self-acting means for extinguishing the fire. Or short lead
pipes may be placed at certain distances, which would be melted by the action of
the heat, thus having a similar effect in extinguishing the fire.
This apparatus can be charged with carbonic acid gas and water, or other
suitable gases or liquids, or it may be connected to the water mains, or to pipes
from the steam boilers, or engine, or cistern, or to any other convenient source from
which the requisite pressure and supply can be obtained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Henry Kenyon and James Kenyon in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th September 1876.
JOHN HENRY KENYON and JAMES KENYON, both of Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Spinners. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING
FIRE."
Our Invention consists in the application of a series of pipes or other apparatus
running in the required directions in the rooms or apartments of buildings, or of
ships or other structures, or in mines. At suitable parts of the apparatus are placed
cocks or taps, to which flexible or other piping is attached; these cocks or taps can
be used immediately in case of fire. Also at suitable parts of the apparatus are
self-acting nozzles or perforated portions, which can be stopped by soft metal, india-
rubber, tallow, canvas, rosin, pitch band, or other suitable material capable of being
easily melted or consumed by the action of the fire; such nozzles or perforated
portions would act by self-acting means for extinguishing the fire. Or short lead
pipes may be placed at certain distances, which would be melted by the action of
the heat, thus having a similar effect in extinguishing the fire.
This apparatus can be charged with carbonic acid gas and water, or other suitable
gases or liquids; or it may be connected to the water mains or to pipes from the
steam boiler or engine, or cistern, or to any other convenient source from which the
requisite pressure and supply can be obtained.
And in order that our Invention may be more fully understood, we will proceed
to describe the two accompanying Sheets of Drawings.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 represents a sectional clevation of a cotton mill to which our
improved fire extinguishing apparatus is applied. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and
Fig. 3 is a detached view drawn full size of part of the same.
On Sheet 2, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of Figs. 1 and 2. a is a
vertical pipe passing through all the floors of the mill; this pipe is supplied with
water, or a mixture of carbonic acid gas and water, or other suitable gases or liquids,
through the supply pipe b, which is furnished with a shut-off valve. It is evident
that the pipe b may be connected to the water mains, or to pipes from the steam
boiler or engines, or to a cistern, or to any other convenient source from which the
requisite pressure and supply can be obtained. The branch pipe b is for attaching
the hose pipe of fire engines to, or for discharging the contents of the distribution
pipes when required. To the vertical pipe a are connected the horizontal pipes c.
In a cotton mill we find it sufficient to have a single pipe c running along the
centre of all the rooms excepting in the top room, in which we recommend the use
of three pipes c, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 4; and these pipes should be placed a little
above the highest part of the machines, as shewn in Fig. 1, and also at sufficient
height for not interfering with the operatives. To one or more of the top row of
pipes c are connected the vertical pipes d, which descend through all the floors of
the mill, and to which are connected the flexible or other pipes e, each of which is
provided with a tap and nozzle. To the pipes c or d are connected the cross hori-
zontal pipes, to which the self-acting nozzles g are attached. These nozzles g are
shewn full size in Fig. 3, and they are attached at each end of the pipes f, and at
as many intermediate places as may be found requisite. These self-acting nozzles
are or may be placed in any parts of the pipes c and d. The lower part of the
nozzle consists of two discs connected by stays, and the lower disc is provided with
fine perforations. The space between the discs is filled with soft metal, india-rubber,
tallow, canvas, rosin, pitch band, or other suitable material or combination of
materials capable of being easily melted or consumed by the action of the fire or
heat. When the water or steam issues from the nozzles it is distributed in the form
of spray or steam into the room. The dotted lines in Fig. 4 represent the action of
the nozzles when a fire breaks out in a mill and when the heat is sufficient to melt
the materials between the discs.
Instead of the self-acting nozzles above described, or in addition thereto, we also

page_text: propose to apply short lead or other soft metal pipes in parts of the main or other
pipes, which would be melted by the action of the fire, and would thus discharge
the water or steam into the room.
Although we have only shewn the application of our improved apparatus for
extinguishing fire to a mill, it is evident that the apparatus may be modified
to suit the rooms of any other building, and to ships or other structures, and to
mines.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described a convenient mode
of carrying the same into operation, we wish it to be understood that we do not
intend to limit ourselves to the details given, as the same must be varied to suit the
particular purpose to which our Invention is applied.
We claim--
First. The general arrangement of the apparatus for extinguishing fire, consisting
of vertical, longitudinal, and transverse pipes, as shewn and described.
Secondly. The application of the flexible pipes with nozzles, marked c, in various
parts of the building or other structure or mine, as shewn and described.
And lastly. The application of the self-acting nozzles g, or of pipes made of lead
other soft metal, in various parts of the building or other structure or mine, as
shewn and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Henry Kenyon and James Kenyon,
have hereto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-sixth day of September,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOHN H. KENYON.
JAMES KENYON.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)