US1704944A

US1704944A - Fluid-control device

Info

Publication number: US1704944A
Application number: US77164A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles S Johann
Original assignee: CO2 FIRE EQUIPMENT CO
Current assignee: CO2 FIRE EQUIPMENT Co
Priority date: 1925-12-22
Filing date: 1925-12-22
Publication date: 1929-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1946-03-12

Description

March l2, 1929. s, JgHANN 1,704,944

FLUID CONTROL DEVICE Filed Deo. 22, 1925 nfo,

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Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES S. JOHANN 0F MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO C02 `FIRE EQUIPMENT C0., OF `LOS ANGELES, CALIFOIINIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA.

FLUID-CONTROL DEVICE;

Application led December 22, 1925. Serial No. 77,164.

This inventionrelates to a control device, and has partlcular reference to an electro magnetic tluid cont-rol. The device provided by this invention is useful lin various apparatusand for handling various fluids. It is particularly useful as applied to fluid containers or tanks, for instance, to gas containers. I will-proceed to set forth a typical form of the invention applied to a container of gas, .for instance, carbon dioxide gas, for allowing gas to escape from the container upon closing of the control circuit. It is to be understood thatthis particular example is not to be construed as limiting` the invention either in its structural details or its application.

It is an object of my invention to provide 'a control device of the character set` forth, which is simple, effective and reliable inl operation. p

Another object of my invention is to provide a control device of the character mentioned particularly suited for use in apparatus handling gas as a means of extinguishing res.

The various objects and features of my invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed .descrip-v,

tion of a typical preferred form of the invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the figure is a vertical or longitudinal detailed sectional view of the construction embodying this invention showing it in operating position on the container.

In the drawings numeral 10 designates, generally, a gas mtainer such as is commonyused to handle various gases, for instance, carbon dioxide gas. In the drawings, I have lshown theneck 11 of the container, through which the gas is passed into and out of the container, provided at its base or inner end with a threaded part 12 of large diameter. The neck is provided with a fitting which screw "threads into the container and has a threaded end part 13 of small diameter and a threaded flange part 13. The threaded part 13 of the container is usually employed to receve pipes, valves, or fittings which handle the gas, while the part 12is usually employed to receivea cap applied to the container during storage or transportation.

My inventionprovides, generally, a cap 14 which' normally tightly seals or closes 'the container, a punch 15 operable too'pen ythe cap, a spring 16 for actuating the punch and electro magnetic control means 17. The construction provided by my invention may be applied to suitable parts or fittings which in turn are applied to the container l0, or it may be applied directly to the container as I have shown in the drawings.

The cap 14 is preferably applied ldirectly to the neck of the container and may be in the form of an ordinary cap yinternallyscrew threaded to lit the threaded part 13 of the container. The end of the c-ap is provided with an opening 19`to register with the opening inthe container. This opening in the cap is closed by a metal plate 2() which is arranged in the cap to be clamped tightly between the end of the cap and the end of the part 13. The metal plate 20 isI formed of comparatively soft metal and. is comparatively thin, so that it can be easily penetrated by the punch hereinafter described. Further, in practice the plate 20 may be made of such material and proportions as to act as a safety device to fail and allow ythe gas to escape from the container' in theevent that excessive pressure develops in the container.

The punch 15 is adapted to operate through the opening 19 in the cap to penetrate the plate 20 and thereby open the container to allow gas to escape therefrom. The punch is preferably pointed or shaped to readily penetrate the plate. 'For instance, as I have shown inthe drawings, it is in the form of a round metal part having its outer end truncated at an angle to form a point. The punch may be mounted in various manners in propercooperative relation with the cap. For instance, it may be mounted on a stem .25 su1tably supported in a body 26. In the ple-' ferred form of construction `the body is adapted to be attached tothe neck of the container to extend upwardly therefrom to carry the stein in proper alignment with'the opening in the cap. The body may be connected to the neck of .the container in various ways. It may be designed to be'applied to the screw threaded part 12, or it may be applied to the screw` threaded part- 131" as I have shown in the drawings. The stem 25 is slidablycarried in spaced parts or partitions'28 and 29 in the body. The stemis carried by the par I titions sovthatl the puncn la at its lower end is the stem 25 and between the partition 29 and a flange 30 on the stem. The parts are proportioned so that the spring normally tends to move the stem downwardly with the desired pressure. In practice I may provide means for cushioning the operation caused by the spring 16, and for this purpose I may provide a compression spring 31 in the body betweenthe flange 30 and lower partition 28. This spring 31 is proportioned to stop or cushion the action of the spring 16 after the stem has been moved to completely actuate the punch.

Thecontrol means 17 includes,.generally, a releasable catch device operable to releasably hold the stem 25 in an up position with the spring 16 under compression and an electromagnetic means for releasing the catch device. The catch device may include two pivoted arms 40 adapted to engage under a head 41 on the upper end of the stem. The arms may b'e carried by the partition 29 to extend upwardly and inwardly to engage under the headc41. The outer or upper ends 42'of the arms extend above the head to be engaged by the core 43 of the electromagnetic device. Each arm-40 preferably carries a roller 44 that engages under the head 41 to reduce theresistance to operation. The arms may be arranged at diametrically opposite points with reference to the head 41, and are urged inwardly by springs 40a.

The electromagnetic device for releasing the levers includes the core 43 and a winding 48 which surrounds the core. The winding is carried in the upper part of the body 26 and lthe necessary electrical connections are .i made with the winding through binding posts 50 in the body at points immediately above the winding. The core 43 is normally yieldingly held in-the upper positionl shown in the drawings, by a sprin 52 arranged between the upper end of t ewinding and a i head 54 on the core. The spring 52 is comparatively light so that the core is readily moved downward when current is passed through the winding. The upper end of the body is closed by a cap and in practice an extension 61 is provided on the upper end of thecore to extend upwardly .through the cap to project above the cap so that the core can be depressed or moved downwardly, manually when desired.

In operation the device is applied to a container 10 inthe manner shown in the drawings, and is norm-ally set ready for operation with the arms 40 enga ed under the head 41 so that the stem 25 1s eld in an up position with the spring 16 under compression. When the necessary current is passed through the Winding 48 by a suitable electric control, for instance a remote relay thermostat or the like, the Core 43 is moved downward so that it engages the ends of the arms 42 causinff them to swing in the direction indicated iy the arrows A in the drawings. This releases the head 41 allowing the stem 25 to be moved downward and thereby move the punch 15 into engagement with the plate 2O so that the plate is penetrated allowing the fluid to escape from the container. The fluid may be conducted from the device in any suitable manner. For instance a suitable connection may be provided in the lower part of the body as I have shown in the drawings.

Having described only a typical preferred Lform of my invention I. do not wish to limit myself to thel specific details set forth', but wishto reserve to myself any changes or ,variations that may appear to those skilled yin the art or fall within the scope of the fol- .lowing claims:

and positioning the punch in alignment with the sealing plate, means constantly acting tov move the punch to perforate the sealing plate, means normally restraining such movement of the kpunch, and a solenoid adapted when energized to render the said restraining means inoperative, the core of the solenoid being manually movable4 to render said restraining means inoperative independently of.

the solenoid being energized.

2. The combination with a container or tank for fluid under presslire having an outlet closed by a sealing plate, of a punch adapted to perforate said sealing plate', a guide for thepunch attached to the container and positioning the punch in alignment with the sealing plate, means constantly acting to move the punch to perforate the sealing plate,

means normally restraining such movement of the punch, and a solenoid, the core ofwhich 1s adapted to render saidrestrammg means inoperative when the solenoid is energized,

said core normally projecting from the body of the solenoid. at one lend, whereby it may be manually moved to render the punch restraining means inoperative when the magnet is deenergized.

3. The combination with 'a container o1` tank for fluid under pressure `having an outlet closed by a sealing plate, of a casing secured to thev container, a punch adapted to perforate theoutlet closure plate arrange-d within said casing, a spring in the casing acting to force the punch through the sealing plate, means in the casingl for restraining movement of the punch by the spring,

solenoid 1n the casing adapte to render said and a de-energized.

4. The 'combination with a container or tank for fluid under pressure having an outlet closed by a sealing plate, of a punch adapted to perforate the outlet closure plate, means attached to the container for guiding movement ofthe punch, a. spring acting to move\ the punch to perforate the sealing plate, a latch normally engaging the stem of the punch to prevent movement-thereof by the spring and adapted to be manually moved to inoperative position, and a solenoid having a core which when the solenoid is energized will eilect movement of the latch to inop-I erative position.

5. The herein described attachment for aP container or tank for fluid under pressure having an outlet closed by a sealing plate, comprising a casing adaptednto be attached to such a container in connnunication with the outlet thereof, said casing having an outlet, a punch supported Within -the casing and adapted to perforate the outlet closure plate of the container to which the casing is applied, a spring Within the casing acting to move the punch to 'perforate said sealing plate, a pivotally mounted latch Within the casing normally engaging a shoulder on the stem of the punch and preventing movement thereof by the spring, a solenoid Within the casing and having a member connected With its core whereby When'the solenoid is energized the latch will be rendered inoperative to restrain movement of the punch by the spring, and means for manually moving said perforate mountedwithin the casing and normally enthe stem of the punch to prevent latch to inoperative positin. y y

' 6. The herein described attachment for a container or tank for fluid under pressure having an outlet. closed by a sealing plate, comprising a casing adapted to be attached to such a container in communication with the outlet thereof, said casing-having an outlet, apunch within ythe casing adapted to perforate the container outlet closure pla-te and having an elongated stem, a spring Within the casing acting to move the punch` to said sealing plate, a latch pivotally seeing movement of the punch by the spring, a solenoid Within the casing having its core provided v'vith a member adapted to move the latch to inoperative position when the solenoid is energized, and means exten ing to the outside of the casing for moving t e solenoid the solenoid is defenergii'ezed.

Y"1. The herein core to render 'the latch inoperative when d attachment for a let, a punch Within thecasing adapted to perforate the containery outlet closure plate and "having an elongated stem, a spring Within the casing acting to move the punch to perforate said sealing plate, a latch pivotallyI mounted Within the casingand normally engaging the stern ofy the punch to prevent movement of thx punch by the spring, means adapted to be a uated from points relative' ly remote from the casing to move the latch to inoperative position, and manuall operable means projecting from the casing or moving said latch to inoperative position.

8. The combination of a container for fluid under pressure comprising a body having an internally threaded neck, a tubular fitting having a stem engaged with the thread in said neck and provided .outside of the container body With an enlarged, peripherally threaded, section and a smaller, externally threaded, terminal s ection, a closure cap engaged with the threaded outer terminal section of the fitting and provided With an opening in alignment with the bore in said 4iitting, a sealing disk .Within the cap extending across said opening, a casing engaged with the peripheral thread of the enlarged section of the fitting and provided with a iuid outlet, a punch positioned Within said casing in alignmentwith the-opening-in the cap closthe container Iitting, means Within the casing acting to move the punch to perforate ythe sealing disk, restraining devicesin the casingV normally retainin the puncli in retracted position, means or rendering said restraining devices inoperative, and means for resiliently checking movement of. the punch toward the container.

9. The `combination of a container for fluid under pressure having an externallythreaded outlet projecting from its body, a cap x closure engaged lWith the thread on said outlet and having an opening in alignment with the voutlet bore, a sealing disk'within the cap and extendin across said opening therein, a support attac ed te the container and surrounding said outlet, `a punch guided by means on said` support and positioned in alignment with the opening in thev cap, a spring surrounding the stem of the punch and acting to impel it toward the sealing disk,

,restraining means for holding tive punch in opposition to said spring, means for releasing said restraining devices, and a second spring adapted to resiliently check movement of the punch toward the sealing disk.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1st day Tot December 1925.

CHARLES S.' JOHANN.