U.S. patent number 3,776,313 [Application Number 05/223,507] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-04 for temperature responsive automatic fire extinguisher.
Invention is credited to Joseph S. DePalma.
United States Patent |
3,776,313 |
DePalma |
December 4, 1973 |
TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Abstract
An automatic fire extinguisher having a heat-sensitive assembly
mounted on a conventional fire extinguisher container. Heat sensors
are operably connected to a housing which contains a bellows and
valve arrangement. Within the sensors, housing and surrounding the
bellows is a fluid which expands in response to heat which causes
the bellows to collapse and move a valve to an open position
permitting fire extinguisher material to excape through a nozzle
provided in the container. A squeeze grip manual actuator is
provided for manipulating the valve at any time.
Inventors: |
DePalma; Joseph S. (Closter,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
22836806 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/223,507 |
Filed: |
February 4, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
169/19; 137/80;
169/26; 169/30 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62C
35/10 (20130101); Y10T 137/1987 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A62C
35/00 (20060101); A62C 35/10 (20060101); A62c
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;169/19,20,26,30,2R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ward, Jr.; Robert S.
Claims
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for receiving fire
extinguishing material, a valve body mounted on said container,
said valve body including a valve seat therein, a valve member
engaging said valve seat, a discharge nozzle in said valve body for
discharging fire extinguishing material from the container when the
valve member is opened, and temperature responsive means for
opening said valve member in response to ambient temperature rise
to a predetermined temperature, said temperature responsive means
including heat sensor means having an expansible fluid therein
oriented for sensing a rise in ambient temperature, and bellows
means connected with the valve member and oriented for movement of
the valve member from one position to another in response to
expansion of the expansible fluid in the heat sensor means, said
valve member including an elongated valve stem extending outwardly
from said valve body in sealed relation thereto, said bellows means
including a bellows having one end attached to the valve body and
the other end attached to the valve stem with the valve stem
extending axially of the bellows, a housing surrounding said
bellows in sealed relation to the valve body and enclosing the
bellows in spaced relation thereto, said sensor means being
communicated with the housing with the space between the bellows
and housing being filled with expansible fluid whereby expansion of
the expansible fluid in the heat sensor means will collapse the
bellows longitudinally thus moving the valve stem and opening the
valve member.
2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said heat sensor
means includes at least one heat sensor arm extending outwardly
from the housing, said housing including an orifice of
predetermined size communicating the heat sensor arm with the
housing for controlling expansion of the expansible fluid into the
housing.
3. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with a manual
actuating means mounted on said housing for engagement with the end
of the bellows having the valve stem attached thereto thereby
enabling inward movement of the bellows for manually opening the
valve member.
4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said manual
actuating means includes a screw threaded member threaded through
the housing and having an inner end engaging the bellows, handle
means on the outer end thereof to enable actuation of the screw
threaded member for opening the valve member.
5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said threaded member
having the handle means thereon is hollow and provided with a
spring biased valve assembly in communication with the interior of
the housing, said handle means being removable to enable access to
the interior of the hollow member and valve assembly to enable
filling of the housing and sensor means with expansible fluid.
6. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharge
nozzle includes a tubular member screw threaded into the valve body
to enable removal of and interchange of the nozzle, and a deflector
removably mounted on the tubular member to deflect fire
extinguishing material in a predetermined pattern.
7. The structure a defined in claim 1 together with a pressure
gauge assembly screw threaded into the valve body, a valve assembly
in said valve body to communicate the gauge assembly with the
interior of the container when the gauge assembly is threaded
inwardly for measuring the pressure of fire extinguishing material
in the container, said pressure gauge assembly being removable to
enable the container to be filled with fire extinguishing
material.
8. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said heat sensor
means includes a plurality of hollow tubular members filled with
expansible fluid and operatively associated with the housing to
actuate the bellows and valve member in response to heat applied to
the tubular members.
9. The fire extinguisher as defined in claim 1 together with handle
means connected to the container to facilitate handling and
carrying thereof to provide a portable fire extinguisher, and
manually actuated valve operating means mounted in said valve body
and engaging said valve member to manually open said valve member
independent of actuation of the temperature responsive means.
10. The fire extinguisher as defined in claim 9 wherein said
manually actuated valve operating means includes a pivotally
mounted squeeze handle disposed exteriorly of the valve body,
releasable means retaining the squeeze handle in inoperative
position, but releasable to enable the squeeze handle to move to a
position for opening the valve member.
11. The fire extinguisher as defined in claim 10 wherein said valve
member and manually actuated valve operating means includes coating
cam surfaces for reciprocating the valve member in response to
lateral movement of the manually actuated valve operating
means.
12. A thermally resposive fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a
valve body including a valve seat therein, a valve member engaging
said valve seat, a discharge nozzle communicated with said valve
body for discharging fire extinguishing material when the valve
member is moved away from the valve seat, and temperature
responsive means for opening said valve member in response to
ambient temperature rise to a predetermined temperature, said
temperature responsive means including bellows means connected with
the valve member and oriented for movement of the valve member from
one position to another upon collapse of the bellows means, said
bellows means including a bellows having one end attached to the
valve body and the other end attached to the valve member in sealed
relation thereto, a housing surounding said bellows in sealed
relation to the valve body and enclosing the bellows in spaced
relation thereto the space between the bellows and housing being
filled with expansible fluid whereby expansion of the expansible
fluid caused by a rise in ambient temperature above a predetermined
temperature will collapse the bellows thus moving the valve member
away from the valve seat for discharging fire extinguishing
material.
13. The structure as defined in claim 12 wherein said bellows is
constructed of flexible, resilient material, said valve member
including spring means biasing the valve member toward the valve
seat whereby reduction in ambient temperature will reduce the
volume of the expansible fluid enabling the bellows to return to
normal condition and the valve member to automatically return to a
closed position upon reduction in ambient temperature, said valve
member including a stem extending axially into the bellows and
having a terminal end attached to the end of the bellows remote
from the valve body, the other end of the bellows being attached to
the valve body whereby inward collapse of the bellows will move the
ends of the bellows towards each other thereby moving the valve
stem and valve member longitudinally for moving the valve member
away from the valve seat.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is axiomatic that when a fire occurs speed in putting out the
blaze is the prime concern. It would therefore be most beneficial
if a fire extinguisher could be made readily available at the
incipiency of the blaze It is common in most installations such as
garages, homes, schools, hospitals, etc., to have a portable fire
extinguisher mounted on the walls at various locations thereof.
When a fire occurs it is necessary to go to the fire station and
bring the extinguisher to the location of the blaze. Consequently,
installations relying on this method of fire prevention and
extinguishment are at a distinct disadvantage since considerable
damage, if not total destruction, could occur long before a fire
extinguisher could be carried to the scene of the blaze. In order
to alleviate this delay in extinguishing fires many installations
have installed overhead water sprinkler systems which respond to
heat generated by a blaze to spray the area with water. This system
is useful as far as it goes but it subjects the user not only to
the likelihood of considerable water damage but also to
considerable expense for installation of the water sprinkler
system. Also such a system is not effectual in certain kinds of
fire, for example, burning oil. Moreover, extinguishing fires by
means of water is not the most efficient method of quenching fires.
This is true since it is known that certain chemicals in the form
of liquids, gases or foams are far more efficient extinguishing
materials.
Thus, it is seen that the most efficient fire extinguishing system
would be one which comes into play as soon as possible after the
start of the fire, or senses an abnormal increase in temperature.
In this regard, there have been proposed in the past systems which
attempted to afford fast fire detection and extinguishment. In the
main, these systems have not been proved successful because they
required considerable time before reacting to the presence of a
blaze or because the fire detector means could not be calibrated
with any degree of reliability to ensure operation within
predetermined limits. Some of these past systems have relied upon
fusible links, plugs or similar devices to detect heat. In use
these devices were destroyed in the detection of heat and thereby
release the extinguishing materials. It is apparent that such
systems are unduly complex as to arrangement of parts required as
well as to reliability of their performance.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an
automatic fire extinguisher which is simple in structure and
inexpensive to manufacture.
It is another object of this invention to provide an automatic fire
extinguisher which has thermally responsive means which react
swiftly to the presence of heat above an abnormal temperature.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic
fire extinguisher which does not require manual operation for the
mixture of fire extinguisher material.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an automatic
fire extinguisher which senses the presence of an abnormal
temperature condition by expansion of a fluid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an automatic fire extinguisher
wherein a container holding a quantity of fire extinguisher
material under pressure is permitted to eject the material by
thermally responsive means which reacts to the expansion of a
fluid. Heat sensors are operably connected to a housing containing
a bellows and valve arrangement. Within the housing and surrounding
the bellows is a heat-sensitive fluid which expands as a result of
heat conducted to it by the heat sensors. The expansion of the
fluid causes the bellows and valve to move from a first position to
a second position. The valve becomes unseated thereby permitting
the fire extinguisher material to escape through a port provided in
the container. Manual means are also provided to actuate the
bellows and valve for releasing the fire extinguishing material.
When a plurality of automatic fire extinguishers of the type taught
by the invention are strategically placed about an installation a
system of fire extinguishing is provided which is not only low in
cost but simple in construction and operation.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and
in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing
the thermally responsive means mounted on the container;
FIG. 3 is a fragmental sectional view similar to the upper portion
of FIG. 2 but illustrating the manual control removed;
FIG. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the pressure gauge valve
assembly;
FIG. 5 is an end view of the discharge nozzle; and
FIG. 6 is a face view of the pressure gauge.
Referring now to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 designates the
automatic fire extinguisher which incorporates the principles of
the present invention mounted on a container or tank 12 which holds
a quantity of fire extinguisher material. The extinguisher material
may be of conventional kind, such as a bicarbonate solution which
is to mix with an acid. Alternatively, the extinguisher material
may be a foam, a gas or other fire quenching material. The
extinguisher material employed herein will be maintained under
pressure in container 12 in the manner well known by those skilled
in the art.
The upper end of the container 12 is provided with a substantially
cylindrical neck 14 that is internally threaded as at 16 for
detachably mounting an externally threaded valve body 18 therein
with the valve body 18 having a flange surface 20 in abutting
engagement with the upper end of the neck 14 thus forming a closure
cap for the container 12 and releasably mounting the automatic
control device to the container.
The valve body 18 is generally cylindrical in construction with the
central portion thereof being hollow as at 22 with the hollow area
being defined by a lower wall 24 having a downwardly opening
substantially conical valve seat 26 formed therein. Disposed below
the wall 24, the valve body 18 is provided with a hollow area 28
that communicates with the upper externally threaded end of a
vertically elongated tube 30 which extends downwardly to a point
adjacent the bottom of the tank or container 12. The tube 30 is
provided with an internal annular flange 32 which forms a seat for
engaging the bottom end of a coil type valve spring 34.
Disposed in the hollow area 28 and engagable with the valve seat 26
is a valve member 36 which has a conical surface corresponding with
and engaging with the surface of the valve seat. The lower end of
the valve member 36 is provided with a downward projection 38
having a transverse slot 40 therein for receiving a screwdriver or
similar instrument for purpose described hereinafter. Also, the
projection 38 and the adjacent bottom surface of the valve member
36 forms a seat for receiving the upper end of the valve spring 34
with the projection 38 extending dowwardly into the interior of the
spring 34 to retain the spring and valve member in alignment. Thus,
the spring 34 spring biases the valve member 36 into seated
engagement with the valve seat 26 with the threaded connection 42
between the upper end of the tube 30 and the valve body 18
providing an adjustment for the tension on the spring 34.
The upper end of the valve member 36 is provided with an elongated
valve stem 44 having an externally threaded upper end 46. The valve
stem 44 is slidably guided by a transverse wall 48 which defines
the upper limit of the hollow area 22 with the plate 48 including a
cylindrical boss 50 which is externally threaded at 52 and which
includes internal seal structures 54, such as a pair of O-rings,
for sealing and slidable engagement with the valve stem 44 thereby
forming a seal for the valve stem but enabling it to reciprocate in
relation to the valve body 18.
Communicated with the hollow area 22 is a discharge nozzle assembly
generally designated by the numeral 56 for discharging fire
extinguishing material when the valve member 36 is opened. Also
provided in the valve body 18 is a pressure gauge and refill valve
assembly generally designated by the numeral 58 which is in
communication with the interior of the container 12 at all times
thus enabling the pressure conditions within the container 12 to be
monitored thereby enabling the container 12 to be retained in
properly filled condition at all times.
Attached to the upper end of the valve body and engaged with the
valve stem is a temperature responsive mechanism generally
designated by the numeral 60 for moving the valve stem 44
downwardly thus opening the valve member 36 when the ambient
temperature reaches a predetermined preset value.
The temperature responsive mechanism 60 includes a cylindrical
housing 62 having a plurality of radially extending tubular sensors
64 rigid or integral therewith with the interior of the sensors 64
being communicated with the interior of the housing 62 through
apertures 66. Also, the sensors 64 serve as handles for the unit
and it is pointed out that the sensors may be any shape or
configuration and may be located remotely if desired. For example,
the sensors may be in the form of a sensing tube located remotely
and communicated with the housing 62 by a suitable tube or other
conduit. The lower end of the housing 62 is joined with and sealed
to the upper end of the valve body 18 at 68 and the upper end of
the housing 62 is closed by a top plate 70 thus forming a sealed
unit which is filled with a gas or other fluid which expands when
subjected to heat.
Disposed interiorly of the housing 62 is an elongated cylindrical
bellows 72 having a lower plate 74 connected thereto in sealed
relation in any suitable manner. The center of the plate 74 is
provided with an internally threaded boss 76 that is attached to
the boss 50 by the external threads 52 thereof thereby connecting
the lower end of the bellows 72 stationarily to the valve body 18
with the threaded connection 52 enabling detachment of the bellows
72 when necessary. The upper end of the bellows 72 is provided with
a closure plate 78 that is provided with a central downwardly
extending internally threaded boss 80 which is in threaded
engagement with the upper externally threaded end 46 of the valve
stem 44 with this threaded connection enabling the valve stem 44 to
be detached from the bellows by employing a screwdriver in the
transverse slot or kerf 40 by holding the bellows 72 from rotation
thereby enabling replacement of the components as necessary.
The expansible gas or fluid in the housing 62 is externally of the
bellows and the valve spring 34 normally retains the valve member
36 in closed position and the bellows 72 in extended condition.
When temperature around the housing and sensors 64 increases, the
fluid or gas therein will expand thus causing the bellows 72 to
collapse inwardly and effectively shortening the length of the
bellows 72 thereby moving the valve stem 44 downwardly thus moving
the valve member 36 downwardly off of the valve seat 26 thereby
enabling pressurized fire extinguishing material within the
container 12 to be discharged through the discharge nozzle 56.
The top plate 78 is provided with an upwardly extending internally
threaded boss 82 extending from the top surface thereof and the
undersurface of the top plate 70 is provided with a conical valve
seat 84 which is engaged by a correspondingly tapered actuating
member 86 that forms a closure for the valve seat 84 when engaged
therewith. The actuator 86 includes an upwardly extending
cylindrical member 88 having external threads 90 and internal
threads 92 formed therein. The external threads 90 extend to the
tapered surface of the actuator 86 while the internal threads 92
extend throughout the internal bore of the cylindrical member 88
with the external threads 90 threadedly engaging the internally
threaded boss 82 as at 94. The upper end of the externally threaded
member 88 is provided with a manual handle structure generally
designated by the numeral 96 and which includes a plate 98 having a
depending internally threaded boss 100 thereon that is in threaded
engagement with the external threads 90 of the cylindrical member
88 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The plate 98 is detachably mounted on
the cylindrical member 88 by a set screw 102 thus locking the plate
98 to the cylindrical member 88 but enabling the manual handle
assembly 96 to be removed. One side of the plate or transverse rod
98 is provided an upstanding handle 104 terminating in a knob 106
or the like to facilitate rotation of the manual handle 96. With
the manual handle 96 mounted on the cylindrical member 88 and
locked nonrotatably thereto by the set screw 102, the handle 104
may be rotated thus causing the cylindrical member 88 and the
actuator 86 on the lower end thereof to move inwardly in relation
to the top plate 70 thus causing the actuator 86 to engage the top
plate 78 attached to the bellows 72 and move the top plate along
with the valve stem 44 and valve member 36 downwardly to move the
valve member 36 away from the valve seat 26 thus manually
discharging fire extinguishing material through the nozzle 56.
Thus, while the device is normally automatic in operation in
response to temperature increase, the device is also manually
actuated when desired by merely rotating the knob 106 or handle
104.
The cylindrical member 88 also includes a valve assembly 108 for
refilling the interior of the housing 62 and the sensors 64 with
expansible fluid or gas. This valve structure 108 includes a valve
seat 110 that is screw threaded into the lower end of the
cylindrical member 88 by engagement with the internal threads 92.
As illustrated, the valve seat 110 is recessed upwardly into the
bottom of the actuator 86 which includes a recess 112 therein to
space the valve seat 110 upwardly above the lower edge of the
actuator 86. A valve member 114 is engaged with the valve seat 110
and includes a stem 116 extending upwardly through the valve seat
110 and through a valve stem guide 118 in the upper end portion of
the cylindrical member 88 which is also in threaded engagement with
the internal threads 92. Surrounding the valve stem 116 is a coil
compression valve spring 120 which has the lower end thereof
engaged with the upper surface of the valve seat 110 and the upper
end engaged with a flange 122 that is rigid with the valve stem 116
with engagement of the flange 112 with the valve stem guide 118
serving to limit the upward movement of the valve stem 116 but the
assembly is installed so that the spring 120 will effectively
retain the valve member 114 against the valve seat 110 thereby
retaining the expansible fluid or gas within the housing 62. The
upper end of the valve stem 116 terminates at or slightly below the
upper end of the cylindrical member 88 and may be provided with a
spherical enlargement 124 or any other suitable structure for
enabling an actuator to open the valve when a source of pressurized
expansible fluid is connected with the cylindrical member 88 such
as by using the external threads 90 so that as an adapter unit is
screwed onto the threads 90, an actuator therein will engage the
upper end of the valve stem 124 and open the valve 114 so that a
supply of expansible fluid or gas within the housing 62 may be
replenished. Thus, in order to replenish the supply of expansible
fluid, it is only necessary to release the set screw 102 and rotate
the manual handle 96 in a manner to remove it from the upper end of
the cylindrical member 88 as illustrated in FIG. 3 thus enabling a
refill device to be attached to the upper end of the cylindrical
member 88, open the valve 114 and replenish the supply of
expansible gas within the housing 62.
The discharge nozzle 56 is in the form of a cylindrical body 126
having screw threaded engagement with an internally threaded
aperture or bore as at 128. The aperture or bore in the valve body
18 extends laterally from the hollow area 22 and the screw threaded
connection 128 enables the nozzle 56 to be removed and interchanged
with other nozzles having different discharge characteristics or to
enable a conduit or the like to be connected thereto for
discharging the fire extinguishing material in any suitable
location or direction. The inner end of the cylindrical member 126
is provided with a plate 130 having a plurality of apertures 132
extending therethrough with the apertures being disposed adjacent
the periphery of the cylindrical member 126 thus leaving the center
of the plate 130 imperforate. The center of the plate 130 is
provided with an externally threaded stud 134 thereon which
detachably receives a cylindrical member 136 having a deflector
plate 138 on the outer end thereof exteriorly of the end of the
cylindrical member 126 so that extinguishing material passing out
through the passageway 140 defined by the interior of the
cylindrical member 126 and the exterior of the rod like cylindrical
member 136 will be deflected outwardly by the deflector 138. The
discharge characteristics from the nozzle may be varied by
replacing the deflector 138 with other types of deflectors or if
desired, the entire nozzle 56 may be replaced by other types of
nozzles or replaced with a conduit to enable remote discharge of
the fire extinguishing material if desired.
The pressure gauge and refill assembly 58 is also mounted in an
internally threaded bore 142 in the valve body 18 which
communicates with the hollow area 28 below the valve member 36 and
the transverse plate 24 thus communicating the bore 142 with the
interior of the container or tank 12. Threaded into the inner end
of the bore 142 is a valve seat 144 with a valve member 146
engaging the inner end of the valve seat 144 as illustrated in FIG.
4. Also threaded into the threaded bore 142 is a valve stem guide
148 which slidably receives a valve stem 150 that is fixed to the
valve member 146. A valve spring 152 of the coil compression type
encircles the valve stem 150 with one end engaging the valve seat
144 and the other end engaging a flange 154 stationarily mounted on
the valve stem 150 thus serving to retain the valve member 146
against the valve seat 144 in a known manner. The valve stem guide
146 is provided with passageway 156 extending therethrough to
enable communication with the interior of the container 12 when the
valve member 146 is opened. The outer end of the valve stem 150 is
provided with a spherical enlargement 158 or other suitable
actuating means which is normally disposed inwardly of the outer
surface of the valve body 18 as illustrated in FIG. 4.
A pressure gauge 160 of any suitable type and having an indicating
dial and needle assembly 162 includes an externally threaded boss
164 that is threaded into the bore 142. The inner end of the
threaded boss 164 on the gauge 160 is provided with a transverse
actuator 166 that engages the outer end 158 of the valve stem 150
when the pressure gauge 160 is threaded inwardly into the bore 142
thereby opening the valve 146 and communicating the interior of the
container with the pressure gauge 160 so that the pressure within
the tank or container 12 will be reflected by the dial and needle
assembly 162 thus enabling an observer, inspector or the like to
readily determine the pressure condition within the container 12
and thus enable the container 12 to be refilled when necessary.
Refilling is accomplished by removing the pressure gauge 160 and
threading an adapter from a supply of pressurized fire
extinguishing material into the bore 140 with the adapter including
an actuator for engaging the valve stem head 158 thus opening the
valve 164 after which the fire extinguishing material in the
container 12 may be replenished. After the fire extinguishing
material has been discharged into the container 12, the refill
adapter may be removed and the pressure gauge 160 replaced.
An alternative method of filling the container is by removal of the
discharge nozzle 56 from its threaded opening and a threaded
attachment which permits pressurizing the container through the
valve 36 may be employed with the valve opening downwardly and
creating a passage into the tank 12. Either the pressure of the
fire extinguishing material may open the valve by compressing
spring 34 or the valve may be manually opened by the handle
structure 96. These methods of pressurizing the container are
required only when the fire extinguishers are of the pressurized
type but are not required when two chemical reagents are used such
as those materials and procedures disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat.
Nos. 3,452,819 issued July 1, 1969 and 3,543,859 issued Dec. 1,
1970.
The tube 30 serves as a discharge tube and may receive one of the
chemical reagents if the type of fire extinguishing material
disclosed in the above-mentioned patents is used. If chemical
reagents such as soda and acid or a foam type extinguisher are
used, a discharge tube 31 is employed with a nozzle 57 provided
therefor for discharging the fire extinguishing material when the
chemical reagents are mixed. This structure, of course, would not
be used when a pressurized type fire extinguishing material is
employed since it is open to the ambient atmosphere and
communicates with the tank 12 adjacent the bottom thereof as
illustrated in broken line in FIG. 1.
A squeeze grip handle assembly 168 is mounted on the valve body 18
and includes a lower handle member 170 that is rigidly affixed to
the valve body or housing 18 in any suitable manner and is curved
to conform with a person's hand so that the fire extinguisher may
be carried by gripping the handle 170 if desired. Also, a valve
actuator 172 is slidably mounted in the valve housing 18 within the
cavity 22 and includes a pointed inner end 174 and a downwardly
facing cam surface 176 which engages the inclined bottom edge of a
longitudinal slot 178 formed in the valve stem 44 so that when the
actuator 172 is moved inwardly, the cam surface 176 will force the
valve 36 downwardly to an open position. This provides for manual
actuation of the valve 36 independent of the bellows 72.
The outer end of the actuator 172 is provided with an enlarged head
180 with a coil compression spring 182 encircling the actuator 172
and spring biasing the actuator 172 to a retracted position as
illustrated in FIG. 2 which enables the spirng 34 to retain the
valve 36 against the valve seat 26.
An actuating and protecting plate 184 is provided in overlying
relation to the outer end portion of the actuator 172 with the
inner lower surface of the plate 184 engaging the rounded outer
surface of the enlarged head 180 on the actuator 172 so that as the
plate 184 is swung about a central fulcrum, the lower end thereof
will move inwardly while the upper end thereof will move outwardly
to the position illustrated in FIG. 1.
A pivotal handle 186 is provided for actuating the plate 184 with
the free end of the handle 186 being disposed adjacent the lower
surface of the sensor arm 64 and retained releasably adjacent the
tubular housing 62 by a resilient O-ring 188 or the like. The lower
end of the handle 184 is provided with a pair of lugs 190 pivoted
to stationary bracket lugs 192 on the housing 18 for pivotally
supporting the handle 186 for swinging movement from the position
illustrated in FIG. 2 which is the normal retracted position to the
position illustrated in FIG. 1 so that as the handles 186 and 170
are squeezed together, the valve actuator 172 will open the valve
36 for discharging fire extinguishing material.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lower end of the handle 186 is
provided with an inward projection 194 which engages the plate 184
below the center thereof so that as the handle 186 is swung
downwardly, the projecting end 194 will engage the outer surface of
the plate 184 and pivot it about the same pivot axis as the handle
lugs 190 with the lugs on the plate 184 being independent of the
lugs 190 on the handle 186 so that the plate 184 is actually
independent of the handle 186 except when the handle is pivoted
downwardly toward the position illustrated in FIG. 1 which moves
the lower end portion of the plate 184 inwardly which opens the
valve 36.
When the pivotal handle 186 is released, the valve actuator 172 is
retracted by the spring 182 and also by the camming force exerted
by the inclined surface 176 engaging the inclined bottom surface of
the slot 178 and the spring 34 urging the valve 36 toward closed
position. Thus, this device is effective as a potable fire
extinguisher which can be manually operated and also effective as a
portable fire extinguisher which incorporates a thermally sensitive
device to provide for automatic operation upon rise in temperature
to or beyond a predetermined high temperature.
The specific construction of the tank and the various threaded
connections may be varied to enable the thermally and manually
actuated device of the present invention to be assembled therewith.
Also, this fire extinguisher employs sensors having an orifice of
predetermined size in each sensor arm thus controlling the
expansion of the expansible heat-sensitive fluid. The expansible
fluid acting on the greater surface of the bellows will cause the
hollow bellows to move downwardly to open the valve thus allowing
pressurized fire extinguishing material within the tank to be
discharged through the nozzle. The temperature sensing device does
not depend exclusively upon the impingement of flames to react but
will react to a rise in temperature thus providing protection that
is highly desirable in fire protection objectives. This type of
fire extinguisher is especially desirable where it can be mounted
in an area where it will be responsive to a rise in temperature for
promptly activating a fire extinguisher so that a fire may be
extinguished during the initial stages of the fire. Exemplary of
such areas are bedrooms, garages, boiler rooms, storage areas,
living rooms, and places of business and other areas in which fires
may occur.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *