APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES. 



609 



snap coupling that fastens with a catch, needing no screw. The 

 representative firemen of this country have tried for many years 

 to adopt a universal coup- 

 ling, as a difference in 

 screw threads often causes 

 serious delays. Owing 

 to the enormous expense 

 that would be incurred in 

 changing every depart- 

 ment to one standard, the 

 efforts in that direction 

 have so far been unsuc- 

 cessful. 



The Siamese coupling 

 is a very simple contriv- 

 ance that has one large 

 opening on one side, and 

 two, three, or four smaller 

 openings on the other. By 

 use of this, several fire 

 streams can be converted 

 into one powerful body 

 of water. In some cases 

 these couplings are pro- 

 vided with valves so that 

 one or more of the differ- 

 ent lines of hose can be 

 shut off if necessary. The 

 Siamese coupling has been 



referred to in connection with the Champion water tower. A 

 reducing coupling is also made by which a hose of large diameter 

 can be coupled to a smaller line, and thus prevent water damage 

 at an incipient fire. 



Hose nozzles have been varied to suit about every requirement 

 of the firemen. The outlets of the ordinary nozzles vary, being in 

 some cases a smooth bore, and in others lessened in size by a ring. 



The larger nozzles are sometimes provided 

 with an inner tube that will make a division 

 in the stream, and therefore tend to close the 

 stream on itself and prevent spraying. In 

 some cases the nozzle is divided into sections 

 to destroy the revolving motion of the stream, 

 and one nozzle is made with a small hollow 

 tube in the center. The stream having an 

 air space, closes upon it and hangs together 

 zle showing Ring, for a longer time. The solid body of the noz- 



Fig. 18. Perfection Nozzle-Holder. 



