US1292732A - Fire-extinguishing system. - Google Patents

Description

L. E. ECKELMANN & H. HERTZBERG.

RE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

APPLlCATION FILED APR. 26. I918.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

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L. E. ECKELMANN & H. HERTZBERG.

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APRLZB. 191s.

Patented J an. 28, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 26. 1918. 1,292,732. Patented Jan.28,1919.

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LUIS E. ECKELMANN AND HARRY HERTZBERG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO PYREN'E MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed April 26. 19 18. I Serial No 231.052.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LUIS E. ECKELMANN and HARRY Hnnrznnno, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city, county, and State of New York, have 1n vented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishing Systems, of of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fire extinguishing system and more particularly to the automatic control of the medium employed in extinguishing fires.

The invention has for an object to provide a fire extinguishing system in which a fire extinguishing liquid will be vaporized by heat other than that of the fire to be extinguished.

Another object is to provide a system in which the vaporizing means will be automatically brought into action at the start of a conflagration by the increase of heat at the location of the fire, the system being particularly adapted for operating in locations which are not readily accessible.

A further object is to provide an automatic fire extinguishing system for installation in the holds of ships, factories, storehouses, or other desired places, which will bring into action an efficient and positive fire extinguishing medium.

Other objects relate to the provision of various signals and testing means indlcating the condition of the system as a whole.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one arrangement of the system embodying the invention, the various novel features being more particularly set forth in the appended In the drawings like parts have been given the same reference numeral.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a diagrammatic view of the system.

Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the vaporizer.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the heating units of the vaporizer.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the automatic fluid control valve and its operating means.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the operating means shown in the upper part of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation, partly broken away, of a part of the valve operating means shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a detail front view of the thermostat.

In the present embodiment of the invention an electrically heated vaporizing device is provided, the heat from a confiagration operating a thermostat and causing the current to flow through the heating coils of the vaporizer and heat a vaporizing surface and also causing a fire extinguishing liquid to flow from a suitable storage tank or receptacle to the vaporizer.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings the vaporizer is designated generally by the reference numeral 1 and the storage tank by the reference numeral 2. A fluid conducting pipe 3, provided with an automatic control valve 4:, to which reference will later be made, leads from the tank to the vaporizer, the liquid being discharged through a perforated ring 3 located above the vaporizer.

The vaporizer, (see Fig. 2), is here shown as comprising a conical shell 5, of copper or other material, covered with a thin sheeting (3 of asbestos, upon which the fire extinguishing liquid is discharged, this shell having formed thereon a series of horizontal annular gutters 7, all but the lowermost of which are provided with outlet openings 8 in the bottom thereof. These outlet openings 8 are preferably spaced a short distance apart throughout the length of the gutters so that the latter will serve to collect and redistribute the liquid .to insure a proper spreading of the latterover the expanding surface presented by the cone from apex to base. The collective area presented by the openings in each gutter is preferably just sufiicient to permit the proper amount of liquid to be vaporized to flow through to the remaining surface with the pressure due to a very slight collection of liquid in the gutter.

The heating means comprises a series of segmental units 10, shown in detail in Fig. 3, each comprising a suitable metallic tape 11 wound upon a pair of laterally separated insulating supports 12 and 13 of mica or other suitable material and covered by sheets 14: and Y15, also of mica, the opposite terminals of the tape 11 being connected to binding posts 16 and 17. These units, when assembled, cover the interior surface of the shell 5 and are supported in position by an inner conical shell 18, the units being sufiiciently flexible to follow the curve of the shells.

Each of the units above described is connected in parallel to a common supply circuit, which is here effected by providing a pair of rings 20 and 21 located below the shell 5 and to which the respective binding posts 16 and 17 are connected by straps 22 and 23, the main feed and return wires 78 and 79 in Fig. 1, leading to the rings 20 and 21, as will be understood. An annular band 24 may inclose and protect these rings, as shown in Fig. 2.

This heating device is very effioient as the source of heat is placed as close as possible to the surface to be heated, although it is understood that the particular construction of the heater itself or of the vaporizer itself forms no part of the present invention forming the subject of this application.

The flow of liquid from the tank 2 to the vaporizer is controlled by the valve 4, before mentioned. The control means for this valve is automatic in its operation and is also arranged to delay the discharge of the liquid upon the vaporizer until the latter has been sufficiently heated by the heating means. In the present instance this valve is operated by the expansionof a member under the heating influence of the electric current and the valve is, therefore, termed an electo-thermal valve. The valve proper may be of any ordinary normally closed type, being here shown (Figs. 56) with a projecting stem 25 by depression of which the valve is opened.

As shown in Fig. 5, a lever 27 is fulcrumed between its ends to a bracket 26, fixed on the valve casing, one end of which lever 27 pro jects over the valve stem 25. The opposite end of this lever 27 is connected to one end of a second lever 28 by a slot and pin connection 29, the lever 28 being fulcrumed at its opposite end, as at 30, to a suitable base or panel 31 upon which the valve mechanism may be mounted.

Mounted on the panel 31, between the latter and the levers 27 and 28, is an electrothermal device whereby the lever 28 is operated. This device as shown in Figs. 5 to 8, comprises a single bar bent upon itself to form legs 35 and 36 having inturned feet 37 and 38, which latter overlap one another and are secured to a block 39 on the panel 31 by a bolt 39*. The legs 35 and 36 incline upwardly and inwardly toward one another and engage a screw pin 28*, carried by the lever 28 a short distance below the fulcrum 30 thereof, engaged freely in the crotch of the legs 35 and 36. This bar is, in effect, arranged to constitute a narrow base isosceles triangle having a common median plane with the levers 27 and 28 when in normal position. Y

Fixed upon the leg 36, by suitable means such as the screws 40, is a pair of shorter bars 41 and 42, superposed one on the other with a heating element between them (Figs.

The heating element as shown comprises a suitable metal filament 43 wound on an insulating strip 44 and covered by strips 45 and 46, also of insulating material, such as mica, the opposite ends of the filament 43 being connected to binding posts 47 and 48.

The application of heat to the leg 36 causes an expansion thereof which acts to throw the apex of the triangle,engaging the screw pin 28 to the left and, consequently, move the levers 27 and 28 and depress the valve stem 25 and open the valve 4. a

As will be more fully pointed out later, this arrangement causes the flow of the 1iq uid to the vaporizer to be delayed until such time as the heating surface of the latter has been raised to the proper temperature. The particular construction of the valve operating device is not claimed per 86 as a part of the present invention, as other means than that just described for controlling the flow of the liquid to the vaporizer may be employed, the means here shown being a simple and efficient arrangement for effecting the desired control.

Upon the panel 31 may also be mounted the main controlling switches for the electric circuit. As these switches are of well known conventional type no detailed description or illustration other than that in Fig. 1 is considered necessary.

These switches comprise a double-pole, single throw, hand switch, whose six terminal connections are numbered 50, 51, 52, 53, the two latter being connected by fuses 54 and 55 to a pair of terminal blocks 56 and 57 in the usual 'manner. Adjoining this hand switch are a pair of gravity-opening, solenoid-operated switches, indicated generally at 58 and 59. The switch 58 operates a relay to close a circuit which operates the switch 59, which latter in turn closes the main circuit to the heater of the vaporizer. The switch 58 carries a bridge piece 60 adapted to close the circuit across a pair of contacts 61 and 62, and the switch 59 carries a bridge piece 63 adapted to close the circuit across a pair of contacts 64 and 65.

The necessary circuits to operate both the vaporizer and valve mechanism are closed by means of any desired or required number of thermostats located at selected points. In the diagram of the system (Fig. 1) we have shown only one of these thermostats, indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 66.

Before describing in detail the thermostats n various annunciator devices, the

circuits through the main switches above referred to will be described.

Only one circuit is provided between the thermostat and annunciator devices and the main switches, a pair of wires and 71 leading to the terminals of the operating coil of switch 58, the closin of this switch sendinc current through the operatinccoil of sw1tch 59 and closing thelatter through a circuit to be traced later. Switch 59 being closed, closing the circuit through contacts 64 and 65, the main circuit to the vaporizer heater is arranged as follows: One side of the main feed line 75 connects to contact 64 of switch 59 and from contact 65 a wire 76 leads to the terminal block 56 which is con nected to the terminal 52 of the hand switch by the fuse 54. From the terminal 50 of the hand switch a wire 78 leads to one of the rings of the vaporizer heater and from the other ring of this heater a wire 79 leads to terminal 51 of the hand switch, from which the circuit is closed through terminal 53 and fuse 55 to terminal block 57, the return wire 81 completing this circuit to the opposite side 7 5 of the main feed line.

The circuit through the valve control is arranged as follows: From terminal 50 of the hand switch a wire 82 leads to one terminal 47 of the heater coil 43 and from the other terminal 48 of this heater coil a line connection 83, in which is a fuse 84, leads to terminal 51 of the hand switch, thus forming a shunt circuit from the main circuit to the vaporizer, just described.

The circuit through the coil of switch 59 is arranged as follows: From the con tact 64 of this switch a line connection 85, in which is a fuse 86, leads to one terminal of the operating coil and from the other terminal a wire 87 leads to contact 62 of the switch 58. From the other contact of switch 58 a wire 88 leads to the line 83, which latter, as previously pointed out, connects to the return side or terminal 51 of the hand switch, thus forming another shunt circuit for operating switch 59.

A pilot lamp 90 may also be provided, this lamp being connected by a wire 91 and through the fuse 86 to the main line and by a wire 92 to the terminal 57 of the hand switch.

The thermostat 66 may be of any well known or approved construction and one or more may be provided in connection with each vaporizer. In the diagram of the system (Fig. 1) we have shown only one of these thermostats which, as shown in detail in Fig. 9, comprises a pair of normally separated fingers 97 and 98, fixed at one end to posts 99 and 99 on an insulating base 100, these fingers being each made up of two leaves of different metals having different degrees of expansion under heat. The thermostat also has a fixed contact post 101 normally in engagement with one of the fingers 98. These fingers also act as contact or circuit closing members, as will be apparent, the heat from a confiagration causing the fingers to approach one another and make contact and thus close the circuit from the battery X (Fig. 1) through the coil of the relay switch 58, which will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The thermostat also preferably controls a series of devices for giving visual and audible indication of the functioning of the system, which here include a pair of annunciator drops 102 and 103, a general alarm bell 104 and annunciator drop 1.05 for the latter; also a drop 106 and bell 107, adapted to give an indication of the exhaustion of the liquid from the storage tank 2, these annunciator drops being of any well known construction which it is not necessary to describe in detail.

The shutter of the annunciator drop 102 preferably bears the words High temperature; the shutter of the annunciator drop 103 the words Low temperature; the shutter of the drop 105 the words General alarm; and the shutter of the drop 106 the words Empty tank.

Carried by the shutter of drop 102 is a bridging bar 120 and disposed under said bar in position to be engaged thereby when the shutter falls are a pair of contact points 121 and 122.

A similar bridging bar 123 is carried by the shutter of drop 105 and is adapted to bridge a pair of contacts 124 and 125 located under the bar, while a similar bar 126 and contacts 127 and 128 are provided in connection with drop 106.

The control system is also preferably arranged so that current will. not flow to the relay switch 58 to put the vaporizer heater in operation should the liquid be exhausted from the supply tank 2, even though the thermostat fingers 97 and 98 are caused to contact by rise of temperature.

The means here shown (Fig. 1) by which this is effected comprises a contact finger 130 suitably hinged on the upper portion of the tank 2 and having connected thereto, by a pivotal connection, the upper end of a rigid rod 131, to whose lower end is fixed a float 132 guided to have free vertical movement by the guides 133.

The end of the hinged contact 130 projects between a pair of fixed contacts 134 and 135. From one side of a battery X a wire 136 leads to the hinged contact 130. From the fixed contact 134 the wire 70, before mentioned, leads to the operating coil of the relay switch 58. The other wire, 71, of the relay switch connects to the contact 121 adjacent drop 102, and from contact 122 a wire 137 leads back to the battery X.

It will thus be apparent that when the liquid in the tank is substantially exhausted current cannot flow to operate relay switch 58, since a break will be established in the circuit, by reason of hinged contact 130 dropping away from fixed contact 134, even though the shutter of drop 102 may have fallen and bridged contacts 121 and 122.

The thermostat circuits are arranged as follows: From battery X a wire 140 leads to finger 97 of the thermostat 66 and from finger 98 a wire 141 leads to one terminal of drop 102, from the other terminal of this drop a wire 142 leads to one terminal of drop 105, from the other terminal of which a wire 142 joins the return battery wire 137, the two drops beinp thus wired in series. Finger 97 of the thermostat 66 is normally in contact with the post 101 and from the latter a wire 143 leads to one terminal of drop 103, the other terminal of which is connected, by means of a wire 144 which joins wire 137, to the battery X.

The circuits whereby warning is given of an exhausted condition of the supply tank 2 are arranged as follows: From fixed tank contact 135 a wire 150 leads to one terminal drop 106, from whose opposite terminal a wire 151 leads to return battery wire 137, the circuit being completed from battery X through wire 136 and hinged tank contact 130, contact 135, line 150, drop 106, line 151 and 137 back to battery X. This operates the bridging bar 126 closing contacts 127 and 128 and the circuit from battery Y through wires 152 and 153, bell 107 and wire 154 back to the battery Y. Exhaustion of the liquid in the tank 2 will obviously cause the hinged tank contact 130 to drop into engagement with the fixed tank contact 135 and release the shutter of drop 106, which, in turn, closes the circuit through the bell 107 just described.

The circuits for operating the general alarm bell 104 are arranged as follows: As previously pointed out, the general alarm drop 105 is in series with the high temperature drop and will be actuated by contacting of thermostat fingers 97 and 98, causing the shutter of drop 105 to fall and bridge contacts 124 and 125. From contact 124 a wire 160 leads to battery Y. From battery Y a wire 161 leads to bell 104 and from the latter a wire 162 leads to contact 125, closing this circuit and operating the alarm bell 104. t

It is not considered necessary to illustrate and describe in detail the mechanical features connected with the mounting of the tank contacts or the bridging members and contacts connected with the drops 102, 105 and 106, since such mechanical detailswould be obvious to those skilled in the manufacture of electrical instruments and appliances.

The operation of the system is as follows:

The thermostat 66 and vaporizer 1 will be placed in such places where a fire is liable to occur, preferably suspended from the ceiling. In normal conditions the switches 58 and 59 are open, as shown, but the hand switch is closed. Under normal. conditions, also, there is a closed circuit through the low temperature drop 103, this being traced as follows: battery X, wire 140, thermostat finger 97, post 101, wire 143, drop 103, wires 144 and 137 to battery.

'The exposing of the shutter of drop 103 thus indicates that the temperature is normal in the vicinity of the thermostat.

Upon abnormal increase of temperature in the vicinity of the thermostat the fingers 97 and 98 approach one another and close a circuit through the high temperature drop 102 as follows: battery X, wire 140, thermostat fingers 97 and 98, wire 141, coils of drops 102 and 105, wires 142 and 137 back to battery. The shutter of drop 102 falling, bridges contacts 121 and 122 and closes a circuit through relay switch 58 as follows: battery X, wire 136, tank contacts 130 and 134, wire 70, operating coil of switch 58, wire 71, contact 121, bridge 120, contact 122 and wire 137 back to battery.

Switch 58 being operated, a circuit is closed through switch 59 as follows: main feed wire 75, line 85 (including fuse 86), operating coil of switch 59, wire 87, contacts 62 and 61 of switch 58, wire 88, fuse 84, wire 83 terminal 51 on one side of the hand switch through terminal 53, fuse 55, terminal 57 and return wire 81 to main feed wire 7 5.

Simultaneously the shunt circuit is closed through the electro-thermal valve coil 43 as follows: from terminal 50 of the hand switch, (which is connected to main feed wire 75 as already described), through wire 82, coil 43, wire 83, to terminal 51 of the hand switch, (which is connected to main feed wire 75 as already described).

The application of heat from coil 43 to the bar 36 causes this bar to expand, which results in throwing the apex of the triangle to the left. The lever 28 being engaged by the apex of the triangle through the pin 28 will be correspondingly moved, and, in turn, transmit its motion to the lever 27, which latter acts on the valve stem 25 to depress the latter and open the valve.

It will be apparent that there will be an appreciable space of time between the application of the current and the opening of the valve so that the vaporizer will have been heated before the liquid begins to flow thereon, resulting in an immediate and complete vaporization. This is an important feature which increases the efficiency of the system. Not only is any waste of the liquid prevented but the time necessary to heat the vaporizer to the required degree is reduced. It has been found that if the liquid strikes the vaporizer before the latter has been fully heated the evaporation tends to cool the same and delay its full operation.

Since the shutter of drop 105 falls simultaneously with that of drop 102, these two drops being wired in series as above set forth, a circuit is closed through the general alarm bell 104 as follows: battery Y, wire 161, bell 104, wire 162, contact 125, bridge 123, contact 124 and wire 160 back to bat tery.

When the liquid in the tank is exhausted the hinged tank contact 130 drops away from the fixed tank contact 134% and engages the fixed tank contact 135, closing a circuit as follows: battery X, wire 136, contact 130 and 135, wire 150, drop 106, wires 151 and 137 back to battery. The shutter of drop 106 falls, giving a visual indication of the exhaustion of the liquid While, at the same time, a circuit is closed through bell 107, causing an audible Warning to be sounded. This circuit has been already described.

The condition of the thermostat 66 and of the circuits may be tested by raising the shutter of the low temperature drop 103. If, when released, the shutter remains at its indicating position this will indicate that the contact 101 of the thermostat is closed and that a normal temperature exists at that point, as otherwise the thermostat would have opened the contact 101 and the shutter of drop 103 would remain latched in its nonindicating position upon being raised.

What We claim is:

1. A fire extinguishing system comprising a vaporizer, heating means for said vaporizer, means for causing automatic functioning of said heating means upon abnormal increase of temperature in a selected location, and means for delivering a fire extinguishing liquid to said vaporizer.

2. A fire extinguishing system comprising a vaporizer, a heater therefor, and means for causing automatic functioning of said heater and delivery of a fire extinguishing liquid to said vaporizer under predetermined temperature conditions.

3. A fire extingulshing system comprising a device presenting a vaporizing surface, and means for first automatically causing heat to be applied to said vaporizing surface and then causing a fire extinguishing fluid to be delivered thereto upon the occurrence of certain predetermined temperature conditions.

4. A fire extinguishing system comprising a vaporizer presenting an exposed vaporizing surface, heating means for said vaporizer, means for causing automatic functioning of said heating means upon abnormal increase of temperature in a selected location, and means for delivering a fire extinguishing liquid to said vaporizing surface.

5. A fire extinguishing system comprising an electrically heated vaporizer, electrically controlled means for supplying a fire extinguishing fluid to said vaporizer, and a thermostatic means controlling the flow of current to the said vaporizer and to said first mentioned means.

6. A fire extinguishing system comprising .an electrically heated vaporizer, a source of supply of a fire extinguishing fluid, a thermal-operated valve controlling the flow of liquid from said source of supply, and thermostatic means controlling the operation of said vaporizer and said thermal-operated valve.

7. A fire extinguishing system comprising an electrically heated vaporizer, a source of supply of a fire extinguishing fluid, a thermal-operated valve controlling the flow of fluid from said source of supply, and means controlled by temperature adapted to first cause said vaporizer to be heated and then open said valve.

8. A fire extinguishing system comprising an electrically heated vaporizer, a source of supply of a fire extinguishing fluid, an electro-thermal valve controlling the flow of fluid from said source of supply, and thermostatic means adapted to cause a flow of electric current to said vaporizer and said electro-thermal valve upon the occurrence of abnormal temperature in a selected locality.

9. In a fire extinguishing; system, a vaporizer, a supply tank for a fire extinguishing liquid, means for causing the fire extinguishing liquid to be delivered to the vaporizer, means for heating the vaporizer upon the occurrence of certain predetermined temperature conditions, and means for rendering said vaporizer heating means inoperative upon the exhaustion of the liquid in the tank.

10. In a fire extinguishing system, a vaporizer provided with means for electrically heating the same, a supply tank for a fire extinguishing liquid, a float in said tank, a pair of contacts normally held closed by said float, a thermostat, and means for com pleting an electric circuit through said thermostat and said contacts, the completing of said circuit being adapted to cause flow of electric current for said vaporizer heating means.

11. In a fire extinguishing system, a vaporizer provided with means for electrically heating the same, a supply tank for a fire extinguishing liquid, an electro-thermal valve controlling flow of liquid from said tank to said vaporizer, a float in said tank, a pair of contacts normally held closed by said float, a thermostat, and means for completing an electric circuit through said thermostat and said contacts, the completing of said circuit by said thermostat being adapted to cause flow of electric current to the vaporizer heating means and to said electrothermal valve.

12. In a fire extinguishing system, a va porizer provided with means for elect-rically heating the same, thermostatic means adapted to cause an electric current to flow to said vaporizer heating means, a tank containing a supply of fire extinguishing liquid and provided With means for discharging said liquid upon said vaporizer, means for causing said electric current to continue to flow to said vaporizer heating means irrespective of the further functioning of said thermostat, and means whereby said electric vaporizer heating means, said circuit including a pair of contacts held closed While the tank contains a supply of liquid, a thermo stat, and a second circuit including said thermostat, the closing of said second circuit by the functioning of the thermostat being adapted to close the first mentioned circuit. Signed at city, county, and State of New York, this 25th day of .March, 1918.

LUIS E. EOKELMANN. HARRY HERTZBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, v

Washington, D. Q.

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