Improvements in Automatic Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1891-Accepted. 10th Oct. 1891
PROVISIONAI SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
I, JOSEPH ELTON BOTT of Eyam, in the County of Derby Metallurgist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention consists of an improved apparatus for sprinkling the interior of
buildings or other places with a liquid compound inimical to fire.
carry my invention into effect, I construct a receptacle (preferably cylindrical) for
In order to
the purpose of containing an alkaline mixture. The said receptacle is constructed
with two trunnions, or pivots, placed on the sides of the vessel parallel with its
axis at sufficient distance from its centre of gravity to cause one end of the
receptacle to swing into a lower position than the other end. In order to support
the cylinder or receptacle in a vertical position, the trunnions are fixed in bearings
or journals, which journals are suspended from the ceiling of the room or place to
be protected. In order to keep the cylinder of the receptacle from turning over,
the said trunnions are soldered to the journals with a fusible solder, or the upper
end of the receptacle may be secured to the ceiling or otherwise attached by means
of a chain or wire, a joint or link in such chain or wire being made of fusible
metal. When secured with its longer axis in an upright position as before said,
the receptacle is filled with the alkaline mixture through the upper end or cover,
which is also constructed with a suitable sprinkling nozzle. The interior of the
receptacle is provided with suitable means of centrally guiding a glass tube or
bulb, which contains acid (sulphuric or muriatic) which said tube or bulb is sealed
before being placed in cylinder, the plug or the stopper through which the alkaline
liquid is charged into the receptacle, and through which the said bulb or tube is
admitted, is then screwed into the upper end, the lower portion of said plug or stopper
being formed into a sharp point. The action of my improved fire extinguishing
apparatus is as follows: On the temperature of the room or other place reaching
154° Fahrenheit, or any other predetermined temperature, the fusible solder
forming the retaining joint at the bearings at the trunnions, or the fusible link or
part of the sustaining chain or wire, is melted and the receptacle suddenly swings
downward, the glass bulb or tube containing acid is broken on contact with the
plug, the pressure due to the instantly liberated gases, forces the alkaline compound
through the sprinkling nozzles, and extinguishes the flames or the incipient fire,
before there is a chance of its spreading. The principal advantage I claim for my
invention is-that the acid being contained in a sealed tube, so that no evaporation
can take place, is automatically liberated at the exact moment when required.
Thus the apparatus is always ready and free from the internal derangements and
iability to getting out of order inseparable from sprinkling apparatus actuated by
lectrical or other mechanical means.
over.
Another modification of my machine consists in placing the acid in a tube of
lass, gutta percha, or other non-corrosive material; such tube being shorter than
he receptacle, a space of several inches being left between the upper end and the
The said upper end is provided with a heavy valve or cover of lead, so as
seal the tube and prevent evaporation of the acid, otherwise the apparatus is
onstructed as herein before mentioned, and on the cylinder being overturned as
foresaid, the heavy lead plug falls away from the tube and allows the acid to mix
ith the alkaline compound, the resultant gases forcing the liquid compound
rough the sprinkling nozzles as in the previous case.
Dated this 10th day of November 1800

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
I, JOSEPH ELTON BOTT, of Eyam in the County of Derby, Metallurgist, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and
to the figures and letters marked thereon:-
My invention consists of an improved apparatus for sprinkling the interior of
buildings or other places with a liquid compound inimical to fire.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a diagram representing a section of a
fire extinguisher constructed according to my invention, and Figure 2 is a section
on a larger scale through one of the trunnions, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing
a slight modification, and Figure 4 is an enlarged view of parts thereof. I will
first describe the arrangement represented at Figures 1 and 2.
In order to carry my invention into effect, I construct a receptacle a (preferably
cylindrical) for the purpose of containing an alkaline mixture.
The said
receptacle a is constructed with two trunnions or pivots placed on the sides of
the vessel at sufficient distance from its centre of gravity to cause one end of the
receptacle to swing into a lower position than the other end, when permitted. In
order to support the cylinder or receptacle a in a vertical position, the trunnions b
are fixed in bearings or journals e, which journals care suspended from the ceiling
of the room or place to be protected by a forked bar or frame c¹ to which the
journals are fixed, or otherwise. In order to keep the cylinder a of the receptacle
from turning over, the said trunnions are soldered to the journals c with a fusible
solder, or the upper end of the receptacle may be secured to the ceiling or other-
wise attached by means of a chain or wire d at each side thereof, as shown at
Figure 3, a joint or link in such chain or wire being made of fusible metal;
preferably the ends d¹ of the wire are soldered to the lower end of the cylinder a
by means of fusible solder. When secured with its longer axis in an upright
position as aforesaid, the receptacle a is filled with the alkaline mixture through
an opening a¹ in the upper end or cover, which latter is also constructed with one
or more suitable sprinkling nozzles a². The interior of the receptacle a is provided
with suitable means of centrally guiding a glass tube or bulb e, which contains acid
(sulphuric or muriatic); preferably 1 employ a metal tube f fixed to the bottom of
the receptacle u. The tube or bulbe is sealed before being placed in the
cylinder a; the plug or the stopper g closing the opening a', through which the
alkaline liquid is charged into the receptacle a, and through which the said bulb
or tube e is admitted, is then screwed into the said opening in the upper end, the
lower portion of said plug or stopper being formed into a sharp point g¹. In
Figure 2 I have represented a space or recess formed in both the trunnions 6 and
the journals c, which space is filled with fusible solder to retain the receptacle a
in a vertical position; the journals e are also formed with a hole in their lower
sides to afford access of heat to the solder a, and to allow the latter to run out
when melted.
The action of my improved fire extinguishing apparatus is as follows:-On the
temperature of the room or other place reaching 154° Fahrenheit, or any other
pre-determined temperature, the fusible solder x forming the retaining joint at the
bearings at the trunnions, or the fusible link, part, or joint of the suspending chain
or wire d, is melted and the receptacle a suddenly swings downward, the glass bulb
or tube e containing acid is broken on contact with the point g¹ of the plug 9. the
pressure due to the instantly liberated gases forces the alkaline compound through
the sprinkling nozzles and extinguishes the flames or the incipient fire before there
is a chance of its spreading.
The principal advantage 1 claim for my invention is that the acid, being

page_text: contained in a sealed tube, so that no evaporation can take place, is automatically
liberated at the exact moment when required. Thus the apparatus is always ready
and free from the internal derangements and liability to getting out of order
inseparable from sprinkling apparatus actuated by electrical or other mechanical
means.
Another modification of my machine, represented at Figures 3 and 4, consists in
placing the acid in a tube f* of glass, gutta percha, or other non-corrosive material,
such tube f* being shorter than the receptacle a, a space of several inches being
left between the upper end thereof and the cover of the receptacle a.
upper end of the tube f* is formed preferably with a sharp edge, and it is provided
The said
with a heavy valve or cover of lead 1, so as to seal the tube f* and prevent
evaporation of the acid. Otherwise the apparatus is constructed as hereinbefore
described with respect to Figures 1 and 2, and, on the cylinder being overturned as
aforesaid, the heavy lead plug f¹ falls away from the tube f* and allows the acid to
mix with the alkaline compound, the resultant gases forcing the liquid compound
through the sprinkling nozzles a² as in the previous case.
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. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, the peculiar combinations and
arrangements of parts, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, the methods of retaining the
eceptacle in an upright position and of releasing the same for the purpose of
permitting it to reverse its position on a given heat being attained, substantially as
erein shown and described.
3. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, the method of securing the acid
hen the apparatus is in an upright position, and of releasing the same on the
eversal of the apparatus, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 10th day of September 1901.
J. ELTON BOTT.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
J. ELTON BOTT.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.