Valuable Information Regarding Water Jets.

Valuable Information Regarding Water Jets.

One of the most important subjects now before the fire service was presented in highly interesting papers by John R. Freeman, C. E., of the mutual mill insurance companies, and J. T. Fanning, at the recent conventions of the water-works associations. The importance of using larger hose was brought out, as well as nozzles of inches in diameter. Tables giving the friction to be found in hose and distance that water jets may be expected to be thrown under ordinary pressures through 1-inch, 1 1/8-inch, 1 1/4-inch and 1 3/8-inch nozzles, were also given. These subjects are now receiving a great deal of attention, more advancement having been made in this direction in the past two years than a score or more of years previous.

The natural sequence has been the improvement in the easy and safe control of nozzles under pressure, which have been generally adopted for all fire streams in this as well as many other cities. Practical improvements have been made affecting fire streams, of which perhaps the most important is that known as the Hopkins’ patent. This device is placed in a short reducer. which turns directly on the hose. The device is different from other plans which have heretofore been placed in pipes. It lakes all twist and whirl from the water and sets it in a straight line with the nozzle, keeping the centre of the stream which travels the swiftest, intact, the pressure condensing it and forcing all the gases to the outer circle of the water which are freed the instant it leaves the nozzle tip. This preserves the solid column of water, sending the stream from the nozzle like an iron pipe, not only increasing its distance, but giving it great advantages in case of wind. The bulk or nearly all the water is thus projected to the extreme end of the jet. It also gives the same advantage to shut off or other nozzles. This advantage is of the utmost importance, as the forcing of imperfect streams or spray into a hot fire ofien converts its gases into a flame which creates the intensest heat.