HANDBOOK OF SPRINKLER DEVICES BY GORHAM DANA, S.B. MANAGER, THE UNDERWRITERS' BUREAU OF NEW ENGLAND, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS PUBLISHED BY THOMAS GROOM & CO., INC. 105 STATE STREET, BOSTON 1914 x* COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY GORHAM DANA Stanhope [press F. H. GILSON COMPANY BOSTON, U.S.A. PREFACE BELIEVING that a description of all the automatic sprinkler devices that are liable to be found in the field would be of service to fire insurance inspectors and others, the author presents herein four chapters from his book on Automatic Sprinkler Protection in handbook form. These chapters cover the following subjects: Alarm Valves, Dry Valves, Sprinkler Supervisory Systems and Automatic Sprinklers. The chapter on the latter subject contains several references to previous pages for a further description of certain devices. These page numbers refer to pages in the complete volume to which the reader is referred for a more extended treatise on the subject. While the subject matter may be somewhat incomplete and disconnected when published in this form it is hoped that it may prove useful to the field man as a reference book. GORHAM DANA. April, 1914. CHAPTER I ALARM VALVES An alarm valve is a very inexpensive and valuable addition to the fire protection in a sprinklered risk and is strongly advised for every equipment. It consists of a device which is installed in the main sprinkler riser and is arranged to actuate some form of alarm as soon as water flows through the system. These alarms are of two types: rotary gongs, operated like water wheels, by the passage of water through them; and electric gongs, operated by the movement of a check valve or by the closing of an electric circuit through the action of water pressure on a diaphragm. Alarm valves are valuable for two reasons: they give an alarm when sprinklers open on account of fire, thus acting as a fire alarm; and they give warning in case of flowage through the system for other causes such as a broken pipe, open- ing sprinkler head, etc. For the latter reason they are of great importance from a sprinkler leakage point of view, and most companies insuring against this form of loss require either an alarm valve in the system or standard watchman's service in the risk insured. TYPES There are two principal types of alarm valves that have been successfully used. In one a check valve is placed in the main water pipe and the movement of the clapper when water begins to flow, transmitted usually through a packed stem, is used to actuate the alarm. In the other type a check valve is also used and this, when in its normal position, closes an outlet to a small 1 :2t- *;> AUTOMATIC 'SPRINKLER PROTECTION pipe running to the alarm devices. This is accomplished by having the small pipe run from a groove in the valve seat, a horn in the water way or an auxiliary valve out- side the main water way. In any type, a retarding or interrupting element should be used to retard the alarm long enough so that water hammer will not produce a false alarm. The early valves were of the first type and usually had no retarding element. The most common variety was that using a swing check with an arm attached which extended through a stuffing box to a lever on the outside. This lever was so arranged that when it was moved forward by the opening of the check, a mechanical gong was tripped or an electrical circuit connected to a bell was completed. This was a very crude form of alarm valve and par- ticularly defective in the following points: 1. Sticking of the packed stem. The packing used to make a tight joint often caused the stem to stick owing to its age or to its being packed too tightly. In many cases this sticking was great enough to cause a serious menace to the equipment by obstructing the water way. 2. Susceptibility to false alarms. Any valve of this character, having no retarding element, is very liable to give false alarms from water hammer. A slight impulse in the water would force the clapper off its seat and would probably give an alarm if the device was adjusted to operate for small flows. 3. Lack of sensitiveness. Where the movement of a large check valve is used to give an alarm it is evident that the amount of water necessary to feed one sprinkler head would only open the valve a very small amount. It is therefore very difficult to adjust the device so that it will operate for small flows caused by the opening of one or even two heads. 4. The valves were liable to stick open. This was ALARM VALVES 3 especially the case where the lever was weighted so that when it started to move the weight would carry the clapper over to the wide open position. In addition to the above the electrical and mechanical gongs used at this time were crude and unreliable. The mechanical gongs had to be rewound each time they operated and this was frequently forgotten. Valves of this type have not been installed to any extent for many years and but few are now found in the field. HISTORICAL SKETCH In 1881 Mr. J. C. Meloon of Providence patented an alarm valve of the vertical check type in which the move- ment of the clapper operated an auxiliary valve which admitted water from below the check valve to a cham- ber. The water pressure in the chamber actuated a diaphragm which, when it moved, tripped the catch of a mechanical alarm. In 1884 Mr. Charles E. Buell patented a valve of the packed stem type in which the lever attached to a swing check started a train of clockwork actuated by a weight. This rang a mechanical gong. The Walworth Manu- facturing Co. also made some valves of this general type. Another of the early valves of this type was the Neu. This was a vertical check valve seating like a globe valve on a horizontal seat. A spindle extended through a stuffing box at the top and closed an electrical contact when the clapper was raised by the flowage of water. This had practically all the defects of the swing check type except the liability to stick open. The Grinnell Angle Alarm, so-called, was somewhat similar to the Neu. It was a vertical check of the angle type. A rod attached to the lower side of the check valve contained a groove, and a horizontal pin passing through a stuffing box to the outside of the casing rested 4 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION in this groove. When the valve opened the pin was pushed a short distance forward thus making an elec- trical connection or tripping a mechanical gong. This valve was an improvement over the old swing check as it was less subject to false alarms. The valve could lift slightly without giving an alarm and there was less chance of sticking. Like the older valve, how- ever, it had no retarding element and was difficult to adjust so as to be sensitive to small flows and at the same time not to be subject to false alarms. In 1888 Messrs. R. Dowson and J. Taylor of Bolton, England, patented in this country the well-known Eng- lish Alarm Valve. This was manufactured by the Gen- eral Fire Extinguisher Co. for many years and is still used in a slightly modified form. It is also the basis of several other valves and embodies perhaps the most successful principle that has ever been used in alarm valve construction. It consisted of a vertical check valve having a grooved seat. A pipe extended from the groove to a rotary gong actuated by the flow of water. When the valve was seated, the groove was tightly cov- ered by the clapper and no water could escape. When the valve was raised by flowage in the system, the water entered the groove and flowed to the water rotary gong. In the original valve there was no retarding chamber and the valve was therefore somewhat subject to false alarms from water hammer. There was, however, a small compensating valve located in the main check valve which allowed water in small quantities to pass upwards through the alarm valve but not back again. This was installed to prevent trouble from water ham- mer by building up an excess pressure in the system above the main check valve. The same year (1888) Mr. Frederick Grinnell patented a very ingenious device which, however, was never put on the market so far as known. The principle involved ALARM VALVES 5 was apparently a very effective one for preventing false alarms from water hammer although in case it failed to work properly it completely blocked the water way. It consisted of a double or balanced valve comprising two self-packing pistons h h located several inches apart and connected by a rod running in a guide. The pipe from the water supply b' was connected between GRINNELL ALARM DEVICE 1888. (Section.) the two pistons, when in their normal position, so that there was an equal pressure on each, thus balancing the valve. The cylinder in which these two pistons could move horizontally was connected at one end to the sprinkler riser and at the other end to a pocket 6 3 normally full of water. A rod i connected with the pistons extended through the pocket and a stuffing box to the outside of the casting. Here it came in contact with a valve sup- plying a steam whistle. A small by-pass k extended around the two pistons of the alarm valve connecting the sprinkler riser with the pocket. In this by-pass was a three-way cock I which when in its normal position left a free way through the by-pass, thus equalizing the water pressure in the riser and in the pocket. 6 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION This three-way cock was connected to a lever arm m actuated by a flexible diaphragm o and connected by a short piece of pipe to the riser. When in normal posi- tion the two pistons spanned the inlet pipe and pre- vented any flow of water into the riser. Any water hammer or variation in pressure acted equally on both pistons and gave no alarm. When, however, a sprinkler operated the pressure in the riser was reduced. This caused the diaphragm to drop, thus moving the lever downward and changing the position of the three-way cock so as to close the by-pass but open a passage from the pocket to a waste pipe. This relieved the pressure in the pocket thus causing the two pistons to move in that direction to the limit of their travel. This opened the main water way from the supply pipe into the riser and at the same time operated the steam whistle. The International valve was of a somewhat similar prin- ciple to the English Alarm valve. Instead of a grooved seat, however, a horn was used. This horn extended from outside the casing to the under side of the main clapper of a swinging check valve. When the clapper was on its seat, it also closed the open end of the horn. When the clapper was raised, the water flowed into the horn, hence through the retarding chamber to the circuit closer and rotary gong. The retarding chamber was, however, of an entirely different principle from that used in the English Alarm valve as will be described later. The first Rockwood alarm valve was practically a copy of the English valve. The present type has a grooved seat and, in addition, a by-pass containing an auxiliary valve to care for the small flows. The Venturi valve made by the Venturi Alarm Co., and installed by the Manufacturers' Automatic Sprink- ler Co. (later by the " Automatic " Sprinkler Co. of America), is of a radically different principle from any other alarm valve. ALARM VALVES 7 There is a weighted swing check in the main water way but no grooved seat or horn. There is a by-pass around the check valve containing a Venturi tube, that is a tube containing a restricted portion or throat. Water flowing through such a tube has an increased velocity accompanied by a decrease in pressure at the throat. This difference in pressure is made use of to give an alarm by piping one side of a mercury column to the throat, and the other side to the full-sized pipe below the throat. A heavy iron float rests on one side of the mercury column and when water passes through the by-pass, owing to flowage in the system, the float falls and its movement opens an outlet which allows the water to flow to the alarm devices. In February, 1908, Mr. E. L. Thompson of the Man- ufacturers' Automatic Sprinkler Co. patented an alarm valve which operated entirely on account of reduction of pressure in the system when a sprinkler opened. It was a complicated device containing a balanced valve which fell when the pressure was reduced thus allowing water to pass into a pipe which operated an electrical and water rotary gong. This was never used in prac- tice so far as known. Mr. Geo. E. Hibbard of Chicago patented a valve in 1903, which could be used either as an alarm or dry valve. This depended upon an excess pressure being maintained above the valve and was never used so far as known. INSTALLATION In all types of alarm valves great care should be taken in the matter of installation. Most of the valves on the market have had a remarkably good record so far as giving an alarm in case of fire is concerned, but the record of false alarms has not been satisfactory. The greater portion of this trouble has, however, been due 8 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION to defective installation. A few of the more important points that are often overlooked are the following: 1. Vent for circuit closer. There should be a small outlet about f inch in diameter located under each cir- cuit closer so that when the water flow ceases the pres- sure under the diaphragm will be released at once and the circuit will be thereby broken. This also allows the pipe from the diaphragm to drain quickly by admit- ting air at the upper end. The vent should be piped through a visible outlet and so arranged that water discharged from it will do no damage. 2. All drips should run to the space under the build- ing or out of doors in such a manner that the chance of clogging or freezing will be reduced to a minimum. Drips running to a sewer are liable to cause trouble by the backing up of water which may operate the alarms. When it is necessary to connect to a sewer, the drip pipe should run into an open cup or into a pipe of larger diameter, this latter pipe running to the sewer. The top of the cup can be closed with a sliding cover if desired and this, not being air-tight, will prevent any back pressure from reaching the retarding chamber. The piping should be arranged so that the end of the drip can be easily inspected for leaks. If necessary a trap can be placed in the large pipe that connects with the sewer. The drip from the circuit closer can easily be carried to the same drain pipe. 3. The water rotary gong should be located as near the alarm valve as possible. If located at too great a distance from, or at too great an elevation above, the alarm valve, the loss of head entailed may cause trouble. In case the length of pipe is over 15 feet it is desirable to enlarge it to at least 1 inch diameter. This pipe should be arranged so that it will drain quickly. There should be a substantial hood and screen over the gong to prevent clogging by ice, birds' nests, etc. These are usuallv sunnlied with the valve. ALARM VALVES 9 RULES FOR DESIGNING AN ALARM VALVE The following specifications give a general idea of the requisites for a satisfactory alarm valve. 1. Must be capable of actuating and maintaining in operation either mechanical or electrical devices, or both. 2. The electrical alarm type must be capable of actuating an electrical circuit opener or closer, according to the character of the alarm circuit to which it may be connected. 3. The combination electrical and mechanical type must operate to set and maintain in operation both alarms, or either independently. 4. Must operate at all rates of water delivery from the system, exceeding ten (10) gallons per minute. 5. The retarding factor must not exceed thirty (30) seconds. The retarding factor is here denned as the time elapsing between the first movement of water past the valve due to opening of a sys- tem outlet and the completion of the act by which the valve actu- ates the alarm devices; it is not construed as including the delay incident to excessive lengths of connecting pipes leading to such devices, or other delays which may be largely dependent in magni- tude upon details of installation or excess pressure above the valve. 6. Must be equally operative, without special adjustment, at all 'service pressures for which it is rated. 7. Must discontinue alarms on stoppage of flow. 8. Must be capable of transmitting successive alarms without manual resetting. 9. Must not spatter water upon the surroundings of the valve nor cause waste of water. 10. Must not give false alarm under any variation in service pressure for which it is rated. 11. Must be substantially constructed and not embody delicate parts. 12. Must not waste water while in service and not in operation. 13. Must not depend on moving parts which are liable to become stiffened by corrosion, other results of lapse of time or by misad- justment. 14. Must be so designed as not to invite improper adjustment in 'the field. 15. Must not require frequent renewal, or adjustment of parts. 16. Must have all working parts readily accessible for removal and repairs. 17. Must be made up and shipped from the factory in such form as not to be liable to incorrect installation or assembly. 10 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION 18. Must not be susceptible to accumulation of foreign matter. 19. Must not be liable to failure from the effects of corrosion, sticking of parts or ordinary accumulation of sediment and other foreign matter from the piping. 20. Must not possess sufficient differential properties to cause danger of water columning in service or undesirable action in oper- ation. 21. Mus| not depend, for proper action, on manually-wound spring motors or any other form of motive power which is liable to be out of commission when needed. 22. Electrical contact devices must be so protected from mois- ture that they will be dry under all conditions short of actual sub- merging of the apparatus. 23. Must not invite internal or external gagging. The necessary test valves and devices must be as simple as possible. If of such nature or so located that they may be carelessly left in condition to render the alarm devices inoperative, provision must be made for pad-locking or sealing them, in proper operative condition only. 24. Must not cause excessive loss of pressure by hydraulic friction. NATIONAL BOARD RULES FOR ALARM VALVES See Sprinkler Rules Section G. The National Board rules for alarm valves state that every sprinkler system should contain an alarm valve that will operate an electrical, a mechanical gong or both. The character of the property and the local con- ditions should determine just what bells should be used and where they should be located. In a city risk the electric bell should if possible be located in a fire de- partment house or in a central station. It is also very desirable to wire it on a closed circuit in such locations. It is often advisable to omit the rotary gong when the risk is located in a congested district on account of the panic or the frightening of horses which might result from the ringing of so large a gong. In small towns or villages both electric and rotary gongs are desirable and the electric bell should be at a fire department house or in the dwelling of some inter- ALARM VALVES 11 ested party. In some cases, the electric bell can be located in the power house of some nearby plant where there is some one on hand nights, Sundays and holidays. The alarm valve should be so located that the supplies from all automatic sources will pass through it. This excludes steamer connections and occasionally pump supplies although it is usually better practice to have the pump water pass through the alarm valve. This necessitates bringing all water supplies together below the valve, as, for instance, bringing the tank supply down to the basement level and connecting it with the town water supply under the main gate valve and alarm valve. It was formerly customary to feed the tank supply into the top of the riser but this is not allowed today, except in the case of risks having no other sup- plies than gravity or pressure tanks. In this case, which is sometimes found in cities having a waterworks sys- tem of very light pressure, the alarm valve and con- trolling gate valve may be located at the top of the building thus doing away with the extra friction loss due to the water flowing down to the low level and then returning through the riser. The wiring for electric bells should be in conformity with the rules given in the National Board of Fire Un- derwriters' pamphlet on Signalling Systems. TESTING All alarm valves should be tested occasionally to make sure they are in good working order. Once a week should be often enough under any conditions and once a month is frequently sufficient. The principal sources of trouble to be looked for are: the failure of the electric bell due to exhausted bat- teries, corrosion at bell or broken wire; the failure of the rotary gong due to clogging at the outlet or binding of parts; sticking at the seat of the valve. This latter 12 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION is infrequent, but occasionally occurs with valves hav- ing a soft rubber seat especially if there is a heavy water pressure on top of the clapper. The electric bell is by far the most usual part of the device to get out of order, largely due to battery trouble, and it is well to test this as often as once a week. This can be done by short- circuiting the wires without disturbing the alarm check or the water rotary. A push button should be installed for this purpose connected directly to the binding posts at the circuit closer and not tapped into the wires run- ning to the bell. In this way the entire circuit is tested and if the main wires are corroded or broken off at the binding posts this fact would be brought out on test. If the push button is tapped into the wires running to the bell, any break at the binding posts or between them and the point where the button is tapped in would not be discovered by the test. A testing device giving a record of the test on a paper dial is very desirable. A small tester, made on the same principle as the test clock for thermostat systems, was formerly made for this purpose but so f aj as is known there is nothing on the market today suitable for this purpose. It might be possible to use a small magneto actuated by the rotary gong instead of batteries for supplying current to ring bells, thus doing away with one of the most frequent causes of trouble. When a closed outside circuit is used, the wires are always in test and it is not, therefore, necessary to make frequent tests of the electrical features. The best way to make a complete test is to open the small (usually half-inch) test pipe at the top of the sprinkler system. If this is properly installed it should give a flow, when wide open, approximately equal to the discharge from one sprinkler head, and this is the minimum flow at which an alarm valve can be expected to operate. ALARM VALVES 13 Defects. The principal defect in alarm valves today is the liability to false alarms. A modern valve prop- erly installed should give but little trouble but if not installed strictly according to rules, trouble may be expected. This trouble is often overcome by main- taining an excess pressure in the system above the alarm valve. There is no great objection to doing this except that it causes extra work and if carried to an extreme may tend to cause the valve to stick. It also makes the valve slower in operation as the excess pressure must drop to normal before the main check will open. In plants where this is done the Assured usually do not test the system as often as it should be tested and also object to tests being made by insurance inspectors. In alarm valves containing soft rubber facings the rubber ring should be replaced every few years and per- haps oftener where the pressure is very heavy. FIRE RECORD While the record of alarm valves is not very satisfactory so far as false alarms is concerned, and while they are frequently found out of order on inspection, their fire record has certainly been good. The statistics of the National Fire Protection Association for 15 years cov- ering various forms of alarm service are as follows: Fires Failures Thermostats alone ......... 189 40 21 Watchmen alone ........... 1002 90 10 Sprinkler alarm alone ...... 840 62 7 APPROXIMATE COST Alarm valves cost from $100 to $150 each according to size. 14 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ALARM VALVES ASSOCIATED Associated Automatic Sprinkler Co., Philadelphia, Pa. A-IQI4. This is a new device not yet developed to a point where details can be given. It has, however, a retarding chamber for use where pressure is variable. ASSOCIATED ALARM VALVE. The electric circuit closer and rotary alarm are of the usual type. It is to be installed by responsible and capable licen- sees in various parts of the country. CARPENTER Patented by Ormlle Carpenter of Pawtucket, R.I. 1897. (Probably used before that time.) This was a magnetic valve with no provision for a water rotary at- tachment. A hollow iron ball B was used which when in its normal position rested on lugs C r in the water way, ALARM VALVES 15 which it practically filled. Above this point the water way was enlarged so that when the ball was carried up by the movement of water it did not seriously obstruct the flow. There were also lugs D f higher up, to limit the height to which the ball could rise. CARPENTER ALARM VALVE. (Section.) Outside the main valve casting and separated from it by a tight brass partition C2 was a brass casing contain- ing a suspended magnet F, one end of the magnet coming close to the brass partition so that the iron ball was in the field of the magnet. When flowage occurred in the riser, the iron ball, which nearly floated, was carried up, thus taking it out- side the magnetic field. The suspended magnet then swung back away from the partition, and in so doing closed an electrical circuit at 7. This was arranged to ring an electrical bell at any desired location, through a retarding element. This valve was used in a few equipments but did not 16 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION prove satisfactory. There was a possibility of the ball becoming filled with water and thus being too heavy to operate properly. Practically obsolete. Rating: Unreliable. CROWDER Made by Crowder Bros., St. Louis, Mo. 1909. Vertical check seating on a horizontal valve seat. It is guided by a stem at the top and three pro- jecting brackets underneath. There is an auxiliary CIRCUIT CLOSER RETARDING CHAMBER GUIDE STEM COLLAR VALVE SEAT CHOWDER ALARM VALVE. ALARM VALVES 17 valve attached to the main valve and closing over an opening running to a retarding chamber. When the main valve is on its seat, the auxiliary valve closes the outlet to the retarding chamber. There is a small pet- cock in the pipe to the chamber and this is normally open. When the main check rises, the auxiliary valve is opened and water flows into the retarding chamber. The retarding action is due to the difference in capacity of the pipe to the retarding chamber and the open drip through the petcock. There are no valves in this chamber. Said to operate under normal conditions in 5 to 8 seconds. Rotary gong when used is connected to the pipe run- ning to retarding chamber at petcock. Has been used since 1909; about 60 installed to date. Field experience said to be satisfactory. Rating: Not standard. EVANS Merchant & Evans Co., Philadelphia, Pa. A-IQI4. Made in 4- and 6-inch sizes. Consists of an angle check which can be used in a vertical or horizontal position. The outlet to the alarm devices is opened by the lifting of the main clapper. The retarding chamber causes an interruption of 15 seconds. The electrical cir- cuit closer and rotary gong are of the usual type. All details not yet worked out. GRAY Frank Gray, Chicago. 1897. Double vertical check valve on a single spindle running in a guide From the intermediate space be- tween the two valves a pipe ran to a small chamber containing a cylindrical float. This chamber was drained by a small open pipe. There was a small by-pass around the two valves to take care of water hammer. 18 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION ALARM VALVES EVANS ALARM VALVE SHOWING INTERIOR. 20 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION GLOBE ALARM VALVE. ALARM VALVES 21 When the flowage was sufficient to raise the valves, water filled the intermediate space and flowing into the chamber raised the float which closed an electrical cir- cuit by forcing two contact points together. No rotary gong was shown in the patent drawing al- though this could readily be installed. Not generally used so far as known. Now practically obsolete. GLOBE OR GARRETT Globe Automatic Sprinkler Co., Cincinnati, 0. This is a swing check seating on a grooved horizontal seat. There is a rubber facing on the clapper to make a tight joint. GLOBE ALARM VALVE (Section.) A, main casting. C, outlet from grooved D, main clapper. E, valve seat. F, groove. GLOBE RETARDING CHAMBER. (Section.) I, diaphragm. M, weighted rod. D, drip valve. 22 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION The pipe from the grooved seat runs to the lower part of a retarding chamber. There is a metal diaphragm at the upper end of the chamber which when it is thrown up, operates a knife switch connected to the electrical circuit. A weighted rod is attached to the diaphragm and at the lower end of this rod is a valve leading to a drip pipe. A f-inch pipe to the rotary gong connects to the chamber near its upper end. Water entering the chamber from the grooved seat leaks out through the dip valve until enough pressure has accumulated to throw up the diaphragm. This closes the drip valve and at the same time operates the knife switch on the electrical circuit. Field experience said to be satisfactory. Rating: Not standard. Generally satisfactory. GRINNELL ANGLE ALARM VALVE Made by the Providence Steam & Gas Pipe Co. 1885. This consisted of a vertical check valve lo- cated in a casting which was in the form of an angle. There was a round stem containing a groove attached to the lower side of the check. A pin was inserted in the side of the valve in such a way that one end of the pin rested in the groove of the stem when the valve was closed. When the check was raised by the passage of water, this pin was pushed outwards a short distance by the pressure of the stem below the groove. This motion was utilized to make an electrical connection or to trip a mechanical gong. A good deal of trouble developed in the course of years from the sticking of the pin for there had to be a stuffing box to make a water-tight joint. Another undesirable feature was the possibility of the pin becoming bent and thus being prevented from moving easily along its guides. These defects were so serious that this type ALARM VALVES 23 of valve was finally condemned and most of them have either been taken out or have had the pin removed. A considerable number were installed. Field experi- ence fairly satisfactory for a few years. Present rating: Unreliable. A menace to sprinkler system. GRINNELL ANGLE ALARM VALVE. (Section.) GRINNELL ENGLISH ALARM VALVE Patented by Dowson & Taylor. Manufactured by Providence Steam & Gas Pipe Co, Later by the General Fire Extinguisher Co. 1-1888. A vertical check valve with a rubber facing seated on a grooved seat. A small auxiliary valve in main check allowed water to pass upwards through the valve but not to return. This tended to create an ex- cess pressure above the valve and thus to prevent false alarms. 24 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION Pipe from grooved seat ran direct to rotary gong and circuit closer with no interrupting pot. But few installed. Now practically obsolete. Rating : Subject to false alarms. Unsatisfactory. DRIP PROTECTED FROM FREEZING GRINNELL ENGLISH ALARM VALVE 1. (Section.) 2-1890. Similar to No. 1 but with interrupting pot. This pot had a small outlet at the bottom protected by a long vertical strainer. .The outlet being smaller than the inlet the pot gradually filled with water when the main check valve was raised and water entered the grooved seat. Some of the early types gave trouble from sticking of ALARM VALVES 25 the rubber valve at the grooved seat. This was espe- cially the case where the valve was in a warm place or where there was normally a heavy pressure on top of the valve. Later a harder rubber was used for this purpose. There was a metal dia- phragm at the top of the chamber. When the chamber became full of water this dia- phragm was raised and an electrical connection was made. The time element of the re- tarding chamber was about 20 seconds. The water rotary connected directly with the pipe from the grooved seat. The water rotary gong consist- ing of a wheel with paddles like a water wheel was revolved by a stream of water is- suing from a nozzle. When the wheel re- volved a hinged ham- GRINNELL ENGLISH ALARM VALVE 2. RETARDING CHAMBER. (Section.) mer on the outside of the building was made to strike a large gong. A large number were installed. Field experience quite satisfactory though the device was somewhat subject to false alarms. New circuit closers, properly vented, have been installed on some of these old valves to obviate this trouble. Rating: Not standard. Fairly satisfactory. 26 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION 3-1900. Main valve similar to previous type but with- out auxiliary check valve. Interrupting chamber and circuit closer redesigned. The outlet pipe from the chamber ended in an elbow pointing up. A valve arranged to close the end of this outlet was attached to a metal dia- phragm in the bottom of the chamber. The pipe to the circuit closer and rotary gong connected at the top of the chamber. When the water entered the chamber from the grooved seat it created a H pressure on this dia- phragm. ^ When the cham- ber became full, the pres- sure was sufficient to operate the diaphragm. GRINNELLENGLISHALARMVALVE3. RETARDING CHAMBER. valve onto the outlet pipe (Section.) and closed the outlet. The water then flowed to the rotary gong and circuit closer from the top of the chamber. The circuit closer contained a diaphragm which oper- ated a knife switch. Many of these valves were installed and are still in use. Where properly installed the field experience has been quite satisfactory. Rating: Not standard. Generally satisfactory. ALARM VALVES 27 GRINNELL STRAIGHTWAY ALARM VALVE General Fire Extinguisher Co., Providence, R. I. 1908. Swing check with grooved seat. Capable of being used in upright or horizontal position. A pipe from grooved seat runs to an interrupting chamber of STRAIGHTWAY ALARM VALVE. (Section.) the same design as that used in the No. 3 English Alarm valve. Circuit closer and rotary gong are also of the same design as those in the English Alarm No. 3. Criticized by the Underwriters' Laboratories in 1907, as follows: Somewhat subject to false alarms. Susceptible to improper installation. Water motor alarm inefficient. Many of these valves are in use. Where properly in- stalled field experience has been quite satisfactory. Rating: Not standard. Generally satisfactory. 28 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION HARKNESS TEE Made by the Harkness Fire Extinguisher Co. by the General Fire Extinguisher Co. Redesigned This was a constant-pressure alarm designed for branch pipes. It consisted of a thin copper flapper supported by a flexible diaphragm. When in its normal position, the flapper closed the water way. In case of flowage it was pushed to one side and this motion transmitted through the flexible tube made an electrical contact outside the pipe. HARKNESS TEE. J, main casting. H, circuit closer. F, G, wires to circuit closer. It was not designed to use with a water rotary gong and could only be used where the water pressure was very constant, as where a tank was the primary supply. By installing one on the branch pipe feeding each floor ALARM VALVES 29 and connecting the wiring to an annunciator, the device would show the floor on which a fire occurred. Used to a considerable extent in city risks. As rede- signed it is being used in connection with supervisory apparatus. Field experience quite satisfactory. Rating: Not standard. Satisfactory under constant pressures only. HUNT Jarvis Hunt, Chicago. Assigned to Phoenix Fire Ex- tinguisher Co. 1904. Vertical check valve, hollow and shaped like a truncated cone. It was guided by rods passing through supports above and below the check. Seated on a grooved seat, a pipe from which ran to the atmosphere. No retarding element or alarm connections shown in the patent drawing. Valve designed to be used either as a differential dry valve or an alarm valve. The buoyancy of the valve was supposed to prevent water columning. Not used to any extent so far as known. INTERNATIONAL Made by International Sprinkler Co., Philadelphia. 1901. This company first used an alarm valve of the swing clapper type with a stem extending through a stuffing box. This was soon discarded for the better known " horn " type. This valve was put on the mar- ket in 1901 and consisted of a swing check valve seating at a slight angle, designed to be used 1 in either a verti- cal or horizontal position. A horn, connected to a small pipe, extended through the casing into the water way just below the check valve. When on its seat, the check valve also rested on the end of the horn, thus tightly closing the outlet into the small pipe. There 30 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION INTERNATIONAL ALARM VALVE. TYPE C. ALARM VALVES 31 was a diaphragm inserted in the lower side of the main check, at the point where the check valve covered the horn. There were perforations in the edge of this dia- phragm so as to admit water above it, thus making it easier to adjust the valve so as to give a tight joint both at the main seat and at the horn. When the check valve was raised off its seat, due to flowage in the system, water entered the horn and flowed to the interrupting pot and finally actuated the alarms. The interrupting chamber or time element was of an entirely different principle from that in any other valve. It consisted of three compartments, an upper, a middle and a lower one. A valve between the lower and mid- dle compartment was held closed by water pressure com- ing through a pipe that connected with the riser below the main check and ran to the lower compartment. The small pipe from the horn ran to the upper compart- ment. There was a thin metal diaphragm at the bot- tom of the upper compartment separating it from the middle one. The pipe to the alarm devices connected with the middle compartment. When the alarm valve was closed, no water could enter the horn and there was therefore no pressure in the upper compartment. The water pressure from below the main valve held closed the valve between the middle and lower compartment. There was, therefore, no pres- sure in the middle compartment. When the main check valve opened, water entered the horn and flowed from this into the upper compartment. When this became full, the pressure forced down the diaphragm in the bottom of this compartment, thus opening the valve between the middle and lower com- partment. The water from the lower pipe then flowed into the middle compartment and thence to the circuit closer, the water rotary gong or both. 32 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION This valve was criticized by the Underwriters' Lab- oratories in 1905 as follows: 1. Variable in action under high and low pressure especially with small water flows. 2. Subject to leakage (through valve). 3. Some parts fragile and susceptible to improper adjustment. In 1912 they criticized in addition: 1. Liability to false alarms. 2. Reliability doubtful under service pressures of less than 25 pounds. 3. May obstruct flow of water in riser. A large number of these valves have been installed and the field experience has been generally satisfactory. There are four types of this valve varying but little from each other. Early types sometimes known as Evans' Alarm Valve. A-IQOI. Horn of large diameter (1 J-inch in 6-inch size) with flaring outlet seating on diaphragm in about the center of the clapper. Circuit closer on top of retarding chamber. 6-1902. Horn of smaller diameter ( T Vinch) and not flaring as much, seating in center of clapper. -1903. Similar to B but horn somewhat off center of clapper. D-igo6. Diaphragm discarded and horn seats on an adjustable plug adjusted from upper side of clapper. Circuit closer connected to pipe running to rotary gong in all but A. Rating of all types: Generally satisfactory. MANUFACTURERS Manufacturers Automatic Sprinkler Co. of New York. Swing check with packed stem. Subject to false alarms under fluctuating pressures. Present rating: Unreliable and menace to sprinkler system. s I 8& II s a o -^ I I a *8 ,>> 0> o T I o a i circuit closer. bJD 1 b 3 8 . 3. Venturi tube, throat of tube. ^et 30with mainline, the larger sprinkler pipes and some auxiliary heat- ^^ ing coils. IT U Perhaps the most in- SPRINKLER OFFSET. teresting feature of this Combined sprinkler and heating S y stem is the meth d USed system. for preventing the oper- ation of the sprinkler heads from the heat of the water. The heads are of the Grinnell glass disc type, and are practically all low test, melting at about 160 F. The hot water has an average temperature of 180 to 200 F., the maximum temperature used being about 245 F. In order to prevent overheating the sprinklers, they are placed on short offsets in which the water does not circulate. The offsets in this case are of J-inch pipe and are about one foot long. They are placed about three inches above the main pipe and connected to it by a J-inch elbow and nipple. The size of this pipe is too small to give stand- ard sprinkler protection, and f-inch pipe should and probably could be used without serious results. DRY SYSTEMS AND DRY VALVES 105 it is stated that the action of hot water on the iron pipe causes the segregation of nitrogen gas from the entangled air in the water, and this is a good non-con- ductor. The gas collects in the small offsets and after a period of time practically fills them. While this gas is a good insulator, the fact that the sprinkler heads do not open is primarily because the heat is radiated from the offset and from the head faster than it is supplied to them by conduction; also because there is no circula- tion in these offsets. While no heads have as yet opened from the heat of the system, the frames become so hot that one cannot bear the hand upon them for long without discomfort. The struts, however, are noticeably cooler than the frame. Whether this feature would be so marked in heads of other types is not known. This system, slightly modified, is now being installed in a mill in Lewiston, Me. Another system has recently been installed in a fire- proof factory in Cambridge, Mass. This system was somewhat complicated by having two risers each con- taining a 6-inch alarm valve. The two systems were tied together above the alarm valves and so arranged that in order to shut off the flow from a sprinkler head it was necessary to close two sprinkler valves and one hot water valve. As it was not considered desirable to install an expansion tank at the top of the system, it was found necessary to make a connection through a small pipe to a domestic service connection so that the expansion and contraction could be properly cared for. During an unusually cold spell, the heating system was forced in order to keep the building warm, and as a result two sprinklers opened from excessive heat. The offsets were then lengthened in an effort to avoid this trouble in the future. From this it would appear that in the present development of this scheme there is 106 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION some danger of sprinkler leakage losses occurring from these equipments. The great advantage of such a system is obviously the saving in the cost of pipe in the original equipment, which saving has been estimated at thirty-three per cent. The more important undesirable features are as fol- lows: 1. Complication of valves. A hot water valve as well as the sprinkler valves must always be closed to shut off the flow of water. 2. Liability of more frequent shutting off of system for repairs. 3. Possibility of corroding and coating interior of the pipes on account of circulation of hot water. 4. Danger of sprinklers operating from excessive heat in pipes. 5. Possible interference with proper action of alarm valves due to action of hot water on rubber facings and to venting of system. These possible defects would probably not offset the defects inherent in an ordinary dry system, and the system would therefore be of especial advantage in cold buildings that would otherwise have to be sprinklered on the dry system. CHAPTER III SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS The purpose of these systems is to give notice at a central station in case anything happens to a sprinkler system to seriously impair its effectiveness or in case there is a flowage in the pipes due to a break or to the opening of a sprinkler head. The signals are trans- mitted to a central station through a closed circuit sys- tem of wiring and there received on a bell and tape machine in a similar manner to thermostat signals. When a trouble signal is received a runner is sent from the central station to see that the proper remedies are applied. This is a comparatively new form of protection, hav- ing been on the market only about eight years. The rules of the National Board of Fire Underwriters (Signalling Systems, Clas.s H) give definite requirements for many features of the wiring and central station and are as follows: RULES OF THE NATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS Central Station. (a) From the central office to the protected risk, there must be two (2) separate circuits one for the water flow alarm, and the other for the supervision features. Manuals must not be installed on the supervision circuit unless of approved non-interfering pattern. (6) The central office must, at all times, be able to determine from the signal received, the particular feature of the sprinklered risk which is out of order and when it has been restored. This may be accomplished by having separate transmitters for each feature of the service or distinctive signals from the same transmitter or by a combination of both methods. 107 108 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION Devices, Circuits, Etc. (a) Must be so arranged that devices cannot easily be tampered with or removed without giving a signal in the central office. (b) All circuits and electrical apparatus must comply with the requirements stated under Class A. It is, however, strongly rec- ommended that all interior circuits be entirely run in approved conduit piping, wire to be such as is required in damp places, under Rule 3, Section b. Class A. (c) All pipe connections to sprinkler system must be made in a workmanlike manner, equal in all respects to the regular standard required for sprinkler work. (d) Not more than twenty-five (25) sets of transmitters or not exceeding one hundred (100) break wheels must be connected on a single circuit. Tests. Complete and satisfactory tests of all transmitters must be made by installing companies monthly and results reported to the Inspec- tion Department having jurisdiction. SUPERVISION DETAILS Gate Valves. (a) Connection, by means of approved devices, must be made to all gate or other stop valves, under control of the assured, in feed pipes to sprinklers, including all valves on tanks, fire pump, steam and discharge connections, city main connections, pump suction, post indicator valves, and where necessary, on small valves used in installation of the service. Devices to be so attached as not to in- terfere with the operation of the valve nor obstruct the view of indi- cator or access to stuffing boxes. (6) Attachments on all valves must give a signal between the first and second revolutions of the hand wheel, tending to move the valve from its proper position, or when valve is not controlled by hand wheel, signal must be given before the valve has moved | of the stem movement from its proper position. Two separate and distinctive automatic signals will be required for the gate valve alarm, one signal to show that a valve has been removed from its normal position, and another distinctive and differ- ent signal to show that the valve has been returned to its normal position. The latter signal shall not be given until all valves have been returned to their normal position, or at least to the point where the first or trouble signal was given. SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 109 Pressure. (a) All tanks or their sources of pressure, including steam supply for fire pumps, also pressure on dry pipe system, must be provided with separate and independent attachments, unless otherwise speci- fied by the Inspection Department having jurisdiction. Pipe to which supervisory devices are connected must be pro- vided with a plugged test gauge connection and a stop and relief valve of satisfactory pattern; the whole to be so arranged that pressure on attachment and plugged connection can be released for testing purposes. (6) Pressure tank attachment must give a high and low pressure signal at ten (10) pounds below and thirty (30) pounds above the normal pressure. Steam pressure attachment must give a low pressure signal at 45 pounds. Attachment to dry pipe pressure system must give a high and low pressure signal at ten (10) pounds variation above or below normal, pressure. In special cases and for other pressure sources, specific instruc- tions must be obtained from the Inspection Department having jurisdiction. Two separate and distinctive automatic signals will be required for pressure alarm, one to show that the pressure has gone below or above the required amount and another distinctive and different signal to show that the normal pressure has been restored. Water Levels. (a) All pressure and surge tanks, gravity tanks, cisterns and res- ervoirs used as a supply for sprinkler systems, must be equipped with separate and independent attachments unless otherwise speci- fied by Inspection Department having jurisdiction. All devices used for this purpose must be designed to withstand corrosion and possible mechanical obstructions. (6) Must give a low .water signal in all supplies, except pressure tanks, when water drops 12 inches below the required level. Pres- sure tank device must give a signal when water drops 4 inches below or rises 4 inches above the required level. Two separate and distinctive automatic signals will be required for water alarm, one to show that water has changed from the re- quired level, and another to show that the proper water level has been restored. 110 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION Temperature. (a) All gravity tanks, cisterns and reservoirs for sprinkler service in which water might freeze, must be equipped with suitable temper- ature indicator, located two feet below the required water level. Note: Where tanks, cisterns or reservoirs are located in houses in which water might freeze, Inspection Department having juris- diction may require suitable temperature indicators for such houses. (6) The indicator must give a separate and distinctive signal when temperature falls below 40 F., or rises above 160 F., and another distinctive and different signal to show that water has been restored to the proper temperature. Fire Pumps. Where automatic fire pumps are used a complete supervision shall be provided in each case, for which special instructions must be obtained. Water Flow Alarm Details. (a) At the base of each system riser, satisfactory and positive connections must be made by an approved device for indicating the flow of water in the sprinkler system, except that due to waste surges or variable pressure. (6) The device must indicate at the Central Station any leak or flow of water in the sprinkler system, equal to or greater than at the rate of ten (10) gallons per minute. Trouble signal to be distinctive and different from the water flow signal. (c) Where any private local water flow alarm system is in use the supervisory water flow alarm must be so arranged that it shall not be dependent upon the operation of or interfered with by trouble on the local private alarm circuit. Manual Alarms. Where a sprinklered risk is provided with either a Central Sta- tion Water Flow or a Central Station Supervision Alarm, or both, and has not an approved and properly maintained Automatic Fire Alarm System, or Watchman's Central Station Time Recording System, a Manual Fire Alarm System installed in accordance with Rules 8 and 9 must be provided. Signals and Reports. (a) Arrangements must, if possible, be made by the operating company, by which they shall have access to premises under super- SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 111 vision, at all hours of the day and night. Where such arrangements cannot be made and it might become necessary to force an entrance to the building, a proper guard shall be placed over the building so long as required. Note: It will, of course, be understood that all arrangements, under the above paragraph, should be made with the owner of the property and must be subject to the approval of the Inspection Department having jurisdiction. (6) Arrangements must be made to furnish such reports of signals that may be received and in such form as may be required by the Inspection Department having jurisdiction. Disposition of Signals. (a) Upon receipt of signals referring to matters of purely equip- ment maintenance, the operating company must immediately send a runner to investigate and, if possible, see that the trouble is reme- died at once. They shall also notify the Assured by telephone or by the quick- est method available. Written notice should be given the Assured in all cases. (6) Upon receipt of signals showing flow of water in the system, the central office must notify the nearest Insurance Patrol and such other parties as the Inspection Department having jurisdiction may require. They shall also dispatch a runner to the risk. They shall also notify the Assured by telephone or the quickest method available. In addition to which, written notice should be given to the Assured. Note: In all cases where notification is required to parties with whom private lines of communication have not been provided, the quickest available means of communication must be used. (c) If, at any time, a combination signal is received, which from its nature, is indicative of water flow on the premises equipped, such combination signal must be treated by the central office as a fire alarm. All manual alarms are to be treated as fire alarms. Note: Fire alarms received from Sprinkler Supervisory service shall be transmitted to the city fire alarm office and patrol or such other places as required by the Inspection Department having jurisdiction, and should at all times be treated as still alarms. 112 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION LIMITATIONS OF THE SYSTEMS Supplies from tanks and automatic pumps can be efficiently supervised but where a waterworks connec- tion is the only source of supply the supervision is not as satisfactory. The gate valves from tanks and pumps are accessible and the supervisory attachment can be readily made; but it is usually impractical to super- vise the underground waterworks valves on a sprinkler connection and it is certainly not practical to super- vise all the street main gate valves, the closing of which might shut off water from the risk in question. It would always be possible, therefore, that the street main or even the sprinkler connection from the main might be shut off without giving any trouble alarm. A partial safeguard can be installed in the form of an alarm gage on the sprinkler system. This is adjusted so that when the water pressure drops to a certain pre- determined point, say 25 per cent below normal, an alarm will be given. With this arrangement no fire could occur without some alarm being given through the supervisory system although the sprinkler system might be practically out of commission. If the street connection was shut off it is probable that the pressure in the sprinkler system would gradually fall until a trouble alarm was given. If, however, the system was so tight that this did not occur, then in case of fire a sprinkler head would open and the pressure would at once drop and an alarm be given. While, therefore, the water supply might not be efficiently supervised the supervisory system would still act as a fire alarm. With a sprinkler supervisory system prop- erly installed and maintained the sprinkler system is not only supervised so that the chance of failure in time of fire is reduced to a minimum but the system itself becomes an alarm service of the most efficient SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 113 type. This service may generally be considered the full equivalent of a thermostat system or standard watchman's service. when efficiently maintained. Supervisory systems must necessarily be confined to regions where there is a considerable number of sprink- lered risks near together, probably to the larger cities and their suburbs, as it would not pay to go to the expense of equipping and maintaining an expensive central station in other places. Up to a few years ago' there were two systems on the market, the American District Telegraph Co. and the Consolidated Co., but at present only the A. D. T. sys- tem is being installed. DESCRIPTION OF DEVICES The devices consist in general of circuit breakers at- tached to check valves to give water flow alarm; gate valve attachments, pressure gages, water level attach- ments, temperature devices and the necessary trans- mitters, batteries, etc. All wiring is installed in conduit so that there is no chance to short circuit the system, thus putting the alarm connections out of service. The different attachments are securely fastened in place so that they cannot be disconnected without giving an alarm and they all have case contact or telltale attach- ments to prevent removing the cover and tampering with the interior mechanism without giving a trouble signal. Water Flow Apparatus. The attachment for giving the water flow signals can be fastened to an alarm valve, or to any check valve provided it is slightly weighted. It consists of an arm pivoted near the middle in a bronze diaphragm. One end of the arm extends inside of the check valve to the under side of the clapper and is normally held down by the weight of the clapper. 114 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 115 -~ I 116 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 117 The other end of the arm carries an insulating ring which lifts a spring, thereby separating two platinum points. When there is a flow of water through the system the check valve rises, thus allowing one end of A. D. T. ALARM VALVE APPARATUS. a, binding screws for circuit wires. L, binding screws for local bell wires. b, case contact for telltale. c, platinum contact points. d, insulating ring or lever arm. e, platinum points for local bell. the arm to rise and make contact between the platinum points at the other end, the motion being transmitted through the flexible diaphragm. The making of the circuit by the platinum points starts a transmitter and 118 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION A. D. T. ALARM VALVE ATTACHMENT. Contacts are in box at extreme left of picture. Wires run in conduit taken out at top of box. Manual alarm box at extreme right. SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 119 sends a signal to the central station. The platinum contacts are connected to the transmitter by two loops so as to insure safety and to indicate trouble. The case contact or telltale consists of a make-and-break contact in one of these loops which, when the cover is in place, A. D. T. ALARM VALVE TRANSMITTER. a, a, water flow signal magnets. &, device for causing wheel W. F. to make one full revolution when it starts, c, c, central station contact springs, d, springs for changing connections when wheel T has made one revolution. T, E, Time element magnet. W, F, water flow signal wheel. T, trouble signal wheel, e, cam for changing connections from T, E to a, a. is held closed. When the cover is removed the circuit is broken and a trouble signal is sent to the central station. The transmitter consists of two wheels, driven by clockwork, which are connected in series. One wheel is for trouble signals and one for water flow signals. 120 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION A. D. T. ALARM VALVE CIRCUITS. SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 121 The trouble signal is controlled by a time element de- vice consisting of a large magnet energized by a local battery, and normally holding up its armature. When there is a water flow, the attachment on the check valve closes a short circuit around this magnet and allows this armature to fall. The fall of the armature is retarded by clockwork so timed that it will take longer than the duration of any ordinary hammer for the armature to complete its fall. When the short circuit is removed, the armature returns to its normal position; but if it lasts a sufficient length of time, as in case of a sprinkler head opening, the clockwork controlling the trouble wheel is released by the armature and one round of the box number is sent in short quick dashes to the central station. When this wheel completes one revolution it automatically changes the connections and closes the circuit through a second magnet which trips the clock controlling the water flow signal wheel and sends in three rounds of the box number. . If at any time the water flow should cease and the contacts in the check valve attachment open, the re- sults would be as follows. If the short circuit was re- moved before the armature of the time element magnet completed its fall, the armature would return to its normal position and no signal would be transmitted. This prevents an alarm from being sent in when the water flow is of short duration such as would occur in case of water hammer. A small flowage, such as is caused by the operation of one sprinkler, would cause an intermittent action on the part of the check valve; that is the check would open for a short period and then close. In most cases the interval between the lifting and seating of the check is longer than the period of retard employed, so that while the alarm may . be slightly delayed it will finally be given. In a small percentage of cases any adjustment of the retard ele- 122 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION ment that would prevent water hammer signals is likely to cause a failure to get the water flow signal. In such cases it I cases it has been necessary to maintain an excess pressure on the sprinkler system above the check valve so as to prevent any water ham- mer from raising the check. This can be easily done with a small hand pump or by connection to some pump furnishing pressure for other pur- poses. In order to main- tain the pressure properly, a pressure gage is installed on the riser arranged to give notice at the central office when any consider- able drop in pressure oc- curs. When such signals are received, the central office takes steps to re- store the pressure to its original amount. If the contacts did not open until the trouble wheel had started, this wheel would complete one revolution and then stop. A trouble signal would be received at the Central Station. In this case the armature of the time element would return to its normal position and the time element A. D. T. DRY VALVE ATTACHMENT. High and low air pressure alarm shown in circular case at left. Water flow switch connecting to intermediate chamber shown at right (white disc). SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 123 would again be in service but no trouble signal would be transmitted until the box had been rewound. A second closing of the platinum points before the box had been rewound, as from water hammer, would send in a water flow signal, but not preceded, as ordinarily, by a trouble signal. If the contacts did not open until the water flow signal wheel had started, one full round of the wheel or a complete water flow signal would be given before it stopped. The entire system is wired on a loop, so that in case a wire is broken a trouble signal is received but the water flow signal is not crippled. The giving out of the bat- tery causes a trouble signal to be sent in but no alarm can be transmitted until repairs have been made. The central station apparatus is arranged to indicate grounds and breaks on the outside line. A ground can be taken care of at the central station and it does not disable the circuit. A single break can be temporarily taken care of until repairs are made but two breaks in the line cut out all apparatus located between the breaks. Gate Valve Attachment. This is a device which is clamped onto a gate valve and arranged to give a trouble alarm in case the valve should be closed or partially closed. The box is fastened to ' the yoke of the valve so that the rubber roller inside stands in the centre of the circle formed by the curves in two German silver springs. When in this position the platinum points on the ends of the springs are in contact and complete an electrical circuit. Another roller on the same spindle as the first, but outside of the box, fits into a groove in the valve stem. If the valve is turned a predetermined amount from the wide open position, the outside roller is moved sideways by the motion of the valve stem, thus causing the inside roller to be pushed to one side and opening the circuit. The amount of motion neces- 124' AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION sary to do this can be adjusted as desired but in prac- tice one complete revolution of the valve stem will push the springs apart and break the circuit. There is a tell- tale on this device similar to that on the water flow box which gives a trouble signal when the cover is removed. In case the whole box is removed, the spiral spring in- side would move the rubber roller and force the con- A. D. T. GATE VALVE ATTACHMENT. INTERIOR. c, case, d, case contact, e, rubber roller. /, /, german silver springs, g, rubber post for closing case contact. tacts apart, thus opening the circuit and giving a trouble signal. The magnets for this device are operated by a local battery and are in multiple with those used in connec- tion with the pressure, water level and temperature devices. There are separate transmitters for each of these devices and the central station circuit comes up to the number wheels on these. The wheels are oper- ated by clockwork controlled by the magnets. There is SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 125 a loop around three of the magnets, normally held open by the local battery but which is closed if this battery circuit fails. The gate valve, pressure and gravity (water level) instruments are each connected in series with a double wound magnet, one circuit being normally open. This magnet normally holds up its armature but drops it when the circuit is opened by the instru- A. D. T. GATE VALVE ATTACHMENT. REAK. a, roller that fits into slot in valve stem. 6, clamp for fastening instrument to valve yoke, c, instrument case. ment or by the removing of the cover, thus releasing the clockwork. When the armature drops, the clock- work sends in two rounds of the box number, the clock being then stopped by the lifting of the other armature on the magnet which is raised by the starting of the clock. When the valve is again opened, the first winding is closed and the magnet is neutralized, thus dropping the 126 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION A. D. T. GATE VALVE ATTACHMENT. Showing attachment to an O. S. & Y. floor valve. Wiring in flexible conduit. SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 127 armature and starting the clock. When the wheel starts, the second winding is opened and the armature :. - .. A. D. T. PRESSURE DEVICE. 1906 TYPE. No longer used, a, bourdon tube, b, lever operated by bourdon tube, c, contact springs, d, pipe connections to pressure tank or dry system. e, case contact. is raised by the first winding and the clock is stopped at the end of one round. Pressure Indicator. This consists of a metal dia- phragm which supports a weighted lever. When this 128 AUTOMATIC .SPRINKLER PROTECTION A. D. T. SUPERVISORY DEVICES. Water level float for pressure tanks, at left. Water flow switch for alarm valves, in centre. Large O. S. & Y. valve attachment, right centre. Water flow device for dry valves, upper right. High and low air pressure device, lower right. SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 129 -. A. >D..T.. PRESSURE TANK ATTACHMENTS. Water level, alarm in rectangular box at left. High and low air pressure alarm in covered gage located at top of tank. 130 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION diaphragm is under pressure, the lever holds two electri- cal contacts together but when the pressure drops these contacts are opened. The opening pressure can be ad- justed to suit any conditions. This replaces an instru- ment used till quite recently which contained a large bourdon spring as the acting mechanism. A. D. T. WATER LEVEL DEVICE. 1906 TYPE. No longer used. a, case. b, lever attached to float, c, contact point, d, case contact springs, e, case cover. L, lever operated by float. Water Level Device. This consists of a float inside of a perforated brass pipe which extends into the tank at the water level. A lever which is attached to a float and pivoted in a bronze diaphragm extends into a metal box. This lever ends in a small arm which when in its normal position holds two platinum contacts together. SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 131 A. D. T. GRAVITY TANK ATTACHMENTS. Water level alarm at left. Temperature alarm at right. Wiring in conduit. 132 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION When the float^ falls the lever is moved and the con- tacts are forced apart. There is a telltale on the cover to give a trouble signal when the cover is removed. A. D. T. TEMPERATURE DEVICE. a, high temperature contact binding post. 6, low temperature contact binding post, c, constant contact binding post, d, screw for fastening thermometer to side of tank, e, thermometer bulb. The magnets and transmitter are similar to those used in the pressure indicator. Temperature Device. This is a mercurial thermom- eter, the bulb of which extends through the side of the tank into the water. Three platinum wires are fused SPRINKLER SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS 133 into the glass tube, the upper one at about 180 F. to give a signal when the temperature nears boiling point; the middle one at about 40 F. to give a signal when the temperature nears the freezing point; the lower at a point where it will always be in contact with the mercury. When the temperature is normal, that is between 40 and 180 F., the circuit is closed through the lower wire running into the base of the mercury column, and the middle wire set to indicate freezing. If the temperature drops below 40 F. the circuit is broken at the middle wire. If the temperature rises above 180 F. a short circuit is made at the upper wire. There is also a tell- tale on the cover of this device. The thermometer is connected to a triple wound mag- net. The wire from the high temperature connection runs to the third winding and is normally an open cir- cuit. When this circuit is closed, by the mercury reaching 180 F., the magnet is neutralized by the two opposite wound coils. The armature then drops and the clockwork is started. As soon as this happens the circuit of the remaining winding is closed, the magnet again becomes operative and raises the armature, thus stopping the clockwork at the end of two rounds. When the circuit of the high temperature winding is opened again the magnet becomes neutral, the armature drops and the clockwork is started. When this happens the second winding is opened and the third winding lifts the armature and stops the clock after one round. The low temperature alarm operates in a similar manner to the other devices. A few systems were installed in which the local bat- tery circuit contained two relays, one of which short circuited the central station pens of the instruments and the other removed the ground connection from the same instruments in case the local battery circuit failed. This allowed the gate valve instrument to send in an 134 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION uninterrupted signal (as all four instruments start on the failure of this battery) so that " central " would be able to locate and remedy the trouble. These have not, however, been found necessary and are not now being used. SUPERVISION BY WATER FLOW One of the prominent sprinkler companies is now working on a scheme for supervising gate valves by means of a bell and indicator located in the office or some other suitable place. The gate valves are fitted with a special attachment located in the bonnet which allows water to flow to a circuit closer whenever the valve is not wide open. This alarm is given in much the same way as with an alarm valve. When a valve is closed or partially closed, a grooved seat is uncovered and water flows through this to a circuit closer which operates a bell, an indicator and a red lamp. An automatic switch can be thrown to stop the ringing of the bell but this is returned to its normal position when the valve is opened. APPENDIX I Alphabetical List of Automatic Sprinklers ADAM Mm. Wauquier et tie, Lille, France. Upright, valve sprinkler resembling the Grinnell glass disc in principle. Orifice a thin metal diaphragm closed by a glass disc. The strut is made up of several pieces and is adjustable. Small toothed deflector. Not used outside of France so far as known. ADKINS Samuel Adkins, St. Louis, Mo. 1-1895. Valve sprinkler. Valve of agate held in place by levers in the form of a triangle. ADKINS--1 ADK1NS-2 2-1895. Valve sprinkler. Valve held in place by strut. Both obsolete. Never used so far as known. See " Automatic" Sprinkler Co. of America. 135 136 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION ALBION Greenwood & Batley, Ltd., England. Upright, valve sprinkler. Metal valve disc held in place by toggle joint levers. Very similar to the International Sprink- ler. Never used in America so far as known. Now practically obsolete. ALBION ALLEN Made in Bristol, Conn. 1899. Upright, valve sprinkler. Metal valve cap held in place by strut. Large deflector. Never used so far as known. ALLEN AND REED Allen and Reed, Providence, R. I. 1-1906. Upright valve sprinkler with strut. Cast- iron frame. Never used to any extent. Rating: Questionable. 2-1911. Upright, valve sprinkler al- most a duplicate of the Grinnell glass disc head. A few were installed but soon afterwards removed. Rating: Questionable. 3-1912. Similar to No. 2 but with ALLEN & REED strut split at the base. 2. Never used so far as known. Rating : Questionable. ALERT See Naylor. APPENDIX I 137 AMERICAN American Sprinkler Co., Chicago, III. 1892. Valve held in place by hor- izontal arm. Arm held at each end by a soldered joint pinned to an angular projection. Perforated and .slotted deflector. Threaded for a f-inch fitting. Never used so far as known. AMERICAN ASHCROFT Edward H. Ashcroft, Lynn, Mass. 1886. Valve sprinkler with valve held in place by a strut threaded into a nut. The nut was soldered into a recess in the casting with low-fusing solder. Distri- bution from four arms pointing down and discharging onto four semi-spherical deflectors. Never used so far as known. ASSOCIATED Associated Automatic Sprinkler Co., 2218 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. A-IQI3. Practically a duplicate of the International sprinkler except that the frame bulges more at the top 138 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION and the corrugations in the link are at an angle of 90 degrees. Approved by the Underwriters' Laboratories, Septem- ber, 1913. Rating : Standard. 6-1914. Similar to A but with new deflector made of No. 14 B. & S. gauge bronze, containing 9 notches and 3 small holes. . Upper end of compression screw practically flush with 'deflector. See page 53. "AUTOMATIC" SPRINKLER CO. OF AMERICA Executive Offices, 123 William St., New York. This company was formed in May, 1911, and was a consolidation of the Manufacturers Automatic Sprinkler Co., the Niagara Fire Extinguisher Co. and the Inter- national Automatic Sprinkler Co. The company con- trols the following approved sprinklers: Manufacturers, Niagara, International. In 1913 this company started to manufacture the Lapham B sprinkler for the yEtna Fire Sprinkler Co. of Chicago, but it does not install the device. See Manufacturers, Niagara, International. BABCOCK Patented by E. F. Steck of Chicago. Assigned to the Fire Extinguisher Manufacturing Co. of Chicago. Installed by this company from 1897 to 1904. 1900. This was an upright, valve sprinkler. Valve was hollow and held in place by a strut somewhat resembling that in the Grinnell glass disc head. Per- forated deflector located inside the frame. Under- writers' Laboratories Report in 1902 criticized: (1) leaking point, (2) effects of corrosion and loading, (3) releasing device, (4) deflector, (5) disc, (6) struc- tural weakness, (7) distribution, (8) solder in high test pattern. APPENDIX 1 139 A few thousand were installed but field experience was unsatisfactory. Tests of the Underwriters' Bureau of New England between 1909 and 1912 of clean heads taken from the field; 9 failed out of 18 tested, and only 6 were in good condition. These heads have now. been mostly replaced. They cannot be con- sidered as giving good protection at present. See page 63. Present rating: Unreliable. See also Steck. BABCOCK Note: There was a previous sprinkler patented in 1897 with a toothed deflector located on outside of frame. This was not used eo far as known. BACH Patented by N. S. Bach of Boston. 1876. A rose sprinkler covered with a cap. The cap was held in place by four hinged levers. The levers were held together by a cord wound around them and then running to the adjacent head. The burning of the cord opened the heads. Never used so far as known. BARNES Charles Barnes of Dayton, Ky., and Cincinnati, 0. Some manufactured by ./. 7. Covingtpn of the same city. A-iSyp. Perforated bulb head with valve. Valve held in place by spindle which was threaded to a nut, the nut being soldered to the lower side of the casting. Never used so far as known. See page 25. 1-1881. Perforated bulb type. This was a valve sprinkler, the valve being held by a spindle resting against a hinged lever. The lever was held to the frame by a latch of low-fusing solder. Distribution was 140 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION from a perforated bulb and was therefore poor. Used to a very limited extent. Crude and subject to leakage; easily damaged and clogged. See page 25. Obsolete. Present rating: Unreliable. BARNES--1 (Section.) 2-1885. Long side lever type. This was a valve sprinkler, the valve being held in place by a long lever hooked to the frame at one end and attached to a pro- jection on the frame by a link at the other end. Rotat- ing deflector and valve were all one piece. Used to a moderate extent. Crude and easily damaged. Obsolete. Present rating: Unreliable. BEECH Patented by Handel Beech of Oldham, England, later of Monson, Mass. Bought out by Dowson & Taylor Co. 1899. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve was a semi-spherical metal button and was held in place by a five-piece strut with small " sugar tongs" release. Threaded for f-inch fitting. Underwriters' Laboratories Report 1905, criticized: OBEECR APPENDIX I 141 1. Susceptibility to corrosion and loading. 2. Lack of sharpness in operating. 3. Possibility of readjustment in the field. 4. Construction of seat. Never used in this country so far as known. BIRKETT 1883. Valve sprinkler with large hollow perforated distributor. Valve spindle held in place by horizontal bar soldered across a circular opening at the end of the casting. Never used so far as known. BISHOP John W. Bishop, New Haven, Conn. Bishop heads were installed by J. F. Gilbert ., Akron, Ohio. Approved by the Underwriters' Laboratories in NlAGARA-HlBBARD B-1904. 1904. Withdrawn from approval in 1912, inasmuch as name of the device was changed to Niagara when Mr. Geo. E. Hibbard withdrew from the Niagara Fire Extin- guisher Co. (See Niagara.) Rating: Satisfactory. NIAGARA Manufactured by Niagara Fire Ex- tinguisher Co., Akron, Ohio, and after 1912 by the "Automatic" Sprinkler Co. of America at Youngs- town, Ohio. B-IQI2. Practically the same head as Niagara-Hibbard B. Approved by the Underwriters' Laboratories. Rating: Standard. NIAGARA--B 200 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION PARMELEE Henry S. Parmelee, New Haven, Conn. Made by J. R. Brown & W. A. Foskett, New Haven, Conn. Installed by Foskett & Bishop, New Haven, by the Prov- idence Ste'am & Gas Pipe Co. and others. First patent, 1874, showed a valve sprinkler held to its seat by fusible solder. Perforated distributor. Sprinkler fed by small pipe until an auxiliary valve was opened by the reduction in pressure. Never used so far as known. See page 17. 1-1874 (about). Upright, valve sprinkler. Interior valve held in place by hinged lever the end of which was fastened to an arm by means of a heavy spring and fusible link. Perforated distributor. Used in Mr. Parmelee's piano factory (probably the first automatic sprinkler equipment ever installed). See page 17. 2-1874 (about). Upright, valve sprinkler. Interior valve held in place by a wooden strut the upper end of which had a bearing against a fusible washer. Perfo- rated distributor. This head was also used to a limited extent in Mr. Parmelee's piano factory. See page 18. 3-1875. Upright, sealed sprinkler. Brass cap sol- dered over a perforated distributor. Threaded on in- side. See page 18. 4-1878. Upright, sealed sprinkler. Brass cap soldered over a rotating turbine distributor. Threaded on inside. See page 19. 5-1878. Upright, sealed sprinkler. Similar to No. 4 but redesigned by Mr. Grinnell. The head was made more . PARMELEE, sensitive by recessing under the solder joint so that the heated air could circulate on each side of this joint. Threaded on the outside for a half inch fitting. Slow in action and easily damaged. APPENDIX I 201 Field experience very satisfactory for some years. See page 19: All types now obsolete. Present rating: All types unreliable. PHELPS Fred A . Phelps, Laconia, N. H. 1-1904. Upright, valve sprinkler. Metal valve cap held in place by a seven-piece strut in the form of a double rectangle. Soldered surfaces corrugated. 2-1907. Sample similar to above tested by Underwriters' Laboratories, 1907, criti- cized as follows: 1. Deflector. 2. Markings. 3. Soldering. 4. Strength. PHELPS 2. 3-1910. Experimental sample submitted to Under- writers' Laboratories, criticized as follows: 1. Features of design and construction. 2. Hard and extra hard degree solders. 3. Effects of loading and corrosion. None of the types ever used so far as known. PHCENIX Patented by Jarvis Hunt, Chicago. Assigned to Phoenix Fire Extinguisher Co. 1-1904. Upright, valve sprinkler with diaphragm. Metal valve cap covered a raised orifice in diaphragm and was held by three-piece strut with a projection at an angle of about 45 degrees. Never used so far as known. 202 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION Upright, valve sprinkler similar to No. 1 except in shape of strut. Similar in appearance to Grin- nell glass disc sprinkler except strut and diaphragm. Approved by the Underwriters' Laboratories, 1905. Withdrawn from approval, 1909. Manufacture dis- continued. Field experience limited but generally satisfactory ex- cept in the matter of leakage and premature opening. Out of 65 recently tested by the Underwriters' Labora- tories, 3% failed from adhesion at the seat. Present rating: Fairly satisfactory. Note: The Phoenix Fire Extinguisher Co. was backed by the late Paul Morton, his brother and others. The company went out of business in 1909. I PHOENIX--A :3 PIERCE PIERCE Octamus Pierce, Chicago, III. Assigned to Underwriters Fire Sprinkler Co. 1894. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve held in place by four-piece strut of triangular shape. Fixed toothed deflector. Used to some extent in the central West. Subject to crawling and leaking. See page 60. Present rating: Unreliable. PRENTISS See Draper. APPENDIX I 203 ROCKWOOD Geo. I. Rockwood, Worcester, Mass. Manufactured and installed by Worcester Fire Extin- guisher Co. Later by Rockwood Sprinkler Co. 1905. Patents taken out on upright, valve sprinkler with single deck deflector. A-ipo6. Upright, valve sprinkler. Metal valve cap with pure silver washer held in place by four-piece strut of triangular shape. Double deck deflector, part being over and part under the frame. Approved in 1907 by the Underwriters' Laboratories. Field experience not satisfactory in the matter of leak- age and premature opening. Have been practically all removed. See page 60. Present rating: Unsatisfactory. Later this head was slightly changed by installing a lump of solder at one end of the soldered lever to give additional strength. ROCKWOOD--A ROCKWOOD-B B-ipo6. Slight modification of A. Key placed in top of soldered lever of strut to give additional strength. Not approved by Stock Companies. Used in risks insured in Mutual Companies. Present rating: Satisfactory. C-IQIO. Similar to A except solder joint strength- ened by installing a reinforcing wire. Approved by the Underwriters' Laboratories. Many in use. Present rating: Satisfactory. 204 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION D-IQII. Similar to C but with single deck deflector. Approved by Underwriters' Laboratories and the Mutual Companies. Many in use. See page 60. Present rating: Standard. I ROCKWOOD-C RUNDLE SPENCE Made by Rundle Spence Automatic Sprinkler Co., Mil- waukee, Wis. I-IQII. Upright, valve sprinkler. Almost identical with Neracher Improved 1902 sprinkler. No distin- guishing marking except that rating and year of manu- facture were stamped on link. A few were installed in the middle West. Rating: Questionable. 2-1912. Similar to 1911 type except that the letters R. S. were cast at an angle on the upper edge of the frame and notches were provided in levers to prevent link from coming in contact with top of frame. Underwriters' Laboratories report, March, 1913, makes following criticisms: 1. Effects of loading and corrosion. 2. Adhesion of valve cap and disc to seat. 3. Inaccuracies in high test solder. 4. Factors of safety in link, frame and cap. 5. Lack of uniformity of manufacture. 6. Construction details. Rating: Questionable. APPENDIX I 205 A -1913. Similar to 1912 type but letters R. S. in a vertical position and further from link. Rating and date stamped on link. Approved Sept., 1913, by the Under- writers' Laboratories. Rating: Standard. RUTHENBURG Marcus Ruthenburg, Cincinnati, Ohio. RUNDLE SPENCE. 1885. Pendent, valve sprinkler. Rubber valve disc of spherical form held in place by long thin lever. Lever held to arm by cylindrical link of solid solder. Fixed saucer-shaped deflector. RUTHENBURG Used to a limited extent in the middle West. Crude and subject to crawling. See page 37. Obsolete. Present rating: Very unreliable. SHAW C. B. Shaw, Kirkwood, Mo. Made by Shaw Manufacturing Co., St. Louis, Mo. 1-1897. Upright, valve sprinkler with SHAW keyed strut. Key released by expansion of alcohol or ether in a closed vessel with corrugated sides. Slightly modified in 1899. Subject to corrosion. Unreliable principle of release. A few equipments were 206 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION installed in the neighborhood of St. Louis, Mo. See page 45. Present rating: Very unreliable. SIMMONS /. Simmons Co., 'New York. Upright, valve sprinkler. Practically a duplicate of the Stantial. Never used so far as known. SIMPLEX Made by Crowder Bros., St. Louis, Mo. 1902. Upright, valve sprinkler. Por- celain valve cap held by toggle-joint levers and link. Criticized by Underwriters' Laboratories as follows: 1. Releasing device. Effects of loading and corrosion. Leaking point. Cap. Disc. Deflector. Marking. Structural weakness. Construction details. SIMPLEX Never on market so far as known. SMITH Darius B. Smith, Pine Meadow, Conn. 1885. Pendent, valve sprinkler of drop SMITH. deflector type. Valve stem threaded into two parallel vertical levers. Levers held together by two-piece link. Conical-shaped deflector. A few hundred made. Used only in Mr. Smith's own factory. Gave trouble from leakage due to turning of threaded stem from vibration. Obsolete. Present rating: Very unreliable. APPENDIX I 207 STANDARD Made by the National Fire Extinguisher Co., Kansas City, Mo. 1902. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve cap held by levers of toggle-joint type and fusible link. Quite similar to Hibbard sprinkler. Criticized by the Underwriters' Laboratories in 1903 as follows: 1. Fusing point. 2. Releasing device. 3. Effects of corrosion and loading. 4. Structural weakness. 5. Solder in high degree pattern. 6. Marking. 7. Workmanship. Out of 77 recently tested by the Underwriters' Labora- tories, 8% failed from adhesion at the seat. No longer made. Rating: Unreliable. STANDARD SIANTJAL STANTIAL Otis T. Stantial, Chicago, III. Made by Independent Fire Sprinkler Co., Chicago, III. 1895. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve cap held in place by strut with curved projecting member. Report of Underwriters' Laboratories, 1903, criticized: 208 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION 1. Fusing point. 2. Releasing device. 3. Effects of corrosion and loading. 4. Cap. 5. Solder in high degree pattern. 6. Marking. 7. Distribution. Out of 83 recently tested by the Underwriters' Labora- tories, 5% failed. Used to a limited extent. Present rating: Unreliable. STAR Wm. T. Montgomery of Wakefield, Mass. Assigned to Star Manufacturing Co. of Boston. 1886. Pendent, valve sprink- ler. Metal valve with stem held in place by lever, one end being hooked to casting and the other attached to a projection by a solder pin. Large star-shaped de- flector. Installed to a consider- able extent in New England by the STAR Star Manufacturing Co. Sold out to Providence Steam & Gas Pipe Co. Field experience satisfactory for a number of years. Obsolete. Present rating: Unreliable. STECK Ernst F. Steck, Chicago, III. Assigned to Fire Extinguisher Manufacturing Co. 1896. Upright, valve sprinkler with valve cap held in place by triangular-shaped strut. Never used so far as known. APPENDIX I 209 STRATTON W. H. Stratton, New Haven, Conn., and later of Provi- dence, R. L, and Hartford, Conn. 1-1885. Pendent, valve sprinkler of drop deflector type. Valve held in place by two levers hooked to frame and soldered together at lower side of head. Never used so far as known. 2-1893. Pendent, valve sprinkler. Valve held in place by spindle passing through deflector and resting on a thimble soldered to frame. All working parts of sprinkler protected against corrosion by a papier mache protecting cover. Never used so far as known. 3-1896. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve seated on a hole in flexible diaphragm. Valve consisted of a frangible stopper adapted to contain a bursting charge. Stopper was clamped in place and when heated it was broken into small pieces. Whole head enamelled to prevent corrosion. Slightly modified in 1902. Never used so far as known. _ SWAN Phineas W. Swan, Winchester, Mass. 1-1892. Pendent, valve sprinkler. Valve cap held in place by levers of toggle- joint type curved and pointing upwards. Levers held by two-piece fusible link. Fixed toothed deflector. Never used so far as known. 2-1895. Upright, valve sprinkler similar to No. 1 but with slotted revolving deflector. But little used, if at all. Present rating: Unreliable. 210 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION TALCOTT Charles W. Talcott, Woonsocket, R. I. Installed to some extent by inventor who afterwards installed other makes of sprinklers. 1-1882. Pendent, valve sprinkler. Interior valve held in place by hinged cap, the latter being held by fusible pin. Rose distributor. Obsolete. 2-1882. Pendent, valve sprinkler. Valve of soft metal held in place by two hinged levers bearing directly on the valve cap. Levers were curved and extended around bottom of sprinkler where they were soldered together. Rose distributor. Obsolete. Present rating: Very unreliable. TALCOU TESSIER Made by Joseph Tessier, New Bedford, Mass. Submitted to Underwriters' Laboratories, 1901. Un- developed device. Practically all features criticized. Never used so far as known. TITAN iJITA TITAN George Mills & Co., Ltd., Manchester, England. APPENDIX I 211 1. Pendent, valve sprinkler of drop deflector type; valve held by lever and rivet-shaped fusible link. 2. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve disc held in place by strut the parts of which are held together by a rivet- shaped fusible piece similar to that used in No. 1. Ap- parently easily clogged by dirt and corrosion. Installed in England and many other parts of the world. Not used in America so far as known. TURNER AND GARDINER 1895. Valve sprinkler with perforated distributor. Valve spindle held in place by long lever hinged at one end and attached to piping or to ceiling by a spring and cotton cord. Never used so far as known. UNIVERSAL Universal Automatic Sprinkler Co., Philadelphia, Pa. John Kane, General Manager. Later reorganized as the International Sprinkler Co. This company previously installed the J. Kane sprinklers No. 1 and No. 2. UNlVERSAL-1 UNIVERSAL--2 1-1896. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve held in place by straight strut. Perforated and toothed deflec- tor. Not used so far as known. 212 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION 2-1899. Upright, valve sprinkler. Similar to No. 1 except valve cap held by levers of the toggle-joint type with link. Present rating: Unreliable. Note: There was also a sprinkler similar to No. 1, but with an irregular-shaped three-piece strut, invented by Robert Wood. Never used so far as known. UP-TO-DATE Made by U. T. D. ( Up-to-date) Sprinkler & Supply Co., Chicago, III. 1899. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve cap held in place by strut. Small smooth deflector. Criticized by Underwriters' Laboratories, 1905, as follows: 1. Crude workmanship. 2. Subject to crawling and leakage. 3. Distribution faulty. Out of 134 recently tested by the Underwriters' Labora- tories, 7.4% failed from adhesion at seat and lack of motive power. Present rating: Unreliable. UMO-PATE LACONIA OR VOGEL. VOGEL Made by H. G. Vogel Co., New York. 1904. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve cap held in place by double strut. Fixed toothed deflector. Two APPENDIX I 213 horizontal projections on casting just above threaded portion. Experimental sample criticized by Under- writers' Laboratories in 1904 as follows: 1. Structural weakness. 2. Soldered struts. 3. Spring. 4. Distribution. 5. Markings. 6. Construction details. Never used so far as known in America. Approved in England under the name Laconia, but not used there to any extent. WALWORTH Patents by C. C. Walworth and 0. B. Hall of Boston. Made and installed by Walworth Manufacturing Co., Boston. Patents were taken out in Feb., 1883, and July, 1883, by C. C. Walworth on experimental samples that were never used to any extent. WALWORTH-1 WALWORTH-2 1-1883 (October). Soldered arm type. Patented by C. C. Walworth and 0. B. Hall. Pendent, valve sprink- ler. Valve held by stem resting against a rocker arm lever. Long arm of lever soldered to frame. Not a sensitive head. Obsolete. Present rating: Very unreliable. 214 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION 2-1883. Solder link type. Similar to No. 1 except that whole deflector dropped when head opened. Long arm of lever held to a projection on frame by an all- solder link. This link caused leakage by stretching and later a two-piece metal link was used. See page 36. Obsolete. Present rating: Unreliable. 2 A-i883. Drop deflector type. Similar to No. 2 but with link composed of two U-shaped pieces of brass soldered together. Rating : Unreliable. WALWORTH-3 WALWORTH-4 WALWORTH-5 3-1885. Soldered deflector type. Pendent, valve sprinkler similar to No. 2 except that deflector was large and stationary. Valve disc passed through hole in centre of deflector. There were several slight modifica- tions of this sprinkler and in later types a link was used in which the two parts were placed side by side instead of one being entirely within the other. See page 36. Present rating: Unreliable. 4-1888. Ordinary type. Pendent, valve sprinkler. Similar to No. 3 but with a smaller and smoother deflec- tor. Hexagonal casting for wrench just below threaded portion. See page 61. Present rating: Unreliable. APPENDIX I 215 5-1888. Upright, spring type. Similar to No. 4 but arranged to be placed upright. Steel spring tended to force valve open when link melted. Practically obsolete. Present rating: Unreliable. WALWORTH-6 WALWORTH-7 6-1892. Smooth deflector type. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve cap attached to a hinged lever, the upper end of which was. held to a projection on the cast- ing by a fusible link. Small smooth deflector. Poor distribution. Nearly obsolete. See page 61. Present rating: Unreliable. WAL WALWORTH-9 7-1894. Ordinary upright type. Similar to No. 6 but with perforated deflector. Present rating: Unreliable. 8-1898. Improved pendent type. Similar to No. 6 but with improved toothed deflector, more clearance of levers, etc. Present rating: Unreliable. 216 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION 9-1899. Improved upright type. Similar to No. 7 but with toothed deflector and more clearance of moving parts. Present rating: Unreliable. Note: There are several other minor variations of the above types. Most of the Walworth heads made after 1892 had double links as a safeguard against crawling of solder in the single link. These were generally wired together so that the outer one would not slip off. A few were wired at the side instead of at the end, thus binding the moving parts of the link together and causing failure to operate. Melting points of many of the high test patterns were irregular. Walworth heads had a satisfactory field experience up to 1912, when tests showed them to be unreliable. Out of about 1500 tested by the Underwriters' Bureau of New England between 1911 and 1914, 30 per cent failed. They are now gradually being replaced. WESTON A. L. Weston, Adams, Mass. 1899. Upright, valve sprinkler. Valve cap held by rectangular strut composed of several pieces soldered together and with a concealed spring. Report of Underwriters' Laboratories, 1902, criticized: 1. Fusing point. 2. Structural weakness. 3. Releasing device. 4. Cap. 5. Solder in high degree patterns. Never used so far as known. WHITING WESTON. Francis Whiting, Chelsea, Mass. 1881. Pendent, water-joint type. Perforated dis- tributor, fan shape in cross section. Cap soldered to flanged edge. Used to some extent about 1884. Sold out to Burritt Hardware Co. of Waterbury, Conn. Obsolete. Not a sensitive type. See page 28. Present rating: Unreliable. APPENDIX I 217 WILBER W ilber & Son, Bolton, England. 1889. Pendent sprinkler. Valve disc held in place by levers soldered together. Water distributed from a circle of holes discharging onto a loose toothed ring. Not used in this country so far as known. WILSON W. A. Wilson. 1882. A large thimble-shaped cap fitted over an ori- fice and was held in place by a strap of thin metal con- taining a fusible joint. Never used so far as known. WITTER Witter & Son, Bolton, England. i. Pendent, valve sprinkler. Valve held in place by lever hooked to frame at each end and with adjusting :WITTER.E screw passing through the centre. Fusible joint consisted of two flat angular parts pivoted at top and soldered together at lower end. Spring under valve disc. -1906. Upright or pendent, valve sprinkler. Valve disc held in place by strut. Spring under valve disc. Not used in America so far as known. Used extensively in England and other countries. 218 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION WOOD Robert Wood, Philadelphia, Pa. 1896. Mr. Wood while with the Universal Sprinkler Co. of Philadelphia invented several sprinklers. The frame of the Universal sprinkler was used but the valve discs and releasing devices were of several patterns, most of which resembled those used in other sprinklers. None of these were ever used so far as known. 163215 RETURN CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT TO ^ 202 Main Library LOAN PERIOD 1 HOME USE 2 3 4 5 6 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS Renewals and Recharges may be made 4 days prior to the due date. Books may be Renewed by calling 642-3405 DUE AS STAMPED BELOW SENT ON ILL MOV 3 1994 U. C. BEBKE1 IFY FORM NO. DD6 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY BERKELEY, CA 94720 U.C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES