USRE7774E - Improvement in knapsack fire-engines - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. DOUGLAS, OF MIDDLETCWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO OUGLAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNAPSACK FIRE-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 93,974, dated August 24, 1869; Reissue No. 7,774, dated July 3, 1877; application filed June 13, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. DOUGLAS, of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knapsack-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forms a part of this specification.

The nature of my intention consists in the construction and arrangement of a machine for the purpose of extinguishing fires, which I denominate The Knapsaek-Engine, adapted to be strapped upon the back of an indi vidual, and to carry only a few gallons of water, not enough to prevent a man from carrying the same up a pair of stairs or through the scuttle of a roof, or up a ladder, through a window, where incipient fire may have made a commencement.

It is well known, and often stated by experienced firemen, that no incons'iderable number of fires, when first discovered, might have been extinguished by a pitcher of water applied in the right place.

In my invention there is a combination of a force-pump and a portable reservoir, capable of being used wherever a man can go, especially upon the exposed and dangerous parts of a building, where, but for this machine, effort might be made in vain.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, which represents a perspective view of my machine.

A represents the reservoir, made in the form of a cylinder and of any suitable dimensions. At the bottom of the reservoir are outwardly-projecting feet D D to hold the same in place.

B is the force-pump, pipe. F is the feed-ope reservoir with water.

The reservoir is further provided with hanand O the dischargening for supplying the in readiness for operation at a m To operate the pump, wherever there is a partially-inclined roof, the reservoir, duly-ch arged, is set upon the roof, and the feet of the operator are placed upon the feet D D. The handle of the pump is grasped by the right hand, and the pipe C by the left, and the nozzle pointed to the burning part of the building, orously.

The smallness of the size, and the consequent quickness of movement, will enable the instrument to do its work before other and larger instruments can be brought to the place and got into position.

This machine is adapted and designed to be carried on a mans back to every part of a building where a fire may occur. It is always oments notice.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The reservoir A, armed with one or more foot-pieces, D, projecting from the reservoir at the bottom, for the purposes herein set forth.

2. With a portable reservoir carrying a pump, the straps E E, for attaching the same to the body, substantially as herein set forth.

3. The reservoir A, armed with foot-pieces D D and belts E E, in combination with the forcepump B and substantially in the manner and for thepurposes herein set forth.

1n testimon have hereunto May, 1877.

y that I claim the foregoing I set my hand this 14th day of J 08. W. DOUGLAS. Witnesses GEo.M. SMITH, JNO. M. DOUGLAS.

and the force-pump worked vigpipe C, arranged and operated

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