US1874243A - Safety receptacle or container for inflammable materials - Google Patents

Description

JZG. CLARK Aug. 30, 1932.

SAFETY RECEPTACLE OR CONTAINER FOR INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS Filed Jan. 21, 19:51v v2 Sheets-Sheet l 0 0 o o Yb b o 0071 INVENTOR Jhmes G. C'la r'l ITNESSE'S ATTOR N EY5 Aug. 30, 1932. CLARK 1,874,243

SAFETY REcEPTALE 0R CONTAINER FOR INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS F iled Jan. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1 INVENTOR James G. Clark Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES JAMES G. CLARK, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY SAFETY RECEPTACLE on CONTAINER non INFLAMMABIJEMATERIALS Application filed January 21, 1931. Serial No. 510,261.

This invention relates generally to the classes of receptacles or containers, and has reference to those which are particularly designed for accommodating highly inflammable materials.

Waste cans or storage receptacles which are adapted to receive or contain highly inflammable materials and which are commonly used in factories handling this class of materials, or in garages where oily. rags are collected or in other analogous places, present a considerable fire hazard, due to the possibility of ignition of said materials by spontaneous combustion or otherwise. The com- -1non practice resorted to for safeguarding such containers or receptacles, depends largely upon the use of fire extinguishers which are manually brought into play after the fire has started and is discovered. This is obzo viously an inadequate protection unless the flre is immediately discovered and brought under control, which would be impossible unless there is someone constantly on guard,

which is generally not the case after working hours, and not infrequently not true during said. working hours.

It is, therefore, the aim of the present invention to provide a receptacle or container for the purpose set forth which is equipped with means which automatically functions to extinguish a fire occurring within the receptacle, and which means more particularly in the present instance constitutes a component part of the container or receptacle structure. f

The invention further comprehends a device of the indicated character which embodies a receptaclefor inflammable material,

together with a reservoir having communicaltion with the receptacle and an extinguishing medium in said reservoir, in addition to a substance which is adapted, when combined with said medium, to effect the delivery of the medium from the reservoir to the receptacle, and also means, responsive to a predeter mined degree of heat within the receptacle, for causing said substance to combine with said extinguishing medium for the obvious purpose in view.

so More particularly, the invention resides in partment and a fluid extinguishing medium the provision of a receptacle or container of the character set forth having a compartment for inflammable materials, together with a reservoir in communication with said comin said reservoir which inherently seals the reservoir from the receiving compartment, andin which is a substance which is adapted, when combined with the fluid extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure within the chamber above the level of the extinguishing medium for forcibly delivering the same into the receiving compartment, in addition to means, responsive toa predetermined degree of heat in the receiving compartment, for causing said substance to combine with said medium for the purpose set forth.

' The invention further resides in the provision of a device of the indicated character which is comparatively simple in its construction, inexpensive to produce and maintain in working condition, positive and reliable in action and highly eflicient for the purpose for which it is intended.

With theabove recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a receptacle or container constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the fire extinguishing means in its normal inactive condition.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the receptacle or container with the cover removed and with parts broken away and in section to disclose the underlying structure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the sectional line indicated at 33 in Figure 2, and illustrating the fire extinguishing means actively functioning I Referring'to thedrawings by characters of reference, the form of the invention employed for the purposes of illustration includes a main body designated generally by the reference character A, which body comprises a bot- 100 tom 5, in the present instance disclosed as circular, although it may be of various other shapes. The body further comprises an upstanding marginal, and in the present instance cylindrical, wall 6, and a removable or displaceable cover 7 as disclosed in Figures 1 and 3, may be employed for closing the upper open end of the body A.

As illustrated in the present instance, the body is subdivided into a receiving compartment designated generally by the reference character B and a chamber or reservoir designated generally by the reference character C,

by means of a tubular, and in the present instance annular, wall 8 which is sealed at its structure for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. A horizontal continuous partition 9 is sealed to and extends outwardly from the upper edge of the wall 8 and has its outer edge or periphery sealed to the wall 6 of the body A, thereby defining a closed upper end for the reservoir or chamber C. A continuous, in the present instance annular, baffle wall 10 is sealed at its upper end to the lower surface of the partition wall 9 and-depends therefrom downwardly, where its lower edge 11 is disposed in a plane slightly above the bottom 5 to define an outlet 11a adjacent the bottom of the reservoir C. The baffle wall 10 is arranged concentric to the wall 8 and in spaced relation to and between the walls 6 and 8. Communication between the receiving compartment B and the reservoir or chamber C is established, as shown in the present instance, through an annular series of radial apertures 12 extending completely around the wall 8 adjacent the upper end of he receiving compartment B and through the annular duct 12a defined between the baffle wall 10 and the wall 8 and extending from the reservoir outlet to the apertures 12.

The invention further embodies the use of an extinguishing medium D, which in th present instance is disclosed as a liquid solution consisting of water having bicarbonate of soda dissolved therein and filling the res ervoir or chamber C and duct 12a to the approximate level indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, which must not exceed a horizontal plane below the openings 12. It should be here mentioned that the reservoir or chamber C has a cubical content sufliciently greater than the cubical content of the reciving compartment B, which insures that the volume of .i the medium D within the reservoir will, when fully delivered thereto, completely fill the receiving compartment B. In order to afford means for conveniently introducing the medium or solution B to the reservoir or chamber C, a filling nozzle 13 is formed on the horizontal partition wall 9 and projects upwardly therefrom to receive thereover a closure cap 14.

While the invention broadly comprehends any means for effecting the delivery of the extinguishing medium to the receiving compartment B from the reservoir or chamber C in which said means is responsive to a predetermined degree of heat developed within the receiving compartment, the particular form selected for the purpose of illustration consists in making use of a suitable substance E which is adapted, when combined with the extinguishing medium D, to generate a pressure within the reservoir or chamber C above the level of the extinguishing medium, which pressure is sufficient to force said medium from the reservoir through the outlet 11a upwardly through the duct 12a and thence through the openings 12 until the seal which is inherently formed by virtue of the medium and the baffle wall 10 is broken. In the present instance, the substance E, which for the purposes of illustration consists of sulphuric acid in commercial form No. 60, is contained within a container 15, which container is located within a housing 16, which housing is in part disclosed as forming an upwardly offset portion of the horizontal partition wall 9 at a point adjacent the widest portion of the reservoir or chamber C. The remainder of the housing 16 is defined by the wall 6 of the body A, and the housing is directly open to the interior of the reservoir or compartment C. As shown, the container 15 is fulcrumcd adjacent one lower side edge on a transverse shaft 17 which is journaled in the housing and has one extremity extending through a stufiing box 18 and projecting from the housing. The container is provided with a discharge outlet 19 preferably in the form of a slot extending throughout the width of the container at the corner edge diagonally opposite the fulcrumed edge. The arrangement thus described is such that the container 15, unless constrained normally, gravitates to a discharge position, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, where its outlet will be so disposed as to insure the spillage of practica1- ly its entire contents therefrom into the extinguishing medium or solution D.

In order to hold the container 15 in a horizontal non-dumping position where its contents are held against discharge, an arm 20 is secured to the projecting extremity of the shaft 17 and extends radially therefrom where the terminal of the arm projects inward beyond the inner periphery of the wall 8, where it is anchored in a normal position to hold the container horizontal by a fusible link 21, which has an apertured upper end 22 engaging over said arm extremity and an apertured lower end 23 engaging over a stationary stud 24 projecting from the inner periphery of the wall 8. i The container 15 is provided with a filling nozzle 25 which, when i to shield the arm 20 so that the materials introduced to the receiving compartment B are precluded from lodging on and interfering with said arm.

In use and operation, assuming the receiver C and container 15 to be charged with their contents, as shown in Figure 1, it is apparent that heat or a blaze developed within the receiving compartment B and of suflicient intensity, will fuse the-fusible link 21. This will instantly release the arm20 and permit the container 15 by gravity to swing from its normal horizontal position illustrated in Figure 1 to the vertical or dumping position illustrated in Figure 3, where the substance 1 E contained therein will spill therefrom into the solution or medium D, thereby generating a pressure within the reservoir or compartment above the level of the solution or medium D suflicient to'exert the necessary force to deliver the extinguishing medium or solution D from said reservoir, through the outlet 11a, the duct 12a and the openin s 12 and into the receiving compartment I3 until the seal is broken by the recession of the solution level D below the lower edge 11 of the baffle wall 10. The pressure developed will be of sufficient force to cause the extinguishing medium D to be delivered through the openings 12 in the form of a plurality of radial jets which initially serve as a barrier to the escape of a flame or blaze from the upper end of the receiving compartment, in addition to cutting off the supply of oxygen necessary to continue the combustion within the compartment B. The solution or medium D will descend by gravity into and upon the material within the compartment B and quench the fire After the extinguishing means has func- Z tioned in the manner previously set forth, the

reservoir may be recharged with a new supply of extinguishing medium D, the container 15 refilled with the substance E and a new fusible link engaged with the terminal of the arm v and the stud 24, whereby the device receptacle, closed at its upper end and is immediately in condition for further use.

It is, :of course, to be understood ithatto facilitate theremoval of the contents of the receiving compartment B, a separate removable receptacle maybe placed therein, suchu's a can, bag or the like. a While the device is especially useful in factories or plants as a receptacle for highly inflammable refuse, such as gun cotton,-oelluloid or the like, and in garages for receiving discardedloily rags,- it is to be clearly understood that this is only one of ltheimapy uses to which the invention maybe adapt and that it is also adaptable for useas ac'ontainer for the storage of highlyin flammaible imaterials or in many other analogous capacities.

Whle there has been illustrated and described a single and preferred embodiment the precise structural details therein exhibited, as it is to be clearly understood that variations and modifications thereof which properly fall within the scope of the "appended claims may beresortedto when desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, areceptac-le for inflammable material, a reservoir surrounding the receptacle, closed at its upper end and-having an outlet at its lower end communicating with said receptacle at the upper end of said receptacle, an extinguishing medium in said reservoir, a substance which is adapted, when combined with said medium, to e'flect the delivery of the medium from the reservoir to the receptacle and means, responsive to a predetermined degree of heat within the receptacle, for causingsaid substance to combine with said medium.

2. 'In combination, a receptacle for inflammablermaterial, a reservoir surroundinglthe av ing an outlet at its lower end communicating with said receptacle at the upper end of said receptacle, a fluid extinguishing medium in said reservoir self sealed from the receptacle, a substance which is adapted, when combined with said medium, to generate a pressure within the reservoir above the level of the extinguishing medium for forcibly delivering said medium into the receptacle means, re-

sponsive to a predetermined degree of heat within the receptacle, for causing saidsubstance to combine with said medium.

outlet at the lower end of the reservoir compartment afluid extinguishing medium with- .insaid reservoir compartment and the duct inherently functioning to seal vthe upper portion of the reservoir compartment above the level of the medium therein, a substance which is adapted, when combined with the fluid extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure within the reservoir compartment above the level-of the extingushing means, suificient to forcibly deliver said extinguishing medium from-the reservoir compartment throughthe duct and to the receiving compartment and means responsive to a predetermined degreeot heat within the receptacle, for causing said substance to combine with said medium.

4. A portable device of the class described having the combination of a receiver for inflammable material, a reservoir closed at its upper end, containing an extinguishing'medium and surrounding said receiver, an annular duct defined between the reservoir and receiver and establishing circumferential communication between the reservoir at its lower end and the receiver at its upper end and normally restrained means operable by a predetermined degree of heat within the receiver for effecting the delivery or" said exrt-inguishing medium from said reservoir into said receptacle radially inward thereof.

5. In a receptacle for inflammable material, a body subdivided into a receiving compartment for said material and a reservoir adapted to contain an extinguishing liquid, said compartment having communication adjacent its upper end with the reservoir, a

baffle extending downwardly from the upper wall of the reservoir andspaced from the receiving compartment and from the bottom of the reservoir and defining an annular duct whereby the upper portion of the reservoir above the level or" the extinguishing medium is sealed by said medium, a container for a substance which is adapted, when combined with the extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure in the sealed portion of the reservoir above the level of said medium for forcibly delivering the same from the reservoir through said duct and into the receiving compartment, said contamer being arranged for discharge of its contents into the reservoir *and means, responsive to a predetermined decommunicates with" the duct at its lower end whereby the upper portion of the reservoir compartment above the liquid level is sealed by said liquid extinguishing means, a container for a substance which is adapted, when combined with said extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure above the level of said medium "for forcibly delivering the liquid from the reservoir compartment through said duct, to the receiving compartment, means for mounting the container within the reservoir compartment directly above the liquid level for ravitational dumping discharge of its contents into said liquid and heat responsive means within the receiving compartment, for normally holding said container in a normal non-dumping position and for releasing said container for gravitational dumping discharge thereof when the temperature in the receiving compartment reaches a predetermined maximum.

7. A device of the character described including a body having a bottom and an upstanding marginal wall, a continuous partition wall arranged within said body, sealed at its lower edge to the bottom thereof and extending upwardly therefrom to a plane below the plane of the upper edge of the body wall, a continuous horizontal partition wall sealed at its inner edge to the upper edge of the vertical-partition wall, extending outwardly therefrom and sealed at its outer edge to the outer wall of the body, whereby to define withinthe vertical partition wall, a receiving compartment open at its upper end and whereby to define between the said vertical partition wall, the outer wall of the body, the bottom and the horizontal partition wall, a reservoir compartment extending completely around the receiving compartment, the said vertical partition wall having a series of radially disposed openings extending therethrough adjacent the upper end thereof establishing communication between the receiving and reservoir compartments, a continuous baifle wall surrounding the receiving compartment in closely spaced relation thereto, sealed at its upper edge to the horizontal partition wall, extending downwardly therefrom and having its lower edge spaced from the bot-tom wall of the body, whereby a fluid fire extinguishing medium normally contained in said reservoir compartment below the level of the radial openings in the vertical partition wall, seals the upper portion of the reservoir compartment above the level of the fluid extinguishing medium, a container for a substance which is adapted, when combined with said extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure within the upper portion of the reservoir compartment above the level of said medium, for forcibly delivering the liquid from the reservoir compartment through said openings in the form of jets, said container being arranged for discharge of its contents into the receiver compartment and means, responsive to a predetermined temperature within the receiving compartment, for causing the discharge of the contents of said container into said receiver.

8. A device of the character described including a body having a bottom and an upstanding marginal wall, a continuous partition wall arranged within said body, sealed at its lower edge to the bottom thereof and extending upwardly therefrom to a plane below the plane of the upper edge of the body wall, a continuous horizontal partition wall sealed at its inner edge to the upper edge of the vertical partition wall, extending outwardly therefrom and sealedat its outer edge to the outer wall of the body, whereby to deline within the vertical partition wall, a receiving compartment open at its upper end and whereby to define between the said vertical partition wall, the outer wall of the body, the bottom and the horizontal partition wall, a reservoir compartment extending completely around the receiving compartment, the said vertical partition wall having a series of radially disposed openings extending therethrough adjacent the upper. end thereof establishing communication between the receiving and reservoir compartments, a continuous baflie wall surrounding the receiving compartment in closely spaced relation thereto, sealed at its upper edge to the horizontal partition wall, extending downwardly therefrom and having its lower edge spaced from the bottom wall of the body, whereby a fluid fire extinguishing medium normally contained in said reservoir compartment below the level of the radial openings in the vertical partition wall, seals the upper portion of the reservoir compartment above the level of the fluid extinguishing medium, a container fulcrumed within the reservoir compartment above the liquid level, for containing a substance which is adapted, when combined with said extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure within the reservoir compartment above the liquid level for forcibly delivering the liquid from the reservoir compartment to the receiving compartment, an arm attached to said container and projecting influidtight relation therefrom inwardly beyond the inner periphery of the receiving compartment and a fusible link locatedwithin the confines of the receiving compartment, for normally anchoring said arm in a position to hold the container in a non-discharging position and adapted upon fusing, to release and permit of the dumping discharge of said container.

9. A device of the character described including a body having a bottom and an upstanding marginal wall, a continuous partition wall arranged within said body, sealed at its lower edge to the bottom thereof and extending upwardly therefrom to a plane bea low the plane of the upper edge of the body wall, a continuous horizontal partition wall sealed at its inner edge to the upper edge of the vertical partition wall, extending outwardly therefrom and sealed at its outer edge to the outer wall of the body, whereby to define within the vertical partition wall, a receiving compartment open at its upper end and whereby to define between the said vertical partition wall, the outer wall of the body,

partment in closely spaced relation thereto,

sealed at its upper edge to the horizontal partition wall, extending downwardly therefrom and having its lower edge spacedfrom the bottom wall of the body, whereby a fluid fire extinguishing medium normally contained in said reservoir compartment below the level of the radial openings in the vertical partition wall, seals the upper portion of the reservoir compartment above the level of the fluid extinguishing medium, a container fulcrumed within the reservoir compartment above the liquid level, for containing a substance which is adapted, when combined with said extinguishing medium, to generate a pressure within the reservoir compartment above the liquid level for forcibly delivering the liquid from the reservoir compartment to the receiving compartment, an arm attached to said container and projecting in fluid tight relation therefrom inwardly beyond the inner periphery of the receiving compartment and a fusible link located within the confines of the receiving compartment, for normally anchoring said arm in a position to hold the container in a non-discharging position and adapted upon fusing, to release and permit of the dumping discharge of said container and guard means located within said body for shielding said arm while permitting free movement thereof.

JAMES G. CLARK.

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