GB2177383A

GB2177383A - Filling fire extinguishers

Info

Publication number: GB2177383A
Application number: GB08613150A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sigvard Johansson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-31
Filing date: 1986-05-30
Publication date: 1987-01-21
Also published as: SE8502698L; FI862304A0; SE8502698D0; SE461132B; FI862304A; GB8613150D0

Abstract

For filling of a correct amount of water into the vessel (1) of a fire extinguisher, a filling unit (3) is sealingly coupled to the outlet opening (2) of the vessel. The filling unit has a hopper shaped for filling portion (4, 5) outside the vessel and a tubular portion (7) extending into the vessel and having such a length that the cushion of air formed by the replenishment will occupy a volume essentially corresponding to the portion of the vessel volume that should not be occupied by water. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A filling device for fire extinguishers In recent years there has been proposed a fire extinguishing composition which mixed with a predetermined quantity of water gives an efficient fire extinguishing foam.

A fire extinguishing equipment wherein this composition is utilized consists simply of a pressure vessel with a house connected thereto which has on one hand a fitting for admission of compressed air at charging and on the other hand a nozzle through which the fire extinguishing foam should be ejected.

One drawback inherent with both the described fire extinguishing device and most others is that a special service enterprise has to be used for replenishing of the extinguisher.

As mentioned above it is important to fill the vessel with a predetermined quantity of water and as it has been found impossible to provide the vessel with a level control tube or the like for that purpose, and because each replenishment where the fire extinguishing composition is coupled a check of the level is impossible, it has been found necessary to entrust service enterprises.

However, it would be very advantageous, not the least from a security point of view, if the replenishment could be carried out by e.g.

a house owner, in as much as it has been found that the replenishment is postponed, probably until it is too late, particularly if the service enterprise is situated at some inconvenient place.

Therefore, the aim of the present invention has been to provide a device by means of which the layman himself can carry out the replenishment of a used vessel with fire extinguishing material without any kind of measuring and more extensive instructions.

To carry this and other objects into practice the invention has the characterizing features which are defined in the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one embodiment of the invention, shown as an example, and the figure illustrates a section through the uppermost portion of a vessel and a filling device according to the invention connected thereto.

In the drawing the figure 1 denotes the uppermost portion of a pressure vessel, adapted to contain a foam composition, water and compressed air. Thereby, it is important that the water volume is neither above nor below a predetermined value.

In the threaded outlet opening 2 of the vessel there is normally screwed in an extinguisher head which on one hand comprises or carries the nozzle through which foam should be given off, and on the other hand a channel which is normally closed by means of a non return valve, through which channel compressed air may be introduced into the vessel in connection with replenishment thereof. This extinguisher head is of a conventional type and therefore it will not be described in more details.

At replenishment the extinguisher head is at first screwed off and in place thereof a filling device, generally denoted 3, is screwed into the outlet opening. In the embodiment shown the filling device comprises a hopper portion 4 which-in the embodiment shown-has a flat lowermost portion 5. In a groove adjacent said lowermost portion there is fitted a sealing ring 6.

Integral with the hopper portion 4,5, and in communication with the inner thereof there is formed a tubular portion 7 which has a predetermined length for the intended purpose.

At replenishment the filling device is screwed into the inlet opening so as is shown in the drawing.

When water is filled through the hopper portion the vessel will be filled successively but as the water level reaches the lowermost end of the tubular portion 7 the water in the vessel rises only very little as the air trapped between the lower end of the tubulat portion 7 and the uppermost portion of the vessel is compressed, and the water which is introduced through the hopper shaped portion when equilibrium has been reached will instead rise up within the hopper shaped portion.

Thus, as soon as the hopper shaped port]]on starts to be filled by water, one knows that the correct amount of water has been introduced into thesvessel, and therefore the water admission is stopped. A continued admission of water is of no significance in as much as the cushion of air effectively prevents water from entering the vessel.

When the water filling has been completed the filling device is screwed off, and a predetermined amount of foan composition is introduced into the vessel. Then the extinguisher head is screwed on, and compressed air is introduced through the above mentioned channel. Normally, a pressure of about 7 bars is required which is the pressure which is nor mally obtained from air compressors at gasoline stations and the like. Thus, it is possible for anybody to quickly and correctly replenish the fire extinguisher and in this manner there is achieved on one hand a saving for the consumer and on the other hand the hazard that a fire extinguisher is left uncharged for any appreciable period of time is considerably reduced.

Further, the pressure vessel is provided with a handle (not shown) for a convenient handling thereof, and in accordance with the invention this handle or any other portion of the extinguisher may be designed in such a manner that the filling unit may be detachably attached thereto. In its simplest design such attachment means may take the shape of an upstanding part, on to which the filling unit may be pushed.

Claims

1. A-device for filling a correct amount of water into a vessel for fire extinguishing purposes, comprising a filling unit (3), adapted to be disposed in the threaded outlet opening (2) of the vessel during filling and having a hopper shaped portion (4) merging with a tubular portion (7) which extends into the vessel, characterized in that the tubular portion (7) has such a length that the air cushion formed between the inner wall of the uppermost vessel portion (1) and the tubular portion gets a volume which essentially corresponds to the portion of the vessel (1) which should not be filled with water, and in that the filling unit is adapted to be sealingly screwed into the outlet opening of the vessel (2) during water replenishment, and then to be removed so as to permit filling of a predetermined amount of extinguishing liquid.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 characterized by a sealing gasket (6), adapted to seal the connection between the vessel (1) and the filling unit (3).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the vessel (1) is provided with means for releasable connection of the filling unit (3) to the vessel (1).