Single control for gas actuated fire extinguishers

• US 4,224,994 A
• Filed: 06/21/1979
• Issued: 09/30/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Jewett, James W., Zimmer, Larry J., Tone, Melvin N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverberg, Fred A.
• Application Number:
  US06/050,788
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 169/9, 169/33, 169/62, 169/85, 169/88, 222/4, 222/5, 222/82, 222/83, 222/85, 222/135, 222/136
• US Class Current: 169/9
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 13/70 characterised by means for releasing the pressure gas
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/02 with containers for delivering the extinguishing substance

Abstract

The discharge apparatus is used in conjunction with a fire suppression system and includes a plurality of gas cartridges communicating with one or more fire extinguishing tanks. The discharge apparatus includes a first cylinder-piston device which upon activation punctures a diaphragm of a gas cartridge. Gas released from the first gas cartridge pressurizes a related fire extinguishing tanks to cause extinguishing chemicals to be discharged. A small portion of the gas released from the first gas cartridge is responsible for the activation of a second cylinder-piston device associated with a second gas cartridge to cause the release of gas. The gas released from the second gas cartridge pressurizes a related fire extinguishing tank to cause extinguishing chemical to be discharged.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of gas cartridges, each of said gas cartridges containing a pressure influenced gas and a puncturable diaphragm to permit release of said gas;

(b) a plurality of extinguishing tanks;

(c) a plurality of cylinder-pistons, each of said cylinder-pistons slidably containing a piston having a piston head located in a first chamber of said cylinder-piston and a piston rod fixably mounted to said piston head and extending into a second chamber of said cylinder-piston, each of said cylinder-pistons being fixably mounted to an associated gas cartridge such that slidable movement of said piston can cause said piston rod to puncture said diaphragm of said associated gas cartridge;

(d) first means for actuating said piston of one of said cylinder-pistons to puncture said diaphragm of said associated gas cartridge;

(e) second means to conduct a portion of said released gas from said associated gas cartridge to at least one of said extinguishing tanks, said second means to also connect said cylinder-pistons such that a portion of the gas released by said one of said cylinder-pistons is conducted to another of said cylinder-pistons to be received in a manner to move the piston to rupture its diaphragm to cause its associated gas cartridge to release gas to another extinguishing tank.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means comprises:

(a) a plurality of first conduits, one end of each of said first conduits fixably mounted to and communicating with said second chamber of one of said cylinder-pistons;

(b) a plurality of second conduits, one end of each of said second conduits fixably mounted to and communicating with said first chamber of one of said cylinder-piston such that a pressure influenced gas conducted by said second conduit can enter said first chamber to cause said piston to slidably move to puncture said diaphragm of said affixed gas cartridge;

(c) a plurality of T-joints each having the other end of one of said first and second conduits fixably mounted into a T-joint opening;

(d) a plurality of third conduits, one end of each of said third conduits fixably mounted to the remaining opening of one of said T-joints, the other end of said third conduits being fixably mounted to at least one of said extinguishing tanks.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a plurality of gas cartridges, each of said gas cartridges containing a pressure influenced gas and a puncturable diaphragm to permit release of said gas;

(b) a plurality of extinguishing tanks;

(c) a plurality of cylinder-pistons, each of said cylinder-pistons slidably containing a piston having a piston head located in a first chamber of said cylinder-piston and a piston rod fixably mounted to said piston head and extending into a second chamber of said cylinder-piston, each of said cylinder-pistons being fixably mounted to an associated gas cartridge such that slidable movement of said piston can cause said piston rod to puncture said diaphragm of said associated gas cartridge;

(d) first means for actuating said piston of one of said cylinder-piston to puncture said diaphragm of said associated gas cartridge;

(e) second means for conducting said gas released from said gas cartridge associated with said one cylinder-piston to one extinguishing tank and to another of said cylinder-pistons, such that said gas can cause the piston of another gas cartridge to slidably move to cause the release of gas from said another gas cartridge;

(f) third means for conducting said gas released from said another gas cartridge to another extinguishing tank.