Improvements in Syringes or Hand Pumps for Fire Extinguishing.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Syringes or Hand Pumps for Fire Extinguishing.
We, CHARLES ROBERT ARENTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at
47 and 49 Liberty Street, of New York, in the County and State of New York,
U.S.A. Insurance Agent, and WALTER ROBERT JOHNSTON, a citizen of the
United States, also residing at 47 and 49 Liberty Street, of New York, in the
County and State of New York, U.S.A. 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 relates to fire extinguishers, and the object thereof is to produce
a simple, portable device of this class which shall be capable of holding a suitable,
chemical compound and be ready to quickly expel the same when necessary; and
with this and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction,
combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part; said drawing being a central, longitudinal
section of my improved fire extinguisher.
In the practice of my invention, 1 employ a cylindrical casing A, which is
preferably composed of thin sheet metal, and provided with an end piece B, at one
end, which may be secured thereto by any suitable means or in any suitable manner,
and the opposite or delivery end of the casing A, is provided with a cap or
cover C, which is preferably conical in form, and provided with an aperture c, in
which fits a rod D, the end of which projects from the end of the cylinder.
The rod D, passes entirely through the casing or cylinder A, and projects
through an opening b, in the end pieces B, and it is provided with a suitable
handle D 2.
The rod D, carries a suitable washer or valve E, which is composed of leather,
rubber or other material which will not be affected by the chemical compounds and
which fits snugly within the casing A, and mounted on said rod and at the inner
side of said washer or valve is a perforated disk F, against which the washer E, is
held by means of a plate G, and a nut d, and the disk F, is smaller in diameter
than the washer E.
Secured to the inner surface of the piece B, is a packing ring G', which is held
in place in any desired manner, and is composed of any preferred material and this
construction is for the purpose of securely packing the rod D, at the point where
it passes through the end piece B, so as to prevent the escape of the compound
through said end pieces, in the operation of the rod D, as hereinafter described.
In the normal position of the parts, when the cylinder A, has been filled with
the required compound, the rod D, lies in the apertures d, and c, as shown in the
drawing, and is secured by light solder H, at both ends while the washer or
valve E. lies against the cover C, or the base thereof.
When it is desired to use the extinguisher, the device is taken in the hand, and
the end D 3, of the rod D, is given a quick knock, either by striking the same on
a desk, on the floor, or other surface, or by striking the end of the rod at D 3, with
a hammer so as to loosen the solder G, at both ends, and at the same time; where-
upon the device will be ready for use.
In operation, the rod D, is drawn quickly outward by the handle D2, and during
this movement, the washer or valve E, bears against the fluids in the casing or

page_text: cylinder, and its edges bend to allow the fluids to pass into the outer end of the
cylinder, as will be readily understood, and the rod D, is then pushed quickly
forward, or in the direction of the discharges end of the cylinder, and the washer
or valve will force the fluids from the casing through the opening c.
In this operation, the fluids pass round the disk F, and through the perforations f
therein, as will be readily understood, when the rod D, is drawn backwardly, and
said rod may be operated as quickly or rapidly as desired, and the contents of the
cylinder may thus be forced out in small jets or small quantities. The compound
employed is such, that only a small quantity need be forced out at a time, and a
small amount thereof is sufficient to put out an ordinary fire, at the start, said
compound expanding into a gas which extinguishes the fire.
As thus constructed, it will be seen that the rod or handle D, is always in position
for use, and there is no danger of its being lost, and it will also be seen that my
improvement may be used, as a sprayer, as a hand pump, and for other purposes
than those of a fire extinguisher.
The disk E, and the washer F, constitutes as will be seen, a compound valve and
piston through which a part only, of the contents of the casing pass when the rod
is drawn backward, and by means of which the said part of the content is forced
out of the cylinder when the rod is pushed forward.
In my invention, the end piece B, is closed, or has no opening whatever, except
that through which the rod D, passes and because of this fact, and the fact that a
partial vacuum is formed within the casing, as the contents thereof are discharged,
it is practically impossible to force all of the contents from the cylinder at one
operation, and by means of this fact, only small quantities can easily be ejected
at a time, and this feature constitutes one of the most important elements of my
invention.
The flexible washer or valve E, projects far enough beyond the perimeter of the
disk F, to allow it to beud backwardly over said disk when the rod and disk are
forced forward in the operation of the device, and this operation of the washer
allows a small amount of the fluid to pass backwardly into the body of the casing
at each forward plunge of the rod and disk, and this operation also aids in limiting
the amount of the fluid ejected at each stroke; and one of the objects in hermetically
sealing each end of the rod, or the openings through which it passes is to absolutely
protect the chemical compound which I employ, which is of high expansive power,
but loses its force by evaporation unless so protected, the expansion thereof
occurring at the contact thereof with fire.
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. A fire extinguisher constructed as herein described, and as shown in the
drawing, said extinguisher comprising a cylindrical casing, a rod as D, which passes
therethrough, and which is connected at each end with the ends of the casing by
soft solder, said rod being provided with a perforated disk which is of less diameter
than the casing, and with a flexible washer adjacent thereto, and on the outer side
thereof, and one end of said casing being conical in form, and the other end being
provided with a packing box through which the rod passes.
2. In a fire extinguisher, a cylindrical casing, provided with a closed end piece at
one end, and a conical cap or cover at the other, the apex of which is directed
outwardly, a rod which passes centrally through said casing, and through said end
piece and said cap or cover, and projects at each end, one end of said rod being
provided with a handle, and the other end being adapted to project through the
conical cap or cover, said end piece adjacent to the handle end of the rod being
provided with a packing through which said rod passes, and each end of said rod
being secured in place by means of solder, said rod being also provided at the end
adjacent to the conical cap or cover with a disk which is secured thereto, and of
less diameter than the casing and with a flexible washer or valve which is also

page_text: secured thereto, adjacent to the outer side of said disk and which is adapted to
snugly fit the inaer side of the casing, substantially as shown and described.
3. A fire extinguisher comprising cylindrical casing, provided with a closed end
piece, at one end, and a conical cap or cover at the other, the apex of which is
directed outwardly, a rod which passes centrally th rough said casing, and through
said end piece, and said cap or cover, and projects at each end one end of said rod
being provided with a handle, and the other end being adapted to project through
the conical cap or cover, said end piece adjacent to the handle end of the rod,
being provided with a packing through which said rod passes, and each end of said
rod being secured in place by means of solder, said rod being also provided at the
end adjacent to the conical cap or cover with a disk which is secured thereto, and
of less diameter than the casing, and with a flexible washer or valve which is also
secured thereto, adjacent to the outer side of said disk, and which is adapted to
snugly fit to the inner side of the casing, said disk being also perforated, and said
disk and said washer being held together by means of a plate secured to said rod,
adjacent to the outer side of said washer, substantially as shown and described.
4. A fire extinguisher comprising a cylindrical casing, one end of which is
provided with a conical cap or cover, the apex of which is directed outwardly, and
the other end of which is provided with a closed end piece, a rod which passes
centrally through said end piece and through said conical cap, or cover, and is provided
with a handle adjacent to said end piece, and which is held in place by soft solder
or similar material, at each end, said rod being provided with a disk adjacent to
the conical cap or cover which is of less diameter than the casing, and with a
flexible washer or valve, secured thereto, and the outer side thereof, said washer
or valve being adapted to closely fit within the casing, and to bend outwardly when
the disk is drawn inwardly, substantially as shown and described.
5. In a fire extinguisher, a cylindrical casing, one end of which is provided with
a conical cap or cover, the apex of which is directed outwardly, and the other end
of which is provided with a closed end piece, a rod which passes centrally through
said end piece, and through said conical cap, or cover, and is provided with a
handle adjacent to said end piece, and which is suitably held in place at each end
said rod being provided with a disk adjacent to the conical cap or cover, which is
of less diameter than the casing, and with a flexible washer or valve secured thereto,
on the outer side thereof, said washer or valve being adapted to closely fit within
the casing and adapted to bend outwardly when the disk is drawn inwardly, and
Baid disk being also perforated substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 90th day of Anvil 1896
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.