US2537074A - Fire extinguishing system - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1951 D. MAPES 2,537,074

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed April 24 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (OM W ATTO R N EY Jan. 9, 1951 D. MAPES FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed April 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ Z2 27 W H 30 ii I: Q -J INVENTOR 60M W ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 9, 1951 Daniel Manes, West Caldwell, N. 3., assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N. 1., a corporation oi New Jersey Application April 24, 1946, Serial No.664,655

1 Claim. (Ci. 169-2) i The present invention relates to flre extinguish ing systems, and particularly to such systems for selectively directing a fluid pressure fire extin finishing medium to one or more desired loosone.

The present invention aims to provide a simple compact system of the foregoing type which is particularly adapted for use on airplanes or other craft or vehicles where flre hazards eivist.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved system or the foregoing character which is readily installed.

Another object is to provide a system wherein the necessity for direction valves and complicated controls is eliminated.

Another object is to provide a system wherein the flre extinguishing medium storage means and discharge control means therefor are combined in a compact unit adapted to be actuated locally or remotely with a minimum of auxiliary devices.

A further object consists in the combination and arrangement of elements oi the system, whereby the foregoing objects and advantages are accomplished.

Other and further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent when described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a portion of an airplane, viewed in front elevation, having a flre extinguishing system in accordance with the invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the flre extinguishing medium storage unit and the discharge controls therefor.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a portion of an airplane, viewed in top plan, having amodifled flre extinguishing system installed therein.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown, by way of. example, an airplane III of the two engine type to iliusiante an application of the invention wherein a pluraiityoi flrehazards exist. Each engine nacelle it constitutes such a fire hazard and is protected extinguishing medium distributing means for tpplying the medium to the seat of the fire and/or establishing an inert atmosphere in the nacelle, thu serving to smother the fire.

The system comprises a flre extinguishing medium storage vessel I: (Figure 2), located in the iuselage or elsewhere, which has a plurality of it for each outlet, adapted to be opened selectively by means, about to be described, under the control of a switch it in an electrical circuit, including a battery it or the like; and a conduit it connected to the outlet of each head it, each re-- spectively directing flre extinguishing medium to one nacelle for distribution by a ring it or the like.

The storage vessel it and its discharge heads it are illustrated in detail in Figure 2, with one of the heads shown in section and the other in elevation. Only one of these heads will be described in detail, since the heads are substantially identi cal in construction.

' The head it, shown in section, has a nipple or spud 20 secured in one of the outlets of the container by welding. The nipple comprises an inwardly extending flange 2! providing a shoulder 22 for a shatterable closure disc 2% secured on the shoulder by a screw ring it, and an extending flange 26 for the reception of a screw ring 21 carrying a bonnet at extending over the outlet end of the nipple. The screw ring 2? and bonnet 29 are connected by a ring it locked in complementary recesses formed in the screw ring and bonnet for permitting cireumier ential adjustment oi the bonnet with respect to the outlet.

The bonnet 29 has a laterally extendingoutlet section 35 adapted for connection to the con duit i7 leading to the nacelle. By reason of the adjustability oi the bonnet the outlet section may extend in any desired direction. For example, w shown herein, the outlet sections of the bonnete extend in opposite directions and towards their respective nacelles, thereby simplifying the dis charge conduit connections.

The bonnet further is provided with means for shattering the closure disc 21 to establish fluid flow communication between the vessel and the conduit ll. These means comprise an electrically fired cartridge 36 for directing a slug against the disc to shatter the same. One terminal 01 the cartridge is grounded through the bonnet and the other terminal of the cartridgeds electrically connected to one terminal of the battery it, as shown in Figure l. The other terminal of the battery is grounded, where upon closing of the switch it, an electrical circuit is completed through the cartridge to actuate the same.

In order to'prevent portions of the shattered disc from entering the discharge conduit, a sievelike receptacle 40 is positioned in the bonnet between closure disc and the outlet section.

outlets: a normally closed discharge control head It In operation. if a flre should occur in one of the nacelles, the respective switch It is closed to complete the electrical circuit and cause firing oi the cartridge. The cartridge eiieots shattering oi the closure disc 24, whereby iire e medium iiows irom the vessel, through the bonnet and the discharge conduit to the naeelle to.

be distributed by the ring ll.

. In Figure 3, a system is shown which is essentially the same as the system shown in F18- ure 1, except that two vessels each having two outlets are provided. Both vessels have one oi their outlets connected to the discharge conduit leading to the other oi the nacelles. Four switches II are provided for selectively controlling the discharge oi medium through any one oi the outlets.

In this manner, the system illustrated in Figure 3 may be operated to direct the discharge oi one vessel to one of the nacelles, leaving the other vessel in reserve for further use in connection with either of the nacelles. Also, ii iires should occur simultaneously in both nacelles, one vessel may have its contents directed to one oi the nacelles while the other vesel may have its contents directed to the other nacelle.

The systems illustrated and described herein are adapted to be utilized for distributing iire extinguishing media such as carbon dioxide, methyl bromide, chloro-bromo-derivatives oi hydrocarbons, or halo-derivatives oi hydrocarbon compounds containing fluorine, which may be stored in the vessel under their own vapor pressure or with the addition oi a gas having a substantial pressure at low temperatures such as encountered at high altitudes.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved fire extinguishin system which is simple in design, is economical to manuiacture and is readily installed. The system comprises a minimum at fluid flow connections, conduits, valves; and the like and operation of the system can be eiiected by simple electrical circuit. The storage vessels and selective discharge heads are combined in a single 4 hereimwithoutdepartingiromthesviritand scope oi the invention and without sacrificing any oi its advantages, it is to be understood that allmatterhereinistobeinterpretedssillustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

In a tire extinguishing system, a spherical extinguishing medium storage container having a pair oi independent adiacent downwardly iacing discharge openings, a pair of outlet sputb eachsecuredinanopeningandextending downwardly in parallelrelation to each other, said spuds having an outwardly extending flange iormed with screw threads on the outer peripheral wall thereoi and positioned between the ends oi said spuds to provide a downwardly iacing shoulder, a shatterable sealing disc positioned ineachoisaidspudaadischargeheadioreach oi said spuds including a one-piece body member iormed with an annular inlet section telescoped over the portion oi said spud below said shoulder and abutting said shoulder and said body member being iormed with a laterally extending outlet section, coupling means including a screw ring threaded on said flange and telescoped over said annular section and including an annular member positioned between cooperating annular grooves iormed in said annular section and said screw ring ior adjustably connectingsaidbodymemberstosaidspudswithsaid outlet sections facing in any desired direction to facilitate connection oi discharge conduits thereto, and a chamber member in each oi said heads ior cartridges adapted to shatter said discs to eflect discharge oi fire extinguishing medium from said container.

DANIEL MAPES.

ass-answers cn'an unit thus iacilitating rapid instaliation and making it possible to replace an entire unit in the field with maximum ease and without skilled labor. The system is rugged in construction and can withstand any rough usage to which it may-be subjected.

. -As various changes may be made in the iorm, construction and arrangements 0! the parts file oi this patent:

uurran s'rs'rss rs'rnm's Number Name Date 2,417,082 Mapes et al. Mar. 11, 1947 2,419,826 Dodelin et ai. Apr. 29, 1947 2,425,778 Alien Aug. 19, 194! FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 832,094 France June 20, 1988

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