[Improvements in Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Improvements in Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
1, JOHN CLARK, Engineer, at the Graving Docks, in the Town and County of
Southampton, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows that is
to say:
My said invention has for its object to provide and arrange speedily and
conveniently available means for extinguishing fire in public works such as docks,
railway stations, and others where locomotives are employed and lines of rails are
laid leading to various parts. And my invention consists in arranging so that when
required the locomotives can be used as fire engines.
In carrying out my invention I provide one or more steam pumps, each having
all its parts complete upon one frame or bracket piece, which is constructed to admit
of being quickly bolted or otherwise securely attached to the front buffer beam or
other suitable part of a locomotive. Each locomotive, intended to be available for
extinguishing fire is provided with an additional steam pipe with stop valve and
coupling arranged so that it can be connected to the steam inlet of the pump; and
another pipe may also be provided for leading the exhaust steam from the pump
into the chimney of the locomotive.
The steam pump or steam pumps will ordinarily be kept or stored apart from the
locomotive or locomotives, but in a place and in such a manner, as to allow of
speedy attachment to the locomotive or locomotives in the event of a fire; and in
such event the steam from the locomotive boilers will be at once available for
working the pumps.
Dated this Fourteenth day of September 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
I, JOHN CLARK, of the Graving Docks, and of Cedar View, Avenue Road,
Southampton, in the County of Hampshire, Engineer; 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 :-
My invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus, and comprises various
improvements hereinafter described.
The main object of my said invention is to provide and arrange simple and
readily available means for extinguishing fires in public works, docks, railway
premises, and such like places, where locomotives are employed, and lines of rails
are laid leading to various parts of such premises; and my invention principally
consists in the arrangements and adaptations-hereinafter described-that will
allow of locomotives being used when required as fire engines.
pumps each
In carrying out my invention I provide one or more portable steam
having all its parts complete upon one frame which is constructed to admit of its
being quickly bolted or otherwise securely attached to the front buffer beam, or
other suitable part of a locomotive.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn how my said invention according
to one form or modification of same-may be conveniently and advantageously
carried into practice.
1

page_text: Fig. 2, an end view of same, and
Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are views of details to enlarged scale hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Locomotives intended to be available for extinguishing fire, according to my
invention; are fitted with a special steam pipe A, and stop cock C, supplied with
steam preferably from the dome B, this pipe will be a fixture upon the locomotive
for its length extending from the dome to the stop cock or valve C, passing if
preferred through the boiler or on the outside as shewn; another steam pipe D,-
also a fixture on the locomotive and extending from the dome to the coupling E,-
may be provided upon the locomotive for the purpose of supplying steam to the
pump ejector for charging the pump when drawing water from a considerable
depth.
Presuming it is desired to use the locomotive for the purpose of extinguishing a
fire the pump F, is attached to the buffer beam a, or other suitable part of the
locomotive, the steam supply pipe A', attached to the pump, is then connected with.
the steam supply pipe A, by coupling it at C' to the stop cock C, and the ejector
pipe D', attached to the pump, is coupled at E, to the steam pipe D and the steam
exhaust pipe K-also a fixture on the pump,-is connected at K' to the chimney
whereby the exhaust steam is discharged into same. After these connections have
been made good the steam fire pump F is ready for immedinte use and is started
upon the introduction of steam to same.
By means of Figs. 3, 4, and 5, I shew-upon an enlarged scale-more particularly
the method and means I prefer to adopt for attaching the steam fire pump to the
front buffer beam of a locomotive. Fig. 3, being an elevation partly in section
taken about the line e, e, Fig. 4, a plan partly in section at, and below the line f
and Fig. 5, a part sectional plan taken on line 9, 9; K, is a metal angle block
which is placed in the desired position on the buffer beam a and the pump being
placed upon the block K the set screws b, b, are screwed into recesses provided
in the block K, the set screws c, c, are then tightened up thereby bringing the
pump close up to the front of the buffer beam; simultaneously the nut and screw
bolts d, d, can be adjusted and set up upon the beam or bracket d', specially
provided on the locomotive for the purpose and the pump is thus quickly and
firmly secured upon the locomotive.
I have shown in the accompanying drawing only one steam pump fitted to a
locomotive and in position upon the front buffer beam, but many modifications to 3
suit the varying circumstances may be made in the details of my apparatus and in
the form of the aforesaid attachments, and the method of attachment upon the
locomotive, without departing from the nature of my said invention, I may for
instance fit more than one pump upon one locomotive, and in any desirable position
upon same.
My improvements are more particularly adapted for railway locomotives, but it
is obvious that the novel features of my invention can be used to advantage upon
most if not all types of steam carriage including steam tramway cars.
4
An important feature of my invention is that the steam from the locomotive
boilers will be at once available for working the pump or pumps, thus avoiding the 4
necessity for getting up steam and the consequent delay and expense following upon
the use of a special fire engine.
The pump or pumps F will ordinarily be stored apart from the locomotive, or
locomotives, but in place and manner so as to allow of speedy attachment to the
locomotive, or locomotives in the event of a fire.
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 :-
:-
1st. The improvements in fire extinguishing apparatus consisting of the parts
constructed and arranged substantially as, and for the purpose hereinbefore
51

page_text: 2nd. The combination with a locomotive of a portable steam fire pump or
pumps adapted to serve therewith, as, and for the purpose specified.
3rd. The herein described method, or similar thereto, of attaching a steam fire.
pump to a locomotive for the purpose specified.
Dated this 8th day of July 1892.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.