GB2432787A

GB2432787A - Fire inhibition apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2432787A
Application number: GB0524497A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Alfred Ward
Original assignee: Environmental Seals Ltd
Current assignee: Environmental Seals Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-01
Filing date: 2005-12-01
Publication date: 2007-06-06
Also published as: GB0524497D0

Abstract

An apparatus for inhibiting the spread of fire in a thatched building, the apparatus comprising an elongate tube 10 one end of which having at least one tapered aperture 12, means to deliver fire inhibiting fluid into the tube 10, and means to rotate the tube to expel the fluid through the aperture and out of the tube. The end of the tube is formed with a spindle 16 which carries an external thread 18 for engaging with a housing 20 which includes a drill attachment 22 and an aperture to receive a pipe or tube 24. The tube 24 is attached to a portable back pack - type extinguishant container 26 and pump 28. In use the tube is inserted through the thatch in the building and the extinguishant expelled through apertures 12,14 whilst the tube is being rotated using the drill.

Description

FIRE INHIBITION APPARTUS

The present invention relates to fire inhibition apparatus. More especially, the invention relates to apparatus for inhibiting a fire in buildings with thatched roofs.

Currently around fifty thatched roofs a year catch fire, many in buildings hundreds of years old. As open fires are traditionally used in such buildings, the fires commonly begin around the vicinity of the chimney. Over time the lime cement between the brickwork begins to crumble or bricks become loose which exposes the thatch to hot gases and sparks. Moreover, owners of thatched buildings commonly install stoves with steel tubing however the high temperatures reached by the tubing are capable of igniting the thatch.

Once called, the emergency services are not able to initially tell the exact location of the fire as, usually, they are only able to see smoke coming from the thatch, which can be four to six feet thick.

Consequently, the first action of the emergency services is to remove all the furniture from the building whilst directing water from the hoses onto the chimney area and thatch. However, since thatched roofs are designed to stop the ingress of water, this does not deal with the fire inside the building and is only of use once the thatch itself is alight. I *** e..

In an attempt to save some of the roof, the emergency services tend to climb onto the roof, cut the wire mesh and saw through the thatch to make a fire break. On some occasions more than half off the thatched * roof will need to be hastily removed in an attempt to stop the flames.

I

SIS

The present invention seeks to provide an improved apparatus and method of inhibiting fire within a building having a thatched roof.

According to one aspect, there is provided, apparatus for inhibiting the spread of fire in a thatched building, the apparatus comprising an elongate tube one end of which having at least one tapered aperture, means to deliver fire inhibiting fluid into the tube, and means to rotate the tube to expel the fluid through the aperture and out of the tube.

Preferably the tube is made from a rigid material such as stainless steel.

Preferably the tube has at a plurality of apertures formed in a lower part of its side walls.

Preferably, the tube has a spindle at an upper end. Preferably still the spindle is able to receive a drill head to provide rotation of the spindle and hence the tube.

Preferably the upper end of the tube includes means to attach a pipe. Preferably still the pipe is connected to a container for storing the fire inhibiting fluid. More preferably the container is provided with pump S..

means to pump the fluid from the container, through the pipe and into the *.S. tube. * S. S. *

S

According to a further aspect there is provided, a method of inhibiting the spread of fire in a thatched building using an elongate apertured tube, the method comprising the steps of: pushing the tube downwardly through the thatch; delivering fire inhibiting fluid into the tube through one end; rotating the tube to expel the fluid through the or each aperture of the tube.

On embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side schematic view of a fire inhibiting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side schematic view of the tube of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic view of the apparatus of Figure 1, in use.

Referring first to Figure 1, the apparatus comprises an elongate serrated tubular member 10 one end of which ends in a tapered aperture 12. The tubular member 10 has a diameter of approximately 6 mm, although it is clearly envisaged that the tubular member 10 could be of any appropriate diameter. The tubular member 10 is made from a rigid fire resistant metal, such as for example stainless steel.

The length of the tubular member 10 is largely dependent on the height of the building, or depth of the thatch of building in which the I..

apparatus is to be used. A number of tubular members 10 of different SI.

heights, of for example between 1 m and 2 m, would be avaliable for use.

Four apertures 14 are located around the side wall of the tubular member 10, approximately 5 cm from the end 12 of the tubular member (only one such aperture 14 is shown in the Figures). *S.

The opposing end of the tubular member 10 is formed with a spindle 16 which carries an external thread 18 (see Figure 2) for engaging with an internal thread of a cylindrical housing 20. The housing 20 includes a drill attachment 22 and an aperture through which to receive a further pipe or tube 24. The housing 20 has an internal channel (not shown) to provide an un-inhibited path to the tubular housing 10.

The other end of the pipe 24 is connected to a storage container 26 which holds a fire inhibitive fluid, such as the one marketed by the present applicants under the name 321 .

The container 26 is shaped and sized to allow it to be located conveniently within back pack which can be worn by a emergency serviceman during use.

The container 26 includes a pump 28, which may be manual or automatic to pump fluid from the container 26 through the housing 20 and into the tubular member 10 during use.

The drill attachment 22 is able to receive a drill which can then be used to rotate the spindle 16 and thus tubular member 10. By using a drill, rotation of the tubular member 10 can be continuous and the speed of rotation can be controlled simply and efficiently.

Figure 3 shows the apparatus of the present invention in use. In the event of a fire in a building with a thatched roof, an emergency serviceman would climb on to the roof of the building and push the tubular member 10 through the thatch. The fire inhibiting fluid would then be pumped from the container 26 into the tubular member 10. The serviceman would then use a drill to rotate the tubular member 10. a *

Rotation would cause the fluid to be expelled through the apertures 12, 14 in a spray to cover the entire area surrounding the tubular member 10.

The tubular member 10 can then be extracted from the thatch and re-inserted in a different location.

The apparatus can be used to coat the thatch in areas that are a potential fire hazard prior to prevent a fire situation from occurring.

The above described embodiments are given by way of example only, and the skilled reader will naturally appreciate that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. * . a.' a p. * I p S * * S.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for inhibiting the spread of fire in a thatched building, the apparatus comprising an elongate tube one end of which having at least one tapered aperture, means to deliver fire inhibiting fluid into the tube, and means to rotate the tube to expel the fluid through the aperture and out of the tube.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube is made from a rigid material such as stainless steel.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the tube has.. S...

a plurality of apertures formed in a lower part of its side walls.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tube ** has a spindle at an upper end.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the spindle is able to receive a drill head to provide rotation of the spindle and hence the tube.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upper end of the tube includes means to attach a pipe.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a pipe which in turn is connected to a container for storing fire inhibiting fluid.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising pump means associated with the container to pump the fluid from the container, through the pipe and into the tube.

9. A method of inhibiting the spread of fire in a thatched building using an elongate apertured tube, the method comprising the steps of; pushing the tube downwardly through the thatch; delivering fire inhibiting fluid into the tube through one end; rotating the tube to expel the fluid through the or each aperture of the tube.

10. An apparatus for inhibiting the spread of fire in a thatched building substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying Figures 1, 2 and 3. I... * * S.. * . *. * * S

S..... *. S * S S * S. * S S...

S S S. S