US2381607A - Liquid-ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1945. F. J. LEE

LI UID EJECTING APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1944 [Ill-J nfl k Patented Aug. 7, 1945 LIQUID- EJECTIN G APPARATUS Floyd J. Lee, La Habra, Calif., assignor of one half to J. Leonard Hull, Los Angeles. Calif.

Application May 13, 1944, Serial No. 535,446

8 Claims. (cr es-31) This invention relates to a liquid-ejecting apparatus, such for example as those used in expelling the contents of a fire extinguisher. Heretofore the means employed for expelling the contents of a fire extinguisher have been greatly affected by temperature. Y

A common method of expelling the contents of fire extinguishers has been by the reaction of chemicals to produce a gas such as carbon dioxide. The reaction rate of such chemicals is so affected by temperature that'the extinguishers are not usable except under particular temperature conditions. Various other means, such as the relea'se'of condensed gases in the fire extinguishers, have been employed for expelling the contents thereof, but such means are likewise subject to widefluctuations under temperature conditions, and in particular'may utterly fail in cold temperatures.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a means for ejecting the contents of a fire extinguisher or other apparatus, which means is substantially unaffected by temperature. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ejecting means for liquid which in addition to being unaffected by temperature includes means for initiating its action which means areentirely enclosed within the apparatus and are automatically responsive to an inversion of the apparatus for initiating the liquid-ejecting operation.

' The liquid-ejecting apparatus of the present invention operates by the generation of gases through burning of powder trains. Previous to the present invention it has been suggested to employ powder in the form of a cartridge as a means for generating gases for ejectingliquids from' apparatus,"the cartridge being ignited by a striking pin actuated by trigger mechanism extending to the exterior of the apparatus-These v prior devices are unsatisfactory in that th'e'cartridges on being ignited fire so rapidly'as to generate a large and excessive pressure at instigation of the operation of the devices, which is dangerous to the operator. The pressure in the devices is rapidly built up to over a satisfactory limit and thereafter, as the contents of the apparatus are expelled, the pressure decreases, the result being that if the cartridges employed are sufiiciently restricted in size to allow for safe operation of the device at the starting time, the pressure decreases so rapidly that it is insuflicient for proper ejection of the liquid. If sufficient 4 powder is employed to insuresuiiicient gas pressure to fully eject the contents of the apparatus, N

then a dangerous pressure exists at the igniting time. The burning time of powder cartridges not only variesw'ith the pressure on the cartridges but also varies with the past history of the cartridge. Cold temperature may cause the separation of powder in a cartridge and the formation of channels through the cartridge with the result that the firing time of the cartridge is very greatly accelerated.

These disadvantages of prior apparatus using powder as a fluid-ejecting means, are eliminated in the apparatus of the present invention through the use of the burning substance or powder in the form of a multiplicity of separate powder trains or fuses. By supplying the powder which on ignition is to form the ejecting gas in the form of slow-burning fuses, Iam able to continue the gas ge'neratin-gperiod substantially throughout the period of time used for ejecting the liquid from the apparatus. As a result I avoid the creation of excessive pressures at the instigation of the operation andmaintain a more uniform pressure of gases for expelling the liquid throughout th period of liquid ejection.

Moreover through the employment of a multiplicity of powder trains or fuses I have found that the action of the apparatus is substantially unaffected by temperature. There is'no appreciable mass of powder present in any one train or fuse capable of being affected by temperature change so as to separate or channel. The firing time of thepowder'trains therefore remains substantially unaffected by their previous exposure to temperature changes or to the temperature of the apparatus at the time of operation.

The present invention also includes a trigger actuating means for firing or igniting the powder trains which is entirely enclosed within the housing of the apparatus and includes a weight releasing means for actuating the trigger on inversion of the apparatus to predetermined position, the weight releasing means including the time-delay action in order to lessen the chance of instigation of operation by accidental inversion.

This invention, together with other objects and advantages of the invention, will be fully understood from the following description of a preferred form or example of a fire extinguishing apparatus embodying theinvention. I have, therefore, described the preferred example of the invention in connection. with the accompanying drawing, in which v Figure 1 is an elevation, mainly invertical section;

, ling apparatus previously used therewith. No

operating means which extend outside of the ex,

tinguisher are required, Thus as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 2 is any usual omen-' ventional form of extinguisher body ior other The extinguisher 2 is indicated as having the usual outlet 3 is provided with any usual or preferred cap I threadedas indicated at 5 to the neck of. the body. i i 1';

The apparatus of the-present invention in.- cludes a mountingmember G into which. are threaded a number of mounting pins I, prefer ably pointed at their ends, by means of whichlthe apparatus may be suspended from: the n'eckof the extinguisher body 2'. Three: or'morewofi the adjustable pins 1 are provided' for aflordin'g'the suspension mounting. The mounting-member 6 is provided with a recess B'inWhich is-pivotally mounted: a firing lever or triggers, lever 9 is pivoted on an extensionof thedisc B'a which closes the bottom of the mounting mem- The firing lever ari'sprovid'ed' with a firingpin positioned'for-striking' a priming cap M1- The priming cap 10' is mounted on a plug (I I" of: a; tube I2. Below the plug H' is provided a disc'30,made of any suitable material, such as paper, adapted to be burned out. Below the disc'30' is provided a cap 29 having two'openings-therethrough', one for the fuse I3 andthe other serving as" a gas discharge opening. The opening throughthe cap 29 registers with similar. openings: througlr the plug H. Below the cap 29'is a: short sleeve 28 into which there is. extended: the ends of: a. bundle of firing trains or fuses: l5 held withinthe tube I2. The-upper end of the fuses-' terminate slightly below the cap- 29 and the intervening space' is filled with a supply of powder: H which serves as a priming charge for igniting each of the fuses L5. The fuses l5 extend to substantially the bottom of the tube l-2.,-.'I 'he tube 12 is attached' at its upper; end .to the' 6a and is provided. witha; closure cap I6 .atits lowerend. i e

The fusesor powder trains l-5. may be constructed in various. manners, theessential need apparently being that the: powderl to be ignited should be separated into a multiplicity .of trains of powder maintained separatelyfrom. each other. For example, I havev employedordiiiary fusing material whichcontains a. small core of powder wrapped in jute having an asphalt coat- These fuses are assembled in a bundle, as indicated, and for holding them in this. position theymay be tiedat a plurality of points along the length of the fuse, as indicated by the cord I I. Each individual fuse 15 extends substantially the entire'length of'the tube l2, and each individual tube is preferably of the type designed to" consume approximately 55 seconds in burning from end to end.

by which it m'alybe attached to a delivery hose, not shown. The body.

. I8 so as to be capable of falling freely and rapidly through the tube l8 when the apparatus is inverted and the weight released, as hereafter .15. liquid holder from which th 'contents are to be ;f., ejected).

es ibe 1 4 "...The diameterotthe weight should however conform fairly closely to that of the bore through the tube I8 fdr' reasons hereinafter pointed out.

The firing l The. lower end of the weight 20, as viewed in Fig. 1, is provided with a recess and across the recess.- is providedra: rod or wire-2 -A' cap 22 is threaded to the lower-end1 of the tube l8: and from the vbase of: the cap there extendsa' hellcally curved: or corkscrew shaped: wire 23 which contacts the Wire: -2 I a so 315: prevent axial movement of the weight 20, except as theweight ll rotates inaccordance; with the pitch of the: wire 23. The wire 23= and-the Wi'iezZlt constitute'a'time delay means for. retarding the'fall or the" weight 20 through the tube l 8 wlien the apparams is inverted. By-providing a fairly close although free running spaceibetween the' weight 20? and the tube IS the apparatus must be inverted towith in a few degreeso't'the true'vertical'positiom before the frictionfbetweenthe sides of; the weight and tubeds reduced to" the point wherethe weight 20 may be. rotated' to" untangle itself from the wire 23. When the apparatus is inverted there is a short interval of time during which the weight is rotated to release itself from'wire 23-before=the weight falls through the'tube' t8; In this" way I protect the operator of the apparatusfrom': acctdental discharge of the apparatus which: might otherwise I occur' n'ierelyybya. momentary inver sion of the apparatus.-

i l 1 When the apparatus is inverted and the weight 20' released; .it' falls until 'it" strikes theipivota'lly mounted firing" lever 9;=instigati1ig the operation of'the apparatus "1 The mounting member 6 is indicated as iiavinc an opening closed by a'pIugr25; The plug: 25" is designed so' that when it isdesired' to ship the apparatustheplu'g 25 may beremoved amr'a suitable means; such as a wire (not-shown), may be inserted for contacting the weight. 20 tca'hold it imposition when shipping the" apparatus. The contents of the tube I 2- are obviously completely sealed o'fi from the: liquid contained. Within: the extinguisherbodyl v 1 l 'A blow-out port isprbvided; closed b'yr'a blow= out seal 21. This blow-out seal Ill-is preferably designed to blow outon the generaticn lot about 10 pounds of pressure inn the ejector apparaa tus and such amount of pressureis approximately that produced burning the powder M which ignites the powder tIEillSwl5. When1'tlie seal; 2:! is blown out gas pressure is admitted intovthe bodyz; H y g r The apparatus of thepres'ent' invention mom While the particular form of the apparatus herein described is well adapted for carrying out the objects of the present invention, it is to be understood that the apparatus is capable of a number of modifications and changes, and this invention is not limited to the particular form shown, but includes all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A liquid-ejecting apparatus, comprising a body member for containing a liquid, a combustion chamber mounted within said body member, a plurality of powder trains within said combustion chamber adapted to produce a gas on slow burning, means for igniting said powder trains, communication means between said combustion chamber and said body member and a blow-out seal in said communication means.

2. A liquid-ejecting apparatus, comprising a body for the liquid to be ejected, a gas generating means positioned within said container, said gas generating means comprising a combustion chamber, a plurality of separate powder trains mounted in said combustion chamber, and means for simultaneously igniting said powder trains.

3. A gas generating unit for a liquid-expelling apparatus, which comprises a combustion chamber, a plurality of parallel fuses positioned in said combustion chamber, a primer, and means for substantially simultaneously igniting one end of said fuses on ignition of said primer.

4. A gas generating unit for a liquid expelling apparatus, including a mounting member for mounting the unit inside of the liquid holding compartment of the liquid expellin apparatus, said mounting member being connected to a combustion chamber, a plurality of parallel separate powder trains mounted in said combustion chamber, and firing means for simultaneously igniting one end of each of said powder trains.

5. A gas generating unit for a liquid expelling apparatus, including a mounting member for mounting the unit inside of the liquid holding compartment of the liquid expelling apparatus, said mounting member being connected to a combustion chamber, a plurality of parallel separate powder trains mounted in said combustion chamber, wiring means for simultaneously igniting one end of each of said powder trains, said firing means including a firing trigger, a weight, and weight-guiding means operative on inversion of the unit.

6. A liquid-ejecting apparatus comprising, a body for containing a liquid to be ejected, a combustion chamber mounted within said body, a plurality of parallel separate powder trains within said combustion chamber, firing means for simultaneously igniting one end of said powder trains, said firing means including a trigger, a Weight movable to strike said trigger, and a timedelay release for said weight.

7. A unit adapted for installation entirely within a fire extinguisher body, said unit including a mounting member having means for supporting the unit from the neck of the extinguisher body, a combustion chamber connected to said mounting member and having a plurality of parallel separate powder trains, means for substantially simultaneously igniting each of said powder trains, including a trigger, weight-actuating means for said trigger, and a time-delay release for said weight.

8. A wire extinguisher comprising an extinguisher body for holding a liquid to be expelled, a gas generating unit for expelling the liquid from said .body, mounted entirely within the body, said gas generating unit comprising a com bustion chamber mounting .a plurality of separate powder trains, including a trigger means for substantially simultaneously igniting said powder trains, and means operative on inversion of the unit for automatically actuating said trigger.

FLOYD J. LEE.

Images