Improvements in Automatic Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
We, RALPH Dowson of 15 Bedford Street, and JOHN TAYLOR of Linger Wood,
Chorley New Road, both of Bolton in the County of Lancaster, Fire Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in connection with sprinkler installations
wherein the distributing pipes carrying the automatic sprinklers are charged with air
pressure for the purpose of excluding water from the system until the air under
pressure in the pipes escapes through the opening of one or more of the automatic
sprinklers. In sprinkler installations wherein the air system is adopted it is con-
sidered preferable to employ a differential check valve disposed in the main pipe near
where it enters the building from the street or other main.
Our improved differential valve is provided with a facing of woodite or other suit-
able material to sit on the inner valve seating, and a flexible or pliable facing to sit
on the outer valve seating, or vice-versa, both being secured to the valve lid in any con-
venient manner. The valve seats are so disposed as to allow the flexible or pliable facing
to seat itself slightly in advance of the woodite or other facing on its seat. The object
of this is to ensure of the flexible or pliable facing being firmly seated, and the
flexibility of the same allows of its being held firmly thereon by the pressure behind
the same.
The main valve spindle is provided with a circular or other projection at
a point above the crossbar in the valve-box. When the differential valve is closed
the projection is below a spring or springs at rest or out of tension with corre-
sponding projections, and immediately the valve is opened the projection on the valve
stem or spindle is forced through or past the projections on the springs, by which
the valve is kept from returning to its seat. The spring or springs and their attach-
ments are at rest when the differential valve is either open or closed, being only in
tension when the projection on the valve spindle or stem is passing between the
same. The springs are secured to preparations attached to the valve-box. Before
the valve can re-seat itself the springs must be opened or forced asunder sufficiently
to allow the projection on the valve stem or spindle to drop through, the same being
effected by a special tool or other means; and to prevent the springs being strained
suitable stops are provided. When the differential valve is closed the annular
chamber or cavity between the seatings is open to the atmosphere by a pipe or
other connection; the outer end of the latter being fitted with a valve-box and
valve. The latter is automatically closed when the main valve opens by the pressure
from the water main, and will remained closed until the main valve is re-seated
and the pressure in the annular chamber or cavity is reduced below or to that of
the atmosphere. This latter arrangement of valve is already secured to us by Letters
Patent No. 12528 of 1886, but in the present invention we can employ as a modifica-
tion a tap or cock provided with a lever or otherwise which is moved or opened by
the movement of the valve when opening.
The area on the top or upper side of the differential valve is larger than the
bottom or underside of the same so that a low pressure of air will hold back a
greater pressure of water. Various forms of these differential valves may be seen
by referring to Specification No. 12528 of 1886 granted to ourselves; and Specification
No. 1512 of 1887 granted to Frederick Grinnell. In each of these Specifications
an arrangement is shown whereby the valve is kept from returning to its seat
once it has opened, because, if the valve is on its seating with water in the sprinkler
pipes the dead weight or water column acting upon the larger area or top side of the

page_text: valve would prevent it from opening and the usefulness of the sprinkler installation
would be destroyed.
Another modification of our invention consists in destroying the differential action
of these or any other differential valve, by allowing the pressure contained in the
pipe above the valve to enter the differential chamber or cavity between the two
seatings should the water in the pipes rise above a given or desired level.
This we
effect by providing a pipe or passage from the differential chamber to the pipe above
the valve the end of such pipe or passage being closed by a valve or its equivalent
actuated by a float or other equivalents when the water is at the given or desired
level, and opened when the water rises above the same, thereby permitting of a
free passage for water or pressure from the sprinkler or installation pipes to the
differential chamber, thus converting the action. to that of an ordinary valve. In
case water rises above the given or desired level when the sprinklers are not open
the differential area between the seatings is destroyed and the valve will be opened by
the superior pressure underneath, which will then pass into the sprinkler pipes until
equalized throughout the installation. The valve operated by the float or its equivalent
can be of any suitable description disposed as described above, or in a separate closed
cistern or vessel, and connected to the pipes and differential chamber by pipes or
their equivalents.
Dated the 20th Januar 1800.
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Accent
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
We, RALPH Dowson of 15 Bedford Street, and JOHN TAYLOR of Linger Wood,
Chorley New Road, both of Bolton in the County of Lancaster, Fire Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of our 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 relates to improvements in connection with sprinkler installations
wherein the distributing pipes carrying the automatic sprinklers are charged with
air pressure for the purpose of excluding water from the system until the air under
pressure in the pipes escapes through the opening of one or more of the automatic
sprinklers. In sprinkler installations wherein the air system is adopted it is con-
sidered preferable to employ a differential check valve disposed in the main pipe near
where it enters the building from the street or other main.
Our improved differential valve is provided with a facing of woodite, or other
suitable material to sit on the inner valve seating, and a flexible. or pliable facing to
sit on the outer valve seating, or vice-versa, both being secured to the valve lid in any
convenient manner. The valve seats are so disposed as to allow the flexible or
pliable facing to seat itself slightly in advance of the woodite or other facing on its
seat. The object of this is to insure of the flexible or pliable facing being firmly seated,
and the flexibility of the same allows of its being held firmly thereon by the pressure
behind the same. The main valve spindle is provided with a circular or other pro-
jection at a point above the crossbar in the valve-box. When the differential valve
is closed the projection is below a spring or springs at rest or out of tension with
corresponding projections, and immediately the valve is opened the projection on the
valve stem or spindle is forced through or past the projections on the springs, by
which the valve is kept from returning to its seat. The spring or springs and their
attachments are at rest when the differential valve is either open or closed, being
only in tension when the projection on the valve spindle or stem is passing between the
same. The springs are secured to preparations attached to the valve-box. Before
the valve can re-set itself the springs must be opened or forced asunder sufficiently
to allow the projection on the valve stem or spindle to drop through, the same
being effected by a special tool or other means; and to prevent the springs being

page_text: strained suitable stops are provided. When the differential valve is closed the annular
chamber or cavity between the seatings is open to the atmosphere by a pipe or
other connection; the outer end of the latter being fitted with a valve-box and
valve. The latter is automatically closed when the main valve opens by the
pressure from the water main, and will remain closed until the main valve is
re-seated and the pressure in the annular chamber or cavity is reduced below or to
that of the atmosphere. This latter arrangement of valve is already secured to us
by Letters Patent No. 12528 of 1886, but in the present invention we can employ
as a modification a tap or cock provided with a lever or otherwise which is moved
or opened by the movement of the valve when opening.
The area on the top or upper side of the differential valve is larger than the
bottom or underside of the same so that a low pressure of air will hold back a
greater pressure of water. Various forms of these differential valves may be seen
by referring to Specification No. 12528 of 1886 granted to ourselves, and Specifica-
tion No. 1512 of 1887 granted to Frederick Grinnell. In each of these Specifications
an arrangement is shown whereby the valve is kept from returning to its seat once
it has opened, because, if the valve is on its seating with water in the sprinkler pipes
the dead weight or water column acting upon the larger area or top side of the valve
would prevent it from opening and the usefulness of the sprinkler installation would
be destroyed.
Another modification of our invention consists in destroying the differential action
of these or any other differential valve by allowing the pressure contained in the pipe
above the valve to enter the differential chamber or cavity between the two seatings
should the water in the pipes rise above a given or desired level. This we effect
by providing a pipe or passage from the differential chamber to the pipe above the
valve; the end of such pipe or passage being closed by a valve or its equivalent
actuated by a float or other equivalents when the water is at the given or desired
level, and opened when the water rises above the same, thereby permitting of a free
passage for water or pressure from the sprinkler or installation pipes to the differential
chamber, thus converting the action to that of an ordinary valve. In case water
rises above the given or desired level when the sprinklers are not open the differential
area between the seatings is destroyed and the valve will be opened by the superior
pressure underneath, which will then pass into the sprinkler pipes until equalized
throughout the installation. The valve operated by the float or its equivalent can be
of any suitable description disposed as described above, or in a separate closed
cistern or vessel, and connected to the pipes and differential chamber by pipes or
their equivalents.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of our improved valve in a closed or normal position
when the distributing pipes and sprinklers are filled or charged with air pressure for
the purpose of excluding water from the system until the air under pressure in the
pipes escapes through the opening of one or more of the automatic sprinklers or other
causes.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan through line A¹ B¹ in Fig. 1 showing the springs out of
tension.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of valve-box and valve for admitting
atmospheric pressure into the annular chamber or cavity between the differential valve
seatings.
Fig. 4 is a part sectional elevation of our improved valve-box provided with means
for automatically closing the atmospheric valve by the movement of the differential
valve when opening to admit water into the distributing pipes and sprinklers.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of our improved valve with the valve facings reversed.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of our differential valve provided with means for
automatically destroying the differential action of the same, and
Fig. 7 is a plan of the special tool for opening the springs to liberate the differential
valve and allow it to return to its seat.
In all the figures the same letters are employed to indicate corresponding parts.
A is the valve-box; B the water inlet branch; C the water outlet branch; D the

page_text: pipe from which the sprinkler or installation pipes are charged; E is a pipe for the
purpose of emptying the pipes D, sprinklers, and pipes throughout the installation of
water down to that point. The distributing pipes may be charged with a pressure of
air in any convenient manner; and the gauge R' serves to indicate at any time the
pressure in the installation; F is the main valve provided with the woodite, leather,
india-rubber, or other facings G and H; J is the inner valve seat; I is the outer valve
seat; K is the cross bar in which slides the lower stem U of the valve F; L is the annular
chamber or cavity; M is a cross bar for guiding the upper stem X of the valve F ;
N, N are springs for arresting the valve F when open; Z is a valve or tap attached to
the water inlet branch B and the passage H¹ by the pipes K2, for the purpose of
admitting water to the annular chamber or cavity I. to destroy the differential valve F,
by which the valve can be tested at intervals or used in case of derangement. The
main object of the tap Z is to convert the action of the differential valve to that of an
ordinary valve.
The upper and lower portions of the valve-box A are secured together by the set
screws O; and the upper portion is provided with the hand holes P and covers Q,
the latter being secured by the bolts R. The differential valve F is fitted with the
facing H of woodite, leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material to sit on the
inner valve seating J. The latter is made of brass or other metal, and is secured in
the upper end of the inlet branch B in any convenient manner.
The facing H and the washer S are secured to the underside of the differential
valve F by the nut T screwed on the lower stem U. The differential valve F is also
fitted with the flexible or pliable facing G-consisting of leather, india-rubber, or other
suitable material to sit on the outer valve seating I. The flexible or pliable facing G
is secured to the differential valve F by the circular ring or plate V and set screws W.
The valve seats I and J are so disposed as to allow the flexible or pliable facing G to
seat itself slightly in advance of the facing H on its seat. The object of this is to
ensure of the flexible or pliable facing G being firmly seated, and the flexibility of,
the same allows of its being held firmly on the seating I by the pressure of air in
the pipe D, sprinkler or installation pipes, and in the upper portion of the valve-
box A above the valve F. The area of the top or upper side of the differential
valve F is larger than the bottom or underside of the same so that a low or light
pressure of air in the pipe D and the upper part of the valve-box A will hold back
a greater pressure of water in the pipe B underneath the valve F. The stem or
spindle X of the differential valve F is provided with the circular or other projection Y
above the cross bar M in the outlet branch C. When the differential valve F is
closed as in Fig. 1-the projection Y is below the springs N, and the latter with
the projections Zare at rest or out of tension.
Immediately the valve F opens the projection Y on the stem or spindle X is
forced between the springs N and projections Z', which action opens them sufficiently
wide to allow of the passage of the projection Y to the upper side of the projections Z'.
When the projection Y has passed the upper end of the projections Z' the springs N
are released from tension or side pressure, and assume their normal position, the
projection Y resting on the upper end of the projections Z, by which the valve F
is kept from returning to the seats I and J. The springs N are secured to the
preparation or cover C₁ by the rivet D as shown in Fig. 2. The cover E is provided
to maintain in position the loose ends of the springs N. The covers C and E' are
secured to the valve-box A by the set screws F¹ as shown in Fig. 2. Before the
differential valve F can re-set itself the springs N with the projections Z¹ must be
opened or forced asunder sufficiently wide to allow the projection Y on the stem or
spindle X to drop through by means of a special tool, such as is shown in Fig. 7.
This is effected by removing the cover E¹.
To prevent the springs N being strained by the action of the projection Y or the
special tool for releasing the same the stops G₁ are provided on the cross bar M as
shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6. When the differential valve F is closed the annular
chamber or cavity L between the seatings I and J is open to the atmosphere by the
passage H, pipes K and K2, and valve M'. The upper end of the pipe K' is fitted

page_text: with the valve-box L' and valve M', of which Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional
elevation.
The valve M' is provided with the leather, india-rubber, or other suitable facing N¹
which is automatically forced against the seat O' to close the outlet of the pipe K¹ by
the pressure from the water main when the differential valve F is open. The valve M¹
will remain closed until the differential valve F is re-seated and the pressure in the
annular chamber or cavity L is reduced below or to that of the atmosphere. The drip
pipe P is provided to convey away any water that may pass up the pipe K', or that
may drop from the pipe Q' attached to the pipe E and gauge R. In lieu of the
valve-box L and the automatic valve M' shown in Figs. 1 and 3 we can employ
mechanical means as shown in Fig. 4. In this arrangement when the differential.
valve F is closed as in Fig. 1 the sliding valve or ram M¹ is in the position shown in
Fig. 4 to allow atmospheric air to pass through the pipe K' to the annular chamber or
cavity L. The sliding valve or ram M' is coupled to the rod N2 by the pin B³. The
other end of the rod N2 is coupled to the lever (3 by the pin D³. The lever C³ is
pivoted to the outlet passage C of the valve-box A by the pin or centre E³: the upper
end of the lever C³ is provided with the roller or bowl G³ resting on the top of the
stem or spindle X of the differential valve F. When the air pressure in the installation
is decreased by the opening of one or more sprinklers or other causes and the valve F
opens to admit water the lever C3 by the upward motion of the valve F and stem or
spindle X assumes the position shown in dotted lines, which action pushes the sliding
valve or ram M' into the valve-box L' and closes the passage, thus preventing the
outrush of water through the pipe K.
In another modification-as in Fig. 5-we dispense with the metallic seating J,
washer S, and nut T shown in Fig. 1 and substitute therefor the flexible or pliable
seat G on which sits the metallic facing J' on the underside of the differential valve F.
The flexible or pliable seat G is secured to the valve-box A by the ring V and set
screws W. The outer facing H of the differential valve F is composed of woodite,
leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material, and is secured to the same by the
ring V₁ and set screws W¹. This valve facing sits on the metallic seating I. The
metallic facing J¹ on the underside of the differential valve F is so disposed or formed
that it will come in contact with the flexible or pliable seat G slightly in advance of
the facing H on its seat I, to ensure of the metallic facing J' being in contact, and
the flexibility of the seat G allows of its being held firmly against the facing J' by the
pressure of water in the pipe B below the valve F. The remaining parts of this
modification are similar to those described and shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a modification of our differential valve provided with means for auto-
matically destroying the differential action of the same by allowing the pressure con-
tained in the pipe D above the valve to enter the differential chamber or cavity L
between the seatings I and J should the water in the pipe D rise above a given or
desired level. To effect this the upper stem X of the valve F is provided with the
passage 03 leading to the differential chamber or cavity L. The upper end of the
passage 0³ is closed by the valve P³ attached to the float L³ by the rod I³ and pin J³.
If from any cause water rises above the desired level-that is above the pipe E-the
float L³ rises and lifts the valve P3 from its seat, thereby permitting of the passage of
water or pressure from the sprinkler or installation pipes to the differential chamber L,
by which the valve F is converted to that of an ordinary valve, it being then opened
by the superior pressure underneath and charges the pipes with water as the air
pressure escapes, and sounds an alarm usually attached to the installation. In case
the water rises above a given or desired level and operates the float L³ to open the
valve P³ when the sprinklers are not open, from some unexplained cause, the differential
area between the seatings I and J will be destroyed and the valve F will be opened
by the superior pressure underneath, which will allow water to pass into the sprinkler
pipes until equalized by the air pressure in the pipes throughout the installation.
The remaining parts of this modification are similar in construction to those shown in
Fig. 1.

page_text: 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. In combination with a double seated valve the use of the outer flexible or pliable
facing G, substantially as described, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 for the purpose
specified.
2. In combination with a double seated valve the use of the inner flexible or pliable
seating G, substantially as described and as shown in Fig. 5 for the purpose specified.
3. In combination with a valve for closing a water supply and held closed by pressure
above the same the use of springs which are in tension only when the valve is opening,
and out of tension when the valve is closed or open, for the purpose of holding the
valve open after it bas operated and to prevent it re-seating itself, substantially as
described.
4. In combination with a double seated valve the use of mechanical means for
closing the connection between the cavity L and the atmosphere, substantially as
described.
5. In connection with a differential air valve the use of a float or its equivalent for
destroying the differential action of the valve when the water rises above a given or
desired level, substantially as described.
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.