Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 26th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 27th Apr., 1889
1 OCTAVIUS PIERCE Manufacturer of Chicago, State of Illinois, United States of
America, 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 has relation to fire extinguishing apparatus.
The invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims,
when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus, showing the reservoir in
vertical section, so as to more fully illustrate the chemical holders and means for
breaking the same and
Figure 2, is a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle with the attachments in
position.
Referring by letter to said drawings;
A indicates a steel tank or reservoir, which is designed to contain an extinguishing
medium, such as chemicals, water, or the like. Within this reservoir is vertically
arranged a guide frame composed of wires a, and which are designed to serve the
additional function of holding glass jars or bottles containing chemicals. These
bottles or jars are arranged one above another, so that when the weight (which will
be presently described) has been allowed to fall it will destroy all of the holders
containing the chemicals, thereby mixing the chemicals and generating gases, which,
with the liquid portion, are forcibly expelled from the said reservoir through the
discharge nozzle.
B, indicates the weight, which is designed to move vertically and be guided in the

page_text: frame a.
This weight is of a form substantially as shown, being pointed downwardly
or tapered, so that easily it may break the bottles containing the chemicals when it
has been allowed to fall. This weight is provided with a groove b, to receive a rod C₂
whereby it is held in an elevated position within guide frame. The rod C, is designed
to reciprocate through an aperture in the tank or reservoir A, and is connected at its
outer end with an angular lever D, which latter is pivoted in a fulcrum E, extending
from the side of the reservoir, and extending from the lower branch of this angular
lever is a pull rope or cord F, which is carried off and attached to the devices at
the spray nozzle, as will be hereinafter fully described.
Connected with the lower portion of the tank or reservoir is a discharge pipe G,
provided with a regulating cock as shown, and this discharge pipe is connected with
a nozzle or a suitable number of nozzles designed to spray.
In the present illustration of my invention I have shown but one nozzle attached to
the discharge pipe; but it is obvious that any suitable number may be employed.
These nozzles are of a peculiar construction, and, as they are all similar, a description
of one will be sufficient.
Referring to the details of construction, H, indicates the body of the. nozzle, which
is provided with a discharge branch I, and a longitudinal internal recess or valve
chamber J, which latter is provided with an aperture d, for the passage of the valve
rod L. This valve rod is provided with an elastic ball valve on its upper end, and the
upper portion of the valve chamber is contracted, so that when the said rod has been
lifted the valve will be seated in a sealed manner.
K, indicates a lever, which is pivoted to the discharge nozzle adjacent to its
mouth as shown at e.
Within the nozzle is a piece n. This piece n, has loosely connected with it within
the discharge nozzle a deflector or spray plate M, and the outer end of the lever K is
normally secured to the body of the valve by means of an arm f, secured by a fusible
joint g. This lever carries a set screw N, which is designed to bear against the lower
end of the valve rod L, so that the said valve may be adjusted in its seat.
The pull rope F, which leads from the weight tripping device at the tank reservoir,
is also attached to the outer end of the lever K, and has secured to it a weight P,
which is held in a depending manner, and the action of which is to open the valve
when the joint as before described, has been severed by fusion. It is obvious that by
the employment of this set screw N, the valve may be tightened or loosened in its
seat without disconnecting any of the other parts.
h, indicates a hose reel, which is designed to hold a hose in close relation to the
tank whereby it may be readily attached as will be next explained.
R, indicates a discharge pipe arranged in the lower portion of the tank or reservoir
and provided with a dock, as shown, whereby the liquid or gas will be allowed to
discharge and connected with this discharge pipe in one end of the hose S.
I design placing a tea lead seat in each of the discharge pipes G and R, between
the tank and the shut off cocks being put in the end of the cock and screwed in
place on the connection next the tank. This prevents the chemicals from escaping
and leaves the pipe entirely free from all water or chemicals. The seat will be blown
from its position at a pressure of fifty pounds so that when the machine goes off
pressure is retained up to fifty pounds and then the valve opens. This serves, a
double purpose. It retains pressure until the chemicals have time to thoroughly
mingle, and also keeps the pipe dry and makes the steel tank air tight.
In operation it will be seen that when fire takes place in a structure provided with
my apparatus and the heat becomes sufficiently great to fuse the joint g,
the pivoted
lever K, through the action of the weight P, will be drawn down, when the same will
act simultaneously, remove the valve from its seat and pull the cord f, thereby acting
upon the angle lever D, disconnecting the rod C from the weight B, and allowing the
latter to fall upon the bottles containing the chemicals. The chemicals are thereby
mixed and caused to generate gas, which is forcibly discharged from the reservoir
through the discharge or spray nozzles. It should be observed, however, that the
cock at the discharge pipe should be first opened.

page_text: By this construction it will be observed that the water or extinguishing medium
may be taken from the reservoir through the discharge pipe R, without a fire coming
near the fusible joint, in the latter case the cock at such point being turned on, when
the hose can be used in the ordinary manner.
The bottles containing the chemicals are hermetically sealed, so that their usefulness
is not impaired so long as the bottles remain unbroken.
Having described my invention, what I claim is ;
1st. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination, with a reservoir for holding
chemicals, of the discharge pipe leading therefrom, a weight suspended within the
reservoir, the nozzle H, secured to the discharge pipe, the lever K, pivoted at one end
to the nozzle, the opposite end of the said lever being secured by a fusible joint g, to
the body of the nozzle, and also having a weight secured thereto, the valve arranged
in the nozzle and having its rod secured so the pivoted lever, and the rope F, leading
from the weight supporting and tripping device at the reservoir to the free end of the
lever K, substantially as specified.
2d. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of the reservoir having the
guides a therein to receive chemical holders and guide a weight, the weight B,
arranged in the said guides, the reciprocating rod C, adapted to engage and
normally sustain the weight, the angle lever D, pivotally connected at one end to the
reciprocating rod, and a rope F, secured to its opposite end, whereby the drawing
of the cord will precipitate the weight upon the chemical holders, substantially as
specified.
3d. The fire extinguishing apparatus described, comprising a tank or reservoir
having a guide frame therein, a weight arranged in said frame, a reciprocating rod
adapted to engage the weight, an angle lever for reciprocating the rod, an operating
rope or wire connected with the said angle lever and carrying a weight on its
opposite end, a spray nozzle connected with the tank, a valve in the nozzle, the
valve lever, a screw in said lever bearing against the valve rod, and the said weighted
cord connected with the outer end of the lever, substantially as described.
4th. The fire extinguishing apparatus, described, comprising the tank or reservoir
having a guide frame therein, a weight arranged in the said frame, a reciprocating
rod adapted to engage the weight, an angle lever for reciprocating the rod, an
operating rope or wire connected with the said angle lever and carrying a weight on
its opposite end, a spray nozzle connected with the tank, a lever pivoted to the
nozzle, a valve in the nozzle, a screw in said lever bearing against the valve rod, and
the said weighted cord connected with the outer end of the lever, and a discharge
pipe in the tank adapted to receive a hose and provided with a cock, substantially as
specified.
3000