IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTIN- GUISHING FIRE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A. M and
:
W Clark of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agents, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTIN-
GUISHING FIRE Communicated to him from abroad by Pierre Charles Eugène
Tabouët, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th July 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A M and W Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE." Communicated to him from abroad by Pierre Charles
Eugène Tabouët, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to an improved fire extinguisher combining perfect safety
and convenience in working. The apparatus is so constructed as to be charged or
put under pressure only at the time of use and this in a few minutes without any
special manipulation or knowledge required.
The Invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings
in which Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections of the apparatus before and after
it is put under pressure. Figure 3 is a cross section and Figure 4 a plan of the
cover. Figure 5 is a vertical section of the safety valve and Figure 6 a modifi-
cation, the last four Figures being drawn to a larger scale.
a is a cylinder or other vessel having handles b and cock c to which the hose is
screwed. It has a flanged mouth d furnished with an indiarubber or other seating e
for the cover. f is a locking ring (Figures 3 and 4) taking under the flange d.
The flange h of the ring has three notches i and three inclined surfaces k. is the
cover having a rim which bears upon the seating e and three lugs corresponding
with the notches i and after passing through which the ring is turned so as to
lock the cover by the inclines k bearing upon the lugs thus making a tight joint.
The cover has a central nut through which passes a quick threaded screw m
Price 1071

page_text: having an indiarubber washer n and a hook n' at its lower end or the coupling
shown in Figure 6 may be employed. q is a safety valve on the cover being a
small plug of indiarubber (see Figure 5) held by a metal cup guided by a spindle
and enclosed in a screw cap q furnished with vents s' By screwing the cap on
more or less the rubber valve r is more or less compressed thus varying the
pressure at which it rises. To the under side of the cover is also attached an
annular seat p for a purpose hereafter referred to. o is a rod attached to the
screw m. It carries two plugs t u of cork the latter being the larger one and
supported by a disc v retained by a wing nut w. The plugs correspond in size
and in their distance apart with the mouths in the two ends of a vessel x into
which the plugs are sealed with wax. The vessel a contains an alkaline solution,
preferably of bicarbonate of soda the level being such that when the vessel is
introduced the apparatus will be quite filled. The vessel a containing only the
alkaline solution is closed by the cover and may so remain indefinitely as there
is as yet no pressure within it. When the apparatus is to be charged a vessel
filled with a chemical substance capable of combining with the contents of the
vessel a and generating carbonic acid gas (tartaric or other acid for example) is
attached to the hook n¹ or other connection of the screw m, by means of the rod o.
The cover is then refixed as represented in Figure 1. By now screwing m
upwards by means of its handle z until the upper end of the vessel a abuts against
the annular seat p and the two plugs t u are extracted, the bottle will then fall
as in Figure 2 and its contents becoming mixed with those of the vessel a carbonic
acid gas at a pressure of about 14 atmospheres is generated in the apparatus. The
vessel remains suspended on the lower plug u as shown and the screw m
remaining raised the pressure of the gas against the washer n makes a tight joint
and prevents the escape either of gas or liquid.
The form proportions and details of construction of the apparatus may be
varied as well as the nature of the substances used for generating carbonic acid
gas therein.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th January 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the Firm of A, M, and W, Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Patent Agents "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE." A communication to me from abroad by Pierre Charles
Eugène Tabouët of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to an improved fire extinguisher combining perfect safety
and convenience in working. The apparatus is so constructed as to be charged or
put under pressure only at the time of use, and this in a few minutes without any
special manipulation or knowledge of the apparatus being required.
The Invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings,
in which Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections of the apparatus before and after
it is put under pressure. Figure 3 is a cross section and Figure 4 a plan of the
cover drawn to a larger scale. Figure 5 is a vertical section of the safety valve,
and Figures 6 and 7 are modifications of the apparatus.
a is a cylinder or other vessel having handles b and cock c to which the hose is
screwed. It has a flanged mouth d furnished with an indiarubber or other seating e
for the cover. f is a locking ring provided with handles g and taking under the
flange d. This locking ring is shown separately in Figures 3 and 4. The internal
flange h of the ring has three notches i and three inclined or cam surfaces k. Zis
the cover having a rim which bears upon the seating e and three lugs corresponding
with the notches i. After dropping the cover and its lugs through the ring and
its notches, the ring is turned so as to lock the cover by the inclines k bearing
upon the lugs, thus making a tight joint. The cover has a central nut through
which passes a quick threaded screw m having an indiarubber washer n aud a
hook n at its lower end. Or the coupling shown in Figure 6 may be employed.
This consists of an undercut slot n¹ on the underface of a head attached to the
end of screw m, in which slot a corresponding head on the end of rod o engages.
is a safety valve on the cover, being a small elastic plug r of indiarubber (see
Figure 5) held by a metal cup guided by a spindle 8 and enclosed in a screw cap q
furnished with vents 8¹. By screwing the cap on more or less, the rubber valve
is more or less compressed, thus varying the pressure at which it rises. To the
under side of the cover is also attached by arms an annular seat p for a purpose
hereafter referred to. o is a rod attached to the screw m. It carries two plugs
tu of cork, the latter being the larger one and supported by a disc v retained by
a wing nut w. The plugs correspond in size and in their distance apart with the
mouths in the two ends of a vessel x into which the plugs which have previously
been tarred, are sealed with wax. The vessel a contains an alkaline solution
preferably of bicarbonate of soda, the level being such that when the vessel x is
introduced, the apparatus will be quite filled. The vessel a containing only the
alkaline solution is closed by the cover and may so remain indefinitely as there
is as yet no pressure within it. When the apparatus is to be charged, a vessel
filled with a chemical substance capable of combining with the contents of the
vessel a and generating carbonic acid gas (tartaric or other acid for example) is
attached to the hook n¹ or other connection of the screw m by means of the rod o
and is introduced into the vessel a, the cover being then refixed as represented
in Figure 1. By now screwing m upwards by means of its handle until the
upper end of the vessel abuts against the annular seat p and the two plugs t
are extracted, the bottle will fall as in Figure 2 and carbonic acid gas at a pressure

page_text: of about 14 atmospheres will be generated in the apparatus by the contents of the
two vessels becoming mixed. The vessel x remains suspended on the lower plug u
as shown, and the screw m remaining raised, the pressure of the gas against the
washer n makes a tight joint and prevents the escape either of gas or liquid. The
safety valve q avoids all danger notwithstanding the high pressure attained.
The inner vessel may also be closed as indicated in Figure 7, in which A. is the
suspension rod for the vessel E; D are discs having cutting edges fixed on said
rod, and C are sheets of lead or other soft metal or alloy soldered to the end
plates F and closing openings therein. When rod A is drawn up by the screw as
before described, the discs D readily cut through the soft metal covering discs.
The upper one is protected against external injury by a plate B, and the lower one
by a bridge piece H.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is.
1st. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination with the flanged mouth d
and seating e and a cover furnished with lugs, of a locking ring f rotating on
the flanged mouth and provided with notches and inclined cam surfaces k
adapted to engage with the lugs on the cover, substantially as shown and
described.
2nd. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the employment of an inner suspended
vessel constructed as described and closed at its two ends by plugs tu of different
diameters on the same rod o, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. The combination with the soft metal plates C closing the ends of the inner
vessel of the cutting discs D carried by the suspension rod and of the means for
bringing the same into operation, substantially as specified.
4th. The combination of the inner suspended vessel traversed by a central
suspension rod o, as and for the purpose specified, and of an extracting screw m
and a seat p substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5th. The construction of coupling for the screw m and the central rod of the
inner vessel, substantially as shown in Figure 6.
:
6th. The construction of the safety valve of an elastic block with a guide
stems and vents 8', substantially as shown in Figure 5.
In Witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of January, A.D. 1883.
A