Improvements in the Manner of Fitting Buildings in order that Fires may be Readily Extinguished.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manner of Fitting Buildings in order that
Fires may be Readily Extinguished.
I, WILLIAM HUGH CALLISTER of Cope Cope, in the Colony of Victoria,
School Master, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to fitting buildings in such a manner that should a fire
break out therein it may be readily and quickly extinguished and it consists in
fire-proof collars of iron or other metal carrying a socket or groove of iron built
in an air-tight manner around all openings in the walls of buildings, such as
doorways, windows, ventilators, or the openings leading to stairways, elevators
or lifts.
A slide or shutter of iron or other metal is made capable of working closely in
the groove upwards and downwards or backwards and forwards, according as there
is room above, below or at the side of the opening in the wall. The socket or
groove runs round three sides of the opening in the wall. The ends on the open
side are connected with a flat bar of iron or other metal. A frame rigidly fastened
to the wall carries the slide if necessary, when moved out of its socket.
A catch and spring holds the slide in its place when lifted above its socket; the
catch and spring being fixed to the frame that carries the socket or to the frame
that carries the slide when out of the socket. A double groove plate runs up the
middle of the large windows from bottom to top, or across from side to side (if
necessary), such sockets being continuations of the grooves round the edges of the
windows or openings. The slide should be flat throughout or turned at right
angles forming a sort of cap which fits down closely on the outside edge of the bar.
Such slides are bolted or padlocked (where necessary) by bolts passing through
the slide, through the bar and through the wall. The slides may be furnished with
a handle by which they may be opened and closed when within reach.
cases the slides can be pulled into sockets by a connection of chains and rods
fastened to the slides and passing round wheels arranged upon the walls and leading
to a roller, barrel or small windlass or wheel with a deep groove on the circum-
ference. The wheel is placed in some convenient situation and operated by a
handle or otherwise. The roller or windlass is worked by a lever or by cogs and
pin to hold the roller or wheel when the chain is wound on it. The position and
number of wheels and length of chain should be so arranged as to suit the system
of slides operated.
In other
One system of slides, chains, rods and one roller, windlass or wheel, should be
fitted to each storey of the building, so that each storey is shut up by turning the
roller, windlass or wheel belonging to it. The slides can be opened by slackening
the chain and pulling them back by a hook that fits in a small depression on the
inside of the slide, or by pulling them back with a reverse chain.
Such collars and sockets fitted with slides and worked by connecting rods and
chains as herein before described, can be fitted to stairway openings, the floors
having been made air-tight and fire-proof by brickwork, cement or metal plating &c.,
and can also be fitted to doorways opening to clevator shafts, such elevator shafts
having been built in one corner of the building, of solid brickwork, and opening
only upon each flat or storey. Such slides are made thoroughly air-tight when
necessary by a metal rod or bar, preferably covered with canvas or cloth, or
asbestos cloth, pressed by a weight or pins worked with springs into the angle all
round the slide.
J
1001
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.

page_text: COME DIN SEDULE ICATION.
Improvements in the Manner of Fitting Buildings in order that
Fires may be Readily Extinguished.
I, WILLIAM HUGH CALLISTER of Cope Cope in the Colony of Victoria,
School Master, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 has been designed with the object of providing air tight and fire
proof coverings for all openings in the walls of buildings such as doorways, windows,
ventilators or the openings leading to stairways, elevators or lifts in order that fires
may be extinguished automatically by completely closing up the building or any
floor in it and so cutting off the supply of oxygen necessary to support combustion,
the oxygen within the compartment or building becoming speedily exhausted con-
sequently the fire will cease. The fire proof slides or shutters also prevent fires
spreading from an adjoining building.
The fire proof coverings with their frames and appurtenances 1 construct of
metal the coverings being in the form of slides or shutters made and arranged so
that they can be moved either singly or collectively (according as they are arranged)
either sidewise (by preference) or upwards, downwards in a plane parallel with the
face of opening that they cover, off and on it or them, while also each slide or
cover when home in its supporting frame in front or over the opening in the wall
has the joints between it and its frame covered so as to make practically a perfect
air-tight cover for such opening, each frame being fitted or built in around its
opening in a manner to ensure of its being air-tight. In a building having several
floors flats or stories each floor-when fitted up according to my invention can be
closed in an air-tight manner against the one above or below it, and the slides or
shutters of each floor may be operated together if required.
I prefer that elevator or lift shafts should be built up in one corner of the
building of solid brickwork and have only one opening leading to each flat or
floor, such opening being vertical and capable of being fitted up according to my
invention.
By these means should a fire occur in one floor or flat and the coverings be
immediately closed or should a fire occur in a building left closed up in this manner
there will be no draught to fan or feed the flames the supply of oxygen from the
air in the building or in each isolated story of the building will speedily be
exhausted and the fire will be automatically extinguished also should a fire occur in
a building adjacent to it then if the windows and other openings are closed it will
be impossible for the fire to extend through such openings.
In order that my invention may be well understood I will describe by reference to
the accompanying sheet of drawings how I prefer to arrange air tight and fire proof
covers, shutters or slides about the openings through walls and the like and also a
means for opening and closing the slides or shutters. Throughout the figures of
the drawings similar letters will indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a front view, Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view and Fig. 3 a horizontal
sectional view of a window or opening fitted with an air tight and fire proof shutter
or slide and frame according to my invention,
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the outer top end of slide and
Fig. 5 a section shewing the tongue spring at inner end of slide in its hole or
slot when the slide is home.
Fig. 6 shews a general arrangement of the slides or shutters over the windows
or openings of two floors of a building.

page_text: Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view and Fig. 8 a cross sectional view of a
slide or shutter for closing a horizontal opening.
A is a window or other opening. B the metal frame fitted and secured around
the opening in a manner to prevent the passage of air between it and the face of
wall. C is a sheet metal slide or shutter supported by brackets c and sheaves d' on
a rail that is supported from face of wall by brackets or otherwise. ³ is a flange
at outer edge of shutter, such flange when the shutter is closed fits against the
end flange 6 of frame B while the marginal inner face of shutter fits closely
upon face bl of frame. To ensure of the joint between shutter and frame being
air tight I line or face the marginal face and end flange of slide or shutter with
asbestos cloth 62 that is commented or otherwise secured in position. c and e³ are
suitable springs arranged as shewn on back of slide at its top and bottom and co
are spring tongues also on back of slide at its inner end. Springs c' and when
the slide is nearly in position to close the opening pass under ears or lugs band *
whilst spring tongues e pass into holes in staples or lugs and thus by the
combined compressional force of the springs a close airtight joint is made between
the asbestos facing of the slide C and the face of the frame B the joint at open
end of frame being made by flanges and 3 with the asbestos between them.
Lugs are arranged to clear inner springs e so that no pressure is exerted on the
springs until the slide or shutter is nearly in its position to close the opening also
sufficient play is allowed between flanges of sheaves c' and the rail 2 to allow said
springs to act upon the slide or shutter as afore described. care rods connecting
the slides or shutters together such rods between each pair of slides are attached
to one another by a coiled spring coupling to allow for the expansion and
contraction of the rods. Any other suitable form of coupling may be employed.
In Fig. 6 I shew both ends of the connecting bars of the slides of each floor
attached to chains and rods D such chains passing to and wound around a windlass
barrel I, which upon being rotated in one direction will open the slides or shutters
and if rotated in the reverse direction will close them. I also shew as an alter-
native a vertical rod or shaft J capable of being rotated by handle and gearing at
Its lower end and operating pinions that gear with racks formed upon or attached
to each line of shutters at about their centre. It will be obvious that the slides or
shutters may be arranged so that they are all moved or worked simultaneously or
that each floor be worked separately.
In Figs. 7 and 8 the slide or shutter is shewn horizontal and supported on
sheaves or small wheels c¹ carried by spring axles & such wheels running on rails c
that are inclined so that as the slide nears its closing point the spring axles give
slightly and compress the slide upwards against face of frame to make a good air
tight joint.
Although I have herein described and shewn in my drawings the best means
known to me for fitting up window and other openings in an air tight and fire proof
manner I do not confine myself to such precise arrangement as it will need to be
varied to suit the openings that are to be covered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Furnishing or fitting window or other openings with a metallic frame upon or
into which is fitted a metallic slide or shutter so fitted as to be able to close the
window or other opening in an air tight and fire proof manner as and for the
purposes herein described.
2. In a means for fitting openings in buildings in an airtight and fireproof manner
the combination of a frame (such as B) a shutter or slide (such as C) having their
meeting surfaces faced with asbestos as and for the purposes herein described.
3. In a means for fitting openings in buildings in an air tight and fire proof
manner the combination of a frame (such as B) a slide or shutter (such as C) and

page_text: the springs and lugs to press the meeting surfaces together as and for the purposes
described and as illustrated in my drawings.
Dated this 14th day of October 1891.
WILLIAM HUGH CALLISTER.
J. C. Mewburn,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.