US2519967A - Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

22, 1950 c. 1.. JONES CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1944 Charles L.JOIZQ$.

Aug. 22, 1950 c. 1.. JONES- CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1944 k n/"1% Y Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The present invention relates to fire extinguishers of the dry carbon dioxide type and the primary object of the invention is to provide such a type of fire extinguished in which the expense of maintaining the same is decreased and the difiiculties heretofore encountered with leakage are materially reduced while at the same time providing a fire extinguisher of such type which may be readily manually manipulated and with which greater maneuverability in use is attained, as well as to provide such a fire extinguisher which will be of materially improved appearance when mounted and installed.

So-called firstaid fire extinguishers of the dry carbon dioxide type have been known for many years, and I have previously made improvements in such types of fire extinguishers to provide a form now widely known and successfully used, such as disclosed and described in my United States Patent No. 1,644,338.

The fire extinguishers now in commercial use are all of this type or variations of or improvements on the type, and resemble the original fire extinguisher of my United States Patent No. 1,644,338 in having three separate major elements; namely, a cylinder or container for containing the carbon dioxide, with its control valve, which has been varied and improved from time to time in various ways by different manufacturers; a flexible hose; and a nozzle and horn assembly which serves to regulate the flow of carbon dioxide and also to limit the entrainment of air by the issuing stream of carbon dioxide. Some forms of such fire extinguishers have been proposed in relatively small sizes in which the conical horn is attached directly to the cylinder or container, but these have in each instance retained the feature of the manually controlled release valve and a structurally separate gas holding means and discharging means.

A further primary object of my present invention is to provide a fire extinguisher of the above referred to type in which a manually controlled release valve and the structurally separate carbon dioxide holding means and discharging means, are eliminated, and the fire extinguisheris formed by a unitary assembly which includes a structure combining therein the carbon dioxide holding means and discharging means as a unitary assembly in fixed relationship.

With the foregoing primary or general objects, as Well as certain other objects, features and results in view which will be readily recognized and understood from the following detailed explanation and description of examples of my invention, the invention consists in certain novel features in design and construction and in combination and arrangement of parts and elements, all as will be more fully referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional View through a fire extinguisher embodying the features and characteristics of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, section through a modified form and arrangement of fire extinguisher of my invention of the general type of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a more or less diagrammatic view partly in vertical section, showing a mounting bracket arrangement for mounting and installing a pair of fire extinguishers of the type of my present invention.

Fig. i is a vertical, transverse section through the closure and discharge orifice forming unit of a fire extinguisher of my invention, showing a modified mechanism for breaking or fracturing the frangible closure disk of the unit.

Fig. 5 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the dischargeend portion of a fire extinguisher of the general type of my invention of Fig. 1, but showing a modified design and construction of discharge orifice forming nozzle 01' jet member, together with a modified arrangement of frangible disk fracturing or rupturing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken as on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and showing particularly the design and mounting of a spider for slidably mounting the actuating rod for fracturing or rupturing the frangible closure disk of the fire extinguisher.

My present invention will be better understood by reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, which illustrates one possible embodiment of my invention by way of an example. It will be understood, however, that my invention consists in combining elements in such a cooperative association and relationship, as to produce a compact, simple apparatus of improved characteristics in the manner claimed, and that the invention is not limited to the precise details of the example herein disclosed and described.

The embodiment of a fire extinguisher of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, includes the carbon dioxide cylinder I, which may be of any type and method of manufacture known in the art, but which I have chosen to illustrate in the present example as a container made by spinning the ends of a piece of seamless drawn steel tubing, because a container formed by such method has a light, uniformly strong wall, with increased metal thickness at the ends, as will be clear by reference to the drawings hereof.

To facilitate standing the fire extinguisher upright on the floor or in a simple flat-bottomed wall bracket, the lower end of the carbon dioxide container i, is surrounded with a cylindrical sleeve 2, formed of a material of low electrical and thermal conductivity, the sleeve 2 extending downwardly or outwardly a sufficient distance beyond the adjacent end wall of container I, to serve as a handle, the extinguisher proper, that is to say, the container I, being of such diameter, as to permit this, say a diameter of preferably three inches or less, although a somewhat larger cylinder diameter may be employed by so shaping the sleeve that it may be readily grasped by the operator.

A similar non-conducting material sleeve 3, is mounted on and over and is attached to the upper or discharge end of the cylinder I. It is desirable to make this sleeve '3 as long as possible, thereby forming an air entrainment shield and a discharge for conducting the extinguishing gases the greatest possible distance from the operator and as close as possible to the flames of the fire to be extinguished. For outdoor work the discharge horn and air entrainment shield formed by the extension 3 may be as much as several feet in length, but because of limited wall space, and in order to avoid an unwieldy device, a shorter length must be accepted for ordinary applications, say a length of nine inches measuring from the discharge end of the gas cylinder I, in the example of Fig. 1.

In the cylindrical discharge horn and air entrainment shield formed by the sleeve 3, a puncturing or piercing mechanism is provided, em-

bodying, in this instance, two spiders 4a fixed or secured spaced apart in and disposed tranversely of the sleeve 3, with a puncturing rod 4 extending axially through the sleeve 3 and being slidably mounted in and extending through the spiders 411. Each spider 4a, referring to Fig. 1, in connection with Fig. 6, comprises a central hub portion 40 and spokes members 4d radiating therefrom and across the interior of the sleeve, with an axial bore through the hub portion for receiving rod 6.

The puncturing rod 4 is provided with the pointed inner end 4b, and the outer end of the rod 4 projects beyond the outer end of sleeve 3 and is provided with an actuating knob 6 of non-conducting material. An expansion spring'B is mounted on the rod 4 between the outer spider 4a and the knob 6, and in normal, expanded condition forces the rod 4 outwardly to and maintains the rod in inactive non-puncturing position, as determined by a stop pin 5a carried by rod 4 between spiders 4a, which pin engages the inner side of the outer spider with the rod in normal inactive position. The rod 4 is slidable inwardly to puncturing position by pressure applied to knob 6 to overcome'the force exerted by spring 5. Y

The carbon dioxide container I of the fire extinguisher of Fig. l, is formed with an internally threaded axial charging and discharging opening la. through the end wall thereof around which sleeve 3 is mounted, which opening is closed by means of an assembly l threaded into opening la, and having an axial discharge passage therethrough opening at its inner end through the orifice lb and increasing in diameter outwardly to discharge through a relatively large diameter opening id at the outer side ofassembly 7 within the extension formed by sleeve 3. The passage 70 is closed by a frangible disc la, removably secured therein by a threaded bushing 1e. lhe frangible disc la is similar to and of a character such as that described in the U. S. patent to Hoif, No. 927,? 98, which patent shows an assembly suitable for connection to the customary filling connections for re-filling containers with carbon dioxide in commercial carbon dioxide plants. I may, however, remove the entire frangible disc assembly i, and recharge the container 5 of the fire extinguisher, by introducing through the container opening la, a suitable charge of a definite weight of crushed or pulverized commercial solid carbon dioxide. After being so charged, the closure as sembly is replaced and tightened, and the solid carbon dioxide will thereafter gradually melt and warm to form a normally filled container of liquid carbon dioxide.

As will be noted in my U. S. Patent No. 1,644,338, an orifice is used to control the rate of flow, and in like manner I provide a sharp edged, outwardly flaring construction in the closure assembly "i, which embodies the discharge orifice lb at the inner end of the outwardly flaring discharge passage 'lc extending axially through the closure assembly 7. Preferably, the orifice 7b of this example, is .100 in diameter.

A siphon tube is indicated in the previous construction in order to insure the discharge of liquid from the cylinder, but which cylinder in the previous construction is normally always vertical. A similar siphon tube may be used in my present construction, but I have discovered that such a tube is not necessary in the extinguisher of the example of my invention illustrated in Fig. l of the accompanying drawings hereof, since, because of its small diameter, the straight path of escape oifered by the design and arrangement of the assembly 1 hereof, as compared with the tortuous passage through a valve body, and because of the possibility of clearing out stoppages, should there be any, by repeated blows on the operating knob'S, a fire extinguisher embodying the present invention is free from any possibility of a stoppage which would render it inoperative. Further, the small diameter of the extinguisher and the fact that the extinguisher is not held vertical, but is moved about in applying it, results in violent boiling and agitation of the liquid in the cylinder, with the result that the greater portion of it is ejected from the cylinder, and is efiective on the fire. With the older design of the prior art referred to hereinbefore, when the siphon tube is omitted, the liquid boils in the cylinder, discharging only gas through the valve, and leaving a mass of useless solid carbon dioxide in the cylinder at the end of the operation. While there may be a residue of useless solid carbon dioxide remaining in the container 4 of an extinguisher of a design of my present invention, I have found that the ineffective portion of the charge remaining in the container I, is so small that the effectiveness of the extinguisher in extinguishing fires is not impaired as a result thereof.

A handle 8 may be provided on a side of the fire extinguisher of the example of Fig. l, or in accordance with one preferred construction and arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the functions of the sleeve 2, the handle 8, and the cylindrical discharge extension formed by sleeve 3, are combined in and formed by one continuous sleeve. In this arrangement, referring to Fig. 2, the cylinder may slide loosely into position held by any suitable. positioning means such as rivets 3a and the removable retaining pin 3b-across the end of sleeve portion 2. This makes it possible to slide the entire cylinder or container I, out of the assembly for refilling, or replacement with another cylinder. Further, the cylinder or container I thus becomes a mere filler, which may be returned to the manufacturer for refilling without disturbing the balance of the apparatus. In Fig. 2, I have also illustrated the application of a sharpedged nozzle N having the discharge orifice 1b therein, as taught in the prior art by the U. S. Patent No. 726,214 to Camus.

It will be at once apparent that the design and construction of fire extinguisher of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 hereof, offers advantages from the standpoint of appearance and maintenance. It has no loose or projecting parts to remove or tamper with. It is not .a dirt-catcher. It can be conveniently mounted in corners. It does not project from walls more than 3 to 4 inches, taking a minimum of valuable clearance space in aisles or passageways. Its simple, unobstructed shape makes it easy to clean, and easy to repaint.

In operation, the extinguisher is taken in one hand as one would grasp a fusee or Roman candle, or in both as one would grasp a poker or shovel handle. The projecting knob 6 is struck sharply against a wall or other suitable surface until carbon dioxide snow and gas discharges from the cylinder extension formed by sleeve 3. It is then pointed at the fire, preferably working upward from the base of the flame. Its lightness, and easy maneuverability make it possible to approach the fire and use the discharge with great effectiveness, and in fact in some cases the entire extinguisher may be easily thrown bodily into the flame, or tossed into burning containers of fluids.

In Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, I have shown a method of hanging such extinguishers in pairs. In this arrangement a hanger or bracket I is provided, which carries a balance beam H, supported on a horizontal surface I2 of definite width. This beam H is held and restricted by a loose pin 14, or equivalent restraining means, which will permit limited tipping of the beam II, but will not permit the beam, or the extinguishers suspended from it, to fall from the support. The beam H is provided with two notches Ila from which the extinguishers can be readily removed, and permitting enough freedom of movement so that the beam 1 I may function as a balance.

It will be obvious that if the supporting surface l2 were to be made a knife edge, the'device would be an ordinary balance or scale, and if either extinguisher should be any heavier than its twin, the beam would immediately respond by tipping as far as the loose pin 14 permits. However, when the horizontal surface I2 is used, this is no longer true, since the fulcrum is nolonger in the center, but is represented by the edge of the horizontal surface. Thus, for illustration only, let the Weight of each extinguisher be 20 pounds, the horizontal surface 12 being /2 inch wide, and the effective length of the beam I! being 3%, inches. In this case the beam H will not tip until one extinguisher is approximately 2 pounds lighter than the other. Thus in such an assembly, if either extinguisher has leaked out part of its contents, or been used on a fire, that fact will be immediately apparent without the necessity of removing the extinguisher for inspection or weighing. Periodic inspection and weighing is still desirable, since this device gives no indication if both extinguishers are emptied at the same time, but it 6 will infallibly indicate the discharge of one cylinder, or any condition of unequal leakage. It thus reduces the necessary attention for maintenance to an absolute minimum.

Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, illustrate two other arrangements by which the frangible disc may be punctured. In Fig. 4 is shown a pull ring arrangement, in which the threaded end of the assembly 7 screws into the opening la in the end of container I, against a gasketed seat l5, as in the preceding types of Figs. 1 and 2. The threaded bushing le holds a frangible disc 16 against the seat H, while the orifice restriction 1b is machined into the threaded end of assembly I, as in preceding examples. A hole is drilled through the frangible disc l6, however, and a wire [8, preferably of bronze, is threaded through it, and through a conical cutting nib I9, this part of the assembly being sweated or soldered to prevent gas leakage. The bronze wire I8 is attached to a thumb ring 20, anditwill be obvious that a violent pull on the ring 20 will tear out a patch of the disc 16 and release the contents of the carbon dioxide container l of the fire extinguisher.

If desired, an additional link (not shown) may be attached to the wire [8 sufficiently strong to suspend the weight of the extinguisher. The entire extinguisher may then be hung on a wall by the ring 20, without exerting any strain on the disc l6, but on pulling down with sufficient force to break the suspension link, th disc will at the same time be fractured.

Another and generally preferable form is shown in Fig. 5 in which form the closure assembly 5, is made larger, however, to increase the size of the frangible disc It, and to leave room in the body of the assembly 1 for the threaded filler piece 2| carrying a sharp-edged orifice 22, preferably patterned after my United States Patent 1,644,338. In place of a wire and cone as in the arrangement of Fig. 4, a round-head machine screw 23 with a knurled nut, is firmly mounted on and soldered to the frangible disc, in such a Way that the rod 4' carrying operating handle 24 may be threaded directly onto the screw, forming a sturdy and workmanlike operating mechanism, operated by pulling handle 24. Spiders 6a, similar to those disclosed in and described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 are secured in sleeve 3, for slidably receiving rod 4'. These spiders may be formed of a Bakelite core and radiating spokes.

I may vary the exact shape or form of parts, as for example, the discharge sleeve and air entrainment shield 3, of Fig. 1, may be of conical rather than cylindrical shape. I may vary proportions somewhat from the example given in order to vary the time of discharge, and other factors and conditions, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. In place of a compression piercing pin, I may use a wire soldered or attached to the disc in such a way that the disc is ruptured by pulling it out instead of pushing it in. I

In the preferred forms, the fire extinguisher, in order to carry out the principle of my present invention, by which it may be readily grasped in the hand of an operator for ease or manipulation and efiiciency of maneuvering in use, will have an external diameter for the body of the fire extinguisher, that is sleeve 23, or of the portion thereof to form the handle, of not to exceed approximately three and one-half (3%) inches, and a length of not to exceed approximately (5) feet.

It is also evident that various other changes, modifications, variations, substitutions and .additions may be resorted to without departing from the broad scope vof my invention, and hence I do not desire to limit my invention in all :respects to the exact and specific disclosures of the examples of my invention disclosed herein.

What I claim is:

1. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher embodying a substantially cylindrical, elongated body havingoneend thereof open, said body providing a container for carbon dioxide therewithinhaving a discharge opening in one end thereof spaced a distance inwardly from the adjacent open end of the body, said body being of an external diameter not over approximately three and one-half (3 /2) inches and being of a len th not to exceed approximately sixty .(60), inches, a valveless puncturable disk closure for the discharge opening of said carbon dioxide container, means fo rupturing said disk closure for discharge of carbon dioxide from said container into said body, and the portion of said body from said container to the open end of the body formingan air entrainment shield for passage of carbon dioxide therethrough and discharge therefrom through the open end of the body.

2. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher embodying an elongated tubular body having oneend thereof open, said body including a container for carbon dioxide therewithinhaving a discharge opening in the end thereof adjacent the open end of the body, the end of said container having the discharge opening being located within the body spaced a.,distance inwardly from the body open end, said body being of an external diameterof not over approximately three and one-half (3 /2) inches, a frangible disk closing the discharge opening of said container, a member mounted within said body for rupturing said disk, means for normally maintaining said member in inactiveposition out of contact with said disk, and theisaid memberadapted to be moved from normal, inactive position to position engaged with and rupturing said disk.

3. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher comprising a body providing a carbon dioxide container having a discharge opening therefrom, said body being of an external diameter such that the body can be securely grasped in one hand of an-operator, a tubular air entrainment shield mounted in fixed relation to said carbon dioxide container and discharge opening therefrom, said shield being mounted in substantially axial alinement with and in longitudinal extension of said container from and around said discharge opening for discharge of carbon dioxide therethrough from said container discharge opening, a frangible disk closing the discharge opening of said container, and a mechanism located and mounted within said shield for operation to fracture said disk for discharge of carbon dioxide from said container and outwardly through said shield.

4. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisherhaving a body comprising, in combination, a container for carbon dioxide having a discharge opening from one end thereof, a tubular air entrainment shield mounted in fixed co-axial relation to and in substantiallongitudinal extension of said container, said shield at its inner end surrounding the discharge opening of said container and at its outer end providing a substantially um'estricted, large diameter discharge opening therefrom, said body so constituted being formed ,of such external diameteras to be capable of being securely grasped in one hand of an operator, a valveless puncturable disk closing the discharge opening from said container, a puncturing member mounted inandextending axially throughsaid shield, and said puncturing member being mounted for axial movement and being adapted to be forced through said frangible disk to rupture the same andiopen saidcontainerdischarge into said shield and .to .be returned to normal position removed from the disk and unobstructing said .discharge opening.

5. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher having a bodycomprising, in combination, a container for carbon dioxide, a tubular air entrainment shield mounted in fixed co-axial relation to and extending in substantial longitudinal extension of said containerfrom oneend thereof, said body so constituted having an external diameter such that the .body can be securely grasped in one hand, said container having an opening in the end thereof at :said=shield, a closure assembly in said opening including a restricted discharge orifice for controlling'the rate of discharge from said container into said entrainment shield, said entraimnent shield formed .to provide a straight, non-:tortuous outlet passage therethrough from said container-dischargeorifice to the outer discharge end of saidshield, said passage being coaxial with said-oontainerand shield, a gasketed puncturable disk for normally closing the discharge-orifice fromsaid container toretain the charge of-carbon-dioxide in the container, said disk adapted to be punctured for opening the orifice for-discharge from the container, a puncture pin mounted disposed axially through said shield foraxial movement toward and from puncturing engagement with said disk, yielding means normally maintaining saidpin in position out of engagementwithsaid-disk, and said pin terminating at the outer end of said shield in an electrically non-conducting knob at the exterior of the-shield for engagement to force said pin inwardly to puncture said disk and discharge the carbon dioxide in the container outwardly through said entrainment shield.

6. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher embodying a body comprising, a container for carbon dioxide, a tubular shell of electrical non-conducting material, said container being mounted in said sheliin co-axial relation therewith, said shell being of materially greater length thanthe length of saidrcontainer and being extended from one end of said container to form a tubular air entrainment shield having a discharge opening therefrom at its outer end, said shield providing a straightnon-tortuous carbon dioxide passage therethroughsubstantially coaxial with said container from an end of said container to the outer end discharge opening of the shield, said shell having an external diameter such that the body of the fire extinguisher can be securely grasped in one hand of anoperator, said container being provided with a discharge opening at the inner end thereof with said shell for discharging carbon dioxide outwardlythrough said shield, a disk closing said container discharge opening, and means mounted and substantially enclosed within said shield foroperationto puncture said disk, said means being accessible for operation at the outer. discharge end of said shield.

7. .A carbondioxide-fire extinguisher embodying a tubular shell of electrical non-conducting material, a container mounted in said shell in c'o-axial relation therein and being of a length materially less than the length of said shell, said shell being extended beyond one end of said container in axial continuation thereof to form an air entrainment shield having a straight non-tortuous carbon dioxide passage therethrough from the container to the outer open discharge end of said shield, said shell being of an external diameter such as to enable the shell to be securely grasped in one hand of an operator, said con tainer having a discharge opening in the inner end thereof within the shell for discharge of carbon dioxide therefrom outwardly through said shield, a, frangible disk closing said container opening, and means for rupturing said disk;

8. In a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher in which substantially all of the parts of the extinguisher are enclosed within a shell, in combination, a tubular shell having an external diameter such as to enable the extinguisher to be securely grasped in one hand of an operator, a carbon dioxide container provided within said shell in coaxial relation therewith and being of a length less than the length of the shell, said shell extending a distance beyond one end of said container in substantial axial alinement therewith to form an air entrainment shield for passage of carbon dioxide therethrcugh from the container, the outer end of said shield providing a discharge opening, the said container having a discharge opening therein for discharging into the inner end of said shield, a frangible disk closing said container discharge opening, and a member mounted in said shield disposed axially thereof for movement between position engaged with said disk to rupture the disk for discharge of carbon dioxide from the container into said shield and position held out of engagement with said disk.

9. In a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher having substantially all of the parts thereof enclosed within a substantially unitary shell, in combination, a tubular shell having an external diameter of not more than approximately three and onehalf (3 inches, a carbon dioxide container provided within said shell in co-axialrelation therewith and being of a length materially less than the length of said shell, said shell extending a material distance beyond one end of said container in substantial axial alinement therewith to form an air entrainment shield having a substantially straight, non-tortuous passage for unobstructed discharge of carbon dioxide therethrough from the container, the outer end of said shield being open and providing a substantially unrestricted diameter discharge opening from the shield, the carbon dioxide container being provided with a discharge opening in the end thereof at the inner end of said shield, a valveless puncturable disk closing the discharge opening of said container, a puncture pin mounted in and extending axially through said entrainment shield, spring means normally maintaining said pin out of engagement with said disk, and an actuating knob at the outer end of said pin and protruding from said shield for the application of forces thereto to force said pin inwardly against said spring means into puncturing engagement with said disk.

10. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher including a carbon dioxide container having a discharge opening, a removable closure for said opening, and discharge means, said extinguisher embodying a substantially cylindrical shell of an external diameter capable of being grasped in the hand of an operator and manipulated to direct the contents thereof toward a fire, said cylindrical shell enclosing and having mounted therein said carbon dioxide container, removable closure and discharge means, and said cylindrical shell forming an extension providing an air entrainment shield for and through which said discharge means discharges in the operation of said extinguisher.

CHARLES L. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 322,468 Nelson July 21, 1885 344,319 Kip et al June 22, 1886 1,484,005 Boekel Feb. 19, 1924 1,723,530 Schworetzky Aug. 6, 1929 1,879,228 Heigis -1 Sept. 27, 1932 1,968,825 Goodall Aug. '7, 1934 2,016,113 Lambert et a1. Oct. 11, 1935 2,109,966 Breitmann Mar. 1, 1938 2,139,634 Heigis Dec. 6, 1938 2,218,855 Roessner Oct. 22, 1940 2,238,686 Ensminger Apr. 15, 1941 2,242,399 Kurth May 20, 1941

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