US2776717A - Portable fire extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

1957 F. B. ALLEN 2,776,717

PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Sept. 16, 1952 4 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 1 f'mlv/rflflunv -GMMA 773W Jan. 8, 1957 F. B. ALLEN 2,776,717

PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Sept. 16, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORQ FRA NK 5. AL LEN BY PM NW A TTOR/VEY Jan. 8, 1957 F. B. ALLEN 2,776,717

PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Sept. 16, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 L INVENFJR. J FQAA/AB-AL LEN BY EM .4 TT A K F. B. ALLEN PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Jan. 8, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 16, 1952 .Illl llllll.

INVENTOR. FRAN/(fiALLEA/ United States Patent 2,776,717 PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Frank B. Alien, Towaco, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Fyr-Fyter Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 16, 1952, SerialNo. 309,856

4 Claims. (Cl. 169-431) This invention relates to fire extinguishing and particularly to an improved portable extinguisher.

It is important a portable fire extinguisher that it be light in weight so that it may be easily transported to the scene of a fire. However, the construction must be rugged so as to Withstand rough usage as in the event the extinguisher is moved over rough terrain. In prior constructions, particularly of the wheel type, it has been generally customary to provide a casting having integral means therewith for supporting wheels and a handle. In these devices the castings perform the dual purpose of reinforcing the fire extinguishing agent container to withstand its operating pressure as well as to tie together the various structural elements. It has been found in such structures that the weight of the casting has added considerably to the total weight of the extinguisher.

The present invention aims to overcome the difliculties and disadvantages of prior portable extinguishers by providing a light weight structure in which the containers are used as stiffening means for the extinguisher.

The construction in accordance with the invention is advantageous in that the construction of the extinguisher is essentially a welding and iron working type of fabrication rather than the machining of a casting as in the construction of the prior devices.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings which show by way of example an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of a portable fire extinguisher in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the extinguisher shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the extinguisher shown in Figure 1. a

Figure 4 is fragmentary side view showing the clamping means, the containers being shown in dotted outline.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the clamping means.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a portable fire extinguisher 1 in accordance with the invention. The extinguisher comprises a container 2 for fire extinguishing agent, and a cylinder 4 for a pressurizing medium to expel the fire extinguishing agent from the container 2. Clamping means are used to hold the containers together and. to provide a means of attachment for the wheels 5.

At the top of the pressurizing medium cylinder 4 is a shut-off valve 6, a regulator 7, and pressure gauges 8. Extending upwardly from the containers is a handle 9. Attached to the handle '9 is one part of an upper hose support 10, a lower hose support 11 being positioned oppositely thereto.

The tire extinguishing agent container 2 is. generally fabricated from steel or equivalent material to withstand the "pressure which will be applied thereto. A cap 12 at the top thereof is threadedly engaged with the outlet neck of the container for filling purposes.

The pressurizing medium cylinder 4 is generally smaller in diameter than the tire extinguishing agent container 2, and may be charged with'carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or other suitable pressurizing medium, the container necessarily is of strong construction to retain the pressurizing rnenium under high pressure and may be of the conventional type used for storing high pressure gases. The regulator 7 is adapted to be set at a desired pressure to expel the fire extinguishing agent from the container 2. The outlet of the regulator is connected by tubing 14 through a shut-off valve 15 and piping 16 leading into the container 2.

In accordance with the invention the containers are used as the stiffening means for the structure separately illustrated in Figure 5. A pair of clamping rings 20 and 21 made of strap steel or other suitable material is preferably welded together using short spacers 22 and 24. The clamping ring 29 is formed in two parts, the outer sector 25 formed with apertured flanges 26 and 27 adapted to match apertured flanges 29 and 30 of the inner sector 31. The clamping ring 21 is likewise formed of an outer sector 32 and an inner sector 34. The inner sector 34 is made with apertured flanges 35 and 36 adapted to match with apertured flanges 37 and 39 of the outer sector 32. On the outer side of the outer sector 32 is welded or otherwise suitably attached a strut 40 having formed integrally or having welded thereto the hose support 11. Also, attached to the strut 40 is a lower hose clip 41. The clamping rings 20 and 21 are adapted to be secured about the lower portions of the containers 2 and the cylinder 4 by bolt fastenings 42.

About the upper part of the containers 2 and the cylinder 4 are positioned a pair of clamping rings and 51 which may be duplicates of the clamping rings 29 and 21. The clamping rings 50 and 51 are made of strap steel or other suitable material and preferably welded together using short spacers 52 and 54. The clamping ring 50 is formed in two parts, the outer sector 55 formed with apertured flanges 56 and 57 adapted to match apertured flanges 59 and 60 of the inner sector 61. The clamping ring 51 is likewise formed of an outer sector 62 and an inner sector 64. The inner sector 64 is made with apertured flanges 65 and 66 adapted to match with apertured flanges 67 and 63 of the outer sector 62. An upper clip 69 is attached to the outer sector 62. The clamping rings 50 and 51 are adapted to be secured about the containers 2 and the cylinder 4 by bolt fastenings 42.

intermediate the respective clamping rings 26-21 and 59-61 is a third clamping ring 70 formed with an outer sector 71 and an inner sector 72. The outer sector 71 is provided with apertured flanges 74 and 75 and has welded or otherwise secured thereto a foot rest or tread bar 76 formed of a generally U-shaped rod having its ends 77 and 79 attached to the outer sector 71. The inner sector 72 is made with apertured flanges 80 and 81 adapted to match the flanges 74 and 75. The flanges 80 and 81 are somewhat longer than the flanges 74 and 75 as may be seen in Figure 2.

In order to provide supporting means for the wheels 5, axle braces 82 and 84 are attached to the sector 72. The axle brace 82 has its inner end 85 attached to the body of the sector strap 72 by welding or the like, while outer end 86 of the strap 82 is attached to the flange 80. The axle brace 84 has its inner end 87 attached to the body of the sector strip '72 by welding or the like, while outer end 89 of the axle brace 84 is attached to the flange'81. The clamping ring 70 is secured in position about the container 2 by bolt fastening '90. Ends and 89 of the axle braces 82 and 84 are respectively apertured to receive stub axles 91 and 92 which, as may be seen in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and S, are positioned inwardly of the vertical axis of the container 2. The axles are suitably secured in the openings in the strips 86 and against the wall of the sector 72 by welding or other suitable means. The wheels 5 are rotatably secured on the stub axles 91 and 92 by conventional restraining means 94 and 95.

The handle 9 has its lower ends 96 and 97 respectively attached substantially at the inner ends of the axle stubs 91 and 92, likewise, preferably by welding. In addition the handle ends 96 and 97 are attached to the inner sector 61 of the clamping ring 50 as indicated at 98 to provide a rigid construction. The handle 9 is curved in the direction opposite to the position of the tread bar 76 and has a generally U-shaped appearance in the plan view as may be seen in Figure 2. At the upper end of the handle 9 on the lower side thereof is attached the generally U-shaped hose support 10.

The extinguisher 1 may be used to dispense a fluid fire extinguishing agent such as water, or a powder composition fire extinguishing agent. In the event the extinguisher is used to dispense water a syphon tube must he provided within the container 2 for the discharge pipe 99 and the extinguisher is discharged while in the upright position. In the event the container 2 is charged with a powder extinguishing composition, it is preferred that the extinguisher be discharged While in the inverted position and no syphon tube is used. The extinguisher is inverted in order that the pressurizing gas entering through the tubing 15 may agitate and fiuff up the powder to provide a better discharge. The outlet 99 is connected with a discharge hose 100 to a discharge valve 101 having a shut-off nozzle 102 and a discharge nozzle 104. The hose is adapted to be wound over the hose supports 19 and 11 to provide an ordinary assembly without interfering with the regulator mechanism 7 and gauges 8, the end of the hose being received in the clip 69 while the nozzle is received in the clip 41.

In using the extinguisher, the operator presses his foot against the tread rest 76 and simultaneously pulls the handle 9 at its upper end thus rotating the extinguisher about its axles 91 and 92 and lifting the pressurizing container 2 from the supporting surface. The extinguisher may then be readily moved to the scene of a fire. Upon the arrival at the fire, the handle 9 is lowered to the ground, thereby inverting the extinguisher to a position approximately the reverse of that shown in Figure 1, the regulator 7 previously having been set to deliver the desired pressure. Upon reaching the inverted position, the cylinder valve 6 is opened, thereby releasing the pressurizing medium through the tubing and piping 14 and 15 into the container 2 to provide the means for expulsion of the fire extinguishing agent through the discharge pipe 99, the hose 100, the valve 101, and the nozzle 104. Of course, in the event water is used as the fire extinguishing agent, and a syphon tube is provided for the container 2, the discharge is with the extinguisher in the vertical position as shown in Figure 2.

The shut-off valve 15 is normally in the open position and kept open by a locking means 105. The function of valve 15 is to permit a periodical check of the degree of filling of the pressurizing medium container without disturbing the fire extinguishing agent in container 2. This is accomplished by unlocking shut-off valve 15 by withdrawing locking means 105 and closing the shut-off valve. Valve 6 is subsequently opened and the pressure is observed by referring to the gauges 8 to determine that the pressurizing container is adequately charged and that the regulator 7 is accurately set. Following this check, valve 6 is closed tightly. The outlet tubing 14 is then loosened permitting the pressure trapped up to the shut-01f valve 15 to escape. The tubing is then retightened, the shut-off valve 15 reopened, and the locking means 105 reinserted.

- All of the foregoing checking is done in the upright position as illustrated in Figure 1.

While the extinguisher has been described and illustratell) . 4 ed with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments will be resorted to without departing from the invention. For example, while the extinguisher has been described with reference to its use for the dispensing of water or powder fire extinguishing agents, it is obvious that other extinguishing agents might be used, in which event, somewhat difr'erent dispensing mechanism would be incorporated therewith. The basic structure of the extinguisher including the container, the cylinder and supporting means in which the container and the cylinder provide the stiffening means for the extinguisher would remain un changed. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered as illustrative and not as limit ing the scope of the following claims.

5 claim:

1. A portable fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing agent, a cylinder for a pressurizing agent .to expel the fire extinguishing agent, the container of larger diameter than the cylinder, a first pair of lower clamping rings secured together, one lower clamping ring about the lower end of the container and the other lower clamping ring about the lower end of the cylinder, at second pair of upper clamping rings secured together, one upper clamping ring about the upper end of the container and the other upper clamping ring about the upper end of the cylinder, an axle supporting clamping ring about the container and positioned between the upper and lower pairs of clamping rings, the container and the cylinder positioned in line at right angles to the axles, a pair of axles extending from the axle clamping ring and positioned between the vertical axis of the container and the vertical axis of the cylinder, and wheels positioned on the axles, the wheels of a radius greater than the distance from the axle to the lower surface of the container providing surface clearance, the wheels of a radius less than the distance from the axle to the lower surface of the cylinder, whereby in resting position the extinguisher is supported by contact with a surface of the Wheels and the lower end of the cylinder, the inward mounting of the axles and the surface clearance permitting easy swinging of the extinguisher about its axles for movement on its wheels.

2. A portable fire extinguisher comprising a container for a fire extinguishing agent, a cylinder for a pressurizing agent to expel the fire extinguishing agent, the container of larger diameter than the cylinder, a first pair of lower clamping rings secured together, one lower clamping ring about the lower end of the container and the other lower clamping ring about the lower end of the cylinder, a second pair of upper clamping rings secured together, one upper clamping ring about the upper end of the container and the other upper clamping ring about the upper end of the cylinder, an axle supporting clamping ring about the container and positioned between the upper and lower pairs of clamping rings, the container and the cylinder positioned in line at right angles to the axles, a pair of axles extending from the axle clamping ring and positioned between the vertical axis of the container and the vertical axis of the cylinder, a handle extending upwardly from the axle, wheels positioned on the axles, the wheels of a radius greater than the distance from the axle to the lower surface of the container providing surface clcarance, the wheels of a radius less than the distance from the axle to the lower surface of the cylinder, and a foot rest projecting forwardly from the axle clamping ring, whereby in resting position the extinguisher is supported by contact with a surface of the wheels and the lower end of the cylinder, the inward mounting of the axles and the surface clearance permitting easy swinging of the extinguisher about its axles for movement on its wheels by the operator pressing his foot against the foot rest and simultaneously pulling the handle.

3. A portable fire extinguisher comprising a container for fire extinguishing agent, a cylinder for a pressurizing agent to expel the fire extinguishing agent, the container of larger diameter than the cylinder, at least one pair of clamping rings secured together, one clamping ring about the container and the other clamping ring about the cylinder, each clamping ring formed of two sector straps with apertured ends, clamping bolts holding the apertured ends together, a pair of spacers securing the clamping rings together, an axle supporting clamping ring about the container, a pair of axles extending from the axle clamping ring and positioned between the vertical axis of the container and the vertical axis of the cylinder, an axle brace extending from the container clamping ring and bracing the axle, and Wheels positioned on the axles, the wheels of a radius greater than the distance from the axle to the lower surface of the container providing surface clearance, the wheels of a radius less than the distance from the axle to the lower surface of the cylinder, whereby in resting position the extinguisher is supported by contact with a surface of the wheels and the lower end of the cylinder, the inward mounting of the axles and the surface clearance permitting easy swinging of the extinguisher about its axles for movement on its wheels.

4. A portable fire extinguisher comprising a container for fire extinguishing agent, a cylinder for a pressurizing agent to expel the fire extinguishing agent, the container of larger diameter than the cylinder, at least one pair of clamping rings secured together, one clamping ring about the container and the other clamping ring about the cylinder, each clamping ring formed of two sector straps with apertured ends, clamping bolts holding the apertured ends together, a pair of spacers securing the clamping rings together, an axle supporting clamping ring about the container, a pair of axles extending from the axle clamping ring and positioned between the vertical axis of the container and the vertical axis of the cylinder, a handle extending upwardly from the axles, an axle brace extending from the container clamping ring and bracing the axle, and wheels positioned on the axles, the wheels of a radius greater than the distance from the axle to the lower surface of the container providing surface clearance, the wheels of a radius less than the distance from the axle to the lower surface of the cylinder, whereby in resting position the extinguisher is supported by contact with a surface of the wheels and the lower end of the cylinder, the inward mounting of the axles and the surface clearance permitting easy swinging of the extinguisher about its axles for movement on its wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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