US2924280A

US2924280A - Fire extinguishers

Info

Publication number: US2924280A
Application number: US556720A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip M Carter; Nardoza Daniel
Original assignee: LEEDER Manufacturing CO Inc
Current assignee: LEEDER Manufacturing CO Inc
Priority date: 1955-12-30
Filing date: 1955-12-30
Publication date: 1960-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1977-02-09

Description

Feb. 9, 1960 P. M. CARTER ETAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30. 1955 M W m W m m M 9 7 0 /4 5 v D I 1 w .m Z .0 M M A..-

P. M. CARTER ETAL 2,924,280

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Feb. 9, 1960 Filed Dec. 50. 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR s PH/AL/P M. Capra? Bap/W51. NGPDQ W4 ATTORN EY Feb. 9, 1960 P. M. CARTER ETAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 50 1955 INVEN TORS M 6/7975? United States Patent FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Philip M. Carter, Ossining, N.Y., and Daniel Nardoza, Keyport, N.J., assignors to Leeder Manufacturing Co. 'Inc., Keyport, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1955, Serial No. 556,720

3 Claims. (Cl. 169-31) This invention relates tofire extinguishers and more specifically to the discharging, filling and indicating aspects thereof.

In tank type fire extinguishing apparatus, employing either powder or liquids, where the fire extinguishing medium is held under pressure, that pressure must be maintained for extended periods of time so that it will be present to expel the extinguishing medium instantaneously when needed. Thus, the valves employed must provide a positive and continually eflective seal to hold the pressure in the tank while being capable of instantaneous effective opening. Also, the valves and the actuating and mounting parts therefor must be capable of effective, intermittent operation and for closing, to positively prevent leakage of pressure after each such operation.

Besides containing the valve, various passages for discharge and recharge and for mounting other operating parts, the discharge head must protect all of them against the various possible causes of injury. It must protect them from damage resulting from striking external objects, it must protect the internal parts from the efiects of weather, and from the efliects of corrosive action, or other possible causes of deterioration that would in any way disturb the effective operation of the extinguisher. In addition, the discharge head and the portion of the tank to receive the same must be formed for removal and replacement of the discharge head and for effective sealing between the head and the tank when such replacement is effected.

The discharge head and the instrumentalities carried by it must be formed and related for ready assembly and disassembly should repairs and replacement of parts,'or mere examination of them be necessary. It is also desirable that the discharge head include provision for indicating the pressure in the tank at all times, without having to try out the extinguisher, and it is further desirable for the operating mechanism to include simple means for setting the rate of flow for the particular size tank, and particular extinguishing medium.

Prior art extinguishers have failed to meet these needs in effective manner, though their constructions have involved highly complex and consequently expensive ar, rangements. Moreover, by reason of the complication of prior art discharge heads and the valve and other instrumentalities carried thereby, maintenance and repair presented substantial problems, not the least of these is'the need of special tools and equipment for assembling, disassembling and adjusting the various structures.

The discharge head and related instrumentalities of the invention overcomes the drawbacks of prior art constructions and incorporates a number of advantages over 2 It is self adjusting and it is effective for dry chemicals or liquid materials. The reception of the valve by the head, the provision for actuation of it, the provisions for preventing an unintentional actuation, and the protection.

only provide for fully effective discharge, but also ma-' terially facilitate recharging.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to improve upon the construction and operation of discharging-filling heads for fire extinguishers.

Another object is to provide for such heads and th operating instrumentalities carried by the same which will operate in uniform fool-proof effective manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide operating mechanisms for fire extinguishers characterized by simplicity, ease of assembly and disassembly and depen ability of operation over long periods of time.

Another object is to provide such mechanism which facilitates the filling of the extinguisher and provides effective indication of the condition inside of the extinguisher once it is filled.

Another object is to provide an improved valve for pressure type fire extinguishers adaptable for use with fire extinguishing mediums such as gases, liquids and powder.

Still another object is to provide an improved metering tube adaptable for use with tanks of various sizes and for discharge of the fire extinguishing medium at the desired rate. i

A further object is the provision of a valve operating handle releasably secured to the valve and adapted to function as a tool in the assembly and disassembly of the valve elements.

A still further object resides in the provision of an improved safety lock for fire extinguishers to prevent accidental operation of the extinguisher.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.

In that drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fire extinguisher in accordance with the invention showing the filler attachment applied to the discharge head.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the discharge head as shown in Fig. 1 but with a discharge nozzle replacing the filler attachment.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the discharge head taken on the line 22 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 but with the operating handle in a depressed position to illustrate the opening of the control valve.

, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of the discharge head taken along the line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the valve operating handle and control valve assembly per se to illustrate the manner in which they cooperate in the opera-. tion of the valve and the manner in which the operating handle can be used as a Wrench in disassembling the valve for maintenance and repair.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to Figs. 1-4 thereof, the discharge head is generally denoted by the numeral 10 and is arranged for suitableattachment to a tank 12 in which the fire extinguishing medium is retained under pressure. The term discharge head is used for ready reference todenot'e the Patented Feb. 9, i960 3 housing applied to the top of the extinguisher tank and includes the mechanism contained therein. Besidesthedischarge function, however, the housing and its contained and applied instrumentalities perform other functions such as sealing, facilitating the pressuring of the tank and indicating the pressure within the tank; Thus, the use of the term dischargehead must be considered asbeing for convenience of'reference and not for purposes'oflimitation. l

The discharge head and. particularly the valve of the invention operate effectively with pressures as low and as high as desired. Theremust be a balance of cubic inches of pressure perpound of chemical to be moved. Thus, the higherthe pressure, the more chemical canbe placed in a given size chamber. As examples:

A 5 pound extinguisher, using the-discharge head of the invention, isfilled to roughly two thirds of its; total volume and is properly, pressurized to move the chemical under a pressure of approximately 150 p.s.i. to l90 p.s.i. If 6 or 7 pounds were placed in the same chamber, pressures of 250 p;s.i. to 3 50-p.s;i; mightbe required to properlypressurize the chamber andimove the chemical.

Welded. tanks. oribottles of the type illustrated and: V

utilizing a: powder. asthe extinguishing medium are generally approved for such usewhen the pressures are as. low as 1.70 to, 190 psi. When powder, such as sodium bicarbonate, is employed, the head 10 is removed and each equipped with a nipple 15 for threaded engagement with the bottom end of the discharge head so that a After that, the head 101s, replaced and screwed i single valve may beutilized'for a wide variety of shapes 7 and sizes of tanks. 12 andfor any dmired rate of discharge merely by" providing the. proper sized tube; Though a welded tank type container.- has been shown, itis noted as above indicatedthat the head andvalve of the. invention are effective for use with one-piece. high pressure bottles. Actual tests have shown that thehead and valve of the inventions are adaptable for. effective use with pressures of 350. pounds or even greater..

The discharge head10. and applied instrumentalities in accordance with the invention comprisesix basic elements, namely, the valve housing 16, the valve andstem assembly 17, the operating handle 18, a fixed handle '19., a pressure gauge 20 and the locking device 21. The valve housing. 16.-has an enlarged flange portion 22 from which a tubular part 23 extendsndownwardly. The part 23 has external threads 24 and internal'threads 25. The internal threads '25 receive an externally threaded'adapter 1'5" carrying the discharge tube 13 which extends within the tank 12. ,Tubes of various diameters may be fitted to adapters such as 15 and thus be secured to the discharge head. While it is desirable to maintain a reasonably good seal between the adapter 15 and the tubular extension 23, the normal seal provided by interlocking threads has been found to be most satisfactory, though a gasket may be employed if desired.

The external threads 24 are for engagement with a corresponding threaded opening in the receiving fitting on the top of the tank or bottle 12. A tight seal is made at this position by the use of a pair of 0 rings 26 and 27 carried in suitable recesses 26' and 27' in the tubular part '23 below the flange 22. The 0 ring 26 providesside wall gasketing. Its sliding action on the surface of the mated seat of the tank fitting wipes that surface clean in order to secure a more effective seal. The O ring 27,

. weather or otherwise ,fromleaking into the chamber'38.1

which when in position on the tank is wedged in the recess" 27' beneath the-fiange 22 by a cooperating chambered surface on the tank fitting, provides an end or compression type gasketing. Either one of these gaskets provides an effective seal, while the combination of the two of them provides insurance that, though the fitting carrying them is unscrewedandjreplaced, a sure pressuretight seal will be achieved. More detailed description of this structure and'thegasketing will-appear in a sepa rate application ofthe instant applicants. directed to these features per se.

The outlet passage 28 of the valve. housing is provided with a tapered valve seat 29 to receive and cooperate withthe valve 30 forming-part of the valve assembly 17. The upper end of the seat 29. terminates in a cylindrical section 31 which has an opening 32 extendingout through the side thereof. This opening has an internally threaded mouth 33 for reception of a suitable nozzle34 (Figs. 2

.and 3). The nozzle 34 may be just that, or it may be a coupling for a flexible hose. In the case of powder type extinguishers wherein the powder is loaded intoth'e' tank 12 which isthen closed'by the application: of thehousing 10 thereto, the: mouth 33 isused for the attachment of a gasinjection adapter 35 illustrated in cross section in Fig. 1.

The valve. assembly 17 includes, in addition to the valve head. 30, a valve. stem. 36. extending. upwardly.

through an opening. 37in the. valve housing into an enlarged cylindrical chamber. 38' in the upper end of the housing 16. This chamber has a. pair of

gaskets

39 and 40. seated on the bottomlthereof and snugly embracing the valve stem. 36-. The upper end of the stem 36has a cylindrical valve. operating; member 41 threadably. se-

cured to the upper end thereof. The member 41-.is;pro.-- vided on its exterior with. a rounded operating, surface.

41'. A spring 43 isdisposed between a.fiange.44 on the valve operating member. 4Land. the

gaskets

39 and 40 seated on the base of the chamber 38. The spring 43 secures the: gaskets 39. and .40in. place on their seat whileitsiprincipal.functionis to-urge the valve operating member: 41 upwardly to put andLmaintainthe periphery,

of the valvexhead 30 incontact with the tapered wall.

29 to close'theyvalveo t The flange 44.slides with respect to the side wall of the chamber 38. and the lower portion of the valve operating member 41 is guidedin the. chamber 38 by means of. an annular cap. 45threaded onto the. upper end of the housing 16. The cap is centrally perforated at 45', for the slidablereception. of the shank of the member 41;. Thecap is sealed'to the housing bymeansof a gasket 47 and is, slidably. sealed withrespect to the shank of thevalve operatingmember 41 by means'of an 0 ring; 48 disposed'iira recess formedaround the perforation 45f. ThistO ring servesas a guidetfor 1theshank of the. valveoperating member 41,and also as a seal against thatmernber for preventing moisture, whether from the being operated, and prevent moisture, dust, dirt and other foreign particles from getting into. the valve operating mechanism :or ontothe valve, duringstorage. In this way dependable and efiective valve 1 operation I is assured'even though the valve is notzoperated for extendedperiodsof time. Thepressure within'the tank 12tends to supplement the action ,of.the:sp ring,48,in closingthe valve and thus-insures a more positive seal between the valve head i 30 and thetapered cooperating wall 29-.

Thevalve 30 in the illustrated: embodiment of. them.- ventionis in the a form of 'two abutting cones with a. re.-

silient washer-"or ring 30"disposed about' the: center: With thisstructurethe-resilient material 30 creates the initial seal with the tap eredopening part 29 with the upward motion being limited bycontact of theperiphery ofthe upper cone with the side walls of the taper 29. In theevent the upward motion of the valve 30 in closmg br ngs the rim of the upper conical section in contact with the tapered walls 29 then the resilient material 30' is deformed under the action of the valve and the pressure of the gas in tank 12 to insure a positive and dependable seal. The action of the pressure supplements the action of the spring 43 in keeping the valve closed tight. The details of this valve structure and the advantages achleved by it are more fully set forth in applicants companlon application directed to the valve per se and filed concurrently herewith.

The valve is opened by means of the

handles

18 and 19, the latter being pivotally attached at 49 to a lug 50 formed integrally with the valve housing 16. The handle 19 has a stop portion 19' which comes into engagement with the upper surface 50' of the lug 50 to limit upward movement of the handle to the position shown in Fig. 3. The handle 18 is in the shape of an L with the free end of the short leg 51 pivoted at 52 to a lug 53 formed as an integral part of the housing 16 and onthe side thereof opposite to the lug 50. The longer leg 54 of the handle 18 has an actuating surface 54 which is formed for smooth engagement with the surface 41 of the valve operating member 41 so that when the handle 18 is depressed these surfaces ride smoothly on each other. The valve assembly 17 and the valve head 30 are moved downwardly against the action, of the spring 43 and against the pressure in the tank 12 to open the valve and permit the fire extinguishing medium to pass upwardly and outwardly through the discharge opening 33.

The manner in which the handle 18 and the valve operating member 41 cooperate is shown more clearly in Fig. 6. From this figure it will be observed that the upwardly extending portion 55 of the valve operating member 41 is provided with a section having flattened sides 56 whose vertical extent is somewhat greater than the thickness of the leg 54 of the handle 18. This allows for some play between the handle 18 and the member 41, for reception of the legs of the locking member 21, as will be explained hereinafter. An elongated slot 57 is formed in the leg 54 to receive the portion 55. At the end of the slot 57 away from the leg 51 it enlarges into a circular opening large enough to receive the cylindrical top of the portion 55 so that the latter can be inserted through the handle and then moved towards the short leg 51 with the section having the flattened sides 56 being slidable within the slot 57. In order to shield the upper end 55 of the valve operating member 41 against contact with extraneous objects while the extinguisher is waiting to be used, the handle member 54 is provided with a pair of lugs 59 at either side of the member 55 and which project up above it.

From the relationship between the member 55 and the handle 18 it will be seen that as the handle 18 is depressed to actuate the valve vertically, a sliding action takes place between the surface 41' of the head 55 and the surface 54' of the handle 54. By reason of this action the mechanical advantage increases as the handle lever is depressed since the fulcrum moves to the left as shown in Fig. 4 and enables the operator to hold the valve assembly in the depressed position more easily. As will appear hereinafter, the handle 18, besides being an operating member, is also used as a tool or wrench to facilitate disassembly and assembly of the valve.

Another important feature of the discharge head in the invention resides in the relationship of the pressure gauge or meter 20 to the valve housing 16. This is illustrated in Fig. from which it is seen that the valve housing 16 includes a boss 60 having a threaded opening 61 therein to receive the externally threaded bushing 62 forming part of the gauge 20. The threaded recess 61 is slightly above the normal closed position of the valve head 30 but is in communication with that portion of the conical opening 29 below the valve head 30 through a small orifice or passageway 63. In this way the internal pres'surewithin the cylinder 12 is continuously indicated by the meter 20 whether the valve is in the open or closed position.

In order to prevent the valve from being accidentally A operated by depression of, the handle 54, the safety de-' vice 21 is provided in the form of a clip 64 formed of suitable spring material such as spring steel or Phosphor bronze. The clip 64 is in the shape of a U with the

legs

65 and 66 having portions thereof arcuately formed as indicated at 65' and 66 to engage the cylindrical body part of the valve operating member 41. The free ends 67 and 68 of the clip are bent outwardly to facilitate the insertion of the clip about that body and between the underside of the handle 18 and the top surface of the screw cap 45. The presence of this clip beneath the handle prevents accidental depression of the handle and operation of the valve. The

clip legs

65 and 66 need not hold the handle 18 up tight since the fiat portions 56 on the valve operating member 41 are somewhat longer than the thickness of the handle at its slotted position. This play or lost motion, between the handle 18 and the member 41 is of importance for if there were none the likelihood of unintentional opening or cracking of the valve would be too great. Any movement of the valve, even though quite minute, could cause loss of pressure. Hence, the clip need only be wide enough to raise the handle surface 54' out of contact with the surface 41' of the valve operating member.

Insertion and Withdrawal of the clip 64 is accomplished by grasping an enlarged outwardly extending ring 70 secured to the clip. The clip and ring are preferably protected against loss by being connected to the body of the valve by a chain or other suitable means.

To disassemble the valve and its operating elements the cotter pin 52' (Fig. 2) is removed from the pivot pin 52 and that pin is then withdrawn from the cooperating openings in the handle 18 and lug 53 of the body 16. The handle 18 is then slid along until the opening 58 registers with the portion 55, whereupon the handle can be lifted up and removed. The cap 54 is then unscrewed from the valve body 16. After the cap 45 has been removed, the handle is then reversed and reengaged with the valve operating member 41 with its slot 57 engaging the flats 56. The short leg 51 of the handle 18 ends upwardly, for use in unscrewing the member 41 from the valve stem 36. When this has been done the spring 43 can be lifted out while the valve head 30 and operating stem 36 are dropped down and out of the valve housing 16. The reassembly of the valve in its housing is, of course, accomplished in the reverse manner with the only tool necessary to effect both assembly and disassembly being the handle 18. Pliers or a wrench may, of course, be required to remove or apply the cap 45.

From the above it is apparent that this new and improved discharge head and applied instrumentalities provide a highly effective and dependable mechanism for fire extinguishers. They not only provide a secure and permanent seal against the loss of pressure within the tank 12 but enable quick and easy total, or partial, discharge operation, without resultant leakage of pressure, upon Withdrawal of the clip 64 and depression of the operating lever 18. Because of the simplicity of the mechanism and structure and the utilization of a sealed chamber to house the basic valve operating members, the presence of dust and dirt in the surrounding atmosphere or even corrosive gages for extended periods of time will not affect the ease of operation of the valve. In the event of oxidation of the exposed portion of the valve operating member 41, the leverage provided by the handle 18 to operate the valve is more than sufiicient to overcome any interference. In addition, the pressure within the tank aids in maintaining the valve in closed position and assists the spring 43 in doing so.

Though in the foregoing description and accompanying drawing, specific structure embodying the invention have been: shown. and; described, it is ofzcourseto be under-- stoodthat such showings are for illustrative and not limiting purpose and that alternatives and variations thereof.

as suggest themselves to those skilled in the art could be employed without departing from the spirit andfscope of the. invention. 7 V

Speakingmore generally, since certain changes in carrying out the above method and in the constructions set forth, which embody the invention, may be made with out departingfrom its scope, it is intended that all mat-- ter contained in the above description or shown in the.

a portion formed for engaging said seat in a metal, to

metal linecontact on the upward movement of said valve member with respect to said seat, said valve member carrying a resilient packing element below saidtengaging portion for contacting said seat below said line to line contact, a stem extending upwardly from said valve member, an operating handle pivoted to said discharge head and formed for the operation of said valve by a downward movement thereof, and interengaging means between said valve stem and said handle for translating the movement of said handle to said valve, said interengaging means including means for precluding upwardmovement v 8 of said. handle without. consequent upward movqnent' at saidvalve stemlwhereby when one lifts the fire extixt-vr guislier, includingsaid container,,. by saidrhandle any load, 1

imposed upon, said valve? member willnbe' absorbed through said man; to. metal use; contact; therebyyrpro tecting said packing, element of' said valve. against injury.

2; Fire extinguisher constructio nl as imclanmr and said valve seat and, said valve member havingiconicaIsur-r faces inclinedin the same direction, the incline of. the. cone :of said valve member being greater than thatof said valve seat, said valve memberbeing formedof metal'flmd said' resilient packing element being carried by said .val've member belowthe base of said cone and, extendingout a short distance beyond said base. 1,

3. Fire extinguisher construction as in claim v 1, said interengaging 'means between said valve stem and handle including said handle being recessed for the reception of said valve stem, -said va1ve stem having a portion received in saidrecess and said portionbeing formed with a lat,

erally extending shoulder for engagement withfsaid handle at the side'of-said recess. l

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED" STATES PATENTS 2,530,583 Nurkiewicz Nov. 21, 1950 2,644,313 Griggs: July 7, 1953' 2,649,919 Weaver et a1. Aug. 5, 1953 2,667,225 Allen et a1 Jan. 26, 1954' 2,704,582 Bowman Mar. 22, 1955' 3 2,743,079

Sills Apr. 24,

(the