FIRE EXTINGUISHER VALVE BODY AND CYLINDER

Abstract

A cartridge-operated fire extinguisher 100 that includes a valve body 104 and a cylinder 102. The valve body (104) includes three fixing points 300, 302, 304 each including an aperture 300a, 302a, 304a with a fixing point axis A, B, C. The third fixing point axis C is oriented at an angle relative to the first fixing point axis A and the second fixing point axis B. The cylinder includes three bolts 210, 212, 214 for fixing the valve body to the cylinder. Each bolt includes a shaft 210a, 212a, 214a with a shaft axis X, Y, Z. The first shaft axis X and the second shaft axis Y are parallel, and the third shaft axis Z is oriented at an angle relative to the first shaft axis X and the second shaft axis Y.

Claims

1. A valve body (104) for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher, the valve body comprising: a first fixing point (300) comprising a first aperture (300a) for receiving a first shaft of a first bolt, wherein the first aperture has a first fixing point axis (A); a second fixing point (302) comprising a second aperture (302a) for receiving a second shaft of a second bolt, wherein the second aperture has a second fixing point axis (B); and a third fixing point (304) comprising a third aperture (304a) for receiving a third shaft of a third bolt, wherein the third aperture has a third fixing point axis (C), wherein the first fixing point axis (A) and the second fixing point axis (B) are parallel, and wherein the third fixing point axis (C) is oriented at an angle relative to the first fixing point axis (A) and the second fixing point axis (B).

2. The valve body of claim 1, wherein the first aperture (300a), the second aperture (302a), and the third aperture (304a) are non-threaded.

3. The valve body according to claim 1, wherein the valve body (104) is made of plastic.

4. The valve body according to claim 1, wherein the first aperture (300a) is a hole, the second aperture (302a) is a hole, and the third aperture (304a) is a slot.

5. The valve body according to claim 1, wherein the valve body (104) comprises a core (306), and wherein the first fixing point (300), second fixing point (302), and third fixing point (304) each protrude radially outward from the core (306).

6. The valve body of claim 5, wherein the first fixing point (300), second fixing point (302), and third fixing point (304) are each integrally formed with the core (306).

7. The valve body of claim 5, wherein the first fixing point (300), second fixing point (302), and third fixing point (304) are equally spaced from one another around a perimeter of the core (306).

8. The valve body of claim 5, wherein the core (306) comprises an embossed portion for interfacing with a cylinder of the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher.

9. A cylinder (102) for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher, the cylinder comprising: a first bolt (210) having a first shaft (210a), wherein the first shaft comprises a first shaft axis (X); a second bolt (212) having a second shaft (212a), wherein the second shaft comprises a second shaft axis (Y); and a third bolt (214) having a third shaft (214a), wherein the third shaft comprises a third shaft axis (Z), wherein the first, second, and third bolts are for fixing a valve body to the cylinder, wherein the first shaft axis (X) and the second shaft axis (Y) are parallel, and wherein the third shaft axis (Z) is oriented at an angle relative to the first shaft axis (X) and the second shaft axis (Y).

10. The cylinder of claim 9, wherein the first shaft (210a), the second shaft (212a), and the third shaft (214a) all have the same diameter.

11. The cylinder of claim 9, wherein the cylinder (102) has a longitudinal axis (L), and wherein the angular separation between the first bolt (210) and the second bolt (212) is 120° around the longitudinal axis, the angular separation between the first bolt (210) and the third bolt (214) is 120° around the longitudinal axis, and the angular separation between the second bolt (212) and the third bolt (214) is 120° around the longitudinal axis.

12. The cylinder of claim 9, wherein the first, second, and third bolts (210, 212, 214) are welded to the cylinder (102).

13. A cartridge-operated fire extinguisher (100) comprising a valve body (104) according to claim 1.

14. A method of assembling the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher (100) according to claim 13, the method comprising: mounting the valve body (104) on the cylinder (102), wherein the first shaft (210a) of the first bolt (210) of the cylinder passes through the first aperture (300a) of the valve body, the second shaft (212a) of the second bolt (212) of the cylinder (102) passes through the second aperture (302a) of the valve body, and the third shaft (214a) of the third bolt (214) of the cylinder passes through the third aperture (304a) of the valve body, and securing the valve body (104) to the cylinder (102).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the valve body (104) is secured to the cylinder (102) using nuts (350).

Description

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

[0047] Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates a fire extinguisher;

[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of the fire extinguisher of FIG. 1;

[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates a cylinder of the fire extinguisher of FIG. 1;

[0051] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate a valve body of the fire extinguisher of FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 5a is a top-down view of the fire extinguisher of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5b is a cross sectional view of a portion of the fire extinguisher of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher 100. The fire extinguisher comprises a cylinder 102, a valve body 104, a hose connector 106, and a hose 108. The valve body 104 is mounted on the top of the cylinder 102. The hose connector 106 is connected to the valve body 104, and the hose 108 is connected to the hose connector 106. In this way, the hose 108 is fluidly connected to an internal space within the cylinder 102.

[0054] The hose 108 comprises a handle 110 and a nozzle 112. A lever 114 is connected to the valve body 104. When the fire extinguisher 100 is not in use, the hose 108 may be mounted on to the lever 114 in a storage position.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional image of the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher 100 of FIG. 1.

[0056] As mentioned above, the cylinder 102 comprises an internal space 120. The internal space comprises a fire suppressant 122. The fire suppressant 122 may be dry powder, water or any other suitable fire suppressant.

[0057] The internal space also comprises a cartridge 124, wherein the cartridge 124 is connected to the valve body 104. The cartridge 124 comprises a propellant 126 stored under pressure.

[0058] The valve body 104 houses a cartridge piercer. The cartridge piercer is configured to pierce the cartridge 124 when the lever 114 is operated by a user in order to activate the fire extinguisher 100. When the cartridge 124 is pierced, the propellant 126 is released through the valve body 104 into a blow tube 128 and then into the internal space 120 of the cylinder 102. The blow tube 128 is configured to direct the propellant 126 in a manner that forces the fire suppressant back out through the valve body 104, the hose connector 106, and through the hose 108. The nozzle 112 of the hose 108 may then be directed by a user towards a fire for extinguishing the fire and opened using handle 110.

[0059] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the top part of the cylinder 102. The cylinder 102 comprises an opening 200 at the top of the cylinder 102, where the opening 200 is circular and the centre of the opening 200 is centred on a longitudinal axis L of the cylinder 102. The opening 200 has a perimeter 202. The top portion around the perimeter 202 of the opening 200 is raised upwards such that a raised portion is formed.

[0060] The cylinder 102 comprises a first bolt 210, a second bolt 212, and a third bolt 214. The bolts 210, 212, 214 are positioned on the top cylinder 102 and radially outside of the perimeter 202 of the opening 200. The first bolt 210 comprises a first shaft 210a. The first shaft 210a comprises a first shaft axis X. The second bolt 212 comprises a second shaft 212a. The second shaft 212a comprises a second shaft axis Y. The third bolt 214 comprises a third shaft 214a. The third shaft 214a comprises a third shaft axis Z.

[0061] The first shaft axis X and the second shaft axis Y are parallel to one another, and are also parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the cylinder 102. The third shaft axis Z is at an angle relative to the first shaft axis X, and therefore at the same angle relative to the second shaft axis Y and the longitudinal axis L. FIG. 3 depicts an arrangement in which the third shaft axis Z is at an angle of 30° relative to the longitudinal axis.

[0062] The bolts 210, 212, 214 are for fixing the valve body 104 to the cylinder 102. The bolts 210, 212, 214 in FIG. 3 are spot welded to the cylinder 102.

[0063] The bolts 210, 212, 214 have an equal angular distribution about the longitudinal axis L. That is, the angle between the positions of each bolt 210, 212, 214 around the longitudinal axis L is 120°. Further, the radial distance for each bolt 210, 212, 214 from the longitudinal axis L is the same.

[0064] FIGS. 4a and 4b show perspective views of the valve body 104. FIG. 4a shows a top side of the valve body 104, whereas FIG. 4b shows an underside of the valve body 104. The underside of the valve body 104 is mounted on and faces towards the cylinder 102 when the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher 100 is assembled.

[0065] The valve body 104 comprises a first fixing point 300, a second fixing point 302, and a third fixing point 304. The first fixing point 300 comprises a first aperture 300a. The first aperture 300a comprises a first fixing point axis A centred through the first aperture 300a. The second fixing point 302 comprises a second aperture 302a. The second aperture comprises a second fixing point axis B centred through the second aperture 302a. The third fixing point 304 comprises a third aperture 304a. The third aperture 304a comprises a third fixing point axis C centred through the third aperture 304a.

[0066] The valve body comprises a core 306. The core 306 is circular in shape, i.e. it has a circular cross section. The fixing points 300, 302, 304 protrude radially from the core 306. The core 306 is for interfacing with the opening 200 of the cylinder 102. The fixing points 300, 302, 304 are integrally formed with the core 306. That is, the valve body 104 shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b is a single-piece component.

[0067] The first fixing point axis A and the second fixing point axis B are parallel. The third fixing point axis C is oriented at an angle relative to the first fixing point axis A, and therefore at the same angle relative to the second fixing point axis B. In this case, the third fixing point axis C is at an angle of 30° relative to the first and second fixing point axes A, B.

[0068] The first aperture 300a is for receiving the first shaft 210a of the first bolt 210 of the cylinder 102. The second aperture 302a is for receiving the second shaft 212a of the second bolt 212. The third aperture 304a is for receiving the third shaft 214a of the third bolt 214. The first aperture 300a and the second aperture 302a are through-holes in the first and second fixing points 300, 302, respectively. The third aperture 304a is a slot in the third fixing point 304.

[0069] The fixing points 300, 302, 304 are equally spaced around a perimeter of the core 306 of the valve body 104. That is, the fixing points 300, 302, 304 are positioned such that the fixing point axes A, B, C have an angle of 120° about an equidistant point between each axis.

[0070] The valve body 104 comprises a cartridge piercer opening 308 and a hose connector receiving hole 310. The cartridge piercer opening 308 and the hose connector receiving hole 310 are separate openings. The cartridge piercer opening 308 comprises an axis that is parallel to the first fixing point axis A and the second fixing point axis B. The hose connector receiving hole 310 comprises an axis that is parallel to the third fixing point axis C.

[0071] The valve body 104 comprises a support 312 for the lever 114. The support 312 is positioned between the first fixing point and the second fixing point 302.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 4a, the top side of the core 306 comprises reinforcing ribs 314. The reinforcing ribs 314 are protrusions from the valve body 104 and are positioned along several locations such that they reinforce portions of the valve body 104 that experience high stresses when the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher 100 is in use. In the valve body 104 of FIG. 4a, reinforcing ribs 314 are positioned proximate to the perimeter of the core 306 between the first fixing point 300 and the third fixing point 304, proximate to the perimeter of the core 306 between the second fixing point 302 and the third fixing point 304, between the first fixing point 300 and the support 312, and between the second fixing point 302 and the support 312.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 4b, the underside of the core 306 of the valve body 104 comprises an embossed portion 316. The embossed portion 316 is circular and is proximate to the perimeter of the core 306. The embossed portion 316 is for interfacing with the raised portion of the perimeter 202 of the opening 200 of the cylinder 102.

[0074] FIG. 5a is a top-down view of the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher 100 of FIG. 1. In this Figure, the valve body 104 is secured to the cylinder 102. To secure the valve body 104 to the cylinder 102, the valve body 104 is first mounted to the cylinder 102. In doing so, the valve body 102 covers the entirety of the opening 200 of the cylinder 102. The valve body 104 and the perimeter 202 of the opening 200 are configured such that, when the valve body 104 is mounted to the cylinder 102, a seal is formed between the valve body 104 and the cylinder 102.

[0075] To mount the valve body 104, the first shaft 210a of the first bolt 210 of the cylinder 102 passes through the first aperture 300a of the first fixing point 300 of the valve body 104. Likewise, the second shaft 212a of the second bolt 212 of the cylinder 102 passes through the second aperture 302a of the second fixing point 302 of the valve body 104, and the third shaft 214a of the third bolt 214 of the cylinder 102 passes through the third aperture 304a of the third fixing point 304 of the valve body 104. As the valve body 104 is mounted on the cylinder 102 each of the bolts 210, 212, 214 may pass through each respective aperture 300a, 302a, 304a simultaneously.

[0076] Then, the valve body 104 is secured to the cylinder 102. The valve body 104 in FIGS. 5a and 5b is secured to the cylinder by the use of three nuts 350, one on each of the bolts 210, 212, 214.

[0077] In FIG. 5b, the hose connector 106 is secured to the valve body 104 by one of the nuts 350 on the third bolt 214. That is, the third shaft 214 passes through the third aperture 304a and an aperture of the hose connector 106. The hose connector 106 is received in the hose connector opening 310 of the valve body 104.