Fill indicator for fire extinguishing systems

• US 4,384,486 A
• Filed: 03/09/1981
• Issued: 05/24/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Fire Extinguisher Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Fire Extinguisher Corporation
• Inventors: Eckert, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gill, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/241,740
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 73/319, 73/314, 73/321, 73/309
• US Class Current: 73/314
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/46 using magnetically actuated indicating means

Abstract

An improved indicator for fill content of a fire extinguishing system including a pressure vessel having an outlet through which the fire extinguishing material may flow. The indicator includes a non-magnetic, closed housing, mounted on the vessel and having one end within the vessel and the other end exteriorly of the vessel. At least one of the vessel and the housing are sealed to the atmosphere and a visual access opening is provided on the exterior end of the housing to allow one to look into the interior of the housing. A tape is mounted within the housing for movement in a path past the visual access opening and includes indicia along its length. A first magnet is carried by the tape within the housing while a second magnet is mounted for movement on the exterior of the housing and a float is provided to move the second magnet proportional to the level of fire extinguishing material therein thereby causing, through magnetic interaction, the first magnet to move the tape so that its indicia may be observed as an indication of the level of fill within the vessel.

Claims

1. A fire extinguishing system including:

a pressure vessel having an outlet through which a fire extinguishing material may flow;

a non-magnetic, closed housing mounted on said vessel and having one end within said vessel and another end exterior of said vessel;

means sealing at least one of said vessel and said housing to the atmosphere surrounding said vessel;

means on said another end providing for visual access to the interior of said housing;

a tape mounted for movement within said housing in a path extending past said visual access providing means, said tape including indicia along its length;

a first magnet carried by said tape within said housing;

a second magnet mounted for movement on the exterior of said having;

a float within said vessel exterior of said housing and connected to said second magnet to move the same along said housing proportional to the level of fire extinguishing material therein, said tape being a continuous loop mounted for movement by two spaced rollers within said housing;

said rollers being mounted on a frame separate from, but located within said housing;

said housing another end comprising a rotatable cap containing said visual access providing means, said frame being secured to said cap for rotation therewith to thereby allow visual access to said tape from any of a plurality of positions about said vessel dependent upon the relative position of said cap.