IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MIXING GAS PRODUCING AGENTS, MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESSURE IN THAT CLASS OF FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENTS KNOWN AS EXTINCTORS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of Chancery Lane,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MIXING GAS PRODUCING AGENTS, MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PRESSURE IN THAT CLASS OF FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENTS
KNOWN AS EXTINCTORS ""-A communication from abroad by Bern-
6
hard Loch. of Gressen. Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd July 1875.
I, EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MIXING GAS PRODUCING AGENTS, MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE to the Develop-
MENT OF PRESSURE IN THAT CLASS OF FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENTS KNOWN AS
EXTINCTORS,' (a communication to me from abroad by Bernhard Loeb,
of Giessen, Germany,) to be as follows :―
> "
1

page_text: contact or mixed with each other so as to produce pressure within
"extinctors" or other receptacles, consists in a special mode of un-
sealing the ordinary acid bottle of "extinctors," and in the distribution
of the acid contained therein, so as to mix with the antagonistic agent,
and thus produce gas pressure within the vessel or extinctor.
According to this Invention the lower part of the acid vessel or bottle
is closed or scaled by a plate of a suitable soft metal, such as lead,
which is held against the mouth of the acid vessel by means of a box
nut, or otherwise the soft metal scal may form part of the said nut.
The central part of the acid bottle is occupied by a spear or piercer, the
lower and pointed end of which comes to within a short distance of the
said soft metal seal or plate, the said spear or piercer being enclosed
within a tube, the lower end of which is likewise closed or sealed by a
soft metal plate or nut similarly to the acid vessel or bottle
The spear
or piercer is upheld by a spring, but may be depressed and thrust.
through the aforesaid metal covers or scals by manipulating a lever
situate upon the top of the "extinctor"-or other vessel, whereby the
acid contained in the first-mentioned vessel or bottle is allowed to
escape therefrom and enter a perforated tube, which extends throughout
the length of another perforated vessel occupying the centre of the
"extinctor" or other vessel The said perforated vessel extends to
within a short distance of the bottom of the "extinctor," and at its lower
part is provided with a valve, through which it may be filled with bi-
carbonate of natron or other agent, which when brought into contact or
mixed with the acid permeating through the perforations in the inner
tube will produce gas, and consequently pressure in the "extinctor" or
vessel to which this arrangement is applied. The water or other liquid
contained in the extinctor or vessel is thus forced through any suitable
outlet or hose provided for its exit.
By the foregoing arrangement the pressure is developed gradually and
steadily, but to prevent danger from any possible sudden access of
pressure an air vessel is provided at the upper part of the extinctor or
other vessel.
The whole of the herein-before referred to apparatas may be made
removable from the extinctor or other vessel by being screwed into the
upper part thereof, and the several parts are so arrranged as to be easily
detachable one from the other. For example, to obtain the ready
removal of the lower perforated vessel or bicarbonate of natron recep-

page_text: tacle it is preferred to employ bayonet clasps, so that no time may be
lost in attaching or detaching the same when necessary
"
When the extinctor is not in use the lever by which the acid
vessel or bottle is unsealed or opened is locked by a support, so as to
prevent its depression by accidental causes, and in some cases the said
locking arrangement may have a seal affixed, so as to act as a tell-
tale when the apparatus has been interfered with by an unauthorized
operator.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 22nd January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and giant unto me, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, Пer special licence
that I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, usc,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MIXING GAS PRODUCING AGENTS, MORE
ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESSURE IN THAT CLASS OF
FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENTS KNOWN AS 'EXTINCTORS,' (a communication to
me from abroad by Bernhard Loeb, of Giessen, Germany,) upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
333

page_text: in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the samne is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification -
This Invention, which relates to an improved apparatus or arrange-
ment of the same whereby gas producing agents are brought into
contact or mixed with each other so as to produce pressure within
"-extinctors" -or- other receptacles, consists in a special mode of un-
scaling the ordinary acid bottle of " extinctors," and in the distribution
of the acid contained therein, so as to mix with the antagonistic agent,
and thus produce gas pressure within the vessel or extinctor.
According to this Invention the lower part of the acid vessel or bottle
is closed or scaled by a plate of a suitable-soft metal, such as lead, and
which is held against the mouth of the acid vessel by means of a box
nut, or otherwise the soft metal scal may form part of the said nut.
The central part of the acid bottle is occupied by a spear or piercer, the
lower and pointed end of which comes to within a short distance of the
said soft metal scal or plate, the said spear or piercer being enclosed
within a tube, the lower end of which is likewise closed or scaled by a
soft metal plate or nut similarly to the acid vessel or bottle
The spear
or piercer is upheld by a spring, but may be depressed and thrust
through the aforesaid metal covers or scals by manipulating a love
situate upon the top of the " extinctor" or other vessel, whereby the acid
contained in the first-mentioned vessel or bottle is allowed to escape
therefrom and enter a perforated tube, which extends throughout the
length of another perforated vessel occupying the centre of the "extinctor"
or other vessel. The said perforated vessel extends to within a short
distance of the bottom of the "extinctor," and at its lower part is
provided with a valve, through which it may be filled with bicarbonate
of natron or other agent, which when brought into contact or mixed
with the acid permicating through the perforations in the inner tube will
produce gas, and consequently pressure in the "extinctor" or vessel;
to which this arrangement is applied. The water or other liquid
contained in the extinctor or vessel is thus forced though any suitable
outlet or hose provided for its exit.

page_text: By the foregoing arrangement the pressure is developed gradually and
steadily, but to prevent danger from any possible sudden access of
pressure an air vessel is provided at the upper part of the extinctor or
other vessel.
The whole of the herein-before referred to apparatus may be made
removable from the extinctor or other vessel by being screwed into the
upper part thereof, and the several parts are so arranged as to be easily
detachable one from the other, for example, to obtain the ready
removal of the lower perforated vessel or bicarbonate of natron recep-
tacle it is preferred to employ bayonet clasps, so that no time may be
lost in attaching or detaching the same when necessary.
When the extinctor is not in use the lever by which the acid
vessel or bottle is unsealed or opened is locked by a support, so as to
prevent its depression by accidental causes, and in some cases the said
locking arrangement may have a seal affixed, so as to act as a tell-
tale when the apparatus has been interfered with by an unauthorized
operator.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawing is a vertical section through an
extinctor provided with this contrivance, Figures 2 and 3 are detailed
views of the interior parts,
Within the body of the extinctor A, made of steel plates covered with
lead, or made of any other suitable material, is placed the metal acid
bottle B, made of an alloy of bismuth and lead or any other suitable
material, and which is fastened by a bayonet joint to the lid D, which
latter is to be screwed on the body of the extinctor at a by means of the
two handles d, d The bottle B, which has in the interior a central
tube C, and which can be firmly closed at the end by means of a small
socket c¹ with screw and lead bottom, whilst the bottom of this bottle
may likewise be tightly closed by means of the larger socket o² and the
lead plate c³. In this way one can perfectly isolate the acid contained
in the bottle from all outward influences, which certainly offers a great
advantage as compared with all other hitherto known constructions for
the same purpose. At the socket c² there are three claws e, e, e, which
also by means of a bayonet joint hold the tube E, which is filled with
bicarbonate of natron or other gas producing salts. This tube has
inside another central tube E', also perforated and fitted with a funnel e²
at the top. The tubo E is closed below by a valve e³ in order to be able

page_text: to fill it from below. Through the lid D of the extinctor goes a tube or
pointed iron bar with the shoulder t, which is pressed against the india-
rubber plate O by means of the spiral or volute spring s, and in this
way isolates the interior from the exterior. The spiral spring & acts
against the pulley R, which by means of the lever can be pressed
down. In pressing down this pulley R by the lever / the piercer T is
also pressed down. It traverses the socket c' and lead plate c³, and
consequently opens the bottle. As soon as the pressure ceases on the
lever the spring makes the pulley R and the piercer t go up again.
The shoulder t closes up the interior by means of the plate of india-
_rubber. The acid runs out of the bottle through the funnel e³ into the
tube e¹, and goes out through its opening to the gas producing salt
which is in the tube E, so far as it is not yet dissolved, by which means
the prossure which is necessary for extinguishing is produced in the
needed slow and regular way A funnel S facilitates the pouring in of
water into the extinctor, and a bell G produces in the same an air vessel,
which contributes to the greator security of the apparatus-in.the.pro-
duction of pressure.
Figure 4 is a vertical section; Figure 5 is a part side clevation, with
outer parts partly removed; and Figure 6 is a plan of an extinctor con-
structed according to a modified arrangement, which is distinguished
from the preceding one principally by the nature of its closing The
lead plate c³ and socket c¹ are replaced by the six cornered screw
sockets c¹, c³, with lead bottoms, which have altogether the same
appearance, and which are traversed by the piercer T The bottle B 1s
fastened to the lid, not by a bayonet joint, but by screwing, which is
rendered possible by the six cornered form at its upper end. In like
manner the form of the socket c is that of a six cornered nut of a
screw, but towards the bottom it has the form of a bell with a neck for
the joining of the socket c. Finally there is a support V placed under
the lever h, and fixed to the same by a pin, in order to prevent the
lever from accidentally opening the bottle B by a push or shock when it
is not used. The bottle may in this way be closed up by means of a scal,
so that any meddling with the same may at any time be casily recognised.
As for the rest, the second arrangement is altogether like the first.
It is clear that the metals, materials, and proportions may be changed
according to the object which is to be attained, without departing from
the nature of the Invention.

page_text: to
extinctors 1ior quid acids, and also as sewn in the annexcu
Drawings.
Third. The arrangement of a perforated tube E, with central tube e¹
and funnel C³ at the end of the acid bottle, substantially as and for
purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-first day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.