U.S. patent number 3,802,511 [Application Number 05/312,716] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-09 for portable fire extinguisher.
Invention is credited to Lewis B. Good, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,802,511 |
Good, Jr. |
April 9, 1974 |
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Abstract
A back-pack water tank is connected by a hose to a hand-held gun
having a discharge nozzle, and a selectively operable compressed
gas-driven pump is positioned between the tank and the nozzle for
pumping water at high pressure through the nozzle. The pump is
driven by compressed air from a pressure bottle carried on the
water tank, and connected with the pump through a valve. In one
embodiment a breathing mask is provided for the fireman, and is
connected with a bladder carried by the water tank and supplied
with air from the air discharge of the pump, or from the pressure
bottle.
Inventors: |
Good, Jr.; Lewis B. (Peoria,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
23212687 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/312,716 |
Filed: |
December 6, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
169/30; 239/154;
239/270; 239/308; 239/337; 239/375; 239/526; 224/148.2;
224/148.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B
9/0855 (20130101); A62C 15/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
9/08 (20060101); A62C 15/00 (20060101); A62c
011/00 (); A62c 017/00 (); A62c 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;169/30-33
;239/152-154,330,270,308,337,526,375,351 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,024,358 |
|
Jan 1953 |
|
FR |
|
1,073,795 |
|
Jan 1960 |
|
DT |
|
710,583 |
|
Jun 1954 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Ward, Jr.; Robert S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rosetta; Leo A.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A portable fire extinguisher, including: a tank for receiving
fire extinguishing liquid, and adapted to be worn by a fireman; gun
means adapted to be hand-held by a fireman, and including a
discharge nozzle; liquid conducting means connecting said tank with
said discharge nozzle, and including gas pressure operated pump
means having an inlet or an outlet, first conduit means connecting
said inlet with said tank, and second conduit means connecting said
outlet with said nozzle; and a source of gas pressure operably
connected with said pump means, said pump means being effective
when activated to pump liquid from said tank and discharge the same
under pressure through said nozzle.
2. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 1, wherein said
pump means is located within said gun.
3. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 2, wherein said
pump means is of the diaphragm type.
4. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 2, wherein said
pump means is of the piston type.
5. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 2, wherein said
pump means is of the rotary type.
6. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 1, wherein said
pump means is mounted on said tank.
7. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 1, wherein said
source of gas pressure includes: a gas bottle; bracket means on
said tank for carrying said gas bottle; a pressure regulator
connected to the outlet of said gas bottle; and a supply conduit
connected between the outlet of said regulator and said pump
means.
8. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 1, including
additionally: a bladder carried by said tank; face mask means
connected with said bladder; conduit means connected between said
pump means and said bladder, and adapted to collect spent gas from
said pump means and transmit said gas to said bladder, for use with
said face mask means.
9. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 8, including
additionally: a demand valve connected with said source of gas
pressure; and a conduit connecting said demand valve with said
bladder, for supplying supplemental gas to said bladder.
10. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 9, wherein
said face mask means is connected with said bladder by a breather
hose having a valve unit therein, said valve unit being selectively
operable to connect said face mask means either with said bladder
or with said atmosphere, and said face mask means including a flap
valve to prevent exhaled air from entering said breather hose.
11. A portable fire extinguisher, including: a tank for receiving
fire extinguishing liquid, and adapted to be worn by a fireman; gun
means adapted to be hand-held by a fireman, and including gas
pressure operated pump means having a liquid inlet and a liquid
outlet, and nozzle means connected with said liquid outlet of said
pump means; conduit means connecting said tank with said pump means
liquid inlet; a pressure bottle carried by said tank; and conduit
means connecting said pressure bottle with said pump means, for
transmitting operating gas pressure thereto.
12. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 11, wherein
said pump means includes: a reciprocating pump assembly mounted
within said gun body, said assembly being connected between said
liquid inlet and said liquid outlet, and being operable by gas
pressure to pump liquid from said tank to said nozzle through
reciprocating motion thereof; and valve means connected between
said conduit for transmitting operating gas pressure to said pump
means and said pump assembly, said valve means including a valve
operating stem reciprocably mounted within a working chamber, and a
spring-biased trigger connected with said valve operating stem,
said valve means being so arranged that when said trigger is
depressed and released said pump assembly will complete one
cycle.
13. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 12, wherein
said reciprocating pump assembly is of the diaphragm type.
14. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 12, wherein
said reciprocating pump assembly is of the piston type.
15. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 11, where said
pump means includes: a rotary vane liquid pump, including a shaft
having a rotor mounted thereon; and a rotary vane gas turbine,
including a rotor mounted on the same shaft as the rotor of said
liquid pump, the inlet of said rotary vane gas turbine being
connected with said conduit means for transmitting gas pressure to
said pump means, through adjustable valve means.
16. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 11, wherein
said pump means also has a gas pressure inlet port and a spent gas
discharge port, and wherein said fire extinguisher further
includes: a bladder carried by said tank, and connected with said
spent gas discharge port; face mask means; and a breather hose
connected between said bladder and said face mask means, said
pressure bottle being charged with breathable air.
17. A portable fire extinguisher as recited in claim 16, including
additionally: means connected between said pressure bottle and said
bladder, for supplying supplemental air to said bladder.
18. A gas pressure operated pump for use in portable fire
extinguishers, including: a gun having a chamber therein; a
reciprocating pump assembly received within said chamber, said pump
assembly including a pair of pumping chambers each having a liquid
inlet port and a liquid outlet port, said gun having a liquid
supply passage and a liquid discharge passage therewith, and said
gun further including interconnecting passages and check valves
arranged so that when said reciprocating pump assembly moves in a
first direction one of said pumping chambers is connected solely to
said liquid discharge passage and the other is connected solely
with said liquid supply passage, and so that when said pump
assembly moves in the opposite direction said one pumping chamber
is then connected solely to said liquid supply passage and said
other chamber is then connected solely with said liquid discharge
passage; and means operable to apply gas pressure to said pump
assembly to cause the same to reciprocate, said gas pressure
applying means including valve means having a trigger that when
depressed causes said pump assembly to move in one direction, and
when released and returned to its original position will cause said
pump assembly to move in the opposite direction.
19. A gas pressure operated pump as recited in claim 18, wherein
said reciprocating pump assembly is of the diaphragm type, and
includes a pair of diaphragms connected by a connecting rod and
against one side of which gas pressure is applied to cause said
assembly to reciprocate, the opposite sides of said diaphragms
constituting the end walls of pumping chambers.
20. A gas pressure operated pump as recited in claim 18, wherein
said reciprocating pump assembly is of the piston type, and
includes: a power piston slidably received within a power cylinder,
and against the opposite sides of which gas pressure is alternately
applied to cause reciprocation thereof; and a pair of puming piston
sections, one mounted on each side of said power piston, said
pumping piston sections each being received within a pumping
cylinder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fire extinguishers of
the type normally utilized to fight brush fires and other
conflagrations located away from areas that can be reached with
pressure hose lines. More particularly, it relates to a novel
portable fire extinguisher that can selectively provide a high
pressure stream of water for prolonged periods of time, and which
can also be equipped with breather apparatus for the fireman.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Over the years there have been many proposals for extinguisher
apparatus for use in fighting brush fires, and other conflagrations
located beyond the reach of pressure lines leading from a fire
hydrant or a pumper truck. Two common types of such equipment are
the self-contained pressurized extinguisher, such as the carbon
dioxide bottle, and the older wall-mounted can that contains water
and an internal pressurizing means that becomes activated either by
simply inverting the container, or by pulling a pin or the
like.
While such self-contained pressurized extinguishers can be
effective for fighting small fires in the office, around motor
vehicles, or at home, they hold only a small volume of extinguisher
liquid. Thus, they are not adequate for a brush fire, or other
larger conflagration. Moreover, they are difficult to recharge;
some, indeed, must be returned to a recharging station, and thus
cannot be reused for a long period of time. In addition, because
the tank containing the extinguisher liquid must also be
pressurized, a relatively expensive and heavy container usually is
required for extinguishers of this type.
Another type of extinguisher that has been used consists
essentially of a tank for containing water, and a hand or foot
operated pump for withdrawing water from the container and
converting it into a discharge stream. While such equipment can be
effective for some uses, normally the fireman will soon become
fatiqued from the exertion required to operate the pump. Moreover,
the discharge stream generated by such apparatus normally is of low
pressure, and thus is not particularly effective in fighting many
fires.
The virtues of a high pressure stream of water or other fire
extinguishing liquid are well known. First, of course, a high
pressure stream can be directed over a longer distance, thus
allowing the fireman to remain some distance away from the flames.
More importantly, a high pressure stream tends to break the water
into small particles which absorb heat more efficiently, and thus
such a stream is simply more effective in fighting fire than is a
low pressure stream.
There is thus a need for a portable fire extinguisher that can be
easily carried by a fireman to wherever it is needed, which can be
easily refilled with liquid and thus be used for prolonged periods,
and which will direct a high pressure stream of extinguishing
liquid against the flames without causing fatigue to the fireman.
The present invention is directed toward satisfying that need.
There is also need in many instances for a fireman to have an
auxiliary means for breathing, where smoke or other conditions make
it difficult for him to obtain air suitable for sustaining life.
There have been self-contained breathing devices conceived for this
purpose, but usually they are bulky and difficult to use in
conjunction with portable fire ex-tinguisher equipment. The need
for improved breathing equipment for use by a fireman under such
circumstances is recognized, and the subject invention is also
directed toward meeting this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The portable fire extinguisher of the present invention includes a
water tank adapted to be worn on the back of a fireman, a hand-held
gun that includes a discharge nozzle and which is connected to the
water tank by a flexible hose, and a gas pressure-operated pump
located between the water tank and the nozzle of the hand-held gun,
for pumping water from the backpack tank and discharging it at high
pressure through the nozzle.
The pump is operated by compressed gas from a bottle attached to
the back-pack water tank, a pressure regulator and a control valve
being disposed between the gas bottle and the pump. In the
principal embodiments of the invention the pump is contained in the
hand-held gun, and is operated either by a trigger or a control
valve on the gun. In one of the principal embodiments the pump is
of the diaphragm type, is another of the piston type, and in a
third of the rotary vane type.
In another embodiment of the invention, the pump is attached to the
water tank rather than being mounted in the gun, whereby the gun
can be considerably lighter in weight.
One of the important features of the invention in all its
embodiments is that the water tank itself need not be pressurized,
thereby allowing it to be made of lightweight material, and making
it an easy matter for the tank to be refilled while it is on the
back of a fireman fighting a blaze, either by himself or someone
else. Thus, the fireman is more able to carry the extinguisher to
where it is needed, and need not break off contact on the fire line
when he has used up the liquid in the tank.
Typically, a single bottle of compressed gas, which will normally
be air, will be sufficient to pump several tanks of water, or some
other fire extinguishing liquid. When a gas bottle does become
empty, such can be quickly changed so that the fireman can resume
his place on the fire line.
The pumps of the various embodiments of the invention all have one
feature in common, and that is their ability to produce a high
pressure stream of water or other extinguishing liquid from the
nozzle of the hand-held gun, without requiring th fireman to exert
himself and become fatigued. In the invention, such a high pressure
stream is generated because of the design of the pumps themselves,
and because such are powered by compressed gas. Thus, a very
effective high pressure fire fighting liquid stream is produced,
without in any way fatiguing the fireman by requiring him to
manually operate a pump, an arrangement that in any case will
normally only produce a low pressure stream that is inherently less
effective in fighting a fire than a high pressure stream.
The fire extinguisher of the invention also includes as an optional
feature breathing apparatus for the fireman, for use in those
instances where air for breathing is not available in adequate
quantities at the fire scene. The novel breathing apparatus of the
invention is integrated with the other components of the portable
fire extinguisher, and makes use of compressed air discharged by
the pump apparatus which would otherwise simply be exhausted to the
atmosphere.
The breathing apparatus of the invention includes a large bladder
that is wrapped around the back-pack water tank, and to which is
connected a hose leading from the gas discharge ports of the pump.
In this instance the gas bottle contains compressed air, and the
spent air from the pump is received in the bladder and stored for
use in the breathing apparatus. A safety valve prevents
over-inflation of the bladder, and in those instances where the
pump discharge is inadequate to maintain an adequate volume of air
in the bladder for breathing, the bladder draws additional air
directly from the gas bottle through a suitable demand
regulator.
A face mask is connected to the bladder by a breather hose, the
latter having a specially designed valve therein that is opened by
the fireman under normal conditions so that he can inhale air from
the atmosphere. When the ambient atmosphere in which he is working
becomes unsuited for breathing, he closes the breather hose valve
and thereafter draws air for breathing solely from the bladder. The
face mask is equipped with a separate exhalator valve, and with a
flap valve on the breather hose that prevent the entry of exhaled
air thereinto.
The breather apparatus of the invention is light in weight, in part
because it makes use of the spent air from the pump. Moreover, it
forms a compact unit with the fire extinguisher, one that can be
quickly put on by a fireman, and which leaves the fireman
relatively free to move about.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a
portable fire extinguisher that can be used by a fireman for a
prolonged period of time, and which will direct a high pressure
stream of water on a fire.
Another object is to provide a high pressure fire extinguisher
wherein the water tank itself is not pressurized, whereby it can be
of light construction and easily refilled.
Yet another object is to provide a fire extinguisher pump apparatus
that is light in weight, and which can be operated by pressure from
a gas bottle to produce a high pressure stream of fire-fighting
liquid.
A further object of the invention is to provide breathing apparatus
for use by a fireman in a hostile ambient atmosphere, and which is
operable with air discharged from an air pressure-driven pump.
Still another object is to provide a breathing apparatus that can
be optionally connected for breathing air from the atmosphere, or
from a storage bladder.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a portable fire
extinguisher that can be operated without casuing undue fatigue to
the fireman.
Other objects and many of the advantages of the present invention
will become readily apparent from the following Description of the
Preferred Embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a first embodiment of the portable
fire extinguisher of the invention being worn by a fireman, wherein
the hand-held gun contains a diaphragm pump operated by compressed
gas from a bottle carried on the back-pack water tank, the spent
gas from the pump being discharged into the atmosphere;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the
portable fire extinguisher equipped with the breathing apparatus of
the invention, the breathing apparatus including a bladder wrapped
about the water tank and to which the air discharge ports of the
pump are connected by flexible hoses;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the hand-held gun
of FIG. 2, taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2 and showing details
of the diaphragm pump, and of the air passages and the trigger
arrangement for operating the same;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4--4 in
FIG. 3, and showing in particular the arrangement of the water
passages for the pump;
FIG. 5 is a tranverse sectional view taken on the line 5--5 in FIG.
3, further showing details of the pump passages;
FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the back-pack water tank, the
air bottle and the wrap around bladder of FIG. 2, showing the
arrangement thereof;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on
the line 7--7 in FIG. 2, through the breather tube valve;
FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8--8 in
FIG. 7, and showing details of the manually operable valve element
for allowing the fireman to draw air for breathing from either the
atmosphere or from the bladder;
FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 9--9 in
FIG. 7, showing the flap valve for preventing entry of exhaled air
into the breather tube;
FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view through a second embodiment of
a hand-held gun containing a pump, wherein the pump is of the
piston type;
FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 11--11
in FIG. 10, showing the water passages for the piston pump;
FIG. 12 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken along the
line 12--12 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of a
hand-held gun containing a pump, wherein the pump is of the rotary
vane type and is driven by an air motor contained in the pump, the
view being taken substantially on the line 13--13 in FIG. 14;
FIG. 14 is an end elevational view, partly in section, of the
hand-held gun of FIG. 13, taken on the staggered line 14--14 in
FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view through a modified form of the air
motor for the pump of FIGS. 13 and 14, wherein flexible rotor vanes
are utilized;
FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the
present fire extinguisher, wherein the pump is located on the
back-pack water tank rather than in the hand-held gun; and
FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 16.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, a fireman is shown in phantom lines at 2,
wearing the preferred embodiment 4 of the fire extinguisher of the
invention. The extinguisher 4 includes a generally rectagular water
tank 6 having a tapered bottom 8 that terminates in an outlet 10,
and which is equipped with shoulder straps 12 so that the fireman 2
can easily back-pack the same. The water tank 6 also includes a top
wall 14 having a filling lid 16 thereon, the lide 16 being of the
type that can be easily removed for filling and refilling the tank,
and the opening on which the lid 16 fits being suitably large for
easy filling in the field.
The water tank 6 is not pressurized, but rather need only be of
sufficient weight and strength to hold the desired volume of water,
or other fire extinguishing liquid. Thus, it can be made of any
desired material, and should be light in weight. Similarly, the lid
16 is not of the pressure type, and thus can fit loosely so that it
can be easily removed and replaced. Ideally, the lid 16 should
carry a chain disposed inwardly of the water tank 6 in the normal
manner, so that such cannot become lost during filling of the tank,
the internal chain arrangement being utilized because an externally
mounted one might catch on overhanging limbs or the like.
In addition to the water tank 6, the fire extinguisher 4 includes a
hand-held gun 18 that contains a diaphragm pump. The hand-held gun
18 in FIG. 1 is identical to the gun 18 in FIG. 2, construction of
the latter being shown in FIGS. 3-5, the water inlet 20 of the gun
18 being connected to the outlet 10 of the water tank 6 by a water
supply hose 22. The pump within the gun 18 of FIG. 1 is operated by
compressed gas withdrawn from a pressure bottle 24 detachably
secured to the rear wall 26 of the water tank 6 by brackets 28, the
gas inlet 30 of the gun 18 being connected with the bottle 24 by a
pressure hose 32, through a pressure regulator 34.
The hand-held gun 18 of FIGS. 1-5 includes a front body portion 36
and a handle body portion 38, said body portions having mating
flanges 40 and 42, respectively, thereon and being secured together
by bolts 44, a sheet gasket 46 being clamped between the mating
flat end faces of the body portions. The body portions 36 and 38
have enlarged, confronting cylindrical chambers 48 and 50 therein,
which together form a chamber for receiving a diaphragm unit 52,
there being reduced diameter gas pressure chambers 54 and 56,
respectively, at the inner ends of the chambers 48 and 50.
The diaphragm unit 52 includes a pair of flexible diaphragms 60
connected at their center portions by an axial, cylindrical
connecting rod 62, the ends of the rod 62 being of reduced diameter
and threaded, and extending through central openings in the
diaphragms 60. Washers 64 and nuts 66 are placed on the threaded
outer ends of the connecting rod 62, to secure the diaphragms 60
thereto. The connecting rod 62 is of a length between the
diaphragms 60 corresponding to the distance between radial
shoulders 68 and 70 located at the opposite ends of the chambers 48
and 50, respectively, when the body portions 36 and 38 are
assembled. The outer peripheries of the diaphragms 60 rest on the
shoulder 68 and 70, and are clamped thereagainst by the opposite
end faces of a pair of cylindrical sleeves 72 and 74, respectively,
received in the chambers 48 and 50, the sleeves 72 and 74 having a
circular plate 76 clamped therebetween provided with a central
axial opening 78 through which the connecting rod 62 passes, the
opening 78 carrying an O-ring seal 80.
The space within the sleeves 72 an 74 on the opposite sides of the
plate 76, and bounded by the flexible diaphragms 60, constitute
separate liquid pumping chambers. Referring now in particular to
FIG. 4, the liquid passages associated with the diaphragm unit 52
will be described. Water or other fire extinguishing liquid
supplies to the gun 18 through the inlet 20 flows upwardly through
a passage 82 in the handle body portion 38, to a short passage 84
that feeds a rear transverse passage 86 leading to two parallel
passages 88 and 90 disposed on opposite sides of and lying parallel
with the axis of the chambers 48 and 50. The forward ends of the
parallel passages 88 and 90 connect with a front transverse passage
92, which leads to a threaded outlet 94 fitted with a suitable
nozzle element 96 that preferably is adjustable to provide for
different spray patterns.
The forward sleeve 72 has a port 98 therein aligned with a passage
100 intersecting the parallel passage 88, and similarly the rear
sleeve 74 has a port 102 therein aligned with a passage 104
connecting with the other parallel passage 90. Disposed in the
parallel passage 88 on opposite sides of the passage 100 are front
and rear check valves 106 and 108, respectively, the front check
valve 106 allowing flow toward the nozzle 96, but preventing flow
in the opposite direction, and the rear check valve 108 allowing
flow from the supply passage 82, but preventing flow theretoward. A
similar set of front and rear check valves 110 and 112,
respectively, are positioned in the other parallel passage 90, on
opposite sides of the passage 104.
The diaphragm unit 52 functions to pump liquid through the nozzle
96 in the following manner. Assume a starting point for a cycle as
shown in FIG. 4, and that liquid is being supplied through the
passage 82. When the rod 62 is driven to the rear, the front
diaphragm 60 will move toward the fornt sleeve 72 and will reduce
the volume therein, forcing any liquid within the sleeve 72 out
through the port 98 into the parallel passage 88. When the thus
pumped liquid reaches the parallel passage 88 it passes through the
front check valve 106 to the nozzle 96, flow in the opposite
direction being blocked by the rear check valve 108.
Simultaneously, the volume within the rear sleeve 74 will be
increasing, and liquid from the supply passage 82 will be drawn
thereinto through the parallel passage 90 and the rear check valve
108. After reaching its rearmost position the diaphragm rod 62
reverses its movement, and liquid is pumped from the rear sleeve 74
while simultaneously the front sleeve 72 is recharged, to complete
an operating cycle. In this manner liquid is pumped through the
nozzle 96, the nozzle being adjusted to produce the type of
pressure steam desired by the fire fighter.
The diaphragm assembly 52 is powered by gas pressure supplied to
the hand held gun 18 through the conduit 32, a shut-off valve 114
being positioned in the conduit 32 at the gas inlet 30. The inlet
30 intersects a manifold axial passag 116 that connects at its ends
to front and rear transverse supply passages 118 and 120,
respectively, that in turn connect to passages 122 and 124 leading
to front and rear diaphragm passages 126 and 128, respectively. One
end of the front diaphragm passage 126 terminates in the front gas
pressure chamber 54, and the other end thereof leads to a threaded
front spent gas port 130. Similarly, the rear diaphragm passage 128
connects with the rear gas pressure chamber 56, and terminates at
its outer end in a rear spent gas port 132.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the spent gas exhaust ports 130 and 132
are merely open to the atmosphere, while in the embodiment of FIG.
2 they are connected to air exhaust hoses 134 and 136. In both
instances, the pots 130 and 132 serve to exhaust gas from the
chambers 54 and 56.
Intersecting the passages 126, 118, 120 and 128 in an axial working
bore 138, containing an elongated valve stem 140 the rear end of
which is connected to a trigger 142. The trigger 142 has its
opposite ends slidingly seated within upper and lower slots or
grooves 144 and 146 provided in a trigger guard 148 that is formed
as part of a pistol grip 150 on the rear body portion 38, the
trigger guard 148 having a face plate 149 thereon secured in place
by screws 151, and which is removed to mount the ends of the
trigger 142 in the slots or grooves 144 and 146. The trigger 142,
and thus the valve stem 140, is biased toward a fully forward
position by a spring 152 connected at one end thereof centrally to
the trigger 142, and with its other end seated within a recess 154
in the pistol grip 150. When the trigger 142 is depressed against
the spring 152 until it has moved fully rearwardly, the valve stem
140 will be in its fully rearward position, upon release of the
trigger 142, the spring 152 will return the valve stem to its fully
forward position.
The valve stem 140 has front and rear passages 156 nd 158
therethrough, respectively, the passages 156 and 158 and the
passages 126, 118, 120 and 128 being so spaced that when the valve
stem 140 is in its fully forward position the front valve stem
passage 156 will be aligned with the front diaphragm passage 126
while the rear valve stem passage 158 will be aligned with the
passage 120, and so that when the valve stem 140 is in its fully
rearward position the front valve stem passage 156 will be aligned
with the passage 118 while the rear valve stem passage 158 will be
aligned with the rear diaphragm passage 128.
The valve stem has transverse check valve bores 160 and 162
therethrough on either side of the front passage 156, and
transverse check valve bores 164 and 166 on either side of the rear
passage 158, respectively. The distance from the centerlines of the
check valve bores 160 and 162 to the centerline of the front
passage 156 is identical to the spacing between the centerlines of
the passages 126 and 118, and the similar distance between the
bores 164 and 166 and the passage 158 is identical to the spacing
between the centerlines of the passages 120 and 128. Disposed
within each of the check valve bores 160, 162, 164 and 166 is a
ball check valve element 168.
When the valve stem 140 is in its fully forward position, as shown
in FIG. 3, the ball element 168 is received in the check valve bore
162 will thus block the flow of gas pressure into the bore 118,
allowing pressure from the front gas pressure chamber 54 to be bled
through the front exhaust port 130, and the ball element 168
carried in the check valve port 166 will block the rear exhaust
port 132 while gas pressure is being supplied to the rear gas
pressure chamber 56. The result is that the diaphragm rod 62 will
be driven forward.
When the fireman then depresses the trigger 142 to move the valve
stem 140 to its fully rearward position, the passage 158 will align
with the rear diaphragm passage 128 to connect the rear pressure
chamber 56 to the rear exhaust port 132, and the ball element
carried in the check valve bore 164 will block the flow of gas
pressure from the manifold passage 116 into the bore 120. At the
same time, the passage 156 will align with the passage 118 to
supply gas pressure to the front pressure chamber 54, and the ball
element carried in the check valve bore 160 will block the front
exhaust port 130, resulting in driving of the diaphragm rod 62 in a
rearward direction. Release of the trigger 142 will then complete
the cycle.
It is readily seen from the foregoing that a fireman holding the
gun 18 can pump liquid through the nozzle 96 merely by alternately
depressing and releasing the trigger 142 against the spring 152, an
action requiring little energy and which is not fatiguing. The
liquid is pumped under pressure from the nozzle 96, using gas
pressure from the bottle 24, which drives the diaphragm pump.
The fire extinguisher 4 in FIG. 1 can be easily placed on the back
of a fireman, and thereafter the lid 16 of the tank 6 is removed to
fill it with water or other liquid when required. The regulator 34
is set to the desired gas pressure for operating the hand-held pump
18, and the bottles 24 are easily changed whenever needed. Thus, a
truly portable and easy to use extinguisher has been provided, one
that will not fatigue the fireman, which can be easily carried to
the scene of a brush fire or other conflagration, and which will
direct a high pressure stream of liquid where needed upon
demand.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6-9, a modification of the invention
is shown wherein the extinguisher 4 of FIG. 1 is equipped with
breathing apparatus for the fireman 2. In FIG. 2 a bladder 170 is
wrapped around the bottom and sides of the water tank 6 and is
connected thereto by straps 172, the bladder serving as a reservoir
for receiving and storing air for breathing. The bladder 170 is
supplied with air from two sources, both ultimately coming from the
gas bottle 24, which in this instance is initially filled with
compressed air suitable for breathing. The compressed air withdrawn
from the bottle 24 for operation of the pump gun 18 is returned
from the gun through the exhaust conducits 134 and 136 mentioned
earlier, said conduits being combined into a single return conduit
174 which is connected to an inlet 176 mounted on top of one of the
legs of the U-shaped bladder 170. Thus, spent air from the gun 18
is stored in the bladder 170, for later breathing use.
It is recognized that the volume of spent air from the gun 18 may
not be sufficient for breathing, and thus a second inlet 178
mounted near the inlet 176 is connected through a demand valve 180
mounted after the regulator 34 for providing air to the gun 18, a
pressure guage 182 being placed before the gun air pressure
regulator 34. The demand valve 180 is of conventional construction,
and is designed to open when air pressure in the bladder 170 drops
below atmospheric, to thereby supplement the spent air flow
entering the bladder 170 from the conduits 134 and 136 so that an
adequate supply of breathing air is always contained in the
bladder. The bladder 170 preferable contains a suitable muffling
device, to absorb the sounds of air exhausting from the pump 18,
and the bladder itself can be made of inflatable rubber, plastic or
any other suitable, light in weight material. In order to prevent
excessive pressure within the bladder 170, such is fitted with a
uitable pressure relief valve 184, designed to open if the pressure
within the bladder 170 builds substantially beyond atmospheric.
An outlet port 186 is mounted on the upper end of the other leg of
the U-shaped, wrap-around bladder 170, and has one end of a
flexible breather hose 188 connected thereto. The other end of the
breather hose 188 is connected through a breather valve 190 to a
face mask 192 worn by the fireman 2. The face mask 192 is equipped
with the usual exhalator valve 193.
The breather valve 190 is specially designed to allow the fireman
to breath either air from the ambient atmosphere, or air from the
bladder 170, and such comprises a cylindrical body 194 connected at
one end to one end of the breather hose 188, and having a flange
196 on its opposite end for mounting a screw thimble 198 for
connecting the valve 190 to a threaded nipple 200 on the face mask
192.
Medially thereof the cylindrical body 194 has an annular groove 202
therein, within which a three quarter ring 204 is rotatably
received, the ring 204 having prongs 206 on opposite sides of the
gap 208 therein to facilitate turning thereof. The reduced
diameter, annular groove portion 202 of the body 194 has a port 210
therethrough, which can be covered and uncovered by the rotatable
three-quarter ring 204.
Mounted between the abutting faces of the flanged end 196 of the
valve body 194 and the end of the nipple 200 is a disc 212 having
openings 214 therethrough, and fitted with a flexible flap 216 of a
size to cover all of the openings 214, and which is connected to
the disc 212 by a screw 218. The flap 216 forms a valve that blocks
the openings 214 during exhalation of the firearm to thereby
prevent exhaled air from entering the breather hose 188, the flap
being easily moved from inhalation to allow fresh aire to enter the
face mask 192.
The fireman 2 has a choice of breathing air from the ambient
atmosphere, or air from the bladder 170. To do the former, the ring
204 is turned to align the gap 208 with the port 210. When it is
then desired to block access to the ambient air, the ring 204 is
merely turned to block the port 210.
The breathing apparatus as just described is light in weight and
easy to use, and is designed to make use of the spent air from the
air operated pump gun 18 so as to require a minimum of available
air for breathing. Thus, it forms with the extinguisher aPparatus 4
a self-contained apparatus ideally suited for fighting fires where
the available air is inadequate for breathing purposes. Obviously,
the hoses and the valves can be located otherwise than as shown, to
provide the maximum accessability to a fireman who wears the
equipment.
Referring now to FIGS. 10-12, a second embodiemnt for the hand-held
pump of the invention is shown at 220, wherein a piston arrangement
is utilized to pump the liquid rather than the diaphragm unit 52 of
FIGS. 1-9. The gun pump 220 includes a front body portion 222 and a
rear body portion 224, respectively having flanges 226 and 228
thereon that are connected by bolts 230, a sheet gasket 234 being
clamped between the confronting faces of the two portions. The
confronting faces of the body portions 222 and 224 have aligned
bores 236 and 238 therein that together define a power
piston-receiving cylinder, and which receive a cylindrical bushing
240. Reduced diameter front and rear axial pumping chambers 242 and
244, respectively, lie on the axis of the cylinder formed by the
bores 236 and 238, the front pumping chamber 242 terminating in a
threaded outlet 246 fitted with a suitable nozzle element 248.
Received within the cylindrical bushing 240 is a power piston 250
carrying a sealing ring 252 centrally thereof, and from the
opposite ends of which extend reduced diameter front and rear
pumping piston sections 254 and 256, respectively, which are
received in the front and rear pumping chambers 242 and 244. The
pumping sections 254 and 256 carry O-ring seals 258 thereon, and
are substantially shorter in length than the pumping chambers 242
and 244 within which they are slidably received.
The rear portion 224 of the gun 220 has a grip handle 260 thereon
through which a supply passage 262 extends, the lower end of the
supply passage 262 being connected to the supply conduit 22 leading
from the water tank 6. The upper end of the supply passage 262
opens into the rear end portion of the rear pumping chamber 244,
and also into a transverse bore 264 leading to a passage 266 that
extends parallel to the pumping chambers 242 and 244. A similar
parallel passage 268 lies on the opposite side of the chambers 242
and 244, and is connected with the rear pumping chamber 244 by a
transverse bore 270. The intersections of the bores 264 and 270
with the rear pumping chamber 244 are spaced apart, and disposed
within the chamber 244 between said intersections is a one-way
check valve 272 that allows flow to occur from the supply pasage
262 into the pumping chamber 244, but which blocks flow from the
inner portion of the chamber 244 and from the bore 270 toward the
supply passage 262.
The front pumping chamber 242 is connected with the forward ends of
the parallel passages 266 and 268 by axially spaced transverse
bores 274 and 276, respectively, and a check valve 278 is
positioned in the chamber 242 between the intersections of said
bores 274 and 276 therewith. The check valve 278 allows flow from
the bore 274 and from the chamber 242 to flow to the nozzle 248,
but prevents flow from the transverse bore 276 into the chamber 242
and the bore 274.
Disposed within the parallel passages 266 and 268 at the mating
faces of the body portions 222 and 224 are check valves 280 and
282, respectively. The check valve 280 allows flow from the
transverse bore 264 towards the transverse bore 274, but prevents
such flow in the opposite direction. Similarly, the check valve 282
allows for flow from the transverse bore 270 towards the transverse
bore 276, and prevents such flow in the opposite direction.
In operation, the power piston 250 is alternately driven from one
end of the power cylinder formed by the bores 236 and 238 to the
other end thereof, causing the pumping piston portions 254 and 256
to reciprocate within their pumping chambers 242 and 244. Assuming
the initiation of a cycle with the power piston 250 disposed
rearwardly, as shown in FIGS. 10-12, the pump of the gun 220
functions as follows.
When the power piston 250 moves forwardly, the front pumping piston
section 254 moves into the chamber 242, reducing the volume
thereof. As a result, liquid contained therein is forced through
the check valve 278 to the nozzle 248, the check valves 280 and 282
preventing flow back toward the supply passage 262. At the same
time, the rear pumping piston section 256 is withdrawn from the
chamber 244, causing liquid to be drawn thereinto from the supply
passage 262 through the check valve 272.
When the power piston 250 reaches its fully forward position, the
direction of movement thereof is reversed. The rear pumping piston
section 256 then moves into the rear pumping chamber 244, reducing
the volume thereof and forcing liquid to the nozzle 246 through the
passage 268 and the check valve 282. The check valve 272 blocks
flow toward the supply passage 262.
Simultaneously, the front pumping piston 254 will be withdrawn from
the front chamber 242, causing liquid to be drawn thereinto through
the parallel passage 266 and the check valve 280. When the power
piston 250 has again reached its rearmost position, the cycle is
completed.
The power piston 250 in FIGS. 10-12 is driven by air pressure
through a mecahnism that functions similarly to the air pressure
driving mechanism of FIGS. 1-9 for the diaphragm unit 52. The
opposite ends of the chambers 236 and 238 have ports 284 and 286
leading thereinto, and which are connected to the upper end of
passages 288 and 290 that correspond to the passages 126 and 128,
respectively. The vertical passages 288 and 290 intersect
horizontal passages 292 and 294, and an axial, horizontal working
bore 296 corresponding to the bore 138.
Received within the bore 296 is an elongated valve stem 298 similar
to the valve stem 140, and which is actuacted by a trigger guard
302 and biased by a spring 304, in a manner identical to the
arrangement in FIGS. 1-9. The valve stem 298 has front and rear
transverse check valve bores 306 and 308 therein, each containing a
ball element 310. On opposite sides of the front bore 306 the valve
stem 298 is reduced in diameter at 312 and 314 to form passages,
and similarly is reduced at 316 and 318 on both sides of the rear
bore 308.
The passages 312 and 314 and the bore 306 are so arranged that when
the bore 306 is aligned with the passage 288 the passage 312 will
be aligned with a vertical passage 320, and so that when the bore
306 is aligned with the passage 320, the passage 314 will be
aligned with the passage 288. Similarly, the rear passages 316 and
318 are arranged so that when the bore 308 is aligned with the
passage 290 (which occurs while the bore 306 is in alignment with
the passage 320), the passage 318 will be aligned with a vertical
passage 322, and so that when the bore 306 is aligned with the
passage 322 the passages 316 and 290 will be in alignment. The
upper ends of the passages 320 and 322, respectively intersect the
horizontal passages 292 and 294, and their lower ends have threaded
outlet or discharge ports 326 and 328.
In light of the operating description given earlier for the similar
gas pressure control arrangement of FIGS. 1-9, it is believed
unnecessary to describe in detail how the control arrangement of
FIGS. 10-12 functions, such being obvious from the drawings.
Suffice it to note that a pumping cycle will occur each time the
trigger 300 is depressed and released, and that the spent gas will
leave through the ports 326 and 328, which can either be allowed to
discharge to the atmosphere as in FIG. 1, or which can be connected
to the collector hoses 134 and 136 that supply the bladder 170.
Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, a third modification of the
hand-held gun of the invention is indicated at 330, utilizing a
rotary vane pump arrangement for taking the liquid from the tank 6
and discharging it through a nozzle. The arrangement of FIGS. 13
and 14 has the advantage that the trigger is eliminated, and the
unit itself is somewhat lighter in weight.
The gun 330 includes a grip portion 332 having a housing 334
attached thereto, the housing 334 having an axial chamber 336
therein that is closed at its rear end and which has a threaded
opening 338 at its outer end. Received within the chamber 336 is a
vane pump assembly 340, including a rearwardly facing, cup-shaped
air cylinder 342 and a similarly shaped liquid cylinder 344, the
two cylinders 342 and 344 being in abutting relationship, and being
secured against relative rotation by key pins 346. An end plate 348
is received in the chamber 336 and closes the open end of the air
cylinder 342, relative rotation between the two elements being
prohibited by key pins 350. A threaded plug 352 secures the vane
pump assembly 340 in place within the chamber 336.
The end wall of the cup-shaped air cylinder 342 has an offset or
eccentric bore 352 therethrough, which is aligned with sockets 354
and 356 in the end plate 348 and the end wall of the liquid
cylinder 344, respectively, said sockets being fitted with journal
bearings, and receiving the opposite ends of a shaft 358 that also
passes through the bore 352. An O-ring seal 360 in the bore 352
prevents leakage between the air and liquid cylinder working
chambers.
The shaft 358 has a pair of cylindrical rotors 362 and 364 keyed
thereto, the rotor 362 being received in the working chamber of the
air cylinder 342 and the rotor 364 being received in the working
chamber of the liquid chamber 344. The two eccentrically mounted
rotors 362 and 364 have radial vanes 366 and respectively, mounted
in radial slots therein, in the usual manner.
The gun 330 is supplied with gas under pressure from the bottle 24
through the supply conduit 32, the latter being connected to a
threaded inlet port 370 in the lower end of the grip portion 332 of
the gun. The port 370 is at the lower end of a supply passage 372
that extends upwardly through the grip 332, and which is
intersected above the port 370 by a transverse bore 374 that
includes a threaded portion 376. Received in the bore 374 is a
threaded needle valve element 378 having a conical tip 380 thereon,
the tip 380 being seatable in a conical socket 382 provided in the
sidewall of the passage 372. The needle valve element 378 can thus
be adjusted to block off all air flow through the air supply
passage 372, or to provide for the flow of a desired quantity of
air.
The upper end of the air supply passage 372 is aligned with a
supply port 384 provided in the air cylinder 342, and which leads
to a recessed arcuate supply chamber 386 within the working chamber
of the cylinder 342 at the base or vane-retracted side of the rotor
362. Located at the discharge side of the eccentric rotor 362 in
the cylinder 342 is a discharge port 388, which is aligned with a
discharge bore 390 threaded at its outer end for connection, if
desired, to a collector hose 392 leading to the bladder 170. In
order to assure proper alignment between the passage 372 and the
port 384, and between the discharge port 388 and the bore 390, an
alignment pin 394 is threaded into a transverser bore 396 provided
in the housing 334, and engages within a socket 398 in the liquid
cylinder 344.
It is thus seen that the shaft 358 can be caused to rotate, merely
by adjusting the needle valve 378 to admit gas pressure to the
supply passage 372. Such gas pressure will engage the vanes 366 of
the eccentric air rotor 362, causing the air rotor and the attached
shaft 358 to rotate. This in turn rotates the liquid rotor 364.
Water or another liquid for fighting fire is furnished to the pump
330 through the supply conduit 22 leading from the tank 6, the
conduit 22 being threadably connected to a port 400 provided in the
housing 334, and which is aligned with an inlet port 402 in the
pump cylinder 344. The pump cylinder 344 also has a discharge port
404, aligned with a bore 406 in the housing 334 that terminates in
a threaded discharge port 408 to which a nozzle 410 is mounted. The
nozzle 410 is adjustable from zero flow upwardly, to provide a
desired discharge pattern. To prevent leakage, seals 412 are
carried by the assembly 340 about the ports 384, 388 and 400, and
bore 406.
In operation, the needle valve 378 is opened to allow gas pressure
to reach the air rotor 362, which is then driven thereby and in
turn drives the liquid rotor 364, the latter being effective to
draw liquid from the tank 6 and discharge it under pressure through
the nozzle 410. The needle valve 378 and the nozzle 410 can be
mutually adjusted, to provide the precise discharge pattern
desired. Spent air, if desired, is collected by the conduit 392 and
passed to the bladder 170.
A modification of the air and liquid rotor construction of FIGS. 13
and 14 is shown in FIG. 15, wherein instead of sliding vanes
mounted in a solid rotor, flexible vanes 412 of rubber or the like
are utilized. Such flexible vanes are known in the art, and offer
certain advantages like less weight and simpler construction over
the vane structure of FIGS. 13 and 14.
In all of the embodiments thus far shown, the pump is located in
the hand-held gun. Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, yet another
embodiment of the invention is shown at 413, wherein instead of
being located in the hand-held gun 414 the pump unit is mounted on
the tank 6.
In FIGS. 16 and 17 a water tank 416 is provided, of similar
construction to the tank 6, with a tapered bottom 418 that ensures
drainage of the tank even if the fireman wearing it is bending
over, as is also true of tank 6. It is to be understood that both
the tanks 6 and 416 can be filled either while on the back of the
fireman, or before they are so mounted, as desired.
Mounted on the tank 416 by brackets 420 is an air bottle 422, and a
bladder 424 correspondin to the bladder 170. Below the brackets 420
a rotary pump unit 426 is mounted, the unit 426 being of similar
construction to the rotary pump shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, and being
supplied with air pressure through a conduit 428 and a needle valve
430. The conduit 428 leads from a T-fitting 432 attached to the
outlet of a pressure regulator 434 that is attached to the outlet
of the air bottle 422 by a fast disconnect handwheel 436, the
regulator 434 corresponding to the regulator 34.
Liquid is supplied to the pump 426 from the tank 416 by a conduit
438, and the discharge of the pump unit 426 is connected by a
conduit 440 with the hand-held gun 414, the latter having an
adjustable nozzle 442 thereon.
Spent air from the pump unit 426 is collected by a conduit 444 and
transmitted to the bladder 424, the bladder receiving supplemental
air from the bottle 422 through the regulator 434, and an air
demand valve 446 connected to the center leg of the T-fitting 448.
The fire extinguisher unit 413 is employed in a manner similar to
the extinguisher shown in FIG. 2, a face mask being connected to
the bladder 424.
In all of the embodiments of the invention, it is readily seen that
a portable fire extinguisher has been provided that can be easily
handled by a fire fighter, which includes a lightweight water tank
that can be easily refilled, and which will provide a high pressure
stream of water from a hand-held nozzle gun, without tiring the
fireman to produce such a stream. Thus, it is evident that all of
the objects set forth for the invention have been achieved.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are
possible.
* * * * *