Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher

Aug. 22, 1950

C. L. JONES

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

2,519,967

Filed Aug. 22, 1944 τπύό.ζ

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Aug. 22, 1950

C. L. JONES

2,519,967

Filed Aug. 22, 1944

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

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Patented Aug. 22, 1950

2,519,967

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,519,967

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Charles L. Jones, Edgewood, Pa.

Application August 22,1944, Serial No. 550,563

Claims.

The present invention relates to Are extinguishers of the dry carbon dioxide type and the primary object of the invention is to provide such a type of fire extinguished in which the expense of maintaining the same is decreased and the difficulties heretofore encountered with leakage are materially reduced while at the same time providing a fire extinguisher of such type which may be readily manually manipulated and with which greater maneuverability in use is attained, as well as to provide such a fire extinguisher which will be of materially improved appearance when mounted and installed.

So-called “first-aid” fire extinguishers of the dry carbon dioxide type have been known for many years, and I have previously made improvements in such types of fire extinguishers to provide a form now widely known and successfully used, such as disclosed and described in my United States Patent No. 1,644,338.

The fire extinguishers now in commercial use are all of this type or variations of or improvements on the type, and resemble the original fire extinguisher of my United States Patent No.

1,644,338 in having three separate major elements; namely, a cylinder or container for containing the carbon dioxide, with its control valve, which has been varied and improved from time to time in various ways by different manufacturers; a flexible hose; and a nozzle and horn assembly which serves to regulate the flow of carbon dioxide and also to limit the entrainment of air by the issuing stream of carbon dioxide. Some forms of such fire extinguishers have been proposed in relatively small sizes in which the conical horn is attached directly to the cylinder or container, but these have in each instance retained the feature of the manually controlled release valve and a structurally separate gas holding means and discharging means.

A further primary object of my present invention is to provide a fire extinguisher of the above referred to type in which a manually controlled release valve and the structurally separate carbon dioxide holding means and discharging means, are eliminated, and the fire extinguisher is formed by a unitary assembly which includes a structure combining therein the carbon dioxide holding means and discharging means as a unitary assembly in fixed relationship.

With the foregoing primary or general objects, as well as certain other objects, features and results in view which will be readily recognized and understood from the following detailed explanation and description of examples of my in(Cl. 169—31) vention, the invention consists in certain novel features in design and construction and in combination and arrangement of parts and elements, all as will be more fully referred to and specified 5 hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings—

Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view through a fire extinguisher embodying the features and characteristics of my invention.

Fig, 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, section through a modified form and arrangement of fire extinguisher of my invention of the general type of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a more or less diagrammatic view 15 partly in vertical section, showing a mounting bracket arrangement for mounting and installing a pair of fire extinguishers of the type of my present invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, transverse section through ²⁰ the closure and discharge orifice forming unit of a fire extinguisher of my invention, showing a modified mechanism for breaking or fracturing the frangible closure disk of the unit.

Fig. 5 is a vertical, longitudinal section through ²⁵ the discharge. end portion of a fire extinguisher of the general type of my invention of Fig. 1, but showing a modified design and construction of discharge orifice forming nozzle or jet mem₃₀ ber, together with a modified arrangement of ^υ frangible disk fracturing or rupturing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken as on the line 6—6 of Fig. 5, and showing particularly the design and mounting of a spider for slidably ³⁵ mounting the actuating rod for fracturing or rupturing the frangible closure disk of the fire extinguisher.

My present invention will be better understood by reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying draw⁴⁰ ings, which illustrates one possible embodiment of my invention by way of an example. It will be understood, however, that my invention consists in combining elements in such a coopera₄₅ tive association and relationship, as to produce a compact, simple apparatus of improved characteristics in the manner claimed, and that the invention is not limited to the precise details of the example herein disclosed and described.

The embodiment of a fire extinguisher of my 50 invention illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, includes the carbon dioxide cylinder i, which may be of any type and method of manufacture known in the art, but which I have chosen to illustrate in the present example as a container made by 55 spinning the ends of a piece of seamless drawn

2,519,967 steel tubing, because a container formed by such method has a light, uniformly strong wall, with increased metal thickness at the ends, as will be clear by reference to the drawings hereof.

To facilitate standing the fire extinguisher upright on the floor or in a simple flat-bottomed wall bracket, the lower end of the carbon dioxide container I, is surrounded with a cylindrical sleeve 2, formed of a material of low electrical and thermal conductivity, the sleeve 2 extending downwardly or outwardly a sufficient distance beyond the adjacent end wall of container I, to serve as a handle, the extinguisher proper, that is to say, the container 1, being of such diameter, as to permit this, say a diameter of preferably three inches or less, although a somewhat larger cylinder diameter may be employed by so shaping the sleeve that it may be readily grasped by the operator.

A similar non-conducting material sleeve 3, is mounted on and over and is attached to the upper or discharge end of the cylinder I. It is desirable to make this sleeve 3 as long as possible, thereby forming an air entrainment shield and a discharge for conducting the extinguishing gases the greatest possible distance from the operator and as close as possible to the flames of the fire to be extinguished. For outdoor work the discharge horn and air entrainment shield formed by the extension 3 may be as much as several feet in length, but because of limited wall space, and in order to avoid an unwieldy device, a shorter length must be accepted for ordinary applications, say a length of nine inches measuring from the discharge end of the gas cylinder I, in the example of Fig. 1.

In the cylindrical discharge horn and air entrainment shield formed by the sleeve 3, a puncturing or piercing mechanism is provided, embodying, in this instance, two spiders 4a fixed or secured spaced apart in and disposed tranversely of the sleeve 3, with a puncturing rod 4 extending axially through the sleeve 3 and being slidably mounted in and extending through the spiders 4a. Each spider 4a, referring to Fig. 1, in connection with Fig. 6, comprises a central hub portion 4c and spokes members 4d radiating therefrom and across the interior of the sleeve, with an axial bore through the hub portion for receiving rod 4. The puncturing rod 4 is provided with the pointed inner end 4b, and the outer end of the rod 4 projects beyond the outer end of sleeve 3 and is provided with an actuating knob 6 of non-conducting material. An expansion spring 5 is mounted on the rod 4 between the outer spider 4a and the knob S, and in normal, expanded condition forces the rod 4 outwardly to and maintains the rod in inactive non-puncturing position, as determined by a stop pin aa carried by rod 4 between spiders 4a, which pin engages the inner side of the outer spider with the rod in normal inactive position. The rod 4 is slidable inwardly to puncturing position by pressure applied to knob 6 to overcome the force exerted by spring 5.

The carbon dioxide container I of the fire extinguisher of Fig. 1, is formed with an internally threaded axial charging and discharging opening la through the end wall thereof around which sleeve 3 is mounted, which opening is closed by means of an assembly 7 threaded into opening I a, and having an axial discharge passage 7c therethrough opening at its inner end through the orifice 7b and increasing in diameter outwardly to discharge through a relatively large diameter opening Id at the outer side of assembly 7 within the extension formed by sleeve 3. The passage 7e is closed by a frangible disc 7a, removably secured therein by a threaded bushing 7e. The frangible disc 7a is similar to and of a character such as that described in the U. S. patent to Hoff, No. 927,798, which patent shows an assembly suitable for connection to the customary filling connections for re-filling containers with carbon dioxide in commercial carbon dioxide plants. I may, however, remove the entire frangible disc assembly 7, and recharge the container I of the fire extinguisher, by introducing through the container opening ia, a suitable charge of a definite weight of crushed or pulverized commercial solid carbon dioxide. After being so charged, the closure assembly is replaced and tightened, and the solid carbon dioxide will thereafter gradually melt and warm to form a normally filled container of liquid carbon dioxide.

As will be noted in my U. S. Patent No. 1,644,338, an orifice is used to control the rate of flow, and in like manner I provide a sharp edged, outwardly flaring construction in the closure assembly 1, which embodies the discharge orifice 7b at the inner end of the outwardly flaring discharge passage 7c extending axially through the closure assembly 7. Preferably, the orifice 7b of this example, is .100 in diameter.

A siphon tube is indicated in the previous construction in order to insure the discharge of liquid from the cylinder, but which cylindei· in the previous construction is normally always vertical. A similar siphon tube may be used in my present construction, but I have discovered that such a tube is not necessary in the extinguisher of the example of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings hereof, since, because of its small diameter, the straight path of escape offered by the design and arrangement of the assembly 7 hereof, as compared with the tortuous passage through a valve body, and because of the possibility of clearing out stoppages, should there be any, by repeated blows on the operating knob 6, a fire extinguisher embodying the present invention is free from any possibility of a stoppage which would render it inoperative. Further, the small diameter of the extinguisher and the fact that the extinguisher is not held vertical, but is moved about in applying it, results in violent boiling and agitation of the liquid in the cylinder, with the result that the greater portion of it is ejected from the cylinder, and is effective on the fire. With the older design of the prior art referred to hereinbefore, when the siphon tube is omitted, the liquid boils in the cylinder, discharging only gas through the valve, and leaving a mass of useless solid carbon dioxide in the cylinder at the end of the operation. While there may be a residue of useless solid carbon dioxide remaining in the container I of an extinguisher of a design of my present invention, I have found that the ineffective portion of the charge remaining in the container I, is so small that the effectiveness of the extinguisher in extinguishing fires is not impaired as a result thereof.

A handle 8 may be provided on a side of the fire extinguisher of the example of Fig. 1, or in accordance with one preferred construction and arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the functions of the sleeve 2, the handle 8, and the cylindrical discharge extension formed by sleeve 3, are combined in and formed by one continuous sleeve. In this arrangement, referring to Fig. 2, the cylinder may slide loosely into position held by any suitable positioning means such as rivets 3a and

2,519,967 the removable retaining pin 3&amp; across the end of sleeve portion 2. This makes it possible to slide the entire cylinder or container I, out of the assembly for refilling, or replacement with another cylinder. Further, the cylinder or container I thus becomes a mere filler, which may be returned to the manufacturer for refilling without disturbing the balance of the apparatus. In Fig. 2, I have also illustrated the application of a sharpedged nozzle N having the discharge orifice 7&amp; therein, as taught in the prior art by the U. S. Patent No. 726,214 to Camus.

It will be at once apparent that the design and construction of fire extinguisher of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 hereof, offers advantages from the standpoint of appearance and maintenance. It has no loose or projecting parts to remove or tamper with. It is not a dirt-catcher. It can be conveniently mounted in corners. It does not project from walls more than 3 to 4 inches, taking a minimum of valuable clearance space in aisles or passageways. Its simple, unobstructed shape makes it easy to clean, and easy to repaint.

In operation, the extinguisher is taken in one hand as one would grasp a fusee or Roman candle, or in both as one would grasp a poker or shovel handle. The projecting knob 6 is struck sharply against a wall or other suitable surface until carbon dioxide snow and gas discharges from the cylinder extension formed by sleeve 3. It is then pointed at the fire, preferably working upward from the base of the flame. Its lightness, and easy maneuverability make it possible to approach the fire and use the discharge with great effectiveness, and in fact in some cases the entire extinguisher may be easily thrown bodily into the flame, or tossed into burning containers of fluids.

In Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, I have shown a method of hanging such extinguishers in pairs. In this arrangement a hanger or bracket 10 is provided, which carries a balance beam 11, supported on a horizontal surface 12 of definite width. This beam I i is held and restricted by a loose pin 14, or equivalent restraining means, which will permit limited tipping of the beam 11, but will not permit the beam, or the extinguishers suspended from it, to fall from the support. The beam. 11 is provided with two notches 11 a from which the extinguishers can be readily removed, and permitting enough freedom of movement so that the beam 11 may function as a balance.

It will be obvious that if the supporting surface 12 were to be made a knife edge, the device would be an ordinary balance or scale, and if either extinguisher should be any heavier than its twin, the beam would immediately respond by tipping as far as the loose pin 14 permits. However, when the horizontal surface i 2 is used, this is no longer true, since the fulcrum is no longer in the center, but is represented by the edge of the horizontal surface. Thus, for illustration only, let the Weight of each extinguisher be 20 pounds, the horizontal surface 12 being % inch wide, and the effective length of the beam 11 being 3% inches. In this case the beam 11 will not tip until one extinguisher is approximately 2 pounds lighter than the other. Thus in such an assembly, if either extinguisher has leaked out part of its contents, or been used on a fire, that fact will be immediately apparent without the necessity of removing the extinguisher for inspection or weighing. Periodic inspection and weighing is still desirable, since this device gives no indication if both extinguishers are emptied at the same time, but it will infallibly indicate the discharge Of one cylinder, or any condition of unequal leakage. It thus reduces the necessary attention for maintenance to an absolute minimum.

Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, illustrate two other arrangements by which the frangible disc may be punctured. In Fig. 4 is shown a pull ring arrangement, in which the threaded end of the assembly 7 screws into the opening ία in the end of container 1, against a gasketed seat 15, as in the preceding types of Figs. 1 and 2. The threaded bushing 7e holds a frangible disc 16 against the seat 17, while the orifice restriction Tb is machined into the threaded end of assembly 7, as in preceding examples. A hole is drilled through the frangible disc 16, however, and a wire 18, preferably of bronze, is threaded through it, and through a conical cutting nib 19, this part of the assembly being sweated or soldered to prevent gas leakage. The bronze wire 18 is attached to a thumb ring 20, and it will be obvious that a violent pull on the ring 20 will tear out a patch of the disc 16 and release the contents of the carbon dioxide container I of the fire extinguisher.

If desired, an additional link (not shown) may be attached to the wire 18 sufficiently strong to suspend the weight of the extinguisher. The entire extinguisher may then be hung on a wall by the ring 20, without exerting any strain on the disc 16, but on pulling down with sufficient force to break the suspension link, the disc will at the same time be fractured.

Another and generally preferable form is shown in Fig. 5 in which form the closure assembly 7, is made larger, however, to increase the size of the frangible disc IS, and to leave room in the body of the assembly 7 for the threaded filler piece 21 carrying a sharp-edged orifice 22, preferably patterned after my United States Patent 1,644,338. In place of a wire and cone as in the arrangement of Fig. 4, a round-head machine screw 23 with a knurled nut, is firmly mounted on and soldered to the frangible disc, in such a way that the rod 4' carrying operating handle 24 may be threaded directly onto the screw, forming a sturdy and workmanlike operating mechanism, operated by pulling handle 24. Spiders 4a, similar to those disclosed in and described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 are secured in sleeve 3, for slidably receiving rod 4'. These spiders may be formed of a Bakelite core and radiating spokes.

I may vary the exact shape or form of parts, as for example, the discharge sleeve and air entrainment shield 3, of Fig. 1, may be of conical rather than cylindrical shape. I may vary proportions somewhat from the example given in order to vary the time of discharge, and other factors and conditions, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. In place of a compression piercing pin, I may use a wire soldered or attached to the disc in such a way that the disc is ruptured by pulling it out instead of pushing it in.

In the preferred forms, the fire extinguisher, in order to carry out the principle of my present invention, by which it may be readily grasped in the hand of an operator for ease of manipulation and efficiency of maneuvering in use, will have an external diameter for the body of the fire extinguisher, that is sleeve 2—3, or of the portion thereof to form the handle, of not to exceed approximately three and one-half (3½)

2,519,067 inches, and a length of not to exceed approximately (5) feet.

It is also evident that various other changes, modifications, variations, substitutions and additions may be resorted to without departing from the broad scope of my invention, and hence I do not desire .to limit my invention in all respects to the exact and specific disclosures of the examples of my invention disclosed herein.