ENGINES, EIRE, YI(E1[IC,IL. A pparat us for projecting a fire-extinguishing fluid. TWO classes may be recognized : T. Those which project a stream of water permeated with carbon dioxiile, usually pnelneed by the addition of an lucid II) II SOIlli il»1 of 511da V111'110110 e.
ThO'V which project a liquid which, when subjected to high temperature, will liberate to tire-extinguishing gas.
Each of these classes may be subdivided in portable and stationary maehines.
The Babrock awl many other well-known forms of "fire-extinguishers" belong to the first class above noted. As an improved example of a portable engine of notable eapavity, the Holloway P11emi a I Knyinr is hen. presented (Fig. 1). In this machine the principal improvements arc in ena,traetivc 1101461. The tanks (double) tire of heavy polished copper. and are bolted on wrought-iron frames, and braced one to the other. The hose-gallery and automatic reel are carried over the frame-arch. The acid-ehamber is lined with glass, and is supported above and outside of the tanks. In the tanks are agitators turned by handles on the outside, the purpose of which is thoroughly to dissolve the soda.
The discharge-pipes on the tanks are very short and without bends, allowing the free and unresisted passage of the solution from the tank to the hose. The double-tank engines are arranged to give a continuous stream without moving the hose. While one tank is being discharged the other is replenished, and so on, or both tanks can be discharged simultaneous ly, thus playing two streams. An automatic hose-reel is connected to the tanks by a short pipe, and the hose is attached to it. By the use of this reel the hose is always ready for instant service, as the solution passes from the tank into the reel and through the hose. It is only necessary to draw off the required length of hose to reach the fire, the balance remaining on the reel, thus obviating the de lay of unreeling the hose and making connec tions to the tanks. A pressure-gauge shows
the amount of gas generated within the tank, and also enables the person operating the en gine to determine how fast the tank is being emptied.
A stationary apparatus of the same gener al type is represented in Fig. 2. The recep tacle for the chemicals and water is located in the cellar of the building, and supported on an axis in a suitable frame, so that it can eas ily be rotated to produce intermingling of the gas - forming substances. Communicating with the receptacles are stationary pipes lead ing to various parts of the building, and pro vided with hose. The pressure of the gener ated gas forces the mingled gas and water through the pipe-system.
An example of a chemical-engine of the second class is given in Fig. 2, which repre sents the Lindgren-Mahan Chemical Fire-Engine (Fig. 3), here shown as a light, easily drawn vehicle for town or village use. In this apparatus there is used a fire-extinguishing fluid, which is claimed to liberate an "oxygen-destroying gas" on coming in contact with the fire, the effect of 1 gallon of which is "equal to that of 800 gallons of water." The principle of • the operation of the machine will readily be understood from Fig. 4, which represents a port able fire-extinguisher. The receptacle is filled with the solution, and with strongly com pressed air, by 1110:111S of which the liquid is projected. In the large engine the receptacle used is a steel cylinder, into which air is forced at a pressure of 100 lbs. per sq. in. Pumps are provided for re-establishing the pressure and for filling the cylinder.
Fig. 5 represents the stationary form of engine of this type. The fluid is forced through the pipe-system by the sir-pressure, so that there is always a steady pressure on the hose-val ves. By opening these, streams of fire-destroying fluid may at once be obtained.