US1164234A

US1164234A - Process for extinguishing flames in tanks.

Info

Publication number: US1164234A
Application number: US83235714A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Steiner; Otto Adt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1914-04-16
Filing date: 1914-04-16
Publication date: 1915-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 1932-12-14

Description

P. STEINER & O. ADT.

PROCESS FOR EXTINGUISHING FLAMES IN TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 19M.

1,1 64,234. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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PROCESS FOR EXTlNGUISHING FLAMES IN TANK S. I

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16. 1914.

1,164,234. Patented Dec. 14, i915 i;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL STEINER, OE BERLIN, AND OTTO ADT, 01? BUCH, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY.

PROCESS FOR EXTINGUISHING FLAMES IN TANKS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, PAULSTEINER, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at Berlin, Germany, and O'rro Am, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at Buch, near Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Extinguishing Flames in Tanks; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a process for ex tinguishing flames in tanks for inflammable, easily combustible liquids such as petrol or the like, as well as to apparatus for carrying out the process. It has been found that when such tanks are on fire, the cover of the tank is nearly always destroyed or blown off by an explosion, and the flames cause, then by their movement upward, a flow of fresh air from the sides, that is to say, draw the air required for combustion at the walls of the tank. If the said air is replaced by a flameextinguishing gas, the flame will be extinguished. This circumstance has been uti lized for the new extinguishing process.

Various apparatus for carrying out the process, that is to say, for supplying flameextinguishing gas at the wall of the tank, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a vertical section through a tank with the new supply device. Fig. 1 is a plan of the said tank. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a tank with another construction of the supply device. Fig. 2 is the bottom portion of a tank with a third construction in vertical section, Fig. 3 is a portion of a vertical section through a tank with a fourth construction, Fig. 4: is a vertical section through a tank with a fifth construction, Fig. 5 is a portion of a vertical section through a tank with a sixth construction and Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a tank with a seventh construction.

In all the tanks, it has been assumed that the cover which otherwise is always placed on such tanks, has been removed or destroyed by the explosion.

The new process is as follows: Flame-extinguishing gas is allowed to escape all around the tank wall at the surface of the liquid, so that it is depressed by the laterally entering air, against the surface of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Application filed. April 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,357.

burning liquid and driven by the incoming air toward the center of the burning surface of the liquid, so that it spreads as an incombustible curtain over the liquid, thus shutting off the surface of the liquid from the fresh air, prevents the two from coming into contact and incloses the flame itself on all sides by rising along the same, and in that way also shuts off the flame from the air and thus extinguishes it. It goes without saying that the gas combines at the surface of the liquid with the incoming air and forms a gas mixture which, however, owing to the high proportion of the flame-extinguishing gas, is no longer sufficient for maintaining combustion and therefore also acts as an extinguisher.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 1 for carrying out the process, is as follows: a is the tank for the inflammable liquid, for instance petrol, closed below by a bottom 2'. Near the bottom is arranged a false bottom which has the shape of an inverted arch and is provided near the wall with a number of fine openings 25. The outer bottom 2' of the tank is provided with a supply pipe 1 for the gas, while the supply and discharge of the liqui d can be effected through a pipe .9 arranged in the interior of the pipe Z and projecting through the bottom it. When the liquid in the tank is on fire, air flows from all sides over the upper edge of the vessel, toward the flame rising from the surface of the liquid,

as shown by the arrows III. If a flame extinguishing gas, for instance carbonic acid, is admitted through the pipe Z into the tank, it will strike the bottom surface of the cupped false bottom 7:, spread along the same uniformly to all sides and reach the holes t through which it will pass and in that way rise in line jets upward, near the wall of the tank, through the liquid. It will then strike the air III and flow in the direction of the arrows II, along the surface of the burning liquid and shut it ofi from the air in an efficacious manner. The flame will thus be displaced toward the center and that end the false bottom is, in order to enable it to be easily put in its place, is made up of single parts m connected together by means of upwardly projecting annular flanges. The necessary distance from the tank bottom 2', that is to say, the support of the false bottom is effected by radial ribs a directed downward, which are at the same time used for guiding the gas in the radial direction. The inner false bottom is therefore loosely resting on the tank bottom i. Instead of a bottom with numerous holes 2?, could also be used a false bottom without holes, which does not reach to the wall of the tank, but is slightly smaller than the tank and thus allows the gas to escape through a narrow slot close to the wall of the tank and along the latter. Such a device is shown in Fig. 2 and the false bottom is supported by any approved means, such as hereinbefore described, a little distance above the tank bottom. It will be seen therefrom that the supply is effected here only directly along the wall of the tank. In place of the cupped false bottom could also be used an inverted conical bottom as shown in Fig. 2

The device shown in Fig. 3 shows, in combination with the false bottom, a cylindrical wall b adjoining the outer edge of the false bottom and leaving only a small annular slot between it and the wall a of the tank. In that way, the gas in rising is guided close to the wall of the tank. The rising bubbles are therefore prevented from getting to the surface nearer the interior of the tank.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, on the wall of the tank are arranged several annular conduits 0, d, 6, one above another, the gas being supplied to them through pipes g and escaping through annular slots f. This construction avoids any stirring of the combustible liquid by the rising gas bubbles. In the said construction, flame extinguishing gas is supplied only through the uppermost annular conduit, for instance through c and passes to the surface of the liquid, without passing through it and stirring it up. Sev eral such annular conduits are provided in order that, when the fire has already destroyed the uppermost conduit or conduits, the supply of the extinguishing gas could be effected through the next lower one. It goes without saying that if the upper annular conduits are destroyed and no longerof use, the next lower conduit could be utilized even if it still be covered with the liquid. A good extinguishing action will then still be obtained.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 is provided with an annular conduit 0 only at the upper edge of the tank, namely on the outside. Owing to its position, this conduit is protected in case of fires, and the flame extinguishing gas passes from it over the upper edge of the tank and is forced down on to the surface of the liquid.

lVhile the constructions shown in Figs. 15, supply flame extinguishing gas either below or above the surface of the liquid, the supply in the construction shown in Fig. 6, always takes place direct in the plane of the surface of the liquid, that is to say, neither below nor above it, whatever be the level of the said surface. To that end, is provided an annular conduit h in the same way, as the annular conduits of the devices shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This annular conduit is not connected however to the wall of the tank, but is freely movable, and as it is filled with gas, it floats on the surface of the liquid, that is to say, rises and sinks with it. The supply of gas to the movable annular conduit 72. takes place through jointed pipes 0 p from a fixed supply pipe. The ointed pipes are pivoted to the supply pipe at 1" and to the floating annular conduit at The gas escapes from the floating conduit it through openings of any desired shape, and acts in the same way as in the other devices. Instead of the jointed pipes could also be used flexible pipes (hose pipes).

The illustrations in the drawings are diagrammatic, and the apparatus could show various deviations without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat we claim is 1. A process for extinguishing flame in a tank for inflammable liquid, which consists in admitting a fire-extinguishing gas to the gas space of the tank around every portion of its. side wall, thereby cutting off the access of air to the surface of the liquid in the tank.

:2. A process for extinguishing flame in a tank for inflammable liquid, which consists in admitting a fire-extinguishing gas to the tank around its side wall below the surface of the liquid, and permitting the said gas to rise through the liquid and escape therefrom around every portion of the tank wall into its gas space, thereby cutting off the access of air to the surface of the liquid in the tank.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures, in presence of two Witnesses.

PAUL STEINER. OTTO ADT.

Vitnesses VVOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPEB- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington. D. G.