IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SPRINKLERS OR AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 20th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 7th Apr., 1887.
I WILLIAM WOODHOUSE, of Wyberslegh Hall, Marple, in the County of Chester
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
RELATING TO SPRINKLERS OR AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to render sprinklers or automatic fire extinguishers
more sensitive and reliable in their action and to ensure the complete separation of the
soldered joint or seal before any water from the supply pipe is permitted to reach the
joint and thus check the fusion of the solder.
I effect this object by the use and application of a coating or layer of some solid
non-conducting but easily fusible substance interposed between the water and the joint
or seal of fusible solder in such manner that the said coating or layer will restrain
the descent of the water and prevent it from coming in contact with the joint or seal
and the adjacent parts of the sprinkler until such joint has been completely severed by
the fusion of the solder.
The coating or layer may consist of various non-conducting substances impervious
to and unaffected by water which are solid at ordinary temperatures but are readily
melted at a low temperature such as paraffin, paraffin wax, vaseline, glycerine, white
wax, bees wax, tallow, vegetable fats, resins, Japanese wax, stearine, spermacetti,
calophony, palmitine, solid paraffins obtained by congellation from shale oils and
mineral oils, petroleums, ozokerite, asphaltum, bitumen, tars, and cacaoine, or any other
allied substance or a mixture of two or more of any of these or any allied substance
but I consider paraffin to be peculiarly adapted for my purpose for many reasons
among which the following may be named.
1st. Its very low conductivity which serves to prevent the absorption and
consequent waste of the heat required to melt the solder.

page_text: 2nd. Its low melting temperature which ensures its readiness to escape as soon as
the soldered joint has parted.
3rd. Its property of not checking the fusion of the solder even when at a consider-
ably lower temperature than the solder.
4th. Its chemical indifference to the action of acids, alkalies and water.
5th. Its peculiar property of adhering firmly to the sides of any vessel into which
it may be run when melted, the contraction as it cools simply causing a subsidence of
the central portion.
If necessary a washer of metal or other suitable substance may be placed between
the layer of paraffin or other substance and the water.
בד
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Sprinklers or Automatic Fire
Extinguishers.
I WILLIAM WOODHOUSE, of Wyberslegh Hall, Marple, in the County of Chester,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
RELATING TO SPRINKLERS OR AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of my Invention is to render sprinklers or automatic fire extinguishers
more sensitive and reliable in their action and to ensure the complete separation of the
soldered joint or seal before any water from the supply pipe is permitted to reach the
joint and thus check the fusion of the solder.
I effect this object by the use and application of a coating or layer of some
solid non-conducting but easily fusible substance interposed between the water and
the joint or seal of fusible solder in such manner that the said coating or layer
will restrain the descent of the water and prevent it from coming in contact with
the joint or scal and the adjacent parts of the sprinkler until such joint had been
completely severed by the fusion of the solder.
The coating or layer may consist of various non-conducting substances impervious
to and unaffected by water which are solid at ordinary temperatures but are readily
melted at a low temperature such as paraffin, paraffin wax, vaseline, glycerine, white
wax, bees wax, tallow, vegetable fats, resins, Japanese wax, stearine, spermacetti,
calophony, palmitine, solid paraffins obtained by congellation from shale oils and
mineral oils, petroleums, ozokerite, asphaltum, bitumen, tars, and cacaoine, or any
other allied substance or a mixture of two or more of any of these or any allied
substance but I consider paraffin to be peculiarly adapted for my purpose for many
reasons among which the following may be named.
1st. Its very low conductivity which serves to prevent the absorption and conse-
quent waste of the heat required to melt the solder.
2nd. Its low melting temperature which ensures its readiness to escape as soon as
the soldered joint has parted.
3rd. Its property of not checking the fusion of the solder even when at a consider-
ably lower temperature than the solder.
4th. Its chemical indifference to the action of acids alkalies and water.
5th. Its peculiar property of adhering firmly to the sides of any vessel into which
it may be run when melted, the contraction as it cools simply causing a subsidence of
the central portion.
If necessary a washer of metal or other suitable substance may be placed between
the layer of paraffin or other substance and the water.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings which illustrate two of

page_text: the different modes in which my Invention may be applied to a sprinkler or automatic
fire. extinguisher each mode being represented in elevation vertical section and plan.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 1, 1ª, 1-A designates the body of a
sprinkler provided with an hexagonal head and terminating at the upper end in a
circular socket c and at the lower end in a screwed nipple e for attachment to the
supply pipe. Into the circular socket is fitted a metal cup or capsule which is
secured to the inner surface of the sockets and a watertight joint obtained by means
of a mixture of metals known as sensitive solder.
In the interior of the lower end of the body is placed a coating or layer of paraffin
wax d or other suitable substance or mixture of substances as hereinbefore specified
and which for convenience of reference will hereinafter be referred to as the paraffin
The paraffin wax entirely fills the space that it is intended that it should occupy
and thereby separates and prevents the water contained in the pipes from coming in
contact with the joint or seal of sensitive solder by which the capsule is secured in
the socket c.
-wax.
When a fire occurs the paraffin melts before the seal of sensitive solder but being
placed above and being of less specific gravity than the water it floats upon it and
retains its proper position. When the sensitive solder fuses and the cup or capsule &
is released the melted paraffin wax is driven out by the flow of water from the pipes.
This form of sprinkler, Figs. 1, 1 1 is not shown provided with any means of
equalizing the distribution of the water as it is intended for use in such situations as
the interiors of elevators, shoots and boxed in machinery where its surroundings will
act in this capacity.
In the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 2, 2" 2 the lower end of the body a is
shown terminating with an internal recess c¹ and the upper end in a screwed nipple e.
Into the internal recess c¹ is fixed by means of ordinary solder or otherwise a metal
tube Into the interior of this tube is fitted a cup or capsule which is secured
to the interior of the metal tube by means of a seal or joint of sensitive solder
which only occupies the lower and outer part of the annular space between the tube
and the capsule b. The remaining part of the annular space between the said tube and
capsule 6 which is not occupied by the seal or joint of sensitive solder is filled with
paraffin wax d.
This form of sprinkler may be used in any postion, that is, vertically downward as
shown, vertically upward or at any oblique angle, as the capillary attraction between
the paraffin wax and the surfaces of the annular confined space in which it is contained
prevents its escape even when in the melted state. The closed end of the cup or cap-
sule rests upon the internal recess c¹ and also tends to prevent such escape and in
addition if found desirable a washer of any suitable material may be inserted between
the end of the cup or capsule and the internal recess cl.
Figs. 2, 2, 2 are not provided with any means of equalizing the distribution of
the water which may be effected in the manner as described for Figs. 1 1", 1", or
otherwise.
I would have it clearly understood that the constructions and arrangements shown
in the Drawings forming part of this specification are simply intended to represent
two out of the many forms of sprinklers or automatic fire extinguishers to which my
my Invention may be applied. "It will be readily apparent from the foregoing descrip-
tion that my said Invention of a non-conducting but easily fusible substance interposed
between the joint or seal of sensitive solder and the water from the supply pipe is
applicable to many forms and various types of sprinklers besides those herein
specified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a sprinker or automatic fire extinguisher of suitable construction the use
and application of a coating or layer of a non-conducting but easily fusible substance
placed between the joint or seal of sensitive solder and the water from the supply

page_text: pipe whereby the water is prevented from coming in contact with the said joint or seal
until the latter has been completely severed by the fusion of the sensitive solder.
2. The use and application for the purpose specified of paraffin wax as the non-
conducting but easily fusible substance.
3. The use and application for the purpose specified of palmitine, ozokerite, stearine,
Japanese wax, bees wax, white wax, tallow, vegetable fats, spermacetti, or cacaoine, as
the non-conducting but easily fusible substance.
4. The use and application for the purpose specified of a mixture of paraffin wax
with one or more of the following or any allied substances, namely:-vaseline, resin,
ozokerite, palmitine, glycerine, Japanese wax, stearine, calophony, bitumen, tar,
asphaltum, bees wax, white wax, vegetable fats and tallow, as the non-conducting but
easily fusible substance.
5. The use and application for the purpose specified of a mixture of one or more of
the following or any allied substances, namely:-palmitine, ozokerite, stearine,
Japanese wax, bees wax, white wax, tallow, vegetable fats, spermacetti and cacaoine,
as the non-conducting but easily fusible substance.
6. In a sprinkler the combination with a cup or capsule attached by means of a
joint or seal of sensitive solder to a socket or tube or equivalent forming part of the
body of the sprinkler of a non-conducting but easily fusible substance substantially
as herein set forth for the purpose specified.
Mateu HIS 18th day of January 1001.
W. WOODHOUSE.
H. B. Barlow,
Agent for Applicant.