IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS." A communication
from abroad by the A. Burritt Hardware Company, Incorporated, of Waterbury;
Cannastiant Initad States of Amarine
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th September 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE EXTINGUISHING
APPARATUS." A communication from abroad by the A. Burritt Hardware Company,
Incorporated, of Waterbury, Connecticut, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of fire-extinguishers which
consists of a finely perforated tip attached to the nozzle or outlet of a pipe in a
room, and so constructed that when an accidental fire in the room shall raise the
temperature to a predetermined point the supply of water will flow through the
perforated tip and be distributed about the room in the form of spray to extinguish
the accidental fire.
One difficulty in this class of extinguishers arises from the fact that sediment or
foreign particles are liable to settle in the pipe at the plug, and when the water
supply is let on the sediment or particles enter the perforated distributor or tip;
and to a greater or less extent clog the perforations.
In order to protect the distributor from the lodgement of dust or other foreign
particles therein, which might obstruct the flow of water, a cap is arranged as a
cover for the distributor; in some cases this cap is soldered at the edge around the
distributor and serves as a stop for the water, so that when the heat is sufficient to
fuse the connection it will be thrown off and permit the flow of the water.
other cases there is a plug in the water-way at the back of the distributor and the
cap is simply set loosely over the distributor so as to be easily thrown off when
the flow of water comes to it.
In

page_text: The use of the free cap serves a very good purpose where the distributors are
set perpendicular, that is to say, so as to throw the water upward, but in many
cases it is desirable and necessary that the distributor should be turned downward;
in that case the loose cap cannot be employed, and in any case this loose cap is liable
to be accidentally removed.
An object of this Invention is to secure the cap over the distributor in such a
manner that the force of the water alone will disconnect it, and yet so that it is
not liable to accidental disconnection. As usually constructed there is no provision
for testing the pipes at the discharge end except to detach the plug, and another
object of this Invention is to provide a convenient means for examining or testing
the pipe at the said discharge end to ascertain whether or not a flow of water is
sure to follow the opening of the water-way.
In the usual construction the outside of the walls within which the plug is
attached are exposed directly to the heat that is upon the outside while the water
stands in close contact with the plug, the result being that such an uneven heating
of the plug that the water frequently escapes at some point between the said plug
and the wall to which it is secured, and which delays if not entirely prevents the
disconnection of the plug because the flow of water cools the fusible connection to
such an extent that the heat will not act upon it. To obviate this difficulty and,
ensure a uniform heat upon the plug is another object of this Invention.
A further object of this Invention is to provide a plug which shall simply open
by the application of heat, and in so opening will form a passage for the water
through which it will be forced in the form of spray, also to hold the said plug or
limit its movement so that it will move from its seat only sufficiently far to permit
the requisite flow of water, and so that after the flow the opening may be
temporarily closed by the plug itself.
This Invention, whereby these objects are accomplished, consists in various
novel details of construction hereinafter described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one form of my
improved fire-extinguisher; Figure 2 is a similar view; and Figure 3, a transverse
section on the line x, x, Figure 2, of a modified form of the said fire-extinguisher.
.
A is the water-way arranged to be attached to the supply-pipe in the usual
manner, and B.the perforated distributor of substantially the usual form. At the
entrance from the water-way to the distributor the passage is enlarged to form a
chamber C, and into this chamber extends a tubular socket or wall a to receive-the-
plug in such a manner as to expose the exterior surface of the said wall within
the chamber C and permit water to stand around it on the outside. D is a collar
which is screwed into the socket or water-way before the distributor B is attached,
and into this collar a plug E is fitted and secured by solder or other material
fusible at a low degree of heat, or it may, if desired, be a plug composed entirely
of fusible material. When the collar D is screwed into its place it completely
stops the flow of water, and when the requisite heat is applied the plug E will be
released in the usual manner. If at any time it is desired to examine whether or
not the supply pipe is in proper working condition the distributor must be removed
and then the collar unscrewed to allow of the flow of water, and when found to be
in order the collar may be returned and the flow of water shut off, and this without
disturbing the attachment of the plug. To avoid the entire removal of the collar a
channel b may be made in the socket or water-way, and terminating beneath the
flange of the collar D, as at d. The flange closing down upon the channel at d
prevents the escape of water, but when the collar is slightly unscrewed the channel
will permit it to escape should everything be in order..
The heat of the fire will quickly heat the water in the chamber C to a degree
sufficient to disconnect the plug. By reason of this water-conductor or surrounding
fluid the heat will necessarily be uniform around the socket, and produce the dis-
engagement of the plug at all points at the same instant, and will also avoid the
possibility of the sudden flow of cold water upon the fusible connection.
The plug E is best constructed hollow, with one end rounded or semi-spherical,

page_text: leaving straight sides sufficient to make connection with the walls of the passage
in which it is placed. The spherical end is preferably arranged toward the water,
so as to prevent water from lying within the cup and close to the soldered sides,
which would retard the effect of the heat; or the plug may be made semi-spherical
at both ends, with sufficient bearing at the sides to make the required connection
with the walls, but in any case it should be made hollow, so as to make it as light
as possible, and yet sufficiently strong to sustain the water pressure. As soon as
the plug is liberated by heat, as before described, the plug enters the distributor, as
indicated in broken lines in Figure 1, and will by the action of the water therein
be kept in constant notion around the inner surface of the said distributor, and by
such motion will remove obstructions which may be in the perforations within the
same.
F is a thin metal cap set on over the distributor to enclose it, as shown. At the
centre or closed, end of the said cap a small perforation is made, as at e, exposing
the point of the distributor beneath. Through this perforation e a drop of solder f
is introduced, which so connects the cap with the distributor that the cap will be
retained in this position, but when the flow is let on the pressure on the large
interior surface of the cap will be sufficient to throw the cap from the distributor,
the force being greater than the strength of the connection. Instead of a drop of
solder it may be a rivet connecting the two, the connection being so weak that the
riveting will give way when the pressure of the water comes upon the cap.
In the modification of the valve or plug shown in Figures 2 and 3, the plug seat
is made of conical form, so that the plug E made of hard metal may fit closo
thereon. Within or across the water-way I place one or more bridges G, through
which a spindle L passes, having a head in the rear of the inner bridge, so that
it may take a bearing thereon, and prevent the spindle from being drawn outward.
The outer end of the said spindle is screw-threaded, and the plug is corre-
spondingly tapped, so as to be screwed thereon, and it may be so screwed on as to
draw the plug down tight upon its seat; but ordinarily, and for use as an extin-
guisher, when the plug is upon its seat the head lies away from the bridge, as
seen in Figure 2, and the plug is secured in its seat by solder or other connection
fusible at a low degree of heat. Thus arranged, when the plug is liberated by
heat, as before described, it is quickly thrown out by the pressure of the water
thereon, as shown in broken lines in Figure 2, until the head of the spindle comes
against the bridge; there the spindle will be arrested, and the plug brought to a
stand, leaving a thin opening entirely around it, through which the water will freely.
pass, the space being so thin that the water will quickly break into spray, and be
thrown in all directions in such a manner that the perforated distributor may be
dispensed with. After the plug has been liberated and the fire extinguished the
plug may be forced to its seats by screwing it onto the spindle until it bears hard
against its seat, so as to prevent the further flow of water, and there it may remain
until it is convenient to solder and arrange it as before.
In Figure 2 the water-chamber is not shown around the socket or plug-seat, as
in Figure 1, but it will be readily understood that it is alike applicable to that
arrangement of water-chamber, as also to the testing device shown in Figure 1, and
may be used with the perforated distributor to advantage and also with the cap.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The combination of a water-distributor and water-way of a fire-extinguisher,
with a collar screwed into the said water-way, and a plug secured into the said
collar by a connection fusible at a low degree of heat, substantially as above set
forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. The combination of a distributor and water-way of a fire-extinguisher,
with a flanged collar screwed into the said water-way, a plug secured in the said
collar by a fusible connection, and a channel leading from the water-way below the

page_text: collar to a point beneath the flange of the latter, substantially as above set forth
and for the purposes specified.
Third. A fire-extinguisher consisting of a perforated distributor and water-way
connected thereto, combined with a socket between the said distributor and water-
way, arranged to receive the detachable plug, the said water-way being constructed
to form a chamber around the said socket, substantially as above set forth and for
the purposes specified.
Fourth. The combination in a fire-extinguisher of a perforated distributor con-
necting with the water-way, with a metal plug of semi-spherical or spherical shape
secured in the said water-way at the entrance to the said distributor by a fusible
connection, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The combination with the distributor of a fire-extinguisher of a cap
attached thereto by a device which will permit the disconnection of the said cap
when the pressure of the water comes upon the inside of the latter, substantially as
above set forth.
Sixth. The combination in a fire-extinguisher of the plug constructed to fit the
seat in the water-way, and secured thereto by a fusible connection with the headed
spindle attached to the said plug, and supported in the said water-way to arrest
the outward or opening movement of the plug, substantially as above set forth.
Seventh. The combination in a fire-extinguisher of the plug constructed to fit
the seat in the water-way, and secured thereto by a fusible connection with the
headed spindle attached to the said plug, and supported in the said water-way to
arrest the outward or opening movement of the plug, the said plug being secured
to the said spindle by a screw-thread, whereby the plug may be drawn upon its
seat, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W KOB. LAKE. (L.S.)
'. KOB“.