US111836A - Improvement in fire-extinguishers - Google Patents

Description

No. 111,836. yn nn'rnn FEB. 14, 1871.

J. GARDNER. FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

INVENTOR- Attest. Q 34 bated dtffid.

JOSEPH GARDNER, OF BEDFORD, INDIANA.

Letters Patent No. 111,836, dated February 14, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and makin part: of the same.

I, J osnPH GARDNER, of Bedford, in the county of Lawrence and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Useful Fire-Extinguisher, of which the following is a specification, V

Nature and Objects of the Iiwentc'on. This invention relates to that class of portable apparatus in which a fire-extinguishing gas is generated by the combination of a suitable acid solntio with an alkaline one; and

My improvement consists in constructing such anapparatus with three separate chambers or reservoirs,

the first one being for the reception of the acid solution, the second one for containing the alkaline solution, 'and the third one being a mixing chamber, into which the contents of the other two are discharged whenever required, so as to combine and generate the gas; and in combining therewith an equalizing pipe for the purpose of insuring a ufiiform pressure within the chambers as soon as the generation of gas takes place.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

' The accompanying drawing is a partially sectionized side. elevation of afire-extinguisher embodying -my improvements.

' General Description.

A, .B, and 0 represent, respectively, the alkaline chamber, the acid chamber, and the mixing or gasgenerating chamber.

These three chambers may be of any desired shape or size, and constructed either of brass, iron, copper, or any other suitable material, .care being taken to make them strong enough .to. stand the necessary pressure.

The upper ends of the chambers A and B are provided with screw-threaded caps, D and E, which, when removed, permit said chambers being charged with their appropriate compounds or solutions.

The cap D of chamber A is furnished with a stut fing-box, 1 through which projects a rod or shaft, G,

whose upper end has attached to it a handle or crank,

H, while its lower end carries a blade, 'wing, or'agitator, I.

. The lower end of shaft G may, if preferred, be journalcd in a spider, J, or it may simply rest upon the bottom oi the chamber.

The vessel B, being designed for containing the acid solution, is lined on the inside with a leaden jacket or casing, K, which effectually prevents the acid injuring the metal of which said chamber is comn d- The lower portions of the chambers A and B are united to the reservoir 0, either by solder or rivets,

so as to form a gas-tight joint between them, and the extreme lower ends of said chambers are provided with downwardly-projecting pipes, L M, having cocks or valves, .N O, which are operated by handles, 1 R,

on the outside of reservoir 0.

Projecting from any convenient part of reservoir 0 is a discharge-pipe, S, to which the hose is attached, and the flow of gas through said pipe is controlled by the cock T,

Attached to reservoir 0, and communicating with the interior of the same, is an equalizing pipe, U, whose upper end is united to branch-pipes V and W, which'latter are connected respectively with chambers A and B.

The branch-pipes V and \V' are furnished with valves or cocks, X and Y,'so as to open and close communication between i the chambers A B and reservoir' (l.

Operation.

The operation of my fire-extinguisher is as follows: The caps D and E are first removed, the valves N O T-X Y closed, and the chambers A B filled with their appropriate compounds, the alkaline solution being put into chamber A and the acid solution into chamber B, after which the caps D E are secured in their original positions.

The machine is now ready for use, and the moment a fire occurs the attendant gives the handle Ha few turns, so as to rotate the agitator I, and thereby stir up the contents of the alkalinechamber A, after which the cocks N and O are opened, so as to permit the contents of chambers A and B mixing together in reservoir 0, and by combining to generate the fireextinguishing gas.

As soon as the gas begins to generate the cooks X and ,Y are opened, so as to establisha uniform pressure throughout the entire apparatus.

By turning the cock Tthe gas is discharged through the conducting-hose and nozzle upon the fire.

The cocks X and Y should be constantly closed, except when. the apparatus is put inaction, so as to prevent any commingling of the contents of the two chambers A and B in case the extinguisher should he accidentally overturned.

In the illustration the chambers for containing the alkaline and acid solutions are represented as attached to the upper side of the mixing chamber, but it is evident that the same result can beobtained by placing all three of the receptacles side by side, or, if preferred, the alkaline, the acid, and the mixing-chambers can all be arranged within a single vessel, hav ing partitions or diaphragms in it, for the purpose of separating the different solutions.

The machine may be small and light enough to bc men or horses.

' Claim;

v I claim'as my invention- The combined arrangement; of the alkali chamher A, acid chamber B, mixing chamberQeqnahzmg' pipe U, branches V W, discharge-pipe S, mi cocks N, O, 1, X, and Y, as and for'the pnrposes stated.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand. I

- JOSEPH GALDNER.

Witnesses E. R. MURPHY, ISAAC REGTER.

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