A Method of and Apparatus for Extinguishing Fire and for Preventing it from Spreading.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1890-Accepted 23rd Aug. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Extinguishing Fire and for
Preventing it from Spreading.
I, James Grieve LoRRAIN, of Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the Complete Specification accompanying my Letters Patent No. 12,133 of the
year 1885 (hereinafter referred to as my previous patent) I specify means for
extinguishing fire and for preventing its spreading depending upon the action of
electricity. In my present invention I also employ electricity but instead of utilising
it by means of electromotors as specified in my said previous patent I utilise it by
means of thermal devices, that is to say devices which convert the electric energy or a
part thereof into heat the said heat serving to produce expansion, fusion or ignition of
a suitable body. The said expansion fusion or ignition I employ to actuate valves,
propellers, or any other suitable known contrivances used in connection with fire
extinguishing and the prevention of fire from spreading.
I may so construct and arrange my apparatus as to render it capable of being
operated by hand as well as automatically.
In conjunction with my apparatus above referred to I may employ any convenient
form of electric alarm or signalling device.
Dated th: 1711
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A. Method of and Apparatus for Extinguishing Fire and
Preventing it from Spreading.
for
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Consulting 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:-
A known method of automatically operating the valves (whether throttle-valves,
sprinkler jets, fire doors, gas cocks or the like) used for the purpose of extinguishing
fire and preventing it from spreading is by means of electromagnetic motors the said
motors being in circuit with thermal contacts (or devices for closing the electric
circuit when the temperature has risen to a given point) and a source or reservoir of
electric energy.
In my present invention I employ a source or reservoir of electrical energy' and
thermal contacts, but instead of using electromagnetic motors as hereinbefore referred
to I employ fusible connections which are melted on the passage through them of the
electric current and so release the valves.
The action of my invention will be readily seen from the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
Figure 1 is a front and figure 2 a side elevation of a simple form of sprinkler valve.
A is a water pipe which is kept closed by the valve B articulated as shown at band
bearing a deflecting cup 62. C is the fusible connection consisting of a wire of lead
or fusible alloy attached at one extremity to a block of insulating material on the pipe
and at the other extremity to a block of insulating material on the deflecting cup.
The contact is symbolically represented by the circle D and the source or reservoir by
the circle E. The action is as follows. The temperature having risen sufficiently
high to close the circuit through the contact D the electric current will pass through
the fusible connection C which forms part of the circuit as shown by the dotted lines.
The current supplied by E having been so proportioned with respect to the gauge ard
[Priced.]

page_text: conductivity of Cthat the latter is fused when the circuit is closed C will give way
and the pressure of the water in A will cause the valve B to assume the position shown
by the dotted lines when the water will issue from A, impinge upon 62 and be deflected
in the usual well known way.
In practice the current passed through the fusible connection should be of sufficient
strength to immediately fuse the connection C. Thus let us assume that to hold up
the valve against the normal pressure of water employed requires a fusible wire whose
fusing current is two-ampères then the current supplied should be say three ampères
so as to ensure immediate fusion.
I have shown my invention as applied to a simple form of sprinkler but from what
has preceded any competent engineer will see how it can be applied to any of the
ordinary forms of valve used for extinguishing fires and preventing them from
spreading. It is only necessary to bear in mind that if the valve to be operated be in
a water pipe it should be maintained closed by the fusible connection against the
action of the water pressure or of a spring or weight or the like tending to open it :
and that if the valve to be operated be a fire door or a gas cock it should be maintained
open by the fusible connection against the action of a spring or weight or the like
tending to close it.
In some cases instead of employing a thermal contact I substitute therefor an
ordinary hand circuit closing device. In other cases I employ both a hand circuit
closing device and a thermal contact the two being coupled up in circuit in multiple are.
When I employ a number of fusible connections and valves I arrange the circuits
as in the cases wherein electromagnetic motors are employed.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular types of
circuit closing device fusible connection source or reservoir of electrical energy or
valve as the essence of my invention lies in so far as the method is concerned in
melting the fusible connection by means of an electric current and in so far as the
apparatus is concerned in the combination with the valve of a fusible connection a
source or reservoir of electrical energy and a circuit closing device for the purpose of
extinguishing fire and for preventing it from spreading.
It will be seen that I use the term valve in its generic sense.
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 1
claim is
1. The method of extinguishing fire and preventing it from spreading consisting in
operating valves by melting their fusible connections by means of an electric current
substantially as set forth.
2. The apparatus for extinguishing fire and for preventing it from spreading
consisting in the combination of a valve, a fusible connection, a source or reservoir of
electrical energy and a circuit closing device.
Dated this 17th day of July 1800