IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STORING WATER UNDER PRESSURE, SUITABLE FOR BEING APPLIED FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES, WATERING AND CLEANING PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Carl Nicolaus Ahlström at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1877.
CARL NICOLAUS AHLSTRÖM, of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden, Sea
Captain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STORING WATER UNDER PRESSURE,
SUITABLE FOR BEING APPLIED FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES, WATERING AND CLEANING
PURPOSES."
The Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for the storage of
water under a sufficient pressure to maintain a steady jet of water, and the Invention
relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of apparatus of the
character described in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted to W. H. Phillips,
dated respectively the 5th October 1865, No. 2559, the 22nd March 1869, No. 858,
and also to John Scott, dated the 31st May 1867, No. 1614. For this purpose in
carrying out my improvements I employ a single-acting force pump fed by gravita-
tion, and encircled by an outer case which serves the double purpose of protecting
the pump cylinder, and of forming an air chamber. It is constructed in the following
manner..
There are two pieces of metal tubing the length and diameter of the outside one
depending on the quantity of water to be stored, and the diameter of the inner one
which forms the cylinder not to be larger than to enable a person by direct power
on the piston rod to effect a pressure of 120 pounds on the square inch or thereabouts,
and the length to be limited from the top to the bottom of the outside tubing.
A cover is riveted to the top part of the outside tubing, and "sweated" together
with solder. In the centre of the cover a hole is formed, in which a female screw
of metal with a flange at the bottom is inserted, and with flanges on its outside riveted
and soldered to the cover.
A bottom is riveted to the lower part of the outside tubing a little from the end
and sweated together with solder. In the centre of this bottom a hole is formed,
in which a female screw of metal is inserted, and with flanges on its outside riveted
and soldered to the bottom.
The inner tubing is mounted at each end with a metal boss. The lower boss has
a male screw cut on the outside to fit in the corresponding female screws at the
bottom of the outside tubing. The upper boss is provided with a projecting flange
to lay on the flange of the cover, and the lower boss or male screw projects a little
below the bottom.

page_text: The suction valve with its box is screwed on to the lower end of the inside tubing
or the cylinder.
The delivery valve is attached direct to the lower boss of the cylinder where a
hole is cut through the cylinder and forms an inclined frame on the outside.
The suction pipe is fastened to the suction valve box, and the suction hose inserted
through a hole in the lower end of the outside tubing below the bottom, and screwed
on to the suction pipe. The suction hose can be in one or more lengths with
universal coupling screws. A rose to prevent any other substance but water to
enter is screwed on, either to the end of the suction hose, or to the suction pipe
direct.
The delivery pipe is fastened to a flange, which right before the delivery hole is
riveted and soldered to the outside tubing close to the bottom. It is provided with
a valve, to which a handle is attached for turning the water off or on. At the exit
of this pipe is a male screw cut on the outside, to which the delivery hose is screwed
The delivery hose can also be in one or moro lengths, with universal
coupling screws. A nozzle of suitable size is screwed on to the end of the
delivery hose, which also can be changed to a spreading nozzle, according to the
work the apparatus is used for.
on.
The piston is either made of metal alone, or metal with leather cups, and the
piston rod of steel or brass tubing. The handle at the top of the piston rod is made
of wood.
A guide for the piston rod is formed by a little cover, which is screwed into the
female screw at the top part, which also keeps the flange of the upper boss of the
cylinder in its place.
A pressure gauge is screwed on to the top of the outside tubing, in order to ascer-
tain and regulate the pressure in the air chamber.
A rope or leather strap is fastened around the outside of the outside tubing, in
order to enable a person to carry the apparatus upon his back.
The apparatus can be applied for various purposes, such as extinguishing fires, for
watering and cleaning purposes, and is worked in the following manner.
The valve at the delivery pipe is to be closed, and the pump set in motion without
any water supply until the pressure gauge shows a pressure of about 18 or 20 pounds
to the square inch; then the suction hose is put into the water, and the working of
the pump continued, when the delivery passage can be opened, and the apparatus
will throw a good jet of water. The pump may be worked up till, but not beyond:
a pressure of 100 pounds to the square inch.
When the apparatus is adapted solely for fire extinguishing, a certain quantity of
water can always be kept ready stored in the same, under sufficient pressure, with
the valve at the delivery pipe closed, introduced in the way just described.