Safety device

• US 3,915,236 A
• Filed: 03/22/1974
• Issued: 10/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerhardt C. Stichling
• Original Assignee: Gerhardt C. Stichling
• Inventors: Stichling, Gerhardt C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/453,902
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 169/61,62,65,26,28,42,60,23 200/61.08 222/5
• US Class Current: 169/61
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/605 operating and sounding alarm automatically
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/76 Contact member actuated by melting of fusible material, actuated due to burning of combustible material or due to explosion of explosive material
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 39/006 Opening by severing a conductor

Abstract

A safety device for association particularly with an appliance and operative when a malfunction occurs in the appliance which generates heat and which safety device is effective to release a fire extinguishing material and to break electrical or other supply circuits to the appliance while simultaneously sounding an audible alarm.

Claims

1. A safety device for disposition in an enclosure of equipment including an electrical supply circuit, said device comprising a container of a fire extinguishing material, a seal normally closing said container, means for rupturing said seal to release the fire extinguishing material, means for holding a supply circuit element and fire detecting actuating means operative upon the occurrence of a fire to activate said means for rupturing said seal and to interrupt a supply curcuit element disposed in said holding means, said means for supporting a supply circuit element comprising an electrical conductor holder means and said actuating means comprises an element for breaching said conductor.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for holding said electrical conductor is of insulating material and said actuating means includes a cutting element of insulating material whereby upon severance of the conductor the severed ends thereof are insulated from one another.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fire detecting actuating means comprises a fusible link said link holding said cutter element in a ready position and spring means urging the cutter element in a cutting direction.

4. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 wherein alarm means are associated with said container of fire extinguishing material, said alarm means being operated by the egress of said fire extinguishing material from said container.

5. A safety device for disposition in an enclosure of equipment including an electrical supply circuit, said device comprising a container of a fire extinguishing material, a seal normally closing said container, means for rupturing said seal to release the fire extinguishing material, means for holding a supply circuit element and fire detecting actuating means operative upon the occurrence of a fire to activate said means for rupturing said seal and to interrupt a supply circuit element disposed in said holding means, in which said means for supporting a supply circuit element comprises a pair of electrical terminal elements bridged by a link element and connected to said link element by a fusible material.

6. A safety device for disposition in an enclosure of equipment including an electrical supply circuit, said device comprising a container of a fire extinguishing material, a seal normally closing said container, means for rupturing said seal to release the fire extinguishing material, means for holding a supply circuit element and fire detecting actuating means operative upOn the occurrence of a fire to activate said means for rupturing said seal and to interrupt a supply circuit element disposed in said holding means, wherein said actuating means comprises a fusible link, a firing pin element held in a ready position by said fusible links and said means for rupturing said seal are operated by an explosive device fired by said firing pin.

7. A safety device for disposition in an enclosure of equipment including an electrical supply circuit, said device comprising a container of a fire extinguishing material, a seal normally closing said container, means for rupturing said seal to release the fire extinguishing material, means for holding a supply circuit element and fire detecting actuating means operative upon the occurrence of a fire to activate said means for rupturing said seal and to interrupt a supply circuit element disposed in said holding means, for disposition within an enclosure of equipment including an internal combustion engine and a fuel line supplying said internal combustion engine, said means for interrupting a supply circuit comprising means for crimping said fuel supply line to preclude the passage of fuel therethrough.

8. A safety device comprising a container of fire extinguishing material, a seal closing said container, plunger means having means for rupturing said seal, and including a cutter element, means for holding an electrical conductor in a position to be severed by said cutter element, said plunger means being movable from a ready position to an actuated position and during that movement being effective to rupture said seal and severe an electrical conductor held in said supporting means, drive means for moving said plunger means from the ready position to the actuated position and fire detecting means preventing the actuation of said drive means until the occurrence of a fire.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said fire detecting means comprises a fusible link.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said drive means comprises a spring and said fire detecting means comprises a fusible link operable to hold said spring in a compressed condition.

11. A safety device as claimed in claim 8 wherein alarm means are associated with said container of fire extinguishing material, said means being operated by the egress of said fire extinguishing material from said container.

12. A safety device comprising a container of fire extinguishing material, seal means closing said container, explosively actuated means for rupturing said container, firing pin means for detonating said explosively actuated means, fusible link means holding said firing pin means in a cocked position, an electrical terminal means linked by said fusible link means whereby upon the occurrence of a fire said firing pin is released and the terminal means separated.

13. A safety device as claimed in claim 12 wherein alarm means are associated with said container of fire extinguishing material, said alarm means being operated by the egress of said fire extinguishing material from said container.

14. An electrical appliance comprising an enclosure and an electrical supply circuit, said supply circuit including a power conductor, a safety device disposed within said enclosure and comprising a container of a fire extinguishing material, a seal normally closing said container, means for rupturing said seal to release the fire extinguishing material, means supporting said power conductor and fire detecting actuating means operative upon the occurrence of a fire to activate said means for rupturing said seal and to interrupt said power conductor, said means for rupturing said seal including a cutter element and said means supporting said power conductor supports said conductor to be severed by said cutter means.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said fire detecting actuating means comprises a fusible link.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said fire detecting means comprises a fusible linK, said fusible link bridging terminal elements of said power conductor means.

17. An appliance as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for rupturing said seal comprises an explosive device said safety device having firing pin means held in a cocked position by said fusible link means.