AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING, COOLING, OR SUP- PRESSING FIRE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS OR ROOMS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Stewart Duncan, of Monmouth Road North,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING, COOLING, OR SUP-
PRESSING FIRE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS OR ROOMS."
Sealed the 3rd October 1862, and dated the 7th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said Charles Stewart Duncan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th April 1862.
I, CHARLES STEWART DUNCAN, of Monmouth Road North, Bayswater, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS, FOR VENTILATING, COOLING, OR
SUPPRESSING FIRE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS OR Rooms," to be as
follows:-
I propose to attach to the water main, lake, river, well, or other water supply
from which there is sufficient pressure to raise the water. above the ridge of
the roof of a building, one or more pipes varying from 6 to 15 inches in
diameter, which I carry up either externally or internally to the level of the
ridge or highest point of any roof, flat, or dome, or skylight; I then fix from
one end of the building to the other a horizontal pipe, from half an inch to
three or four inches in diameter, according to the dimensions or span of the
roof, the pipe being perforated on its upper, side with openings from thito

page_text: an inch in diameter, and over these perforations, and running parallel with the
pipes, is a small hood-piece, rising about an inch above these openings. This
horizontal perforated diffusing pipe is to be applied at intervals at certain
distances along the ridge, and where necessary from the service main, which is
to be provided at or near the level of the ground, with a tap or taps or turn-
cock and key, so as to be under immediate command.
On opening this tap or cock the water by pressure ascends the perpendicular
main, and enters the smaller pipes on the roof as before described, which are
to be in connection with the perforated ridge or diffusing pipe. This ridge
pipe must be laid perfectly horizontal, as well as the hood which covers it, and
which may be from an inch to 2 or 3 inches in width, in the form of a reversed
letter V; whereby the water in being pressed. upwards through the perfora-
tions fills it, and will be distributed laterally over the entire roof and gutter
acting as a perpetual shower of rain, and thus subdue the heat on the roof, and
reduce the temperature within the building, and flush the drains.
In warehouses, separate floors, and rooms; I apply the perforated pipes &
hoods in any desired number, leading: from the main supply pipe. Infix the
pipes either to the ceilings, walls, or floors, or under cornices, or externally on
the walls, so that fire may be quenched or the walls.cooled. A force pump
should be employed to raise. the water.
I also propose to force carbonic acid gas or any other gas or uninflammable
chemical agent used in suppressing fire into buildings by means of pipes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent; filed
by the said Charles Stewart Duncan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
STEWART DUNCAN, of Monmouth Road North, Bayswater, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her. Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Het
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Stewart Duncan, Her special licence that I, the
said Charles Stewart Duncan, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Stewart Duncan, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others

page_text: from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for " AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR VENTILATING, COOLING, OR SUPPRESSING FIRE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILD-
INGS OR ROOMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
Stewart Duncan, 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 in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Stewart Duncan, do
hereby declare the nature of my said 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 has for its object a better mode of distributing or diffusing
water over the roofs of buildings for the purpose of reducing the temperature of
the interior thereof; or throughout all or separate compartments of warehouses,
churches, theatres, or public or private buildings for protection from fire.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect as follows:-
First, with respect to the cooling and ventilating of roofs and buildings; I
attach to the water main, lake, river, well, or water supply, from which there
is sufficient pressure to raise the water above the ridge of the roof of a building
one or more pipes varying from 3 to 15 inches in diameter, which I carry up
either externally or internally to the level of the ridge or highest point of any
roof, flat, dome, or skylight;' I then fix from one end of the building to the
other a horizontal pipe, from half an inch to 3 or 4 inches in diameter
according to the dimensions or span of the roof or roofs, the pipe being perfo-
rated on its upper side with openings from th to an inch in diameter, and
from.th to of an inch apart. And over these perforations, and running
parallel with the pipes, is a small hood-piece, in shape like an inverted V rising
about an inch above these openings; this horizontal perforated diffusing pipe
is to be applied at intervals at certain distances along the ridge, and where
necessary from the service main, which is to provided at or near the level
of the ground with a tap or taps, or turncock and key, so as to be under iminé-
diate command.

page_text: On opening this tap or cock the water by its own-pressure, or by manual,
steam, or other power, ascends the perpendicular main, and enters the
smaller pipes on the roof, as before described, which are to be in connection.
with the perforated ridge or diffusing pipe; this ridge pipe must be. laid per-
fectly horizontal, as well as the hood which covers it, whereby the water on
being pressed or forced upwards through the perforations is driven and
distributed laterally over the entire roof and gutter, acting as a continuous
shower of rain, subduing the heat on the roof, reducing the temperature within.
the building, and flushing the drains.
With respect to the suppression of fire in warehouses, and all other buildings
in addition to the ridge supply, I arrange the supply-from the main, in such a
manner that each separate floor, room, or compartment can be acted on in the
event of fire breaking out, without injury or damage to any other portion of the
building; to effect this I bring these perforated pipes into the separate floors
in one or more horizontal perforated diffusing sets of pipes, each with hoods or by.
jets or hydrauts, and placed in whatever position may be desired, either to the
ceilings, walls, or floors. And in the event of fire there may be a constant and
continuous flow of water by turning on the main, and employing the pressure
before described.
The principal object of this latter arrangement, is to avoid the necessity of
firemen having to enter the interior of burning buildings or floors; I also
fix these diffusing pipes with their necessary service supply externally under
the copings or bed mouldings of cornices; that the walls externally may
be saturated with water, and as an auxiliary to the water power of fire
engines..
At country seats this system could be brought into use by connecting. the
nearest lake, river, or small stream with a stationary fire engine or forcing
apparatus, sufficiently powerful to lift the water to the highest level of the
roof, and the interior pipes and picture rods would be made ornamental objects
in passages, staircases, and halls of a family mansion, and the diffusing appa-
ratus brought into apply immediately the alarm of fire is given, instead of
waiting a considerable time for the arrival of the engines from some distant
town or parish. The work in all instances to be executed in suitable metal
pipes or tubing.
. I also force carbonic acid gas, or any other noxious uninflammable chemical
agent, used in the suppression of fire, from a carboy or other suitable air-tight
véssel standing outside the building, into the compartment or floor burning,
through another set of pipes, which materially assists in extinguishing the
fire.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed and carried into practical effect, I would
remark in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise
details herein described, as the same may be obviously modified or varied in
many ways, without at all departing from the principles on which my Invention
is based, but what I claim, and therefore desire to be secured to me by the
herein in part recited Letters Patent, is, the ventilating, cooling, and sup-
pressing fire in public and private buildings or rooms, in the manner
and by the means herein fully described; that is by ascent or upward
pressure of water in permanently fixed tubes or pipes attached to the
building, at all times under immediate command, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Stewart Duncan have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.
C. S. DUNCAN. (L.S.)
Witness,
L. J. WETHERELL,
Clerk to Messrs. Prince, Hammond, & Prince,
Agents for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.