US3853179A - Apparatus for forming water gel - Google Patents

Apparatus for forming water gel Download PDF

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Publication number
US3853179A
US3853179A US00393080A US39308073A US3853179A US 3853179 A US3853179 A US 3853179A US 00393080 A US00393080 A US 00393080A US 39308073 A US39308073 A US 39308073A US 3853179 A US3853179 A US 3853179A
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United States
Prior art keywords
water
gel
container
channel
mixing channel
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00393080A
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English (en)
Inventor
M Lindgren
H Malm
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Incentive Research and Development AB
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Incentive Research and Development AB
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Publication date
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C5/00—Making of fire-extinguishing materials immediately before use
    • A62C5/002—Apparatus for mixing extinguishants with water
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F25/40—Static mixers
    • B01F25/42—Static mixers in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions
    • B01F25/421—Static mixers in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions by moving the components in a convoluted or labyrinthine path
    • B01F25/422—Static mixers in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions by moving the components in a convoluted or labyrinthine path between stacked plates, e.g. grooved or perforated plates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F25/40—Static mixers
    • B01F25/42—Static mixers in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions
    • B01F25/43—Mixing tubes, e.g. wherein the material is moved in a radial or partly reversed direction
    • B01F25/434—Mixing tubes comprising cylindrical or conical inserts provided with grooves or protrusions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/06—Solidifying liquids

Definitions

  • 30 31 R space by arranging a channel to follow a tortuous course, with an inlet for water and chemical at one end of the channel and further inlets for water at successive locations along the channel.
  • FIGH APPARATUS FOR FORMING WATER GEL The present invention refers to an apparatus for continuous forming of water gel, especially for fire fighting purposes, bymixing water and a liquid gel former.
  • Water gel has proved to be considerably more efficient than water for fire fighting purposes.
  • a gel could be fastened on a surface, e.g. a vertically wall in thick layers, whereas a watershed only gives rise to a very thin waterfilm.
  • a gel layer has a considerably better cooling effect and also a better smothering effect on fire than a waterfilm and furthermore the effect of a gel spraying will be maintained for a much longer time than the effect of a water spraying.
  • a water gel for fire fighting purposes is e.g. described in the Swedish Pat. No. 310,312. This water gel consists of water with an addition of 0.1 percent of an organic gel former which is composed by a surface active polyethylene oxide derivative and a volatile hydrocarbon oil, the mixing ratio being such that the formed water gel has a consistency suitable for fire fightingpurposes.
  • the forming of such a water gel by mixing water and gel former does however involve considerable difficulties, especially if the gel formation should take place continuously at the speed by which the formed water gel is sprayed out at fire fighting.
  • the Swedish Pat. No. 317,875 describes an apparatus for the continuous forming of water gel for fire fighting through continuous mixing of water and gel former.
  • This mixing device is composed by a number of tubes which are connected in series via intermediate mixing or whirling chambers, the first tube in the series being supplied with gel former and water and each of the subsequent tubes being supplied by water and the water gel from the previous tube in the series of tubes.
  • This apparatus does however suffer from the drawback that it has a very complicated design and is thus rather costly to manufacture and will furthermore be very space demanding. It is thus not very suitable for mobile fire extinguishers such as handextinguishers.
  • the Swedish Pat. application Ser. No. 12466/70 describes another apparatus for continuous forming of a water gel by mixing water and a gel former where a long flexible tubing which serves the purpose of transporting the gel from the fire extinguisher to the fire also serves the purpose of being a mixing chamber for the gel and thus at one end is supplied with water and gel former in such proportions that a fully developed gel is obtained close to the opposite end of the tubing.
  • This mixing chamber could however only be used when the water gel is to be transported to the fire via a long flexible tubing, e.g. a conventional fire hose but could not be used in such fire extinguishers, e.g. hand fire extinguishers which are not provided with long flexible tubings but are intended to be brought close to the fire.
  • FIG. 1 shows an axial cross section through a hand fire extinguisher provided with a first embodiment of a gel former according to the invention
  • FIGS. 2-5 show radial cross sections on an enlarged scale through the mixing unit of the fire extinguisher according to FIG. 1, this cross section being cut along the lines Il-II, IIIIII, IV-lV, and V-V respectively of FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 6-8 show axial cross sections through one part of the mixing unit, the cross sections being out along the lines VI-VI, VIIVII and VIII-VIII respectively of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 9 shows the envelop surface of the central cylindrical body of the mixing unit included in the fire extinguisher of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a mixing unit according to the invention which e.g. could be used in the fire extinguisher of FIG. 1;
  • Hg. 11 is a schematic perspective view of another possible embodiment of a mixing unit according to the invention.
  • the fire extinguisher shown in FIG. 1 consists of an external gas proof tank or container 1 which is intended to be filled up with water.
  • the container 1 At its upper end the container 1 is provided with a supply tube 2 the outer end of which is closed by means of a gas tight cover 3.
  • This cover holds a pressure gas container 4 which could be opened from the outside of the cover 3 so as to make the'gas under pressure in the container 4 flow out into the water tank 11 and give rise to an over pressure within the tank, which pressure is sufficient to force the water out from the tank 1 as will be described below.
  • the tank 1 is further provided with a tubular container 5 which contains the liquid gel former.
  • This container 5 is at its upper end by means of a clamp ring 6 attached to a short tubular socket 7 which is welded to a bore in the upper end of the container 1.
  • the gel mixer denoted 8 In the upper end of the gel former container 5 the gel mixer denoted 8 is mounted.
  • the gel mixer essentially consists of a central cylindrical body 9 which is closely surrounded by a tubular socket 10.
  • the cylindrical body 9 has an envelop surface provided with a meandering, or zigzag, groove 11 which in combination with the surrounding socket 10 forms a channel constituting a flow and mixing channel for the water gel.
  • the flow direction through the channel 11 is indicated by the arrows.
  • This flow and mixing channel 11 is at its upstream end provided with two inlet ports 12 and 13.
  • the port 12 is intended to be used for supply of gel former and is via an inner channel 14 (FIG.
  • the body 9 within the body 9 connected to an ascending tube 15 connected to the bottom end of the body 9, the tube 15 running through the gel former container 5 to the bottom of the container, so that the gel former within the container 5 can be forced up through the tube 15 into the mixing channel 11 through the inlet port 12.
  • the other inlet port 13 at the upstream end of the channel 11 is intended for the supply of water and is by means of an internal channel 16 .
  • the body 9 connected to a tube 17 which runs from the body 9 through the complete gel former tank out into the surrounding water tank 1 close to its bottom. As pressure is generated within the tank 1, when the pressure gas container 4 is opened, this pressure could thus force water from the water tank through the tube 17 and through the channel 16 into the body 9 and into the channel 11 through the inlet port 13.
  • the water flowing through the inlet port 13 and the gel former flowing through the inlet port 12 are mixed within the first part of the flow and mixing channel 11 to a water gel having a relatively high concentration of gel former, this water gel being mixed up with more water within the subsequent part of the mixing channel 11.
  • These water inlet ports 18-21 in the mixing channel 11 are connected via inner channels 22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively within the body 9 to a further tube 26 connected to the lower end of the body 9, the tube 26 being arranged concentrically round the tube 17 and running parallel to this tube through the gel former tank to the water tank 1 close to its bottom.
  • the lower ends of the water tubes 17 and 26 are suitably arranged at such distance from each other that the water flows in the separate tubes do not affect each other.
  • the reason for having separate water supplies to the inlet port 13 and the further inlet ports 18-21 is that the big total water flow through the inlet ports 18-21 otherwise will have a tendency to give rise to a sub pressure at the water inlet port 13 which would imply that no water would be supplied into the mixing channel 11 through this inlet port 13 but instead gel former suplied through the inlet port 12 would be drawn out through the port 13.
  • the water gel in the mixing channel 11 will be provided with an increasing amount of water so that at the end of themixing channel ll'a water gel having the desired composition and consistency will be' at hand.
  • the mixing channel 11 is suitably provided with a constriction 27 through which the water gel mixed up in the first part of the channel 11 is drawn by means of the ejector effect from the water flowing through the inlet port 18.
  • a constriction 27 through which the water gel mixed up in the first part of the channel 11 is drawn by means of the ejector effect from the water flowing through the inlet port 18.
  • the mixing channel 11 is provided with an outlet port 28 for the ready made water gel, this outlet port being connected to an outlet tube 30 mounted at the upper end of the body 9 and running through the bore within the lock washer 6, the outlet port 28 being connected to the tube 30 via a channel 29.
  • This output tube 30 could be designed with a suitable spraying mouthpiece for the water gel or as shown in FIG. 1 being designed for connection of a short hose for spraying the water gel.
  • the water is forced to the gel mixer 8 through the tubes 17 and 26 from the water tank 1 by means of the pressure which is obtained within the tank 1 when the pressure gas container 4 is opened.
  • the liquid gel former shall be forced into the gel mixer 8 through the tube 15 by means of pressure. It is thus required that gas pressure is also obtained within the gel former container 5. This is achieved by connecting the upper part of the interior of the water tank 1 through an opening 31 within the tube 7 for the gel former container 5 and a corresponding channel 32 within the gel former container 5 to the space 33 between the lock washer and the upper surface of the body 9 so that the same gas pressure will appear within this space as within the interior of the tank 1.
  • the space 33 is in turn connected to the interior of the gel former container 5 under the body 9 via an" inner channel 34 at the upper end of the body 9, an axial groove 35 within the envelop surface of the body 9 and a channel 36 at the bottom of the body 9.
  • pressure gas from the interior of the tank 1 will thus be supplied to the interior of the gelformer container 5 so that pressure is formed within the gel container which forces the liquid gel former through the tube 15 to the gel mixer 8.
  • a membrane 37 is provided which normally disconnects the channel 34 but is dimensioned in such a way that when opening the pressure gas container 4 it collapses by the pressure obtained in the space 33 and thus making it possible for the gas to flow from the interior of the water tank 1 to the interior of the gel former container.
  • the purpose of the membrane 37 is to prevent gel former from flowing through the connection 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31 to the interior of the water tank in case the fire extinguisher when stored or handled should be turned upside down.
  • the essential feature of the gel mixer according to the invention is that it comprises a long continuous flow and mixing channel which at its upstream end is provided with two inlet ports for water and gel former re-.
  • the downstream end of the mixing channel being provided with an outlet port for the ready water gel.
  • the constructive design of the gel mixer could however be varied to a high degree depending on the intended purpose of the mixer and the preferred manufacturing methods. It is however most suitable that the long continuous stream flow and mixing chamber runs according to a meandering course, a helical shape or some other suitable way so that it will occupy a reasonable space.
  • FIG. 10 shows schematically an example of a second embodiment of a gel mixer according to the invention which could also be used within the hand fire extinguisher shown in FIG. 1.
  • the gel mixer shown in FIG. 10 also comprises a central cylindrical body 38 which is surrounded by a tubular socket 39 which in the drawing is somewhat axially displaced from the body 38.
  • the body 38 is provided with a helical groove 38 in its envelop surface, this groove forming the long continuous flow and mixing chamber for the water gel.
  • the groove 40 is provided with an inlet port 41 for the gel former and another inlet port 42 for. water.
  • the gel former is supplied to the inlet port 41 via a schematically shown supply tube 43 and an internal channel within the body 38.
  • the water inlet port 42 is supplied in a corresponding way via a'schematically shown water supply tube 44 and a channel within the body 38.
  • flow and mixing channel 40 is further provided with a number of water inlet ports 45, 46, and 47 which are supplied with water through internal channels within the body 38 from the water supply tube 44 or another with a constriction 48 immediately after the water inlet port 45.
  • the mixing channel 40 is provided with an outlet port 49 for the water gel, this port being connected to an outlet tube 50.
  • FIG. 11 there is shown schematically a third possible embodiment of a gel mixer according to the invention which also could be used in the hand fire extinguisher shown in FIG. 1.
  • This gel mixer is made by a number of flat discs 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 which in the drawing are shown at a distance from each other but in reality are piled close to one another, and a surrounding socket 57 which in the drawing is shown axially displaced from the discs 5l-56.
  • Each of the discs 51-55 is on one side provided with a meandering groove 58.
  • the ready made water gel is fed from the mixing chamber via a schematically shown outlet port 66 which is connected to the disc 56 which also serves as a cover for the mixer.
  • this mixer according to the invention will function in essentially the same way as the previously described gel mixers. It is further understood that the grooves 58 within the piled discs 51-55 not necessarily have to have a zigzag shape but could instead run along a helical line or in some other suitable way.
  • each of the grooved discs 5155 is replaced by two adjacent discs, one of which is provided with a groove corresponding to the groove 58 whereas the other disc is provided with a through hole for the series connection of the mixing channel.
  • a gel mixer according to the invention also could be used for forming gels of other liquids than water and intended for other purposes than fire fighting. It is further understood that an apparatus according to the invention for the forming of water gel for fire fighting also could be used in other fire fighting instruments than hand fire extinguishers. Thus the apparatus according to the invention could eg be used within a sprinkler system where a gel mixer according to the invention could be mounted in immediate connection of every sprinkler mouthpiece.
  • Apparatus for forming water gel, especially for fire fighting purposes, by continuous mixture of water and a liquid gel former characterized in, that it comprises a mixing chamber provided interiorly with an elongated continuous flow and mixing channel, the upstream end thereof being provided with two inlet ports for water 7 and gel former respectively and along its length is provided at spaced intervals with a number of further inlet ports for water and the downstream end of said channel comprising an outlet for delivery of the ready made water gel, the total length of said channel exceeding the length of said chamber.
  • Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in, that it comprises a cylindrical body the envelope surface of which is provided with a zigzag or helical groove which forms said fiow or mixing channel and which is surrounded by a cylindrical socket, the cylindrical body being provided with internal supply channels for water and gel former running from one end surface of the body to said inlet ports for gel former and water repsectively to the mixing channel.
  • Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in, that the cylindrical body is provided with an internal outlet channel for the water gel running from the opposite end surface of the body to the downstream end of the mixing channel.
  • said mixing channel is provided with first tube meansfor supplying water to the water inlet ports from a water container, and also is provided with second tube means for supplying gel former to the gel former inlet port from a gel former container, and means for supplying gas under pressure to said water container and said gel former container to force water and gel former from the respective containers through said first and second tube means to said mixing channel.
  • Apparatus according to claim 9 characterized in, that a first container for containing said supply of water, a second container for containing said supply of gel former, and a third container for containing said supply of gas under pressure, said second and third containers and said mixing channel being disposed within said first container, and valve means for controlling the supply of said gas.
  • valve means includes a membrane rupturable in response to release of gas under pressure from said third container to admit said gas to the interior of the second chamber.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Accessories For Mixers (AREA)
US00393080A 1972-09-06 1973-08-30 Apparatus for forming water gel Expired - Lifetime US3853179A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE7211513A SE375696B (instruction) 1972-09-06 1972-09-06

Publications (1)

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US3853179A true US3853179A (en) 1974-12-10

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US00393080A Expired - Lifetime US3853179A (en) 1972-09-06 1973-08-30 Apparatus for forming water gel

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US (1) US3853179A (instruction)
JP (1) JPS4967494A (instruction)
FR (1) FR2197633B1 (instruction)
GB (1) GB1448144A (instruction)
SE (1) SE375696B (instruction)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000012178A3 (de) * 1998-08-30 2000-06-29 Hoermann Christina Vorrichtung zum löschen von feuer
US20040129435A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2004-07-08 Parrish Clyde F Flame suppression agent, system and uses

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1128825B (it) * 1980-06-27 1986-06-04 Fiat Ricerche Dispositivo di miscelazione statico atto a miscelare omogeneamente due o piu componenti allo stato liquido o semiliquido

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2988151A (en) * 1957-06-21 1961-06-13 Dion-Biro Guy Foam producing apparatus
US3325056A (en) * 1966-02-23 1967-06-13 Du Pont Apparatus for codispensing a plurality of liquids
US3423073A (en) * 1966-11-14 1969-01-21 T H Arge Co Inc Chemical blender
US3642072A (en) * 1969-10-08 1972-02-15 Factory Mutual Res Corp Fixed tire extinguishing system with additive injection apparatus
US3645337A (en) * 1969-12-29 1972-02-29 Factory Mutual Res Corp Fire control system

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE655876C (de) * 1938-01-25 I G Farbenindustrie Akt Ges Handfeuerloescher zum Erzeugen und Ausspritzen von physikalischem Schaum
US3618901A (en) * 1969-05-26 1971-11-09 Gustav Sindgren Apparatus for producing a water gel

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2988151A (en) * 1957-06-21 1961-06-13 Dion-Biro Guy Foam producing apparatus
US3325056A (en) * 1966-02-23 1967-06-13 Du Pont Apparatus for codispensing a plurality of liquids
US3423073A (en) * 1966-11-14 1969-01-21 T H Arge Co Inc Chemical blender
US3642072A (en) * 1969-10-08 1972-02-15 Factory Mutual Res Corp Fixed tire extinguishing system with additive injection apparatus
US3645337A (en) * 1969-12-29 1972-02-29 Factory Mutual Res Corp Fire control system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000012178A3 (de) * 1998-08-30 2000-06-29 Hoermann Christina Vorrichtung zum löschen von feuer
US20040129435A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2004-07-08 Parrish Clyde F Flame suppression agent, system and uses
US8511396B2 (en) * 2001-05-25 2013-08-20 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Flame suppression agent, system and uses

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2345087B2 (de) 1976-10-28
SE375696B (instruction) 1975-04-28
FR2197633B1 (instruction) 1977-02-25
GB1448144A (en) 1976-09-02
DE2345087A1 (de) 1974-03-28
FR2197633A1 (instruction) 1974-03-29
JPS4967494A (instruction) 1974-06-29

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