IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN SHIPS, HOUSES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Phineas Lawrence at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th.
March 1874.
I, PHINEAS LAWRENCE, of Union Bank Buildings, Holborn Circus,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR MEANS OF
AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN SHIPS, HOUSES, AND OTHER
STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the construction and application of
apparatus in such manner as to facilitate and expedite the reduction or
extinguishing of fires in ships, houses, and other structures.
According to my Invention the inconvenience and evils resulting from
the use of hose is in many cases avoided, and permanent arrangements
are made, as herein-after described, to obtain a copious supply of water
with rapidity, which can be admitted to any desired part of the ship,
house, or structure.
.
For houses, public buildings, and other structures I form or fit within
or adiacent to the walls of the hours on buil

page_text: or waterways, which when opened can be made to communicate with a
pump, engine, tank, or other water supply, and they lead into cornices,
ceilings, or other parts or fittings of the building through branches or
otherwise, so that water may be readily and rapidly conveyed and
discharged copiously through them into the interior of rooms or other 5
portions of the building. The waterways are kept closed when not
required by cocks, valves, plugs, or other easily. adjustable and con-
trollable appliances.
The pipes, passages, or waterways, where presented to view, may be.
made highly ornamental or decorative, so as to embellish: the room or 1
place in which they are fitted. They may be fixed in place during the
erection of the structure to which they are applied. The same arrange-
ment may be applied to ships and other floating structures.
In ships and other floating vessels if a fire should occur great time is
lost by using the ordinary pumps, and they are often ineffectual, whereas ]
according to my Invention I form or fit one, two, or any number of
pipes, passages, or waterways, in or on the body of the ship, opening at
the lower end at the outside of the hull so as to communicate with the
water in which the vessel floats,, while at their upper ends these pipes
open into the hold or on the deck, or in any desirable part of the s
vessel.
The waterways are so disposed that in whichever direction of motion
the vessel is moving, or even when at anchor, water shall rush up them
with velocity when they are open below the water line.
It is usually
advisable to provide two sets, one set inclined or curved in a direction
towards the bow, and the other set in an opposite direction or towards'
the stern.
When not required for use the ends of these water passages are firmly
closed by plugs, valves, or other stoppers, which are actuated from the
deck or other suitable or convenient part of the ship or vessel. The
stopper at the lower end may with advantage be of concave form and
hinged to open outward. It may be opened and closed by a rod passing.
through guides and terminating in a handle or other appliance for:
working it from the deck or elsewhere. The waterway, should have a
stop-cock at top. There may be branch pipes leading from one or more
main waterways, and communicating with any desired part of the vessel.
There should be a grid, grating, or perforated plate at or near the bottom

page_text: to prevent the passage of seaweed, fish, or other obstructions; pumps on
the deck or elsewhere are connected in such position as to force a flow of
water outward.
Pumps or engines may be caused to communicate with pipes, passages,
or permanent waterways, constructed and arranged as above described
so that water can be obtained and discharged with great velocity and
volume.
Pumps may be used to clear the waterways or for auxiliary purposes
in cases of need, being caused to communicate with the main passages.
Passages are provided in the ironwork, ceilings, or other portions of the
vessel, so that water can be showered or poured down copiously as
required.