WO2002056968A1

WO2002056968A1 - Fire extinguisher for train

Info

Publication number: WO2002056968A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jin-Gab Kim; Jae-Ok Song; Jin-Ho Kim
Original assignee: Jin-Gab Kim; Jae-Ok Song; Jin-Ho Kim
Priority date: 2001-01-16
Filing date: 2001-01-16
Publication date: 2002-07-25

Abstract

The object of this invention is to provide a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes. The casing (10) of this fire extinguisher houses a vaporizing tank (13) having an electric heater (16). A sensor unit (17) is provided on the vaporizing tank (13) for controlling the temperature of the heater (16). A fuel pump (18) and a fuel supply tank (19) are provided outside the vaporizing tank (13). A delivery hose (21) extends from the top of the vaporizing tank (13) to the outside of the casing (10), with a spray nozzle and an operating valve (11) mounted to the delivery hose (21). The heater heats fuel, fed from the fuel supply tank to the vaporizing tank, thus turning the fuel into vapor, and the vapor is sprayed from the spray nozzle under a predetemined pressure by an operation of the operating valve.

Description

FIRE EXTINGUISHER FOR TRAIN

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a structure of portable fire extinguishers for training purposes designed to allow users to continuously or repeatedly use the mock fire extinguishers while training how to operate portable fire extinguishers and, more particularly, to a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes, which has the same appearance and is operated on the basis of the same operational theory while accomplishing the same spraying effect as a real portable fire extinguisher, thus being effectively used in a process of training how to operate fire extinguishers for fighting a fire, the portable fire extinguisher for training purposes of this invention being also repeatedly recharged with new fuel and having desired durability, thus being effectively used for a lengthy period of time.

Background Art

For provision against a fire, the Fire Services Act forces the owners of buildings to provide a variety of fire fighting equipments or facilities, such as emergency escape routes, life-saving equipments, walls and ceilings made of noncombustible materials, fire extinguishing equipments, and specified passages and areas for fire engines, in or around their buildings. Particularly, portable fire extinguishers are preferably provided in such buildings as well as houses since the portable fire extinguishers are easily and effectively used in extinguishing fires. In recent years, such portable fire extinguishers are preferably provided in vehicles for provision against a vehicle's fire. Such a wide use of the portable fire extinguishers is effected as follows: That is, in comparison with a wall-recessed hydrant having a coiled fire hose which is typically installed in a casing set in a wall of a building and forces a user to uncoil the fire hose prior to spraying highly pressurized water from a spray nozzle of the hose to extinguish fires, the portable fire extinguishers are more convenient to users when used in extinguishing fires. The portable fire extinguishers are also inexpensive, and easily movable to a desired place.

Therefore, owners of some buildings equipped with wall-recessed hydrants voluntarily purchase portable fire extinguishers and install them at desired places inside the buildings. However, people rarely know how to operate the portable fire extinguishers, and they do not make good use of the portable fire extinguishers in extinguishing fires. The portable fire extinguishers thus regrettably sometimes are useless things at a place where a fire breaks out.

It is thus necessary to instruct people how to operate the portable fire extinguishers, and so programs for giving lessons to students or adults in the use of the portable fire extinguishers are included in the curriculums of schools or adult educational programs of armed forces reserve system or civil defense system in some countries.

However, if real portable fire extinguishers are used in the course of training in a way such that the fire extinguishers are actually operated by people participating in the course, it forces the managers of the course to unnecessarily pay excessive money. Particularly when a portable fire extinguisher, which cannot be recharged with a new extinguishing agent, is actually operated by a person in such a training course, the cost of the course is further increased due to the cost of the expensive portable fire extinguisher. When a real portable fire extinguisher is actually operated, it sprays the extinguishing agent from the spray nozzle of its delivery hose onto a surface to contaminate the surface, thus forcing a user to remove the extinguishing agent from the surface. Therefore, the use of real portable fire extinguishers in the course teaching how to operate portable fire extinguishers is very inconvenient to users, in addition to forcing the users to repeatedly purchase the expensive portable fire extinguishers.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems experienced in the use of real portable fire extinguishers in teaching how to operate fire extinguishers, a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes has been proposed and used. Such a conventional portable fire extinguisher for training purposes has the same operational structure as that of a real portable fire extinguisher, thus being somewhat effectively used in training to manipulate the operating valves of portable fire extinguishers. However, the conventional portable fire extinguisher for training purposes do not actually spray anything from the spray nozzle of the delivery hose even though the operating valve is manipulated, and so it is inferior in its realism and training effect. This reduces the operational effect of the conventional portable fire extinguishers for training purposes. Particularly when the conventional portable fire extinguishers for training purposes are used in teaching young children how to operate the portable fire extinguishers, the children have no interest in operation of the fire extinguishers.

In an effort to overcome the problems of the above-mentioned portable fire extinguisher for training purposes, an air spay-type portable fire extinguisher for training purposes has been proposed. This air spay-type portable fire extinguisher accomplishes desired aural effect, but it is impossible to accomplish realism or visual effect from the actual operation of the fire extinguisher.

Therefore, the air spay-type portable fire extinguisher is not effectively used in training people in the use of portable fire extinguishers.

Therefore, it is required to provide a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes, which has the same appearance and is operated on the basis of the same operational theory while accomplishing the same spraying effect as a real portable fire extinguisher, and which is repeatedly used in the courses of training how to operate fire extinguishers for providing against a fire, while introducing no contaminants to the environment irrespective of repeated actual operation. Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes, which has the same appearance and is operated on the basis of the same operational theory as those of a real portable fire extinguisher, and which heats charged liquid fuel using a heater electrically heated to a predetermined temperature, thus vaporizing the liquid fuel to make vapor, and which sprays the vapor from the spray nozzle of its delivery hose by an operation of an operating valve, thus accomplishing the same spraying effect as expected from the real portable fire extinguisher and enhancing the visual training effect of the fire extinguisher, and which is also repeatedly recharged with new fuel, thus being effectively and repeatedly used for a lengthy period of time, and which sprays harmless vapor from its spray nozzle, and does not contaminate the environment regardless of repeated use. In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes comprising a casing, an operating valve, and a spray nozzle, further comprising: a vaporizing tank concentrically set in the casing, with a spiral groove formed around the inner surface of the sidewall of the vaporizing tank; a heater housing concentrically set in the vaporizing tank; a heater set in the heater housing and electrically operated to generate heat; a sensor unit provided on the outer surface of the sidewall of the vaporizing tank for sensing the temperature of the heater to automatically control the heater to maintain a predetermined temperature, a fuel pump installed on a lower portion of the outer surface of the sidewall of the vaporizing tank; a fuel supply tank connected to the fuel pump and containing fuel fed from an outside fuel source; a transparent window provided on the sidewall of the casing for allowing a user to observe the fuel level inside the fuel supply tank at the outside of the casing; and a delivery hose made of copper and extending from the top wall of the vaporizing tank to the outside of the casing, with the spray nozzle mounted to the outside end of the delivery hose and the operating valve mounted to the delivery hose at a position outside the casing, whereby fuel fed from the fuel supply tank to the vaporizing tank is heated by the heater to be turned into vapor, and the vapor is sprayed from the spray nozzle under a predetermined pressure by an operation of the operating valve.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectioned perspective view of a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the portable fire extinguisher according to the primary embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectioned perspective view of a portable fire extinguisher in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the portable fire extinguisher according to this invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

Fig. 1 is a sectioned perspective view of a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the portable fire extinguisher of Fig. 1. As shown in the drawings, the portable fire extinguisher 1 for training purposes according to the primary embodiment of this invention comprises a casing 10 having the same hollow cylindrical shape and the same color as those of a conventional real portable fire extinguisher. A delivery hose 21, having a spray nozzle at its free end, extends from the top mouth of the casing 10 to a certain length, with an operating valve 11 attached to the top mouth of the casing 10 and allowing a user to operate the fire extinguisher 1. The portable fire extinguisher 1 for training purposes of this invention has the same configuration as that of a conventional real portable fire extinguisher. Of course, it is possible to change the size of the fire extinguisher 1 as desired.

A cylindrical vaporizing tank 13 is concentrically housed in the casing 10 such that the bottom of the tank 13 is fixed to the bottom of the casing 10. A spiral groove having a predetermined pitch is formed around the inner surface of the vaporizing tank 13.

A cylindrical heater housing 14 is concentrically housed in the vaporizing tank 13. The length of the heater housing 14 is equal to that of the vaporizing tank 13. The heater housing 14, fixed in the vaporizing tank 13, must be made of a heat resistant material sufficiently resisting very high temperature heat. A heater 16 is detachably set in the heater housing 14 such that the heater 16 can be changed with a new one when necessary. This heater 16 is connected to a plug 15 through a cord extending from the bottom of the casing 10, and is electrically operated to generate heat.

In order to control the temperature of the heater 16, a temperature sensor unit 17 may be provided on the outer surface of the sidewall of the vaporizing tank 13, as shown in the drawings, for sensing the temperature of the heater 16 and automatically controlling the heater 16 to make the heater generate heat of a predetermined reference temperature. Alternatively, a display unit may be exteriorly provided on the casing 10 for displaying the temperature of the heater 16 and allowing a user to control the temperature of the heater 16 by manipulating a separate temperature control unit.

A fuel pump 18 is installed on a lower portion of the outer surface of the sidewall of the vaporizing tank 13, and forcibly feeds fuel (EG) from a fuel supply tank 19 into the vaporizing tank 13, thus allowing the fuel to be vaporized by the heater 16 inside the vaporizing tank 13 and turned into white vapor. The fuel supply tank 19 is connected to the fuel pump 18 and contains fuel, fed from an outside fuel source, to a predetermined level. In order to allow a user to observe the fuel level inside the fuel supply tank 19 at the outside of the casing 10, a transparent window 20 is provided on the sidewall of the casing 10 at a position aligned with the fuel supply tank 19. It is also necessary to make the fuel supply tank 19 using a transparent material, and preferably form a series of marks on the fuel supply tank for allowing a user to measure the fuel level inside the fuel supply tank 19. A delivery hose 21 extends from the top wall of the vaporizing tank 13 to the outside of the casing 10, with a spray nozzle 12 mounted to the outside end of the delivery hose 21 and an operating valve 11 mounted to the delivery hose 21 at a position outside the casing 10. In an operation of the fire extinguisher 1, fuel is fed from the fuel supply tank 19 to the vaporizing tank 13 and is heated by the heater 16 to be turned into vapor, and the vapor is sprayed from the spray nozzle

12 under a predetermined pressure by an operation of the operating valve 11. The delivery hose 21 is preferably made of pure copper, and so the hose 21 does not turn the vapor into liquid. It is also necessary to make the delivery hose 21 flexible so as to allow a user to bend the hose 21 as desired. In addition, the spray nozzle 12 is tightly fitted over the outside end of the delivery hose 21.

Fig. 3 is a sectioned perspective view of a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes in accordance with the second embodiment of this invention. As shown in the drawing, the portable fire extinguisher according to the second embodiment has an insulating material 22 closely set in the annular gap between the casing 10 and the vaporizing tank 13, thus sealing the gap. The insulating material 22 thus thermally insulates and protects the elements inside the casing 10, such as the delivery hose 21. The appearance of the portable fire extinguisher according to this invention is shown in Fig. 4. When it is desired to actually operate the portable fire extinguisher 1 of this invention in training how to operate fire extinguishers, a predetermined quantity of liquid fuel (EG), which is intrinsically turned into white vapor when heated, must be already fed from the fuel supply tank 19 into the vaporizing tank 13. When a desired quantity of fuel is contained in the vaporizing tank 13, the plug 15 is inserted into a receptacle. The heater 16 is activated to generate heat of a predetermined temperature, and a user manipulates the operating valve 11 of the fire extinguisher 1 in accordance with a predetermined order. The delivery hose 21 is thus opened, and discharges the white vapor from the spray nozzle 12 under a predetermined pressure, thus accomplishing desired realism and visual effect as if a real extinguishing agent was sprayed from the nozzle 12. During such an operation of the fire extinguisher 1, the liquid fuel inside the vaporizing tank 13 is vaporized by heat of the heater 16, dissipated from the sidewall of the heater housing 14. The liquid fuel is thus turned into white vapor, and the vapor flows upward along the spiral groove of the vaporizing tank 13 to reach the upper section inside the tank 13 while being sufficiently pressurized to accomplish a predetermined pressure. When the delivery hose 21 is opened by an operation of the operating valve 11 , the pressurized white vapor flows from the upper section of the vaporizing tank 13 into the delivery hose 21, and sprayed from the spray nozzle 12. In such a case, the discharge of white vapor from the spray nozzle is continued if fuel is continuously fed from the fuel supply tank into the vaporizing tank and the heater heats the fuel. Since it is possible to charge the fuel supply tank with fuel when necessary, the fire extinguisher can be repeatedly used for a lengthy period of time.

The fuel pump 18 is motor-operated, and forcibly feeds fuel from the fuel supply tank to the vaporizing tank 13, thus allowing the tank 13 to continuously produce white vapor. The fuel pump 18 is operated in conjunction with an operation of the operating valve 11.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a portable fire extinguisher for training purposes, which is preferably used in training how to operate fire extinguishers for fighting a fire. The fire extinguisher of this invention has the same appearance and is operated on the basis of the same operational theory as those of a real portable fire extinguisher, and heats liquid fuel using an electric heater, thus vaporizing the liquid fuel to make white vapor.

The white vapor is sprayed from the spray nozzle of a delivery hose in response to an operation of an operating valve, thus accomplishing the same spraying effect as expected from the real portable fire extinguisher and enhancing the visual training effect of the fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher is also repeatedly recharged with new fuel and has a durable structure, thus being effectively and repeatedly used for a lengthy period of time. This fire extinguisher sprays harmless vapor from its spray nozzle, and does not contaminate the environment regardless of repeated use.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A portable fire extinguisher for training purposes comprising a casing, an operating valve, and a spray nozzle, further comprising: a vaporizing tank concentrically set in said casing, with a spiral groove formed around an inner surface of a sidewall of said tank; a heater housing concentrically set in the vaporizing tank; a heater set in the heater housing and electrically operated to generate heat; a sensor unit provided on an outer surface of the sidewall of said vaporizing tank for sensing a temperature of the heater to automatically control the heater to maintain a predetermined temperature, a fuel pump installed on a lower portion of the outer surface of the sidewall of said vaporizing tank; a fuel supply tank connected to said fuel pump and containing fuel fed from an outside fuel source; a transparent window provided on a sidewall of said casing for allowing a user to observe a fuel level inside the fuel supply tank at the outside of said casing; and a delivery hose made of copper and extending from a top wall of said vaporizing tank to the outside of the casing, with the spray nozzle mounted to an outside end of said delivery hose and the operating valve mounted to the delivery hose at a position outside the casing, whereby fuel fed from the fuel supply tank to the vaporizing tank is heated by the heater to be turned into vapor, and the vapor is sprayed from the spray nozzle under a predetermined pressure by an operation of said operating valve.