Fire extinguisher and liquid dispensing apparatus

• US 4,505,336 A
• Filed: 02/28/1983
• Issued: 03/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH D-7238 Oberndorf/Neckar Gerany
• Original Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Inventors: Thevis, Paul, Moller, Tilo
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US06/470,705
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 169/9, 169/76, 169/72, 169/73, 169/71, 169/78, 169/26, 169/27, 169/85, 169/88, 169/86, 169/30, 239/526, 239/583, 239/590.5, 222/389, 222/135, 222/129, 222/386, 222/80, 222/81
• US Class Current: 169/85
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 13/68 characterised by means for releasing the extinguishing material
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 13/70 characterised by means for releasing the pressure gas

Abstract

The invention relates to a fire extinguisher comprising a low-pressure tank (1) for the fire-inhibiting liquid (40) and a high-pressure tank (23) for spray propellant gas, situated in the low-pressure tank, where upon opening the high-pressure tank, the propellant expels the fire-inhibiting liquid, which is discharged through a nozzle (44). In order to permit fighting fires effectively from a greater distance than hitherto, in this fire extinguisher a pressure regulating valve (13) is arranged between the outlet of the spray propellant gas container (23) and the liquid reservoir of the low-pressure tank (1), which valve maintains the pressure of the propellant gas prevailing in the low-pressure tank after triggering and expelling fire-inhibiting liquid (40) through nozzle (44) at a preset level.

Claims

1. A fire extinguisher comprising a first tank for storage of a fire inhibiting liquid under low pressure and having an outlet for dispensing the same, a cylindrical housing supported within said first tank, a second tank for storage of a propellant gas under high pressure, said second tank being located within said first tank and being provided with a pressure reducing valve having an outlet for discharging said propellant gas into said first tank to maintain the low pressure therein, said second tank and said reducing valve being aligned axially and located in said cylindrical housing, a means for storing a parent solution for foaming said fire-inhibiting liquid, said storing means being located within said first tank and having one end communicating with the discharge of said reducing valve and having means for expelling said parent solution from said cylindrical housing on discharge of said propellant gas into said first tank.

2. The fire extinguisher according to claim 1 wherein the storage means for said parent solution comprising a cylinder having one end communicating with the discharge from said reducing valve, said one end comprising a first piston movable by the reduced pressure of the propellant gas to expel said parent solution.

3. The fire extinguisher according to claim 2 wherein the cylinder is provided with at least one orifice in its wall, and the other end of said cylinder comprises a second piston, normally positioned to occlude passage of said parent solution through said orifice, said second piston being slidable on movement of said first piston to permit passage of said parent solution through said orifice.

4. The extinguiser according to claim 3 wherein said cylindrical storage means is axially aligned with said cylindrical housing and integrally connected to it.

5. The fire extinguisher according to claim 4 wherein said cylindrical housing is threadably attached into the wall of said first tank.

6. The fire extinguisher according to claim 4 wherein the outlet of said second tank is normally closed by a frangible sealing nipple interposed adjacent said reducing valve said reducing valve being slidably mounted within said cylindrial housing and accessible from the exterior of said extinguisher, said reducing valve being movable to break said sealing nipple.

7. The fire extinguisher according to claim 3 including a nozzle adapted to be attached to the outlet of said first tank.

8. The fire extinguisher according to claim 7 wherein said nozzle includes vanes for straightening the flow of liquid issued therefrom.

9. The fire extinguisher according to claim 7 wherein said nozzle comprises a manually held body in the form of a pistol having a hollow barrel and a first hand grip, an outlet at the forward end of said barrel and means at the rear end of said barrel for connecting a conduit thereto, a needle valve located in said barrel and actuating means including a trigger lever operable in conjunction with said hand grip for selectively operating said needle valve to permit flow of liquid through said barrel, and vanes extending substantially the length of said barrel for straightening the flow of liquid thereto.

10. The nozzle according to claim 9 including a second hand grip, substantially parallel to said first hand grip, extending from said barrel forward of said first hand grip.

11. Apparatus for liquid spraying comprising a first tank for storage of a first liquid under low pressure and having an outlet for dispensing the same, a cylindrical housing supported within said first tank, a second tank for storage of a propellant gas under high pressure, said second tank being located within said first tank and being provided with a pressure reducing valve having an oulet for discharging said propellant gas into said first tank to maintain the low pressure therein, said second tank and said reducing valve being aligned axially and located in said cylindrical housing, means for storing a second liquid for mixture with said first liquid, said storing means being located within said first tank and having one end communicating with the discharge of said reducing valve and having means for expelling said second liquid from said cylindrical housing on discharge of said propellant gas into said first tank.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the storage means for said second liquid comprises a cylinder having one end communicating with the discharge from said reducing valve, said one end comprising a first piston movable by the reduced pressure of the propellant gas to expel said second liquid.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the cylindrical storage means is provided with at least one orifice in its wall, and the other end of said cylindrical storage means comprises a second piston, normally positioned to occlude passage of said second liquid through said orifice, said second piston being slidable on movement of said first piston to permit passage of said second liquid through said orifice.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said cylindrical storage means is axially aligned with said cylindrical housing and integrally connected to it.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said cylindrical housing is threadably attached into the wall of said first tank.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the outlet of said second tank is normally closed by a frangible sealing nipple interposed adjacent said reducing valve said reducing valve being slidably mounted within said cylindrical housing and accessible from the exterior of said extinguisher, said reducing valve being movable to break said sealing nipple.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 including a nozzle adapted to be attached to the outlet of said first tank.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said nozzle includes vanes for straightening the flow of liquid issued therefrom.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said nozzle includes a manually held body in the form of a pistol having a hollow barrel and a first hand grip, an oulet at the forward end of said barrel and means at the rear end of said barrel for connecting a conduit thereto, a needle valve located in said barrel and actuating means including a trigger lever operable in conjunction with said hand grip for selectively operating said needle valve to permit flow of liquid through said barrel, and vanes extending substantially the length of said barrel for straightening the flow of liquid thereto.

20. The nozzle according to claim 19 including a second hand grip, substantially parallel to said first hand grip, extending from said barrel forward of said first hand grip.

21. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the storage means for said second liquid comprises a cylinder one end of which faces the pressure reducing valve, and the other end of which faces away from the pressure reducing valve, said other end having at least one transfer aperture for the passage of the second liquid into the low pressure tank, said cylindrical housing having a penetrating member mounted such that by the reduced pressure of the propellant gas a part of the wall of the cylindrical storage means is pressed against the penetrating member and the cylindrical storage means is ruptured, releasing the second liquid into the low-pressure tank for mixture with the first liquid.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the cylindrical storage means is arranged in the cylindrical housing, such that the cylindrical storage means is slidable under the influence of the reduced pressure of the propellant gas.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the cylindrcal storage means is formed of plastic or rubber material.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the penetrating member is a needle.

25. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the storage means for said second liquid comprises a hollow ball and a penetrating member is mounted in the cylindrical housing such that by the reduced pressure of the propellant gas ball is pressed against the penetrating member and the storage means is destroyed, thus releasing the second liquid into the low-pressure tank for mixture with the first liquid.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the ball is arranged in the cylindrical housing, such that the ball is slidable under the influence of the reduced pressure of the propellant gas.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the ball is formed of plastic or rubber material.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the penetrating member is a needle.