IMPROVEMENTS IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES, AND IN APPARATUS OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED THERE- FOR A communication from ab by
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
EXTINGUISHING FIRES, AND IN APPARATUS OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED THERE-
FOR
A communication from abroad by the Firm of F Giraid and Company,
of Paris, in the Republic of France
"
Sealed the 20th July 1877, and dated the 9th February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Cominissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1877
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleinan "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES AND IN APPARATUS OR
MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR.” A communication from abroad by the Firm
of F Girard and Company, of Paris, in the Republic of France
This Invention has for its object enabling fires to be extinguished at their out-
break with a small amount of liquid by the employment of improved apparatus and
substances possessing in the highest degree the properties best calculated to arrest
combustion
In extinguishing a fire the fulfilling of two conditions contributes to the efficiency
of the operations, viz., a prompt cooling of the burning objects, and their simul-
taneous isolation from atmospheric air
By means of this Invention the cooling is obtained by a powerful pressure,
causing a jet of the extinguishing liquid to penetrate without loss to the centre of
the conflagration, and to be dispersed in fine spray, offering a considerable
vaporizing surface, and evolving extinguishing gases, and the isolation 18
effected by the incombustible coating deposited by the liquid thrown on the burning
objects and by the gases which it generates, such, for example, as carbonic and
hydrosulphuric acids, carbonate and hydrosulphuret of ammonia, with steam
It is also necessary that the action should be instantaneous, and that the various
chemical agents which are kept separate until the apparatus is to be used should be
utilized and mixed without preliminary reaction when the extinguishing gases are
required to be generated These results are obtained by the employment of a
generator separate from and indepondent of the receptacles contaming the chemical
[Price 6d1

page_text: agents in a liquid form, and by its combination with the other parts of the apparatus,
in the manner herein-after described
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed to employ four receptacles, herein-
after designated Nos 0, 1, 2, and 3, arranged side by side, and combined together
as heiein-after explained
Receptacle No 0 consists of a bottle arranged at the exterior for containing acid,
and the neck of which is bent or cuived, and forms the key or plug of a cock or
valve placed at the top of receptacle No 1 The latter receptacle, which constitutes
the generator, contains a strong solution of bicarbonate of soda or other salt capable
when mixed with acid of evolving large quantities of carbonic acid gas, the bical-
bonate being in excess Receptacle No 2 contains a solution of triple sulphate of
alumina, of soda, and of ammonia entirely neuter, acting in the first place upon the
excess of bicarbonate produced from the generator Receptacle No 3 contains a
solution of alkaline, silicates, and sulphurets
Receptacles Nos 1, 2, and 3 are by preference made of a cylindrical form, and
receptacles Nos 2 and 3 are provided internally with a funnel carrying a cylin-
drical prolongation perforated with holes in order to facilitate the division and the
mingling of the liquids The external conical part of these funnels may if required
serve as a reservoir for an in order to deaden the first shock of a too sudden and
violent pressure
Each
The 3 receptacles Nos 1, 2, and 3, which are constructed by preference of sheet
iron or plated copper, tinned or plated with lead, are united together so as to form
one apparatus, and communicato with one another by means of two plunging tubes,
one of which leading from the bottom of the receptacle No 1 communicates with
the upper part of the receptacle No 2, whilst the other leading from the lower part
of receptacle No 2 communicates with the upper part of receptacle No 3
of these thice receptacles is provided with an opening at its upper part for the
introduction of the liquid, such openings being closed by screwed plugs The acid
1s introduced into the bottle No 0 by an onfice of the cock or valve before
mentioned This bottle, the body of which is by preference composed of sheet iron
plated internally with lead, terminates in a brass pipe, the bent end of which forms
the key or plug of the cock or valve
The acid which is by preference employed is sulpho-glycolic acid, on account of
its sinall volume and from its not being injurious to the touch
Receptacles of small diameter and considerable height in proportion are prefered
as they are thus better able to withstand the strain of the pressure and facilitate
the misture and saturation of the gases and liquids by a longer passage
When the apparatus is required for use it is simply necessary to turn the
bottle No 0 hall round, when the acid with which it is charged will descend by
vntue of its density into the generator (receptacle No 1), where it is divided into
minute streams by passing through the holes of a perforated plate provided in the
same in such a manner as to effect its instant mixture with the solution of bicar-
bonate The maximum amount of production of carbonic acid gas is instantly
formed together with a coresponding amount of pressure, say, from about 12 to 15
atmospheres, which is communicated to the liquids contained in the two other recep-
tacles Nos 2 and 3
As soon as the bottle has been manipulated in the manner herein-before
described the operator takes the apparatus on his back or otherwise and proceeds to
the scene of the conflagration, taking the nozzle with which the receptacle No 3 18
provided in the right hand, and placing the left hand upon a cock with which the
nozzle is fitted in order to open the same immediately on aniving at the fire
soon as the liquids are set in motion by the opening of the cock the liquid charged
with carbonic acid from the generator No 1 passes gradually into the receptacle
No 2, whilst the receptacle No 3 is supplied from No 2
As
The Liquids from the 3 receptacles Nos 1, 2, and 3, are each in themselves capable
of arresting combustion separately, but the reactions resulting from then mixture,
owing to the chemical affinities, produces multiple combinations, augmenting the

page_text: extinguishing properties of the original liquids and gases, such, for example, as
hydiosulphuric acid, hydrosulphuret and carbonate of ammonia, which result from
the action of the alkaline bases upon the sulphates of alumina and ammonia
It is important that the oufice of the nozzle should not become enlarged by
oxidation oi by the fiction of the liquids, which liability is obviated by applying a
small glass mouth to the end of the nozzle, which is capable of being changed when
desired by unscrewing and screwing a ling
It is obvious that the number of receptacles communicating with the generator
may be varied, as, for example, one only may be employed if found desnable
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
August 1877
"
JOHN HENRY JOINSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman IMPROVEMENTS IN EXTINGUISHING FIRES AND IN APPARATUS OR
MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR A communication from abroad by F Guard
"
and Company, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
The said Invention has for its object enabling fires to be extinguished at their
outbreak with a small amount of liquid by the employment of improved apparatus
and substances possessing in the highest degice the properties best calculated to
anest combustion
In extinguishing a file the fulfilling of two conditions contributes to the efficiency
of the operation, videlicit, a prompt cooling of the burning objects, and their simul-
taneous isolation from atmospheric air
The
By means of the said Invention the fulfilment of the before-mentioned conditions
18 obtained in the following manner, videlicit -The cooling is effected by a power-
ful pressure, causing a jet of the extinguishing liquid to be canned intact to the
centre of the conflagration, and to be dispersed in fine spray, offering a considerable
vaporizing surface and evolving extinguishing gases, hence ensues a considerable
absorption of heat, the greater part of which passes off in a latent state
Isolation is effected by the incombustible conting deposited by the liquid projected
on the burning objects, and by the gases which it generates, such, for example, as
carbonic and hydiosulphuric acids, carbonate and hydrosulphuret of ammonia, with
steam The file is thus deprived of that element of combustion, atmospheric air,
by the inter position of a local atmosphere which suppresses combustion
It is also necessary that the action should be instantaneous, and that the various
chemical agents which are kept separate until the apparatus is to be used should be
utilized and mixed without preliminary reaction when the extinguishing gases are
requued to be generated These results are obtained by the employment of a
generator separate from and independent of the recptacles containing the chemical
agents in a liquid form, and by the combination of the said generator with the other
parts of the apparatus, in the manner herein-after described
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in both the Figures
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents an elevation, partly in section, of the appa-
ratus, and Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the same
A is a bottle containing acid, and the neck a of which is bent or curved, and
forms the plug of a cock or valve R situate at the top of a receptacle B This
receptacle, which is designated the generator, contains a strong solution of bicar-
bonate of soda or other salt capable when mixed with acid of evolving large
quantities of carbonic acid gas, the bicarbonate of soda or other salt employed being

page_text: In excess C is a receptacle containing a solution of triple sulphate of alumina, of
soda, and of ammonia entuely neutral, acting in the first place upon the excess of
bicarbonate derived from the generator, D is a receptacle containing a solution of
alkaline, silicates, and sulphides
It has been found in practice that a good result is obtained by the addition of
organic matter, and especially of the products of saponification in general, amy-
laceous, saccharine, nucilaginous or albuminous matter likewise in solution in
caustic alkalies
The object of the said Invention is to form with aluminous, silicious, calcareous,
or other analogous products a viscous incombustible composition of small density
in consequence of its fiothy condition, which enables it to float on the surface of
fatty bodies, such, for example, as petroleuni and other essences when on file, and
to cover solid objects when on fire with an incombustible vainish in such a manner
as to suddenly airest all combustion and to prevent the rekindling which might be
occasioned by the proximity of flames In some cases therefore the charge of the
receptacle D may be vaned by employing an alkaline solution of viscous organic
substances, an alkaline solution of silicates of soda or of potash, an alkaline
solution of hyposulphite of soda or of alkaline sulphides These thee solutions
only constitute oue solution; they are employed in varying proportions in order to
produce a composition not susceptible of deterioration with the addition of an
alkaline base in excess
The receptacles C and D are provided internally with a funnel E canying a
cylindrical prolongation or stem b perforated with holes in order to facilitate the
division and the mingling of the liquids The external conical part e, e, of these
funnels may if requied serve as a reservoir for air in order to deaden the first
shock of a too sudden and violent pressure
The three receptacles B, C, and D, which are constructed by preference of a
cylindrical form and of sheet non or copper tinned or plated with lead, are united
together so as to form one apparatus, and communicate with one another by means
of two tubes g, h, dipping into the icceptacles, the tube g leading from the bottom
of the receptacle B communicates with the upper part of the receptacle C, whilst
the tube leading from the lower part of the icceptacle C communicates with the
receptacle D Each of these thice receptacles is provided with an opening at its
upper pait for the introduction of the liquid, such openings being closed by a
sciewed plug S The acid is introduced into the bottle A by an oufice a¹ of the
cock or valve R This bottle, the body of which is by preference composed of sheet
non plated internally with lead, terminates in a brass pipe a, the bent end of which
forms the plug of the cock or valve R, as before mentioned. By placing the bottle
at the exterior much greater facility is provided for its inspection than when
internal bottles are used
The acid which is by preference employed is sulpho-glycenic acid, on account of
its small volume, and of its not being injurious to the touch
Receptacles of small diameter and considerable height in proportion we preferred
as they are thus better able to withstand the strain of the pressure, and facilitate
the mixture and saturation of the gases and liquids by a longer passage
The
apparatus charged with the chemical products herein-before mentioned may be kept
in that condition for an indefinite period without any deterioration or caction of
such chemical products, and without being subjected to any pressure
When the apparatus is required for use it is simply necessary to turn the bottle A
half round so as to bring it into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1,
the acid with which it is charged will then descend by virtue of its density into the
generator B, where it is divided into minute streains by passing through the holes
of a perforated plate G in such a manner as to effect its instantaneous mixture
with the solution of bicarbonate The maximum amount of carbonic acid gas is
instantly generated, together with a corresponding amount of pressure, say, fiom
about 12 to 15 atmospheres, which is communicated to the liquids contained in the
two other receptacles C and D

page_text: As soon as the bottle has been manipulated in the manner herein-before described
the operator takes the apparatus on his back or otherwise and proceeds to the
scene of the conflagration, taking the nozzle L in the right hand and placing the
left hand upon the cock in order to open the saine immediately on arriving at the
fire As soon as the liquids are set in motion by the opening of the cock k the
liquid changed with carbonic acid from the generator B passes gradually into
the receptacle C, whilst the receptacle D is supplied from the latter
The liquids from the three receptacles B, C, and D are each in themselves capable
of arresting combustion separately, but the icactions resulting from their mixture,
owing to the chemical affinities, produces multiple combinations augmenting the
extinguishing properties of the original liquids and gases, such, for examplo, as
hydiosulphuric acid, hydiosulphuret and carbonate of aminonia, which result fiom
the action of the alkaline bases upon the sulphates of alumina and ammonia
Under these conditions the liquid may be projected to a distance of, say, from 16
to 22 yaids, but in order to ensure the attainment of this distance it is important
that the orifice of the nozzle should not become enlarged, to which defect it is
liable by oxidation or by the fiction of the liquids This liability is however
obviated by applying a small glass mouth-piece m to the end of the nozzle,
which is capable of being changed when desired by unscrewing and screwing a
ring n
It is obvious that the number of receptacles employed communicating with the
generator may be varied as cucumstances may rende necessary
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or canned into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in pait recited
Letters Patent is,―
Fust The application and use of a separate generator with one or more commu-
nicating receptacles, substantially as herein-before described
Secondly Arranging the bottle A at the exterior of the generator, substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before described
Thirdly Effecting the complete and instantaneous saturation of the acid supplied
to the generator by the bottle A and the production of an additional quantity of
carbonic acid gas in the receptacle 01 receptacles communicating with the generator
by the employment of an excess of the bicubonate of soda or other salt employed
in the said generator, substantially as herein-before described
Fourthly The application and use to and in the extinguishing of files of chemical
agents or products having the before-mentioned properties, substantially as and for
the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.