Improvements in Fire-extinguishers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1893
Improvements in Fire-extinguishers.
A. communication from GUSTAVE BERNHEIM, of 27, Rue du Pont Neuf, Rheims,
in the Republic of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent 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 :-
The object of the fire-extinguishing apparatus which my correspondent entitles
"The Parafeu Bernheim" consists in supplying a hand-appliance to replace the
fire-grenades in point of size, but similar in principle and construction to the
larger metallic extincteurs which are usually carried on the back of the operator;
that is to say, having over the fire-extinguishing hand-grenades the advantage of
being capable of indefinitely prolonged use, inasmuch as fracture is not essential to
their action, as will appear from the description hereinafter given, and as they give
an extinguishing jet of water charged with fire-extinguishing gas of a length of
from 8 to 10 metres.
In the design of this apparatus the cylindrical form of fire-extinguishers
generally have been reverted to, but of such contracted dimensions as to admit of
being easily carried by hand, and further with the following improvments.
Firstly, to obtain a more intimate admixture of the acid with the bicarbonated
water, the glass vessel or acid-reservoir is placed close to the bottom of the water-
reservoir, in such manner that so soon as the glass of the acid-receiver is broken
the acid diffuses itself over the bottom of the apparatus, whence, as it mingles with
the bicarbonated water, it is drawn upwards, by the development of gas so as to
ascend through the entire volume of water in the reservoir and thus become mixed
therewith in the most intimate and expeditious manner. This constitutes a notable
advantage over the existing systems of fire-extinguishers wherein the acid-reservoir
is always located in the upper part of the apparatus close to the cover with the
consequent serious drawback that on the rupture of its receptacle the acid has to
permeate the bicarbonated water downwards from its elevation, so that the
admixture is not so thorough as by my system. There is further also the
possibility that, when the acid-reservoir is placed in the upper part of the apparatus
close to the cover, if the shock intended to break the glass entirely should only
suffice to make a hole in it a portion of the acid might in that case remain in the
vessel and fail of admixture with the bicarbonated water.
Secondly. In lieu of breaking the acid-tube by a blow falling vertically on its
surface, the fracture is effected by a blow from below upwards, at the bottom of the
apparatus; and such a blow is applied by means of an eccentric lever, as hereinafter
described, fitted with a suitable striking hammer. This arrangement enables my
correspondent to obtain the outflow of the acid quite at the bottom of the apparatus
by effecting a blow on the tube with a maximum of mechanical force, which at the
same time causes the water to re-dissolve any of the bicarbonate that may have
been precipitated at the bottom of the apparatus, two metallic arms n' n³ being
attached to the lever-arm of the striking hammer for the purpose of dislodging any
sedimentary deposit that may have been formed near the tube N.
Thirdly. In order to avoid all, risk of explosion or of the appliance being
needlessly set in action my correspondent combines the push-button whereby the
striking hammer is actuated with the outlet-cock of the jet in such manner that
the cock must be opened before the button can be depressed, as hereinafter
described.

page_text: My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings.
The improved fire-extinguishing appliance called "The Parafeu Bernheim
consists of a cylindrical receptacle made of metal. Near its base the lateral
periphery has a circular orifice A B closed by means of a screw-cap G H to which
is soldered or otherwise suitably attached a cylindrical guide-piece CD which,
when inserted, is exactly opposite a similar guide-piece E made slightly trumpet-
mouthed and fixed to the opposite side of the cylinder. The joint of the
screw-cap G H is made watertight by means of a leather or other suitable washer
as shown.
Upon the hemi-spherical bottom of the apparatus is fixed a striking hammer I
attached to a movable lever J which has its fulcrum in a small pivot Q. This
lever is actuated by a rod K terminating outside the cylinder-cover in a button L
at its upper end; to prevent any escape or leakage the rod passes through a
stuffing-box M in the cover.
A pipe N traverses the apparatus obliquely as shown in the drawing and is
provided with a rose or grating at its lower end, and fitted with a stop-cock O at
its outlet from the dome shape cover of the apparatus. A handle P attached to
the centre of the dome enables the fire-extinguisher to be easily carried by hand.
The push-button L rests upon the handle O' of the stop-cock O so that it is
impossible to set the apparatus in action unless the tap is open.
The fire-extinguisher being filled with bicarbonated water and a glass tube
filled with acid (shown on the drawing in dotted lines and placed in the guide-
pieces C D E F) the stop-cock being opened, the apparatus is set in action by the
operator striking the button L with sufficient force to cause by the joint action of
the rod K and the lever J the hammer I to strike the tube and break the glass so
that the acid therein contained by a very simple chemical reaction, may disengage
by its admixture with the bicarbonated water an enormous volume of carbonic
acid gas,
the pressure generated thereby causing a strong jet of water charged with
gas to issue from the stopcock-nozzle through the pipe N. It is superfluous to
dilate on the effect produced on materials in combustion by this water charged with
a gas that is eminently unsuited for its maintenance.
The apparatus may easily be recharged through the orifice A B by unscrewing
the cap GH.
My correspondent reserves however the right to make such alterations as he may
think fit in the dimensions of the apparatus and the material used in its construction
as well as in the composition of the chemical compounds used as charges.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In fire extinguishing apparatus in which the acid-tube is placed near the bottom
of the vessel and broken by a hammer fitted with arms or wings as agitators and
itself actuated by means of a button on the end of a rod such hammer striking
an upward blow substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In apparatus such as described above the combination with the button L
and rod K of the stop cock OO' so that the rod cannot be depressed until the
cock is opened substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 29th day of August 1893.
5
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.