GB1254104A - Improvements relating to fire-fighting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

1,254,104. Automatic dry powder fire fighting equipment. PIRELLI GENERAL CABLE WORKS Ltd. 6 March, 1969 [2 Feb., 1968], No. 5427/68. Heading ASA. Automatic fire fighting equipment comprises at least one dry powder fire extinguisher having an outlet directed towards a potential seat of fire, a gravity-operated triggering mechanism to actuate the extinguisher, and at least one temperature-sensitive release element located above the potential seat of fire in operative connection with the triggering mechanism. The equipment is of particular application to workmen's tents for electric cable jointing. In Fig. 1 a joint 1 between oil filled electric cables 2, 3 is exposed in trench 4 of a cable jointing bay. The bay is protected by portable shelter 7 comprising frame 8 covered by canvas or plastics sheet 9, and closable end flaps. Horizontal ledges 10 support extinguishers 11 secured to posts 12. The extinguishers are preferably of the plunger/ diaphragm type and have outlet pipes 14 directing the dry powder towards joint 1. Vertical tube 17 mounted on each extinguisher locates and guides lead weight 18 directly above the plunger, and locking pin 19 across tube 17 below weight 18 retains the latter when the equipment is not in use. In use, pin 19 is removed and weight 18 is suspended in tube 17 by flexible cable 20 which extends up through guide tube 21 clamped to a frame member 8. Each cable is connected across the roof of the bay to an opposite cable via fusible links 22, at least one of which is disposed directly above joint 1. Upon occurrence of a fire, at least one link 22 melts releasing cables 20 and hence weights 18, which on striking plungers 15 trigger the respective pair of fire extinguishers 11. A manual cable release may be provided by pin 42 in each cable 20.