Device for discharging extinguishing agent

Abstract

An extinguishing-agent discharge device includes a casing having a guide channel for an extinguishing agent, a metallic handle, a hose connection, an adjustment means for regulating an extinguishing-agent supply using a manual control unit and a discharge nozzle. A measuring-current transformer generates a current signal proportional to the electric current flowing in the extinguishing agent; an insulator section divides the casing into a discharge area having the discharge nozzle and an inlet area having the manual control unit, the measuring-current transformer disposed in the insulator section; a first electrode disposed in the discharge area in the extinguishing-agent flow and serves for detecting an extinguishing-agent potential; a second electrode disposed at the handle for detecting a ground potential in the inlet area; and a controller for evaluating the current signal for a potential difference occurring between the extinguishing-agent and ground and having a drive element acting on the adjustment means.

Claims

1. An extinguishing-agent discharge device (10) comprising: a casing (12) having a guide channel (22) through which an extinguishing agent (20) flows, a metallic handle (24), a hose connection (26), an adjustment means (30) for regulating an extinguishing-agent supply using a manual control unit (28) and a discharge nozzle (16), a measuring-current transformer (40) which encloses the extinguishing agent (20) flowing in the guide channel (22) and generates a current signal (44) which is proportional to an electric current (42) flowing in the extinguishing agent (20), an insulator section (50) which divides the casing (12) in the longitudinal direction of the guide channel (22) into a discharge area (14) having the discharge nozzle (16) and an inlet area (18) having the manual control unit (28), the measuring-current transformer (40) being disposed in the insulator section (50), a first electrode (52) which is disposed in the discharge area (14) in the extinguishing-agent flow and serves for detecting an extinguishing-agent potential (Vex), a second electrode (54) which is disposed at the metallic handle (24) for detecting a ground potential (VPE) in the inlet area (18), and a control device (60) having evaluation electronics (62) for evaluating the current signal (44) and for evaluating a potential difference (Ud) occurring between the extinguishing-agent potential (Vex) and ground potential (VPE) and having a drive element (64) which is controlled by the evaluation electronics (62) and acts on the adjustment means (30), wherein the manual control unit comprises at least one of a lever, a gate, a valve plug, and a disk attached to the adjustment means to be actuated by the adjustment means.

2. The extinguishing-agent discharge device (10) according to claim 1, wherein, if the potential difference (U.sub.d) exceeds a voltage threshold, the evaluation electronics (62) outputs an alarm signal (66).

3. The extinguishing-agent discharge device (10) according to claim 1, wherein, if the electric current (42) flowing in the extinguishing agent (20) exceeds a current threshold, the evaluation electronics (62) control the electromechanical drive element (64) in order to cause an interruption in the extinguishing-agent supply by means of the adjustment means (30).

4. The extinguishing-agent discharge device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring-current transformer (40) is configured for detecting a direct current and an alternating current.

5. An extinguishing-agent discharge device (10) comprising: a casing (12) having a guide channel (22) through which an extinguishing agent (20) flows, a metallic handle (24), a hose connection (26), an adjustment means (30) for regulating an extinguishing-agent supply using a manual control unit (28) comprising at least one of a gate, a valve plug, and a disk, and a discharge nozzle (16), a measuring-current transformer (40) which encloses the extinguishing agent (20) flowing in the guide channel (22) and generates a current signal (44) which is proportional to an electric current (42) flowing in the extinguishing agent (20), an insulator section (50) which divides the casing (12) in the longitudinal direction of the guide channel (22) into a discharge area (14) having the discharge nozzle (16) and an inlet area (18) having the manual control unit (28), the measuring-current transformer (40) being disposed in the insulator section (50), a first electrode (52) which is disposed in the discharge area (14) in the extinguishing-agent flow and serves for detecting an extinguishing-agent potential (V.sub.ex), a second electrode (54) which is disposed at the metallic handle (24) for detecting a ground potential (V.sub.PE) in the inlet area (18), and a control device (60) having evaluation electronics (62) for evaluating the current signal (44) and for evaluating a potential difference (U.sub.d) occurring between the extinguishing-agent potential (V.sub.ex) and ground potential (V.sub.PE) and having a drive element (64) which is controlled by the evaluation electronics (62) and acts on the adjustment means (30).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) Further advantageous embodiment features are derived from the following descriptions and the drawings which describe a preferred embodiment of the invention using an example.

(2) FIG. 1 shows the use of an extinguishing-agent discharge device when fighting fire and

(3) FIG. 2 shows an extinguishing-agent discharge device according to the invention in a schematic view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows the use of an extinguishing-agent discharge device 10 when fighting a seat of fire 6 of an electric installation 2, e.g., a transformer station or an electric vehicle.

(5) A firefighter (acting person) 4 encircles and actuates extinguishing-agent discharge device 10, an extinguishing agent 20 supplied via extinguishing-agent hose 9 being directed aimed at seat of fire 6 in an extinguishing-agent jet 8. As electric installation 2 is electrically live, a current flow can form in electrically conductible extinguishing agent 20 via an extinguishing-agent jet 8, the current flow continuing as a dangerous current I.sub.K flowing through the body of firefighter 4 standing on ground potential PE.

(6) FIG. 2 shows extinguishing-agent discharge device 10 according to the invention in a schematic view.

(7) Extinguishing-agent discharge device 10 according to the invention comprises a two-part casing 12 which is divided in the longitudinal direction into an (extinguishing-agent) inlet area 18 and a (extinguishing-agent) discharge area 14 via an insulator section 50. Extinguishing agent 20 is guided through a guide channel 22 formed by casing 12 via a hose connection means or hose connection 26, such as a hose clamp, and is discharged at discharge nozzle 16 (fog nozzle having an adapter nozzle). Via, for example, an adjustment means 30 realized as a throttle butterfly or ball valve, the extinguishing-agent supply can be regulated by means of a manual control unit 28, realized as a simple lever, a gate, valve plug, disk, or the like, of the valve of the adjustment means 30 that may be connected to the adjustment means 30 by a stem to be actuated by the adjustment means 30 and regulate the extinguishing agent supply.

(8) Extinguishing-agent discharge device 10 comprises a measuring-current transformer 40 which entirely encloses extinguishing agent 20, which flows in guide channel 22, with its toroid and generates a current signal 44 (secondary current) which is proportional to the electric current 42 (primary current) flowing in extinguishing agent 20.

(9) Extinguishing-agent discharge device 10 further comprises a first electrode 52 which is disposed in the extinguishing-agent flow for detecting an extinguishing-agent potential V.sub.ex in discharge area 14. According to the invention, a second electrode 54 is disposed at metallic handle 24 in inlet area 18 for detecting a ground potential V.sub.PE as a reference potential.

(10) Current signal 44 of measuring-current transformer 40 and extinguishing-agent potential V.sub.ex detected by first electrode 52 and ground potential V.sub.PE detected by second electrode 54 are forwarded to evaluation electronics 62 of a control device 60. If potential difference U.sub.d between extinguishing-agent potential V.sub.ex and ground potential V.sub.PE exceeds a voltage threshold, evaluation electronics 62 will detect this and then optically and/or acoustically output an alarm signal 66 as a result.

(11) Control device 60 further comprises an electromechanical drive element 64 which is controlled by evaluation electronics 62 and causes an interruption of the extinguishing-agent supply via an adjustment means 30 if electric current 42 flowing in extinguishing agent 20 exceeds a preset current threshold. The evaluation electronics 62 may comprise, for example, an electronic circuit (e.g. microcontroller) configured for detecting voltage and current thresholds and for controlling the electromechanical drive element 64.

(12) By means of extinguishing-agent discharge device 10 according to the invention, the measure for effectively fighting fire using an extinguishing agent 20 can be advantageously combined with protective measures for electric safety from electric shock. An increased electric safety is yielded for relief units 4 when putting out a fire at electric installations 2. Moreover, extinguishing-agent discharge device 10 according to the invention enables decreasing the required safety distances and thus more effectively fighting fires.