Improvements in Fire Extinguishers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb.,
1893
Improvements in Fire Extinguishers.
I, THOMAS FRANCIS HANDLY a citizen of the United States, residing at
Allegheny, in the County of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America Travelling Salesman, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved automatic operating fire extinguisher, and
consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts as will be fully
described hereinafter.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure is a side elevation of my improved automatic fire extinguisher, which is
constructed in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of my improved fire
extinguisher, showing the bottle or means for introducing the chemicals into the
water.
:
To construct a fire extinguisher in accordance with my invention, I provide a
cylindrical shaped vessel 1, of a suitable size: and form of construction, having a
rounded interior base 16, and a rounded top fitted with a cap 3. Attached to this
vessel 1 below the centre is a band 2 for the purpose of connecting thereto the bail
or handle 8 in such a manner that when the apparatus is lifted by the said handle 8
the same will reverse or turn bottom upwards, as the centre of gravity is above the
band 2. Attached at suitable points near the base of the apparatus are spring
clips 18, which when the extinguisher reverses itself grips the bail 8 and confines
the same therein until released by pressing the springs inward. Attached to the
cap 3, and projecting downwardly is a wire cage 4 capable of containing a bottle 5
in which is placed sulphuric acid. This bottle is provided with a loose stopper 6
formed of a heavy metal, and having an elongated tapering portion projecting into
the mouth of the bottle, so that when the apparatus is reversed, the contents of the
bottle will have free passage from the saine, and the stopper 6 will still remain
inserted in the mouth of the bottle. Connected to the top of the extinguisher is a
short rubber hose 7, provided with a nozzle. This hose when not in use is held to
the side of the apparatus by means of spring clips 17 secured near the base of the
Bame. Attached to this hose is a plate 9 to which is pivoted a lever 11, having an
upwardly projecting portion 13, which when pressed against the hose closes the
same against a widened portion of the plate 9 and prevents the escape of the liquid
from the interior of the apparatus, and thereby acts as a shut off or valve. This
lever 11 may be held in close contact with the hose 7, by engaging a hook 14 with
a small projecting pin 15 formed on the said lever.
In operation, water mixed with bicarbonate of soda is introduced into the
apparatus through the opening at the top by removing the cap 3, and the bottle
and said cap replaced in position, which renders the apparatus ready for use.
Should a fire occur the extinguisher is lifted from its stand by the bail 8, and as
the centre of gravity is above the connection with the body of the apparatus, the
same reverses itself, which will cause the stopper to move partly out of the mouth
of the bottle 5 until stopped by contact with the interior of the cap 3, thereby
permitting the acid in the bottle to mingle with the water and bicarbonate of soda,
which generates a gas pressure within the apparatus for a purpose well known to
When the apparatus has thus been reversed the bail 8 engages with the
spring clips 18 and makes the same rigid with the body of the apparatus, and
renders the same easy to handle. To shut off the flow from the hose it is only
the art.

page_text: necessary to press the lever 13, towards the plate 9 and if desired engage the
hook 14 with the pin 15.
In my device there are no valves, cocks, or other moving parts to become
corroded by the non use of the extinguisher, and the apparatus is entirely
automatic in its operation, the same being made active directly it is lifted from
the ground and it gives notice of its successful working by projecting a stream
of liquid immediately it is reversed by lifting the extinguisher by the bail or
handle. This advantage of the immediate operation without manipulation of
valves or cocks is of vast importance when the apparatus is to be handled by
inexperienced or ignorant workmen about public works or buildings.
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 In a fire extinguisher, the combination with the receptacle 1, designed to be
inverted for use and a hose connected with said receptacle, of an acid receptacle
supported within said receptacle near the top thereof and a stopper for said acid
receptacle, said stopper having a projection extending within the acid receptacle,
and of a greater length than the distance between the top of said acid receptacle
and adjacent wall of the receptacle 1, as and for the purpose described.
2-In an apparatus for the purpose described, the combination consisting of
the receptacle 1, having a bail pivoted below the centre of gravity of the same,
an acid bottle attached in the interior of the apparatus having a heavy elongated
stopper capable of being moved partly from the mouth of the bottle by gravity,
a means of making the bail rigid with the body of the apparatus when the same
has been reversed, a hose connected with the fire extinguisher and a means for
closing the same by compression, substantially as described.
Dated at Pittsburg, Pa., this 5th day of September 1892.
Witnesses:
M. E. HARRISON.
J. A. HERRON,
THOMAS F. HANDLY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant....