EP1075856A1

EP1075856A1 - Fire extinguishing device

Info

Publication number: EP1075856A1
Application number: EP99500145A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Teuthof
Original assignee: Rotec Plastics SA
Current assignee: Rotec Plastics SA
Priority date: 1999-08-11
Filing date: 1999-08-11
Publication date: 2001-02-14

Abstract

"Fire extinguishing device" essentially characterised by being composed of a water tank (1) the exterior shape of which is adapted o the configuration of the location where it is installed (2), which is equipped on the bottom with numerous spigots with thermocalibrated valves (3) while the top has a fill opening (4) and a vent (5), connected to the top of the receptacle to be protected against fire using the appropriate supports (6), including with the device a hydraulic accumulator or other element in those cases where the water column does not guarantee the optimum hydraulic pressure to the spigots by gravity.

Description

The object of this invention as indicated in the statement of this descriptive report consists of a "FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE" applicable to any type of fixed or movable container or receptacle and in general to any container of potentially flammable materials which, due to their special characteristics, do not have access to a stable water supply network.
In general, these locations are equipped with common fire extinguishing equipment which fulfil their function perfectly well. However, they require the intervention of a person in order to work. This means that when a fire breaks out and there is no one available who is able to use the equipment, the fire cannot be extinguished. On the other hand, there are certain types of containers which doe not even provided for the possibility of including fire extinguishing measures of this type such as, for example, the entire line of urban waste collection containers (paper, plastic and cardboard containers, for example).
These elements, besides being exposed to the possibility of sudden fire, can be the target of vandalism, which increases the possibility of fire considerably. When there is a fire in this type of container it is completely destroyed and must be replaced by a new one, in which case the competent authorities must not only pay the replacement costs but also the cost of the property damages which may occur when, for example, the fire spreads to a parked vehicle.
This invention completely solves such problems as a practical, inexpensive and completely autonomous and reliable fire extinguishing device in any of the situations mentioned above.
The new fire extinguishing device consists of a water tank with variable capacity depending on the area to be protected, the bottom of which is equipped with numerous spigots with thermocalibrated valves.
This tank is connected to the top of the receptacle to be protected against fire. It operates in an extremely simple way. When a fire breaks out, the heat generated by the fire causes the fuses on the spigots to blow which in turn caused the contents of the tank to be released directly onto the fire, putting in out in just a few minutes.
Once the fire is extinguished, maintenance services replace the fuses in the spigots and refill the tank with water (or another liquid as appropriate), repairing any possible damages which may have occurred (painting, changing deteriorated elements, cleaning, etc.), although this is generally limited to cleaning the inside.
In special cases, it may be necessary to use the appropriate elements to increase the system's hydraulic pressure, particularly when the tanks in question are very small thereby making it difficult to generate the right pressure by gravity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to illustrate what has been stated thus far, this descriptive report is accompanied by several pages of drawings which are part of the report and which contain a simplified and schematic depiction of some examples of the practical possibilities of this invention which are illustrative but not limitative.
Figure 1 shows the invention applied to a cardboard container.
Figure 2 shows the invention applied to a litter bin.
Figure 3 shows the invention applied to a train car.
Figure 4 shows the invention applied to a granary.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRACTICAL CASE

The innovative fire extinguishing device consists of a water tank (1) the exterior shape of which is adapted to the configuration of the environment where it is installed (2), which is equipped on the bottom with numerous spigots with thermocalibrated valves (3) while the top has a fill opening (4) and a vent (5). The tank is connected to the top of the receptacle to be protected against fire using the appropriate supports (6).
Having established the expressed concept, the list of claims follows, synthesising the innovations being claimed in this way:

Claims

Fire extinguishing device" essentially characterised by being composed of a water tank (1) the exterior shape of which is adapted o the configuration of the location where it is installed (2), which is equipped on the bottom with numerous spigots with thermocalibrated valves (3) while the top has a fill opening (4) and a vent (5), connected to the top of the receptacle to be protected against fire using the appropriate supports (6).
"Fire extinguishing device", according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that in those cases where the water column does not guarantee the optimum hydraulic pressure to the spigots by gravity, a hydraulic accumulator or other element is included with the device.