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

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Fire Extinguishing Sprinklers
or Apparatus.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of Emlyn Street Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the extinction of fires by means of sprinklers or
like devices, fixed at different points at or near the ceiling or roof of a room or
building, and arranged and adapted to be automatically operated by the temperature
within such room or building, when it reaches a certain point, water being used as
the extinguishing fluid, and conveyed thither by suitable pipes. The particular
type of such apparatus to which this invention has special reference is that in which
is employed an expandable and contractile diaphragmatic chamber or device partly
charged with a volatile liquid, the heat in the room or space where a fire takes
place, causing the liquid to be evaporated and the vessel to be expanded and so
supplying the water onto the fire; whilst afterwards, when the fire is extinguished,
the vessel becomes cool and automatically closes and stops the flow of water.
According to the present invention, in a diaphragmatic vessel or device of the
type referred to, I employ as the diaphragms corrugated discs, or the like, the
corrugations being of annular form: whilst in between these discs I provide a
plate, disc, stay, or the like, extending between the edges of the diaphragms or
discs. The plate, stay, or the like, affords strength to the whole device, and by it
the tendency of warping or working out of shape of the device during the expansion
or contraction, is prevented; that is to say, it holds these outer diaphragms in
place and forins a base stay or girder for the operation of them. The intermediate
disc, stay, or the like, may be solid, having only a few perforations in it or it may
be openwork, or ribbed, or equivalent form. When is solid or practically solid
with the perforations in it, I prefer to have on each side of it some blotting paper
or similar absorbent material, into which a small quantity, say a teaspoonful of
volatile liquid as ether and water is poured or introduced, so that the whole of the
liquid is held in this absorbent material.
In one arrangement of apparatus according to this invention, the disc device is
placed in a horizontal position and held above and below by a frame in the form of
a bow, which has a certain amount of spring in it; and the lower member of this
bow also supports a valve and valve spindle; and below this again is the water
distributing device. The valve is coupled directly to the lower disc of the
diaphragmatic device, and closes on a seat within an outer annular casing. This
valve is normally pressed onto its seat by the pressure of water; whilst when the
valve is open, the water passes up through the valve seat, and round the annular
space down to the distributing device below. This device consists in one case of a
rotating distributor with arms, having perforations similar to a Barker's mill, the
arms being on a boss working on a suitable joint, through which the water passes to
the arms; and the water is distributed upwards and around in the desired manner,
it being so arranged, however, that the spray of water does not fall or play
about the diaphragm device so as to cool it; that is, the device is practically,
during the action of the apparatus, in a zone or space free of water, or rapid
cooling influences.
In this form of device it is, in one case, so arranged, that when a fire takes place,
the first movement of the disc device is in an upward direction, this movement

page_text: being caused by the pressure of water in the valve acting upwards upon it and
preventing the downward movement thereof. The upward motion causes contact
to be made with an electric contact device and sounds an alarm; but it has a limit
of movement, and when this limit is reached, it causes a reaction downwards, and
the device begins to expand and open downwards, by the force of the further
contraction and expansion of the volatile liquid, and presses the valve open against
the pressure of water; and as soon as this is done, the valve is free to open to its
full position. A large movement of valve is provided for so that the valve is sure
to be fully opened, and it is so arranged that the expansion may go on for a
considerable amount, so that the amount of margin for proper and full opening is
very large. Then when the fire is extinguished, the water is caused to How for
several minutes afterwards. As the amount of stroke or movement of the discs is
large and the cooling of the device and its collapsing or closing is comparatively
slow or gradual, by this a long period of closing and stopping is provided, and
thereby a certainty of complete extinction of the fire afforded.
The condensation of the liquid or gas in the diaphragmatic device is such that it
pulls the valve upon its seat, it being held at the upper part,-and the vacuum is
such as to cause considerable pressure of the valve upon its seat, while, the bow
frame which carries the valve and the diaphragmatic device is so made as to
provide a certain amount of elasticity so that the diaphragm discs come back to
their normal closed condition after the fire has gone out. By this construction or
means the use of all springs in the apparatus is entirely obviated.
A modified form of the apparatus is a diaphragmatic device which is fastened to
the pipe and on the under or upper side thereof, whilst the motion of the discs,
when a fire takes place and they are expanded by the evaporation of the liquid in
them, is communicated to the water spraying or distributing device by means of
a lever or rod, which acts upon the valve and opens it against the pressure of the
water.
In this case, or in the other case, it is not necessary that the Barker's mill type
of water distributing device be used, as any known form of sprinkler or water
spreader may be employed.
In some cases, to obtain the necessary duration of continuous action after the fire
shall have ceased, I use a cover or shield to the diaphragmatic device, to prevent
water falling or being sprayed upon it, and causing its collapse or stopping prior to
the time required, or to further cause the slow cooling of it. This slow or gradual
cooling may in some cases be caused or effected by employing more or less body or
mass of metal in the inner parts of the diaphragmatic device.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
Improvements in or connected with Fire Extinguishing Sprinklers
or Apparatus.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of Emlyn Street Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manuer the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention has reference to the extinction of fires by means of sprinklers or
like devices, fixed at different points at or near the ceiling or roof of a room or
building, and arranged and adapted to be automatically operated by the temperature
within such room or building, when it reaches a certain point, water being used as

page_text: the extinguishing fluid, and conveyed thither by suitable pipes. The particular
ype of such apparatus to which this invention has special reference is that in which
is employed an expansible and contractile diaphragmatic chamber or device partly
charged with a volatile liquid, the heat in the room or space where a fire takes
place, causing the liquid to be evaporated and the vessel to be expanded and so
supplying the water onto the fire; whilst afterwards, when the fire is extinguished,
the vessel becomes cool and automatically closes and stops the flow of water.
According to the present invention, in a diaphragmatic vessel or device of the
type referred to, 1 employ as the diaphragms corrugated discs, or the like, the
corrugations being of aunular form: whilst in between these discs I provide a plate,
disc, stay, or the like, extending between the edges of the diaphragms or discs.
The plate, stay, or the like, affords strength to the whole device, and by it the
tendency of warping or working out of shape of the device during the expansion or
contraction, is prevented; that is to say, it holds these outer diaphragms in place
and forms a base, stay, or girder for the operation of them. The intermediate
disc, stay, or the like, may be solid, having only a few perforations in it, or it may
be openwork, or ribbed, or equivalent form. When it is solid or practically solid
with the perforations in it, I prefer to have on each side of it some blotting paper
or similar absorbent material, into which a small quantity, say a teaspoonful of
volatile liquid as ether and water is poured or introduced, so that the whole of the
liquid is held in this absorbent material.
In one arrangement of apparatus according to this invention, the disc device is
placed in a horizontal position and held above and below by a frame in the form of
a bow, which has a certain amount of spring in it; and the lower member of this
bow also supports a valve and valve spindle; and below this again is the water
distributing device. The valve is coupled directly to the lower disc of the
diaphragmatic device, and closes on a seat within an outer annular casing. This
valve is normally pressed onto its seat by the pressure of water; whilst when the
valve is open, the water passes up through the valve seat, and round the annular
space down to the distributing device below. This device consists in one case of a
rotating distributor with arms, having perforations similar to a Barker's mill, the
arms being on a boss working on a suitable joint, through which the water passes
to the arms; and the water is distributed upwards and around in the desired
manner, it being so arranged, however, that the spray of water does not fall or play
about the diaphragm device so as to cool it; that is, the device is practically,
during the action of the apparatus, in a zone or space free of water, or rapid
cooling influences.
causes
In this form of device it is, in one case, so arranged, that when a fire takes place,
the first movement of the disc device is in an upward direction, this movement
being caused by the pressure of water in the valve acting upwards upon it and
preventing the downward movement thereof. The upward motion
contact to be made with an electric contact device and sounds an alarm; but it has
a limit of movement, and when this limit is reached, it causes a reaction downwards,
and the device begins to expand and open downwards, by the force of the further
evaporation and expansion of the volatile liquid, and presses the valve open against
the pressure of water; and as soon as this is done, the valve is free to open to its
full position. A large movement of valve is provided for so that the valve is sure
to be fully opened, and it is so arranged that the expansion may go on for a
considerable amount, so that the amount of margin for proper and full opening is
very large. Then when the fire is extinguished, the water is caused to flow fr
several minutes afterwards. As the amount of stroke or movement of the discs is
large and the cooling of the device and its collapsing or closing is comparatively
slow or gradual, by this a long period of closing and stopping is provided, and
thereby a certainty of complete extinction of the fire afforded.
The condensation of the liquid or gas in the diaphragmatic device is such that
it pulls the valve upon its seat, it being held at the upper part,-and the
vacuum is such as to cause considerable pressure of the valve upon its seat, while,

page_text: the bow frame which carries the valve and the diaphragmatic device is so made as
to provide a certain amount of elasticity so that the diaphragm discs come back to
their normal closed condition after the fire has gone out. By this construction or
means the use of all springs in the apparatus is entirely obviated.
A modified form of the apparatus is a diaphragmatic device which is fastened to
the pipe and on the under or upper side thereof, whilst the motion of the
discs, when a fire takes place and they are expanded by the evaporation of the
liquid in them, is communicated to the water spraying or distributing device by
means of a lever or rod, which acts upon the valve and opens it against the pressure
of the water.
In this case, or in the other case, it is not necessary that the Barker's mill type
of water distributing device be used, as any known form of sprinkler or water
spreader may be employed.
In some cases, to obtain the necessary duration of continuous action after the
fire shall have ceased, I use a cover or shield to the diaphragmatic device, to
prevent water falling or being sprayed upon it, and cansing its collapse or stopping
prior to the time required, or to further cause the slow cooling of it. This slow or
gradual cooling may, in some cases, be caused or effected by employing more or less
body or mass of metal in the inner parts of the diaphragmatic device.
The invention, the nature of which is above described, will now be set forth with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shews the arrangement
in cross section, wherein a bow frame and directly actuated valve are employed;
and Figure 2 shews a modification in which the valve is actuated by the diaphragmatic
device through a lever.
Referring in the first instance to Figure 1, a generally represents the corrugated
diaphragmatic device; bis the valve casing; e the valve; d the water supply
branch to the valve case; e the water supply pipe; the spring bow frame; and
the water distributing arms.
The diaphragmatic device a comprises two metallic annularly corrugated discs a¹
(say of sheet copper or copper alloy); an internal stay or strengthening annular
disc 2 extending to the edges of the corrugated discs a¹; and the layer of
absorbent material such as blotting paper a³ beneath the disc a. The edges of
the upper and lower discs al are secured to oue another; the edge of the under
dise being bent and beaded round the periphery of the stay disc a² and the under
edge of the material a³; and the edge of the lower disc being bent up and over
the edge of the upper disc a', to which it is secured and rendered air tight by
brazing or soldering. A suitable quantity of volatilizable liquid with which the
absorbent material is charged is about a teaspoonful of methylated ether of a
specific gravity of 720, with about one, two, or three drops of water added to it.
With this quantity and quality of fluid, the apparatus will be set in action when
the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the device reaches say 100
to 120 degrees Fahr.
The valve portion b of the apparatus is of annular form, that is, it consists of an
outside casing, with an inner annular portion to which the water is supplied and
in which it normally exists. The valve c (which is connected with the lower
diaphragmn a' by a spindle ) normally closes the opening 63 in the top of the part b',
with the inner edge of which (the opening), the valve e makes a watertight joint.
A plug closes the lower end of this part 6, and by it, a means of introducing the
valve e iuto position is provided.
The valve case b, and thereby the whole device, is carried by the water supply
pipe ; the parts above this case being partly carried and partly guided by
the spring bow f, which is secured to the top of the valve case b. The water
distributing arms are supported from the lower end of the case b by the hollow
plug n.
As regards the bow f, this is made of such a section of metal (say cast iron)
as will give it a certain amount of spring or elasticity, by which when the valve
is closed, and the pressure of the atmosphere is on the diaphragm due to the

page_text: vacuum within, that is, the ends of the spring frame f come together, and thereby
relieve the pressure of the discs a' to such an extent as to prevent them being
pressed out of shape, while the tension caused or existing on the frame is sufficient
o press the valve cand keep it on its seat under all conditions when the apparatus
s inoperative and independently of the pressure of water there may exist on the
back of the valve.
The upper disc a' of the diaphragmatic device is supported and retained in
position by the frame f, through the headed pin h, and the boss i on the disc a', int
which this pin is screwed, as shewn. The head of the pin 4 rests upon a bush j, the
material of such bush being a non-conductor of electricity; and through this bush
electric wires k, forming the terminals of an electrically operated alarm circuit, are
introduced, and they extend into an annular recess at the lower part of such
bush, into which recess the upper part of the metal boss i moves when a fire takes
place and the disc device becomes distended. The water distributing arms are
carried by a hollow hub m, fitting upon the hollow conical end of the screwed plugn.
The arms are provided with apertures l', which are arranged therein to distribute
the water upwards and all about, and also in a direction to constitute reaction
jets, producing a self-propelling movement of revolution after the manner of a
Barker's mill.
In normal use, namely, when the apparatus is inactive, the positions of the parts
are those shewn in the drawings.
In application, a number of the apparatus will be placed near the ceiling or
upper part of the room or space in which they are used at certain distances apart,
as commonly done with any of the well known forms and manners of arrangeinent
of "fire sprinklers."
When a fire takes place, the action is as follows: When the atmosphere about
any one or others of the devices reaches, say, 100 or 120° Fahrenheit, the liquid
held in the absorbent material a of the device a (the space in the device not
occupied by such material being filled with air) is evaporated, and a pressure is
generated within the device. The first effect of this pressure is, that the upper
disc al is moved upwards (the lower one being held up in position by the pressure
of water, say from 20 to 60 lbs., acting upon the valve c), and the boss i is there-
fore moved up into the annular recess of the bush j, the pin & also moving up
through it, until its edge makes contact with the wire terminals k, when the electric
alarm circuit is closed, and the alarm is set in action, and will continue to act
during the whole time pressure exists in the device a. Then, when the pressure in
the device a has reached a point that the pressure acting on the valve, tending to
open it, is greater than that acting in an opposite direction, by the further expansion
of the fluid in a, the lower disc a' commences to move downwards, as, the upper
disc u is now held by the frame f and the valve is opened; and the valve is
continued to be moved away from its seat so long as the temperature about the
device continues by the further expansion of the lower disc a'. As soon as the valve c
is opened, the water enters the revolving arms / and it is distributed thereby upwards
and all about in every direction in small drops or spray.
The opening of the valve e beyond the point necessary to give the full area of
opening between the valve and its seat, is provided by the construction shewn;
that is, this construction permits of an extended expansion of the device and
opening of the valve, and accordingly as this amount of opening is larger or
smaller, so will, in a large measure, the time of closing of the valve, after the
fire has been extinguished, be longer or shorter. When the fire has been
extinguished, and the temperature of the space about the sprinkler is lowered,
the vapour in the diaphragmatic device gradually condenses, and the closing
or collapsing action of the device commences; viz., the discs a' approach each
other, and the head of the pin à resting on the top of the bush, the valve
is drawn towards its seat; and according to the distance of this valve from its
seat, and to the rapidity of condensation, so will be the amount of time taken
between the commencement of closing or collapsing of the device, and the coming

page_text: of the valve c upon its seat. The duration, therefore, of the continuance of discharge
and spraying of water by the device, after the fire has been put out, will depend
upon the distance the valve e has been moved from its seat, and has, therefore to
close, and the time occupied in collapsing of the device. The upper surface of the
device a is painted in some cases to prevent the water which falls on it from cooling
it too much or too rapidly.
In the modification shewu in Figure 2, the top disc of the diaphragmatic device a
is secured to the pipe e by a clamp h, and the lower disc is connected to an
operates the valve c by a lever c² which is supported by the pipe e and by a clamp e³.
The action of this apparatus, that is of the diaphragmatic device a, and its operation
of the valve c, is substantially the same as that of the apparatus or parts shewn in
Figure 1 and the parts of the modification, which are the same as or equivalent to
parts of the apparatus first described with reference to Figure 1, are marked with
the same reference letters and figures.
In some cases a cover g is provided over the device a: this prevents the water
falling upon it and cooling it too much and too rapidly when the fire is extinguished.
This cover may be used in all cases to shield the device against the cooling action
of falling water.
Although the invention has been described as applied solely to the automatic
distribution of water, and its cutting off in the case of fires, it is at the same time
also applicable for use in connection with systems of fire extinction, in which the
fluid employed as the extinguishing agent is carbonic acid gas, or the like, in which
case the use of the spraying device shewn is unnecessary.
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, comprising diaphragms, and an internal plate or stay by which strength
and rigidity is afforded to such device; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
2. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a diaphragmatic expanding and
collapsing device for effecting the supply and control of the extinguishing fluid,
comprising corrugated discs a², an internal plate or disc a; and an absorbent
material, said parts being constructed and combined as set forth with reference to
and shewn in the drawings.
3. An automatic fire extinguishing apparatus having a diaphragmatic corrugated
expanding and collapsing device and a fluid supply controlling valve connected
therewith, adapted and constructed substantially as described to give an extended
valve movement and opening, and to provide for an extended time for supply of
extinguishing fluid after the cessation of the fire.
4. An automatic fire extinguishing apparatus comprising diaphragmatic device a,
supporting bow, and valve e; operating and arranged substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
5. The construction substantially as set forth of diaphragmatic device, and
electric circuit closing or contact making means, by which when a fire takes place
the first movement or expansion of the diaphragmatic device closes an electric
alarm circuit.
6. The automatic starting and stopping fire extinguishing apparatus having parts
arranged, constructed, and adapted to operate, as set forth with reference to and
shewn in Figure 1, and Figure 2 respectively of the drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.