IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
-
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Doctor of Laws, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES."-
A communication from abroad by John Wells Stanton, of Brooklyn,
New York. United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on tho
26th June 1873.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office,"
Southampton Buildings, London, Doctor of Laws, do hereby. declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
EXTINGUISHING FIRES," a communication, to be as follows:-
i
This Invention relates to extinguishing fires by the use of carbonic acid
gas, and it consists in the combination and arrangement of the gas gene-
rating materials in such relation to each other that they may be gradually
combined, and the proper chemical action produced in the desired pro-

page_text: necessary for the complete extinguishment of the fire, as will be herein-
after explained.
The said Invention also consists in the means employed for effecting
such combination, and for properly controlling the gas, and distributing
the same to the points required.
As is well known the chemicals commonly used for the rapid produc-
tion of carbonic acid gas in large quantities are bicarbonate of soda and
sulphuric acid, properly diluted with water. When these elements are
brought into combination with each other in proper proportions carbonic
acid gas is evolved very rapidly, and produced in any quantity propor-
tionate to the relative quantities of the chemicals; and as the said gas
is a powerful opponent to combustion, and is highly elastic, and therefore
very penetrating, it is admirably adapted to the purpose of extinguishing
fires in buildings, ships, mines, and other places where it is often difficult
and sometimes impossible to introduce water.
It is also of the greatest importance in subduing conflagrations that
the materials should be ready for action at the instant they are wanted,
and in any desired quantity; consequently, I have provided a tank or
chamber capable of sustaining the required pressure, and sufficiently
tight to retain the liquids and gases, and of sufficient size to meet any
required emergency. Within this chamber, tank, or reservoir is placed
a solution, preferably a strong solution of sulphuric acid, with enough
water to hasten the action of the chemical combination, and above the
said solution is suspended the alkaline substance as the bicarbonate of
soda within the said tank or chamber, so that the instant any portion of
it is let down into the acid solution the chemical action begins, and
carbonic acid gas is generated. The alkaline substance is placed upon
shelves or supports arranged within the upper portion of the said tank or
chamber in such a manner that any desired amount of the said substance
may be precipitated into the acid solution. These several shelves or
supports are conveniently mounted upon pivots or axes. Each shelf
consists of half a disc. They may be pivoted upon brackets fastened on
the inside of the tank and at the ends of their diametrical section,
and may be supported in some portion of their arc upon latches or bolts,
which may be withdrawn by levers and cords to permit the shelves to
fall to a vertical position, and drop their contents into the solution below.

page_text: As the mass of soda or similar compound when so placed within a tank
or chamber in which is contained a liquid will be liable to absorb
moisture, and will be somewhat dissolved and rendered adhesive, and
thereby form compact masses or cakes, I provide a series of breakers
with sharp edges so disposed across the tank or chamber that the
massed substance will be broken in gravitating toward the bottom of the
tank.
The lower portion of the tank or reservoir should be lined or coated
with sheet lead or other substance, to prevent the decomposing action of
the acid solution. A leaden pipe is provided with a stop-cock to serve
as an outlet for the washings from the tank.
The several shelves or supports for the alkaline substances may be
made of wood, and supported by metal straps pivoted to work in holes
in plates, which are fastened upon the inner and opposite sides of the
tank. The said shelves are thereby supported at their diametrical axes,
while the opposite sides or circumferential parts are supported upon
sliding bolts which project through holes in the wall of the tank, and are
operated by cam-shaped levers, operated by wires or cords extending
therefrom to some convenient and always accessable point. The said
plates on the inner sides of the tank also serve as partitions to form a
space for the gas as it is generated to rise above the shelves or alkaline
supports and through the holes.
A conducting tube or pipe for the conveyance of the gas is connected
with the reservoir, and leads to the various floors of a building, or the
various decks or compartments of a vessel. It is provided with outlet
valves, connected by cords or wires with handles or knobs under the
control of the person having charge of the apparatus.
A pressure gauge is attached to the tank, so that the
proper control
of the gas may be secured with certainty and safety. A hand hole is
also formed in the side of the said tank for the purpose of charging the
lower portion of the tank without disturbing the shelves above. To
charge the said tank the top is removed, the several shelves are lifted
out, and the lower ones are placed in a horizontal position and then
charged, and so on until all are filled or charged, when the top is replaced
and fastened by screw bolts.
An important advantage, gained by having the acid solution in the
bottom of the tank, is that the water is not so liable to freeze as when

page_text: free from saline substances, and it will be found preferable to make the
acid solution so strong that it will not freeze above 0° Fahrenheit.
In the adaptation of the above described apparatus to the protection of
buildings, ships, mines, and the like, one or more tanks of suitable
dimensions should be located in any convenient place, care being taken
that the tripping devices are so arranged that they may always be reached
from some secure point when the gas is required.
The shelves or
supports may be tiltd one after another to throw their contents into
combination with the acid in the proper quantity desired, until the
entire space where the fire is raging is completely filled with gas under
pressure, and combustion is prevented.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Haseltine in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 20th December 1873.
cs
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the International Patent Office," Southampton Build-
ings, London, Doctor of Laws, send greeting.
'
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Haseltine, Her special licence that I,
the said George Haseltine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Haseltine, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from 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 APPARATUS FOR EXTIN-
GUISHING FIRES," a communication to me from abroad by John Wells
Stanton, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Haseltine, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the said apparatus complete, showing
the generating tank or reservoir, the conducting pipe and its valves,
and the devices for operating them, and also the external tripping
mechanism for combining the chemicals; Figure 2 is a vertical section
of the said tank or generator; Figure 3 is a horizontal- section of the
same just above the lower shelves, also showing other parts of the
apparatus.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are views in detail of the valves and their scats
for controlling the gas.
The chemicals commonly used for the rapid production of carbonic
acid gas in large quantities are bicarbonate of soda and sulphuric
acid properly diluted with water. When these elements are brought
into combination with each other in the proper proportions carbonic,
acid gas is evolved very rapidly, and in any quantity proportionate
to the relative quantities of the, chemicals, and as the said gas is a.
powerful opponent to combustion, highly elastic, and therefore very..
-

page_text: S
penetrating, it is admirably adapted to the purpose of extinguishing
fires in buildings, ships, mines, and in other places where the employ-
ment of water is often difficult and sometimes impossible.
It is also of the greatest importance in subduing conflagrations that
the materials should be ready for action at the instant they are wanted,
and in any desired quantity; consequently, I provide my apparatus
with a tank or chamber which may be of the shape shown in the
Drawings, or of any other convenient form, and may be made of
wood or other suitable material capable of sustaining the required
pressure; it must be made sufficiently tight to retain the liquids
and gases, and of sufficient size to meet any required emergency, that
is to say, it must be large enough to hold a sufficient quantity of
the chemicals to generate gas enough to fill, with some pressure, any
room in a building to be protected. Within this chamber, tank, or
reservoir is placed a solution, preferably a strong solution of sulphuric
acid, with enough water to hasten the action of the chemical com-
bination, and above the said solution is suspended the alkaline sub-
stance, say, bicarbonate of soda within the said tank or chamber.
The instant any portion of it is let down into the acid solution the
chemical action begins and carbonic acid gas is generated. The alkaline
substance is placed upon shelves or supports B arranged within the
upper portion of the said tank or chamber in such a manner that the
alkaline material may be divided into separate quantities or masses
when placed thereon, so that any desired amount of the said substance
may be precipitated into the acid solution. These several shelves or
supports are conveniently mounted upon pivots or axes C; each shelf
consists of a half disc; the said shelves may be pivoted upon brackets
fastened on the inside of the tank, and at the ends of their diametrical
section; they may be supported at some portion of their arc upon
latches or bolts D, extending through the side or wall of the tank,
and which may be withdrawn by levers and cords, as seen at E and F,
to permit the shelves to fall to a vertical position, and drop their contents
into the solution below.
As the mass of soda or similar compound, when placed within a
tank or chamber containing a liquid, will be liable to absorb moisture,
and will be partially dissolved and rendered adhesive, and. caused to
form compact masses or cakes, I provide a series of breakers G with
sharp edges so disposed across the tank or chamber that the massed

page_text: substance will be broken in gravitating toward the bottom of the
tank.
The lower portion of the tank or reservoir should be lined or coated
with sheet lead or other substance, as shown at H, Figure 2, to prevent
the decomposing action of the acid solution; a leaden pipe provided
with a stop-cock, as shown in Figure 2, serves as an outlet for the
washings from the tank.
The several shelves or supports for the alkalino substances may bo
made of wood, and supported by metal straps K terminating at one
end in a pivot to work in holes in plates L which are fastened upon
the inner and opposite sides of the tank. The shelves C are thereby
supported at their diametrical axes while the opposite sides or cir-
cumferential parts are supported upon sliding bolts D which project
through holes in the wall of the tank, and are operated by cam-shaped
levers E pivoted to the bolts, and operated by wires or cords F
extending therefrom to some convenient and always accessible point.
The plates L on the inner sides of the tank also serve as partitions
to form a space for the gas as it is generated to rise above the shelves
or alkaline supports at C and through the holes O₁, and thereby equalize
the pressure among the shelves, and prevent their being lifted by the
gas out of their proper working position. The said spaces are shown
at P, Figure 3. The breakers G may also be made of wood, and with
bevelled edges, as shown in Figure 2; they project upward, and their
faces incline somewhat, so that as the masses of the alkaline materials
fall upon the said edges they will not only be broken but will be thrown
inward towards the centre and scattered, and thereby thoroughly in-
corporated with the acid solution below.
R is a conducting tube or pipe for the conveyance of the gas to
the desired points for use; it is connected with the reservoir, and
leads to the various floors of the building, or the various decks or
compartments of the vessel; it is provided with outlet valves S, T, U,
which are shown enlarged in Figures 4, 5, and 6. The said valves
are connected by cords or wires with handles or knobs W under the
control of the person having charge of the apparatus; these valves
S, T, U, are constructed in as many different forms to show that any
one of them may answer the purpose, or that they may be variously
modified; but they must be controllable at all times at some safe.
position.

page_text: Several floors or compartments of a building are shown at X', X2, X³,
and it will be observed that the valves are located close to the floors,
so that the gas will at once begin to fill the room or compartment from
the bottom, if desired.
As pressure will be required to force the gas along the pipes, and
to fill the space to be saved, a pressure gauge Z is attached to the
tank so that the proper control of the gas may be secured with certainty
and safety. A hand hole Z' is also formed in the side of the tank
for the purpose of charging the lower portion of the tank without
disturbing the shelves above. To charge the said tank the top is 1
removed, the several shelves are lifted out, and the lower ones are
placed in a horizontal position and then charged, and so on, until
all are filled or charged, when the top is replaced and fastened by the
screw bolts, as shown.
An important advantage, gained by having the acid solution in the 1
bottom of the tank is, that the water is not so liable to freeze as when
free from saline substances, and it will be found preferable to make
the acid solution so strong that it will not freeze above 0° Fahrenheit.
In the adaptation of the above-described apparatus to the protection
of buildings, ships, mines, and the like, one or more tanks of suitable 2
dimensions should be located in any convenient place, care being taken.
that the tripping devices are so arranged that they may always be
reached from some secure point. When the gas is required the shelves
or supports may be tilted one after another to throw their contents
into combination with the acid in the proper quantity desired, until 2
the entire space where the fire is raging is completely filled with gas
under pressure, and combustion will be impossible.
1
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same,
I wish it understood that I claim,-
1st. In combination with a gas generating chamber a series of shelves
or supports for holding in properly divided quantities the alkaline
substance as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
3
2nd. In a carbonic acid gas generator the combination of a receptacle
for holding a solution of sulphuric acid and water, with a series of 3
tripping shelves or equivalent contrivances for sustaining the alkaline

page_text: materials in controllable quantities, and permitting the dropping of any
desired part of the alkaline material into the acid and water at the
will of the operator, as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. The combination in a carbonic acid gas generator of the
[mechanism for scattering or disseminating the alkaline materials with
the mechanism for supporting the same in separate quantities, as herein
described and for the purpose set forth.
.
4th. In combination with the supports for the alkaline substanco
in a gas generating chamber the tripping or tilting devices as hercin
described and for the purposes set forth.
5th. In a carbonic acid gas generating apparatus for extinguishing
fires the safety handles or wires with the tripping devices, as herein
described and for the purpose set forth.
6th. In a carbonic acid gas generating apparatus the outlet pipe
provided with valves, operated by handles, located at a safe position,
as herein described and for the purposes set forth.
7th. In combination with a carbonic acid gas generating apparatus
a recording and indicating pressure gauge for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
H. J. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)