Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Jets for Fire Extinguishing Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Jets for Fire
Extinguishing Purposes.
We, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER of Greenwich Road S.E. in the
County of Kent, Engineer and GORDON HARRIS of 133 Lewisham Road S.E. in
the County of Kent, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention consists in the application of a well known principle, to deliver
jets at high pressure for fire extinguishing purposes, and is specially adapted for
use in buildings in which the water supply service is not sufficiently powerful for
throwing jets from the upper parts of the house.
An open
In one form of the apparatus we place a closed vessel in the upper part of the
house and a similar vessel in the lower part, preferably in the basement, the top of
the lower vessel being connected by a pipe with the top of the upper.
cistern is also placed in the upper part of the house, the bottom being connected by
a pipe with the bottom of the lower vessel. A. pipe is also attached to the bottom
A stop
of the upper vessel, and a connection for a hose pipe or similar device.
valve is placed on the pipe from the open cistern, also a retaining valve, and
suitable arrangements are made for filling the cistern and the upper vessel with
water and draining the lower vessel when necessary.
The action of the apparatus is as follows,-
The cistern and the upper vessel being filled with water and the lower vessel
empty; on the water in the cistern being admitted to the lower vessel the air is
expelled and rising up the pipe in its turn forces the water through the pipe to the
hose or other medium for throwing a jet. Thus a jet may be thrown from the roof
of a building though the tank supplying the water is at a lower level, and without
the aid of mechanism.
In some cases the cistern may be dispensed with, and pressure exerted on the
air in the lower vessel direct by a water company's main, or from a private
reservoir.
This invention is also applicable to raising water for domestic or other purposes
in cases in which a head of water is obtainable equal to, or greater than the height
it is required to raise water.
In cases in which it is required to maintain a continuous supply of water, we
provide two or more upper and lower vessels, each provided with an arrangement
of inlet and outlet valves actuated by a float and a weighted lever. One form of
this apparatus is constructed as follows,-
1
In the upper vessel on the water being expelled, a valve on the outlet is closed
and a valve on a pipe admitting water to replenish the vessel is opened by a lever
furnished with a dish, which, out of water, falls by the weight of water therein.
As soon as the vessel is filled, the outlet is opened and the water inlet closed by
float actuating the above valves. A retentive valve is provided on the outlet pipe.
In the lower vessel, on its being filled with water a valve is closed on the inlet pipe
and a valve on a drain pipe opened by a float, and on the vessel becoming emptied
these valves are opened and closed respectively by the lever arrangement described
above.
Dated this 28th day of March 1805
JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER.
GORDON HARRIS.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Jets for Fire
Extinguishing Purposes.
We, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER of Greenwich Road, S.E. in the
County of Kent, Engineer, and GORDON HARRIS of 133 Lewisham Road, S.E. in
the County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention consists in the application of a well known principle to deliver jets
at high pressure for fire extinguishing purposes, and is specially adapted for use in
buildings in which the water supply service is not sufficiently powerful for throwing
jets from the upper parts of the house. The drawings attached illustrate the
manner in which the apparatus is arranged.
In one form of the apparatus we place a closed vessel A in the upper part of the
house and a similar vessel B in the lower part, preferably in the basement, the top
of the lower vessel being connected by a pipe C with the top of the upper. An
open cistern D is also placed in the upper part of the house, the bottom being
connected by a pipe E with the bottom of the lower vessel. A valve F arranged
for the attachment of hose is attached to the bottom of the upper vessel. A stop
valve G is placed on the pipe from the open cistern, also in some cases a retaining
valve, and suitable arrangements are made for filling the cistern and the upper
vessel with water and draining the lower vessel when necessary.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
"The cistern D and the upper vessel A. being filled with water and the lower
vessel B empty, on the water in the cistern being admitted to the lower vessel by
opening the valve G the air is compressed and expelled and rising up the pipe C,
in its turn forces the water through the pipe to the hose or other medium for
throwing a jet; thus a jet may be thrown from the roof of a building though the
tank supplying the water is at the same or a lower level, and without the aid of
mechanism.
.
In the Figures 1 and 2, valves for the attachment of hose, otherwise hydrants J,
are shewn on the pipe E supplied with water under pressure from the tank D or
or the street main H.
In some cases the cistern may be dispensed with and pressure exerted on the
air in the lower vessel direct by a water company's main H, or from a private
reservoir as shewn in Figure 2.
This invention is also applicable to raising water for domestic or other purposes
in cases in which a head of water is obtainable equal to, or greater than half the
height it is required to raise water.
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. The application of the principle set forth for the purpose of throwing jets
under pressure for fire extinguishing purposes.
2. The arrangement of vessels and fittings substantially as described, for the
purpose aforesaid.
Dated this 6th day of Decemben 1005
JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER.
GORDON HARRIS.