Fire extinguisher installation

• US 4,979,572 A
• Filed: 03/20/1989
• Issued: 12/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SmartX, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Conrad S. Mikulec
• Inventors: Mikulec, Conrad S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Basinger, Sherman D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KANNOFSKY, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US07/325,691
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 169/65, 169/26, 169/19, 169/57, 169/59, 169/54, 169/DIG. 3, 169/23, 169/56, 169/58, 169/70, 137/79, 137/72, 340/590, 340/690, 340/540, 340/531, 340/691, 239/518, 239/524
• US Class Current: 169/65
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/006 for kitchens or stoves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1963 Temperature

Abstract

An automatically activated fire extinguishing device for a stove. The device is installable in a hood over the stove and has a compact design which substantially hides portions of the device from normal viewing. The invention also includes an automatic stove shut-off which shuts off the electricity and/or gas to the stove in the event of a fire.

Claims

1. A fire extinguishing apparatus used in conjunction with a stove which utilizes electricity and/or gas as an energy source and has a hood placed above the stove'"'"'s burner surface comprising:

A. a means for expelling fire extinguishing compound onto the surface of the stove;

B. at least one shutoff means for disconnecting the energy source for operating said stove; and

C. a heat activated triggering means for activating the shutoff means and said means for expelling fire extinguishing compound in the event of a fire;

wherein the stove has a plug with male prongs which is placed in an electrical outlet with female receptors for receiving electric energy and wherein said shutoff means comprises;

a. a trap door for covering the electric outlet, said trap door having a rigid outer perimeter defining a plane, and a screen extending across said plane defined by said outer perimeter, said screen having apertures therein for allowing said male prongs to pass therethrough and be received in the female receptors of the electrical outlet;

b. a frame structure attached adjacent said outlet, said trap door being hingedly connected thereto such that said trap door when in a closed position covers the front of said outlet;

c. at least one tension spring having two ends with one end connected to said frame and said other end connected to said trap door such trap said trap is biased to an open position away from the front of said outlet;

d. a latch for maintaining said trap door in a closed position over the front of said outlet; and

e. a release means activated by said triggering means for releasing said latch in the event of a fire thereby allowing said trap door to move away from the outlet and pulling the male prongs from the female receptors of the electrical outlets.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereby said latch is a rod shaped and is hingedly connected at one end to said frame and said release means is comprised of a tension cable attached to the other end of said latch, said tension cable holding said latch in communication with said trap door until the tension is released by activation of said triggering means.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the stove has a gas line for delivering gas to the stove burners where said shut off means comprises:

(a) a gas valve connected to said gas line for shutting off gas, said gas valve having a valve stem extending therefrom, the gas being turned on and shut off by rotation of said valve stem;

(b) a spring loaded spool having an aperture for receiving said valve stem therein;

(c) a stationary casing mounted over said gas valve for receiving said spring loaded spool and providing a base therefore such that said spool may be turned within said casing so that potential energy spool is attained;

(d) a lever connected to said spool and a release means connected to said lever for holding said lever in a selected position for maintaining said spool in a state of potential energy, and said release means being activated by said triggering means for releasing the potential energy maintained in said spool resulting in turning said valve stem and closing said gas valve; and

(e) a stop means for limiting the rotation of said valve stem.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said release means includes a tension cable, said cable being relaxed by the operation of said triggering means.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for expelling fire extinguishing compound includes:

(a) a plurality of nozzles mounted in the stove hood for spraying fire extinguishing compound, wherein at least one of said nozzles is directed downwardly for spraying fire extinguishing compound directly on the stove surface and at least one of said nozzles is directed outwardly away from the stove surface; and

(b) a deflection plate attached to the stove hood and angled downwardly therefrom such that said deflection plate receives fire extinguishing compound from said outwardly directed nozzle and deflects said compound downwardly onto the stove surface such that the angle of dispersion of said fire extinguishing compound deflected from said deflection plate is greater than the angle of dispersion of fire extinguishing compound expelled from said downwardly directed nozzles.

6. A fire extinguishing apparatus use in conjunction with a stove having an electrical or gas fuel supply comprising:

(a) a means for expelling fire extinguishing compound onto the surface of a stove whereby said expulsion emits a sound pressure wave;

(b) a heat activated triggering means for activating said fire extinguishing compound expulsion; and

(c) a shut-off means for disconnecting the fuel source to the stove'"'"'s said shut-off means being activated by the emission of the sound pressure wave.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said shut off means includes an alarm, said alarm being activated by emission of said sound pressure wave.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 whereby said shut off means includes a means for translating said sound wave into an electrical output and a relay switch for disconnecting electricity activated by said translated output.

9. A fire extinguishing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the stove utilizes electric current as a fuel source and said shut off means includes a relay switch connected to said electric source.

10. A fire extinguishing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the stove utilizes gas as a fuel source and said shut off means includes a solenoid valve connected to said gas source.