Patrol Fire Extinguisher.

Progress, Volume I, Issue II, 1 September 1906, Page 298

Patrol Fire Extinguisher.

We have received from Messrs. James Gilbert & Co., the following particulars of the Patrol fire extinguisher :—: — The Patrol fire extinguisher consists of a copper cylinder 2 if inches in height and 7 inches in diameter, filled nearly to the top with water. Into this water is mixed 1% pounds of bi-carbonate of soda. In the head of the extinguisher, which is detachable, is a brass cage containing a bottle half full of sulphuric acid (four fluid ounces). The acid bottle is closed by a loose lead stopper. To discharge, the extinguisher is inverted. The lead stopper at once drops from the bottle, the sulphuric acid mixes with the soda solution and a large volume of carbonic acid gas is formed. This gas creates a pressure sufficient to throw a stream of the chemical fifty feet. The chemical stream acts as a blanket and smothers fire which " water cannot reach, between partitions, in the chimney, under the eaves, etc. The stream from the Patrol is said to instantly put out an oil, naphtha or gasoline fire. Water will only spread such a blaze. A chemically charged stream is said to be forty times as effective as water. Insurance statistics show that ninety per cent, of all fires are discovered in their incipiency ; in other words, if means were at hand for extinguishing them, nine out of ten fires could be put out as soon as discovered. Insurance statistics also show that eighty per cent, of all fires are put out by chemical streams.