A Method of and Apparatus for Saving Life from Fire.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 16th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Saving Life from Fire.
I. JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the Complete Specification accompanying my Letters Patent No. 3031 of the
year 1888, hereinafter referred to as my previous specification, I have described
means of saving life from fire by the action of electricity. My present invention
relates to improvements in the same.
In the drawings accompanying my said previous Specification I show a certain type
of electromotor as serving to operate releasing devices, the electric current actuating
the electromotors by energising their electromagnets. In my present invention,
which has the same objects as my said previous one, I employ the electric current not
to energise electromagnets but to develope heat and I utilise this heat, by causing
expansion, fusion or ignition of a suitable body, to operate the releasing devices
employed.
As an example of the means for employing expansion, I may cite the direct
expansion of a metal rod forming part of the electric circuit, or the expansion of a
fluid in an expansible or movable vessel in which is a heating resistance forming part
of the electric circuit. As an example of the means of employing fusion I cite
may
the melting of a fusible wire forming part of the circuit or of a fusible body in
proximity to a heating resistance forming part of the circuit. As an example of the
means for utilising ignition 1 may mention electric exploders or detonators by which
a suitable substance is ignited by a heating resistance or a spark.
may so construct and arrange ny apparatus as to render it capable of being
operated by hand as well as automatically by means of electricity.
In conjunction with my apparatus above referred to I may employ any convenient
form of electric alarm or signalling device.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Saving Life from Fire.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer, 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 :-
In the Complete Specification accompanying my Letters Patent No. 3031 of the
year 1888, hereinafter referred to as my previous specification, 1 have described means
of saving life from fire by the action of electricity. My present invention relates to
improvements in the same.
In the drawings accompanying my said previous specification I show a certain type
of electromotor as serving to operate releasing devices the electric current actuating
the electromotors by energising their electromagnets. In my present invention which
has the same objects as my said previous one I employ the electric current not to
energise electromagnets but to develope heat and I utilise this heat by causing
expansion fusion or ignition of a suitable body to operate the releasing devices
employed.
Having thus described in general language the nature and object of my invention
and so defined its scope I shall now proceed to explain in sufficient detail one or more
ways in which it may be performed or carried into effect and in order that this more
י

page_text: detailed description may be more readily understood I have annexed hereunto sheets
of drawings illustrative of my invention and have inserted in the same figures and
letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation. In these
drawings similar letters of reference apply to parts similar or equivalent to those shown
in the drawings accompanying my said previous Specification.
In
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one form of my invention corresponding
with that shown in Figure 1 of my said previous Specification but differing therefrom
in that instead of an electro-magnetic motor an expansion device is employed.
this figure H is a source or reservoir of electric energy of any convenient type such
for example as a few Leclanché cells and B an automatic contact or thermostat of any
suitable form such for example as the form described in my said previous specification
when referring to Figure 1. J is the expansion device consisting is this case of a thin
platinum wire passing from a fixed point of support on one of the insulated pulleys "
over pulley thence over another pair of pulleys behind 1 and 2 to pulley ¹³ over
which it passes to the fixed point j on the weighted arm of the bend lever ¹³. The
other arm of this lever is hooked or headed as shown in order to act as a detent to the
lever from which is hung the weight M. The action is as follows. When
the temperature has risen sufficiently to cause the circuit to be completed through
the contact K the current traverses the platinum wire and heating it causes it to
expand. This expansion is taken up by the pulleys and the bent lever j¹ is allowed
to turn in the direction shown by the arrow under the influence of the weight on the
arm to which the end of the wire is attached. This movement of j¹s causes the lever j¹º
to be released and this on turning under the influence of the weight M causes the
latter to be dropped. This causes lever L to be turned to the position shown in dotted
lines when the animal is released as explained in my said previous Specification. In
practice I box in the whole of the expansion device J, except the end of j¹ on which: M
is hung, for the purpose of protecting the parts from accidental injury.
Figure 2 is an arrangement similar to that shown in Figure I except that the
expansion device instead of depending upon the expansion of a wire depends upon
the expansion of a suitable fluid in an expansible vessel in which is a heating resistance
forming part of the electric circuit. In this figure is a fixed rigid box fitted with a
flexible cover or diaphragm 18 like that of an ordinary aneroid barometer box. To js
is attached the link " which serves to move the lever 20 which latter hangs from and
centres on the support or bracket 21. The lower end of 20 is slotted or grooved to
engage a pin or projection on the weighted arm of the bent lever . The way in
which this pin or projection is engaged by the slot or groove on the lower end of 20
is better shown in Figure 2" which is a view of these parts as seen from the position
of 18. The box j" contains air or other suitable fluid and in to it the platinum heating
resistance passes in an air tight manner. The action is as follows. When the
contact K closes the circuit the current traverses the heating resistance and raises its
temperature. This rise of temperature is communicated to the fluid contents of the
box which are expanded and cause the cover 18 to bulge outwards. This movement
ofis communicated by j1 to 120 which latter is moved to the left until it no longer
embraces the pin or projection on 15. The latter being now free to turn does so in
the direction of the arrow and causes the animal to be released through the same series
of operations as in the last case.
Figure 3 diagrammatically illustrates a case which differs from those just described
in that a fusion device is employed instead of an expansion device. In this figure22
is a fusible wire say of lead or alloy one end of wbich is attached to the fixed
support and the other to the end of the lever 16 which levers differs from those 5
shown as in Figures 1 and 2 only in that it carries a weight 25 in order to lessen
the strain on the wire. The action is as follows. The circuit being closed_as
hereinbefore mentioned the current traverses the fusible wire and melts it. The
lever being no longer held in position turns round in the direction of the arrow
and the animal is released by the same series of operations as in the other cases 5
described.
Figure 4 illustrates a form of my invention in which an ignition device is employed.

page_text: This ignition device J consists of a glass vessel 26 suspended from a fixed support j
and containing an explosive charge 28 into which passes the igniting fuse From
the vessel hangs the weight M. When the circuit is completed the charge is
ignited the vessel burst and the weight dropped so as to release the animal as before.
Figure 5 illustrates another case in which an ignition device is employed but this
differs from that shown in Figure 4 in that the explosion acts directly on the lever L.
This lever has the weight M at its free end and beside this and on its upper surface the
cup 30. This cup covers the lower extremity of the strong steel chamber j" which
contains the explosive charge and which is rigidly fixed to a wall or strong support.
To L is attached the claw which embraces the pin 13 attached to the wall or other
strong support. This pin is made of such strength as to sustain the lever Land
weight M against any ordinary concussion. When the circuit is completed the
charge is exploded by the passage of the current through the igniting fuse 20 and
the shock causes the pin 13 to be sheared by 12 and the lever to be driven into the
position of the dotted lines.
Figure 6 illustrates the application of the fusion device shown in Figure 3 to the
case illustrated in Figure 5 of my said former Specification. The chain by which the
weight M is attached to the lever which operates the bolt or detent is sufficiently
long to allow of the door being opened at will by pulling the handled chain or cord r
without disturbing J.
Figure 7 illustrates the application of the same fusion device to the case illustrated
by Figure 6 of my said former specification.
It will be obvious that the expansion of a metal rod might be employed instead of
the expansion of the thin wire as shown in Figure 1; that instead of fusing a wire
forming part of the circuit as in Figure 3 any fusible body melted by a contiguous
heating resistance might be employed; and that instead of igniting an explosive charge
I might ignite a combustible cord or the like. Such modifications are self evident.
I do not limit myself to the forms of expansion fusion or ignition devices illustrated.
These are shown merely as types or examples and any competent engineer could vary
them to an indefinite extent without departing from my invention.
It will be seen that in conjunction with the fusion and ignition devices shown no
auxiliary contacts are required as the circuit is broken without them.
In some cases I employ in order to close the circuit an ordinary hand circuit closing
device such as one of the usual forms of push or switch. When I employ such a hand
device I prefer of course to do so in conjunction with the automatic device herein before
set forth connecting up the two in the circuit in multiple arc.
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. The method of saving life from fire substantially as set forth and which consists
in employing an electric current to develope heat in an expansion fusion or ignition
device so as to produce movement of the said device and thereby enable it to operate
an animal releasing device for the purpose of setting the animal or animals free.
2. For the purposes herein set forth the combination (either with or without an
auxiliary contact) of a source or reservoir of electrical energy a circuit closing device
an animal releasing device and an expansion device.
3. For the purposes herein set forth the combination (either with or without an
auxiliary contact) of a source or reservoir of electrical energy a circuit closing device
an animal releasing device and a fusion device.
4. For the purposes herein set forth the combination (either with or without an
auxiliary contact) of a source or reservoir of electrical energy a circuit closing device
an animal releasing device and an ignition device.
Dated this 16th day of August 1890
J. G. LORRAIN.