US1299548A - Automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

E. R. BRODTON. AUTOMAHC FARE EXHNGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPucAnoN man MAY 2a, 1914. 1,299,548. Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

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vE. R. BRODTON. y AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLLCATTQN FILED. MAY 23. '1914.

1,299,548. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 @yummy/' 31mm ufo/c EDWARD R. BRODTON, OF WASHINGTON, vDISTRIOT COLUIVIBIA, ASSIGNOR, BY IVIESNE` ASSIGNMENTS, TO SYPHO-CI-IE-IVIICAL SPRINKLER CORPORATION, 0F NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISI-IING APPARATUS.

Application led May 23, 19174. Sera11lTo. 840,586.

To all vwhom t may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD R. BRODTON, of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, and do hereby declare that the fol-y lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof. l y

' My inventionrelates to fire extinguishing apparatus of the type in which the extinguishing fluid, whether a chemical or water, is automatically discharged upon the fire by the opening of sprinkler heads applied to the pipes of the system, or apparatus when a certain predetermined temperature exists, and the object of my invention is to provide such an apparatus of high efficiency, when set-in operation, which will be certain to operate under the conditions intended and whichwill not accidentally operate, and to these ends my invention consists in the fire extinguishing apparatus constructed substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the form in which I have embodied my invention, a fire extinguishing fluid is used which is contained in a tank from which pipes run to the various parts ofthe structure to be protected, and such fluid inthe pipes is under an initial pressure, and an expelling, or discharging pressure is supplied by a gas generated, as by a mixture of sulfuric acid and bicarbonate of soda, in another tank, this mixture being automatically eected, and in the accompanying drawings I illustrate such an embodiment of my invention in which drawings- Figure 1 is a side view with parts broken away with enough of such an apparatus to illustrate the same;

Fig. 1a is adetail view of the automatic. signal device for indicating lowering of pressure:

Fig. 2 is a detail view in section on a larger scale showing the devices of the mixing tank for automatically generating the desired pressure;

Fig. 3 a detail view of the check valve mechanism which controls the pipe connection between the two tanks;

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Fatented Apr. 8, 1919.

.Fig 4 isa detail View illustrating a different construction of the apparatus in regard to the connections between the two tanks;

Fig.V 5 is a detail view of one form of sulfurie acid bottle opening device;

Y Fig. 6 is a detail view in side elevation of the acid bottle stopper;

Fig. l2' is fa detail view in section of the compensating device to take care of the liquid contents Vof, the pipe under changes of temperature affecting the pipes, tank, etc.

YIeferring'to the drawings, 10 indicates thetank, or holder for the fire-extinguishing fluid which may be any desired chemical, Vfrom the bottom of which runs a pipe 11 that leads through the building having such branches 12 to the different compartments, orrooms thereof, `as may be desired, these branches being provided with sprinklerheads 13. Leading into the top of the tank l() is a pipe14, whichenters the bot'r tom of kan air dome 15, preferably of glassf because of its nonporosity, and rendering visiblelits interiorwhich is partially filled with the fire-extinguishing fluid. A valved pipe 16 leads from a force pumpV 17 to the pipe 14, a pressure gage 18 being provided to show the pressure produced by the-pump inthe tank 10 and the pipe connections leading therefrom, the initial pressure in the system being thus produced.

In pipe 14 there is a check valve 19 for holding the pressure in the tank, and in the pipe leading therefrom. Said check valve is preferably constructed and arranged, as shownxin Fig. 3 of the drawing, which illustrates a checkvalve arrangement hereinafter more fully described, which is provided to prevent back pressure from the tank 10. Connected with the pipe 14 fat a point be-y tween the check valve 19 and the air dome 15, is a signal operatin device 20 which acts upon the reduction o pressure in the air dome 15, and gives warning of such reduction of pressure therein.k A similar signal device 22 and bell 23 are associated with pipe 14, so that upon the reduction of pressure in the tank 10 and the pipes leading therefrom, the bell will be sounded and thereby existence of a fire causing the operation of the system will be made known. As shown clearly in Fig. 1a, said signal device comprises a diaphragm 62,

, which upon one side is exposed to pressure A pipe 24 extends from the top of theV tank and connects with a pipe 241 leading through the top of the pressure generating tank 25, and a float valve 240 controls the passage from the tank into the pipe 241. In the pipe 24 is a check valve 26 which prevents back pressure from the tank 10 and which, of course, opens under the excess of pressure from the gas generated in the-tank 25. The check valve 26V (and similarly the valve 19) is in a goose neck 27 which enables the provision of a volume of oil 28-to surround the valve, a stratum of water 29 being interposed between the body ofoil and the ire extinguishing fluid consisting of a chemical supplied from the tank 10, the stratum of water being necessary to prevent the minglingor mixlng of the oil and the chemical which does not mix with the water, nor does the water,.of course, mix with the oil. The well known lire extinguisher containing carbon tetra -chlorid is such a chemical as I have in contemplation.

Hence, the check valve is always in a body of oil and ismaintained in a condition for instant operation when the conditions in the use'of the apparatus require that the check valve shall open.

I/Vithin the pressure-generating tank 25, is suspended' a bottle, or container 30 for sulfuric acid, said bottle having to one side of its' center of gravity a pivotal support that consists of diametrically opposite inverted hooks 31, which, respectively, engage hooks 32 in the lower end of bars 33 depending from the top of the tank 25. The diametric'ally opposite position of the hooks 31 is indicated in Fig. 1, but the scale of the drawingis too small to indicate their form, and their shape is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the inverted hooks 31 rest in the bottom of the supporting hooks 32, so that when the bottle is turned it rocks upon the bearings thus provided between'the two sets of hooks, and the inverted hooks 31 by their turning moving with the 'bottle are carried sidewise outward through the open vsides ofl the hook 32, and the bottle falling the inverted hooks 31 will be disengaged from the hooks 32 and the bottle .precipitated iny the soda solution with Vthe lowerend of a vertical rod, or stem 36 which passes through the top, or cover37 of the tank 25, and above the latterl is connected to one end of a lever 38, which at its other end carriesa weight 39. Connected to the lever is a vertical rod that extends upward and has itshooked upper endadapted to engage a latch bolti 41, and when so engaged with the latchbolt the lever is held in 'a position inwhich the bottle is closedV i by the stopper 34, while, when the latch bolt 41 is withdrawn from the hooked end of the lever-supportingrod 40, the levervr will fall and thus liftthe stopper 34 from the bottle, opening thelatter and freeing/it so that. it may revolve from the forceof gravityv and be precipitated into the tank, thus 'causing the mixture of the sulfuric acid and the'soda solution for the generation of the pressure within the tank 25. The descent of the weighted part of the lever 38 is limited by a vertical bar 42 having a hooked lower end adapted to `catch the ,del scending lever, dotted lines inFigr 1 showing` this position of the parts, while, when it is desired to have the weighted portion of the lever to descend further it is lifted out of engagement with the hook of the supporting bar 42, this position also being shown in'dotted lines in Fig.A 1, and being desirable when access to the r'tank 25 through the top is desired. The lever 38 is pivoted to Some convenient point, such for example, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2, to a pivot supported from a contiguous pipe.- In Fig. 5, another means ofpivoting the lever 38 is shown. l

The latch bolt`41 is connected to a diaphragm device 43 having a spring tendency to move the latch'bolt 41'in the. direction to vorder to make the movement ofthe 'latch bolt 41. positive and certain, I connect with 1t a weighted lever-45. .Swhichhas appinion46-v that meshes with a rack 47 on the latch bolt, the lever45 normally leaning from, or being out of a vertical position sothat it is always exerting a downward tendency, which is in the direction to move the bolt 41 to release the lever 38 that controlsthe mixing of the two chemicals for the generation ofl pressure in the tank 25. I

In order to avoid the use of a stuffing box and to secure a tighter joint thanpacking would aord where a stem 36 passes through the cover of the pressure tank 25, I attach the stem 36 to a diaphragm 46 in achamber 47 that is screwed to the cover 37, the diaphragm 46 allowing by its vibration enough movement for the lifting of the stopper 34 by the action of the lever 38.

Supplementing the use of a chemical iire extinguisher, I provide means .for using water taken from a suitable source, asl for example the city supply, for this purpose, leading therefrom a pipe 48 to the bottom ofthe pressure tank 25. Thus water may enter the tank 25 and pass therefrom through the pipe 241 leading from the tank 25. VTo avoid the passage of water through the chemical holding tank 10, the branch 44 which connects the pipes 11 and 24 may be used, athree-way valve 50being provided at the junction of the pipe 11 and thepipe 44, and a three-way valve 51 being provided at the junction of the pipe 24 and the pipe 44, and both valves having crank handles that are connected by a pitman 52 to Vwhich is connected a common-operating handle 53. The passage of water through the vpi-pe 48 is controlled by a cock 54 which is adapted to be opened by a weighted lever 55- that is normally held in the position to keep the cock 54 closed by a hook-rod latch-bolt connection operated by av diaphragm in av casing similar' to that for the lever'38. A stop cock 57 is provided at the junction of the pipes 241 and 49 so as to enable the pipe49 to be opened or closed to the'passage of liquid through it. VVhe-n it is closed and at the same time water is' admitted through the pipe 48 to the tank 25, the air in the latter (which will then contain no soda solution) is compressed and thus ejecting pressure for thc lire extinguishing chemical in the tank 10 is provided independently of the mixture of the sulfuric acid and thersoda solution. Y

' The stop cock 57 is a three-way valve Whichso controls the flow through the pipes 241 and 49 that when gas is passing from the tank 25 into the pipe 241 there is no passage through the pipe 49, and when the stop cock or valve 57 is placed in position to open passage through the pipe 49, which is the condition when it is-desired to discharge the soda solution on to the fire therev can be no flow from the tank 254 into the'pipe 241;

pipe 24 through the branch 44 to the main supply pipev 11. When water is to be sup.- plied .to the ire, the float valve 240 is re-v moved, or rendered inactive so that water will pass from the tank 25 through the pipe 241 in which case, of course, the three-way Y,

cock 57 is turned to .out off the passage through the pipe 49, while allowing passage from the tank 25 into the pipe 241, the water being passed preferably throughthe branch or by-pass 44without passing through the tank 10. f

Liquids are practically incompressible. The tanks and pipes, however, are affected by vchanges in temperature so that by shrinkage the space vfor the liquid is reduced,

while Vthe quantity of liquid remains Ythe same. To prevent this condition bursting the tanks, or pipes, I provide,;as in the pipes 12, at .suitable points, expansion chambers 58 having flexible walls that yield `under a certainv predetermined maximumV pressure and resume their normal condition upon the lowering of the pressurel from that maximum." f

:Preferably a. diaphragm operated alarm 59 is connected -with the pipes 12 so that whenfa sprinkler head goes oli' on account of a fire the yalarm will be automatically sounded. To limit this action .to thev particular room, -or section of the building involved, I run the sprinkler head `pipes 12 in dif-v ferent directions from the supply pipe 11 and 'in eachfpipe 12 at one side of the supply pipe 11'I place -a checkvalve() which pre vents the` reduction of pressurein one' pipe 12 from affecting another pipe 12 whereno sprinkler head is blown ofi". j .Y

It is convenient to attach a hose 61 to the supply pipe 11 so that the extinguishing fluid may be applied directly to an outbreak offire at localizedpoints. Y p Instead of the arrangement of the lever 38, the diaphragm 43 and the connections between thelever and the bottle stopper 34 which appears in Fig.A 1, I may use thatappearing in Fig. 4, where a diaphragm. in casing 430 corresponding to the diaphragm 43 is connected directly to the lever 381, so that the latch bolt 41 and the weighted lever ioo 45,' are dispensed with, the lever 381 being connected: to. the stopper stem-36, `as in the construction shown in Fig. 1.

By the construction shown in Fig. 5, the check valve 26may bediscarded and in place thereof a stop cock 260 .used to which the 35 member on the rod.

' f Weighted end ofv the' lever 380, `vvhenit is f stem' 83 so that when the latter is moved in thedirection to cause the operation of the bell'the target 7 9 will be thrown into indicating position. Thus, if no one should happen to 'be present at the* time the bell is sounded, upon his return to the apparatus at this point, the position of the target would indicate whatv had happened.v This target is especially useful in giving notice of leakage. v My use of diaphragms isof great value and importance because I thereby render the apparatus sensitive and certain to act, because there are'no sliding'parts which are aptto-"sti ck togetherand thus-fail to act at the critical time.

- Surrounding'the stem of the stopper 34 is a coil spring 7 5y which acts to press the stopper upon the mouth of the bottle, a loose connection being provided between the stopper and its stem to Vpermit slight movement of the stopper. vThis loose connection-is formed by a pin 76 passing diametrically through the stemand through vertically elongated openings or slots in the stopper 34. The upperei'idof the spring reacts against a The mercury seal for the sulfuric acid bottleor'tank effects the hermetic sealing of the bottle so that'the strength of the acid is not impaired since-no fumes can pass the seal.

To simplify the form of the apparatus, the fire extinguishing fluid need not be contained in a holder, or receptacle in the form of a ta'nk, but the system of piping may contain enough, in which case a tank, such as tank 10, may be discarded. This and other changesV may be made, so that it is 'to be understood tha-tI do not limit myself only to the details of construction which I have shown in thedrawings and described as one embodiment of my invention.

y-I-Ia-ving thus described my invention what I claim isi l 11 In a fire `extin, i;uis`hing system, thecombination offa source of supply ofan extinguishing fluid, `a discharge pipe leading therefrom that has an outlet, the contents of said pipe consisting of saiduid being kept under arv pressurel tending to cause the efflux thereof from thepipe, means to normally holdthe'pipefoutlet closed against such efflux", apairof tanks, or holders for separately "holdinghthe chemicals, which when broughtsv together generate` a pressure-producing gas, one of said holders being contained- Within the other-andhaving a nor-v mally closed discharge orifice, apivotal support for-said inner holder, a 'stopper for said. orifice' acting when' in: the orifice to prevent .the turning of the holder, an elef ment-,connected with the stopper adapted to 'remove the same from the orifice to uncover the Latter. and to leave the :holder having the stopper free to' turn, and means normally holding said element from movement actuated when the vpressure in the discharge pipe is reduced by the opening of its outlet.

2. A Afire extinguishing system comprising a pair of tanks or holders for separately ment of stopper and lever,rmeans to move 1 the lever in the direction to lift .the stopper from the orifice, andl automatic, heat-operated means to control the Voperation of said lever moving means.

I 3. A fire extinguishing system,comprising a tank for a chemical extinguisher, a. heatoperable outlet, a pipe to the latter from said tank, means for the generation of pressure including a tank, a pipe connecting the two tanks," a valvedY by-pass about said chemical extinguisher tank connecting the two pipes, and a pipe from a source of supply of extinguisher leading into the tankV of the pressure-generating means.

,A fire extinguishing system, comprisinga tank for a chemical extinguisher, a heat-operable outlet, a pipe to the latter from said tank, means for the generation of pressure including a tank, a pipe connecting the two tanks, a vvalved by-pass about said chemical extinguisher tank connecting the two pipes, and a pipe from a sourceof supply of extinguisher leading into the tank of the pressure-generating means, and means normally preventing iouv through said last named pipe acting to open the same when said outlet opens.

5. A lire extinguishing apparatus, comprising in combination inner and outer tanks, a pivotal support for the inner tank, and mean-sA comprising separable members loosely mounting the inner tank upon said pivotal support to one side of the center of gravity whereby when sa-id inner tank turns upon its pivotal sup-port it disengages therefrom. Y

6. A fire extinguishing apparatus, comprising lin combination inner and outer tanks, a'pivotal support for the inner tan-k,

and means comprising; interengag'ing sepa- -In testimony that I claim the foregoing rable hooks loosely mounting the inner tank I have hereunto set my hand. upon said pivotal support to one side of EDWARD R. BRODTON. the center of gravity whereby When said Witnesses:

5 inner tank turns upon its pivotal support it CHAS. J. WILLIAMS, dsengages therefrom. JAMES H. MARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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