US144493A - Improvement in automatic fire-extinguishers - Google Patents

Description

EQ-H. AsHcoFT. Automatic Fre-Ex'tingushars.`4 N0. 144,493. A Patented Nov.l1,l873.

WITNESSES. j IJV'VEJVTOR "j` g.) By r m, a",

L//Lz-W- Attorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS.'

Specification forming part of Letters latent No. 144,493, dated November 1l, 1873; application led October 30, 1873.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. AsHoRoET, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire- Extinguishers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention., such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings7 which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to a novel device for turning on water in stand-pipes by means of which fire may be extinguished. It contemplates an apparatus that will by the expansion of air, due to heat, automatically open the valve or valves in the water-pipe.

In the drawings, Figure lis a section and elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2 shows a variation in its application. Fig. 3 represents a gage and an air-pump for the purpose of testing the air-tightness of the tube.

The following is a description of my invention: A is a cylinder. B is a piston moving snugly therein. C is a shaft that operates the water-cock D, situated in the stand-pipe E. F is a pipe, closed in every part except as it opens into the cylinder A. This pipe is provided with a flange on its lower end, by which it can be secured to the top of the cylinder A; or it may be screwed or otherwise fastened thereon. The lower end of the cylinder A is provided with openings or air-vents a., and incloses the shaft C sufficiently tight to act merely as a guide.

The operation of the device is as follows: The pipe F is trained into any apartment of the building, or upon the outside of the building adjacent to any structure that in burning would endanger the building, and the other rareied and expands, driving the piston B throughthe cylinder A, and the shaft C op crates directly or indirectly to turn the stop- Vcock D in the waterpipe E. The water will then rise through the pipe E, and beprojected through perforations in the pipe upon the parts of the structure on re or endangered.

In order that the pipe F may be readily tested as to its air-tightness, I propose to employ an air-pump, G, above thepiston B and the gage H, and thereby, by exhausting the air from the pipe F, or compressing the air within the pipe F, the gage H will indicate its air-tightness. Several of these automatic devices may be attached to several water pipes leading to the different apartments, so that the action of the air-pipe F in turning -on the water will not iiood apartments that are not endangered'.

The devices shown in the drawings for turning on the water are intended only as ex amples of the many appliances that may be employed for that purpose.

Packing f should be properly placed be tween the joints wherever they occur.l Perforations a a are made in the bottom of the cylinder A, above the lowest point reached by the piston B, through which the excess of expanded air mayfind vent, and which also prevent the drawing back of the piston B, and consequently closing of the valve D, owing to a sudden cooling of the pipe F. In some instances, however, it might be desirable to have the water automatically turned oif when the fire had become extinguished. If desired, a valve opening inward may be placed near the top of the cylinder A, so that suction due to a sudden cooling of the pipe F may not draw back the piston B, and thus shut off the water; oran arrangement of pawls and ratchets may be made so that the expansion would open the water-valve; but in drawing4 back, the pawl would ride over the ratchets and not act to close the said valve.

Having thus described my invention, what piston B, pump G, and gage H, substantially as described.

In testilnony that I clailn the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of October, 1873.

EDWARD H. ASHCROFT.

Witnesses z ACLAND BOYLE, LEVERETT L. LEGGETT.

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