FR2785817A1 - PERMANENT PRESSURE PORTABLE TAP AND EXTINGUISHER EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A TAP - Google Patents

Abstract

The valve for a portable fire extinguisher at permanent pressure comprises a body (12) intended to be mounted on the orifice (2a) of a reservoir (2) of fire treatment fluid and a valve (16) movable in translation to the left. 'inside a bore (18), between an open position and a closed position of the valve. The valve (16) is designed to go from the closed position to the open position of the valve by a translational movement (X-X) in a direction away from the reservoir (2).

Description

The invention relates to a tap for a portable pressure extinguisher.

  permanent and a portable pressure fire extinguisher

  permanent fitted with such a tap.

  A tap is mounted on the outlet of an ex-

  permanent pressure dye to control the discharge of fire treatment fluid. This tap can be connected to a diffuser or to a flexible hose at the free end of which is mounted a spray head for directing the product, this head possibly being equipped with a mechanism.

shutter ordered.

  Document FR-A-2 741 811 discloses a permanent pressure fire extinguisher comprising a tap provided with a spray head. A trigger of this spray head is engaged with a lever intended to move a valve of the extinguisher valve against the force of the pressure prevailing in the tank, in order to put in communication the interior volume of the tank and an outlet orifice tap. The fact that the valve is moved against the pressure prevailing in the tank makes this maneuver relatively

  difficult since this pressure is opposed to the movement

  opening of the valve. In addition, a means for locking the valve in the open position must be provided, failing which the valve is closed as soon as the user ceases to exert on the lever an effort to move the valve, in particular

  when using the extinguisher to put out a fire.

  A small locking rod is used to do this, but this rod is small and great care must be taken during assembly so that it is positioned correctly, and during the life of the extinguisher.

  so that it is not lost, for example during operations

  maintenance of the fire extinguisher. In addition, the system

  known provides for the operation of the valve by the spray head

  tion, which requires the relative positioning of the valve, its control lever and the spray head in the rest position. This may not be appropriate, especially from an ergonomic point of view. Finally, during a rapid operation of the spray head, in particular in the event of panic in the face of a fire, the user may not pull on the spray head in a direction allowing the operation of the valve control lever, which induces trigger rupture and

non-opening of the tap.

  It is to these drawbacks that the invention more particularly intends to remedy, by proposing a tap whose opening is facilitated compared to the tap of the prior art and which does not require the use of a lever. operation of a valve, or the use of a locking member of a

  such lever in the open position of the tap.

  In this spirit, the invention relates to a tap for

  portable fire extinguisher with permanent pressure, this tap

  nant a body intended to be mounted on the opening of a tank-

  see fire treatment fluid and a valve movable in translation between an open position and a valve closed position, characterized in that this valve is designed to pass from the closed position to the open position of the tap by a translational movement in a

  direction of distance from the tank.

  Thanks to the invention, the movement of the valve, during the opening of the valve does not require overcoming the pressure prevailing inside the tank, but takes place in a direction compatible with this pressure, whatever its value. The valve can be constructed in such a way that the valve disappears from the path of the fluid towards the outlet orifice of the valve, that is to say is moved away from this path, without the use of a lever or locking means in the open position. According to a first advantageous aspect of the invention, the body comprises a bore in which is housed, slidingly, the valve, an outlet pipe of the tap being formed in this body and opening into this bore. This bore efficiently guides the valve over the entire length of its stroke. Means capable of elastically loading the valve in a direction away from the reservoir can be provided. In particular, the bore advantageously forms an internal shoulder supporting a compression spring, while the valve carries a corresponding external shoulder, the spring being disposed between these shoulders. On the other hand, the bore advantageously defines a seat for carrying the valve, while the valve carries an O-ring capable of coming to bear against

this seat.

  According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the valve comprises a removable locking member of the valve in the closed position, this member being provided to oppose

  to the movement of translation of the valve in the direction of distance-

  relative to the tank. This locking member is advantageously an extractable pin intended to be received

  in the valve body in a generally perpetual position

  perpendicular to the direction of movement of the valve. The face of the valve opposite the reservoir can carry a pin capable of entering a corresponding housing of this pin. This pin contributes to the locking in position of the pin relative to the tap. It is also possible to provide that the bottom of the bore comprises a housing for receiving this pin in position

opening the valve.

  The invention also relates to a portable fire extinguisher with

  permanent pressure which includes a tap as above

  described. Such a fire extinguisher is particularly simple to use since it suffices to release the valve so that it no longer prevents the passage of the fire treatment fluid without taking special precautions to

  lock the valve in the open position.

  The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the

  description which follows of two embodiments of a

  extinguisher in accordance with its principle given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of an extinguisher according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a perspective view with partial cutaway of a valve mounted on the extinguisher of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a longitudinal section along the line III-III in Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a longitudinal section along the line IV-IV in Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 while the valve is in the open position and - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a valve according to a second embodiment of the invention and

  the top of a fire extinguisher tank.

  The fire extinguisher 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a reservoir 2 of powder or additivated water provided with a bearing bottom 3 allowing it to rest on a flat surface. In its upper part, the extinguisher is provided with a cap 4 which forms a handle 5 for handling the extinguisher. A flexible tube 6 extends from a rear zone 4a of the cap 4 to a front zone 4b of this same cap in which is received a discharge head 7 intended to be taken in hand by a user. The head 7 is provided with a screen 7a for protecting the hand of a user and with a lever 7b for operating a relief valve not shown. A ring 8 makes it possible to operate a pin whose operation is

explained in the following.

  As can be seen more clearly from FIG. 2, a tap 10 is provided to be mounted on the orifice 2a of the reservoir 2 and comprises a body 12 intended to be screwed into the orifice 2a, by means of an external thread 12a, being connected to a dip tube 14, an open lower end, not shown, is disposed within the fire treatment fluid. A valve 16 is movable inside a bore 18 formed in the body 12. The axis of symmetry of the bore 18 is denoted XX ′. The bore 18 defines a seat 20 with a conical bearing intended to cooperate with the valve 16 in the closed position of the valve 10, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The valve 16 comprises a head 22 of diameter less than the main part 24 of the valve 16, so that it defines a shoulder 26 for receiving '' an O-ring 28, this seal being intended to bear against the seat 20 in the

position of figures 2 to 4.

  A bore 30 is provided in the body 12 in a direction YI-Y, 'generally perpendicular to the axis X-X' and

  receives a connector 32 for connecting the flexible tube 6.

  In the position of FIGS. 2 to 4, the valve 16 closes the bore 18 at the seat 20 and the bore 30 at its connection zone with the bore 18. The valve 16 is held in its position in FIGS. 2 to 4 by a pin 34 secured to the ring 8 visible in Figure 1. This pin, which can be made of metal or plastic such as polyamide, is intended to pass right through

  the bore 18 in a direction Y2-Y2 'and also perpendicular

cular to the axis XX '.

  The body 12 is equipped with a plug 36, while the sleeve 12b of the body 12 in which the bore 18 is formed is provided with two notches 12c and 12d which are not completely closed when the plug 36 is screwed in the upper part from socket 12b. It is thus possible to insert the pin 34 in the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 3. In this position, the pin 36 blocks the valve 16 in a

valve closing position.

  In order to position, with acceptable precision, the pin 34 relative to the valve and to the body 12, the face 38 of the valve 16 opposite the tank 2 is equipped with a pin 40 at its central part, that is to say - say at the level of axis XX '. Furthermore, the pin 34 is equipped with a housing 42 for receiving the end of the pin 40. Thus, the cooperation of the elements 40 and 42 results in the creation of a hard point during the introduction of the pin 34 in bore 18, which allows an operator to detect the correct positioning of the pin relative to the valve. This hard point also reduces the risk of inadvertent displacement of the pin when the latter is in place, that is to say unexpected unlocking of the valve 10. Furthermore, the pin 34 has a bevelled face 44 which facilitates its introduction, in the direction of arrow F, because its front end is fine, while its extraction in the direction opposite to arrow F is also facilitated because the effect exerted by the valve 16 tends to drive the

pin.

  The plug 36 carries, on its internal face directed towards the bore 18, a housing 46 for receiving the pin 40 in

  open position of the valve, as shown in Figure 5.

  According to a variant not shown of the invention, the face 38 of the valve 16 may not carry a pin of the type of the pin 40, the pin then being held in place only by

the pressure exerted by the valve.

  The bore 18 forms an internal shoulder 48 while the valve 16 has, at its rear face 38, a base 50 of diameter greater than its main part 24, so that an external shoulder 52 is created on the valve 16. A spring 54 is disposed, between the shoulders 48 and 52, inside the bore 18, around the main part 24 of the valve 16. This spring elastically loads the valve 16 in a direction away from the seat 20, that is to say in a direction away from the tank 2, which

  corresponds to the opening of tap 10.

  The operation is as follows: When it is necessary to use the extinguisher 1, the user pulls on the ring 8 in order to separate it from the cap 4, so that the pin 34 is extracted from the bore 18, by a movement in the opposite direction of arrow F in FIG. 3. The combined force of the pressure exerted on the head 22 and the compression force of the spring 54 has the effect of pushing the valve 16 against the plug 36, thus freeing a passage between the dip tube 14 and the bore 30, this passage allowing the circulation of the fire treatment fluid as far as the discharge head 7. The tap is then in the open position of the figure 5. The displacement of the valve 16 from its position in FIGS. 2 to 4 to its position in FIG. 5 is carried out automatically as soon as the pin 34 is removed and without the intervention of levers and / or locking members. In other words, the opening of the tap 10 takes place directly, as soon as the withdrawal of

the pin 34.

  In addition, the pressurization of the flexible hose 6 which results from the opening of the valve 10 takes place without manipulation of the head 7, so that the sequence of implementation of the extinguisher is particularly simple and logical for a user. , even panicked: - he pins the tap 10; - he takes the head 7 in hand to direct it towards the flames and he controls the jet of treatment fluid by means

lever 7b.

  The ring 8 and the pin 34 can be secured after mounting the valve 10 on the tank 2 and setting

place of the cap 4.

  A pressure indicator 60 is mounted on a nozzle 62 of the body 12 in communication with the interior volume of the reservoir 2 so as to constantly know the pressure prevailing inside this reservoir. A connector 64 provided with a valve 66 makes it possible to supply, through a filter 68, the volume

  inside of reservoir 2 in pressurizing fluid.

  In view of the above, it is possible to mount the valve 10 on the tank 2 while the pin 34 is in place in the bore 18 and the valve 16 is held in the closed position. The tank 2 is then pressurized through the valve 66, which can be controlled using the pressure indicator 60. It is then possible to mount the cover 4 around the tap 10 at the top of the tank 2 and securing the pin 34 and the ring 8 by any suitable means, while the cap 4 reveals the pressure indicator 60, as shown in Figure 1. The installation of a seal, the rupture of which allows detecting a displacement of the pin 34 can be carried out before fitting the cap 4, such a seal then being protected by

The hairdo.

  Likewise, during maintenance operations on the extinguisher of the invention, it is possible to open the cover 4 to access the tap 10, in particular its connection

pressurization 64.

  The invention has been presented with a tap 10 protected by a cap and connected to a flexible tube. It is however applicable independently of such a cap 4 and, in particular, in the case of a tap connected directly to a projection nozzle connected directly to its outlet orifice, as shown in Figure 6, o elements similar to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 bear identical references. A ring 101 allows to screw the

  tap 10 on an external thread 102 of the opening 2a of the reservoir

  see 2. The body 12 of the valve 10 is extended by a handle 103 on one side while it forms, on the opposite side, a nozzle 104 for spraying the product contained in the reservoir. A resiliently loaded valve is housed in the body 12 and operates as indicated with reference to the first embodiment, the recoil movement of the valve in the body 12 in a direction away from the reservoir being limited by a plug 36. A pin 34 can block this movement by insertion into notches in the body 12, only one of which is visible with the reference 12c. An indicator of

  pressure 60 is connected to a nozzle 62 of the body 12.

  According to a variant not shown of this second embodiment of the invention, the handle 103 can be removable

relative to the body 12.

  In the first embodiment, the invention has been shown with a dip tube 14, it is however applicable in the absence of such a dip tube, in particular

  when the extinguisher is intended to be used "upside down".

Claims (10)

  1. Tap (10) for a portable fire extinguisher (1) at permanent pressure, said tap comprising a body (12) intended to be mounted on the orifice (2a) of a reservoir (2) of fire treatment fluid and a valve (16) movable in translation between an open position and a closed position of said valve, characterized in that said valve (16) is designed to pass from the closed position to the open position of said valve (10 ) by a translational movement (X-X ') in a direction of separation relative to said reservoir (2). 2. Tap according to claim 1, characterized in that said body (12) comprises a bore (18) in which is housed, slidingly, said valve (16), an outlet conduit (30) of said tap (10) being formed in said body and opening out in said bore.   3. Tap according to one of claims 1 or 2, character-   laughed in that it comprises means (54) capable of elastically loading said valve (16) in a direction of separation by report to said tank (2).   4. Tap according to one of claims 2 and 3, character-   risé in that said bore (18) forms an internal shoulder (48) for supporting a compression spring (54) while said valve (16) carries a corresponding external shoulder (52),   said spring being disposed between said two shoulders.   5. Tap according to one of claims 2 to 4, character-   risé in that said bore (18) defines a seat (20) of scope of said valve (16) while said valve carries a seal   O-ring (28) able to bear against said seat.   6. Tap according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises a member (34) for detachably locking said valve (16) in the closed position of said valve (10), said member being designed to oppose the translational movement (X- X ') of said valve in the sense   distance from said reservoir.   7. Tap according to claim 6, characterized in that said locking member is an extractable pin (34) intended to be received in said body (12) in a position   (Y2-Y2 ') generally perpendicular to the direction of movement- ment (X-X ') of said valve (16).   8. Tap according to claim 7, characterized in that the face (38) of said valve opposite to said tank (2) carries a pin (40) adapted to penetrate into a corresponding housing (42) of said pin (34).   9. Tap according to claims 2 and 7, characterized in   that the bottom (36) of said bore (18) comprises a housing (46) for receiving said pin (40) when said valve (16) is   in the open position of said valve (10).   10. Portable fire extinguisher with permanent pressure (1), characterized in that it comprises a tap (10) according to one of the preceding claims.