Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers for the Extinction of Fires.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers for the Extinction of Fires.
GEORGE WYNDHAM EDWARDS Ardgowan Connaught Road Harlesden,
Middlesex Engineer LEOLINE ARTHUR EDWARDS, 4 Mexfield Road Putney
Surrey, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
$
The body of sprinkler is made of brass or other material inside of this body is
mounted on a V joint a cylinder carrying four arms and in the centre of cylinder
is contained a hollow ball valve made of india rubber or other material mounted on
a hollow stem with an aperture leading into ball which is filled under pressure with
water air or other substance causing it to expand and making a perfectly tight
joint in cylinder the spindle of valve being carried through base of revolving arms
and closed with a plug of fusible metal the revolving arms are perforated to allow
water to pass on a fire occurring the fusible metal melts allowing the water to escape
causing the ball to collapse and drop into a recess leaving a clear passage for the
water which in escaping through the perforated holes rapidly rotates the cylinder
throwing a spray upon the fire beneath.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of June 1892.
GEORGE WYNDHAM EDWARDS.
LEOLINE ARTHUR EDWARDS.
Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers for the Extinction of Fires.
We,
GEORGE WYNDHAM EDWARDS Ardgowan, Connaught Road, Harlesden
Middlesex, Engineer, and LEOLINE ARTHUR EDWARDS, 4 Mexfield Road,
Putney, Surrey 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:—
This invention for improvements in automatic sprinklers for the extinction of
fires has for its object to provide an apparatus or appliance more especially
applicable for buildings such as textile and other manufactories and which on the
occurence of a fire near it shall be automatically put into operation to discharge a
shower of water on the burning material and extinguish the fire; and consists
essentially of a flexible valve whose casing is connected to a water pipe and so
arranged and constructed that when the surrounding atmosphere reaches a
temperature above a given height, a fusible plug or other connection is melted,
which causes the flexible valve to collapse and be removed and thus permit of the
discharge of the water amongst the burning material.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings:
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of an automatic rotary sprinkler constructed
according to this invention, the rotary arm being shown as broken to economize
space.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the plane X X in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the same and Figure 4 is an elevation of a form of
fixed sprinkler constructed according to this invention.

page_text: Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the body or casing a is connected by a screw
threaded end to a socket or Tc forming part of the water supply pipe, its lower
part being formed with a cylindrical part d having perforations e collar and screw
threaded end on which is secured the socket g of the hollow bulb or rose provided
with perforations i.
On the cylindrical part d and fitting loosely between the collar and socket end
is a recessed or channelled ring into which are secured tubular arms m perforated
with boles n each set following the other, that is to say, the holes are in corre-
sponding sides in all the arms as is clearly shown.
The controlling valve comprises a hollow globular shell o of india rubber or other
elastic material secured between collars p and nuts q on a tuber whose interior is
connected with the interior of the said valve o by the openings 8, or in other
suitable manner.
?"
The lower extremity of the tube 7 is closed by a plug t of fusible metal and is
surrounded by a tube » connected to the rose or bulb h and is provided with
openings w to permit of the heated gases having access to the tuber and fusible
metal t.
2'
The tube and valve o being placed in position and the lower extremity of the
tube closed by the plug t of fusible metal, the upper extremity of the tube is then
connected to some source of fluid pressure by means of which the elastic valve o is
inflated until a secure joint is formed between it and the body or casing a as shown.
The upper extremity of the tube is then closed, as for example, by pinching it
together in the manner shown while in connection with the source of pressure or
other means. The end of the casing is then screwed into the socket c of the
water supply pipe, the joint is then made in the usual manner and the appliance is
ready for use.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
On the occurence of a fire the atmosphere is heated and when a sufficiently high
temperature is attained the fusible metal is melted away leaving an opening in the
lower end of the tube and thus freeing the internal pressure causing the elastic
globular valve o to collapse; the external pressure of the water from the supply
pipe forces it through the cylindrical part d into the hollow bulb the water from
the supply pipe passing through the perforations e into the channelled ring along
the arms and through the perforations n, causing the arms to rapidly rotate and
discharge a shower of water to extinguish the fire. Water also passes through the
perforations in the rose bulb h.
i
In the arrangement shown in Figure 4 the rotary arms m and ring are replaced
by a channelled sleeve having a disc aa with a serrated edge ab the said channelled
sleeve being perforated by holes ac inclined upwards, so that the escaping water
impinges against the said disc and is broken into a divided spray by the said
serrations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an automatic sprinkler for the extinction of fires, a valve constructed of
elastic material secured to a tube hermetically sealed by fusible metal, the said
valve being inflated by fluid pressure to prevent the passage of water through
the valve casing until relieved of its internal pressure by the melting of the fusible
seal substantially as described.
2. The combination of the elastic valve as hereinbefore described with the
perforated rotating arms m secured to the channelled ring substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
3. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
automatic sprinkler, constructed and operating substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

page_text: 4. In an automatic sprinkler for the extinction of fires, the combination of an
elastic valve as hereinbefore described and shown with a serrated disc and channelled
sleeve having inclined discharge perforations the whole arranged and constructed
substantially as described with reference to Figure 4 of the drawings.
· Dated this 3rd day of October 1892.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.