US767902A

US767902A - Detonating-alarm fire-extinguisher.

Info

Publication number: US767902A
Application number: US16672303A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Addison Libbey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-07-23
Filing date: 1903-07-23
Publication date: 1904-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1921-08-16

Description

PATENTBD AUG. 16,' 1904,

M. A. LIBBEY, DETONATING ALARM FIRE BXTINGU ISHER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

MARK ADDISON LIBBEY, OF SOUTH BERVVIOK, MAINE.

DETONATING-ALARNI FIRE-EXTINGUISHER'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK ADDISON LIBBEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Berwick, in the county of York and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Detonating-Alarm Fire-Extinguisher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a combined detonating alarm and fire-extinguisher in which I seek to produce a simple and cheap construetion wherein the loud report or noise following the ignition of a charge of high explosive serves to give an alarm of fire, while the bursting energy of the charge fractures an extinguishing-Huid container and scatters the saine over a comparatively wide area in the vicinity of a blaze.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description, and the novelty will be defined by the annexed claims.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation through my improved detonating-alarm fireextinguisher. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is an elevation similar to Fig. 2 and showing the hammer of the percussion mechanism lowered to explode the charge of high explosive. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view through the lower portion of a metallic percussion-tube, showing an explosive charge and a percussion-cap therein; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation, on areduced scale, showing a hood or guard in connection with the improved extinguisher.

In the embodiment of the invention shown by Figs. l to 3, inclusive, the container or vessel 5 for the extinguishingfluid is shown in the form of a globular receiver adapted to be made of glass. This vessel or receiver is provided with a cylindrical neck 6, which is ,902, dated August 16, 1904. Serial No. 166,723. (No model.)

shown as having a male screw-thread 7, formed integral therewith, and the neck is also provided with an internal ledge or shoulder 8. Within the container 5 for the fiuidextinguisher is arranged a receiver 9 for a charge of high explosive, (indicated at 10.) This receiver 9 is made in one piece with an upstanding tube 11 and a stopper or plug l2, said receiver, tube, and plug being preferably made of glass or other breakable material. The tube 1l and the receiver 9 are suspended within the container 5 by the plug 12 engaging with the ledge or shoulder 8, and this receiver 9 is adaptedto be charged with the high explosive lO before it is placed or suspended within the container. 13 designates a metallic cap which is provided with an internal or female thread adapted to be screwed on the threaded neck 6 of the container 5, thereby closing the mouth of said neck in a way to prevent evaporation of the extinguishing fluid. The head of the cap 13 is provided with a metallic tube 14., which passes freely through the plug' 12 and the tube 1l of the explosive-charge receiver 92 This metallic tube 14 may bemade integral with the headed cap 13, or, as shown by the drawings, said tube may be attached to said cap,

but this is an optionalexpedient. The lower end of the metallic tube 14 terminates within the chamber of the receiver 9, and, as

shown by Fig. l', said metallic tubeis provided at its lower end with a foot-fiange l5. This foot-flange provides a support for a percussion-cap 16, which is disposed in the path of mechanical devices for exploding said cap, so as todetonate the high-explosive charge 10.

The means for exploding the cap in the construction shown by Fig. 1 contemplates the employment of a normally stationary spindle 17, the lower end of which is pointed at 18 and which lies just above or rests on the percussion-cap 16. This spindle 17 passes freely through the metallic tube 14, so as to project above the headed cap of the device, and on this spindle is fastened an anvil 19, the latter being'v in the path of a hammer-weight 20, which is fitted slidably on the upper projecting part of the spindle 17, so as to be guided thereby. The extinguisher is adapted to be suspended from a stationary hook 21 by means of a bail 22, which is loosely connected to the metallic cap 13 and is disposed for engagement with the suspension-hook or its equivalent. rIhe hammer-weight 2O is normally held in a raised position by a fusible link 23, which consists of a metallic alloy adapted to be melted at a suitable temperature-say between 130O and 1li()O Fahrenheit. This fusible link is connected to the head of the hammer-weight, and it is adapted for engagement with the suspension-hook 21, so that it will be maintained in a raised position by the hook. As shown by Fig.- 1, the lower part of the hammer-weight is provided with a cavity or chamber 24, in which is adapted to be placed an explosive torpedo A, (shown by Fig. 1,) and when said weight is provided with said chamber the anvil 19 is fashioned to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the chamber in order that the anvil may enter the chamber and coperate with the weight in exploding the torpedo. l Y

The operation of my alarm and extinguisher will readily be understood from the foregoing description. The container 5 is charged with an extinguishing iiuid, the receiver 9 contains a high explosive, the torpedo is placed above the anvil, the article is suspended from the hook 21, and the hammer-weight 2O is raised by the fusible link. In the event of a lire the heat fuses the link 23, which allows the hammer-weight 20 to drop, thereby striking on the anvil 19 for exploding the torpedo and imparting an impulse to the normally stationary spindle 17. Said spindle is driven forcibly downward to explode the percussioncap 16, which in turn ignites the explosive charge 10, whereby the torpedo and the charge explode with avery loud report, which can be distinctly heard for a long distance. The explosion of the torpedo and the charge 10 serves to give an audible alarm, and the disruptive energy of the charge 10 breaks the receiver 9 and the container 5, so as to scatter the extinguishing fiuid in a fine spray over the fire.

In the embodiment of the invention shown by Fig. 4 a metallic tube 111 is extended a suitable distance above the cap 13L and on which is slidably fitted a hollow hammerweight 24. rIhe spindle 25 is attached to this hammer-weight for movement therewith and so as to be suspended in a raised position by a fusible link 23. The construction of the device is similar to that shown by Fig. 1, except that the spindle is slidable, whereby the melting of the link 23L releases the weight 24C, which impels the spindle forcibly against the percussion-cap, so as to detonate the charge of explosive material, which gives the alarm and throws the extinguishing fluid in a spray over the lire.

In Fig. 5 the metallic tube 14 is of enlarged capacity to receive an explosive charge 10, whi ch is confined within a suitable receiver 26, the latter being supported by the foot-flange 15 of said metallic tube. The receiver 26 is provided with a percussion-cap 16, adapted to be exploded by the impulse of the spindle and to detonate the high-explosive charge 10a.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings the extinguisher is surrounded by a suitable guard or hood 27, preferably of wire fabric, said guard being suspended by links 28 from the bail 22.

The outside torpedo described is adapted for use in connection with the recessed hammerweight 20, and the anvil 20 may be employed in addition to the charge of high explosive when it is desired to produce an extra heavy or loud report in the event of the alarm and extinguisher being placed in isolated rooms or establishments; but it is evident that the outside torpedo may be used independently of the high-explosive charge.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A lire-extinguisher comprising a iiuidcontaining vessel, a container within the vessel and adapted to receive an explosivecharge, means for exploding said charge, means for holding a detonating explosive externally of said vessel, and means'for exploding the detonating explosive when the explosive charge is set free to disrupt said vessel.

2. A lire-extinguisher comprising a fluidcontaining vessel, a container within said vessel and adapted to receive an explosive charge, means for maintaining a percussion-cap adjacent to the explosive charge, a spindle, means for holding a detonating-cap, and a weight arranged to actuate the spindle and to explode the detonating-cap.

3. A fire-extinguisher comprising a fragile vessel for containing an extinguishing medium, a fragile receiver having a tube and suspended within said vessel, another tube within the first tube, a charge of high explosive in the receiver, a percussion -cap held by the second tube within said explosive charge, and means for exploding said cap.

4. A combined alarm and extinguisher consisting of a container for an extinguisher medium, a receiver for a high explosive and provided with a tube and a stopper arranged to suspend the receiver within said container, a cap attached to the container and provided with a tube which fits in the receiver, a percussion-cap supported by said tube, and means for exploding said percussion-cap.

5. A combined alarm and extinguisher consisting of a container for an extinguishing medium, a high-explosive receiver suspended in said container, a cap having a tube extended IOO ITO

into said receiver, a percussion-Cap supported In testimony whereof I have signedmy name by said tube, means for suspending the conto this speoiiication in the presence oi' two subtainer, a spindle passing through the tube and scribing Witnesses.

disposed for coperation With said peroussion- MARK ADDISON LIBBEY cap, and a hammer-Weight suspended by a Witnesses: fusible link into cooperative relation with said CHARLES C. HOBBs,

spindle. J. B. WHITEHEAD.