US1200814A - Dry-pipe chemical-mixing fire-extinguisher system. - Google Patents

Description

R. L. CUONEY.

DRY PIPE CHEMICAL MIXING FIRE ExTINGuIsHEII SYSTEM.

PPLIcATIoM FILED FEB. 2I. Ism.

Patented Oat. 10, 1916.

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R.` L. ACODNEY. DRY PIPE CHEMICALMIX'ING FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1914..

1,200,814. Patented 0@t.'10,1916.

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'UNTED STATS ROBERT L. cooivnv, or ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

DRY-PIPE CHEMICAL-MIXING FIRE-EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

Laconia.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed. February 21, 1914. Serial No. 820,310.

To all whom t may concern: v

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. COONY, a citizen of the United' States,y residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dry-Pipe Chemical-Mixing Fire-Extinguisher Systems, of which the following is a speciiication.

rIhis invention relates to improvements in dry pipe chemical mixing fire extinguisher systems, which-include a stationary tank to be partially filled-with an alkaline solution, an invertible acid bottle arranged in the tank, and a mechanical element connected with the acid bottle and operable to effect an inversion of the same consequent to a venting of the pressure in the distributing pipe of the system" as by the opening of a sprinkler head. or `distributing. valve. The object of the invention, briefly stated, is to provide a system having the mechanical features noted, and whereinthe movement` of the aforesaid mechanical element will be without sliding friction, thel said element in its movements, being devoid of contact with the inner surface of the cylinder or equivalent element, in which it moves, and hence having its operative movement unaffected by corrosion or by deposits upon the surface of said cylinder. The system is thus made sensitively and reliably responsive to those influences which initiate the discharging operation of the acid bottle.

The features of the invention area-pplicable to dry pipe systems of the character noted, wherein the operation is caused by pneumatic pressure, as in the construction shown in my prioi` Patent No. 1,075,283, of

Oct. 7, 1913, or tov a system wherein the op.- eration is caused by the weight of some unbalanced mechanical element, normally held in restraint by thel pressure, in the distributing pipe.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompany-ing drawings, where- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the invention in connection with a balanced pressure system such as is illustrated in my Patent No. 1,075,283, aforesaid; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing a modification applicable to a dry pipe system wherein the discharge of' the acid bottle is due to the influence of the weight of an unbalanced mechanical element; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the means whereby the acid bottle is normally held against inversion.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The system in connection with which the present invention is employed includes a tank 1, a distributing pipe 2, a pipe 3 projecting into the tank and formed as 'a continuation of the distributing pipe, and an enlarged cylinder'i, interposed between the pipes 2 and 3 and, in effect, forming -a part of the distributing pipe in so far as it provides a flow way through which the solution passes from the tank into the 'distributing pipe at the ltime of a fire. The system also includes an acid bottle 5 lwhich is pivoted of center as at 6 in supporting brackets 7, and which, in the operation of the system, is over-turned tofdischarge its contents into the alkaline solution with which the tan-k 1 is partially filled. rllhe system shown in Fig. 1 is of the balanced pressure type, being broadly similar in thisV respect tothe system shown in my prior Patent No. 1,075,283 aforesaid, and includes a- -by-pass connection 8 between the distributing pipe andthe tank, or other equivalent means. The connection 8 includes a diaphragm having a minute aperture 9 and its olice is to' maintain the pressures in the dise tributing pipe and in the tank normally equal, and to thus compensate for leakage without, however, permitting the pressure -in the tank to become equal to the pressure in the pipe 2 when the latte-r pressure is suddenly reduced or vented, as by the opening of a sprinkler head or distributing valve upon the occasion ofa fire.

- I The acid bottle in the embodiment shown is provided with a looseV cap 10 which, at one side thereof, is connected by a chain 11 toa rod 12 passing through the elbow whereat the pipe 3 joins theenlarged cylinder t. The latter is provided with an inturned flange 13 which forms a continuation of said elbow and serves as a rest or seat for a plate 15. The plate 15 is preferably of disk form and is of substantially less diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder 4, whereby, in its movements toward and away from the seat 13, it has no contact `with the surface of the cylinder. The plate 15 is foo provided at its lower side with a lug 16 which is mounted on a pivot pin 17, arranged transversely of the lower portion of the cylinder 4. The movement of the plate 15 away from the seat 13 is limited by a bar 18 or equivalent device, arranged transversely of said cylinder.

1n operation, when a sprinkler head or distributing valve is opened so that the pressure in the pipe 2 is suddenly vented, the fluid under pressure in the tank expands and acts on the plate 15, causing the latter to move sharply and rapidly from its seat 13 and to thereby initiate the over-turning movement of the acid bottle 5, at which time the acid in said bottle mixes with the solution in the tank, and the said solution is expelled from the tank through the pipes 3 and 2 by the high pressure developed consequent to the mixing of the chemicals. The plate 15 is devoid of sliding contact with the walls of the cylinder 4, and its degree of frictional contact with the pin 17 is negligible, by reason of the relatively small diameter of said pin and the slight extent of the lug 16. It follows that the plate 15 is reliably responsive to the action of the pres` sure in the tank 1, consequent to the venting of the pressure in the pipe 2.

The construction shown in Fig. 3 embodies a system wherein the over-turning of the acid bottle is caused, not by pneumatic pressure, but by the weight of some mechanical element which is normally held in restraint by the pressure in the pipe 2, but which is unbalanced when the pressure in the pipe 2 is vented at the time of a fire. In its application to this type of system, the invention preferably includes a plate 15a which is in the form of a piston and, like the plate 15, is of substantially less diameter than the cylinder in which it works (such cylinder being designated 4a) and is devoid of contact with the inner face of said cylinder. The plate 15a normally rests against a seat 13a provided at the upper end of the pipe 3a which corresponds to the pipe 3 of the irst embodiment. rIhe acid bottle is mounted to move in a plane transverse to the cylinder, instead o-f longitudinal to the cylinder, as in the embodiment first described, and one of the brackets 7 a, by which the acid bottle is supported, is provided near the upper end of the acid bottle with a recess 19 extending from one side edge of said bracket and accommodating an apertured lug 20 which projects from the adjacent side of the acid bottle. The acid bottle is normally held against over-turning movement by a latch rod 21 which passes loosely through guides 22V secured to the adjacent bracket 7a and which has its upper end engaged loosely through the aperture in the lug 20. The latch rod 21 is operatively connected to the plate 15, the connections comprising a rod 23 depending from said plate through the pipe 3, and a lever 24 which, at its ends, is pivoted to the lower ends of therespective rods 23 and 2l. r1`he lever 24 is pivotally supported between its ends by a bracket 25 conveniently secured to the pipe 3a. The lower end of the pipe 3a is formed with a recess 26 in which that end of the lever 24 which projects into said pipe, works.

fihe pressure in the pipe 2 normally holds the plate 15a against its seat. This pressure is opposed to a weight 27 provided on the rod 21. lhen the pressure in the pipe 2 is suddenly vented, the rod 21, `(which, as stated, passes loosely through the guides 22) drops, whereupon its upper end is disengaged from the lug 20 and the acid bottle 5, being mounted off center', overturn's and discharges its contents into the tank.

rlhe pivotal connections of the lever 24 are quite small and the rod 21 is of very small diameter. 1t follows that the friction incident to the pivotal connections of the lever 24 and to the provision of the guides 22 is negligible.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A chemical mixing fire extinguisher system comprising a tank for an alkaline solution, an invertible acid bottle mounted within the tank, a pipe projecting toward the bottom of the tank, a distributing pipe leading from the tank, a cylinder connecting said pipes, the cylinder having a seat at its end communicating with said first-named pipe, a plate of substantially less diameter than the internal diameter of said cylinder and movable within the same in the direction of the axis thereof, the plate normally resting against said seat, and connections between the plate and the acid bottle whereby the latter is sustained normally in an upright position and whereby the overturning movement of the acid bottle is initiated by a movement of said plate away from its seat, the plate being so arranged as to be devoid of contact with the surrounding wall of the cylinder during its movement to initiate the inversion of the acid bottle.

2. A,` chemical mixing fire extinguisher system comprising a tank for an alkaline solution, an invertible acid bottle mounted within the tank, a pipe projecting toward the bottom of the tank, a distributing pipe leading from the tank, a cylinder connecting said pipes, the cylinder having a seat at its end communicating with said first-named pipe, a plate of substantially less diameter than the internal diameter of said cylinder and movable within the same in the direction of the axis thereof, the plate normally resting against said seat, a pivotal connection between one side of said plate and said cylinder, and connections between the plate and the acid bottle whereby the latter is sustained normally in an upright position and In testimony whereof I have hereunto set whereby the' overturning movement of the my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- 1o acid bottle is initiated by a movement of nesses.

said plate away from its seat, the plate being so arranged as to be devoid of contact with ROBERT L COOBEY the surrounding wall of the cylinder during Witnesses:

its movement to initiate the inversion of the R. L. CAMPBELL,

acid bottle. G. M. ABBOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner'of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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