Means For Extinguishing Fires

Abstract

A means for extinguishing fires comprising a container filled with a fire extinguishing material such as A.B.C. A blasting agent and detonator therefor are provided in the container for exploding the container at a predetermined time so that the fire extinguishing material will be scattered over the fire to extinguish the same. The container may be manually thrown into the fire or it may be conveyed into the fire by means of a boom truck apparatus or the like. A modified form of the conveying apparatus is disclosed together with the container adapted for use therewith.

Description

The most effective means for extinguishing a fire is to smother the same. Fire extinguishing materials such as A.B.C. are available but a means for delivering the material to the fire has not been developed.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a means for extinguishing fires.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for extinguishing fires comprising an explodable container containing a fire extinguishing material therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for extinguishing fires comprising an extendible boom truck having a conveyor means thereon for delivering bags or containers of fire extinguishing material to the fire.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for extinguishing fires comprising a pneumatic delivery system capable of propelling explosive containers into the fire area.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for extinguishing fires comprising an explosive container having a time delay detonating device therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for extinguishing fires which effectively smothers the fires.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for extinguishing fires comprising an explosive container which may either manually thrown or delivered by a boom truck apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for extinguishing fires which is economical of manufacture and convenient to use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the device of this invention:

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view seen along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1:

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the device of FIG. 1 being manually thrown into a fire:

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 except that a boom truck apparatus is shown delivering fire extinguishing material to the fire:

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the outer end of the boom truck apparatus of FIG. 4:

FIG. 6 is an end perspective view of the outer end of the boom truck apparatus of FIG. 4:

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 except that a modified form of the delivery system is illustrated:

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the outer end of the pneumatic tube of the delivery system of FIG. 7:

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container used in the apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 8:

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the container used in the apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 8; and

FIG. 11 is a modified form of the delivery system shown in FIG. 8.

In FIG. 1, the numeral 10 refers generally to a bag-like container constructed of a plastic material or the like. Container 10 is provided with a ballast material 12 at its bottom such as sand or the like. The container 10 is filled with a suitable fire extinguishing material or powder such as A.B.C. which is easily obtainable. A suitable form of material is C Br F.sub.3. A blasting agent 14 such as dynamite, Primacord, etc., is positioned in the interior of the container 10 and has a time delay detonating device 16, such as a blasting cap or the like, attached thereto for detonating the blasting agent 14. A pair of leads 18 and 20 extend from the detonating device 16 to a pair of terminals 22 and 24 which protrude from the upper end of the container 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which the container 10 may be manually thrown into a building 26 which has a fire therein generally referred to by the reference numeral 28. The fire fighter 30 would supply electrical energy to the terminals 22 and 24 so as to activate the detonator 16. Fire fighter 30 then throws the container 10 into the fire. The detonator 16 would be designed to obtain the proper delay in the detonation of the device so that the container 10 would be in the fire prior to the detonation of the blasting agent 14. When the detonator 16 detonates the blasting agent 14, the container 10 is ruptured by the force of the explosion and the fire extinguishing material 17 in the container 10 would be scattered over the fire to smother and extinguish the same. The sand 12 aids in maintaining the container in the upright attitude illustrated in FIG. 2 while the container is being thrown. The sand 12 also has another function in that the sand cushions the downward force of the explosion of the blasting agent 14 thereby protecting the floor or other surfaces that it comes to rest on. The main force of the explosion will then be directed upwardly and outwardly.

The container 10 may also be delivered to the fire by means of a boom truck apparatus generally indicated by the reference numeral 32. The only modification needed on the container 10 is to provide a suitable hook means 34 on the upper end thereof. Apparatus 12 includes an extendible boom 36 having a chain conveyor means 38 provided thereon which has a plurality of hooks 40 mounted thereon in a spaced apart relationship. Thus, the fire fighter may stand a considerable distance from the fire and attach the containers 10 onto the moving hooks 40 so that the containers 10 are conveyed into the building for delivery onto the fire as illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 illustrates the means for activating the detonator 16 in the container 10. A pair of electrical contacts 42 and 44 protrude downwardly from the extendible boom 36 and are electrically connected to a source of electrical power. As the container 10 moves past the contacts 42 and 44, the terminals 22 and 24 engage the same to provide the electrical impulse needed to activate the detonator 16. The containers 10 automatically fall from the hooks 40 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. The containers 10 explode after thay have been dropped from the outer end of the extendible boom and explode at a predetermined time so as to scatter the fire extinguishing material therein over the fire to smother and extinguish the same.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified delivery system. A pneumatic tube means 46 is mounted on a truck 48 and is provided with a suitable source of air under pressure generally referred to by the reference numeral 50. It is preferred that the source of air under pressure be an inert gas or the like so that additional oxygen is not supplied to the fire. Tube means 46 includes a loading breech 52 which may be opened to insert the container or cartridge 54. Cartridge 54 comprises a body portion 56 constructed of a plastic material or the like and having the fire extinguishing material 17 container therein. A blasting agent 14 and detonating device 16 are positioned in the material 17 with the leads 18 and 20 extending therefrom to terminals 22' and 24'. Contacts 42' and 44' are provided at the outer end of the pneumatic tube means 46 for engagement with the terminals 22' and 24' as the cartridge 54 is propelled outwardly from the tube means 52 so as to activate the detonator 16.

In operation, the cartridge 54 is loaded into the pneumatic tube means 46 through the breech 52. A blast of air or the like is then supplied to the tube means 46 so as to propel the cartridge 54 outwardly therefrom into the buildings as illustrated in FIG. 7. The detonator 16 is activated by the contacts 42' and 44' as the cartridge 54 is ejected from the outer end of the pneumatic tube means 46. The cartridge 56 explodes at the predetermined time so that the fire extinguishing material 17 is scattered over the fire to smother and extinguish the same. A modified form of the delivery system of FIGS. 7 and 8 is shown in FIG. 11. A spring means 55 has been substituted for the pneumatic means of FIGS. 7 and 8 for propelling the container into the fire.

A modified form of the cartridge for the tube means 46 as shown in FIG. 10. A charge 14, with blasting cap 57 therein, is positioned in a housing 58. Cap 57 has leads 60 and 62 extending therefrom. If desired, the charge 14 may simply be inserted into the housing through the opening 64 therein. While the drawings show a powder-like fire extinguishing material within the containers, water may be substituted for the powder in the containers in some fire fighting situations. Some situations may require that the fires be initially subjected to the containers of the type shown in the drawings. Explosive containers with water therein may then be used to cool the area below the kindling temperature.

Thus it can be seen from the foregoing that a novel means has been provided for extinguishing fires. The means disclosed herein is much more efficient than conventional water fire fighting apparatus and represents a significant advance in fire fighting techniques. Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives and as summarized below:

1. provides the dispersant vehicle for uniformly and totally covering all surfaces within a given compartment;

2. delivers the oxygen consuming materials to stop open flame burning;

3. applies water to reduce temperature to below kindling temperature; and

4. applies this water in such a way as to drastically reduce volume of water necessary, thus cutting water overflow damage so prevalent in presently used fire fighting techniques.

Claims

I claim:

1. An apparatus for conveying containers filled with a fire extinguishing material and with a blasting agent therein, comprising,

a vehicle having an extendible boom means which may be extended into the fire to be extinguished,

a conveyor means on said boom means for conveying said containers from an area remote of the fire to the outer end of the boom means so that the containers will be deposited adjacent the fire,

said boom means having means thereon for electrically detonating the blasting agent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor means is a pneumatic tube means which propels said container into the fire to be extinguished.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container has an electric detonator connected to said blasting agent, said boom means having an electrical terminal means at the outer end thereof which electrically activates the electric detonator as said conveyor means moves the container thereby.