US2175120A - Fire extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

Get. 3, 1939. R. c. lmnimas r-:r Al.

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Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ton, Ohio, assignors pany, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 5,

2 Claims.

This invention relatesl to lire extinguishers which are adapted toA project a stream of fire extinguishing uid in operation.

It is a principal object of the invention to 5- provide a fire extinguisher having a fluid pick-up of improved, simple and effective construction, providing for the pick-up of liquid from the lowermost portion of the container.

It is a further object to provide a flexible pickup in an extinguisher of this character which is effectively sealed against escape of fluid therethrough andV which retains a high degree ci flexibility and adjustability in use.

It is a further object to provide an improved arrangement of parts in suchl a fire extinguisher, more particularly the location and arrangement of the air check valve associated with 'the air pump, to provide ready accessibility thereto for repair, cleaning, andthe like.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description, the accompanying drawing, and the appendedY claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a ire extinguisher constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1-.

Referring tol the drawing which discloses a shown at I0 a cylindrical tank or container adapted to hold a quantity of the fire extinguishing fluid. The preferred fluid for use in the extinguisher of this construction is carbon tetra- 355' chloride, although other suitable fire extinguishing fluids may also be used. In the actual extinguishers which are constructed under this invention for use with carbon tetrachloride, the container IU-is made to have a capacity such as 4.0f to receive approximately a quart to a quart and a half of the re extinguishing fluid.

At one end of the container a head H is positioned, being soldered, welded or otherwise suitably secured in place on the cylindrical wall I8,

4,5,l an end member l2 being providedI at the lower or discharge end of the container. A preferred material for use in the formation of the container is asheet of brass stock, which may be preferred embodiment of the invention, there is` 1937, serial No. 139,233 (ci. 399-96) and is not rigidly connected to the container at any other point. With this construction any dents which are made in the wall of the container i0 are not transmitted to the pump cylinder to produce deformation or strain therein, and thus do' not result in interference with the proper operation of the pump.

The pump rod 2U extends outwardly through the pump cylinder, and is provided with the manually operating handle 2| on the end thereof. At its inner end the rod carries a pump plunger indicated in dotted lines at 22, of suitable construction for compressing air in the pump cylinder, the inner endv of the plunger being preferably formed with a valve member 23 adapted to prevent possible leakage into the cylinder when the pump is moved to its inner inoperative position'. The head l l is provided with an outwardly anged member 24, threaded at 25 to receivel a nut 26- which secures a' retainer member 21 in. operative position. Member 21 is provided with a bayonet slot 28 which cooperates with a pin 29 in piston rod` 20 to securely lock the handle 2l in inoperative position. This arrangement is` such that when handle 2l is moved to its innermost positionand turned in either direction, it will be held in such position with the valve 23 closed;

A' tube 30 leads from` the inner end of the pump cylinder and provides for conveying the compressed air to the air check valve, indicated generally at 3l. Heretofore it has been customary to provide an air check valve at the inner end of the pump cylinder. In such position however it isl inaccessible for cleaning or repair should thatbecome necessary during the operation of the extinguisher. In accordance with the present inventionthis check valve is located forready accessibility without dismantling the extinguisher as such and for this purpose is located adjacent the head Il. The head is provided vvith an aperture within which is threadedly mounted a valve body member 32V having an internal recess'33 and'which is formed to provide a valve seat 34 through which the air supply tube 30 extendsI for delivery of the air. A movable valve member 35 carrying a flexible washer member 36 such as a small piece of cork or the like is resiliently urged by means of spring Si into sealing position on valve seat 34. A cap 38 is threaded into internal threads on member 3,2 so that in the operative assembled position the interior of the container is sealed, and the valve is resiliently held in position against the valve seat 34, thereby closing ol the air supply passage 30. An exit or discharge opening 39 is formed in the wall of member 32, to provide communication between the recess 33 and the interior of the container so that upon the building up of sufficient pressure beneath the valve 35, it will be lifted from its seat to permit discharge of air through the tube into the recess 33, and thence through passage 39 into the interior of the container to establish a pressure therein` above the liquid contents. Upon the dropping of the pressure within the tube 55 below that within the container, the valve is forced to its sealing position as a result of the differential in pressure and the action of the spring 31, thereby preventing loss of pressure within the container through the pump cylinder, and providing for compounding of the pressure during the time that the pump is in operation.

Access is readily provided to the check valve assembly so that whenever required the cap 38 may be easily removed from the exterior of the container, and the complete valve assembly removed and replaced without Ydisturbing the operative assembly of the extinguisher. It will be noted that because of the length of the air tube 3G which connects the lower end of the pump cylinder with the container, sufficient flexibility is provided so that substantially no strain is imparted to the pump cylinder, in case of strains being set up in the container as a result of dents formed therein or the like. Thus the air check valve may be similarly made accessible through other portions of the wall of the container, such for example as through the end wall l2, but for the reasons set forth it is preferred to locate this check valve adjacent the head ll upon which the pump itself is supported to reduce the probabilities of deforming or stressing the pump cylinder.

In order to pick up the liquid from within the container, a pick-up mechanism is provided which is effective to selectively receive liquid from the lowermost part of the container. And in accordance with this invention the pick-up mechanism is so constructed as to provide a wide range of movement and adjustability to the lowermost portions of the container, and a satisfactory degree of flexibility so that the mechanism will accommodate itself readily to changes in the positioning of the container as it is tilted or turned during use. The pick-up mechanism comprises a valve chamber 40 of generally cylindrical shape mounted in suitable manner, such for example as by means of soldering to the pump cylinder i5. Within the valve chamber, and spaced from the ends 4| thereof there is provided a pair of valve seats 42 formed of suitable material such as metal. A check valve 43 is slidably mounted in each of the valve seats, havin-g a stem 44 which extends into the central portion of the chamber, the two stems being connected by a sliding sled 45, generally U-shaped in construction. Between the arms of the sled, there is mounted a gravity operated weight 46 which is arranged to slide to one or the other end of the chamber, depending upon which is lowermost, and to contact the valve stem 44 at such lower end. This contact causes the moving of the lower valve 43 away from its seat, thereby opening that valve, such motion being transmitted through the sled 45 to the upper Valve to cause the drawing of that valve into closing relation with its seat, to thereby close that valve. Inlet tubes 41, each preferably formed of a short piece of brass or the like, are fastened in place respectively in each of the end pieces 4I, and an outlet tube 48 establishes discharge communication from the interior of the chamber 40.

Where a valve assembly of this character is formed principally of lead parts, the construction is quite undesirable for certain uses, such for example as where the extinguisher is carried on an automobile or motorcycle. The continual bouncing movement in such cases often results in the erosion or deterioration of the walls of the chamber under the action of the lead weight, resulting in damage to the valve assembly requiring dismantling of the extinguisher to effect repair. In accordance with the present invention however this valve assembly is preferably constructed of brass parts, the end caps 4I being similarly formed of brass and soldered or welded in place on the cylindrical portion 40, with the valve assembly and the weight likewise being formed of brass. All of these parts are preferably nickel plated, to avoid corrosion, and in this form are found to provide adequate strength and to successfully resist heavy pounding treatment for an extended period in use.

A flexible pick-up assembly is provided on each of the tubes 41, the construction of each pick-up being substantially identical. This construction comprises an enlarged spherically shaped portion 55, formed upon the end of tube 41, adapted for cooperation with a correspondingly formed portion of a connecting member l, fitted thereover. This member is preferably formed of two similar sections of molded material as indicated which are threaded together centrally thereof in fluid-tight relationship, each portion being similarly formed with a substantially spherically curved seat for receiving the end of a tube. A pick-up tube 52 is provided with a spherical enlargement 53 which is received within the outer spherical seat portion of connecting member 5l. An additional molded sealing member 54 of suitable shape is provided for engagement respectively with enlargements 50 and 53, these members 54 being resiliently urged into seating engagement therewith by means of a single compression spring 55 bearing upon both sealing members. Thus sufficient pressure is applied to the connector assembly to properly retain each tube end in seating position within the connecting member, securing thereby an effective fluid seal, while at the same time affording substantial freedom of movement of one tube with respect to the other. The tubes 52 are provided with a weighted member 56, such as a heavy lead weight, positioned toward the end thereof, the weight being provided with a guard spring 51, fastened to the periphery thereof to protect and shield the adacent container walls against excessive pounding action by such weight.

It will be understood from the above construction that each pick-up assembly embodies a double ball and socket joint construction which permits ready and substantial angular and adjustable movement as between pick-up tube 52 and the tube 41, so that under the action of weight 56 the pick-up tube will fall to the lowermost position of the container, being free to change in axial direction with respect to tube 41, and being also free to rotate with respect thereto as necessary to bring the weight to the lowermost position of the container. It has been found in actual commercial operation that this iexible construction provides a substantial range of adjustment and flexibility, and further, since itv eliminates the need for packing and lubricating of a packed iiexible cable, for example, the construction remains flexible and does not tend to stii'fen up with use.

Whichever pick-up tube 52 is lowermost, the Valve associated therewith will be actuated to open position and the other valve to closed position so that the air pressure effective above the liquid will force the liquid into such tube, through tube 41, into the valve chamber 40, and out through tube 48. This tube leads into the shutofi" or discharge valve 60, which also is mounted upon the head Il, adjacent the operating end of the extinguisher. An upstanding valve seat 6I is formed in member 60 into which the tube 48 discharges the liquid, and a movable shut-ofi Valve 62 is arranged to selectively control the discharge therefrom. Resilient means 63 normally effects the lifting of valve 62 from its seat, to permit discharge of the liquid into the recess 64, while an operating plunger 65 provides for actuation of the valve to closed position in order to shut on" the flow of the liquid. This plunger is mounted for movement in a cap 66, threadedly received within the member 6D, and is normally urged outward by spring 61. It is adapted to be actuated inwardly to effect the closing off of tube 48 by means of a cam member 68 formed upon the handle 2 I. The cam is preferably so arranged with respect to the bayonet lock 28 that in the locked position of the pump, the cam 68 has forced the plunger 65 into sealing engagement, to shut off the discharge of the liquid, while upon actuating the handle 2l to unlock it for use, such action similarly relieves plunger 65, spring 63 thereupon opening the discharge port to supply the liquid into recess 64. Discharge tube 10 communicates with recess 64 and provides for supplying the liquid to the discharge nozzle 1I located adjacent the end I2 of the container.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A re extinguisher of the character described comprising an elongated container for holding a quantity of fire extinguishing fluid and having a substantially cylindrical body portion and two ends, one of said ends being in the form of a plate adapted to be fastened to said cylindrical body and forming the upper end of the extinguisher when supported in non-operative position, an air pump of substantially longitudinal extent within said container supported from one end thereof on said end plate in spaced relation with other portions of said cylindrical body, an air valve chamber positioned upon said end plate and extending inwardly thereof to the interior of the container, said valve chamber having an air discharge opening located to be above the normal level of the fluid in said extinguisher in the non-operative position, an air tube extending from the interior unsupported end of said air pump and connecting to said air valve chamber, valve means in said chamber for controlling the discharge of air therethrough, said end plate having an opening therethrough providing for ready access to said valve chamber and said valve means, a discharge valve also mounted on said end plate, a pick-up means for receiving uid from the interior of said extinguisher from whichever end is lowermost, a tube leading from said pick-up means to said discharge valve, said air pump, air valve, discharge valve and said tubes being mounted on and entirely supported from said end plate and adapted to be assembled as a unit and as such inserted into said cylindrical body, a discharge nozzle .at the end of said container remote from said end plate, and a discharge tube extending from said discharge valve to said discharge nozzle.

2. A fire extinguisher as recited in claim 1 wherein means are carried by the air pump for eiecting control of said discharge valve in the innermost position thereof to maintain said discharge valve in closed position.

ROSCOE C. IDDINGS. HORACE G. WILLIAMS.

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