Fire-Fighting Equipment - Fire Engines - Fireman -1851 Heck Engineering

Description: Method of payment Victorian Era Technology - 1851 Heck Antique Print An Original Historical Print from HistoryOnPaper This is an exceptionally detailed original 1851-52 engraved print showing scenes of: Technology X. Plate 14: Fire-Fighting EquipmentThe operation of fire-engines differs from that of ordinary pumps only by the action of the air-chamber. At the beginning of the play of the engine the chamber contains a quantity of air corresponding to its volume; as water is forced into it while the nozzle remains closed, the air will be compressed in the chamber to a great degree, and will, on the nozzle being opened, expel the water with great velocity in a copious stream, which retains its force without much variation while the pump continues to be worked. The suction-valves are either conical, spherical, or plane-valves. The spherical or ball-valves (pl. 14, fig. 19) are the most usual, and deserve the preference over conical valves, as they close perfectly, even when coming down a little inclined, which is not the case with the latter. Plane or hinge-valves consist of square or round plates of brass, well polished, and moving on hinges; or else a disk of leather is screwed between two plates of metal, one of which is a little smaller, the other a little larger than the opening to be closed, the leather disk thus closing the opening, while a prolongation of it serves as a hinge. The valves in the pipe connecting the cylinders and air-chamber are always hinge-valves in an oblique position. We will now proceed to explain the construction of different kinds of fire-engines, with the aid of plate 14. Fig. 1 is an elevation, fig. 2 a section of the simplest machine of the kind, which is readily worked and carried about by one person, and, having no air-chamber, throws an intermittent stream, a is the cylinder, b the suction-valve, c the perforated suction-pipe; when the plunger, i, is raised, the water enters the cylinder through b, and in descending the plunger drives the water through the pipe, d, and the valve, f, into the hose, g, and expels it in a stream from the nozzle, h. The crutch, l, serves to manage and support the machine. A portable fire-engine with a single cylinder, which acts far more powerfully than the above, but requires several persons for its management, is represented in figs. 3 and 4, the former being a cross-section in front of the air-chamber, the latter a longitudinal section. In the trough, a, is the sill, b, to which the main parts of the engine are screwed; c is the plunger, d the air-chamber, with the orifice, f, opening into the branch-pipe, i k, which is movable in every direction by means of the joints at g, h, and i, and the construction of which is shown in detail in fig. 18. The pump is worked by the lever, n; the levers, p p, which turn about the bolts, q q, serve for transporting the engine, when they bear against the projections, r r. A double-acting portable fire-engine of very simple construction is that by Letestu, having pistons and valves on the principle explained above in speaking of his pump. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section, fig. 12 a top view, fig. 13 a cross-section through the air-chamber, fig. 14 a horizontal section along the lower dotted line in fig. 11, and fig. 15 a front view of the engine. On a strong support, a b, provided with the rings, c, through which poles may be passed for transportation, rests the trough or water-box, d; in its centre is the air-chamber, e. The piston, k, in ascending admits water into the cylinders, h, and in descending forces it through the valve, g, into the air-chamber, whence it is expelled through the pipe, o, to which the hose and branch-pipe are screwed. At l the piston-rods are attached to the lever or balance-beam, m, which moves about the centre-bolt, p, and is worked by means of the arms, n n. A more complex fire-engine is that by Pontifex, of London, which is frequently used on board ships, on account of its requiring but little space. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal and fig. 6 a cross-section. It is inclosed in a box, a, which has at the bottom the projecting leaves, e (the one on the left hand is omitted), that fold up about a hinge, f; when the engine is in use they are turned down and a part of the men stand on them, giving stability to the engine. The upper part of the box consists of two pieces which turn on the hinges, a, and when closed are held together by the hook, b, fig. 6. Four ring-bolts, t, are attached to the box by which it is carried, the brake-bars, m, being put through them. The working parts of the engine are now readily understood by inspection of the figure. t is a guide-rod which passes through a packing-box at l′, and insures the rectilinear motion of the plunger. Two uprights, x x (fig. 6), support the axis, r, of the balance-beam, k h k l. The pipe, p q, leads from the air-chamber to the hose. Two cross-pieces, n, limit the extent of the stroke. The volume of the air-chamber is nearly four times that of one cylinder. Six or eight persons can work this engine, and water may be thrown with it to a height of 60 feet. A fire-engine constructed on an entirely different principle is that invented by Repsold, in Hamburg, in 1843. It works by revolving pistons, and is represented in fig. 7 in a side elevation; fig. 8 is a top view of the active machinery, fig. 9 a front view, and fig. 10 a section. On a light hand-cart, a, is placed a sliding frame, b, which can be fixed in any position by the set-screw at b. The engine, e, rests on the platform, c d; the hose, cranks, and other apparatus are carried in the box, j. The body of the engine, e, consists of a metal box formed by two cylinders partly inserted into each other, and closed at the ends with two plates. In this box play the two pistons, l and m, which are mounted on the axles of the wheels, a and b, and are turned by the cranks, f f. The pistons are of an epicycloidal form, and so arranged that their surfaces are always in close contact at a line between the centres. The larger segment of the epicycloid is in close contact with the surrounding cylinder, which is effected by a packing on the latter of lamina of metal covered with leather, e and f. g and h are the orifices by which the water enters and is discharged. The action of the engine is as follows. Whenever by turning the cranks the pistons, l and m, are set in motion, revolving in opposite directions, a vacuum will be formed before the smaller segment of one piston, and will be filled with water from the supply-pipe; the piston in continuing its revolution carries the water before it, and throws it out at the opposite orifice. In this way both pistons operate alternately, and the pressure of one will have commenced before that of the other ceases to act, thus furnishing a continuous stream of water without the aid of an air-chamber. An engine of this kind worked by four men will do as much work as an ordinary one when worked by six or eight men. Pl. 14, fig. 16, represents a fire-engine mounted on carriage-wheels, as it is in general use by the firemen in cities. It differs in nothing but the larger dimensions from the portable double-acting fire-engine described above, and its operation will be readily understood by inspection of the figure. The connexion of the several sections of pipe or hose is shown in fig. 17. Fig. 21 represents a stop-cock as it frequently occurs in different parts of the engine. It will be seen that the cock, g, is so perforated as to admit the water in the position in which it is drawn; when turned at right angles to that position it will cut it off completely. Pl. 14, fig. 22, is a longitudinal section, and fig. 23 a transverse section, of a fire-engine constructed by Bramali, which differs essentially from those already described. Upon a strong four-wheeled truck rest the saddles a, cut out circularly on top to receive the cylindrical chamber b, made of staves or boards and hooped with iron: it is divided into three divisions, a, b, c. A contains the pump-cylinder; the middle portion, b, is the water-box; and c receives one of the gudgeons of the centre shaft and the levers or arms by which it is worked. At a′ is an opening with a closely-fitting cover, through which the interior of the water-chest is cleansed. Above the engine is a box, d, for carrying tools, at one end of which, in a separate division, is the air-chamber e; beneath the engine is a cock, c, to let off the water. At d is seen the brass pump-cylinder, 10 inches in diameter and 7 inches long for an engine to be worked by 10 men. Above this cylinder communicates with the air-chamber, and below with the water-chamber through the pipe i; k is a cock which establishes a communication between the pump-cylinder and either the water-chamber or with the external air, according as it is turned in one direction or the other. When water is to be drawn from a well, the cock is turned, as seen in fig. 22, so that the pump-cylinder d is opened to the tube on the left, to which is attached a suction-hose reaching to the bottom of the well. When water is to be drawn from the water-chamber b, the cock k is turned in the opposite direction, opening a communication between the pump-cylinder and the pipe i. Beneath the central axle the pump-chamber d is divided by a vertical partition, reaching from the axle to the bottom of the chamber, and upon each side of the division-wall are valves in the bottom of the chamber opening inwards. The axle is packed water-tight where it enters the pump cylinder, and also at the joint between it and the vertical partition. Attached to the axle within the cylinder are two plates or pistons, one upon each side of the partition, which are packed tight by rings or disks of leather. In these plates are valves opening upwards. A reciprocating rotary motion is communicated through the brakes o to the centre axle, and the plates or pistons attached to it are thus alternately made to approach and recede from the stationary partition. The water is thus drawn through the valves in the bottom of the cylinder, and forced through the valves in the reciprocating pistons into the upper portion of the cylinder d, which communicates with the air-chamber e, from which the pipe passes which receives the hose. Steam-power has also been applied to the working of fire-engines, Braithwaite in London being the first who made the attempt. Pl. 14, fig. 24, represents a side view of a fire-engine driven by steam; it works on the high-pressure principle, and has six horse-power. It has two horizontal cylinders, one of which is the steam-cylinder and the other that of the forcing-pump; the pistons of both are on one rod and act at the same time, the alternating motion of the steam-piston producing that of the plunger immediately. a a is a wooden frame which rests on springs that are supported on the axles of the wheels; on this wooden frame is an iron one, which supports the cylinders and other main parts of the engine; b is the boiler; c, the cinder-box: in order to produce a rapid combustion, a blowing apparatus is contained in the box n, which may be worked either by the engine or by hand; m is the boiler-pump; w, the mercurial gauge; u, the escape-pipe; v is the coke-box, serving also as a platform for the fireman. The steam-cylinder has 7 inches diameter, the length of stroke is 16 inches, and the number of strokes 35 to 45 per minute. The parts belonging to the fire-engine proper are the air-chamber r, connected by the pipe s with the cylinder of the pump p, of 6 inches diameter: q is, a suction-pipe or hose which supplies water from a reservoir; or if water cannot be procured in that way, it is supplied by other engines to the water-box. This engine can throw four streams at once, if required. In Berlin there is one of the kind described, with 10-inch double-acting cylinders and 15 horse-power. Having treated at length of fire-engines, this may be the proper place to add a few words on other means and apparatus employed to save persons and property in case of fire. In all large cities there are regularly organized fire-companies, who are always ready to act when the alarm is given. In France the corps of firemen have a military organization under the name of Sappeurs Pompiers. One third of each company is always on duty, while another third is in reserve, and only the remaining third is off duty. Those on duty are engaged in patrolling through their districts, to give the alarm in case of fire. Their dress uniform is very tasteful; i, l, m, and n (pl. 14, fig. 28) are parts of the accoutrement of a pompier; k is the hat of an officer. The working-dress of course is very different; one of the main pieces is the casque, h (fig. 29), which protects the head against falling bodies. Fig. 27 represents a fireman in a safety-dress of leather, with a thick glass-plate before the face, by which he is enabled to enter burning rooms, the dress being well wetted before. Among the apparatus used by firemen we notice the hook-ladders, a (figs. 28 and 29), by means of which the upper stories of buildings can be reached when the stairs are already on fire, the ladders being hooked successively on the window-sills of the several stories. It requires some art and practice to scale these ladders, which of course are nearly in a vertical position, and persons who are to be saved from the higher stories cannot be expected to descend by them; for such the fireman carries with him a long bag of leather or strong twill, b, which reaches to the ground and is held away from the house at the lower end by several persons; through this persons are sent down, sliding rapidly down the inclined bag, and are caught up below in a horizontal position. The hose, d, accompanies the fireman everywhere; a short folding ladder, e, an axe, g, and a bucket, f, also belong to his equipment. Among the larger apparatus designed for rescuing persons and property from burning houses one of the best is that represented in pl. 14, fig. 25 being a side view, and fig. 26 a front view; the former represents the machine when entirely raised, the latter while it is partially elevated. Like all other machines of the kind, it can only be used in cases where time and room admit of it, as it can be raised but slowly and requires much space. A square frame, b, is mounted on the truck a, and supports the posts cc, which are united by ties and braces to form a square tower, the stability of which is secured by the stays hh when mounted for use. In front and in the rear is a ladder, g, which moves on a hinge at top, and when in use is braced out by the strut g′. In the interior of this tower are two more of the same kind, sliding out like the tubes of a spy-glass, the second within the first, the third within the second. The third story has on top a platform provided with a railing, from which communication with the building is established by means of planks or ladders thrown across. The several stories are raised by means of the machinery seen at the bottom, which winds the ropes f and i on a drum. ----------------- Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE This is an exceptionally detailed original 1851-52 engraved print This Is An Original Print from History-On-Paper CONDITION: Please INSPECT PHOTO. May be Enlarged for viewing. Please inquire if you have a question. This is an original print, not a reproduction. PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER AUCTIONS/EBAY STORE ITEMS PRESS HERE TO VISIT MY STORE The Fine PrintHistory-On-Paper Item #0224-714International buyers are responsible for all import fees and taxes. Shipping costs: My shipping costs are calculated on three factors - getting your item to you as quickly as possible, as cost effectively as possible, and as safely as possible. I pride myself in providing optimal protection. I use First Class or Priority Mail on most small items; Parcel Post on larger items; and Media Mail on books and magazines. 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Location: Enterprise, Alabama

End Time: 2024-08-24T19:31:43.000Z

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