US1454839A - Fire-extinguishing apparatus for oil tanks - Google Patents

Description

May 8, 1923.

W. D. WITTER FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS FOR OIL TANKS Filed Jan 27, 1922 2 Sheets-$heet 1 1N VENTO May 8, 1923.

- w. D. WITTER FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS FOR OIL TANKS Filed Jan. 27. 1922' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Imus J7. I VITTEI? Z r 4 TTORNE Vs PatentedMay 8, 1923. v

WILLIS D. WITTER, OF ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO FOAMI IE FIRE- FOAM COMPANY, NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS FOR OIL TANKS.

Application filed January 27, 1922. Serial No. 532,239.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, \V LL s D. Vrrrrzn, a cltizen of the United States. and resident of Roselle Park in the county of ITnion and 5 btate of hew Jersey, have invented certa n livery chambers in this manner.

new andhseful Improvements in Fire-1xtinguishing- Apparatus for Oil Tanks, which the following is a specification E This invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus foruse with oil tanks and moge particularly to a fire extinguishing apparatus in which chemical componentsolutions are commixed to produce a tire extinguishing foam which is delivered to the burning surface of oil in the tank; and hasspc cial reference to the provision of apparatus ofthis nature in which the foam may he delivered in an efiieient" manner and in which the blowing of the tank top resulting from explosions willinot affect the identity or integrity of the foam-delivery apparatus.

' In prior installations of fire extinguishing apparatus'of the foam deliv ery type used in connection with oil tanks, one or more foam delivery means isor are mounted on the sides of the tank, the delivery means extending upwardly to 'a pointabove the normal oil level in the tank, the said delivery means having ing into the tank above. such normal oil level. In oneform of installation thede livery means, which usually consists of a mixing chamber, is attached to the side of the tankandhas its mouthopening into the tank by wayof or through the tank top. For the purpose of providing a gas, oil and water between the mixer mouthand the tank top these parts: have necessarily been v firmly attached together, forming practically a unitary construction. In the use of this type of installation, however it has been repeatedly found that when an explosion occurs in the tank-this being generally preliminary to the beginning of afire where lightning is the cause-the roof or tank top is-forced or blown off. violfii'tly and the mouth of the foam delivery'siy tstem attached thereto is usually'broken, disrupted and .put out of us with the: resulting failureof the fire extinguishing apparatus,

v this ob ection and weakness of this form of installation, foam delivery mixing chambers have been provided in which the mouth of the delivery-system opens into the side wall Maire-tank at its top above the norits mouth entcr chamber "may to provide vseal between thcseparts. while at the same -lo-overcome-.time attaching chamber mal oil lfcvel therein. However, it has been found in numerous installations of this type] that there are difliculties and objections in and to the arranging of the mouth of the de- One ob Jcction, for example. resides in the fact that the normal oil level is never constant and the oil rising above apredetermined level will result in the oil leakinginto the mixing chambers. this leaking being very ob-Q jeetionablefl I urthermore, with this type of installation when atire occurs the foam discharges through the mouth of the mixlaterally into the tank, the

.ing chamber from the mouth of foam column emerging the delivery system flaring outwardly and losing'its mass formation, this foam column in being projected towards the center of the .tank where the up-draftof the tire is great,

est being further broken up by the up-draft, .w iththe result that when-the roof blows, large quantities of the foam are carried away and out of'the tank by the draft.

\Vhere the foam mixers are mounted with their mouths inserted in the top or roof of the tank these disadvantages are not present,

oil leakage being eliminated; and the foam discharging downwardly in a solid column a-t-the sidewallsof the tanks where the natural draft of thefire is downward, the foam column is.not disrupted and carried away by't-he lire draft. such foamfcolumn in fact the n'iixing chamber is inserted through or opens up into the'tank roof or top, retaining the advantages of this construction while at the same time. solving the problem -of preventing the violent removal of the tank top-from disrupting or breaking the foam delivery system. I have found, more smacilically, I p

be connected to the tank top the usual gas, oil and water-tight the mouth of the mixing in such a manner as to permit the violent removah during explosions, of the tank top without affecting the identity of the mixing mouth, the latter remaining intact to perform the functions for which it .90 considerable experimentation, I that-it is feasible to'retain the type of installation in which-the mouth of y that the mouth of the. mixing a is designed and intended. The provision of an apparatus which these results may be accomplished is a prime desideratum of my present invention. 1 i The principal objects of my present invention may be said to include, besides the provision of a fire extinguishing apparatus for extinguishing fires in oil tanks having the advantages and results hereinbefore recited, the further provision of an apparatus of this nature in which the mixing chamber of the foam delivery system is mounted and attached to the side walls of the tank and in which the mouth of the delivery system enters by way of or through the tank top, a separable means being provided preferably in the form of a rupturable connecting means for attaching the mouth to the tank top, the said means effecting the desired seal between these parts while permitting the nlovement, under unusual conditions, of the tank roof without the carrying away or disrupting of the mixer mouth attached thereto and the further provision of an inst-allation of this nature in which the tank may be easily mixing chambers, the manner and means of attching the two being effected with considerable convenience and economy.

To the aceomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and thei "'relatlon one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments of. my invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an oil tank showing the novel manner of installing the fire extinguishing apparatus,

Figure 2 is a view taken in' cross section on the line -22, Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same,

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary enlarged views taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 respeotirely 59f Figure 3, and

Figures b*an('l 7 are views showing an installation of'a modified form of oil tank.

Referring to the figures, the tank or oil reservoir to which the fire extinguishing apparatus is attached may be of the construction in which there is provided the cylindrical shell 10 and the conical shaped roof or top 1.1 fastened thereto,.the peripheral flange 12 of the tank top being attached to the top angle 13 of thetank shell for this purpose. The fire extinguishing apparatus installed according to my invention may be of the foam producing and delivery type in which there is provided one or more foam mixing chambers siich as -14 mounted alongside per portion thereof', the said mixing chamconditioned for the reception of -neck of the mixing the shell 10 and adjacent the upbe her being intended for the reception of indecomponent solutions intermixing in the said chamber 14 for the production of a fire extinguishing foam, the battle 17 bein preferably provided in the said chamber or limiting the zo'neof intermixture,'the intermixing solutions and the foam produced rising in the mixing chamber'for -delivery into the oil tank and on the'burning surface of oil therein..-

The present invention,'as heretofore men-v tioned, relates to the'installation of the type of mixing chamber in which the foam is delivered into the tank by way of or through the tank top or roof thereof and to this end the mixingchamber'14 is preferably shaped at itsupper end to provide the inturned bend tank by way of or through the tank top 11, the tank top being suitably cut away or orificed for this purpose. For securely supporting the mixing chambetank. there is preferably provided the bottom bracket 19 bolted to theta-ilk shell 10 as at 20, and the top strap 21 embracing the chamber and being attached thereto by the spaced bolts 22, the said strap or yoke 21 firmly attaching and supporting the mixer on the top angle 13 by means of the spaced bolts 23. F or the purpose of efl ecting a gas seal between these parts I preferably provide an asbestos gasket 24 between the neck of the chamber 14 and the angle iron 13, The mixing chamber 14 may, if desired, be provided adjacent the mouth thereof with the handhole and closure 25. With the provision of this type of construction in which the mouth of the mixing chamber opens into the tank through the top thereof with the mouth directed downwardly, leakage ofv oil into the mixing chamber is eliminated, this construction permitting the downward discharge or ejection of the foam in a solid column in time of fire, the integrity of the column being maintained sinoe'the natural draftof the fire is downward adjacent the walls'of the shell, the column not being broken and the foam not being carried awayby the updraft of the fire, as is the case when the mouths of mixing chambers open laterally into the tanks.

As heretofore recited, a principal object of the present invention comprehends the provision of an installation of this kind iii which an air, tween the mouth of the mixing chamberand the tank top ing so constructed, however,

as to permit the removability of the tank top under 1111- having a mouth 18 opening into the 14 on the. Y

gasrand water-tight seal beor roof is provided, such seal usual or abnormal conditions without atfecting the identity of the foam delivery unit. the latter remaining intact for foam delivery purposes even though the tank top is blown oil' and carried away by internal explosions, connnon in oil tires. To accomplish these ends my invention consists in connecting the mixing chamber to the tank top by means which is easily separablevwhen the tank top is blown oil and, more spe ili cally, by means of a breakable or rupturable joint between these parts which permits of the desired seal and yet permitsot' the relative movability ol the parts under abnormal conditions. tation I have found that it a llashing joint is provided between'the mouth ot'the mixing-chamber and the tank top with the [lashing joint being made of suitable light gauge sheet material. that the tank top may be ren'1oved under the impulse ot explosion without affecting the identity of the mixing chamber. .-\ccor,dingly. my invention consists in the provision of a tlasl1ii1g'joi11tmade of light gauge galvanized sheet 111atcrial such as 26. thistlashing embracing three sides of the mouth of the mixing chamher. the said flashing being attached to the tank and mixer mouth respectively.

tankto by means of the bolts 27, the said flashing bcmg inserted beneath a yoke or strap 2;; when the mix ng chamber installed. the yoke or strap 28 forming means I )reterablv inter )()Stan asbestos asket So between the 'tlashing 2t'1'and the tank top 11 and mixing chamlxn- It. The [lashing 26 may be'made all of one. piece. it being preferred. however. in the t'orm ot installation shown 111 Figures 1 to 5 ot' the drawings, to provide additional end flash pieces 31 andIiiZ bolted t the tank as by means of the securing means 33 inserted beneath the yoke or strap 21 and the yoke or strap 38. Here, too. I prefer to interpose an asbestos gasket suehas H to provide the desired seal. this being clearlyshown in' Figures 2 and 5 ot-the drawi1 1gs. is an .example ol' the character ot material that I. prefer to use. for the flashing. I n1a mention galvanized sheet material of U.'S. 91. gauge #22.

Referring now to Figures (3 and T of the drawings in which I show the manner of installing the mixing chambers to the type of water top tanks. I show the tank shell 35 provided with the inset roof or top 36 having atop water chamber il7.- The mixing chamber 1-1: provided with the solution lines 15 and 16 opening in opposed relation into the mixing chamber and provided with the Alter considerable experimen-- The flashing 26 is preferablv first bolted to na l usual battle l7',- is supported on the bracket 19' and connected to the top angle-13' by means of the strap 21' 'with the interposed gasket 2st in a manner similar. to the construction and attachment of the mixing ber'l-t' to the tank top 36 I first preferably provide the hood 38 which preferablyis of the same material as the roof of the tank, the said hood being attached toithe roof.

as by having peripheral flanges 39 bolted thereto. The hood 38 which is now essentiallyunitary with the tank top 36. is c0nnccted to the mouth of the mixing chamber it by means of the flashing 40, the latter being preferably bolted to thehood 38 by. the securing means 41 and attached to the j mouth'ot the mixing chamber 14 by beinginserted beneath the yoke or. Strap42 at-j tachcd to the month by the spaced securingmeans 43 Here. too. I preferably interpose between the [lashing and the v other. parts the gasket l-l.

'lhc manner of installing and using thev tire extinguishing apparatus on and with thei oil tanks with in the. main. be apparent, from tl above detailed description thereof.

It will he furthe' apparent that the mixing hambers or dehverymeans of the foam' extinguishing s stems-by means of my invention may be arranged to open into the tank by way of or through the tank top,

retaining all the advantages incident to and inherent in-such a construction. while the prior t'atal objection to such installations in that the foam deliverg system is put out of commission" and rendered useless on the occurrence of an explosion is Successfully eliminated. i

While I have shown my device inthe preferred forms. itwill be obvious that many changes and 'moditicationsmay be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention. defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for extinguishing tires in oil tanks. a tire extinguishing means for delivering a tire extinguishing medium to and over the oil level in said tank. the said means including a mouth opening into the tank by way of or through the tank top and separable means connecting said month to the tank top for permitting violent removal of the tank top without disrupting or re moving the said mouth. 1

2. In apparatus for extinguishing tires 1n oil tanks. a tire extinguishing means for de-' livering a foam compound to and over the oil level .insaid' tank. the said means including a mixing chamber attached to the tank andhavinga mouth opening into the tank turable meaitl connecting said mouth to the tank top forgtpermitting violent removal of the tank top'without disrupting or removing the said mouth.

3. In apparatus for extinguishing fires in oil tanks, a tire extinguishing means for delivering afoam compound to and over theoil level in said tank, the said means including a mixing chamber attached to the side Walls of theftank having a mouth opening into the tanki by way of or through the tank top and means connecting said mouth to the tank top, the said means comprising a separable gas and Water-tight seal permitting violent removal of the, tank top without disrupting or removing the said mouth. 4. In apparatus for extinguishing fires in oil tanks, a fire extinguishing means for delivering a fire extinguishing medium to and vover the oil level in said tank, the said means comprising a mixing chamber attached at its lower end to} the side wall of the tank and at its upper end to the top angle of the tank,

the saidmixing chamber being provided means permitting violent removal of the tank top as during an exploslon without d1srupting or removing the said mouth, the lati ter remaining intact for foam delivery purposes.

5. In apparatus for extinguishing fires in oil tanks..fire extinguishing means for delivering a fire extinguishing medium to and over the oil level in said tank, the said means including a mixing chamber situated at the side of said tank and bent or inturned at its upper end to'provide a mouth opening into the tank by way of or through the top or root thereof, a strap or yoke member attached to the upper end of the mixing chain her and connecting the same to the top angle of the tank and means connecting the mouth of the mixing chamber to the tank top, the said means comprising a breakable or rupturable flashing joint of relativelv thin gauge attached respectively to the tank 'top and the walls of the mouth; the eonstruction being such that the tank top may be violently removed as during an explosion Without disrupting or removing the said mouth of the mixing chamber.

Signed at New York city in the c .unty of New York and State of New York this 25th day of January, A. D; 1922.

WILLIS D. W ITTER.

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