US1315279A - Fire-extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

E. R.BRODTON.

rme EXTINGU I SHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2.1915.

1,31 5,279. Patented Sept. 9,1919.

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E. R. BRODTON.

- FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-2. I915.

Patented Sept. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- earns PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD n. BRODTON, or WA$HINGT01\T, DIsTRIOroF COLUMBIA, A$SIGNQR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, r0 SYPHO-GHEMIGAL SPRINKLER CORPORATION, OF NEW YIORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FIRE-EXTINGUISI-IER.

Application filed November 2, 1915. Serial No. 59,263.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD BRODTON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire-Extinguishers, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to lire extinguishers, and in certain o1. its features relates more particularly to automatic sprinkler systems, and in this relation my object primarily is to provide a construction in which, under some conditions, a chemical extinguisher will be emitted from the open sprinkler head to the lire, and under other conditions, which render the use of a chemical objectionable, or undesirable, another kind of extinguisher, such as water, will be emitted as the extinguishing liquid. Other objects of my invention and advantages of the construction that I have invented will appear when the construction and operation of the apparatus that I show in the drawings is understood.

In the'accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view somewhat diagrammatic of a system embodying one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of another embodiment thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in section of a form of apparatus that I have invented for automatically generating, or causing to be generated, the pressure required for expelling the extinguishing liquid;

Fig. l is a detail view in section of a form ot' check valve used in the system in the pipe or connection between the two extinguisher holding tanks;

Fig. 5 is a detail View of a valve form device that is adapted to cause the Operation of an alarm upon the opening of a sprinkler head;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the cartridge form of the pressure roducingreagents.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1, I show two extinguisher supply pipes, one designated A connected with and leading from a tank or holder 10 containing a supply of some form of chemical extinguisher, such as carbon tetra chlorid, and the other pipe B being connected with and leading from a suitable source of supply of a different kind of extinguishing fluid, either water, or carbonic acid, such source of sup ply, as shown, being a holder, or tank 11.

From the pipe A, a suitable number of branch pipes 12 providedwith automatically opening sprinkler heads 13 lead to those places where itis desired to use chemical extinguisher in the form of say, carbon tetra chlorid, while from the pipe B the desired number of distributing pipes 14 provided with automatic sprinkler. heads 15 run to those parts of the building, or structure .to be protected, where water, 01' some other extinguisher than carbon tetra chlorid is to be used. All the pipes, including the pipes having the sprinkler heads, are filled with the extinguishing fluid, and the latter is kept under a pressuretending to cause its etllux upon the opening of a sprinkler head for which purpose the pipes A and B are connected with an overhead, or gravity tank 16, each of the pipes A and B, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, being extended beyond its distributing pipe 12, or let, to connect with thetank 16, and the pipe A having a check valve 1 7 betweenits distributing pipe,or-pipes 12, and the tank 16, while the pipe B has a check valve 18between its distributing pipe 14 and the pressure tank 16, which check valves open under pressure "from the tank 16, but close under pressure acting toward the tank 16. It will be seen that upon the opening of a sprinkler head, or other means of discharge of extinguishing fluid from either the pipe A, or .the pipe B, the level of the liquid in the tank 16 will fall because of the etllux of liquid from the open sprinkler head, or other means ofdischarge, and I utilize the. dropping of the level of the liquid in the tank 16 to produce automatically the creation, or calling into action of the desired pressure for forcing the extinguishing fluid, whether cheniical or water, to and out of the open sprinkler head.

The tank 11, besides holding water, or some chemical other than the kind in tank 10, is made to serve as the receptacle in which the expelling pressure is generated. For this purpose I place andsupportwithin it a cup 19 which may be conveniently suspended from a hollow neck, or flange 20 depending froin the cover 21, which closes the tank 11, and within the cup 19 is placed a i can or holder 22 that contains amaterial 23,"

Patented se tuaieie.

which, upon contact with water 24 in the cup 19 results in the prompt evolution of a great volume of oxygen which escapes as fast as it is evolved through a hole 25 in the side of the neck 20 that communicates with the upper part of the tank 11 and subjects the Water or other liquid in the tank 11 to an expelling pressure which forces it through the pipe B and thence to any open s rlnkler head in the distributin pipe 14. T 1e material I employ for t e evolution of the oxygen, is sodium peroxid. Of course, the expelling pressure may be produced otherwise than by the use of this particular material, as, for example, by the use'of the well known sulfuric acid and bicarbonate of soda.

Pressure from the tank 11 is delivered to the extinguisher-holding tank 10 by a pipe 26 that runs from the top of the tank 11 to the top of the tank 10, a check device 27 having the construction shown in detail in Fig. 4, being interposed between the two tanks for the purpose of preventing under normal conditions the coming together of carbon tetra. chlorid in the tank 10 and aqueous vapor from the water in the tank 11, which might result in the evolution of gas that would be injurious to theapparatus. Said cheek device 27 is in the nature of a trap, as shown in Fig. 4, it having a depending chamber 28 into which projects a partial wall, or partition 29 that reaches close to the bottom of the chamber '28, dipping at its lower end into a volume of mercury 30, which constitutes a seal that prevents communication on opposite sides of the partition 29. Under conditions of pressure in the tank 11, the mercury will be dis placed and allow the pressure to enter and accumulate in the top of the tank 10 ready to be restored back through the pipe 26 to the tank 11, when the pressure in the latter falls below that in the tank 10, as when one of the sprinkler heads 15 is open and a discharge from it is taking place While all the sprinkler heads 13 in the distributing pipe 12 remain closed. Any pressure in the tank 10 tending to force liquid up through the pipe A, will be opposed by the check valve 17 Within the tank 16 is a float 31 carried by an arm 32 pivoted to the inner side of the tank, and, which, of course, moves vertically according to the level of the liquid in the tank 16. The float arm 32 is connected by a section of chain 33, or other flexible agent, and a rod 34 with one end of a lever 35 whose other end is connected, as by a chain 36 with a trigger 37 which normally engages and locks from movement a trip lever 38 from which is suspended a weight 39, which, upon the operation of the trigger 37 and the consequent release of the trip 38, descends, and through a lever 40,

with which it is connected and which has a gear segment 41 revolves a vertical shaft 42, the shaft 42 having a bevel pinion 43 which meshes with the gear segment 41. The shaft 42 passes through a hole in the tank cover 21 into the cup 19, and it has a threaded portion 44 which engages a thread 45 in the cover hole through which it passes so that by the revolution of the shaft 42 consequent upon the descent of the weight 39, the shaft 42 will descend. At its lower end the shaft 42 has a head 46' adapted to engage a plug 47 in the top of the container 23, and forces the same downward thus opening the otherwise closed top, and the pressure transmitted through the body of material 23 is transmitted to a plug 48 in the bottom of said can, or container 22, and said plug 48 is expelled so that commingling of the water in the cup 19 and the reagent in the can 22 may take place. The can 22 is supported sufficiently above the bottom of the cup 19 as to allow the expulsion of the bottom closing plug 48. Since the shaft 42 descends, as it revolves, the gear segment 41, has a spiral form so that it continues in mesh with the pinion notwithstanding changes in the vertical position of the latter due to vertical movement of the shaft 42. Asuitable packing 49is provided above and below the threaded portion 44 of the shaf 42 so as to assume a fluid-tight joint. The chain, or flexible connection is provided between the float 31 and the trigger operating lever 35 so that no movement of the trigger will take place in consequence of such fluctuation of level of the liquid in the tank 16 as may take place from evaporation, or expansion, and it is only when a considerable fall in the level of the liquid .akes place, as when a sprinkler head opens,

.that the descent of the float 31 results in the rocking of the lever 35 to release the trigger 37. The tank 16 is preferably closed by a cover to prevent evaporation, and a valve inlet 50 is provided in the cover to allow the ingress of air on the fall of the level of the liquid in the tank. The tank 16 in its horizontal dimensions is wide so that it is a shallow tank in order that any changes of 'volume of liquid in the tank and the pipes connected therewith may result in but little change in the level of the liquid in the tank 16, not enough to cause the automatic operation of the apparatus. If desired, as shown in Fig. 3, an air dome, or reservoir 51 may be provided that is connected by a pipe 52 with the interior of the tank 16 and having within the latter a normally closed valve 53, which, upon the descent of the float 31 to a predetermined point will be opened by the downward movement of the lever 54 connected with the valve and thereby air permitted to flow from the dome 51 into the tank 16 to supplement the action of gravitv in forcing the liquid through the tank 16. i

In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 2, provision is made for the simu1tane ous delivery of the two different kinds of extinguishers, for example, carbon tetra chlorid and water at certain points in the system.

The apparatus is identical with that shown in Fig. 1, excepting that instead of having disconnected distributing pipes 12 and let they are connected, but with a check valve 55 interposed in the pipe between the series of sprinkler heads designated 15 and the series of sprinkler heads designated 13, and in this case the tank 11 contains the carbon tetra chlorid while the tank 10 contains water. Upon the opening of one of the sprinkler heads 15, it will be seen that the operation of the pressure-producing means in the tank 11, will be started and carbon tetra chloricl expelled from the open sprinkler head 15, and it later, or at the same time one of the sprinkler heads 13 opens, then water will be, forced therefrom and the carbon tetrachlorid will pass through the check valve 55 to the sprinkler head 13. which is issuing water so that simultaneously water and carbon tetra chlorid will be applied to the fire, the carbon tetra: chlorid acting primarily as an extinguisher and the water-serving to Wet down the embers, and the surroundings and prevent the fire starting up again. When only the sprinkler heads 15 are opened no water is discharged at any point because the check valve 55 prevents Water flowing into the distribut ing pipe 14 which contains the sprinkler heads 15.

The flow of liquid through the distributing pipes to the sprinkler heads occurring upon the outbreak of the fire may be utilized to sound an alarm automatically, and for this purpose a valve 56 having the construction shown in Fig. 5 may be applied to the distributing pipes as indicated in Fig. 3. Said valve comprises a casing Within which is pivoted a flap, or valve 57 adapted to be swung off its seat 58 by the flow of liquid through the distributing pipe and through a sliding rod 59 which passes from the interior of the valve casing to the outside is adapted to open a switch 60 in a normally closed circuit that includes a bell, or other form of alarm. To prevent the operation of the alarm by such fluctuation in the volume of the liquid in the pipes, as may take place under ordinary, or normal conditions, and

assuring that it will operate onl when there is some sudden and extensive c ange in the volume, as upon the outbreak of a fire, the flap, or valve 57 has a small hole 61 through which there may be a flow of liquid to the opposite sides of the flap 57 without moving the latter, and said hole 61 is adapted to be closing device of the alarm mechanism.

The cup 19 containing the can, or package of reagent, may be supplied in the form of a cartridge, as shown'in Fig. 6, so that it may most conveniently be placedwithin the pressure tank 11. All that is necessary to do in providing for use, under these circumstances, is to place a cap, or cover (i l on the threaded upper end of the cup 19, by which it is screwed to the neck 20 depending from the tank cover 21. Of course, this cover is removed at the time of placing of the cartridge in the tank and thrown away. The Water in the cup 19 is rendered non-freezing by a suitable proportion of alcohol. For supplying liquid to the tank 16, when it is provided with a cover, the latter may be removed and then replaced, or a' filling nozzle of well-known description may be provided.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is i 1. In fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a plurality of sources of extinguishers of diii'erent kinds, a separate distributing system connected with each source, each distributing system having a normally closed discharge means that automatically opens under fire conditions, a common means for supplying pressure to expel the extinguishers from all the sources when their respective discharge means open, and automatic means to control the supply of pres-- sure connected in common with the several distributing systems and placed in condition to supply pressure when the normally closed discharge means of any one system opens.

2. As an improvement in fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a holder for a chemical extinguisher, a distributing pipe leading therefrom provided with a sprinkler-head, that automatically opens under fire conditions, a second extinguisher holder, a distributing pipe leadinothere from and provided with a sprinkler-head that automatically opens under fire conditions, means for generating pressure, means for supplying pressure from said generating means to one of said holders, means to trans mit pressure from one holder to another,- a normally inactive device for causing the operation of the pressure generating means, and automatic means connected with said device and with the distributing pipes of said holders, whereby upon the opening of a sprinkler head in any distributing pipe, said device will be actuated to cause the generation of pressure.

3. In rfire extinguishing.apparatus, the combination of a pluralityof mechanisms, each comprising a fire-extinguisher holder and a liquid-filled distributing pipe leading therefrom havino' normally closed automatically openable cischarge orifices that open under fire conditions, a common means for supplying pressure to expel the contents of said holders into their respective distributing pipes, means for transmitting pressure from one holder to another, and a single means operably in communication With the liquid in said pipes for controlling said pressure supplyingmeans, acting on the opening of any one of said discharge orifices.

4. In fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of two sources of supply of fluid extinguishers of difierent kinds, a connection between such sources of supply, including a trap having a liquid seal, and means for supplying pressure to the fluid in said sources of supply to expel the fluid therefrom.

' 5. In fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a plurality of sources of extinguishers of different kinds, a plurality of normally closed discharge means one connected With each source, means for the gen-V eration of pressure by the action of reagents, common to the various sources, means for transmitting pressure to all said sources at the same time, and automatic means to control the action of the reagents connected Copies of this patent may be obtained for in common with the various discharge means, said auton'iatic meansacting upon the opening of any of said normally closed discharge means.

6. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a plurality of tanks, a separate distributing pipe leading from each tank and provided with sprinkler heads, means Within one of said tanks for the supply of pressure to expel the contents thereof, means connecting the tanks to transmit pressure from one to another, and automatic means to control said pressure-supplying means, in operative connection with each of the distributing pipes and acting on the opening of any sprinkler head.

7. In fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a plurality of tanks each containing a. fire extinguishing fluid, a separate distributing pipe leading from the lower part of each tank, a separate discharge point for each distributing pipe, an aiuiomatically openable sprinkler head at each discharge point, means in one of said tanks for the generation of pressure by the action of reagents, means whereby reagents are brought together in said tank upon the opening of a sprinkler head, and a pipe leading from the upper part of .one tank to the upper part of another tank for the transmission of pressure from one tank to another for the expulsion of extingulshlng fluid.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

EDIVARD R. BRODTON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. .0.

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