US1586195A - Flame arrester - Google Patents

Description

May 25,'19z 1,586,195

H. H. HALL FLAME ARRESTER Filed Dec. 6 1924 SW02 may.

Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES nunmvrn. HALL, or sAN .rnANcIsco, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoR' TO STANDARD OIL warm, or sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A conroRAT oN or CALIFORNIA FLAME Annnsrnn.

lication-med December a, 1924. Serial Nb. 154,452.

This invention relates to a flame arr-ester adapted for use in pipe lines for conveying inflammable mixtures of vapors or gases,

and is more particularly directed to a device for use in a pipe line or other .conveyor or container, which will allow the unobstructed flow of vapor or gas under normal condi tions, and in case of. fire will automatically arrest the flame.

In the use of pipe lines for conveying or carrying inflammable mixtures of vapors or gases, there is a danger that such lines may. be the means of increasing the fire risk involved; for instance, if the roofs of several tanks areconnected by vapor lines, fire originatin in one of the tanks might be transmitte withstand an-explosion of -cons1derable vio An object of, this invention is to provide means for preventin a flame or explosion pressure in a pipe line or other container carrying gas orja or's, from passing the point at which the evice is located.

to provide. and deflecting the An object of this invention is means for interruptin progress of a flame wit in a pipe line.

An object of this invention is to provide a flame arrester having means therein for controlling the pressure in the pipe line.

An object of this-invention is to provide an explosion hatch adapted to be located in a pipe line or other container carrying gases or vapors having a cover which will open at "a predetermined pressure, and means therein for deflecting the force of the explosion' against the said cover.

Other ob'ects and advantages of this invention wi be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodito the others. by the propaga-. tion of a flame or explosion through the con-" ment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pipe line connecting a pair of storage tanks and illustrating this? invention embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in section, of

an' arrester embodying this invention.

Fig. 3 1s a side elevation, partly in section, of a flame arrester embodying this invention, as illustrated in Fig. 2, with one of the flame arresting screens and compartment therefor removed 'Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of a acuum relief valve embodied in this invention.

Fig.- 5 is a sectional plan taken substantially'on the line 55 of Figure 4;.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a pipe line of suitable size for conveying vapors or gases between the tanks 22, in which line 1 pressure and vacuum relief valves 3-'3 and 4 are adapted to control the pressure and vacuum in the tanks 2-2 and line 1, which pressure and vacuum relief valves 3+3 and 4 are the subject matter of the copending application of John Kuhl, filed November 25, 1924, Serial No. 752,276.

Located in the pipe line 1 are flame arresters ,5, illustrated as located within the fire banks 6 surrounding each tank 2, it,

however, being understood that such flame arresters 5 may be located at any convenient point-or points in the pipe line 1, or used in gas or vapors.

Gate valves 7 are illustrated as embodied with the pipe line 1 so that any tank 2 can be isolated from the vapor line system for oil tanks, as described in the copending apconnection with other containers carrying making a gas-tight joint between the cover 10 and the chamber 9. Intothe bottom of the chamber 9 are conducted two or more connections 12 for conducting the gas or vapors into the chamber 9 in upward direction and out of it in a downward direction.

The annular liquid seal 11 is formed by the circular plate 30, which plate 30 likewise forms the bottom of'the chamber 9,.a rim 31 which is secured to the perimeter of the plate 30 in fluid-tight relation and a ring 32 of smaller diameter than the rim 31, which ring 32 is secured to the upper surface of the late 30. The annular lip 33 of the cover 10 ts into the liquid seal 11 between the rim 31 and the ring 32 and the cover 10 is supported on the upper edge of the ring 32, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The conduits 12 and the relief valves 18 are secured in position in holes formed in the plate 30.

Each of these conduit connections 12 may be provided with a flame arrester housing 13. Connection to the pipeline 1 is made by means of flan es 7 or any other convenient means. 13 is connected to the explosion hatch 8 by means of flanges 7, and contains a screen of fine mesh 14, constructed of a material having a high thermal conductivity and preferably of conical construction, as illustrated in Figure 2. These screens 14 are so placed that all the gas or vapor flowing to or from the explosion hatch 8 must pass through their meshes.

Inspection holes 15 are screen housing 13, covere rovided in each with plates 16 held in position thereto by means of cap screws 17 or any other means, making a gastight connection. Preferably mounted with-.

in the explosion hatch 8 are one or more vacuum relief valves 18; these valves, together with the loose liquid sealed cover of the hatch, provide auxiliary means of relieving any excessive vacuum or pressure that may tend to build up in the system to which the flame arrester is connected. Each vacuumvalve 18 consists of a seat 19 of cast iron or other suitable material containing an annular groove 20, and a valve disc 21, to which is connected a stem 22 which extends through a hole 23 in the seat'19 and into a dash pot 24.

Secured to the valve stem 22 so as to rigidly hold a guide 25 thereon is a pair of cylindrical retaining washers 26. The vacuum valve 18 is held to the 'main explosion I hatch chamber 9 by means of cap screws 27 or other suitable means.

The dash pot is held to the valve seat 19 by cap screws 28 or other means whereby it may be readily removed. The annular groove 20 into which the valve disc 21 seats is sealed with mercury or other suitable fluid. The dash pot 24 is filled with oil which serves to damp the movement of the valve disc 21 and effectually prevents chattering or rapid closing which will splash the mercury from its containing groove 19. This valve is absolutely gas-tight and can '1 e flame arrester housing be arranged to open at the slightest pressure, and is not subject to sticking.

It will be noted from the foregoing that my flame arrester has two screens 14 mounted in a,,conduit on opposite sides of the explosion chamber 9. Only the screen 14 on ,the. side remote from the origin of the flame in the pipe-line is efle'ctive. The flame passes through the first screen 14 readily, is deflected by the right angled bend into the explosion chamber 9 and then (if it is not entirely diverted into theatmosphere by the lifting of the explosion hatch) it will only burn quietly up to the second screen 14, where it will be efl'ectiv'ely stopped. The two screens 14 are provided so that the device will function in either direction, that is, so as to provide a reversible carrier for conducting vapors, gases or fluids in either direction in the pipe line.

The operation of this flame arrester is as follows:

The device functions primarily as a flame arrester and explosion pressure stop in any system of conduits containing explosive gases or vapors to which it may be connected; and secondly as a safety device to relieve pressure or vacuum from within the system in excess of that desired. When a fire or an explosion starts at one of the branches of the conduit system 1, to which the explosion hatch and screens are connected, the accompanying explosion pressure first passes one of the explosion screens 14 and travels in an upward direction from the'entrance 12 through the main chamber 9 and, being directed against the light door 10, throws the same off. The explosion pressure is then spent on theoutside air without acting on the other screen 14. The ac-.

companying flame first meets one of the exof its heat and then passesthe first screen 14 into the explosion chamber and havingpassed through the explosion chamber the travel of the flame will be arrested efi'ectively by the other screen, because the velocity of propagation of both the flame and pressure is reduced greatly by the removal of the cover 10. As a pressure relief device, the explosion hatch 8 relieves pressure by the lifting of the cover 10, and vacuum by means of the vacuum relief valves 18 heretofore described. The pressure and vacuum at which the explosion hatch opens can be controlled within wide limits by varying the weight of the cover 10, the valve disc 21, valve stem 22 and depending parts.

Having fully described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that this invention is not intended to be limited to the exact construction and use herein set forth, which may obviously ble varied within the spirit of the appended c aims.

Wh t I claim is 4 1. In a flame arrester adapted to be inserted in a reversible carrier of combustible fluids, the combination of a body, an explosion chamber within the body, a pair of right angle connections for connecting the explosion chamber in the carrier, a pair of flash arresting screens mounted in the carrier adjacent the right angled connections, the flash arrester remote from the point of grigin of the flash functioning to arrest the ash. I

2. In a flame arrester adapted for use in a carrier for combustible fluids, the combination of a body, an explosion, chamber formed within the body, a right angle inlet connection and a ri ht angle outlet connection connecting the ody in the carrier, and a flame arrester adjacent the exit end of the right angle outlet connection.

3. In a flame arrester adapted for use in a carrier for combustible-fluids, the combination of a body, an explosion chamber formed within the body, an annular liquidseal formed at the top of the body, a cover arrester adjacent the exit end of the right angle outlet connection.

4. In a flame arrester adapted for use in a carrier for combustible fluids, the combination of a body, an explosion chamber formed within the body, means for maintaining a predetermined pressure within the carrier, a right angle inlet connection connecting the body in the carrier, at right angle outlet connection connecting the body in the carrier, and a flame arrester adjacent the exit end of the right angle outlet con nection.

signed at San Francisco, California, this 21st day of November 1924.

HUBERT H. HALL.

Images