US2553293A - Fire extinguishing installation - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1951 H. E. BEDFORD 2,553,293

FIRE EXTINGUISHING INSTALLATION Filed Aug. 27, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2'.

FIG.I.

IN VEN TOR.

ATTOfE/VE May 15, 1951 H. E. BEDFORD 2,553,293

FIRE EXTINGUISHING INSTALLATION Filed Aug. 27, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

BY Mad -5 y ATTORNEY y 1951 H. E. BEDFORD 2,553,293

FIRE EXTINGUISHING INSTALLATION Filed Aug. 2'7. 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.5. v 2 I a.

. INVENTOR.

{gm s. 8W

A TZZQRZVET Patented May 15, 19 51 FIRE EXTINGUISHING INSTALLATION Howard Edwin Bedford, Brentford, England, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Pyrene Manufacturing Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application August 27, 1946, Serial N 0. 693,336 In Great Britain September 3, 1945 9 Claims. (Cl. 1694) This invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement for delivering fire extinguishing foam to a tank for the purpose of spreading a blanket of the foam over the surface of the material contained in the tank.

Oil tanks and other containers of highly inflammable material have heretofore been provided with fixed installations for the delivery of fire extinguishing foam upon the outbreak of a fire. These arrangements have been such that the foam delivered to the tank will be spread as a blanket over the surface of the inflammable material to thus exclude the access of air to the material. Installations of this character have usually included a riser or supply pipe extending upwardly along the outside of the tank and connected at its upper end to a spreading or other delivery device extending into the tank. It has been recognized as desirable to test fire extinguishing equipment of this character periodically in order to make certain that it will be in good operating condition when it is required in an emergency. In prior arrangements the testing of the fire extinguishing equipment has almost invariably resulted in the introduction of a quantity of foam into the tank so that the contents is diluted or contaminated to a certain extent.

Frequently it has been found desirable to provide a vapor seal in connection with the device through which the fire extinguishing foam is introduced in order to prevent the escape of vapors or gases from the top of the tank through the foam delivery pipe. In prior arrangements considerable difiiculty has usually been encountered in the replacement of the vapor seals which ordinarily are formed of relatively thin, flexible material, such as cellophane, capable of preventing the escape of the vapors but being at the same time readily broken by the stream of foam delivered under pressure. These vapor seals are usually broken in the course of the periodic tests and their replacement entails a considerable amount of work.

It has been a primary object of the present invention to provide an arrangement in which the foam generating and delivering equipment may be readily tested periodically without the introduction of foam into the tank.

Another object has been to provide equipment of the character indicated which is very simple in construction and which may be expeditiously prepared for testing and then restored to its operative condition after the test has been performed.

A further object of the invention has been to provide an installation for delivering foam to a sealed tank which permits the testing of the foam producing and delivering equipment without breaking the vaporseal. In connection with this phase of the invention it has also been an object to provide simple means, adapted for quick operation, for inspection, introduction or replacement of the vapor sealing means.

Still another object of the invention has been to provide an arrangement of the character indicated which is sturdy and durable and less subject to damage in the course of use and repair than prior installations. Related to this is the further object of so constructing and arranging the foam delivery means that they are accessible for inspection and repair directly from the roof of the tank, thus eliminating the need for extra ladders. It is a feature of the invention in this connection, to provide the high point of the foam delivery system as close as possible to the wall of the tank and just below the level of the roof. As a result, if the roof of the tank becomes displaced and is caused to fall or rest upon the high point of the foam delivery system the leverage through which the force will act upon the connection with the tank wall will be relatively short.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from a detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the same and certain modifications which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a View, partially in elevation and partially in vertical section, showing a portion of the top of a large tank and a portion of the riser with the improved connection therebetween.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same parts taken at right angles to Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2, but with the swivelled hood turned about its axis through Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of connection between the riser and the foam intake member, and

Figures 6 and '7 are similar views showing two further modifications of the connection between the riser and foam intake.

In connection with the present invention a foam intake fitting is mounted on and passes through the side wall of the tank at a point adjacent the top. This fitting is preferably elbow shaped and provided with an upwardly facing, horizontally disposed intake port. port is located adjacent to the upper end of a The intake vertically extending riser through which the fire extinguishing foam is delivered from the foam producer at a distant point. A shiftable hood member serves to connect the upper end of the riser with the intake port of the fitting carried by the tank. In normal operation the foam is directed upwardly through the riser against the underside of the hood and is then deflected downwardly into the intake port and into the tank for distribution over the surface of the oil. The hood, however, is capable of being shifted in whole or in part so as to expose--theintake-port for the replacement of the vapor seal,- if one is provided, and to divert the re' inuway fibrin" intake port. v necting hood may be provided for accomplishing the foregoing purposes.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a portion of the top" of ata"nk' l adapted to retain oil or other inflammable material. A roof II is provided at the top of the tank. Through the side wall an inlet opening 12, for fire extinguishing foam, is provided, as'best shown in Figure 2, and this opening is preferably reinforced by a plate l3 which is riveted or bolted or otherwise secured to the wall of the tank and provided with a central opening aligned with the opening l2. Integral with, or otherwise connected'with, the plate I3 is a small hood 1' extending inwardly into the tank and arranged to direct the foam downwardly within the tank. An extension [5 of: the curved top of the hood serves to deflect the foam toward the wall of the tank and assists in spreading the foam over the surface of the inflammable material in the tank.

A foam inlet fittinglfi has a main conduit portion ll, preferably ,of elbow configuration and rectangular in cross section, and has at its inner end a flange 18 adapted to be riveted, boltedor otherwise secured to, the plate I3. The conduit I I of the fitting I 6 extends outwardly away from the tank and then upwardly to provide a hori zontally disposed intake port which is surrounded by a flange;l9 integral with or otherwise secured to the upper end of the conduit.

A foam delivery riser "26 extends upwardly along the side wall of the tank .an'dis provided at its-upper end with a horizontally disposed flange 2!. It will be understood that any suitable form of foam producingequipment maybe provided for delivering fire-extinguishing foam'to'and through the riser 20. For example, means of the'type disclosed in my Patent'Noi 2,373,009, granted April 3,-1945,'may beprovi'ded for the production of 2 air foam for delivery to and through the riser 20.

A pipe section or sleeve 22, having at its lower end a radially extending flange 23 adapted to 'be bolted or otherwise secured to the flangezl, provides an upward extension of the riser. At'its upper end the section 22 is provided with a laterally extending flange 24. This is at a slight distance below the free upper end of the sleeve. A hood 25, having in its bottom adjacent'one end a circular opening adapted to fit over and snugly receive the upper end of the sleeve 22, isprov'ided with a laterally extending flange 26, which may be bolted or otherwise detachably securedt'o the flange 24. Hood 25, as best shown in Figure 2,

extends laterally at the t'opof the sleeve 22 and is provided with a'downwardlysloping top 21 insure a firm and tight connection between these time the intake port Of'thB' fitting I6 will be 'ex-' h Various arrangements of I the; con

- vertically 'into the atmos here: If desi parts. The underside of the hood 25 is provided with an opening corresponding with the intake port of the fitting I6 and normally aligned with the latter when the hood is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

If desired, a vapor seal formed of cellophane or other flexible, impervious material, capable of preventing-the di'scharge'of vapors from the tank and adapted to be readily broken by the pressure of the foam in the event of a fire, may be provided within the intake port of the fitting 46. For this purpose-"a frame 28 may be welded or otherwise secured to the fitting [6 at a slight dis tance inwardly fromthe face of the flange 19. A vapor sealing member 29 may be extended acrossthisframe iii any suitable way. It may be clamped in place between the parts of a removabljeframe' 3Q adapted to be secured to the frame '28 byscrews 31 or the like. The arrangement is preferably such that the upper ends of the screws 31 are flush with or slightly below the level of the outer face of the flange I9.

Whenever it is desired to replace the vapor sealin member 29 or to test the foam producing equipment, the bolts or other securing means connecting -the hood 2,5 with:theiflanges 19 and 24V are removed and the hood may then be rotated, bymeansof a hand; wheel 32 attached to the hood, about the axis of the riser'to carry the discharge Spout of the hood away from the fitting I6 into the position'indicated. in Figures Sand 4. As bestshown'in Figure 3, any foam delivered upwardly into the-riser will at this time bej discharged, as indicated alt-33 away from. the tank and awayfrom-the fitting "[6. At the-same posed for inspection or replacement of the vapor seal. a

-In lieuof swiveling thehood 25 about the upper end of the sleeve 22 ,the"hood"may,"if desired; be

mounted; for sliding-movement as shown in Figure 5. A track or guideway '34 may be pro- Vided in association withthe flanges l9 and 24 and the' hood 25a maybe shifted either to one" side or the other alongthis' track or guidew'ay its vapor seal member, if oneis provided. Moreover; when in this position, any foam which may be clelivered'fo'r'testfp'urposesintothe riser will be discharged 'downwardlyat the opposite side of l the riser and will no't-"ententh' tank. If desired, provision may be made for the sliding of the 'hood'only'in' this one direction. Howeven'if it'is made slidable'also in th'e'opposite'direction the upper endo f the riser and the extension sleeve 22 'will'be'exposed for inspection andcl eaning."

In that event, also, th e foam for testing purposes may be discharged upwardly while the intake opening andvap'or seal of the fitting l 6'will be protected by'the hood? In Figure 6 there is shown another modifieation in which'the hood '25Zj'is'h'ingedly m'oiiiited upon the flange 24 of the riser extension '22 by'means Ora" hinge35. With thisty'pe or construction the bolts or "other securing'frneans for retainingthe hood'in normal operative position may be removed and the 'hood' swung about the'hirige into the position indicated ih' bro'k'en lines. At this time the-intake opening .andvapor-seal member will be exposed, as will also theupper of the riser v extension 22. Any-"ream delivered into thelatter for'test purposes 'WiIPtrien simplybe discharged hinge could be provided along one of the longer sides" of the hood and functionin the same.

manner.

A further modified construction is shown in Figure 7'. Here the hood is formed in two sections 36 and 31, which are hinged together at 38. Normally the two sections of the hood will be secured.

of the hood is released and swungu'pwar'd'ly about the hinge 38f. If.c'lesirled,teachsedtionxzould be hingedly secured along a lower edge to the associated supporting flange and the two sections then merely locked together in some suitable way, as by bolts or the like. v

In all of the arrangementsdescribed above the hood-like member and associated parts are preferably disposed close to and-:ju'st below the roof of the tank so that all work on the parts may be carried out from the roof without the use of ladders, cradles or special tools.

While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made in the construction .and arrangement of the various parts without departing from the scope and principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described a tank, means for delivering fire extinguishing foam to said tank, including a riser extending vertically along the side of said tank, said riser having a horizontally disposed laterally extending flange at its upper end, a hood mounted on said flange and having a discharge opening spaced horizontally from the axis of said riser, and an inlet fitting secured to said tank adjacent said riser, said fitting having .an inlet adapted to register with said discharge opening when said hood is in one position and being adapted to deliver foam discharged thereby into the interior of said tank, said hood and riser having interfitting portions arranged to permit turning of said hood about the axis of said riser.

2. In apparatus of the class described a tank, means including a riser extending vertically along the side of said tank for delivering fire extinguishing foam thereto, an inlet fitting secured to said tank adjacent the upper end of said riser but spaced horizontally therefrom, hood means carried at least in part by said riser adapted to connect the upper end of said riser with said inlet fitting for delivering foam to said tank, and means for mounting at least a part of said hood means for movement relative to said riser to a position in which it enables the discharge of said foam in a direction away from said inlet fitting, said mounting means serving to support at least said part of said hood means in its movement into said position and to confine such movement to a predetermined path.

3. In apparatus of the class described a tank, means including a riser extending vertically along the side of said tank for delivering fire extinguishing foam thereto, an inlet fitting secured to said tank adjacent the upper end of said riser, said fitting having an inlet opening spaced horizontally from said riser, means on said fitting for retaining a vapor s'eal across said opening; mov able hood means carried at least'in part by said riser adapted to connect the upper end'of said riser with said inlet fitting for delivering foam to said tank, and-means for mounting at least a part of said hood means for movement relative to said riser to a position in which said foam is caused'ito' be directed away from said inlet fitting, said mounting means serving tosupp'ort at leas't'sai'd part of said hood means its movement into said position and to confine such movement to' a predeterminedpath.

4. In apparatus of the class described a tank,

means including-a'riser extending vertically along the side of said tank for delivering fire extinguishing'foam thereto, an elbow shaped inlet fitting-secured to said tank adjacent the upper end of said riser, said fitting having an inlet passage therethrough provided with a horizontally disposed intake port, means for retaining a Vapor seal member across said intake port, movable hood means normally disposed substantiallyhorizontally to connect the upper end of said riser with said inlet fitting for delivering foam to said tank, said hood means having a horizontally disposed'dis'charge port adapted to register with said intake port but movable out of registry therewith to direct foam delivered through said riser away from said intake port, and means connected with said riser for supporting said hood means during its movements into and out of registry with said intake port and for confining said movements to a predetermined path.

5. In apparatus of the class described a tank, means including a riser extending vertically along the side of said tank for delivering fire extinguishing foam thereto, an inlet fitting secured to said tank adjacent the upper end of said riser, said fitting having an inlet passage therethrough provided with a horizontally disposed intake port, slidable hood means adapted to connect the upper end of said riser with said inlet fitting for delivering foam to said tank, said hood means being slidable to a position to cause discharge of said foam away from said inlet fitting, and means connected with said riser for supporting said hood means and for confining the same to a predetermined path in its sliding movements.

6. In apparatus of the class described a tank, means including a riser extending vertically along the side of said tank for delivering fire extinguishing foam thereto, an inlet fitting secured to said tank adjacent the upper end of said riser, said fitting having an inlet passage therethrough provided with a horizontally disposed intake port, and pivotally mounted hood means adapted to connect the upper end of said riser with said inlet fitting for delivering foam to said tank, said hood means being swingable about its pivot to a position to cause discharge of said foam away from said inlet fitting, the pivot of said hood means serving to confine said hood means to a predetermined path in its movement to said position and to support the same in said position.

'7. In apparatus of the class described a tank, means including a riser extending vertically along the side of said tank for delivering'fire extinguishing foam thereto, an inlet fitting secured to said tank adjacent the upper end of said riser, said fitting having an inlet passage therethrough provided with a horizontally disposed intake port, hood means carried at least in part by said riser and adapted to connect the upper end of said connected with at least a part of said hood means arranged to permit swinging of said part to expose the upper end of said riser and cause the delivery of foam into the atmosphere, said hinge means serving to confine said part of said hood means to a predetermined path in its swinging movement and to support the same when it is swung to expose the upper end of said riser.

8. In apparatus of the ,class described a tank, means including a riser extending vertically along the siderof said tank for delivering fire extinguishing foam thereto, an inlet fitting secured to said tank adjacent the upper end of said riser, said fitting having a horizontally disposed intake port, means for retaining a sealing member on said inlet fitting, a plurality of connected hood sections adapted to provide a passage connecting the upper end of said riser with said inlet fitting, a hinge serving to connect said hood sections,

one of said hood sections being tiltable to expose 20 said riser and fitting having outlet and inlet passages, respectively, along parallel spaced axes, hood means adapted to connect the outlet passage of said riser with the inlet passage of said inlet fitting for delivering foam to said tank, means supporting said hood means and providing a pivot therefor for turning movement thereof about one of said axes, and means on said hood means for turning the same to .a position to cause discharge of said foam away from the inlet passage of said inlet fitting.

HOWARD EDWIN BEDFORD.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 204,887 Connelly June 18,1878 1,559,949 Feldmeier Nov. 3, 1925 1,917,694 Boyd July 11, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 268,285 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1927

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