US1714015A

US1714015A - Means of distributing fire-quenching foam on floating decks

Info

Publication number: US1714015A
Application number: US207863A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles R Gallagher
Original assignee: CONS STEEL CORP
Current assignee: CONS STEEL CORP; CONSOLIDATED STEEL Corp
Priority date: 1927-07-23
Filing date: 1927-07-23
Publication date: 1929-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1946-05-21

Description

May 21, 1929- c. R. GALLAGHER MEANS OF DISTRIBUTING FIRE QUENCHING FOAM 0N FLCA'I'ING DECKS Filed July 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l gmnto'c May 21, 1929- c. R. GALLAGHER MEANS OF DISTRIBUTING FIRE QUENCHING FOAM ON FLOATING DECKS Filed July 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 amp Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. GALLAGHER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO CONSOLIDATED STEEL CORPORATION, LOS ANGELES, CALI- FORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

MEANS OF DISTRIBUTING FIRE-QUENCHING FOAM ON FLOATING DECKS.

Application filed July 23, 1927. Serial No. 207,863.

This invention relates to a means for distributing fire fighting foam on a floating deck for oil tanks.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means by which fire fighting or uenching foam may be distributed on the floating deck or the seal thereof from a point close to the position in which the foam 1s to .be placed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means by which the rain water drain of the floating deck may be utilized to convey foam to the deck.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from a description of a preferred means for distributing foam on floating decks embodying the invention. For this purpose, there is hereinafter described a preferred form or example of an apparatus embodying the invention, the description referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view,

Figure 2 represents an elevation mainly in vertical section,

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional elevation of the attachment between the floating deck and the foam distributing apparatus Figure 4 is a fragmental elevation 0 a modified form of apparatus,

Figure 5 represents a further modified form of apparatus, and,

Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, 2 indicates a tank, such as an oil tank. 3 indicates a floating deck which may be of any preferred or customary form and is indicated as provided with legs 4 at its lower end for'supporting the deck when it is in the bottom of the tank 2. The deck is also indicated as provided with sealing plates 5 at its peri hery which engage' the cylindrical walls 0 the tank 2 and seal thespace between the floating deck and tank.

6 indicates a line which serves both as a water drain line for rain water falling upon the floating deck 3 and as a conduit throughwhich foam forming materials may be passed to the floating deck when desired. The line 6 extends through the tank 2 at one end and there is provided with a valve 7 through which the rain water collected in line 6 may be discharged from the tank. The line 6 is also connected through a valve 11 with a line 8 connected to two branch lines and 10 WhlCh are respectively provided with valves 12 and 13. These lines, in practice, lead to sources of materials adapted to. be mixed to- Such gether to form a fire fighting or quenching foam.

Within the'tank 2, the line 6 is connected by pantograph lines 15 consisting of swing oints, pipe, and pipe fittings, to a line 16 extending vertically through the axis of the floating eck 3. At the axis of the floating deck 3, there is indicated a trough 17, and within the trough 17 the line 16v is provided with one or more check valves 18 through which rain water is adapted to pass in entering the line 16 so that it may be discharged from the deck. The check valve or valves 18 are adapted to close against a reverse passage of liquid so that the liquid -foam forming materials may pass upwardly through the line 16 to the foam spray nozzles 20. The foam spray nozzles 20 are mounted upon a rotating head 21 and are so disposed that they are adapted to impel the foam to the periphery of the floating deck 3 and there quench any fire existing around theseals 5.

Now referring to Figure 4, a modified form of nozzle is shown. In this case, the line 16 is shown as connected with a rotating head 22 having lines carrying nozzles 23 which are fan shaped so as to distribute the foam not only upon or around the seals 5 of the deck but to cover substantially the entire deck.

Referring to Figure 5, a still further modified form of nozzle is indicated as connected with the line 16. In this case, the line 16 terminates in a funnel 24 which in turn supports a transverse bafile 25 so that the funnel 24 and baflie 25 form a circular outlet for the foam or foam forming materials.

In use of the apparatus of the present invention, whenever it is necessary to fight a fire upon the floating deck, the foam forming materials are merely pumped into the water discharge line of the deck from lines 9 and 10, the valve previously having been closed. foam forming materials will pass through line 6 and pantograph pipes 15, through line 16 and by the check valves 18 to the nozzles 20 or the modified form of nozzles shown in Figures 4 or 5. Here the foam forming materials and foam will be thrown outupon the deck and properly distributed in the localities where it will be most effectual in fighting the fire. It should be pointed out that the distance at which the foam is dropped or deposited upon the deck 'is independent of the position of the floating deck 3 or amount of oil in the tank 2 since the foam distributing apparatus and nozzles are carried with or by the deck 3.

While the forms of the invention herein described are well adapted to carry out the objects of the invention, various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the princi les of the invention and the invention inclu es all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the followingappended claim.

' I claim:

In an apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a tank and floating deck therefor, of a line connected with the deck and leading to the exterior of said tank, means at one end of said line for introducing foam forming materials, and means at the other end of the line and above the deck for discharging said foam forming materials upon ,the deck, lateral intakes communicating with day of July, 1927.

CHARLES R. GALLAGHER.