US1340376A - Fire-extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

A. L. COLE.

FIRE EXHNGUlSHER.

APPLICATION men JUNE 22. 1914 Patented May 18, 1920.

zzi l ALBERT L. COLE,

or AUBURNDYALE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 22,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT L. Gone, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburndale, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in F ire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tire extinguishers and particularly to portable devices of that character and isan improvement of the broad invention shown and described in a prior application filed by me February 6, 1914, Serial No. 817,042.

The object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher of the character described which can be used, either with the nozzle elevated or depressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device from which, under certain circumstances, a continuous stream of ex tinguishing fluid may be secured without requiring the device to be operated continuously.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a device so constructed that the cc tents cannot evaporate when the device 18 not in use.

- Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and explained hereinafter.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a fire extinguisher constructed and operated in accordance therewith; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 44 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 55 in Fig. 1.

In the drawings illustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention 10 designates a casing, preferably cylindrical in form, provided with a rounded end 11 having a centrally disposed nozzle 12. This may be termed the nozzle end of the apparatus. At the other end the casingis' closed by a cap 13 having on one side an extension 14 the longitudinal axis of which may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of Patented May 18, 1920. 1914. Serial No. 846,445.

the casing. The interior of the casing and of the extension forms a chamber 15 for fire extinguishing fluid. The form and construction of the casing and extension may be varied if desired.

Within the casing is centrally located a tube 16 which constitutes the body-portion of a pump or air compressor, this tube ex tending nearly to the nozzle end of the casing and having its outer end projecting through the cap 13 and secured thereto. The latter end of the tube is closed by a cap 17 having a central hole to receive a rod 18 of a piston 19 within the tube 16. The end of the piston rod 18 is provided with a handle 20.

The piston 19 may be made of any suitable material but I have found that cork gives better satisfaction because it is not corroded or otherwise affected by the extinguishing fluid and since it is flexible and compressible the pump will not leak after wear and evaporation of theextinguishing fluid is prevented.

At its innermost end the air compressor is provided with an inlet valve 21 located in a tube 22 extending from the compressor out through the side of the casing to permit air to be drawn from the atmosphere into the compressor when the piston is drawn outwardly.

Thecompressor is also provided with an utlet valve 23 which controls the flow of com ressed fluid from the compressor into a tu e or pipe 24 which may be termed a reservoir since it permits of storage of air under compression. At the other end the reservoir 24 is connected to a pipe 25 leading to the nozzle end of the casing, and the flow of air from the reservoir into the pipe 25 is controlled by a valve 26. The valves 23 and .26 may be of any suitable form but as shown, are similar to the valve 21; that is, an ordinary ball valve construction. The valve 23 permits air to flovtfrom the compressor into the'reservoir but prevents any flow in the reverse direction and likewise the valve 26 admits air from the reservoir into the pipe 25 back from the said 1pc.

That end of the pipe 25 at the nozzle end of the casing is curved around and enters and prevents air flowing the enlar mouth 27 of another pipe 28 which lea to the extension 14 as shown in Fig. 1. The end of the pipe 25 may be supported centrall within the pipe 28 by a spider 29 (see 'g. 4 which permits air or other'fluid to flow t rough t e pipe 28 in either direction and around the pi e 25. That end of the pipe 28 located at t 0 ex tension 14 is 0 en and is directed so that any fluid disc arged therefrom will be ejected into the chamber of the extension.

The extension 14 is divided by a transverse partition 30 so that a small chamber 31 is formed in the end of the extension. pipe 32 connects this chamber with the nozzle 12, one end of the pipe passing through the partition and opening into the chamber and the other end being connected to the nozzle so that all fluid which passes out of the nozzle must come into the chamber 31. The partition 30 is provided with an 0 ening 33 through which fluid may pass rorn the chamber 15 to chamber 31 and this opening is controlled by a screw valve 34 having a hand wheel 35 on its outer end so that it may be operated from outside the extension. To prevent leakage the valve is threaded through a gland 36 in a stuffing box 37 containing packing 38.

An opening 39 closed by a cap 40 is provided through which opening the casing may be loaded with fire extinguishing fluid which fills the chamber 15 both in the casing and the extension.

In order to lock the handle 20 inthe position shown in Fig. 1, the cap 17 on the compressor is formed with a hollow dome 41 having an opening 42 which allows two lateral lugs 43 on the piston rodto enter the dome when the rod is pushed inwardly to the end of its stroke. If the rod is then turned a quarter revolution the lugs engage the top of the dome and cannotbe with-' drawn and the piston rod is locked, in place. In Fig. 5 the rod is shown in a locked position.

This construction serves two' purposes. In the first place it enables the device to be suspended on a hook or otherwise by the handle and in the second place, the piston is. locked in a position where it covers the inlet and outlet valves in the compressor. This second result is of great importance in a fire extinguishing device because it prevents any evaporation of the extinguishing fluid through the compressor.

Heretofore in devices of this character, great difl'iculty has been experienced in preventing evaporation of the contents of the device through the com ressor. It is well known, that most of the t fire extinguishing fluids are extremely volatile and where the device is used only at rare intervals, as is nerally the case, the .fluid will evaporate entirely unless it is absolutely scaled up.

. object In most devices it is impossible of- 40 is removed and is filled with any suitable fire extinguls ing fluid until the chamber 15 both in the casing and extension is completel filled. The valve 34 may be opened and t e chamber 31 also filled and to -a certain extent the pipe 32. When completely loaded the cap 40 is replaced and screwed down tightly to prevent evaporation and the valve 34 is seated closing the opening 33. When so filled the device is hung up in some convenient lace where it is easily accessible in case 0 fire. The piston is locked as shown in Fig. 1 so that the contents cannot evaporate even if the extinguisher re mains unused fora long period.

In operation the dpiston is first unlocked by turning the ban le a quarter revolution to release the lugs 43 from the dome 41 of the cap 17 and the compressor is operated in the usual manner by reciprocating the piston. When the latter is on the outward stroke, air is drawn into the com ressor 16 through the inlet valve 21 and on t e inward stroke the inlet valve is closed and the air compressed and forced, into the pipe 24. Wherr the casing is full of extinguishing fluid a considerable pressure ma thus be generated in the pipes 24, 25, an chamber 10, and if the valve 34 be then unseated by turning the wheel 35, the air pressure will then cause thefluid to flow into the chamber 31 and thence out through the pipe 32 and nozzle 12. In this connection it will be noticed that the passage in the nozzle is so formed that the stream therefrom is directed downwardlwhen the extinguisher is held as shown in ig. 1 with the lateral extension 14 in a lowermost position. The of this construction is to force the operator to hold the device with the lateral extension in the position shown and with the nozzle end slightly elevated as in that position the device can be used more effectively and to the greatest advantage. If the operator by any possibility should attempt to use the device with the lateral extension in an uppermost position, the stream will be thrown from the nozzle up in the air and thereupon he will naturally reverse its position.

When the valve 34 is the operation of the extinguisher depends to some degree upon whether the nozzle end is depressed or elevated; that is, when the nozzle be forced out through the pipe 32 and nozzle in a stream which continues so lon as the pressure remains above atmospheric pressure. As the liquid is forced out through the nozzle the expanding air passes out the curved, end of the pipe 25 and accumulates in the nozzle end of the casing. As the pressure gradually falls it may be increased by again operatin the compressor so that a steady and continuous stream from the nozzle 12 may be secured. I have found that by generating suflicient pressure before unseatmg the valve 34 that I can secure a continuous stream for several minutes without manipulating the compressor.

When the nozzle end of the extinguisher is held in a depressed position and the valve 34 is unseated, the pressure in the reservoir 24 causes the liquid to be forced out of the nozzle and the expanding air passes out the curved end of the pipe 25 into the pipe 28 passing upwardly through that pipe and out into the extension where it accumulates in the extension end of the casing. So long as the level of the fluid in the container remains above the mouth of the pipe 28 the pressure will cause a continuous stream of liquid to be forced through the nozzle, but

when the level falls below the mouth of the V carrying with it in each case liquid .which in practically any position. It is under enters the pipe 28 at the nozzle end and this liquid emerges from the pipe 28 into the extension, flows through the opening 33 in the partition 30 into the chamber 31 and is then forced out through pipe 32 and nozzle. It is therefore necessary when the nozzle is depressed to operate the compressor continuously and on each, inward stroke of the piston a stream of fluid is forced out of the nozzle so that with the nozzle depressed the stream of fluid secured is intermittent and not continuous. The pipe 28, therefore, serves as a feed pipe for supplying fluid to the extension and closed chamber 31 whenever the extinguisher is held with the nozzle depressed and wherever I use the term feed.

found from experience that with this construction I can practically drain all the contents of the casi while holding the nozzle and depressed so t at my device can be used stood, of course, that in the use of my device the casing is held with the lateral extension 14 in a lowermost position.

It is to be observed that by providing a device which is capable of use with the nozzle either depressed or elevated I have secured important results and the device is capable of use under all circumstances for putting out afire either above or below the operator.

Although my invention is intended to be applied primarily to fire extin ishers, yet the device may be used neral y for spraying liquids for niany di erent purposes and in this connection various forms of nozzles may be used. Owing to its compactness the device is easily handled and its simplicity of operation enables it to be used efiiciently by anyone without previous experience. Va nous changes may be made in the construction of the device without departing from my invention, such, for instance, as incorporating the closed chamber and valve within the casing itself at the handle end and thereby doing away with the extension.

It is to be understood that my invention may be embodied in forms of construction other than that herein shown and described and I desire to claim the invention broadly except where specifically limited in the following claims.

What I claim is:-

1. A fire extinguisher comprising a hollow casing havin a nozzle and a lateral extension provide with a closed chamber communicating with the interior of said extension through an opening, a valve controlling said opening, a pipe within said casing connecting said closedchamber with said nozzle, and means for forcing liquid from the interior of said casin into said closed chamber and out throng said pipe and nozzle.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising a hollow casing having a nozzle and a lateral extension provided with a closed chamber communicating with the interior of said extension through an opening, a valve controlling said opening, a pipe within said casin connecting said closed chamber with sai nozzle and means for forcing liquid from the interior of said easing into said closed cham her and thence out through said pipe and nozzle.

3. A fire extinguisher comprising a hollow casing havinga nozzle and a'lateral extension having a closed chamber in its end provided with an opening communicating with the interior of said extension, a valve controlling said opening, a pi e within said casing connecting said close chamber with said nozzle, an air compressor and means whereby air 'untler compression is utilized for forcing liquid from the interior of said easing into said closed chamber when said valve is open and thence out through said pipe and nozzle irrespective of thepositionnn which said casing is held.

4. An a paratus for spraying liquids comprising a hollow casin having a nozzle at one end and a closed 0 amber at the other end provided with an openin communieating with the interior of said casing a valve controlling said opening and operable from outside said casing, a pipe-within said casing connecting said closed chamber with said nozzle and means for forcing liquid from the interior of said casing into said closed chamber and out through said pipe and nozzle.

5. An apparatus for spraying liquids comprising a hollow casing having a nozzle at one end and a closed chamber at'the other end provided with an opening communicating with the interior of said casing, a valve controlling said opening and o erable from outside said casing, a pipe wit in said casing connecting said closed chamber with said nozzle, an air compressor and means whereby air under compression is utilized for forcing liquid from the interior of said easing into said closed chamber when said.

valve is open and thence out through said pipe and nozzle.

6. An apparatus for spra ing liquids comprising a hollow casing aving a nozzle and a lateral extension provided with a closed chamber communicatin with the interior of said extension throug an opening, a valve controlling said opening and operable from outside said casing, a pipe connecting said closed chamber with said nozzle, an air compressor, a reservoir pipe con-' nected to said compressor for storing air under compression and a feed pipe for delivering li uid to said closed chamber when said valve is open and the apparatus is held with the nozzle end depressed.

7. An apparatus for spraying liquids comprising a hollow casin having a nozzle at one end and a closed 0 amber at the other end provided with an opening communicating with the interior of said casing, a valve controlling saidbpening and o erable from outside sald casing, a pi wit in said casing connecting said cl I c I chamber with said nozzle, an air compressor and means whereby air unde'r compression is utilized for forcing liquid from the interior of said casin into said closed chamber when said valve is open and thence out through said pipeand ing with the interior of said casing, a valve controlling said opening. and o rable from outside said casin a pi wit in said casing connecting sai clo 'chamber with said nozzle and an air compressor for forcing liquid from the interior of said casing into said closed chamber and out through said pipe and nozzle.

9. An apparatus for spraying liquids comprising a hollow casin having a nozzle at one end and a closed 0 amber at the other end provided with an opening communicatmg with the interior of said casing, a valve control said opening and o erable from putside said casin a pi wit in said casmg connecting sai close chamber with said nozzle and an air compressor having an inlet and an outlet valve at the inner end of said compressor in such' osition as to be sealed by the piston of said air com ressor whensaid piston is locked at the en of its inward stroke.

10. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for the extinguishing substance provided with a nozzle atone end and an ofiset separate chamber at the other end adapted to communicate with the interior of the container through an opening, a valve controlling said opening, a pi e within the container connecting said c amber with the nozzle, and means for forcing the substance from the interior of the container into said chamber and out through the pipe and nozzle.

11. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for the extinguishing substance provided with a nozzle, and an oifset separate chamber adapted to communicate withthe interior of the container through an opening, a valve controlling said opening, a pipe within the container connecting said chamber with the nozzle,and means for forcing the substance from the interior of said container into said chamber and out through the pipe and nozzle.

12. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for the extinguishing substance provided with a nozzle and an ofiset extension having a chamber communicatin with the -1nter1or of the container and a having a separate chamber adapted to communicats with said first mentioned chamber through opening, a valve controlling said opening, a pipe within the container connecting said separate chamber with the nozzle,- and means for forcing the substance from the interior of said chambers and through the pipe and nozzle.

13. A fire extin isher comprising a container for the extinguishing substance provided with a nozzle and a separate chamber adapted to communicate with the interior of the container through an opening, a valve controlling said opening, a pipe within the container 'conneet' said chamber with the nozzle, and means or forcing the substance from the interior of said container into said chamber and out through the pipe and nozzle, said means comprising a compressed 'air reservoir, and controlling means therefor adapted to be opened as an incident to the opening of said valve controlling the opening between theseparate chamber and the interior of the container.

14. In a fire extinguisher, a container for the extinguishing substance having a nozzle at one end and a separate chamber at the other end into which the substance may be forced from the container, said separate chamber being in communication with the nozzle and having a valved opening afi'ording communication between the chamber and the container, means for causing the feeding of the substance from eitherend of the container to the separate chamber dependent upon the position of the extinguisher comprising a pipe open at its oppo site ends near the corresponding opposite ends of the container, and compressed air means for forcing the substance from whichever end of the container is lowermost to the said separate chamber and thence out of said nozzle.

15. In a fire extinguisher, a container for the extinguishing substance having a nozzle and a separate chamber into whic the substance may be forced from the container, said separate chamber being in communication with the nozzle and having a valved opening affording communication between the chamber and the container, means for causing the feeding of the substance from either end of the container to the separate chamber dependent upon the position of the extinguisher comprising a pipe open at its opposite ends near the corres onding opposite ends of the container, an compressed air means associated with said pipe to force the substance from one end of the container to the separate chamber or to carry the substance from the opposite endof the con tainer through the pipe to a oint adjacent the said separate 0 amber, t e compressed air means includin a pipe entering one end of said open-ende pipe to operate as an injector.

16. In a fire extinguisher, a container for the extinguishin substance havin a nozzle and a separate 0 amber into whic the substance may be forced from the container, said se arate chamber be' in communication w1th the nozzle and aving a valved opening affording communication between the chamber and the container, means for.

causing the feeding of the substance from either end of the container to the separate chamber dependent upon the position of the extinguisher comprising a pipe open at its opposite ends near the corresponding opposite ends of the container, compressed air 'means associated with said pipe to force the substance from one end of the container to the separate chamber or to carry the substance from the opposite end of the container through the pipe to a oint adjacent the said separate c amber, t e compressed air means including a pipe entering one end of said open-ended pipe to operate as an injector, and a compressed air reservoir connected to the opposite end of said injector pipe having controlling means adapted to be released as an incident to the opening of the valve of the separate chamber.

17. In a fire extin uisher, a container for the extinguishin su stance havi a nozzle and a separate c amber into whic the substance may be forced from the container, said separate chamber bein in communication with the nozzle and fiaving a valved opening affording communication between the chamber and the container, means for causing the feeding of the substance from either end of the container to the separate chamber dependent upon the position of the extinguisher comprising a pipe open at its opposite ends near the corresponding opposite ends of the container, means associated with said pipe to force the substance from one end of the container to the separate chamber or to carry the substance from the opposite end of the container through the ipe to a point adjacent the said separate c amber, the compressed air means including a pipe entering one end of said open-ended pipe to operate as an injector, and a compressed air reservoir connected to the opposite end of said injector pipe having controlling means adapted to be released as an incident to the opening of the valve of the separate chamber, in combination with a pump carried by the device for feeding and compressing air in the said reservoir.

18. In a fire extinguisher, a container for the fire extinguishing substance having a discharge nozzle and controlling means for the discharge, means for forcing the extinguishing substance into a position to be received by and discharged through the nozzle, the same including a pipe opening at its opposite ends near corresponding opposite ends of the container, and compressed air means for injectin a jet of air into one end of said pi e to raw the fire extinguishing1 compoun from that end of the device w en the same occupies a relatively low position and to force the ex tin 'shing compound from the opposite on of the container when that end occupies a relatively low position.

19. In a fire exti isher, a container for fire extinguishi su stance having a lateral chamber, one en of the same communicating with the interior of the container, a nozzle, a valve for controlling the flow of fire extinguishin substance from said lateral chamber t rough said nozzle and means for forcing the fire extinguishing substance from either end of the container into compressed air said lateral chamber including a pipe open- In testimony whereof I hereunto set my ing at its opposite ends and arranged near hand in the presence of two subscribing wit- 10 the correspond'iln opposite eggs to: the1 colrllnesses, this the twentieth day of June, 1914. tainer one en mg 11'60 war e 5 laterai chamber in the passage between the v ALBERT COLE same and the container, and com ressed air Witnessesr means having a part entering t e remote F. J. V. Damn, open end of said plpe to act as an injector. E. F. UNI-A0;

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