US340864A - Feancis l - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 7

F. L. DARRAGH. ATTACHMENT T0 OIL TANKS FOR PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

No. 340,864; Patented Apr. 2'7, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANOISL. DARRAGH, .OF- PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY DARRAOH, OF SAME PLACE.

ATTACHMENT T OIL-TANKS FOR PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,864, dated April 27, 1886.

Application filed August 1, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS L. DARRAOH,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Attachments to Oil-Tanks for Preventing Explosions and A Extinguishing Fires, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 represent partial side elevations and partial vertical sections of an attachment to an oil-tank embodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in the two figures.

My invention consists of an apparatus for or an attachment to a tank or vat containing petroleum or other oils from which inflammable vapor ariscs,whereby in the event of fire, due to lightning or other .causes, the explosion of the tank or vat is prevented and the fire automatically extinguished.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an upright tubular structure or column,which is secured at bottom to anoil tank or vat,B,in any suitable manner, and having within it aseries of perforated diaphragms,(l, located one above the other, and properly attached to the column, to the number of which, however, I do not limit myself.

Projecting into the column A are perforated pipes or jets D, which are connected with a pipe, E, the upper end whereof enters a closed chamber, F, at the top of the column A, said chamber having a central walled opening, it being noticed that the column A is open to the atmosphere through the central opening of the chamber, where the vapors arising from the tank or vat are permitted to escape.

\Vithin the chamber F are cups or vessels G, which, are provided with journals H, the latter being mounted on the walls of the chamber F,whereby the vessels may be overturned, it being observed that the vessels and chamber F are adapted to contain chemicals,which when combined are adapted for extinguishing fire.

Connected with the journals H, on the inner side of the chamber F, is a crank, J, which is 50 located above or within the column A, and

Serial No. 173,470. (No model.) I

weighted so as to overturn. The normal position of the crank and vessels G is shown in Fig. 1.

On the inner wall of the chamber F is a pin or bracket, K, to which the crank is primarily attached by a piece of fusible wire or solder, as at L.

Rising from the wall of the central opening of the chamber F is a short tube, A, which forms a continuation of said wall, but in fact is a continuation of the column A, it being evident that the column A may be continuous through the chamber F and rise above the same.

At the top of the tube A is a shield, M, for covering the same, without, however, closing the column A. At the side of the column are openings N, which are covered by a shield, P,

'but not closed by the same, the shields serv ing to prevent rain, snow, &c., from entering the column. It will be seenthat should the vapor escaping from the tank or vat at the top of the column A and side openings thereof be ignited by lightning or other causes, the diaphragms prevent the fire reaching the tank or 7 5 vat, thus avoiding explosion of the latter. The heat generated by the burning vapors melts the wire or solder L, and thus the crank is released, whence it rotates and causes the overturning of the vessels G, the effect of which is the admixture of the chemicals in said vessels and the chamber F, and the formation of a fire-extinguishing 1nediun1,which is directed by the pipe E, through the branches or pipes D, into the column A, thus extinguishing the fire.

R represents an indicator, consisting of a rod,which is passed through the shield M, and a ball, S, or other object or figure secured to the top of the rod. The rod is rested on the 0 crank J when the latter is in position shown in Fig. 1, so that as the crank rotates the rod loses its hold thereon and thus drops, whereby the object S, having dropped or fallen with it, announces that fire has occurred, and the ex- 9 5 tinguisher requires replenishing with chemicals and the device resetting. The pipe E. after entering the chamber F, extends toward the bottom thereof, as shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 2, so that when the vessels G are I00 2 a4o,ase

overturned the fluid in said chamber F, then combined with the chemicals in the vessels, is forced by the gas as generated in the chamber into said pipe E, and thus into the column A, the gas following the fluid; but, if desired, the gas alone may be employed as the extinguishing medium, in which case the downward extension of the pipe E into the chamber F is not required. The height of fluid in the chamber F is indicated by cocks F, and said fluid may be withdrawn for cleaning or other purposes by means of a cock, F said cocks F F being suitably connected with the chamber F.

The diaphragms C may be made of wiregauze, perforated metal, or other suitable material.

If desired, the column A may be of the form of a dome, instead of the tubular structure shown. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An oil tank or vat provided with the column A, having a series of diaphragms, C, in combination with the pipe E, having jets D, and an automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus having a vessel in communication with said pipe E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An oil-tank in combination with column A, having perforated diaphragms D therein, weights, pivoted vessels G, closed chamber F, and pipe E, having jets D, the said pipe E leading from said vessel F into the column A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An oil tank or vat provided with a column having openings at top, in combination with an automatically-operated fire-extinguisher having a pivoted vessel in a closed chamber operated by a weighted crank, and a 0 rod with a ball attached thereto, actuated by said crank, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4, An oil tank or vat, in combination with the column A, having side opening and provided with diaphragms 0, closed chamber F, having central walled opening, pivoted vessels G in said chamber F, crank J, carrying weight, and connected vessels G, fusible connection L, and pipe E, having jets D, the said pipe leading from said vessel F to said column A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An oil tank or vat, in combination with the column A, having a diaphragm, the chamber F, having a central walled opening, the tube A, forming an extension of the column A, the shield M, vessels G, having weighted crank J, fusible connection L, and rod R, having ball S, said parts being operated substantially as described. 6. The chamber F, provided with cocks F and F and havinga central walled opening, in combination with vessels G, weighted crank J, fusible connection L, pipe E, leading from said vessel F and having jets D, and column A, having diaphragm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. An oil-tank having the column A provided with a series of diaphragms, in combination withan automatic fire-eXtinguisher located at the top of said column, substantially as described.

FRANCIS L. DARRACH. \Vitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERsHEIM, V. F. KIRCHER.

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