US1660713A - Fire extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1928.

R. KAUCH ET AL FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed March 29, 1923 @lmuentoz Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

ROBERT KAUCE AND CHARLES L. PAULUS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

FIRE EXTINGUISHEB.

Application filed March 29, 1923.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers, one of the main objects being to provide such a device which may be operated with one hand. The underlying principle of the invention resides in a novel form of container for the fire extinguishing agent, which container is collapsible under pressure generated by the burning of a powder charge ignited manually by means of a firing fuse, the collapsible container when under the pressure of the burning charge operating to expel the fire extinguishing agent therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the container is automatically punctured after the pyrotechnic device is put in operation, thereby insuring the proper functioning of the fire extinguisher.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described, shown and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a diametrical longitudinal section through the fire extinguisher, showing the container in its expanded-condition as when filled with fire extinguishing agent.

Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the position assumed by the parts after the container has been collapsed and the contents of the extinguisher expelled.

The fire extinguisher in the illustrated embodiment thereof, comprises a casing or shell 1, which is preferably of corrugated tubular construction with the corrugations extending around the same. This type of casing structure is very strong, having successfully passed a drop test, required by the Underwriters Association in judging the merits of fire extinguishing apparatus. By corrugatin the casing as shown and described, itis possible to cut down considerably the thickness of the metal used in the shell, while retaining the original strength required. The shell 1 is closed at its outer end by an end wall 2 and is closed at its other end by means of a closure or cap 3 which is threaded, as shown at 4, u on a reinforcing collar 5 surrounding the ad acent end of the shell 1 and threaded to receive said cap 3.

Mounted within the casing or shell 1 is a. corrugated container 6 for the fire extinguishing agent, whether liquid, fluid, or otherwise. The container 6 is of bellows formation being preferably composed of thin Serial No. 628,499.

sheet metal, such as lead or white metal of about ten-one-thousandths inch gauge. Due to the corrugations in its side Wall the container is positively collapsed into a compact form as shown in Fig. 2. In using a container having a straight wall no positive form is obtainable in its collapse and as it is necessary that all the li uid be expelled in the container, a corrugate side Wall has been found to be much more satisfactory than a straight wall design. At its outer end, the container 6 is reduced and tapered and fits within the correspondingly tapered or conical portion 7 of the end wall or cap 2 of the casing 1, being held firmly therein by means of an externally tapered or wedge-shaped ring 8. Within the ring 8 is a diaphragm 9 which is formed with annular crimps or corrugations 10 thereby making what may be termed a deformable end Wall for the container 6. The end wall 9 is located a short distance from the central portion of the cap 2 and the latter is provided with an inwardly projecting outlet nozzle 11 having a central bore 12 of lateral or annular formation, the bores 13 intersecting the bore 12. The nozzle 11 terminates at its inner end in a point 14 which serves to pierce a hole in the deformable end wall 9 when the latter is pressed against the nozzle.

After the container, which is filled with the fire extinguishing agent, is inserted in the casing 1, the cap 3 is screwed upon the end of the casing 1 and a tight seal is made by means of a sealing disk 15, the outer edge of which is bent over and clamped against a bevel portion 16 of the collar 5, as clearly shown in the drawings. A disk-shaped piece 17 is placed against the adjacent edge of the casing 1, the sealing disk 15 being interposed between the parts 3 and 17 as shown. The disk-shaped piece 17 is provided with a central hole within which is held the shell 19 of a bomb 21 which is constructed of a hollow cylindrical form and consists of a compressed mass of slow burning powder. The whole unit is sealed by the diaphragm 22, and the entire unit is then waterproofed in a conventional way. There is a small clearance between the sealing disk 15 and the primer charge 20. A small clearance is also provided between the sealing disk 15 and a firing pin 24 which is adapted to fire the booster charge through the sealing disk when a knob 23 is struck by the hand. The firing pin, in operating, will not puncture the sealing disk, which is provided to prevent the escape of the gases generated when the pyrotechnic device is set off. When fired the disk 22, which is usually of paper, is blown from the shell and the heating of the booster charge ignitesthe compressed mass of slow burning powder along its inner face. The charge then burns comparatively slowly toward its outer wall. This action causes additional pressure to be generated as the fire extinguishing fluid is expelled from its container. v

A follower 26 which seals the upper end of the container 6 is provided to receive the pressure generated by the pyrotechnic device and cause a pressure to be exerted to collapse the container when the pyrotechnic device is fired. This follower 26 is provided with a downwardly extending cylindrical extension, which fits into the upper end of the container, this extension being of slightly smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the corrugations of the container, so that when the container is fully collapsed as shown in Fig. 2 this projection will completely expel all of the material within the same by filling up the space which would otherwise be caused between this plate and the opposite end wall. This follower plate is attached to the upper end of the container 6 along the line 29 by brazing, soldering, or by any similar method so as to form a fluid tight joint at this location. It will be seen that the follower plate forms an end closure for the container 6. This follower need not be fitted tightly against the wall 1 but is adapted to travel downward inside of the outer casing. This follower is not fitted tightly against the wall 1 so as to permit the pressure gen erated by the pyrotechnic gas generator to act on the side walls of the corrugated container 6 to prevent their outward collapse due to internal pressure. A spring 25 is provided between the follower and the disk 17 which maintains the tapered lowered end of container 6.seated in conical portion 7 of the end wall 2. This spring assists the expelling charge as an additional means to start the collapse of the container but its main function is to provide a means, permitting expansion or contraction of the container 6 due to temperature changes while maintaining the container seated at its lower end in the tapered seat.

7 From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation of the fire extinguisher will now be understood. The fire extinguisher is normally held by a supporting device or bracket 27 secured to a wall or other support and having asafety arm 28 which normally lies, behind the knob 23, as shown in Fig. 1. This renders the fire extinguisher perfectly'safe when not in use as it cannot be discharged until after it has been removed from the support 27 Then the knob 23 may be struck so as to operate the firing pin 24 and ignite the primer 20 with the result above noted.

As soon as the pyrotechnic device is set in operation by striking the knob 23 the pressure generated by the burning owder causes the container 6 to be gradua ly collapsed,

but just as it begins to collapse the deform to be limited thereto but aim to cover in the appended claims all modifications falling fairly Within the scope of our invention.

1. In a device of the class described, a collapsible corrugated container for a material, a casing around said container and normally spaced therefrom serving to confine the same within certain bounds as it is collapsed, a follower plate on the end of said container and a pyrotechnically operated projector carried by said casing and adapted upon'discharge to generate a pressure to positively collapse the container and expel all the material.

2. In a. container for the storing of flowable material, a transversely corrugated col: lapsible bellows for holding said material, means for generating gas pressure for collapsing said bellows to expel said material,

and a transversely corrugated tubular casing having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of said bellows for confining said bellows within certain bounds as it is collapsed.

3. In a fire extinguisher, a collapsible container for the fire-extinguishing .agent, a casing and pyrotechnic means for generating pressure on the end and sides of said container collapsing the container to expel said agent. I

4. In a fire extinguisher, a collapsible corrugated container for the fire-extinguishing agent, corrugated means for confining said container within certain bounds as it is collapsed, a follower plate on the end of said container, and pyrotechnic means for posi- Y tively collapsing the container to expel all the fire-extinguishing agent having a collapsible side wall and a deformable end wall, puncturing means for said end Wall, and gas pressure means effective on an end and sides of said container for collapsing the container and deforming the end Wall to effect puncture of the same and release said agent under pressure.

7. In a fire extinguisher, a casing, a collapsible corrugated fire-extinguishing agent container therein having a deformable end wall, pyrotechnic means for collapsing said container and causing deformation of said wall, and puncturing means held by said casing adapted to pierce said wall as it is deformed. f

8. In a device of the class described, a liquid container having adiscl1arge outlet, pyrotechnic means for generating pressure within said container, a diaphragm forming an end wall of said container and normally sealing the liquid from the discharge outlet, and means for puncturing the diaphragm upon the generation of pressure within the container. A

9. In a container for the storing of flowa'ble material a collapsible container for the material, a casing around the container serving to confine the same within certain bounds as it is collapsed, said casing providing a conical seat for the discharge end of the container, means for maintaining the container seated in said seat, and means for collapsing said container.

10. In a receptacle for the storing of flowable material, an end piece for said receptacle, means for generating a pressure within said receptacle for the expulsion of said material, and a sealing disk formed of a flat unperforated sheet of metal through which the said means is operated, said sealing disk serving at all times to seal the end of the receptacle, said means comprising an explosive primer charge directly beneath the sealing disk.

11. In a receptacle for the storing of flowable material, an end piece for said receptacle, means for generating a pressure within said receptacle for the expulsion of said material, and a sealing disk formed of a flat unperforated sheet of metal through which the said means is operated, said sealing disk serving at all times to seal the end of the receptacle, said means comprising an explosive primer charge directly beneath the sealing disk, and a. combustible gas generating charge ignited by said primer charge, and a firing pin held by said receptacle adjacent the sealing disk for manual operation.

12. In a fire extinguisher, a corrugated collapsible tubular container for fire extinguishing fluid, a casing around said container serving to confine the same within certain bounds as it is collapsed, and a projector carried by said casing and adapted upon discharge to generate a pressure effective on one end and the sides of the container to collapse the container and expel the material.

13. In a corrugated fire extinguisher, a corrugated substantially cylindrical casing, a corrugated cylindrical tube to be collapsed as a bellows having a deformable end wall, said container having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the casing, said tube being adapted to contain fire extinguishing material, a follower plate of slightly smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the casing attached to and sealing one end of the tube, said plate having a substantially cylindrical projection extending into the said one end of the tube to displace practically all of the fire extinguishing material when the tube is fully collapsed.

14. In a fire extinguisher, a fire extinguishing agent container having a deformable wall, means for causing expelling pressure on said container and deflecting said deformable wall, and an outlet nozzle of pyramidal shape having a sharp puncturing point to penetrate said deformable wall as it is deflected, said outlet nozzle being provided with passages extending from the sides of the pyramid to a central exit passage therein.

15. A fire extinguisher, a corrugated casing, a corrugated collapsible container for holding fire extinguishing fluid having the corrugations extending around the same said container having a deformable end wall adapted to be bulged outwardly due to the pressure of the container, means for holding the said end of said container tightly against one end of said casing, pyrotechnic means for causing expelling pressure on said container and deflecting said deformable Wall, said means including a follower plate attached to the end of said container, said plate having a substantially cylindrical projection extending into the said end of the container to expel practically all of the material when the container is fully collapsed, and a nozzle held by said casing adjacent the deformable wall of the container and having a puncturing point to penetrate said deformabe wall when expelling pressure is applied to said container.

16. In a fire extinguisher, a cylindrical corrugated casing having the corrugations extending around the same, a corrugated collapsible container for holding fire extinguishing fluid having a deformable end wall, said container being held within said casing, pyrotechnic means for causing expelling pressure on an end and sides of said container, and deflecting said deformable wall, a follower plate attached to the end of said container adjacent to the said pyrotechnic means, said plate having a substantially cylindrical projection extending into the said end of the container to expel practically said container, and hand operated means for all of the material when the container is firing said pyrotechnic means. fully collapsed, and a nozzle held by said In testimony whereof we aflix our signa- 10 casing adjacent the deformable Wall of the tures.

5 container and having a puncturing pyramidal point to penetrate said deformable ROBERT KAUCH. Wall when expelling pressure is applied to CHARLES L. PAULUS.

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