US1918930A - Fire extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

July 18, 1933. A.B. PHISTER 1,918,930

FIRE EXTINGUI SHER Filed Feb. 27. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 18, 1933. A, B. PHISTER 1,918,930

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Feb. 27, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 18, 1933. A. B. PHISTER FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Feb. 27, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 18, 1933 UNITED STATES ALBERT B. PHISTEB, OF FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE PHISTER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CINCINNAZLOHIO, A C'QRPORATION OF OHIO FIR-E EXTINGU ISI-IER Application filed Februarvfi, 1931. Serial No. 518,827.

This invention pertains particularly to fire extinguishers of the type employing a liquid-chamber and a pressure-chamber and preferably equipped with a centrally dis posed pump by means of which the pressurechamber may be charged with compressed air.

The primary object is to provide a fire eittinguisher of the type indicated having an improved arrangement of service-valves for controlling the service liquid-duct which constitutes an outlet from the liquid chamber to the hose and the service air-duct through which the airinay pass from the pressure chamber to the liquid-chamber.

Further objects are to provide an improved valve device through which the pressure chamber of the extinguisher may be charged with air from an external source; and also to provide means for closing the intake port,

or intake nipple, with which the pump is provided, assuming the pump-plunger to be in the position which it occupies when it serves as a handle for the extinguisher.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which.-

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a fire extinguisher embodying the invention; Fig. 2, a broken elevational view, taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a central vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 4; Fig. i, a plan view, showing the pump-plunger in section; Fig. 5, a broken vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4, showing a combination valve associated with the pressure chamber of the extinguisher; Fig. 6, abroken vertical sectional view taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 4, showing the liquid outlet duct and the valve which controls the same; Fig. 7 a broken section taken as indicated at line 7 of Fig. 4, illustrating the service airduct lea-ding from the inner pressure chamber to the outer liquid chamber of the extinguisher and showing also the valve which controls said duct; Fig. 8, a broken vertical section taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 4, illustrating the means whereby air may pass from the pump, when operated, to the inner pressure chamber of the extinguisher; Fig. 9, a broken view, partly in section, of the charging valve employed when the pressure cham her is to be charged from an external source, said valve serving also to positively close the port through which the pressure chamber is charged 5 Fig. 10, a plan view of the actuating screw and its handle employed for actuating a lever or head with which the service valves are connected; and F ig.-11, an enlarged sectional view of the end of valve head G or G In the embodiment illustrated A designates an outer annular liquid chamber having an outer cylindrical wall 1 and aninner cylindrical wall 2; B, a pressure chamber, concentric with the chamber A, whose outer wall is the cylindrical wall 2, and whose inner wall is in the form of a small central cylinder 3; C, a lower head which forms a common base for the cylinders mentioned; D, an upper head which forms a common top for the cylinders mentioned, it being noted, however, that the upper end of the central cylinder 3 is left open to admit the pump-plunger; E, a tubular pump-plunger which works within the central cylinder 3, which thus constitutes a barrel for the pump, the upper end of the plunger being equipped with a handle E; F, a charging valve which controls a charging port leading to the pressure chamber B; G, a valve device which comprises a lever, a cross-head, G and a service air valve G and a service liquid valve G the crosshead G being connected with said valves and being operated by an actuating device G*; H, (Fig. 6) a liquid eduction tube which communicates with a liquid port 4 in the upper head D, said port having in its course a valve seat 5 for the valve G H, a discharge nipple connected with the pipe l; H a hose connected with the nipple H; and J, a pressure gauge connectedwith the com pressed-air chamberB and disposed in a housing J mounted on the upper head D.

As will be understood from Fig. 3, the cylinders 1 and 2 have their ends fitted in annular grooves with which the heads C'and D are provided; and the pump-cylinder-3 has screw connection at its lower end with a tubular upstanding boss 6 with which the bottom C is equipped and with a tubular boss 7 with which the head D is equipped. By this means, the heads are securely connected together.

It will be understood that the liquid-tube H extends to a point near the bottom of the liquid chamber-A, so that when air pressure is admitted to the upper portion of the chamber A, the liquid will be forced downwardly and thence up through the tube H.

The lower head 0 preferably consists of a casting.

The upper head D also consists of a casting upon which the valves are mounted. This casting is provided at one edge with a projecting flange 8 having therein a slot 8 adapted to engage a supporting hook (not shown). The flange 8 is also adapted to serve as a guard to prevent injury to the valve1nechanism G, in the event that the fire extinguisher should be dropped.

The plunger E of the pump is of tubular form. It is provided near its upper end with an intake nipple 9, so that the interior of the plunger is in communication with the atmosphere. The tubular plunger is fitted at its lower end with a plug 10, which has extending therethrough a valved control-passage 11. The plug is fitted with a leather cup 12, which has an upturned flange. When the plunger is lifted, airenters the pump cylinder through the passage 11 and when the plunger is depressed the air is forced upwardly through the annular passage 13 between the plunger and the pump cylinder 3.

The casting D has a central opening fitted with a packing gland 1% (Fig. 8), through which the plunger E works. At the upper end of the passage 13 is an annular air space 13 which communicates with a duct 14: in the casting D. The upper end of the duct 14 is closed b a screw 15 beneath which is loosely confined a check valve 16. When the ball 16 is lifted, the air can pass from the pump cylinder through the duct 14 and thence through a duct 17 to a point near the inner end of the valve F. The valve F controls a duct 18 which leads to the pressure which communicates with a cross-passage 22.

The member 19 extends into a suitable bore with which the casting D is provided and has screw connection at 23 with the wall of said bore. The stem 19 extends through a stufiing gland 2 1.

In Fig. 5, the valve F is shown equipped with a removable cap 25. Wherepressure from a storage tank is available, the pressure chamber B may be filled through the valve F. To enable this to be done, the stem 19 is unscrewed sufficiently to uncover the port 18.

Air forced inwardly through the valve F will then emerge through the opening 22 and pass throught the duct 18.

here pressurefrom an external storage tank is not available, the pump may be employed to fill the chamber B with compressed air. In such case, the air will pass through the port 17, assuming the valve F to be unscrewed sufficiently to permit this action. The valve may then be turned to the closed position, so that the port 18 will be securely closed, and itwill not be necessary to depend upon the check valve 16, to prevent escape of air.

)1'03631' is desi nated 28. It controls an air passage 29 which leads from the upper portion of the inner pressure chamber B to the upper portion of the outer liquid chamber A. This passage is intersected by the bore which contains the valve 28. The valve 28 preferably comprises a brass plunger which has a reduced tipped portion 28*, upon which is formed or fitted'a ring 28" of softer metal such as a suitable alloy of lead, tin and antimony.

As shown in Fig. 7, the tip 28 of comparatively hard metal seats against the hard metal of the casting, thus giving a suitable control'of the air.

The service liquid-valve proper is designated 30, and appears most clearly in Fig. 6. It is interchangeable with the valve 28, and is of the same construction. Its reduced tip is designated 30 and the ring of softer metal is designated 30. It will be noted that the valve seat shown in Fig. 6 is of such site and shape that the softer ring 30 will seat against the hard metal of the casting, the passage l being sufiiciently large for this purpose. The valves 28 and 30' are parallel. stems of these valves extend loosely into bores 31 with which the cross-heat G is provided near its ends. The stems are loosely connected pivotally to the cross-head by pins 32.

The actuating member G" (Figs. 3 and 10) u comprises a stem 33 and a wheel or knob 34:. The portion of the stem which is adjacent the wheel is of relatively large diameter and is fitted with a left-hand thread 33*. The reduced end portion of the shaft or stem is e aeso fitted with a right-hand thread 33*: The

threaded portion 33 works rather loosely through a threaded bore with which the crosshead GT is provided centrally; and the threaded portion 33 worksin the threaded bore of a boss 34 which is formed integrally with the casting D, as shown in Fig. 3. The use of opposite threads provides for quick operation of the valves.

The rotary actuator G is adapted to move the cross-head G inwardly when the Wheel G is turned clockwise and is adapted to move the cross-head outwardly when the wheel is turned counter-clockwise. The cross-head serves to actuate the plunger-form service valves; and it will be noted that the construction is such as to permit the cross-head G to act as a lever and also such as to prevent binding in the event that one valve moves in advance of the other. Should one of the valves stick the other can advance until it engages its seat, whereupon it acts as a fulcrum for the lever G and continued movement of the actuating device G4 will then-cause the other valve to move. Thus, if one valve seats first, it acts as a fulcrum and causes'the other valve to be seated. In this manner the valves may be seated with equal pressure.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 6, it will be noted that the upper end of the liquid-chamber A is formed by an annular flange 35 in the casting D. One wall of the casting is provided with a sight opening 86 within which is disposed a gasket 37 and a glass disk 38. The disk is confined in the opening and pressed against the gasket by means of a nut 39 which has an opening therethrough. This permits the height of the liquid to be noted. Ordinarily, the chamber A. is almost completely filled, so that the fact can be noted through the glass 38.

The pressure of the air contained in the chamber B can be noted, also, by means of the gauge J.

The housing J for the gauge is in the form of an open shell equipped with lugs 40 which are secured to the top D of the fire extinguisher. At the back side of the loop or shell is a cross-member 41 which is adapted to overlie the nipple 9 of the plunger E, when said plunger is in the locked position. As will be understood from Figs. 3 and at, a leaf-spring 42 is carried by the member 41. WVhen the plunger is rotated to the locked position shown in Fig. 3, the end of the. nipple 9 engages the leaf-spring and the passage through the nipple is automatically closed, thus keeping out dust.

It will be understood from Figs. 4, 6, and 7 that the valve mechanism G, as a whole, does not project beyond the outer edge of the flange or guard 8. Thus, should the fire extinguisher be accidentally dropped or tipped over, the guard 8 will prevent accidental opening of the valves and will prevent injury to the valve mechanism.

By reference to Fig. 4:, the disposition of the service valves G and G with reference to the centrally disposed pump will be understood. Thevalves flank the pump-plunger.

Also, it will be noted that the lug 84 is dis- I posed close to the plunger E, and that the cross-head G and actuator G are brought correspondingly close to the plunger of the @715 pump. Moreover, the inclined position of the service valves and of the actuating stem of the device G contributes to the desired result and facilitates the'easy grasping of the handwheel or knob G. i

A liquid'commonly employed in fire extinguishers is carbon tetrachloride, which is very corrosive in character. By making the top D of brass and forming the valve 30 of the materials stated, danger of corrosion is 755 a hook 44 which serves to engage the hose H No novelty is claimed for these particular features. 1

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of, understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A fire extinguisher comprising a central pump; cylinder walls spaced with relation to each other and with relation to said pump to form inner and outer chambers; an upper head connected with the upper end of the cylinder of said pump and with the upper end of said cylinder walls; service valvechambers formed integrally with said head; an air conduit in said head leading from the inner chamber to the outerchamber and intercepted by one of said valve chambers, a passage leading from the outer chamber and intercepted by the other valve chambers, said last-mentioned passage being of relatively large diameter as compared with said air c0nduit; interchangeable pointed-plunger. service valves in said valve chambers equipped with rings of soft metal near their tips and wlth hard metal tips, the ring of soft metal engaging the valve seat at the liquid outlet conduit and the extreme tip portion of the other valve engaging the valve seat at the air conduit; and common actuating means for said valves.

pump, cylinder walls spaced with relation to each other and with relation to said pump to form inner and outer chambers, an upper head connected with the upper end of the cylinder of said pump and with the upper end of said cylinder walls, service valvechambers on said head, an air conduit in said head leading from the inner chamber to the outer chamber and intercepted by one of said valve chambers, a passage leading from the outer chamber and intercepted by the other valvechamber, said last mentioned passage being of relatively larger diameter as compared with said air conduit, interchangeable pointed service valves in said valve-chambers equipped with rings of soft metal near their tips and with hard metal tips, the ring of soft metal engaging the valve seat at the liquid outlet conduit and the extreme tip portion of the other valve engaging the valve seat at the air conduit, and common actuating means for said valves.

3. In combination with a fire-extinguisher casing affording inner and outer chambers open at their upper ends, an upper head closing the upper ends of said chambers, an air conduit in said head leadingfrom the inner chamber to the outer chamber, a passage leading from the outer chamber and being of relatively large diameter as compared with interchangeable said air conduit, valve chambers intercepting said conduit and passage, interchangeable pointed service valves in said valve-chambers equipped with rings of soft metal near their tips and with hard metal tips, the ring of soft metal engaging the valve seat at the liquid outlet conduit and the extreme tip portion of the other valve engaging the valve seat at the air conduit, and common actuating means for said valves.

4. In combination with a fire extinguisher casing affording inner and outer chambers open at their upper ends, a head closing the upper ends of saidchambers, an air conduit in said head leading from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, a liquid passage leading from the outer chamber and being of relatively large diameter as compared with said air conduit, service valvechambers intercepting said air conduit and liquid passage, pointed plunger service valves in said valve-chambers equipped with rings of soft metal near their tips and with hard metal tips, the ring of soft metal engaging the Valveseat at the liquid outlet conduit and the extreme tip portion of the other valve engaging the valve seat at the air conduit, and actuating means for said valves.

ALBERT B. rHIsTERj

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