NEW FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2845, 28 March 1878, Page 3

NEW FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES.

The Lyltelton Times says:-»" Superintendent Harris, of the Christchurch Volunteer Fire Brigade, has recently received some novel appliances which, simple as they may appear, will probably play an important park in future fights with fires. The now patent controllingnozzle produces results which have never before been obtained, since it will throw a stream .of water, round and solid, of any desired size, up to the full aperture. Centrally placed within the nozzle, and at some little distance from the aperture, is a cone-shaped valve, which can, by a simple movement of the hand, be adjusted as may be "desired. The water, in passing, this long cone, forms upon it into a solid round stream, and when this stream, by advancing the cone towards the aperture, is reduced in size, the water does not touch the sides of the orifice. Provision is made, by a series of perforations, for the admission of air within the nozzle, and the diminished stream of water is thus made to pass through a compressed ring of air, since the force of the water in passing the perforations will always be drawing in sufficient air for this purpose.. When a long line of hose is oat, and the water pressure is thereby reduceil^all that the hranchman has to dd is to partly close the nozzle, and the stream of water being thus reduced can be thrown much further by the force concentrated upon it. As the water cabnot be suddenly shut off, there is no danger of bursting the hose. There is also what is termed a spraying attachment. When this is in use, the fireman citn in one moment throw a solid stream of water, and in the next he can break this into spray, while at the same time a spray is directed backward to protect nini from smoke and heat when in close engagements. The other novelty which has been provided is the Denayrouz* fireman's respirator. There is an | india-rubber headpiece, which is made j to fit over the eyes and nose* the j nostrils being kept close by a spring, Glasses are fitted in for the eyes, and by a most ingenious arrangement the operator is enabled to wipe away any steam which may collect upon the inner surface without removing the mask. The india-rubber is double, and when the mask is required for use it is. inflated with air, so that it may be quite close to the skin, and accurately fit any face. A tube with suitable flange is plactd in the mouth, and passing over the shoulder is supported and secured by a waist-belt, there being a further length, of 60fc of tubing, so far as to secure communication with cool air. Between the mouth-piece and tfae supporting belt is arrangement of valves, enabling the operator to expel the used air, and to continue breathing only the fresh supply. It is highly satisfactory to know that the Brigade hag thus been furnished with some of the best appliances which modern ingenuity has devised."