Patent US3390347A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3603403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic fire extinguishing apparatus
Assignee: Lewis Engineering Co
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Filing: 1969-08-20
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-08-20
Abstract
Abstract Automatic Fire Extinguishing Apparatus which is independent of commercial utilities such as water supply, electrical service and the like, comprising a local pressurized source of extinguishing fluid and a plurality of flexible distribution hoses having sets of nozzles, said hoses also having detecting electrical conductors which respond to heat and which are connected to responsive power equipment controlling valves for releasing the extinguishing fluid under conditions of fire. The conductors and responsive power equipment include heat insulation providing a special delay action by which normal changes in ambient temperature have no effect whereas a quick rise in ambient temperature causes quick response of the extinguisher.
Inventors
- 👤 Elwood R Horwinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:06
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C35/00; A62C35/58; A62C35/60; A62C35/605
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A combined fire detector and extinguisher hose comprising, in combination: a. a hose line adapted to carry an extinguishing fluid, b. a wire wrap surrounding said hose line, c. said wrap comprising a plurality of electrical conductors insulated from each other, d. one of said conductors having a high and significant temperature coefficient of resistance greater than copper, thereby adapting it for use as a temperature-responsive sensor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A combined fire detector and extinguisher hose comprising, in combination: a. a hose line adapted to carry an extinguishing fluid, b. a wire wrap surrounding said hose line, c. said wrap comprising a plurality of electrical conductors insulated from each other, d. one of said conductors having a high and significant temperature coefficient of resistance greater than copper, thereby adapting it for use as a temperature-responsive sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
A combined fire detector and extinguisher hose comprising, in combination: a. a hose line adapted to carry an extinguishing fluid, b. a wire wrap surrounding said hose line, c. said wrap comprising a plurality of electrical conductors insulated from each other, d. one of said conductors having a high and significant temperature coefficient of resistance greater than copper, thereby adapting it for use as a temperature-responsive sensor, e. a plurality of nozzles connected in said hose line to receive extinguishing fluid therefrom and to discharge the same to the surrounding area, f. said nozzles having orifices sufficiently small to enable a discharging liquid to become frozen in it at temperatures caused by evaporation in a range considerably below ambient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
A combined fire detector and extinguisher hose comprising, in combination: a. a hose line adapted to carry an extinguishing fluid, b. a wire wrap surrounding said hose line, c. said wrap comprising a plurality of electrical conductors insulated from each other, d. one of said conductors having a high and significant temperature coefficient of resistance greater than copper, thereby adapting it for use as a temperature-responsive sensor, e. a plurality of nozzles connected in said hose line to receive extinguishing fluid therefrom and to discharge the same to the surrounding area, f. said nozzles having orifices sufficiently small to enable a discharging liquid to become frozen in it at temperatures caused by evaporation in a range considerably below ambient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A hose as in claim 2, and further including: a. a separable hose connector fitting carrying one of said nozzles and detachably connecting the same to separate lengths of said hose line, and b. separable eleCtrical connector fittings for detachably connecting the conductors of said lengths at a location adjacent said one hose connector fitting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
A combined fire detector and extinguisher hose comprising, in combination: a. a hose line adapted to carry an extinguishing fluid, b. a wire wrap surrounding said hose line, c. said wrap comprising a plurality of electrical conductors insulated from each other, d. one of said conductors having a high and significant temperature coefficient of resistance greater than copper thereby adapting it for use as a temperature-responsive sensor, e. two of the conductors of high temperature coefficient of resistance have different responses to changes in ambient temperature, f. one of said two conductors having heat insulation surrounding it to render it relatively poorly responsive to surrounding heat and g. the other of said two conductors being relatively readily responsive to surrounding heat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A combined fire detector and extinguisher hose comprising, in combination: a. a hose line adapted to carry an extinguishing fluid, b. a wire wrap surrounding said hose line, c. said wrap comprising a plurality of electrical conductors insulated from each other, d. one of said conductors having a high and significant temperature coefficient of resistance greater than copper thereby adapting it for use as a temperature-responsive sensor, e. two of the conductors of high temperature coefficient of resistance have different responses to changes in ambient temperature, f. one of said two conductors having heat insulation surrounding it to render it relatively poorly responsive to surrounding heat and g. the other of said two conductors being relatively readily responsive to surrounding heat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hose as in claim 4, wherein: a. said other conductor of high temperature coefficient of resistance surrounds the said one conductor in spaced relation thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
A hose as in claim 5, wherein: a. the hose line comprises a spiral-wound flexible metal conduit having a helical external groove, b. said one conductor of high temperature coefficient of resistance having an insulating jacket and being wound in said external groove, c. a spiral wrap of insulation surrounding said metal conduit and one conductor, d. said other conductor of high temperature coefficient of resistance being wound around and external to said spiral wrap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A combined fire detector and extinguisher hose comprising in combination: a. a hose line adapted to carry an extinguishing fluid, b. a wire wrap surrounding said hose line, c. said wrap comprising a plurality of electrical conductors insulated from each other, d. one of said conductors having a high and significant temperature coefficient of resistance greater than copper, thereby adapting it for use as a temperature-responsive sensor, e. the conductors of high temperature coefficient comprise nickel, f. other conductors of said sheath being constituted of low-melting point metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A combined fire detector and extinguisher hose comprising in combination: a. a hose line adapted to carry an extinguishing fluid, b. a wire wrap surrounding said hose line, c. said wrap comprising a plurality of electrical conductors insulated from each other, d. one of said conductors having a high and significant temperature coefficient of resistance greater than copper, thereby adapting it for use as a temperature-responsive sensor, e. the conductors of high temperature coefficient comprise nickel, f. other conductors of said sheath being constituted of low-melting point metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
A hose as in claim 7, wherein: a. two of the conductors of high temperature coefficient of resistance have different responses to changes in ambient temperature, b. one of said two conductors having heat insulation surrounding it to render it relatively poorly responsive to surrounding heat and c. the other of said two conductors being relatively readily responsive to surrounding heat, d. said other conductor of high temperature coefficient of resistance surrounds the said one conductor in spaced relation thereto, e. said low melting point conductors being disposed between said two conductors of high temperature coefficient of resistance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
A hose as in claim 8, wherein: a. the hose line comprises a spiral-wound flexible metal conduit having a helical external groove, b. said one conductor of high temperature coefficient of resistance having an insulating jacket and being wound in said external groove, c. a spiral wrap of insulation surrounding said metal conduit and one conductor, d. said other conductor of high temperature coefficient of resistance being wound around and external to said spiral wrap, e. said conductors of low melting point being carried by said spiral wrap of insulation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
A hose as in claim 2, and further including: a. a supply of fire-extinguishing fluid connected to one end of said hose line, b. a valve controlling the flow of fluid from said supply to the hose line, c. an electric actuator for said valve, and d. means for delaying the temperature change of one of said two high temperature coefficient conductors when changes in ambient temperature occur, and e. means connected to said high-temperature coefficient conductors, responding to a raPid change in the resistance of only one of said conductors due to a rapid change in ambient temperature surrounding said conductors, for activating said actuator to open the valve whereby extinguishing fluid will be discharged through said hose line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein: a. the means responsive to rapid change in the resistance of one of the high-temperature coefficient conductors comprises a bridge circuit connected to said valve actuator and having said conductors in its legs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein: a. the means for delaying the temperature change comprises heat insulation surrounding said one high-temperature coefficient conductor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein: a. said other conductor is wrapped around the hose line in spaced relation thereto, b. said one conductor being disposed between the hose line and said other conductor, in the space therebetween.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein: a. the hose line comprises a spiral-wound flexible metal conduit having a helical external metal groove, b. said one conductor having a heat-insulating jacket and being wound in said external groove.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as in claim 11, and further including: a. a conductor of low-melting point metal, wrapped around said hose line and connected in a leg of said bridge to influence the latter when the low-melting point metal melts and renders the conductor discontinuous.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |