US752399A - Chemical fire-extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED FEB. 16, 1904.

A. J. KNIGHT. CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLIUATION FILED 0013.12. 1903.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented February 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED J. KNIGHT, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR ,OF ONE- HALF TO JESSE B. THOMAS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHEMICAL FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming ar. of Letters Patent No. 752,399, dated February 16, 1904..

Application filed October 12, 1903.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFREDJ. KNIGHT, acitiZen of the United States, and a resident of Melrose, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Chemical Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings-representing like parts. i

This invention relates to chemical fire-extinguishers, comprising main and auxiliary receivers, the latter within the former andcontaining sulfuric acid or equivalent substance, which when discharged into the water and carbonate of soda or other contents of the main receiver mixes therewith and generates carbonic-acid gas. A portable fireextinguisher of this type is shownv and described in United States Patent No. 537,421, granted to me, and another April 9, 1895.

' It is the usual practice to fill the main receiver or canister, as it is often termed,

' with water and carbonate of soda until the level thereof is as high as possible with relation to the discharge-opening of the auxiliary receiver or acid-receptacle in order to utilize the greatest capacity and power of the apparatus. I WVhensuch an extinguisher is standing ceiver.

upright and at rest on the floor of a room or on a shelf, there is no danger of any accidental mixing of the normally separated acid and alkaline contents, but when the extinguisher is carried about on a moving supportsuch as a wagon, car, boat, or other moving vehicle the motion thereof agitates the contents of the main receiver and the resultant splashing or slopping tends to throw more or less ofthe alkaline liquid upon the discharge-opening of the acid-receptacle. Should any commingling of acid and alkali occur, {and it is practically impossible to prevent it under such circumstances,) gas will be generated in the main re- ;VVhile this gas may pass off through the outlet without material damage, it will be obvious that both the acid and alkaline contents of the extinguisher have been weakened by the chemical combination, and this slight weakening of the charges may continue from Serial a. 176,602. (No model.)

time to time until when the extinguisher is putinto actual use its power may have been substantially dissipated. There is no way to discover this loss of power unless the extinguisher is opened and examined, and after, it has been charged it should not be opened until after its contents have been discharged by use. If the outlet has a shut-off cook, the improper generation of pressure referred to tends to drive some of the alkali into the valve, so that the latter will stick and refuse'to open when it is desired to use the extinguisher. Various fire-department apparatus sueh as engines, protective and hose wagons, laddertrucks, &c.are now commonly equipped with portable extinguishers, and the practice is increasing to provide them for carsand boats. In such equipment in addition to the generation of gas referred to the splashing orslopping of the contents of the canister or main receiver tends to throw small quantities of the liquid-into the outlet, whence the liquid trickles out through the hose and spoils any painted surface with which it contacts.

My present invention has more especial reference to fire-extinguishers of the portable type referred to;- and it has for its main object the production of means for preventing any objectionable results fromv agitation or splashing of the contents of the extinguisher during transportation from place to place.

This and other novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

- Figure 1 is a vertical section, centrally broken out, of a fire-extinguisher embodying one form of my invention, the auxiliary receiver and its closure being shown in elevavation. Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the extinguisher inverted, as it would be when in use. Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification of the means for supporting the auxiliary receiver within the main receiver; and Fig. 4 is an under side view of the diaphragm, to be described.

In the present embodiment of my invention the main receiver or canister A, of suitable shape and construction, is provided with a base A Fig. 1, upon which it rests when not in use in normal upright position, said receiver at its end opposite the base having a fillingopening surrounded by an upturned flange a,

exteriorly threaded to receive a screw-threaded cap C. The cap is provided with an outpending sleeve a forming an annular seat a the diaphragm being higher than the proper level of the liquid contents of the canister A when in normal upright-position. Surrounding the seat a are a number of large holes or perforations a", through which the liquid in the receiver A feeds when the extinguisher is in use, the .small perforations a serving as drainage-outlets, as will be described.

The auxiliary receiver or acid-receptacle D in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown as a bottle, prefer- -ably made of glass and enlarged to, form an annular laterally-projecting shoulder d thev body of the bottle being of suchexternal diameter as will easily pass through the seat a and depending sleeve a. The shoulder a? rests upon the seat, and the auxiliary receiver D is thereby supported by the diaphragm in upright position, the neck dof the said receiver projecting upward beneath the inlet end 0' of the canister-outlet 0.. When the exsuch time. The depending sleeve a easily re tinguisher is not in use, the shoulder d projects over and covers-the feed-apertures a,

the dotted circle in Fig. 4 indicating the outer edge "of the shoulder of the receptacle D at ceives the body of said receptacle andprevents any lateral or tipping movement thereof during transportation of the extinguisher, and the apertures a are also maintained covered or closed. Atubular holder h, shown as pro-- vided with perforations 71. and an internal shoulder it, depends from the cap C,lsecured thereto by being screwed onto an externallythreaded boss 0". I have shown the perforations arranged in two rows, the upper one close to the boss and'the lower row somewhat below the shoulder it for a purpose to be described. The lower end of the holder surrounds the neck of the auxiliary receiver D and extends far enough downward when the v the cap C is in place to prevent the said receiver from jumping up away from the diaphragm a so that movement of the extinguisherfrom place to place cannot dislodge the receiver D, and, as shown in Fig. 2, the

receiver is properly supported bythe holder when the extinguisher is inverted for use.

The discharge-opening for the auxiliary receiver, at the end of the neck thereof, is closed by a stopper or closure 0, having oppositelyextended projections c 0 the latter extending into the neck of the receiver, and an annular chamber 6 is formed in the lower side of the closure, inclosed by a depending lip 6 adapted to fit around the neck, the closure forming a tight joint with the vneck when closed. The

' closure is substantially such as shown in United States Patent No. 598,826 and operates as therein set forth. As shown in Fig. 1, the projection. e of'the closure extends upward part way through a stop, shown as a plate h seated on the seat h of the holder and havinga central opening [2, into which the projection extends. Preferably the stop is concaved on its lower side to conform to the shape of the closure when the extinguisheris in use.- The body of the closure slides freely within the holder-it and is guided thereby in its opening and closing movements.

, From an inspection of Fig. 1 willbe seen .that the inlet-opening c ofthe outlet-of the main receiver is guarded or protectedina twofold manner from entrance of the liquid contents of receiver A'viz., by the diaphragm a and the tubular holder it. If the contents ofthe receiver A are agitated. and thrown about by transportation of the apparatus, the diaphragm first acts to prevent splashing or slopping in any material quantity beyond it, for only very small portionsof the liquid, if any, can be thrown'up through thev perforations at. As to such small portions of liquid which may passup through the diaphragm they are prevented from. entering the inlet by the tubular holder 7L and are broken into drops by contact therewith, and should any drops of the liquid enter the perforations it? their upward impulse is dissipated, and they trickle backto the main body below. the diaphragm. In the same manner the diaphragm andholder guard the discharge-opening of theauxiliary receiver, even should the closure-e jump up or vibrate by reason of the movements of the extinguisher, and consequently the acid and alkaline contents of the two receivers-cannot mix and combine. 1

When the extinguisher is inverted for use, as shown in Fig. 2, the gravity-closure e drops away fromthe neck d of the auxiliary receiver and its opening movement is limited by the stop it, while the receiver D is permitted to drop a less distance against. the end of the holder to remove the shoulder (Z from the diaphragm and to fully open the apertures a for the passage of liquid therethrough to feed to the outlet. The relative positions of the mouth of the neck cl and the chambered side of the closure 6 are then such that the flow of the acid isgradual, charging the solution in the main receiver A evenly throughout substantially the entire operation, as described in Patent No. 598,826.

It will be observed that when the extinguisher is inverted, as in Fig. 2, the solution -in receiver A can pass with all desired speed and in requisite quantity through the apertu'res (4 and central opening a of the diaphragm and into the holder 72. through the perforations h thereof. Thence the gas generated and the water pass through the inlet 0' into and through the outlet 0 to the hose c and are directed therefrom to the desired points.

The means described for preventing objectionable results due to splashing or slopping of the solution in the receiverA is so eflicient that the jarring and shaking incident to rapid travel of steam or electric cars or movement of fire apparatus through the streets has no injurious effect upon the extinguisher described herein. r i

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified supporting device for the acid-receptacle B, which is shown as a bottle of ordinary construction having a neck I) closed by the closure e.- The receiver A, cap 0, holder h, and stop h 'are substantially as hereinbefore described, and 25' the main receiver is provided with a perforated diaphragm a having a central openinga, substantially as described; but the diaphragm is slightly arched. A number of large feed-apertures a? surround the opening at, and smaller drainage-apertures e are made in the diaphragm, as before described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3. A metallic tubular car- 'rier f, having a perforated bottom f, is pro-- vided. with an external annular flange f which rests upon the diaphragm and normally- The main portion of the carrier depends below the latter, while the upper end f of the carrier is shown as extend closes the apertures a ed above and surrounding thelower end of the holder h, and the bottle is inserted in the carrier, the latter in turn being removable from the diaphragm. If any of the solution finds its way over the top of the carrier, it drains down through the perforated bottom f, and

when the extinguisher is inverted the drop of the bottle is limited by the holder it, while the bottom of the bottle prevents displacement of the carrier.

In either of the constructions shown the small apertures of the diaphragm serve to permit the liquid to drain back to the main body if the charge in the extinguisher is not completely discharged, as is sometimes the case.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same maybe modified or rearranged by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire-to secure by Letters Patent, is p l. A portable fire-extinguisher-comprising a main receiver having an'outlet, a filling-opening at one end, and a perforated diaphragm below it,anauxiliary receiver removably supported by said diaphragm, a capto close the filling-opening, provided with a depending tubular and perforated holder to retain the auxiliary receiver in place, a gravity-closure for the latter, movable within and guided by said holder, and a stop to limit the opening movement of the closure.

2. A portable fire-extinguisher comprising a main receiver having an outlet, a filling-opening at one end, and a perforated diaphragm below it, provided with a central opening, an auxiliary receiver removably supported within the opening, a gravity-closure for such receiver, a cap to close the filling-opening, and

means to guide the movements of the closure and also to prevent displacement of the auxiliary receiver when the extmgu1sher1s 1n use.

3. A portable fire-extinguisher comprising a main receiver having a filling-opening at one end and a perforated, centrallyopen diaphragm below it, an auxiliary receiver extended through the opening of and removably supported by the diaphragm, a gravityclosure for the auxiliary receiver, a cap to close the filling-opening, having an outlet and provided with a depending perforated holder to engage the auxiliary receiver and prevent its displacement when the extinguisher is in use, said holder also guiding the closure in its opening and closing movements, and an annular stop within the holder to limit opening on the latter to limit opening movement of the closure;

5. A fireextinguisher comprising a normally upright main receiver having a fillingopening and an outlet, a cap to close said opening, an auxiliary receiver supported within the main receiver, a gravity-closure for the auxiliary receiver, separate means to protect the discharge openingof the latter fronr splashing of the contents of the main receiver when not in use, said means also constituting a support for the auxiliaryreceiver, and a device to limit movement of the same relatively to said means when-the extinguisher is in use.

6. A fire-extinguisher comprising a main receiver, a normally upright acid-receptacle contained therein, a closure for the dischargeopening of said receptacle, separate means to prevent the contents of the main receiver from splashing or being thrown upon the dischargeopening of the acid-receptacle when the extinguisher is not in use, said means also constituting a support for and relatively to which the acid-receptacle is movable, and a device to limit such movement and prevent displacement of said receptacle when the extinguisher is in use.

7 A fireextinguisher comprising a canister having a filling-opening at oneend, and an outlet for the contents of the extinguisher when in use, a perforated diaphragm below the filling-opening, having a central annular seat, an acid-receptacle supported on the seat and having a normally upturned discharge-opening, a gravity-closure therefor, a cap to close the filling-opening, a tubular perforated holder depending from the cap, to cooperate with and limit movement of the acid-receptacle, and also to guide the closure therefor, andan annular stop within the holder to limit opening movement of the said closure.

8. A fire-extinguisher comprising a normally upright canister having an outlet, and a filling-opening at its upper end, a closingcap for the opening, an annular seat in and secured to the canister below the filling-opening, an acid receptacle adapted .to project through the seat and-having an overhanging shoulder to rest thereupon, a depending tubular holder sustained by the cap and adapted to engage the acid receptacle and limit its movement when the extinguisher is inverted for use, and a gravity-closure for the discharge-opening of the acid-receptacle.

9. A fire-extinguisher comprising a normally upright canister having an outlet, and a filling-opening at its upper end, a transverse, perforated diaphragm secured within the canister below said opening and having a central annular seat, and adjacent feed-apertures, an acid-receptacle extending partly through said seat and having an annular shoulder to rest thereupon, and normally close the feed-apertures, a gravity-closure for said receptacle, a,

cap to close the filling-opening, and a holder depending therefrom to engage and limit movement of the acid-receptacle when the extinguisher is in use and also to guide the gravity-closure in its movements.

10. A portable fire-extinguisher comprising a main receiver having an outlet, a fillingopening at one end, a diaphragm below it provided with a central opening and feed-apertures, an auxiliary receiver removably supported within the opening, a gravity-closure for such receiver, a cap to. close the fillingopening, means to normally close the feedapertures, and means to retain the auxiliary receiver in position on the diaphragm and also to guide the movements of the closure.

11. A fire-extinguisher comprising a canister having a filling-opening at one end, a cap to close the same, provided with an outlet for the contents of'the extinguisher, a perforated diaphragm below the filling-opening, having a central annular seat and adjacent feed-apertures,.an acid-receptacle supported on the seat and having a normally upturned dischargeopening, a gravity-closure therefor, a tubular perforated holder depending from the cap, to limit movement of the acid-receptacle when the canister is inverted and also to guide the closure therefor, means to normally close the feed-apertures in the diaphragm, and a stop within the holder to limit opening movement of the closure. Y

, 12. Afire-ex'tinguisher comprising a canister having afilling-opening at one end, a cap to close the same, provided with an out-let for the contents of the extinguisher, a perforated diaphragm below the filling-opening, having a central annular seat and adjacent feed-apertures, an acid-receptacle adapted to project through the'seat and having an overhanging shoulder to rest thereon and close the feed apertures, a depending tubular holder sustained by'the cap-and adapted to limit move ment of the'shoulderfr'om the diaphragm, and a gravity-closure for the discharge-opening of the acid-receptacle, guided in its movement by the holder.

13. A fire-extinguisher comprising a canister having an outlet, and a filling-opening, an annular seat fixedly mounted within the canister below its upper end, an acid-receptacle adapted to-extend-part way through the seat and having an overhanging portion to rest thereupon, a gravity-closure for the-dischargeopening of the acid-receptacle, and means to guide the opening and closing movement of said closure, and also prevent displacement of the acid-receptacle when the extinguisher is inverted for use.

14. In a fire-extinguisher, a normally upright canister having an outlet, an annular seat fixedly mounted within the main body portion of the canister below its upper end, a removable acid-receptacle having an overhanging portion to rest upon the seat, the body portion of said receptacle entering and depending below the seat, andmeans-to engage the enlarged and overhanging portion of and prevent displacement of the acid-receptacle when the extinguisher is inverted for use.

, 15. In a'fire-extinguisher, a normally upright canister having an outlet, a cap to close the upper end of the canister, a centrally-open diaphragm secured within the main body portion of the canister below its upper end and having a series of feed-apertures arranged adjacent to its central opening, a removable acidreceptacle to extend part way through the central opening'and having an annular overhanging shoulder to rest upon the diaphragm and close the feed-apertures, a gravity-clo- Ice sure forthe discharge-opening of the acid-re In testimony whereofIhave signed my name ceptacle, and means connected with the cap to this specification in the presence of two suband depending therefrom to limit movement scribing witnesses.

of the acid-receptacle relative to the dia- ALFRED J. KNIGHT. 5 phragm when the extinguisher is inverted, Witnesses: 1

such movement of the acid-receptacle causing GEO. W. GREGORY,

the shoulder to uncover the feed-apertures. EDITH M. STODDARD.

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