US1340601A - Apparatus for generating foam for extinguishing fires - Google Patents

Description

XR ,1,340,661 SR I. 8. AND 0. R. ERWIN. APPARAUS FOR GNVERATmG .rom For: EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

i s E Q:

AFFLICAYIO'HLED FEB. 2, I9IG. REEWED OCT- 5. |919.

Patented my 18, 19211.

2 SHEETS-SHEE @WfffM-'IRE EXTxNGUrsHEQg,`

J. B. AND 0. R. ERWIN.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FOAM FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

APPLICATION FILED fsa. 2, 191s. RENEWED ocT. 6. m9.

Patented May 18, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 A, MH angevin?? fr ...Mlmne sxvmeuisHr-lns.

JAMES B. ERWIN AND ORLANDO R. ERWIN, OF MILWAUKEEYWISCONSIN.

AIPARATUS FOR GENERATING FOAM FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Application filed February 2. 1916, Serial No. 75,736. Renewed October 6, 1919. Serial No. 328,927.

To all whom t 'may concern Be it known that we. JAMES B. ERWIN and OnInNno R. Fnwix. citizens of the United States, residing atl the city of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee. and State of llvisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Foam for Extinguishing Fires, of which the following is a specification.

- Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for generating carbon dioxid foam for extinguishing fires, especially fires" in hazardous liquids like benzin, gasolene, etc. l

The primar;7 object vof our invention is to provide simple attachments for the ordinary so-called sodaandacid type of tire extinguishers whereby the saine may be used with suitable chemicals to generate a volume of fp :pn equal to about ten times the capacity of such extinguishers, whereby the tire fighting efliciency of such devices is not only increased ten-fold, but they are then adapted to extinguish fires in combustible liquids, etc. Foam is well known to be vastly superior to water or solutions containing large percentages of water not only in extinguishingifires in highly inflammable liquids but also in extinguishing any kind of fires, owing to the fact that it is adhesive and may be thrown to a distance upon a wall, ceiling or any surface where it remains long enough to put out fires thereon, and in transit from the extinguisher none of the eflicient firekilling gas, carbon dioxid, is lost, as is the case with ordinary soda-and-acid extinguishers, because such gas is confined in millions of minute bubbles which form the foam.

Another important object accomplished by this invention is that the foam bubbles are generated almost entirely in our iinproved foam spout attachmentA from which they are discharged directlyr upon the lire as rast as generated and consequently in their highest state of fire extinguishing efficiency. It is a well known fact that when the foam is generated in a mixing tank and thereafter forced from thence by its own expansion through a series of ducts, hose, couplings, etc., the foam bubbles become crushed or largely destroyed in transit therethrough and the resultant stream at the nozzle is consequently largely condensed to liquid, the pressure thereby greatly decreased, and consequently the fire extinguishing efficiency of suoli stream is greatly reduced. -V i Our device and process of generating foam is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure l is a vertical sectional view of an ordinary soda-aiul-acid extinguisher in its normal upright position, charged ready for use, to which our improved foam generating attachments are connected, the same being also shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 represents the device shown in Fig. l in itsinverted discharging position as adapted to extinguish a fire in an oil tank, said tank being also shown in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of an ordinary soda-and-acid extinguisher on wheels s hown in'itsv inverted position in process of discharging its contents through a line of hose connected to our improved foam generating attachment-shown in vertical section and in process of foam generation and discharge upon a fire in an oil tank, said tank also being shown in vertical section. Y

Like parts are identified by similar reference characters throughout the several views.

The tank A, of ordinary construction, is provided with the usual acid bottle B, bottle supporting cage C, cap D and outlet E, to which a rubber hose (not shown in Figs. l and 2) is usually coupled, but instead of which we attach a depending tubular spout F by means of a screw-threzuled coupling functioning as an auxiliary foam producer and ejector. T he lower end of the spout F is further detachably connected to the tank A by means of the screw H engaging the L K. A second acid receptacle L is supported within said spout F by means of the screws M, M engaging the lugs N, N or in any convenient manner. O is a stopple for the acid receptacle L, the same being held upon the acid receptacle by its own weight.

To charge the device shown in Fig. l, the tank A has first to be filled with a suitable foam )roducing solution l, next the acid bottle 3 is filled with only suflicient acid (l to react upon and force said solution into said spout L. An additional quantity of acid ll is then placed in the receptacle L therefor when the stopples B and O are placed upon their respective receptacles and the cap inclosing cover l) roplaml upon l aid tank when the device is charged ready for use.

To operate the device shown in Fig. l, the same has simply to biiuvcrtcd as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the.- acid Q will react upon a sufficient quantitv ot' ilal solution l to discharge same through duct li into the spout I", wherein said solution l is converted into foam b v chemical reaction with the acid l therciuf 'l`lie loam. thus generated, escapes direct through L Ii in its highest state ot ellicicncy for fire extinguishinv purposes. v

l`he jet of foam b is shown discharging upon the burning surface "l o oil in a tank U.

The device shown in Fig. 3 is in all respects similar to that shown in Figs. l and except that the same is ot' larger construction and mounted upon a pair of wheels W, iV, journaled upon axles v securely tastened to the tank A. An elongated hose V is employed to convey the solution l into the spout F, whereby greater range of applying the foam to the tire is afforded. The spout F. shown in Fig. 3. is shown removed from the tank A. but the same is provided with an eye Y at its lower end adapted to support said spout l" upon a hook Z7 fastened to the tank A, when not in use and when in its normal upright position.

Having thus described our invention what l we claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A device of the class described comprising a closed tank for a solution to be used' in the production ot' foam, a loam generating auxiliary spout located exteriorly ot said tank, an acid receptacle having an opening in one end thereof, the same being norrnallv closed by a stopper, said receptacle heini;r secured axially within the said spout anl so arranged as to permit a foam passage thercaround, the said tank and spout being in position tor the production ot't'oam upon being inverted, and a duet communicating between said tank and spout.

2. A device ot' the described class, comprising a closed tank for a solution to be used in the production of foam, a foam generating auxiliary spout located exteriorly to said tank, a receptacle haring an opening in one end thereof, the same being normally closed by a stopper7 said receiiitacle being secured within said spout and so arranged as to permit a passage. for the t'oam around said receptacle and throughsaid spout, and a duct communicating between said tank and spout.

ln combination with a fire extinguisher tank, an auxiliary foam producer and ejector comprising a tubular spout in operative communication with the said tank, a ioani discharge nozzle at the opposite end ot' the spout from its point ot communication with the said tank, an elongated acid receptacle secured axially within said spout and having a foam outlet passage tlierearound and having an outlet adjacent the opposite end ot the spout from said-nozzle, and a gravity seated normally closed stopper upon said receptacle7 the said foam producer and ejector being adapted tor operation by inverting. l

In testimony whereof we ailix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

iVitnesses O. C. VEBER, A. J. MCKERIHAN.

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