US187340A - Improvement in fire-shields for theaters - Google Patents

Description

FIRE SI'IIELIDS FOR THEATERS, &C.

.WRIGHT- Patented Feb.1,.1877.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFrcr LEMUL W. WRIGHT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT-IN FIRE-SHIELDS FOR THEATERS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 187,340, dated February 13, 1877; application tiled January 15, 1877. i

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEMUEL W. WRIGHT, of Brooklyn, in the county ot' Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Protecting Public Buildings in Oase of Fire, of which the following is a specitcation:

In theaters and other public buildings containing a stage, the risk of iire exists principally in connection with the scenery upon the stage. There is but little risk ot' lire originating in the auditorium.

My invention is made with reference vto separating the stage entirely from the auditorium, in order that fire commencing upon the former cannot communicate to the latter, and there will thus be opportunity for persons to pass out ofthe building.

My improements can be applied to almost every theater or public building already constructed, as well as to new buildings.

I make use of a stationary sheet-iron septum between the scenery and curtain of the stage andthe main portion ofthe building, such septum extending to the root', and, by preference, above it,` so as to separate the ceiling and roof of the auditorium from the portion ot' the building occupied bythe stage, and in combination therewith a sliding shield is used that is counterpoised, and can be lowered or drawn down with ease, so as to entirely shut ofi" the portion of the building where there is risk of ire from the portion occupied by the audience.

In the drawing, Figure lis a sectional plan of a building with my protection added thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section, of the auditorium showing the shield. p

It will be understoodthat the details of construction will vary according to the character of the building. I have shown the auditorium at a, and the front of the stage-platform at b, and c represents the portion of the building allotted to scenery and other matters connected with the stage. The septum e is made of plates of iron riveted together, and extending across the stage at the opening for the curtain, and the lower edge ot' this septum is as low down as consistent with the scenery, and it extends from one sidewall to the other and up into the roof, and, by preference, it extends above the top of the .roof h, as seen at lc. In cases where the boxes at the sides of the stage are not separated from the scenery by brick walls, the iron septum should be extended Vdown behind such box portions.

In all instances care is to be taken to prevent the sheetor plate iron from direct contact with the wood, so that such wood will not -catch re although the scenery may be in a blaze.

This septum may be of ordinary boiler-iron more or less corrugated, and stiened by braces, so as to prevent buckling, and it is preferable to build this plate at its vertical edges into the brick walls, or permanently attach the same to the walls.

At the scenery side ot' the septum there is the sliding shield f, that is preferably guided at its edges in slide-ways, and it is suspended by a wire rope or ropes, l, over pulleys m m connected with a counterpoise, n. In the normal position this shield will be drawn up behind the septum and held there, and it will generally be preferable to provide a wire rope, o, passing from the center ofthe septum over the pulleys r m to the windlass-barrel s in some convenient place in the auditorium, or outside the building, so that the shield can be lowered. I prefer to have the shield heavier than the counterpoise, so that the shield can be closed rapidly.

For the escape of those behind the scenes there may be a spring door in the shield, preferably opening toward the auditorium, so as to yield when pressed from the same side of the shield.

By this construction the spread of' re will be checked, so that time will be allowed l'or the escape of the audience, and under almost all circumstances the auditorium can be saved.

Iron doors should be provided at the doorways t below the stage, and at all other places of communication between the stage and anditorium.

The pipes s located in the upper portion ot the building over the stage are provided withroses or sprinklers, and a stand-pipe and cock, t', is provided, so that water can be admitted in a shower upon the stage-scenery to extingush anyre.

I claim as my inventionl. The stationary sheet-metal septum ein scenery and the auditorium, and the waterthe upper part of the building, separating the pipes and jet-nozzles above the scenery, for ceiling and root' ot' the auditorium from the confining and extinguishing fire in places of portion of the building occupied by the stage, I amusement, substantially as set forth. in combination with the sliding sheet-metal Signed by me this 2d day of January, 1877. shield f and counterpoise, substantially as set L. W. WRIGHT. forth. Witnesses 2. The arrangement herein specified of' the GEO. T. PINGKNEY, sheet-metal septum e and shield f between the CEAS. H. SMITH.

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