GB370057A - Improvements relating to fire extinguishing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

370,057. Fire-extinguishing. PYRENE CO., Ltd. and HUNTER, J. N., Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex. Jan. 7, 1931, No. 581. [Class 47 (ii).] A piercing mechanism for opening sealed containers of compressed gases, for fire-extinguishing purposes, is so arranged that the latent energy of a spring or springs or of a raised weight is adapted, when released, first to drive the piercer into the container and then, by continued action, to withdraw it positively from the container. As shown, the piercer 6 for a gas bottle 4 is operated in a straight line by toggle links 8, 9 and springs 11, 12. With the toggle bent to the left and the springs 11, 12 compressed, the piercer is held in inoperative position by a latch 16 engaging a groove 17 in its shank. When the latch is released by the movement of a bell crank 18, the springs 11, 12 first straighten the toggle, when the piercer breaks the seal .5, and then break the toggle to the right, withdrawing the piercer to the position shown. In this position, the latch 16 cannot re-enter the groove 17. The bell crank 18 is controlled by a slide 31 movable within a, cylinder 21 by means of a button 30 and a, push-and-pull cable 20 connected to a remote control 19. The latter comprises a slide 22' normally held against the action of a spring 23 by means of a celluloid loop encircling pins 24, 25. The Figure shows the mechanism after operation. To reset it, the slide 22 is moved to the left and a new celluloid loop applied. This movement forces in the button 30 and compresses a spring 34 so that the bell crank 18 tends to move the latch 16 to locking position. The toggle is then broken to the left by means of a handle 35, when the latch re-enters the groove 17. In a modification, the piercer is operated by means of a spring-pressed rod provided with a sinusoidal bend. In another modification, the piercer shank is adapted to be rotated by a. spring, and is provided with a pin engaging in. a cam groove in a fixed sleeve. In another modification, the piercer is moved by two cam surfaces adapted to operate in succession on the piercer shank. The Provisional Specifica,tion describes a construction wherein the piercer is moved by a spring-operated rod connected at one end to a crank which, at its other end, is connected to the piercer.