US1825922A - Fire extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1931.

W. L. ROESSNER ET AL FIRE EXTINGUI SHER Filed May '12, 1930 WZeeZe 7",

gwumdom Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM L. ROESSNER, EMMA WHEELER, AND VICTOR CLYDE SMEDLEY, 0F DENVER, COLORADO; SAID EMMA WHEELER AND VICTOR CLYDE SMEDLEY ASSIGNORS TO SAID WILLIAM L. ROE-SSNER FIRE EXTINGUISHER Application filed May 12,

This invention relates to improvements in fire extinguishers of the type that employs carbon tetrachloride as the fire extinguishing liquid.

The use of carbon tetrachloride for fire extinguishing purposes is well known and many specifically different devices have been invented to make it possible to conveniently and efficiently employ this liquid for fire extinguishing purposes.

It has been found that it is necessary for the successful handling of carbon tetrachloride to enclose the same in hermetically sealed glass containers as by so doing loss due to evaporation is prevented and since the carbon tetrachloride does not chemically attack glass the liquid can be safely stored or kept for any length of time. Instead of glass other vitreous material can be used but since glass is as cheap or cheaper than other suitable materials, it is used almost exclusively.

The usual way of employing carbon tetrachloride for fire extinguishing purposes is to enclose it in hermetically sealed grenades, as above described, and these are then thrown into the room where the fire exists and are broken thereby releasing the liquid. In some instances mechanical means is employed for breaking the glass containers when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value. Such means usually employs a fusible link that releases the grenade and lets it drop onto the floor when the link melts or which releases a spring pressed plunger or hammer that strikes the grenade and breaks it. In

a all of the means known to us, the grenade is broken and the entire contents discharged at once.

It is the object of this invention to produce a fire extinguisher comprising a sealed glass container, carbon tetrachloride and means for-breaking the container and putting the liquid under pressure after the container has been broken so that it can be discharged in a stream and thus directed to any place desired.

It is evident that the fire extinguishing liquid can not be effectively used where the container is thrown on the floor and broken or where the container is broken and the 1930. Serial No. 451,797.

come apparent as the description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail and for this purpose refer ence will be had to the accompanying draw ings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal diametrical section through one of the fire extinguishing devices which forms the subject of this invention, the parts being shown in inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and shows the upper portion of the device with the parts in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33, Fig. 1 and shows the fusible link that holds the parts against movement; and

Fig. 4 is a section through fied form of the invention.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 indicates a metal housing which is preferably of cylindrical shape and has its lower end 2 closed, the other end being open. A cover 3 is secured to the open end of the housing by means of bayonet joints comprising pins 4. The cover has an opening 5 in its upper end in the manner shown in the drawings. Located within the housing is a container 6, which is preferably made from glass but which may be made from any other vitreous material. such as porcelain or glazed earthenware. This container is somewhat smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the housing' and is separated from the latter by means of a paper spacer 7 The spacer, although it is desirable is not absolutely necessary and can be dispensed with. The lower end of the container has been indicated by reference numeral 8 and this is usually sealed in the manthe partition will be connected with the container along a line that is greatly weakened and therefore when the partition is broken it will break along this weakened line so as to leave the inner surface of the container free from projections for a purpose that'will hereinafter more fully appear.

The container is filled with a liquid which is usually carbon tetrachloride, but which may be any other fire extinguishing liquid that may be found suitable for this purpose. After the liquid has been introduced the 0011- tainer is sealed at 12, which is left open for the purpose of introducing the liquid. The liquid is not under pressure but is hermetica ly sealed within the container in a manner quite apparent from the drawings and from the description.

For the purpose of discharging the liquid from the container in a stream when the extinguisher is used, we have provided the following means. A piston comprising a metal plate 13 and another cone-shaped metal plate 14 between which is clamped a cup-shaped gasket 15 of rubber or leather has been provided and normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 1 where it is located in the outer end of the container directly above the partition. The piston is provided with a central opening from which a tube or nozzle 16 extends. The nozzle has associated with it two tubular members 17 and 18 which are telescopically connected with the nozzle 16, and with each other. A resilient device comprising a plurality of springs is interposed between the upper surface of the piston and the top of the cover. This spring assembly has been especially designed for this particular relationand consists of a plurality of helical compression springs the largest of which has been designated by numeral 19, the next smaller by numeral 20 and the smallest by numeral 21. In the embodiment illustrated three springs have been shown but a greater number can be used when necessary. Each spring is connected with the next smaller spring by means of a tubular connector 22, one end of which has an outwardly extending flange 23 and the other end of which has an inwardly extending flange 2.1. The tubular connectors have a length equal to the minimum length of the spring when compressed and therefore the spring assembly when compressed is no longer than any of the sections would be when compressed. but when the assembly is allowed to expand it will attain a length that is equal to the combined length of the several springs minus the combined length of the tubular connectors and in this way a long movement can be effected by a spring assembly that is comparatively short when compressed.

The nozzle 16 is of such length that it extends out through the opening 5 in the cap when the springs are compressed, as shown in Fig. 1 and is provided with an outwardly extending bead 25 near its outer end. A fusible link 26 comprising two L-shaped members have their base portions 27 attached to each other by a special solder that will fuse at a low temperature and have their stems 28 spaced apart a distance equal to the outside diameter of the nozzle 16. When the link is in place, as shown in Fig. 3 the nozzle will be held against inward movement but when the temperature becomes high enough to melt the readily fusible solder, the two parts of the link will separate and allow the spring assembly to expand in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The tubes 17 and 18 are interconnected by inwardly and outwardly extending flanges as shown in Fig. 2 and the outer end of tube 18 has a flange 29 whose diameter is greater than the diameter of opening 5 and which, therefore acts as a stop when the parts are functioning. The convex disk 14 has a central opening 30 and extends below the lower end of the gasket cup 15 so I that when the parts are moved inwardly the central portion of disk 14 will strike the partition 9 and break it.

WVhen the fusible link releases the parts the piston immediately moves inwardly and breaks the partition. Owing to the fact that grooves 11 have been provided the partition will break along the weakened portion 11 and there will therefore be no inwardly extending projections that will prevent the piston from moving. In order to obviate all danger of inoperativeness due to glass projections along the line of break, a ring 31 has been provided between the piston and the wall of the container and the lower edge of this ring terminates directly above the partition so that the cup 15 will not expand until after it has passed below the line of break and therefore it will not catch on small glass projections and be cut or held against movement.

After the piston has been released and has broken the partitions, the liquid will be confined in the container by the moving piston and will be put under pressure whereby it will flow outwardlythrough tubes 16, 17 and 18 and emerges in a strong stream that can be directed onto the fire.

The fusible link may be provided with a ring 32 that can be grasped by the operator for the purpose of removing the link and releasing the piston at any time.

The fusible link that has been illustrated is only illustrative of a heat responsive restraining device and may be replaced by any other suitable device for this purpose, the arrangement illustrated is, however, believed to be the preferable one.

In Fig. 4 a modification has been shown. I11 the modified construction numeral 33 indicates a cylindrical housingwithin which is located a piston 34. The housing is provided with an opening 35 and has a cover 36 held in place by bayonet pins 37. Secured to the piston is a member 38 that corresponds to the nozzle 16 in Figs. 1" and 2 and which extends through an opening in cover 36. The outer end of member 38 base bead 25a that corresponds to bead 25 on nozzle 16 and with which the fusible link 26 cooperates to hold the piston against the action of spring 38. The carbon tetrachloride is contained in the glass cartridge 40 which is broken by the piston when it is released. After the piston has been released and has broken the glass container, the liquid will be put under pres- I sure and'forced out through opening 35.

In both of the embodiments illustrated, the liquid is stored in a hermetically sealed container and there is means for breaking the container when the temperature reaches and/or exceeds a predetermined value and then putting the liquid under pressure whereby it will be projected in a stream through an opening or nozzle.

Devices of the kind described can be used in connection with ar mobiles as well as for domestic use as they can be held by the operator and the stream directed in any direction, or they may be suspended from a hook or set on a shelf and will function whenever the temperature increases beyond a predetermined value.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A fire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a hermetically sealed container formed from a single piece of glass, a fire extinguishing liquid in the container, said liquid being normally not subjected to pressure, meansfor breaking the container when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value, means for putting the liquid under pressure after the container has been broken and means for discharging the liquid from the container through an opening in the pressure producing means.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a metal housing, a hermetically sealed glass container within the housing, a fire extinguishing liquid in the container, temperature responsive means for'breaking the container and means for putting the liquid under pressure and for projecting a stream of liquid outwardly from the housing after the container has been broken.

' 3. A fire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a metal housing, a hermeticall sealed container of glass or the like, locate within the housing, said container being cylindrical and having one end open, a quantity of fire extinguishing liquid within the container, one end of the container being sealed by a breakable partition located within the container a short distance from the open end thereof, a piston located within the housing and in the open end of the container, resilient means for moving the piston towards the partition and into the container, heat responsive means for holding the piston in inoperative position while the temperature is below a predetermined value and for releasing it when the temperature exceeds the predetermined value whereby the partition is broken and the piston moved against the liquid and a nozzle carried by the piston and in communication with the liquid whereby when the piston is moved inwardly, the liquid will be put under pressure and forced outwardly through the nozzle.

4. A lire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a cylindrical metal housing, a cylindrical hermetically sealed container of vitreous material or the like, located in the housing, one end of the container being closed and the other end open, a fire extinguishing liquid within the container, a breakable partition located within the container a short distance from the open end, the partition having a weakened portion where it connects with the inner surface of the container whereby it will break along the. line of the weakened portion when a breaking force is applied to it, a piston located within the container adjacent the outer surface of the partition, resilient means for urging the piston towards the partition and for breaking the same and for moving it inwardly into the container after the partition has been broken, the piston havingan opening, a nozzle having one end secured in the opening and the other extending outwardly through the .housing and heat responsive means for normally holding the piston away from the partition and for releasing the same when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value whereby the piston will be forced against the partition and after breaking the same enter the container and subject the liquid to pressure, thereby causing the liquid to flow outwardly through the nozzle.

5. In a fire extinguisher the combination, of a container adapted to contain a liquid, a piston located in the container and adapted to be moved therealong, resilient means for urging the piston into the container and heat responsive means for holding the piston against movement while the temperature is below a predetermined value, the resilient means comprising a plurality of concentric springs of such diameters that the smaller can be inserted into the next larger and means for connecting the inner end of a smaller spring with the outer end of the next larger spring, said means having a length substantially equal to the length of the springs when compressed.

6. A fire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a cylindrical container of glass, or the like, one end of said container being sealed and the other open, a fire extinguishing liquid in the container, the open end of the container being closed by means of an integral transverse partition spaced from the open end thereof, a piston located in the container between the partition and the open end, resilient means tending to move the piston towards the partition, heat responsive means for holding the resilient means inoperative while the temperature is below a predetermined value and for releasing the piston when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value whereby. the piston moves inwardly, breaks the partition and puts the liquid under pressure, the piston having an opening, and a nozzle secured in the opening.

7. A fire extinguisher comprising, in combination, a cylindrical container of glass, or the like, one end of said container being sealed and the other open, a fire extinguishing liquid in the container, the open end of the container being closed by means of an integral transverse partition spaced from the open end thereof, a piston located in the container between the partition and the open end, resilient means tending to move the piston towards the partition, heat responsive means for holding the resilient means inoperative while the temperature is below a predetermined value and for releasing the piston when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value whereby the piston moves inwardly, breaks the partition and puts the liquid under pressure, the piston having a cup packing of yielding material, means for holding the cup compressed to a smaller diameter than the inside of the container while it is located outside of the plane of the partition and for allowing the cup to expand after it has moved to the inside of the plane of the partition, the piston having an opening and a nozzle secured in the opening whereby when the liquid is put under pressure it will flow outwardly through the nozzle.

In testimony whereof we atfix our signatures.

WILLIAM L. ROESSNER. EMMA VHEELER. VICTOR CLYDE SMEDL'EY.

Images