APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING OR EXTINGUISHING FIRE IN SHIPS, UNDER- GROUND APARTMENTS, AND OTHER ENCLOSURES, PART OF THE APPARATUS BEING USEFUL FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Weare, of the
City of Manchester,
'IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING OR EXTINGUISHING FIRE IN SHIPS, UNDER-
GROUND APARTMENTS, AND OTHER ENCLOSURES, PART OF THE APPARATUS BEING
USEFUL FOR OTHER PURPOSES,"
Sealed the 20th July 1875, and dated the 22nd January 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Weare at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd January 1875.
I, ROBERT WEARE, of the City of Manchester, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING OR EXTINGUISHING FIRE IN SHIPS, UNDER.
GROUND APARTMENTS, AND OTHER ENCLOSURES, PART OF THE APPARATUS BEING
USEFUL FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-

page_text: same time when used in a dry state is not injurious to the cargo of a
ship or contents of an underground apartment or other enclosure, into
which it would be practicable either to let the gas descend by its own
gravity or to force it by pressure, and thus either render such cargo or
contents incombustible, or in case of the same being on fire to instantly 5
and effectually extinguish such fire.
In carrying my Invention into practical effect, and as applied to a
ship or other vessel which is usually built in air-tight compartments, I
connect a pipe from about the level of the deck to the interior of each
compartment of the vessel, and provide the mouth of this pipe with a
suitable cover and connection in order that a communication may be
rapidly opened with the generator of carbonic acid gas, which gas must
be either allowed to descend the pipe by its own gravity or may be
forced down by pressure, and in order to permit the air which had
previously occupied the compartment to escape therefrom as the gas
takes its place I provide another pipe leading from each respective deck
to the upper deck, where it is open to the atmosphere, and except when
used for the purposes of the Invention may, as well as the mouth of
the descending pipe be covered with a screwed cap.
This Invention further relates to the apparatus to be employed for
storing and transporting the materials from which the carbonic acid gas
has to be generated, and also to the vessel in which the generation of gas
takes place, and consists in both cases of a rectangular, cylindrical, or
barrel-shaped vessel, constructed of wood of sufficient thickness to with-
stand the pressure, and cemented together in all its joints by marine glue
or other suitable cement in order to render the same impervious and
unchangeable in any climate. These vessels are lined with sheet gutta
percha or india-rubber to enable them to resist the action of the acid,
and thus render them useful as a substitute for the glass or gutta
percha carboys hitherto employed for storing and transporting liquid
chemicals.
The generating chamber is mounted upon wheels, and when not other-
wise in use by being railed on the top may be used as a bunker in
the sailors' berth on deck, and thus be suitably disposed ready to be
wheeled to any part of the deck at the shortest notice. The interior of
this chamber is constructed with a series of inclined planes, across
which ridges or projections are formed in order that when a mixture of

page_text: whitening, chalk, lime, marble, or other similar material and water is
permitted to flow down the inclined planes the whitening or other
similar material may lodge upon the ridges, and thus when the hydro-
chloric acid flows over the same ridges and comes in contact with such
material lodging thereon, a rapid evolution of the carbonic acid gas
ensues, which by means of a flexible pipe inserted in the mouth of any
of the pipes leading to the compartments of the vessel may thus rapidly
fill such compartment, either for the purpose of rendering the contents
incombustible, for destroying any vermin lodging therein, or to instantly
extinguish fire.
The vessels containing the separate supply of whitening or other
similar material and of hydrochloric acid are provided with sockets,
which fit into corresponding female sockets upon the top of the gene-
rating chamber, and these vessels may be rápidly strapped or otherwise
secured upon the top of the generating chamber in order to hold them
securely in position.
It will be readily apparent that the same method as herein-before
described may be employed for treating underground apartments or other
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Weare in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd July 1875.
I, ROBERT
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME
WEARE, of the City of Manchester, Mechanical Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Robert Wearc, Her special licence that
I, the said Robert Weare, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Robert Weare, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from

page_text: "
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING OR EXTINGUISHING FIBE IN SHIPS, UNDERGROUND
APARTMENTS, AND OTHER ENCLOSURES, PART OF THE APPARATUS BEING USEFUL FOR
OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Weare, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing, under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Weare, do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 relates to the employment of dry carbonic acid gas for
its purpose, which is well known to be exceedingly heavy, and at the
same time when used in a dry state is not injurious to the cargo of a
ship or contents of an underground apartment or other enclosure, into
which it would be practicable either to let the gas descend by its own
gravity or to force it by pressure, and thus either render such cargo or
contents incombustible, or in case of the same being on fire to instantly
and effectually extinguish such fire.
In carrying my Invention into practical effect, and as applied to a
ship or other vessel, which is usually built in air-tight compartments, I
connect a pipe from about the level of the deck to the interior of each
compartment of the vessel, and provide the mouth of this pipe with a
suitable cover and connection in order that a communication may be
rapidly opened with the generator of carbonic acid gas, which gas must
be either allowed to descend the pipe by its own gravity or may be
forced down by pressure, and in order to permit the air which had
previously occupied the apartment to escape therefrom as the gas
takes its place, I provide another pipe leading from each respective
deck to the upper deck, where it is open to the atmosphere, and except

page_text: when used for the purposes of this Invention may, as well as the mouth
of the descending pipe, be covered with a screwed cap.
This Invention further relates to the apparatus to be employed for
storing and transporting the materials from which the carbonic acid gas
has to be generated, and also to the vessel in which the generation of gas
takes place, and consists in both cases of a rectangular, cylindrical, or
barrel-shaped vessel, constructed of wood of sufficient thickness to
withstand the pressure, and cemented together in all its joints by marine
glue, in order to render the same impervious and unchangeable in any
climate. These storing and transporting vessels are lined with sheet
gutta-percha or india-rubber to enable them to resist the action of
the acid, and thus render them useful as a substitute for the glass or
gutta percha carboys hitherto employed for storing and transporting
liquid chemicals.
The generating chamber is mounted upon wheels, and is suitably
disposed on deck, ready to be wheeled to any part at the shortest notice.
The interior of this chamber is constructed with a series of inclined
planes, across which ridges or projections are formed in order that when
a mixture of whitening, chalk, limestone, marble, or other similar
material and water is permitted to flow down the inclined planes the
whitening or other similar material may lodge upon the ridges, and
thus when hydrochloric acid flows over the same ridges and comes in
contact with such material lodging thereon and lying at the bottom of
the generating chamber a rapid evolution of the carbonic acid gas ensues,
which by means of a flexible pipe inserted in the mouth of any of the
pipes leading to the compartments of the vessel fitted up as herein-before
described may thus rapidly fill such compartment, either for the purpose
of rendering the contents incombustible, for destroying any vermin
lodging therein, or to instantly extinguish fire.
It will be readily apparent that the same method as herein-before
described may be employed for treating underground apartments or other
enclosures for similar purposes.
And in order that this my said Invention may be the more readily
understood and carried into practical effect, I have hereunto annexed a
Drawing illustrating the apparatus I employ for the purposes of this
Invention, similar letters marked on the several views being used to
indicate similar parts.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the generating chamber used for
generating carbonic acid gas for the purposes of this Invention; Fig. 2
is an end sectional view of Fig. 1, through the line a-b; and Fig. 3
is a plan partly in section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side sectional view, and Fig. 5 a plan of the exterior of one
of the vessels constructed in accordance with my Invention for storing
the hydrochloric acid, and suitable also for containing, storing, and
transporting liquid chemicals, as a substitute for the glass and gutta
percha carboys hitherto used for such purposes.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A is the generating chamber which is constructed
of pitch pine or any other suitable hard wood of sufficient thickness to
withstand the internal pressure, and for which purpose it may be bound
together by iron bands or bolts, and such generating chamber is further
cemented together in all its joints with marine glue to render it
impervious to the action of the acid from within, and also to ensure its
remaining unchangeable in any climate. This generating chamber is
mounted upon wheels A' and has two compartments B, B, formed in its
upper part which are designed to hold a quantity of hydrochloric acid,
ready stored up, to be instantly introduced into the interior of the
generating chamber through the valves C. These valves are provided
with long screwed spindles passing through the sockets D, where a
square is formed upon their extremities in order that by means of a
suitable key E, such valves may be raised off their seatings to allow the
acid to fall into the generating chamber A. These compartments receive
their supply of acid through one of two tapered openings B', the other
opening being provided to permit the escape of air displaced by the acid,
and such tapered openings are closed by india-rubber plugs and further
secured by sliding flaps or covers B2; F, F, are inclined planes of wood
suitably disposed, as illustrated, beneath the acid compartments B, B, in
order that the acid shall flow down them; and also constructed with
ridges or projections f, f, f, and perforations g, g, g, g, to effect a thorough
distribution of the acid over the whole interior of the generating
chamber.

page_text: passing through stuffing boxes I to the outside of the gencrating
chamber, where a square H' is formed at one extremity to receive a
winch handle for turning such agitator, and the other extremity of such
axle is provided with a spur wheel J gearing through an intermediate
spur wheel K with a driving spur wheel L. This last-mentioned
whcel L being connected with a helical spring M, which may be kept
constantly wound up, and so form a self-acting motive power for
turning the agitator G, and which motive power can be readily and
instantly set in motion by removing the pawl N from the retaining
ratchet wheel O.
P is an additional compartment through which the carbonic acid gas
is compelled to pass previous to escaping from the generating chamber,
and whereby such gas is separated from any sediment by entering such
compartment P through the side openings Q, and then escaping through
the main outlet R; this latter being fitted on the outside with a screwed
connection, to which a flexible hose pipe may be screwed to lead off the
escaping gas to its required destination. The interior of this generating
chamber is coated with marine glue, which I prefer to apply in three
coats, taking care that one coat is properly dried before the succeeding
one is applied. For the purpose of these internal coatings I dissolve
the marine glue in methylated spirits of wine and apply the same with
a brush, but it must be understood that marine glue may be rendered
liquid for this purpose in the ordinary way by the application of heat,
which, however, requires great care in the process to avoid destroying
the nature of the glue by too high a temperature; or such marine glue
may be dissolved with a solution of chloride of calcium raised to the
necessary temperature, viz., about 300° Fahrenheit.
The whitening, chalk, marble, limestone, soap waste, or other similar
chemical material from which the carbonic acid gas is to be generated
by the action of the hydrochloric acid is introduced into the generating
chamber (by preference in a thick creamy state, being mixed with water
to that consistency) through the openings e, which openings, as also the
screwed sockets D herein-before mentioned, are provided with screwed
caps, which may be all unscrewed by a single key made with suitable
projections to fit into corresponding holes formed for the purpose in such
screwed caps.
When it becomes necessary to generate carbonic acid gas in this
chamber A the screwed spindles of the valves C are raised to allow the

page_text: hydrochloric acid to flow from the compartments B, B, down the inclined
planes F, F, which are partly covered by the whitening or other material
lodging upon their ridges; at the same time, either by means of a winch
handle or by the self-acting mechanism described, the agitator G is
caused to revolve, when a rapid evolution of carbonic acid gas takes place,
as the hydro-chloric acid is thereby brought into contact with a fresh
surface of the whitening or other material lying at the bottom of the
generating chamber at every movement produced by the agitator in the
mass of such material, and by such material adhering to the blades of the
agitator; G₁ is a sliding shutter or hinged flap valve, useful for emptying
the contents of the generating chamber and for cleansing purposes.
In Figs. 4 and 5 the vessel S is constructed of green-heart or other
suitable hard wood in a rectangular or cubic form, being tongued and
bolted together as illustrated, and cemented together in all its joints
by marine glue, taking care to bevil or chamfer off the inner edges of
the joints, as illustrated, before putting the parts together so as to afford
an angular crevice to receive any marine glue which may be squeezed
out of the joints in the act of screwing the parts together, and thus
assist in making a more perfect joint. These vessels or boxes are also
lined or coated inside with marine glue applied in the same manner as to
the interior of the generating chamber herein-before described, but in
this case I prefer to add a further coating of sheet gutta percha or
sheet india-rubber over the marine glue coating, and thus render such
boxes capable of resisting the strongest acid and to be unchangeable in
any climate or atmosphere. These vessels, when so constructed, are
useful as substitutes for the glass or gutta percha carboys hitherto used
for containing and transporting acids and other liquid chemicals.
usually construct these boxes of a cubic foot internal dimension, as I
find this the most convenient form and size for use and storage on board
I have calculated that an
ship, where economy of space is so desirable.
ordinary 10 gallon glass carboy for carrying liquid chemicals, when
inserted in a packing case for being carried on board ship, occupies a
space of about 2 feet 6 inches cubic measurement, whereas 48 gallons
could be carried in the same space in vessels or boxes constructed
according to my Invention.
Although I prefer this cubic form I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to it, as the vessels or boxes may be barrel shaped, as
seen in transverse section in Fig. 6, with the inner edges of the joints
I

page_text: of the staves T¹ chamfered or bevilled off to receive the marine glue, as
illustrated, and for the same purpose as that described in reference to
the cubic form of boxes, or such vessels may be constructed of wood in
any other suitable shape, provided that they are cemented and jointed
together and internally coated in accordance with this Invention. These
vessels or boxes S are provided with two tapered openings U, through
the larger one of which the acid may be introduced or withdrawn whilst
the air finds its way through the other opening, such openings being
closed by india-rubber plugs and further secured by sliding flaps or
covers V. The acid is introduced into or withdrawn from such vessels
through a flexible pipe fitted with a corresponding tapered male socket,
and thus such vessels may be used for replenishing the acid in the
compartments B, B, of the generating chamber.
In Fig. 7 is represented a transverse section of a ship or other vessel
shewing the application of my Invention thereto. a, a¹, a, are a series
of inlet pipes, one of which descends from the level of the upper deck b
to near the bottom of each compartment of the vessel, such inlet pipes
being designed to convey the carbonic acid gas from the generating
chamber A on deck into the lower part of each respective compartment,
and c, c¹, c², are a corresponding series of outlet pipes which extend
from the roof or ceiling of each, of the several compartments up to the
level of the upper deck 6 for the purpose of allowing the escape of the
confined air which is displaced by the carbonic acid gas entering the
compartment at the bottom. The mouths of each of these inlet and
outlet pipes are at the level of the deck provided with screwed caps and
connections, the connections on the inlet pipes being arranged to fit the
corresponding connection on the flexible outlet pipe of the generating
chamber herein-before described. It will thus be apparent that in
accordance with this Invention each compartment of a vessel must be
provided with an inlet pipe reaching from the level of the deck to near
the bottom of such compartment, and also with an outlet pipe extending
from the ceiling of such compartment to the level of the deck, and
when so fitted up the discovery of the exact locality of a fire on board
ship is rendered a matter of the greatest simplicity and certainty, as all
that is necessary to do is to remove the screwed cap from any one outlet
pipe and ascertaining if any smell of fire arises therefrom, if not the
screwed cap may be immediately replaced and the next outlet pipe sub-
jected to the same examination, and so on, continuing the search through

page_text: Now
all the outlet pipes until the exact compartment is ascertained.
assuming it to be the central compartment in the vessel represented in
Fig. 7 in which the fire has occurred the generating chamber herein-
before described (which is suitably disposed on deck to be rapidly wheeled
to wherever it is required) should be brought forward and its outlet pipe
connected to the inlet pipe a' appertaining to such central compartment;
the gas should now be generated by turning in the hydrochloric acid,
when such gas will immediately find its way down the inlet pipe a¹ into
the central compartment, and rising in such compartment will gradually
displace all the air through the now open outlet pipe c', until all the air
having escaped the carbonic acid gas follows up such outlet pipe and
also commences to escape, indicating that the compartment is now full
of carbonic acid gas, at atmospheric pressure, the outlet pipe c' may now
be closed by its screwed cap and presently a pressure of carbonic acid
gas may be obtained in the central compartment which will be only
limited by the producing power of the contents of the generating
chamber. Should the supply of acid be exhausted before a suffi-
ciency of gas is obtained the valves C may be closed and a further
supply of acid introduced by means of a flexible tube from one of my
improved vessels herein-before described. The whitening or other
material from which the gas has to be generated may be also kept stored
in similar vessels and so be ready to replenish the contents of the
generating chamber as required. When thus fitted up any compartment
of a ship or other vessel may be kept charged with carbonic acid gas to
prevent fire and for other purposes. As in this case when the cargo is
required to be removed the carbonic acid gas may be displaced cither by
pumping it out or by the application of the wind sail.
Although I have mainly confined myself to describing the application
of my Invention to the purposes of extinguishing fire on board ship it
will be readily apparent that it is useful for other purposes; for instance,
for destroying vermin on board ship, and is equally useful for treating
underground enclosures, such as mines, or cellars, or other air-tight
apartments, for the same purposes.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
my said Invention, together with the best methods with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be
understood that I do not claim the application of carbonic acid gas for
the purposes herein-before described except when generated and used

page_text: with apparatus constructed and operated substantially as herein-before
described and indicated; and I claim particularly,―
1st. The general construction and arrangement of generating chamber
jointed and cemented together as described, for generating carbonic acid
gas, as and for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated on
the accompanying Drawing.
2nd. The storing and transporting vessels S (Figs. 4 and 5) when
constructed of wood jointed and cemented together and internally lined
with marine glue and with or without an additional coating of india-
rubber or gutta percha, as and for the purposes herein-before described,
and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
3rd. The use and application of inlet and outlet pipes to the various
compartments of a ship or other vessel and to underground enclosures or
air-tight apartments as and for the purposes herein-before described and
illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Weare, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Twenty-first day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
ROBERT WEARE. (L.S.)