US1778034A - Fire extinguisher for dry-cleaning apparatus, etc. - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14, 1930. D. MAPES 1,778,034

FIRE EXTINGUISHEH FOR DRY CLEANING APPARATUS, ETC

Filed May 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR Oct. 14, 1930. n. MAPES 1,778,034

FIRE EXTINGUISHER FOR DRY CLEANING APPARATUS, ETC

Filed May 1. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE DANIEL IAPES, OF MAIA RONECK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 WALTER KIIDDE & OOH- PANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FIRE GUISHER FOR DRY-CLEANING APPARATUS, ETC.

Application filed Kay 1, 1928. Serial No. 274,179.

whereby the cover of the tan ,if it be open,

shall be closed instantly, and de ices whereby a fire extinguishing medium, such, for example, as carbonic acid gas, shall be admitted instantly to the tank, not only when the lid is open, if it has been opened, but also when the lid, if it has been closed, is

thrown open or partly open by an explosion within the tank. The improved devices are applicable not only to dry cleaning apparatus, in connection with which they are illustrated and explained herein, but also in connection with other a paratus in which fire sometimes occurs wit 'n a space which may be closed or open, such, for example, as the casing of an electric transformer. In

accordance with the invention there is aplease of the fire extinguishin medium which is under pressure and there y brings about the closing of the lid or cover of the casing, if it has been opened, and the simultaneous admission of the fire extinguishing gas to the interior of the casing. The same device may also be actuated by the movement of a lid or cover of the housing by an internal explosion to effect the admission of the fire extinguishingmedium in the interior of the casing.

The invention will be explained more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated and in which:

Figure 1 isa view of the complete apparatus in elevation, as seen from the left-hand in Figure 2, with the lid open. 7

Figure 2 is a view of the same as seen in elevation from the right-hand in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view, on a larger scale, of the controlling device as seen from above, with some parts in horizontal section and some parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a view of the same in side elevation.

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section on the plane indicated by the broken line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view in longitudinal section. Figure 7 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of a form of fluid controlling valve, in connection with which the improved devices may be employed although the details of construction of the valve form no part of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a view of the same in sectional elevation.

Figure 9 is a view in section on the irregular plane indicated by the broken line 9-9 u construction, as indicated at a, and may be provided with a lid or cover a, hinged to the top of the casing, as at a, and adapted to stand in its open position, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. At 6 is shown a container for the fire extinguishing medium to beamployed, such as carbonic acid gas. This is shown as having at b a valve or valve mechanism by which the fire extin ishing medium is permitted to flow from tfi: containerv b or other source of supply when necessity requires it, the fire extinguishing medium being admitted to the interior of the casing a through a pipe 6 while the valve mechamsm is controlled through a cord or wire or cable 0, within a tube a.

The connector 0 is held normally under tension which is relieved on the outbreak of fire as hereinafter described. The valve mechanism, by which the delivery of the fire extinguishing medium, under ressure, from the container 6 is controlled fibrms no part,

in detail, of the present invention, but to enable the operation of the invention to be understood, the particular form of valve mechanism which has been chosen for illustration in Figures 7, 8 and 9, will be described briefly. When the tension on the connector 0 is relieved a release pin 0 is moved downward sufiiciently to release a spring-pressed lever 0 which in turn releases a double toggle c and thereby releases a piston c and permits the pressure within the container 5 to rupture a frangible disc 0 theretofore held against the structure by the piston 0 The disc 0 is interposed between the container 6 and the connection 12 to the delivery pipe 6 The valve mechanism thus described is substantially the same in construction and operation as that more fully shown and described in an application of the present inventor Serial No. 336,144, filed January 30, 1929.

The pressure of the fire extinguishing'medium in the pipe 6 acts upon a plunger 03, in a cylinder 6 to which the pipe b 'is connected, and drives the plunger d forward against the lid or cover a, causing the same to close. As the plunger moves forward it I may pass a port 6 in the side of the cylinder b and the fire extinguishing medium he so permitted to flow through a channel 6 and a nozzle 6'', although the nozzle is so small, as compared with the plunger, that sufficient pressure would be exerted on the plunger even if thenozzle were in constant communication with the pipe b Within the housing e of the controlling device the medium is deflected by a plate 6 and distributed within the casing a by distributor vanes e which may be formed by the lower wall of the housing 6 and extended downward through an opening in the top of the tank a so that the fire extinguishing medium shall be introduced into the tank and distributed therein.

The connector 0 is secured at its end to one end of a fusible link f, the other end of which engages an arm g of a two-armed lever g, g, which may be mounted in the distributing vanes e. the arm 9 being engaged normally by an explosion lid or cover 6 which may be hinged on the housing 6, as at 6".

When fire breaks out'in the apparatus a, the link 7 fuses and releases the connector 0. If an explosion occurs within the apparatus the explosion lid 6 is thrown up, disengaging itself from the arm 9 of the two-armed lever g, and permitting the lever to swing and release the link 7, relieving the tension on the connector 0 without any delay which may be incident to the rise of temperature within the apparatus sufiicient to fuse the link it. It will be understood that the explosion lid 6 is hinged to the housing 6, as at 0, so that, in the event of an explosion, the lid is thrown upward and backward upon its hinge and that in this movement its forward or righthand end is pulled from the arm g of the two-armed lever g, 9 whereby the lever is permitted to swing on its axis and release the link f.

It will be observed that the housing 6 forms an expansion chamber, which, following the restricted nozzle 6, produces a quiet discharge of the fire extinguishing medium at a low velocity, as is desirable for efiective action. Furthermore the baflie b in the expansion chamber will produce a properly distributed discharge even if the lid or cover for any reason should fail to be closed.

It will'be understood that various changes in details of construction and arrangement can be made to suit the nature of the apparatus to be protected and different conditions of use and that the invention, therefore, is not restricted to the particular construction shown and described herein, except aspointed out in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a source of'fire extinguishing medium under pressure, a valve mechanism to control the delivery of such fire extinguishing medium from the source of supply, means to conduct the fire extinguishing medium to the place of use, a connector connected to the valve mechanism at one-end and 9 normally under tension, a fusible link to which the connector is connected at the other end, a two-armed lever with one arm of which the link is engaged, and an explosion lid normally engaging the other arm of said lever to hold the same againstmovement, the valve mechanism operating to release the fire extinguishing medium when the tension on the connector is relieved.

2. In afire extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a source of fire extinguishing medium under pressure, a valve mechanlsm associated with such source to control the demeans to conduct the fire extinguishing medium from said port and deliver it within said casing.

This specification signed this 26th day of April, A. D. 1928.

I DANIEL MAPES.

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