FIRE EXTINGUISHER WITH INTERNAL MIXING AND EXTERNAL GAS CARTRIDGE

Abstract

Improvements to a portable fire extinguisher are disclosed. The improvements allow for frequent and simplified inspection and maintenance of a fire extinguisher with minimal training and without need for custom equipment. The improvements include an anti-bridging mechanism that can be articulated from the exterior of the chamber to fluff, mix or stir the powder within the chamber to keep it in a liquefied state. Additional improvements include a larger opening to more quickly fill and inspect the powder within the chamber. Another improvement includes the use of a CO.sub.2 cartridge located external to the chamber to allow easier servicing or replacement of just the CO.sub.2 cartridge as well as the ability to maintain the chamber in an un-pressurized condition, allows for non-HASMAT shipping. These features will extend the service intervals while maintaining the fire extinguisher in a ready condition.

Claims

1. A portable fire extinguisher comprising: a chamber filled with fire suppressant material; a replaceable gas cartridge; a puncture pin that is operably connected to a mechanism that punctures an end of said replaceable gas cartridge; said mechanism includes a rotating lever, and a hose connected between said chamber an exit port.

2. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 1 wherein said rotating lever converts rotational motion to linear motion.

3. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 1 wherein when said replaceable gas cartridge is punctured, liquefied gas is expelled from said replaceable gas cartridge thereby creating a pressure wave.

4. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 1 wherein said rotating lever has pivot that converts said rotation to linear motion.

5. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 4 wherein said linear motion lifts said puncture pin into a stationary said replaceable inverted gas cartridge.

6. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 1 further includes a safety knob.

7. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 6 wherein safety knob is articulated to allow said lever to rotate.

8. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 6 wherein said safety knob further has a tamper indicator.

9. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 1 wherein said replaceable gas cartridge exists in an inverted orientation.

10. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 1 wherein said puncture pin is slotted and or tapered.

11. A portable fire extinguisher comprising: a chamber filled with fire suppressant material; a replaceable gas cartridge; a puncture pin that is operably connected to a mechanism that punctures an end of said replaceable gas cartridge; wherein when said replaceable gas cartridge is punctured, liquefied gas is expelled from said replaceable gas cartridge thereby creating a pressure wave within said chamber, and a hose connected between said chamber.

12. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 11 that further includes a siphon tub within said chamber that is ported to said hose.

13. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 12 wherein said siphon tube includes at least one blade.

14. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 13 wherein said blade has a crowned surface that faces said pressure wave.

15. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 13 wherein said blade has a supporting brace at a side that opposes said pressure wave.

16. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 11 wherein said siphon tube has at least one intake port.

17. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 16 wherein said siphon tube includes said at least one intake port is located at a bottom of said chamber.

18. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 16 wherein said siphon tube further includes a rotary seal.

19. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 11 wherein said hose further includes a valve.

20. The portable fire extinguisher according to claim 20 wherein said valve is a normally closed valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the fire extinguisher.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the fire extinguisher.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the dispensing valve.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the head of the fire extinguisher.

[0027] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show stages of removing the safety device prior to discharging the fire extinguisher.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the pressurized gas cartridge puncturing mechanism.

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a detail cross-sectional view of the puncture pin.

[0030] FIG. 8 shows the fluffing and siphon tube.

[0031] FIG. 9 shows a detail of the multiple siphon intake holes and the fluffing arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an exterior perspective view of the fire extinguisher 19. The fire extinguisher 19 is substantially a cylindrical shape with a bottom housing 20 and top housing 30. In the preferred embodiment the bottom housing 20 and top housing 30 is made from a lightweight resilient material such as plastic, but could also be made of other materials, including steel, brass, copper or aluminum. The bottom housing 20 may further be fabricated from a transparent material to allow for visual inspection within the fire extinguisher 19. The top housing 30 is screwed onto the bottom housing 20, but it could also be attached with a bayonet or latching mechanism. The bottom housing 20 has an enlarged opening to allow easier filling of the bottom housing 20 with fire suppressant materials. A wall hanging mechanism can be incorporated into the top housing 30 of the fire extinguisher 19, or could wrap around the body of the bottom housing 20, or could fork the top housing 30 of the fire extinguisher 19.

[0033] With reference to FIG. Nos. 1 & 2, a handle 40 allows the operator to hold the fire extinguisher 19 by placing a hand through the grip area 41. This allows the fire extinguisher 19 to be held in an upright orientation when it is being transported or used. The fire extinguisher 19 can also be stored and or transported in the upright orientation, but the upright orientation is not critical for the storage or operation of the fire extinguisher 19. Partially within the handle 40 and top housing 30 a replaceable pressurized gas cartridge 50 is located under a transparent portion 42 of handle 40. The transparent portion 42 provides the ability to verify that the pressurized gas cartridge 50 is installed within the fire extinguisher 19. While in the preferred embodiment the pressurized gas cartridge 50 is shown partially within the handle 40 and top housing 30 other locations are contemplated.

[0034] The replaceable pressurized gas cartridge 50 consists essentially of a compressed gas cartridge of CO.sub.2, but cartridges of different types of gas are possible that do not promote spreading of a fire. Because the gas within the cartridge is under high pressure and possibly in a liquid state, a small cartridge of propellant is required to expel the internal fire suppressant material 99 of the fire extinguisher 19. It is also contemplated that multiple gas cartridges can be used to accommodate a larger fire extinguisher without deviating from the inventive nature of the design. Pressurized gas cartridges are available and can be replaced or serviced without the need to service the entire fire extinguisher 19. The handle 40 and its transparent portion 42 provides protection to the pressurized gas cartridge 50 in the event the fire extinguisher 19 is dropped or roughly handled. A trigger mechanism 60 activates the pressurized gas cartridge 50 to pressurize the chamber 22 and expel the fire suppressant material 99 into and out of the hose 81 and exit port 90. A control valve lever 92 opens and closes the exit port 90 to prevent fire suppressant material 99 from pouring out of the extinguisher when the chamber is pressurized. The puncturing mechanism of the pressurized gas cartridge and the path from the gas cartridge 50 into the chamber 22 is shown and described in FIG. 2.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of fire extinguisher 19. An operator can place their hand or glove through the grip area 41 of the handle 40 to carry, transport or use the fire extinguisher 19 with either hand. Fire suppressant material 99 is placed into chamber 22 within the bottom housing 20 through an enlarged cylindrical opening 70 when the top housing 30 is disengaged from the bottom housing 20. Over time the fire suppressant material 99 will become compressed and compacted in the bottom of the chamber 22. When the fire suppressant material 99 is compacted, risk of improper discharge increases. Within the fire extinguisher 19 a plurality of fluffing arms 120 are arranged on a central shaft 110. A fluffing wheel 100 can be accessed from the underside of the fire extinguisher 19. Rotating the fluffing wheel 100 will re-fluff the fire suppressant material 99 to minimize risk of improper discharge of suppressant material 99 from the fire extinguisher 19. Turning the fluffing wheel 100 will provide similar loosening of the fire suppressant material 99 as might be found in a food mixer.

[0036] Polycarbonate is a cost effective candidate for providing a transparent bottom housing 20, however when polycarbonate is in contact with ammonia gas that is the main constituent of ABC dry chemical, material degradation will occur, especially at elevated temperatures, there is a need to isolate or protect the polycarbonate from direct exposure. When using polycarbonate material, the interior of the bottom housing 20 is preferably coated with a transparent protection coating 21 with a Siloxane base, or equivalent. This coating 21 improves chemical and abrasion resistance as well as provides UV protection. The coating 21 can be applied in any number of methods to isolate the polycarbonate exposure to Monoammonium phosphate and any emitted ammonia gas. The coating 21 would provide necessary chemical resistance whereas the polycarbonate bottom housing 20 would provide necessary strength and impact resistance.

[0037] In another contemplated embodiment, construct the bottom housing 20 as a transparent cylinder from two separate cylinders where the inner cylinder 21 is inserted into the outer cylinder 23 of bottom housing 20. This could be accomplished by insert molding a transparent inner cylinder of tritan, acrylic, san or an equivalently performing other material into the polycarbonate outer cylinder 23. The outer cylinder 23 of would be polycarbonate, and would serve to provide the assembly with necessary strength and impact resistance, whereas, the inner cylinder 21 would provide the necessary chemical resistance to Monoammonium phosphate. For these embodiments the strength of the inner cylinder 21 could be sufficient to ensure safe operation in the event outer cylinder 23 of bottom housing 20 is damaged from a severe environment or impact.

[0038] To expel fire suppressant material 99 from within the fire extinguisher 19 an operator must puncture the pressurized gas cartridge 50. The pressurized gas cartridge 50 is secured by threads 52 or otherwise secured into the top housing of the fire extinguisher 19. Within the top housing 30 a replaceable pressurized gas cartridge 50 is located under a transparent portion 42 of handle 40. The handle 40 and its transparent portion 42 provides protection to the pressurized gas cartridge 50 in the event of the fire extinguisher being dropped, and also allows the operator to verify that the pressurized gas cartridge 50 is installed within the fire extinguisher 19. To puncture the pressurized gas cartridge 50 the operator lowers or rotates the trigger mechanism 60 that pushes the puncture pin 62 into the pressurized gas cartridge 50. Details of the trigger mechanism 60 and the puncture pin 62 is shown and described in more detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. Once the pressurized gas cartridge 50 is punctured the gas and or liquid will be forced into the chamber 22.

[0039] When liquefied gas is discharged from pressurized gas cartridge 50, evaporation must occur from the contained liquid in order to maintain thermodynamic equilibrium within the pressurized gas cartridge 50. To maintain thermodynamic equilibrium heat is required to drive the evaporation. If the available heat from the surrounding cartridge environment is insufficient the compressed liquefied gas temperature and pressure will drop. For liquefied CO.sub.2, if the pressure drops below 75 psig, the liquid CO.sub.2 will solidify into dry ice. If dry ice forms, the dry ice will not have time to absorb enough of the surrounding thermal mass to heat the dry ice to change phase into gas and contribute to the effective discharge of the fire extinguisher 19.

[0040] The forming of dry ice is exacerbated in low temperatures. Testing agencies such as UL, CSA, and others require operation of a fire extinguisher at temperatures down to −40° C. (−40° F.). If a pressurized gas cartridge with CO.sub.2 is oriented with the discharge port vertical in an upright position (i.e., with threads 52 in the upper position), testing has shown that up to 40% of the CO.sub.2 (by mass) can remain in the form of dry ice after completion of the fire extinguishers' discharge. When the pressurized gas cartridge 50 contains CO.sub.2 and is oriented in an inverted orientation (i.e., with threads 52 in the lower position), the cartridge does not need to absorb nearly as much heat to evaporate the liquid CO.sub.2 from the pressurized gas cartridge 50 to maintain temperature and pressure above the triple point, and thus, creation of dry ice within the cartridge 50 is avoided. This concept has been experimentally demonstrated to discharge nearly 100% of the CO.sub.2 from the cartridge, even with the fire extinguisher preconditioned to −40° C. (−40° F.). Once the CO.sub.2 enters the chamber 22, there is sufficient heat and surface area in the comparatively large volume to rapidly convert liquid CO.sub.2 into gaseous CO.sub.2.

[0041] The mixture of fire suppressant material 99 and gas are pushed through the central shaft 110 and then through the flow path 80 in the top housing 30 where they are pushed through hose 81 to a manually operable valve 95 and are expelled out of the exit port 90. The central shaft 110 has an integral tube 112 where fire suppressant material 99 is pushed into multiple holes in the bottom of the central shaft 110 through integral tube 112. The dispensing nozzle 96 has a valve 95 that is operated with a control rod 94 to open and close the valve 95. The control rod 94 holds the valve 95 closed with a spring 93. An operator depresses the control valve lever 92 to overcome the spring 93 and opens the valve 95. The dispensing nozzle 96 can be operated by either hand. This is shown and described in more detail in FIG. 3.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the dispensing nozzle 96. This view shows a portion of the handle 40 and the grip area 41. The top housing 30 includes a flow path 80 from within the fire extinguisher 19, through the top housing 30. With the valve 95 in the closed position, the fire extinguisher 19 can remain in a pressurized condition after the pressurized gas cartridge 50 has been punctured. In this “primed” condition all of the pressure and fire suppressant material 99 within the fire extinguisher 19 is controlled by the valve 95. The dispensing nozzle 96 has a valve 95 that is connected to a control rod 94. The control rod 94 is pulled back to permit flow from the hose 81 to the exit port 90.

[0043] An operator can hold dispensing nozzle 96 of the fire extinguisher 19 in one hand and operate the lever 92 with the same hand. The operator can then direct the dispensing nozzle 96 at the fire. When the lever 92 is depressed, the lever will press against spring 93 and slide the control rod 94 to open the valve 95. When the valve 95 is opened fire suppressant material 99 will flow out of the exit port 90. When the lever 92 is released the spring 93 will close the valve 95 to prevent further dispensing of fire suppressant material 99. This will retain pressure within the chamber 22 of fire extinguisher 19.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the top housing 30 of the fire extinguisher 19. The handle 40 allows the operator to hold the fire extinguisher 19 by placing a hand through the grip area 41. Trigger mechanism 60 is connected to a lift plate 55 that lifts the puncture pin 62 into the sealed end of the pressurized gas cartridge 50 under the transparent portion 42 of handle 40. The pressurized gas cartridge 50 is secured by threads 52 or otherwise secured into the top housing 30. Detail of the trigger mechanism 60 and the puncture pin 62 is shown and described in more detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. When cartridge 50 is filled with compressed liquid CO.sub.2, the flow path between the pressurized gas cartridge 50 and the inside of the fire extinguisher 19 must be as smooth as possible to limit the risk of dry ice forming that can block or restrict the flow path. The bottom housing 20 is shown connected to the top housing 30. When valve 95 is opened, static pressure from CO.sub.2 or compressed gas from the gas cartridge 50 pushes the fire suppressant material 99 down into the openings of central shaft 110 and up through integral tube 112 and then through the flow path 80 to the hose 81. If seals 109 leak with respect to top housing 30, gas from gas cartridge 50 will bypass suppressant material 99 and travel directly into flow path 80 and eventually out valve 95, leading to reduced range and discharge amount of suppressant material 99. To ensure proper assembly of seals 109 to top housing 30, guide features of the top housing 30 capture central shaft 110 during installation of bottom housing 20 to top housing 30.

[0045] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show stages of repositioning the safety knob 72 prior to discharging the fire extinguisher 19. The initial stage at 5A is how the fire extinguisher 19 will exist prior to activation. In this position the safety knob 72 restricts the trigger mechanism 60 from moving. The safety knob 72 is essentially rectangular thereby locking or blocking the trigger mechanism 60 in one orientation and allowing the sides of the trigger mechanism 60 to pass by the safety knob 72 when the safety knob 72 is rotated 90 degrees. The opposing vertical sides of the trigger mechanism 60 are secured with flange portions 76 of safety knob 72. To allow for activation, safety knob 72 is rotated 68. Safety knob 72 can be operated by either hand.

[0046] In FIG. 5B the safety knob 72 is shown in the vertical orientation to allow the trigger mechanism 60 to pass by the sides of the safety knob 72. When the safety knob 72 is rotated, the rotation causes internal pins 74 to shear and release or eject the tamper indicator 73. The release of the tamper indicator 73 identifies that the fire extinguisher 19 may have been discharged and requires service inspection. Also, when the safety knob 72 is in the vertical orientation, access to the gas cartridge 50 by opening transparent portion 42 of handle 40 has been blocked. The design prevents the insertion of a new pressurized gas cartridge 50 without the trigger mechanism 60 returned to an upright and locked orientation to prevent puncturing the new pressurized gas cartridge 50 upon insertion.

[0047] In FIG. 5C an operator can then pull or push the trigger mechanism 60 downward 69 to where the trigger mechanism 60 is shown in a lower position 67 (as dashed lines). When the trigger mechanism 60 is rotated from the upper to the lower position 67 the puncture pin 62 is pushed into and punctures the pressurized gas cartridge 50. The trigger mechanism 60 can be operated by either hand.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the pressurized gas cartridge 50 puncturing mechanism. The pressurized gas cartridge 50 is secured by threads 52 into a threaded retainer 56 within the top housing 30. The pressurized gas cartridge 50 and the threaded retainer 56 remain stationary as the end of the pressurized gas cartridge 50 is punctured. The puncturing mechanism has a plurality of fasteners 57. From this figure, one set of fasteners and duplicate parts has been removed for viewing. The trigger mechanism 60 pivots through an axis 58 to increase the mechanical advantage to puncture the end of the pressurized gas cartridge 50. The free ends of the trigger mechanism 60 are connected to lift rods 53 and return springs 54 that maintain the trigger mechanism 60 in a normal condition where the puncture pin 62 is not in contact with the end of the pressurized gas cartridge 50. Lift rods 53 (only one shown) are connected together and operate in unison to lift the lift plate 55 in a parallel relationship to raise the puncture pin 62 in a linear motion.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a detail cross-sectional view of the puncture pin 62. The puncture pin 62 has a pointed end 61 to puncture the seal on the end of the pressurized gas cartridge 50. A partially hollowed center 65 allows gas or liquid CO.sub.2 to pass from the pressurized gas cartridge 50 into the chamber 22 of the fire extinguisher 19 even when pin 62 is held in the puncturing position within gas cartridge 50. The puncture pin 62 has a taper 66 to increase the size of the hole as the pin is inserted into the pressurized gas cartridge 50 and the taper 66 provides draft for the pin to readily eject from cartridge 50 via force applies by springs 54. One end of the puncture pin 62 has assembly feature 64 where the puncture pin 62 is retained onto the lift plate 55. An enlarged shank 63 supports the puncture pin 62 between the assembly feature 64 and the partially hollowed center 65. Since the puncture pin 62 is rigidly supported, inadvertent puncturing of gas cartridge 50 during drop event or rough usage is avoided.

[0050] FIG. 8 shows the fluffing arms 120 and integral tube 112. In this preferred embodiment the fluffing arms 120 and integral tube 112 are fabricated as a single unit around a central shaft 110. The bottom 111 of the central shaft 110 fits into the bottom of the fire extinguisher 19. Seals around the bottom 111 prevent pressurized gas from passing out of the bottom of the fire extinguisher 19. Seals 109 on the upper end of the central shaft 110 prevent bypass of pressurized gas directly into flow path 80 and eventually out valve 95, leading to reduced range and discharge amount of suppressant material 99. The seals 109 and the seals around the bottom 111 allow for the central shaft 110 to be rotated within the fire extinguisher 19. To aide in manufacturing, bottom 111, integral tube 112, and/or fluffing arms 120 may be separate parts or combined in any efficient manner.

[0051] Because the pressurized gas cartridge 50 is inverted, essentially only liquefied gas exits and expands into gas within the fire extinguisher 19 therefore essentially all of the gas within the cartridge is expelled. Because the liquid/gas is expelled at a rapid rate a pressure wave 113 traveling nearly the speed of sound pushes onto the top of the fluffing arms 120. A gusset 116 supports the fluffing arm 120 and prevents the fluffing arm 120 from being sheared off by the pressure wave. In a short period of time, pressure within the fire extinguisher 19 stabilizes. Once valve 95 is opened, the static pressure within chamber 22 pushes the fire suppressant material 99 toward at least one intake hole 114 in the bottom of the central shaft 110 shown in the other figures herein.

[0052] FIG. 9 shows a detail of the multiple intake holes 114 and the fluffing arm(s) 120. The fluffing arms 120 are narrow, crowned, staggered, and tapered 115 to minimize turning resistance while maximizing mixing of packed fire suppressant material 99 and flow of pressurized suppressant material 99 during discharge. Holes 117 in the fluffing arms 120 allow fire suppressant material 99 to pass around the fluffing arms 120 and the support gusset 116. The pressure wave 113 of liquefied gas is shown pushing down on the arm 120. The bottom of the central shaft 110 shows the multiple intake holes 114 where the fire suppressant material 99 is pushed into the intake holes 114 and through the integral tube 112 where they can exit the fire extinguisher 19 through the hose 81 and dispensing nozzle 96. The bottom seals exist in recesses in the bottom 111 of the central shaft 110.

[0053] Thus, specific embodiments of a portable fire extinguisher have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.