Improvements in or connected with Automatic Fire Extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb.. 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Automatic Fire Extinguishing
Apparatus.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of 22 Marsden Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The class of fire-extinguishing apparatus to which this invention relates, is that
of the sprinkler or automatic types, which are fixed at different points at or near
the ceiling or roof of a room or building, and are adapted to be automatically
set in action, and discharge water into such room or space when the temperature-
of the room at the part where they are disposed reaches a certain point;
and the particular kind of this class of automatic extinguishing apparatus to
which this invention has special reference is that having an expandible and.
contractile diaphragmatic chamber, and in which the vapourization and expansion
of a volatile fluid in it, when the heat round such device reaches a given point,.
causes the device to extend and water to be supplied and distributed. At the same
time, the invention is in part applicable to other kinds of sprinklers of the
automatic type; as for instance those in which fusible metal is employed to.
keep the valve closed, and upon fusion by heat, to liberate and distribute the
water.
According to the present invention, the diaphragmatic device comprises corru-
gated discs of suitable metal, containing between them an absorbent material, and a
small quantity of volatile fluid, volatilizable at the temperature required; and in
some cases also. a strengthening annular or other disc, arms or the like, and in.
connection with it is used a valve, in a suitable valve case above, which is opened.
by the evaporation and expansion of the fluid and extension of the discs. This
valve has below it, and outside the valve case, on the valve spindle, a small disc,
on which the water, as it is discharged, strikes, and is deflected outwards and
upwards; and the distributing device being provided with grooves or channels at
its edge, which are not in line or radial with the centre of the disc, the action of
the water thereon in its deflection and distribution causes it to be rotated; and
inside the valve case the valve is provided with vanes, or a screw, which is acted
upon by the flow of water when the valve is opened; and this also causes the valve
to be revolved rapidly. By this revolving of the distributing device, the water is
broken up into a very desirable condition, namely that of globules or drops of
water, and is so uniformly distributed, with a very effective action in extinction of
the fire. The valve spindle is not rigidly connected to the diaphragms or disce, but
its end is in the form of a point and revolves on the diaphragm, or on a spring or
part between same.
The diaphragmatic device is covered above in a casing, and the valve case is
supported from this casing: while from below the diaphragmn device is open.
A sudden and full opening of the valve, under this invention, is produced; and
it is effected by providing in connection with the diaphragm device, say under the
open lower side, a part which is compressed or moved by the first expansion due to
the evaporation of the liquid in the device; and when the limit of this motion has
been reached, then the further extension of the diaphragm device acts upon the

page_text: valve spindle, it opens the valve against the pressure of the water, this pressure in
the first extension having been sufficient to keep the valve closed upon its seat.
Then when the valve is open, the power absorbed by the spring presses the valve
at once wide open.
When a fire has taken place, and has been extinguished by means of the
automatic sprinkler devices, the devices continue to discharge water for some time
after the fire is extinguished; and this is caused by the nature of the construction
and arrangement of the diaphragmatic device, the means of operating it, and of
the valve being moved further off its seat than is necessary to give a full opening
to the aperture it controls; so that in the closing action, a comparatively large and
slow movement has to be made before it comes onto its seat; or in other words,
the stroke of the valve and the extension of the diaphragmatic device is
comparatively large.
In one arrangement, the part first moved by the extension of the diaphragm
device is supported centrally from the diaphragm case or covering; and this, when
actuated, may be adapted to close an electric circuit, in which an alarum device is
placed, and which, therefore, will be sounded as soon as a fire takes place, and
continue to sound until the valves are again closed.
In the combined parts above specified, constituting a complete automatic
sprinkler, the valve case is uppermost, the diaphragmatic device below, and the
water distribution device intervening; such an apparatus can be made of a few
inches in depth (say between 3 and 6 inches) and a few inches in diameter, (say
between 2 and 4 inches) and therefore is only a small thing, occupying comparatively
little room.
Dated this 1st day of May 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
ION.
Improvements in or connected with Automatic Fire Extinguishing
Apparatus.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of 22 Marsden Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, 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:-
The class of fire extinguishing apparatus to which this invention relates, is that
of the sprinkler or automatic types, which are fixed at different points at or near
the ceiling or roof of a room or building, and are adapted to be automatically
set in action, and discharge water into such room or space when the temperature
of the room, at the part where they are disposed, reaches a certain point;
and the particular kind of this class of automatic extinguishing apparatus to
which this invention has special reference is that having an expandible and
contractile diaphragmatic chamber, and in which the vapourization and expausion
of a volatile fluid in it, when the heat round such device reaches a given point,
causes the device to extend and water to be supplied and distributed. Such au
apparatus is set forth in the Specification of my former application for Patents
Nos. 15083 of 1895 and 239 of 1896, and my present invention provides improve-
ments upon such apparatus. At the same time, the invention is in part applicable
to other kinds of sprinklers of the automatic type; as for instance those in which
fusible metal is employed to keep the valve closed, and, upon fusion by heat, to
liberate and distribute the water.

page_text: According to the present invention, the diaphragmatic device comprises corru-
gated dises of suitable metal, containing between them an absorbent material, and a
small quantity of volatile fluid, volatilizable at the temperature required; and in
some cases also, a strengthening annular or other disc, arms, or the like; and in
connection with it is used a valve, in a suitable valve-case above, which is opened
by the evaporation and expansion of the fluid and extension of the discs. This
valve has below it, and outside the valve case, on the valve spindle, a small disc,
on which the water, as it is discharged, strikes, and is deflected outwards and
upwards; and the distributing device being provided with grooves or channels at
its edge, which are not in line or radial with the centre of the disc, the action of
the water thereon in its deflection and distribution causes it to be rotated. Inside
the valve case the valve is provided with vanes, or a screw, which is acted upon
by the flow of water when the valve is opened; and this also causes the valve to
be revolved rapidly. By this revolving of the distributing device, the water is
broken up into a very desirable condition, namely that of globules or drops of water,
and is so uniformly distributed, with a very effective action in extinction of the
fire. The valve spindle is not rigidly connected to the diaphragms or discs, but its
end is in the form of a point and revolves on the diaphragm, or on a spring or part
between same.
The diaphragmatic device is covered above in a casing, and the valve case is
supported from this casing: while, from below, the diaphragm device is open.
A sudden and full opening of the valve, under this invention, is produced; and
it is effected by providing in connection with the diaphragm device, say, under the
open lower side, a part which is compressed or moved by the first expansion due to
the evaporation of the liquid in the device; and when the limit of this motion has
been reached, then the further extension of the diaphragm device acts upon the
valve spindle, and opens the valve against the pressure of the water, this pressure
in the first extension having been sufficient to keep the valve closed upon its seat.
Then, when the valve is open, the power absorbed by the spring presses the valve
at once wide open.
When a fire has taken place, and has been extinguished by means of the
automatic sprinkler devices, the devices continue to discharge water for some time
after the fire is extinguished; and this is caused by the nature of the construction
and arrangement of the diaphragmatic device, the means of operating it, and of
the valve being moved further off its seat than is necessary to give a full opening
to the aperture it controls; so that in the closing action, a comparatively large
and slow movement has to be made before it comes onto its seat; or in other
words, the stroke of the valve and the extension of the diaphragmatic device is
comparatively large.
In one arrangement, the part first moved by the extension of the diaphragm
device is supported centrally from the diaphragm case or covering; and this, when
actuated, may be adapted to close an electric circuit, in which an alarm device is
placed, and which, therefore, will be sounded as soon as a fire takes place, and
continue to sound until the valves are again closed.
In the combined parts above specified, constituting a complete automatic
sprinkler, the valve case is uppermost, the diaphragmatic device below, and the
water distribution device intervening; such an apparatus can be made of a few
inches in depth (say between 3 and 6 inches) and a few inches in diameter, (say
between 2 and 4 inches) and therefore is only a small thing, occupying comparatively
little room.
Drawings accompanying this specification illustrate an automatic fire extinguishing
apparatus, the nature of which is above described.
In these drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an automatic fire-
extinguishing device; Figure 2 is a plan viewed from above; and Figure 3 a plan
viewed from underneath.
Referring to the drawings, a is the corrugated diaphragmatic disc device; bis
the valve case; c is the valve; d is the neck of the valve case, by which the

page_text: _ apparatus is secured or fastened to the extinguishing fluid service pipe; f, f¹ are
connecting arms and pins; and 9 is a ring case of circular form connecting the
latter pins, by which the diaphragmatic device a is supported centrally by a
pin on its lower dise, such pin being held or supported in the base g of the
cross supporting arms g of the ring case g. An electric non-conducting bush k
extends between or is disposed between the boss g' and the pin 4, so that the
diaphragmatic device is insulated from the other parts of the apparatus. is the
water distributing disc or plate on the spindle e of the valve e.
enclosing the ring case g from above, and covering the diaphragmatic device a
within, by which the upper surface of such device is protected from falling water
and becoming too much couled; and its outer surface is also preferably covered
with paint or a non-conductor of beat, to prevent too rapid transference of heat
through it. n is a spring fixed upon the interior of the cap g³, on the end of which
the valve spindle e bears, such spring being extended downwards when the valve.
is upon its seat.
The opening in the bottom of the valve case b, is for the discharge of water;
and the water in action flows through this opening onto the distributing device L
This device is rotated by the screw c on the upper side of the valve c within the
case of the valve, the action of the screw being, that the water in flowing over it
rotates it, and so revolves the disc or device l. The disc l, as will be seen, is
hollowed out and its edge serrated: this construction helps to direct the water into
the desired directions, and to break it up into the desired globular form.
Under the central part of the lower diaphragm of the device a there is a spring o,
carried in the boss g', such spring being adapted to normally keep the device a in
the upper position; but when a fire takes place, the spring will be compressed
before the valve e opens, and then, when the valve opens, it will react and give a
sudden opening of the valve c.
A suitable quantity of volatile liquid with which the device may be charged is
about a teaspoonful of methylated ether of 720 sp. gr., and one, two, or three,
drops of water. With this charge the device will come into action when the
atmosphere reaches about 100° or 120° Fabrenheit, taking the pressure of water
in the pipes acting upon the valve e to be between 20 and 60 pounds.
This apparatus will be placed in buildings, rooms, or spaces, and held in the
manner commonly adopted with ordinary "fire-sprinklers."
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the apparatus is quiescent,
that is under normal conditions, the several parts take the positions shewn in the
drawing. When a fire takes place, the heat resulting from it, reaches the under
open side of the device a, and gets round about it, and acts upon the liquid held
in the absorbent material therein, and it becomes vapourized, and the pressure
within causes the device to become distended. When, by this distention, the
centre of the upper disc a renches the underside of the spring n, the upward
movement thereof ceases, owing to the resistance offered by the water in 6 acting
- upon the back of the valve c; but the further distention of the device goes on,
and it now compresses the spring o. When the spring o is compressed to the
fullest extent, then the downward movement of the device is stopped and a reaction
takes place in the opposite direction; and the pressure of vapour within it being
turther raised, the valve c is just pressed by it off its seat; and upon the relief
of pressure from off its back and from the device a, due to this opening, the energy
in the compressed spring o, and the pressure in a, suddenly pushes the valves c full
open, so giving, at once, a full supply of liquid. Thereupon the valve and discl
are set in rapid rotation by the screw e³, due to the flow of water over it, and the
water is thrown upwards and outwards in all directions by the disc l, in the form of
globularized spray, and in a state or form for effectively extinguishing fire.
When the fire is put out, the discharge of water does not at once cease but
continues for some minutes, so that liability of its breaking out again is obviated
by this after discharge. The after discharge is secured by making the amount of
movement of the valve and the distention of the device a considerable-i.e. more

page_text: than is necessary to open the valve to give the full area of outlet-and by the
protection of the device a against rapid cooling through the cap g; and its Bon-
conducting coating. The valve c, as will be seen, will close, that is, fall upon its
seat, by gravity, and by the flow of water past it, and the pressure thereof upon its
back: and the pressure keeps it finally upon its seat.
During the discharge of the water, that which falls down onto the apparatus is.
prevented from having access to the disc device a by the cap o³, and so the disc.
device is not subjected to the direct cooling action of the falling water to a too
great extent during a fire. On the other hand, the other side of the diaphragmatic
device is practically wholly open to the direct influence and action of the heat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this 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, a diaphragmatic expanding and
collapsing device for effecting the supply and control of the extinguishing fluid, and
a spring and valve, so arranged and adapted that the spring is first put under
tension or compressed by the distention of the diaphragmatic device, and then,.
upon the commencement of opening of the valve, reacts and causes a sudden
opening thereof substantially as set forth.
2. An automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a valve above; a
diaphragmatic expanding and collapsing device of the kind herein specified for
effecting the supply and control of the extinguishing fluid below; and a water
distributing disc between said valve and diaphragmatic device; operating
substantially as described.
3. In automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, a diaphragmatic expanding and
collapsing device for effecting the supply and control of the extinguishing fluid 3.
a valve connected with a water discharge orifice operated and controlled thereby; a
distributing device by which the water is sprayed, connected with said valve; and
a screw connected with said valve operated upon by the flow of water past it,
whereby the water distributor is revolved; substantially as set forth with reference.
to and shown in the drawings, for the purposes set forth.
4. In automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus having a diaphragmatic expanding
and collapsing device for effecting the supply and the control of the extinguishing
fluid, the arrangement and disposition of such diaphragmatic device within a
grooved casing; substantially as set forth with reference to and shown in the
drawings.
5. The automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus having parts arranged, constructed,
and adapted to operate particularly as set forth with reference to and shown in the-
drawings.
Dated this 1st day of February 1897
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents..