US853253A

US853253A - Means for extinguishing fires in oil-filled receptacles.

Info

Publication number: US853253A
Application number: US19446404A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph D Mershon
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1904-02-20
Filing date: 1904-02-20
Publication date: 1907-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 1924-05-14

Description

PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

R. D. MERSHON. MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN OIL FILLED REGEPTAGLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20,1904.

ms uanms PETERS co. wAsmNcmn, p. c.

proposed for extln UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

RALPH D. MERSHON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PEN N- SYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES IN OIL-FILLED RECEPTACLE S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed February 20, 1904. Serial No. 194,464.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH D. MERsIioN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Extinguishing Fires in Oil-Filled Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

As is well known, certain receptacles permanently filled with oil are very liable to injury or destruction from the ignition of the oil. This is particularly true in the case of devices of .the class known as "oil-cooled electrical apparatus, including transformers, induction coils, condensers, &c., in which the heat developed by the resistance of the con ductors to the passage of the electric current or by short circuits sometimes results in the ignition of the oil. -Fires of this character for reasons well known are difficult to cope with, and although various plans have been 'uishlng them I am not aware that any 0? such plans have been found to be practicable. These considerations have led me to device means by which such fires may be extinguished quickly and easily and which may be operated without serious injury to or destruction of the apparatus.

My improved means will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- 1. represents the casing of an oil-filled receptaclee. g., a transformer or other electrical device. This casing is made substantially liquid-tight to contain a body of oil 2, which in the case supposed is designed either to insulate or to cool the transformercoil 3. The upper part of the case has connected to it in any convenient manner a comparatively small pipe 4, extending some distance away, while to another part of the easing, and preferably at or near the bottom of the same, is connected a second pipe 5 of suitable size, having a valve 6, by means of which the flow of liquid through it may be readily controlled. Through this pipe 5 a liquid is to be admitted to the tank in order which case the pipe 6 is connected to any suitable source of water-supply,preferably under considerable pressure. If for any reason the oil in the receptacle should take fire or is in danger of ignition, the valve 6 is opened and water admitted into the casing. Since the water is heavier than the oil, the later will be rapidly displaced and expelled from-the casing through the pipe 4, leaving the casing filled with water. At the same time fire in any combustible material which may have been used in the construction of the apparatus will be extinguished by the direct application of the water, which. thus performs a useful function in addition to that of expelling the oil.

It will of course be understood that these means may be employed with any apparatus containing oil, and I am therefore not limited to its use with electrical transformers, as

illustrated.

I claim as my invention:

The combination with an oil containlng receptacle, and an electrical apparatus submerged in the oil and subject under the conditions of its operation to the danger of igniting the oil, of a free outlet for the oil above tne normal height thereof, a discharge pipe extending from said outlet to a point beyond the limit of exposure to fire, a waterinlet pipe connected with the lower end of the receptacle, and means whereby water from the inlet pipe may be caused to replace the oil and cause its discharge through the said discharge pipe.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 15th day of February, A. D. 1904.

RALPH D. MERSIION.

Witnesses:

WM. H. CAPEL, D. H. FOLEY.