IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British and
Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of
France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OP
Sealed the 17th September 1858, and dated the 12th July 1858.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 12th July 1858, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices,
39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE ENGINES AND SIMILAR APPARATUS," com-
municated to me from a foreigner residing abroad, and have petitioned Her
Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her
Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn declaration that it
is a cominunication:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, do
bereby declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and
seal fully describes and ascertains the nature of the Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be performed, reference being bad to the
accompanying Drawing, that is to say:-
The Invention communicated to ne consists in an improved construction of
fire engines and analogous apparatus, tending to facilitate the dismounting of
their various parts, and to combine with increased lightness, and consequent
reduction of cost, a degree of solidity and freedom from vibration hitherto
unattained.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is a plan of the apparatus; Figure 2
is a vertical section through the line A, B, Figure-1; Figure 3 is a vertical
section through the line C, D, Figure 1; and Figure 4 is an elevation of the
apparatus.
Figure 1 e, e, e, e, frame lever mounted with cross pieces f. f, at its ex-
tremities; 9, 9, 9, 9, are four cast rings adjusted to the forked pieces at cach
extremity of the lever. These rings are intended to receive the spokes by
which the apparatus is worked; h, h, are parallel rods connecting the two
pistons; i, i, rod for transmitting the movement from the lever to the pistons;
j, j, cross pieces in communication with the piston rods k, k; l, l, air recipient
mounted with a junction piece m, to facilitate the cleaning of the valves; n, n,
wooden cistern lined with copper, zinc, or other suitable metal.
Figure 2: A, A, cylinder in which the pistons work; b, b, two rings adjusted
to each extremity of the cylinder, and bolted at the top of the cistern; c, d,
two pistons shewn at half stroke, and in communication with the frame lever
represented, Fig. 1; e, f, two valves in caoutchouc, leather, or other suitable
material, and so fitted as to press exactly against the division between the two
cylinders A, A; h, i, two metallic force valves. In the working of the
apparatus the piston c moves from the valve e. The vacuum being thus formed,
this valve opens and allows the water to enter the space behind the piston.
The piston d in approaching the valve f throws back the water by the valve i
to the air recipient j, j. On changing the movement of the pistons the valves
fand i close, and the valves e and h open to produce the same effect as that
produced by the valves f and i in the first movement of the piston, and so on
continuously. k, junction pipe; 1, l, valve box connecting the cylinder A, A,
with the air recipient j,j; m, junction piece, which may be readily unmounted
in case of stoppage of the force valves h and i; n, n, adjusting piece for
regulating the course of the force valves. 0, 0, iron rods for unscrewing the
junction piece m; p, p, junction piece soldered to the air recipient i, j.
9, 9, plunge pipe soldered to the junction piece p, p, to prevent the escape
of air by the joints of the latter. The pistons c and d are each com-
posed of two pieces of embossed leather placed in opposite directions to

page_text: each other, and fixed to the piston rods r, r, by a nut and washer, s, s, lever;
t, t, wooden piece for mounting the apparatus on the cistern by means of two
bolts u, u, secured to the wooden cross pieces under the cistern; v, v, v, wooden
cistern lined with copper, zinc, or other metal; y, y, iron pins for regulating
the stroke of the lever; z, z, cast support serving as axis to the lever.
Figure 3 a, a, cylinder; b, b, twelve orifices at each valve for the entry of
the water behind the pistons, when the aspiration has taken place; c, junction
pipe for use either in or out of the cistern; d, pipe mounted for use with the
cistern; e, screw joint piece for changing the pipes; f, box which places the
cylinder in communication with the air recipient; g, escape pipe communicating
with the jet; h, h, air recipient; i, female junction pipe; j,j, apparatus for
regulating the stroke of the piston; k, k, male junction piece soldered to the
air recipient; l, l, plunge tube; m, m, cast support serving as axle to the
lever; n, n, wooden piece fitted in the cistern for mounting the apparatus;
0, 0, two cast pieces forming part of the lever. At the two axles p, p, are
fitted the rods q, q, for transmitting the movement to the piston rods; r, r, iron
lever frame; s, s, two parallel iron pieces connecting the piston rods; t, force
valve; u, u, wooden cistern with metallic lining.
Figure 4 a, a, pump cylinder; b, air recipient; c, box connecting the
cylinder with the air recipient; d, orifice for the reception of the escape pipe;
e, screw junction piece for unmounting the force valves; f,f, two rings forming
part of the pump body; g, g, wooden piece adjusted at the top of the cistern
for mounting the apparatus; h, h, bolts; i, i, wooden cistern; k, k, two cross
pieces under the cistern; 1, l, cast piece mounted with two axles for the lever ;
m, m, two cast pieces forming part of the lever; n, bearings adjusted to the
axis of the lever and secured by the key pieces o; p, p, iron lever connected
with the cast pieces m, m, by means of rivets; q, q, cast rings adjusted to the
extremities of the lever. In these rings are placed the handspokes for working
the pump.
The fire engines constructed as above are free from many of the defects in-
herent to the systems at present employed; by the absence of joints and stuffing
boxes all leakage is obviated, while the general form of the apparatus tends
essentially to reduce the fatigue and vibration in working, notwithstanding the
lightness of the structure. It is obvious that the dismounting of the different
parts of these engines may be effected with the utmost facility, facility which
as a natural consequence extends to the repairs which may be necessary. The
peculiar arrangement of the valves and pistons affords special advantages in
this respect.
Having thus described the nature of the said improvements and the manner

page_text: of carrying them into effect, I would have it expressly understood that I do
not limit them to the apparatus generally known as "fire engines," as their
application, either wholly or in part, to other pumps is sufficiently obvious; nor
do I confine myself to the precise details of construction above laid down, as
these may be considerably modified without departing from the principle of the
Invention; but what I claim is, the general construction and arrangement of
"fire engines and analogous apparatus substantially as above described and
represented in the Figures of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
M. F. MENNONS. (L.S.)