IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Frank Patrick McMurrough
Kavanagh at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st April
1878. (A communication from abroad by William Johnstone, of Philadelphia,
in the United States of America.)
THOMAS FRANK PATRICK MCMURROUGH KAVANAGH, of King Street, Saint
James's, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES." (A communication from abroad by
William Johnstone, of Philadelphia, in the United States of America.)
This Invention relates,―
Firstly. To the manufacture of a fire-extinguishing compound, which, under the
action of heat or fire, evolves gases or vapors, which suppress or extinguish the
conflagration.
And, Secondly. To an adjunct to such fire-extinguishing devices, which renders
the same automatic, and more prompt and certain in their action.
The second part of the Invention can also be applied with advantage to other
fire-extinguishing devices, which evolve carbonic acid or similarly destructive gases
or vapors on the mixture of certain ingredients, such, for instance, as the addition
of sulphuric, muriatic, or other acid to carbonate of lime or other alkaline solution
or preparation.
The improved fire-extinguishing compound consists of a mixture of about equal
parts of chlorate of potash, resin, nitrate of potash, and oxide of manganesc, moistened
with a solution of silicate of soda, and compressed into a block, the latter being
surrounded by a fireproof wrapper or case, and provided with a fuse, as horein-
after set forth.
A certain number of these boxes or cases of fire-extinguishing compound being
placed on a shelf or shelves (by preference near the ceiling or roof of the room or
structure to be protocted), one or more lengths of water and rat-proof fuses (pre-
ferably of the quick variety) are stretched across the said room or structure, and
are jointly and severally connected to the boxes or cases containing the fire-
extinguishing compound.

page_text: It will be evident that upon the occurrence of a fire the fuse becoming ignited
will immediately communicate with the compound, which will then evolve its fire-
extinguishing gas or vapor, and suppress the conflagration.
To apply the last-mentioned device to such fire extinguishers as act by the
mixture of two ingredients, as above named, in order to render them automatic, and
not as now dependent upon human assistance or knowledge, all that is requisite is
to apply a spring or a weighted lever to the tap or valve of the acid cistern or
receptacle, such spring or lever having a tendency to open the same, and then to
confine the spring or weighted lever by means of an inflammable band or ligature,
so as to keep the tap or valve closed. A fuse or fuses being connected to this band
or ligature, and stretched across the apartment or structure on the occurrence of a
fire the fuse ignites, consumes the band or ligature, and allows the spring or lever
to open the tap or valve, and admit the acid; or the same effect might be produced
by suspending a weight above a glass or other frangible vessel containing the acid,
and connecting the fuse to the suspending cord or band; or by other similar incans
the burning of the fuse may be made to set free any suitable device for effecting the
mixture of the two ingredients without human aid or intervention.