US1438864A - Fire-extinguishing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

lllllllll II II IIIIII To-ullwiwm Be it known that hire-Extinguishing Apparatus; tollowing 1s a specification.

F i 'a Patented l1.

ARTHUR "C. RO'WV LEY, BF PHILAID a El these 'r'lLPl-IIA, r nivnsvn'vsnrn, ASSIGNOB 'roenonn 8F PHELADELPl-I'JIA. v PENNSYLVANIA, A

ninn-nz z'rrneorsnine n'rrsnscros.

Application filed sepiember it may concern:

l, ARTHUR C. Rownnr,

a citizen of they United States, residing in Philadelphia Pennsylvania,

have invented which the My invention relates to that class of apparatus or systems in ii'hich the caching of an 'itdtOlllil-l-lc sprinkler and the consequent release of fluid from attached causes operation voft ratus and the consequent deliveryiron'i thethe pipe to which it is certain appasprinkler of a fire extinguishing fluid such as carbonic acid gas.

line object of the invention is to provide a system of the general class above which shall be more cert than those previously tion contemplating the employment of a relay apparatus, actuated indicated am in 1 s action installed ;--the invenupon the escape oi lluid "born the system; whereby a main apparatus is quent delivery to 111 operation, with consethe o Jen sorinkler of the fire extinguishing fluid.

"it is hirther desired to provide a lire e2;-

tinguishing system above noted simple and which in addition to "the features; shall be relatively substantial as tothe nuniber and arrangement of itsparts and consequently not only install and in aint am but relatively inexpensive to practically certain and quick in its operation under predetermined conditions. 1

"these objects and ends I attain as herelnaiteruset forth, reference being had to ings in which,

the ammp m draw- .lhe figure is a diagrammatic elevation,

partly in section, illus mentot the apparatus con vention.

trating one arrange stituting my iniln the above drawing 1 represent a main tanlc having holding the main b the system and from this tank extends ariser the capacity necessary for ody of soda solution for the lowest portion of 2 having any desired and suitable number of branches '8 extending laterally diately under the b Stalled.

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no A

from it, usually immethe ceiling; of 'each story of in which the system 1s in- 1' he various temperature respon other advantageous 14 1918. Serial no. 254,130.

sive devices such as automatic sprinklers 4: are connected to these branches in the customary manner. I

in) the presentinstance the riser 2 has ontinuatioh 5 extending from its highest nt to a vertically elongated expansion nkfi suitably mounted at the highest part the system. and the lower part of the her 10 into the top oi said tank.

lnorder that the main body of acid con- "ined in the holder 7 shall certainly be c cchergel into the tank l upon the opening of one oi the sprinklers I provide an auxiliary or relay soda tank 11 Whose lowest a pipe 12with portion connected through the lowest portion of a small tank mounted adjacent thereto whose top is connected through pipe 13 withthe topmost portion on" the expansion tank 6. Preferably adjacent theflsinall tank 14, there is connected in the conduit l3 check valve 15 haying a soft inctal seat and designed to normally open though capable of closing to "t How of liquid from the tank '14; up throt the wipe 13.

The auxiliary soda tank 11 has its upper part connected through a pipe 16 to the upthe main acid holder 7 and within it a lever 17 preferably "tulcrurued on suitable ported by the sides ing is normally close connected in it a dry pipe or check cap and the second arm of the lever 17 has connected to it a link or extension 21 designed to be capable of tipping said holder past its position of unstable equilibrium and is provided with a vent pipe 22 terminating in a soft seat check valve 23 so mounted as to be normally open although free to close to pipe 22 whenever the pressure withln the auxiliary tank 11 rises above the normal.

through a branchpipe 25 and .thesystem is filled ter the lower sufficiently to cause such liquid to enpart of the expansion tank 6;the cock 26 being opened to allow escape of theair. Themain charge of soda solution is then introduced into themain soda tank 1 and an auxiliary charge is likewise placed in the auxiliary soda tank 11 and reservoir 14, which are filled sufiiciently to buoy up the float without causing it to affect the holder 19. The main acid charge is then placed in the-vessel 7 and the auxiliary acid charge is placed in the auxiliary holder 19 which is mounted on its pivots within the tank 11 so that its discharge opening is uppermost.

Under conditions of use when one of the sprinklers 4- opens by reason of a predetermined rise of temperature such as would be causedby a fire in itsvicinity, the liquid in the upper part of the riser and in the'lower part of the expansion tank 6 is discharged under the action of gravity from said sprinkler. 'The lowering of the liquid level in the expansion tank 6 exhausts the air from the pipe 13 and from the upper part of the reservoir 14, so that, owing to thesuction produced there is an immediate flow of the soda solution from the auxiliary soda tank into this reservoir. The consequent lowering of the level of the soda charge in the auxiliary soda tank permits the float 18 to fall and causes the long arm of the lever 17 to act upwardly through the, link 21 to tip over the auxiliary acid holder, which thereupon delivers its acid into the auxiliary soda charge ofsaid auxiliary tank. The immediate generation of carbon. dioxide resulting from the action of the acid on the soda results in the production of a high pressure in the auxiliary soda tank whereupon the check valves 15 and 23 are closed and there is a flow of high pressure gas into the top part of the main acid holder 7. The acid in prevent escape of fluid through the sprinkler was depended upon to cause delivery of themain acid charge into the main soda tank, the result would have been uncertain, owing to the small amount of energy resulting from the opening of a sprinkler. If however, between the apparatus containing the main acid and soda charges and the sprinkler system there be introduced a relay device operative upon the flow of fluid or change of pressure resulting from the operation of onejor more of the sprinklers, such device by generating what is in effect an ex plosive bodyot as which insures the rapid and complete de livery of the main charge of acid to the main soda solutiommakes the operation 01": the system certain, eflective and rapid.

I claim: 7 I i 1. The combination in a fire extinguishing system of a supply pipe having sprinklers; a main soda tank; a main container for acid associated therewith; an auxiliary soda tank connected to said main acid container; an auxiliaryacid container; a pipe connecting the auxiliary soda container with the supply pipe; and a float within the auxiliary soda tank operative to cause discharge of acid from the auxiliary acid container into the auxiliarysoda tank when a change oflevel therein causes a predetermined alteration in the position of the float. Y

2. The combination ofa supply pipe having'sprinklers; a mainsoda tank; a main' 110 acid holder connected to said tank; an auxiliary soda tank connected todeliver fluid into the main acid. holder to force the acid therefrom into, the main soda tank; an auxiliary acidholder movab ly supportedv in said auxiliary tank; a float insaid latter-tank for controlling the position of the auxiliary acid holder; and a pipe connecting the auxiliary soda tankwith the sprinkler system.

' The combination of a supply pipe .having sprinklers; an elevated expansion tank connected to the supply pipe; a generator of fire extinguishing fluid connected to thesup ply pipe; a gas generator connected to said first generator and including a controlling float and a liquid-containing casing therefor; with a pipe connecting said casing and the expansion tank. I

4. 'The combination of a supply pipe having .sprinklers; an elevated expansion tank asaaea a 3 connected to the supply pipe; a main genercause delivery of acid from the latter helder ator of fire extinguishing fluid connected to upon a predetermined change of liquid level the supply pipe and including a main acid in the tank; and a pipe connecting the latter 10 holder; an auxiliary generator including a tank t0 the expansion, tank.

5 tank connected to discharge gas under pres- In Witness whereof I aii'lX my Signa ure.

sure into the acid holder, an auxiliary acid holder and a floatin said tank connected to v ARTHUR G. ROWLEY.

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