US858188A - Hand fire-extinguishing apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 858,188. PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907. .A. G. LAURENT. HAND FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1906.

jun/671507" A/ x-zndre Lauren -t Atav-way UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed September 1 N0. 335.718.

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, ALEXANDRE G. LAU- RENT, a subject of Russia, residing at St. Petersburg, Russia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hand Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a hand fire extinguishing apparatus of the kind in which two or more hquids, arranged separately in a common container, are caused to mingle in the case of fire so that they generate gases (carbonic acid) which expel the liquids in a powerful jet.

In the appliances of this kind hitherto employed, when the appliance was utilized, the two or more liquids have been completely mixed one with the other, so that the pressure within the container became relatively high and it was consequently necessary to make the container strong. Further it was also impossible to stop the jet before the apparatus wasemptied, even when its use became no longer necessary, so that the appliance had to be recharged after use on every occasion before it was possible to use it again.

The defects are obviated by means of the present invention, owin to the fact that it sprays foam instead of liquid. The weight of this foam being from 8 to 10 times lighter than water, a jet of foam from 6 to 8 meters high can be roduced with a pressure of but one atmosp ere, and the container may therefore be formed from ordinary tin or galvanized iron by soldering. In addition to this, the mixture of the two or more liquids forming the foam takes place in such a manner that only the quantities required for the formation of a certain quantity of foam are mixed together, and further mixing takes place gradually as this foam is sprayed out.

As a result of this, the operation of the appliance may be caused to cease at any moment, and it may be re-started at any time as long as the apparatus contains any of the liquids. The formation of the foam is produced by adding to one of the liquids (or to both of them) any appropriate viscous foam-forming substance. There are many such substances, but the most advantageous is extract of li uorice root (succus Ziguiritae).

arious forms of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a vertical section through a fire extinguisher embodying the invention. Fi so 2 and 3 are respectively a vertical and a orizontal section of a modified form of the-apparatus, and Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section of a further modification of the apparatus.

The fire extinguisher (Fig. 1) consists of a cylindrical reservoir 1) in which another reservoir a of acid-proof material is placed, its upper art being inclosed by a conical partition 0 so dered to the wall of the reservoir 6. Between the upper edge of the partition and the mouth of the container at there exists a relatively narrow o ening which opens into an upper mixing chamber d in which the two liquids are gradually mixed together and there produce the foam. The mixing chamber dis provided with a sprayin nozzle e and is closed above by a mechanica ly fixed plug h. Any ordinary plug may however be employed for this purpose, as the pressure existing inside the apparatus is not suificiently strong to force the plug out. The apparatus is provided with handles 9.

The container 12 may be charged with a soda solution and the container a with a dilute acid, the quantity of acid em loyed and the quantity of lye contained in t e vessel b (bicarbonate of sodium for example) corresponding one with the other. The viscous, foamroducing substance is' added to one of these iquids, and may consist for example of extract of liquorice root which is added in a quantity from .05 to. 5% of the weight of the li uids contained in the two vessels a and b.

fthe a paratus is to be em loyed for extin guishing urning liquids, suc as petroleum,

oil, naphtha,benzin or the like, a-thin readily-flowing foam containing 0.05% of extract of liquorice root is necessary, while for extinguishing burning wood and other horizontal and vertical services, it is necessary to employ a denser foam, for which up to 5% of extract of liquorice root must be added to the liquids in the vessels.

When 1t is desired to use the apparatus, it is inverted or tilted, so that a portion of the liquid in the vessels a and b flows into the mixing'chamber d. When the two li uids mix, a foam is formed, owing to the li eration of carbonic acid and the presence of the foam-producing substance, the volume of this foam exceeding that of the li uid many times, say from 8 to 10 times. e formation of the foam in the mixing chamber (2 produces the following results owing to the IIO increase of volume and the increase of pressure thereby obtained; in the first place, the

openings of the vessels a and b, so that the liquids can no longer leave them, and in the third place, owing to this internal pressure, the foam is ejected in the form of a jet out of the openedlateral nozzle e. As soon, however, as a portion of the foam has been ejected thro h the aperture 6, the internal pressure in t e chamber d diminishes, the equilibrium between the vessels a, b and d is disturbed so that the liquids in the vessels a and b can again partially leave the vessels, and a fresh formation of foam takes place, and so on in succession. In this manner the two li uids are radually and intermittently poure out of t e vessel-s a and b, and the foam thereby formed is ejected through the nozzles. If the vessel is again placed upright upon its bottom, so that the orifices of the two vessels 0, and b are directed upward, the formation of foam ceases, as the two liquids are no longer able to mingle. If, how ever, the apparatus is again inverted or tilted, it begins to work as vigorously as before, and this action continues as long as any liquid remains in the two vessels. The pressure in the chamber cZ does not exceed one atmosphere when the dlscharge orifice is open. When the discharge orifice is closed or accidentally stopped, the pressure is not higher than two atmospheres; as above stated the apparatus therefore presents no danger of explosion even if made by soldering ordinary tin or galvanized iron.

The modified form of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 differs from that described above, in that the formation of the foam is not produced by completely. inverting the apparatus, but merely by inclining it as far as the horizontal position.

In the form represented in Figs. 4 and 5 the vessel 1) is divided into two compartments by means of a vertical partition Z; one of these compartments serving for the reception of the vessel a containing the acid, while the other is charged with a soda solution.

It will of course be understood that the apparatus'may be modified in many other ways without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1.. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containing separated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and a foam-producing substance which causes the substances to produce a gas-filled foam simultaneously with the evolution of gases.

2. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containing separated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and a foam-producing substance and having-a mixing chamber in which the substances, when mingled, produce a gas-filled foam simultaneously' with the evolution of gases.

3. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containing separated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and a foam-producing substance mixed with one of said fire-extinguishing substances to cause a gas-filled foam to be produced simultaneously with the evolution of gases.

4. A. fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containing separated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and a foam-producing substance mixed with said fire-extinguishing substances to .cause a gasfilled foam to be produced simultaneously with the evolution of gases.

5. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle having a nozzle and a mixing chamber, and containing separated gas-producing fire-extinguishing substances and a foam-producing substance mixed with one of the fire-extinguishing substances to cause a gas-filled foam to be produced simultaneously with the evolution of gases.

6. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containing separated gasproducing fire-extinguishing substances and an extract of licorice root (succus Ziquiritae) which is mixed with one of said substances to produce a gas-filled foam simultaneously with the evolution of gases.

7. A fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle containing a mixing chamber with a nozzle and compartments having narrow discharge openings into the mixing chamber and holding gas-producing fire-extinguishing substances and a foamproducing substance causing the substances to produce a gas-filled foam simultaneously with the evolution of gases.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. ALEXANDRE G. LAURENT.

Witnesses:

J. LODUNES, RUDOLPH LITTUHEN.

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