Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers for Extinguishing Fires.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers for Extinguishing Fires.
ALFRED DEVONSHIRE, of 19 Thistle Terrace Meikleriggs, Paisley, in the County of
West Renfrewshire, Scotland, Fire Master, to Messrs. J. & P. Coats, Thread Manu-
facturers, Paisley, Scotland. I do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS FOR EXTINGUISHING OF FIRES WHEN A
GIVEN TEMPRATURE HAS BEEN ATTAINED to be as follows:-
upon
My invention relates to Automatic Sprinklers for Extinguishing of fires in mills
and other buildings when connected to wrought iron tubing carried along the ceilings
and supplied with water from mains tanks or pumps. These sprinklers are constructed
in four respective parts. The first part is a metal casting screwed the
outside of each end, a chamber is formed in the centre, the lower part being very
thin which is intended to form a spring when under pressure and arranged with a
projection upon of about of an inch to form a seat for the distributor. "There is a
half inch water passage passing through the centre.
The second part is a metal casting forming a band at the top screwed upon the
inside for connecting to the lower part of the first casting, and combined with four
quarters suspending from the band in a formation of a half circle connected at the
bottom, edges projecting inwardly to form a seat for the distributor. The third part
is a circle casting with a recess and a centre pivot for keeping a soft metal washer
in which forms a distributor, and is perforated with holes through the bottom, and is
groved upon the top edge, this causes an equal distribution of water. The fourth
part is an angle casting formed with a pair of shears at one end, and is flat at the
other. This is to form the support for the distributor when resting upon one quarter
with the shear end, and soldered with fusible solder upon the opposite quarter of
suspending half circle. The distributor is placed upon the point of the support and
in the centre of the four quarters which formes a guide for the same when the angle
piece fall away from the distributor which drops to its seat.
The novelty of these Sprinklers clamed are that they can be tested when under
pressure of water by easeing the small stud screw which is arranged in the band of
the second part, and the second part can be unscrewed from the first part which
will allow the water to flow; Also that the angle piece is protected from accidentsby
the two opposite quarters. When these sprinklers are complete for fixing up, the
support is placed over one part of the half circle quarters and soldered to the opposite
quarter, and the distributor is placed upon the angle point and inside of each quarter
and is screwed up upon the first part which presses the soft metal washer of the
distributor home upon the seat of the projecting part of the bottom of the first part,
and the Sprinklers are perfectly tight under pressure.
Dated this 94th day of January 1889
ALFRED DEVONSHIRE,
Analicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers for Extinguishing Fires.
ALFRED DEVONSHIRE, of 19 Thistle Terrace Meikleriggs Paisley, in the County of
West Renfrewshire Scotland, Fire Master to Messrs. J. & P. Coats, Thread Manu-
facturers, Paisley Scotland. I do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES WHEN A
GIVEN TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN ATTAINED, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to automatic sprinklers for extinguishing of fires specially in

page_text: coal or other mines, mill or other buildings. When connected to wrought iron or
other tubing carried along ceilings, and supplied either with air to keep back a
solution of an alkaline carbonate and an acid gas, specially held under pressure in
tanks, suitable arranged to allow water to flow after carbonate acid gas falls beneath
the pressure of water on mains, pumps, or tanks. These sprinklers are constructed
in four or more parts. The first is a casting of metal formed with a chamber in the
centre, A. the lower part being left thin as shown by B in Fig. 1. "on the
accompanying sheet of Drawing." But in my present modification, I prefer to form a
seat round the inner edge at the bottom to form a seat for a thin plate h. to rest upon,
and kept in its place by a band of brass i, soldered to the inside at the bottom,
instead of casting it solid as shown in Fig. 1. This arrangement is to allow a spiral
spring to be placed between the thin plate and the upper part of the casting. This
is intended to follow up the expansion of the lower part of sprinkler when fitted
up in high tempratures, such as take place in stoves." This spiral spring is also
intended to press down the thin plate upon the distributor with its projection at the
bottom part also to assist to throw off the support when liberated by a given
temperature." This metal casting is screwed upon the outside of each end, one end
for connecting to the tubing, and the bottom for connecting the band of the second
part to.
The second part F. is a metal casting formed with a band at the top, screwed
upon the inside for connecting to the outsid of the bottom of the first part, and
combined with four thin sections formed in a half circle, or an oval shape, tapered off
at the bottom end, these are to form a guide and a seat for the distributor, and a rest
for the support D. which is upon one section with a slight check to keep the support
in one position. The third part C. is a circle casting formed with a projecting pivot
and a recess in the centre for a metal or other washers, and is perforated with holes
at the bottom in a diagonal form, and is grooved upon the upper edge to cause an equal
distribution of an alkaline carbonate gas or water direct upon the fire beneath the
sprinkler, or to act direct upon the ceiling when fitted in an upright position." The
fourth part D. is a metal casting formed in an angle shape formed with a pair of shears
upon one end and is kept thin at the other end. This angle piece is to form the
support of the distributor when placed in its position is to rest upon one section with
its shear end, and is soldered to the opposite section with fusible solder, and is pro-
tected by the side sections from being knocked away, when the Sprinklers are brought
into action this support drops away and allow the distributor to drop to the seats in
in the centre of the four sections." This support can be protected from being lost
by adopting a piece of wire formed in links or a piece of chain. The fifth part E is a
brass stud E screwed into the band of the second part for keeping the two parts from
shifting when in action." The sixth part is a spiral spring G. arranged in the centre
between the thin plate and the upper part of the first part." This is to keep a strain
upon the thin plate and distributor when an expansion takes place, and prevents any
leakages taking place when exposed to high temperatures, also to assist in throwing
off the support." The seventh part H. is a thin plate of brass projecting about
the bottom part in the centre for pressing down upon the distributor, and is fitted
upon the seat formed in the first part around the chamber A." This thin plate is to
keep the spiral spring in its position in the centre." The eight part i. is a brass band
fitted in upon the thin plate H. at the bottom of the first part, and all parts are
soldered together." And in order that my said invention, and the manner of
performing the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of
explanatory Drawings; to be hereinafter referred to and representing two examples
of my Improved Automatic Sprinklers." In the Drawings the same reference letters
are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated Fig. 1. on the
accompanying sheet of Drawing is a half vertical section showing the interior of the
sprinkler as first arranged in four parts with the distributor down upon its seat as in
action." Fig. 2. is a half vertical section showing how all parts are arranged in my
present modification with the distributor down upon its seats." Fig. 3. is showing
the bottom of the distributor with its perforated holes and slots for the four sections
to pass through which forms a guide for the distributor." Fig. 4. is the side view of
at

page_text: the angle piece with its shear end and a half hole at the thin end for a piece o wire
to fit in when soldred together." Fig. 5. is showing a sprinkler complete for work
when in position." Fig. 6. is showing the top of the second part with its four
sections, and how they are combined at the bottom end together." Letter G. is
showing how the spiral spring is placed between the thin plate and the upper part
of sprinkler." Letter H. is showing how the thin plate is placed in upon seat in
chamber A." Letter i. is showing how the brass band is fitted in upon the thin plate.
and soldered together round the bottom as shown in Fig. 2."
Having thus particularly discribed my said Invention, and the manner of performing.
the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein
discribed or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel, and original, and claim.
as the Invention secured to me by and in turm of the hereinbefore in part recited in
Letters is."
1st. The support is protected from being knocked away by the second or lower part.
being formed in four section combind together and the support is arranged to set
upon one section, and is soldered to the opposite section which is protected against
accident."
2nd. The spiral spring being so arranged in the interior part of the Sprinkler for
allowing the lower part to expand when exposed to high temperatures which prevents.
leakages taking place."
3rd. The brass stud being arranged in the band of the second part to prevent the
two parts from shifting when brought into action."
4th. The thin plate being so arranged to form a spring as well as keeping the spiral
spring in its position, as this thin plate can be formed with an outer edge projecting
downwards and soldered to the bottom edge of the first part instead of using the
brass band H. as shown in Fig. 2. at the bottom if prefered for simplicity."
5th. The distributor being formed in one casting with a pivot point in the centre
and is perforated in a diagonal form which gives a larger distribution of carbonic acid
gas or water."
6th. The sprinklers are specially arranged for the adoption in coal or other mines
to be supplied either by air, or carbonic acid gas, or water automatically arranged in
mines from tanks placed under pressure, suitably arranged for any number of section,.
and suitabley arranged to give the alarm of fire from any section to any part of the pit
or pit head."
Date this Tenth day of October 1889.
ALFRED DEVONSHIRE,
Applicant.