Improvements in Fire Pails.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire Pails.
1, CLARENCE RICHMOND MACOMBER, Clerk, residing at Worcester, in the County
of Worcester. and State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE PAILS, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a fire pail or bucket, for holding water, or a chemical
fire extinguishing liquid, and more particularly to a hermetically sealed pail or
bucket.
Fleretofore fire pails or buckets have been used, and have been placed in buildings,
and on ship board, designed to be ready for immediate use in case of fire. These
pails are filled, or partially filled with water, and in most instances have no cover
or top, and as a consequence the water in them is evaporated, or is used for some
other purpose, so that when said fire pails are required for immediate use, in case of
sudden fire, they are of no value, as they are almost always empty, or only partially
alled.
The object of my invention is to make a fire pail or bucket, for holding water, or
chemical fire extinguishing liquid, which, after it is filled, may be hermetically sealed,
so that the contents cannot evaporate or escape therefrom, but will remain in the pail
for an indefinite period, and consequently be always ready for immediate use; and
further, to hermetically seal the pail in such a manner, that the contents thereof
may be almost instantly reached, to be thrown upon the fire, in case it is desired to
use the pail for that purpose.
It is also the object of my invention to make a fire pail or bucket, which can be
easily handled, and which will always be ready for instant use, and which cannot
rust, corrode, or wear out, or be affected by atmospheric changes.
And also to make a fire pail or bucket, in which the contents, water, or chemical
fire extinguishing liquid, will be hermetically sealed, and in which it will be non-
evaporating, and non-freezing, and in which the contents can be easily reached if
necessary, and after once using, the pail or bucket can be refilled and hermetically
sealed, preparatory to using again.
Referring to the Drawing.
Figure 1 represents, in perspective, one of my fire pails or buckets, suspended from
a hook, and ready for use.
Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the pail shown in Figure 1.
I have shown in the drawing and described one way of making my hermetically
sealed fire pail or bucket, but I do not limit myself to the special construction shown,
as it may be changed and modified therefrom, if desired.
In the accompanying drawing, 1 is the receptacle proper, which holds the fire
extinguishing liquid, consisting preferably of water and a chemical compound,
which are in a state of solution, (see Fig. 2.) except perhaps a small portion of
the compound, which may remain in a solid state at the bottom, as shown at 2, in
said Fig. 2.
The receptacle 1 is made of thick glass, or other suitable material, preferably of
the shape shown, with a screw thread 3 around its upper part, and an inward
extending shoulder or flange 4, with a projection 5 extending up therefrom.
A disc 6, of tin foil, wax paper, or any similar material, which can be easily
perforated or broken, and of a diameter equal to the diameter of the receptacle 1 at
the outer edge of the shoulder 4, extends over the top of said recoptacle, and is
secured to the same so as to hermetically seal the contents thereof, by means of a
screw threaded ring 7, which is provided at its lower part with a screw thread
adapted to engage the screw thread 3 on the receptacle 1, and at its upper part

page_text: with an inward projecting extension 8 adapted to extend over and rest upon the
shoulder or flange 4 of said receptacle, and also with an inward and upward
extension 9, adapted to encircle and extend over the upward projection 5 of said
receptacle, see Fig. 2.
The screw threaded ring 7, by means of the inward, extension 9, holds the tin foil
disc 6 down tightly on the top of the extension 5 of the receptaclé 1, and by means
of the horizontal extension 8, holds the projecting edges of the disc 6 down tight
upon the shoulder or flange 4 of said receptacle, see Fig. 2, thus doing away
entirely with the necessity of using any packing material, and at same time making
a perfectly air tight joint, and hermetically sealing the contents of the receptacle,
and rendering the same non-evaporating.
The receptacle I, provided with a tin foil cover secured in place by a screw ring,
as above described, is placed in, and enclosed by a metal case 10, preferably made
of tin, and which may have one or more openings 11 near its upper edge, and is
provided with two ears 12, secured upon opposite sides of the case 10, near the
upper edge thereof.
The ears 12 extend above the upper edge of the case 10, and have a hole or
opening in their upper ends through which extend the bent ends 131 of the
handle 13, preferably made of wire. And said ends 131 project inward beyond the
ears 12, see Fig. 2. After the ends 13 of the wire handle 13 have been inserted
through the holes in the ears 12, they are preferably enlarged or headed at the
ends, so as to prevent their disengagement from the ears 12, but at the same time
allow of their being moved outwardly away from each other.
Instead of enlarging the ends 13 of the handle 13, as above described, to prevent
their disengagement from the ears 12, I may if preferred employ any equivalent
means for preventing their disengagement from the ears 12, while permitting of
their outward movement in said ears.
Or I may provide the ears 12 with a horizontal slot; as indicated at 19, Fig. 41,
and have the ends of the handle 13 flattened, or provided with a projecting pin,
as shown at 20, Fig. 2, so that when the handle is in an upright position, the
pin 20 will be in a vertical position, and the end of the handle cannot be drawn
out of its holding car 12; the pin 20 preventing. But when the handle is moved into
a horizontal position, the pin 20 can pass through the slot 19, and thus be disengaged
from the holding ears, for the purpose of removing the receptacle from its enclosing
case. as will be described hereafter.
And any other equivalent means may be employed in place of the pin 20, and
slot 19, in the ears 12, to allow of the handle 13, when in a certain position, being
disengaged from the ears 12.
The object of the construction of the handle 13 and the ears 12 as above described,
is to furnish in a very simple and effective manner, means by which the receptacle 1
can be held and secured within the case 10 and prevented from being disconnected
therefrom, except at the proper time, when by spreading apart the ends 131 of the
handle 13, or removing the handle as above described, the receptacle 1 may be
freely lifted out of its enclosing case 10.
The relative height of the case 10, with its ears 12, and the inward projecting
ends 13 of its handle 13, and the receptacle 1 with its screw ring 7, is such, that
when the receptacle 1 is seated on the bottom of the case 10, the ends 13 of the
handle 13 will extend over and bear upon the top surface of the horizontal extension 8
of the screw ring 7, and firmly hold the receptacle 1 down within its enclosing
case 10, without interfering with the free movement of the handle 13.
When it is desired to remove the receptacle 1 from its enclosing case 10, for any
purpose, it is only necessary as above described, to spread out the ends 131 of the
handle 13, or to disengage the ends of the handle from the holding cars 12.
I prefer to make the receptacle 1 higher than its enclosing case 10, so that when
they are combined together, as above described, there will be an open space, as shown
in Fig. 1, extending around the top part of the receptacle; to permit of freely seeing
the interior of the same.

page_text: A metal slip cover 14, preferably made of tin, with its outer edge 14' turned
down, fits over the top of the screw ring 7, and rests upon the same.
The cover 14 has a cord or chain 15 secured to the central part thereof, in this
instance by a ring 16, and said chain is provided with a ring 17 at its other end,
which is adapted to fit on to the end of a hook, as 18, see Figure 1.
I prefer to suspend my fire pail or bucket from a hook, as shown in Figure 1, by
the handle 13, and the action of the chain 15 secured to the cover 14, and connected
with the hook 18, is to automatically remove the cover 14 from the receptacle I,
when the pail is taken down for use, thus exposing the tin foil cover, or easily
perforated cover, which is instantly perforated or broken by the hand of the user, and
the contents of the receptacle thrown upon the fire.
The slip cover 14 acts as a protection for the tin foil cover 6, and prevents any
accidental breaking of the same.
And the automatic removal of said slip cover, in taking down the pail or bucket
from its supporting hook, as above described, prevents any loss of time, and leaves
both hands of the operator free, with one to grasp the handle, and with the other to
break through the tin foil cover to get at the contents of the receptacle, and throw
the same upon the fire withont an instant's delay.
The operation of my improved fire pail or bucket will be readily understood by
those skilled in the art from the above description in connection with the drawing,
and is as follows:
Into the glass receptacle 1, Fig. 4, is first placed. the chemical compound 2, and
then the same is filled with water, as shown in Fig. 2, the chemical compound
and the water combine together, and produce a chemical fire extinguishing liquid.
The tin foil disc 6, first ent into suitable size, is then placed on the top of the
receptacle 1, and the screw 7 fitted on to the top of said receptacle, and screwed
down to press upon and tightly secure the tin foil cover 6 upon the receptacle 1, so
as to hermetically seal the water and chemical compound contained therein, and
prevent any evaporation of the same.
The ends 13 of the handle 13, of the enclosing case 10 are drawn apart or dis-
engaged from the ears 12, and the receptacle 1 filled and charged as above described,
is placed in said case, and the ends 13 of the handle 13, when released, spring in
and extend over the upper part of said receptacle, as shown in Fig. 2, or are
inserted through the slots 19 as above described, and hold the receptacle securely in
the case 10.
The slip cover 14 is placed upon the top of the receptacle 1, and the pail, by ineaus
of the handle 13, is suspended from the hook 18, or its equivalent, and the ring 17
of the chain 15 of the cover 14, is placed on said hook, under or on the inside of the
handle 13. as shown in Fig. 1. The slip cover may be dispensed with, and the pail
used without it if preferred.
a screw
I have shown and described a screw ring for securing the tin foil, or easily
perforated cover, upon the top of the receptacle 1, said ring engaging
thread on said receptacle, but any other equivalent means for securing the tin foil
cover in place may be used in lieu of said screw ring; for instance, the receptacle 1
may be provided with separate lugs or projections extending out there from, and the
ring 7 with corresponding recesses, adapted to extend over and engage the same,
when the ring is moved around on top of the receptacle, in the ordinary way employed
in preserving jare, &c.
When it is desired to use the pail or bucket, the handle is removed from the
hook, leaving the slip cover .14 suspended thereon, and the tin foil cover is broken
as above described.
After the contents of the pail bave been discharged, it is removed from the case 10
by drawing out the ends of the handle 13, or disengaging them from the ears 12 ;
the screw ring 7 is removed and the broken tin foil is removed, and then the
receptacle is refilled with the chemical compound and water, and a new tin foil
cover substituted for the broken one, and the screw ring 7 replaced, and the parts.
combined together as above described.

page_text: .tin
"It will thus be seen that my improved fire pail or bucket can be used over again'
by refilling it with the chemical fire extinguishing liquid, and substituting a new
foil cover for the broken one.
The receptacle 1, which holds the chemical fire extinguishing liquid, being made of
glass, or similar material, is substantially indestructible, and will not corrode, or rust,
or be affected by any atmospheric changes.
By combining with the glass receptacle, which holds the chemical fire extinguishing
liquid, the metallic case 10, for enclosing the same, any injury to, or breaking of the
glass is prevented, and this is of special value in packing and transporting the
apparatus.
At the same time the enclosing case 10 does not interfere in any way with the
filling and discharging of the contents of the receptacle, or with a free view of said
contents for any purpose.
In case of need, the case 10, when disconnected from the receptacle 1, can be used
as a receptacle for holding water, or other material if desired.
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. As a new article of manufacture, a fire pail, provided with an easily perforated
cover fitted thereon, and means for securing said cover in place, to hermetically seal
the pail, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a fire pail, the combination with the pail, provided with a screw thread upon
its upper part, of an easily perforated cover fitted on the top of the pail, and a ring to be
screwed on to the top of the pail, to secure said cover thereon, substantially as shown
and described.
3. The combination with a pail, provided with a screw thread upon its upper part,
and an easily perforated cover fitted thereon, of a ring adapted to be screwed on to
said pail, to secure said cover in place, and a supplementary cover to extend over the
top of the pail, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with the pail 1, having the screw thread 3 upon its upper part,
of an easily perforated cover 4, a staple, or eye, attached thereto, and a ring 5 for
securing the cover 4 in place, substantially as set forth.
5. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for holding
fire extinguishing liquid, provided with a screw thread upon its upper exterior
surface, and an inward projecting flange or shoulder, and an upward projection, and
a tin foil, or easily perforated cover, adapted to extend' over the top of said recep-
tacle, and a screw ring to screw on to the top of the same, to secure the easily
perforated cover on the receptacle, and hermetically seal the contents thereof, of a
metal case, for enclosing said receptacle, and detachable therefrom, and provided
with ears, and a wire handle with bent ends to move out and in, in said ears, for
the purpose stated, substantially as set forth.
6. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for holding
a fire extinguishing liquid, having a screw thread upon its upper exterior surface,
and an inward projecting flange or shoulder, and a tin foil, or easily perforated
cover, and a screw ring for securing said cover to the receptacle to hermetically seal
the contents thereof, of a metal case for enclosing said receptacle, and detachable
therefrom, and provided with a handle, and means for holding the receptacle in said
case, and a slip cover adapted to extend over the easily perforated cover, and means
for automatically removing said slip cover, preparatory to using the apparatus,
substantially as set forth.
7. In a chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a receptacle,
and a chemical fire extinguishing liquid, hermetically sealed within said receptacle by
a tin foil, or easily perforated cover, and a screw ring for securing the same on the
top of the receptacle, of a metallic protecting case, for enclosing said glass receptacle,
and detachable therefrom, and provided with a handle, and means for securing the
receptacle within said case, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 8. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a receptacle, and a fire
extinguishing liquid hermetically sealed within said receptacle by a tin foil or easily
perforated cover, and a screw ring for securing said cover on the top of the recep-
tacle. and a metallic slip cover to fit over and protect the easily perforated cover,
and provided with a handle, and means for securing said receptacle within said
protecting case, substantially as set forth.
9. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a receptacle, and a fire
extinguishing liquid hermetically sealed within said receptacle by a tin foil or easily
perforated cover, and a scrow ring for securing said cover on the top of said recep
tacle, and a metallic slip cover provided with a chain or cord for engagement with
a hook, or its equivalent, to automatically remove said cover, of a metallic protecting
case for enclosing said receptacle, and detachable therefrom, and provided with a
handle, and means for securing said receptacle within said protecting case, substantially
as set forth.
رسم
1000
CLARENCE RICHMOND MACOMBER.