Fire control apparatus

Claim 2

A fire control apparatus for use in controlling a grease fire in cooking equipment having a heated open vat containing melted grease, comprising a pressurized tank of extinguishant, valve means carried by said tank for controlling the flow of extinguishant from said tank, means directing said flow of extinguishant from said valve means toward said vat, said valve means having a spring-loaded means having one end portion adapted to release the pressurized extinguishant from sAid tank, axially spaced ports associated with said one end portion of the springloaded means, means for releasing said spring-loaded means whereby said pressurized extinguishant is released, said pressurized extinguishant initially opening all of said ports associated with said spring-loaded means for maximum discharge of extinguishant and gradual decay of the pressure in said tank permitting said spring-loaded means to close some of said ports thereby reducing the rate of discharge of extinguishant.

Claim 3

In fire control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring-loaded means comprises a valve stem and wherein said one end portion thereof is hollow and has a puncture point for piercing a rupturable disc carried by said pressurized tank.

Claim 4

In fire control apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ports associated with said spring-loaded means comprise axially spaced openings communicating between said hollow portion of said valve stem and an outlet from said valve means.

Claim 5

In fire control apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein gasket means operate to seal the valve means to said valve stem so that movement of the valve stem from one position to another closes at least one of said ports in said valve stem.

Claim 6

In fire control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the other end portion of said valve stem extends beyond the valve means and is releasably engaged by said releasing means, and wherein said releasing means comprises a release cam engaging said valve stem whereupon movement of said release cam permits said valve stem to move to a position to release said extinguishant.

Claim 7

In fire control apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said one end portion of the valve stem has a puncture point adapted to rupture a seal into the pressurized extinguishant.

Claim 8

A fire control apparatus for use in controlling a grease fire in cooking equipment having a heated open vat containing melted grease, comprising a pressurized tank of extinguishant, valve means carried by said tank for controlling the flow of extinguishant from said tank, means directing said flow of extinguishant from said valve means toward said vat, said valve means having a spring-loaded stem means operatively connected with respect to the vat such that a flame in the vicinity of the vat will release said stem means, said stem means having one end portion adapted to release the pressurized extinguishant upon movement of said stem means by said spring, said one end portion being hollow and having axially spaced ports communicating between the hollow inside of said stem means and an outlet port in said valve means whereby initial release of said pressurized extinguishant opens all of said ports in said stem means for maximum discharge of extinguishant toward the vat, gradual decay of the pressure in said tank permits said stem means to close at least one of said ports thereby reducing the rate of discharge of extinguishant towards said vat.

Claim 9

A fire control apparatus for use in controlling a grease fire in cooking equipment having a heated open vat containing melted grease, comprising a pressurized tank of extinguishant, valve means carried by said tank for controlling the flow of extinguishant from said tank, means directing said flow of extinguishant from said valve means toward said vat, said valve means having a spring-loaded stem means operatively connected with respect to the vat such that a flame in the vicinity of the vat will release said stem means, said stem means having one end portion adapted to release the pressurized extinguishant upon movement of said stem means by said spring, said one end portion being hollow and having axially spaced ports communicating between the hollow inside of said stem means and an outlet port in said valve means whereby initial release of said pressurized extinguishant opens all of said ports in said stem means for maximum discharge of extinguishant toward the vat, gradual decay of the pressure in said tank permits said stem means to close at least one of said ports thereby reducing the rate of discharge of extinguishant towards said vat.

Claim 10

The fire control apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said one end portion has a puncture point for penetrating a seal in said tank for releasing said extinguishant.

Claim 11

In a fire control apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for directing said flow of extinguishant into said control zone comprises a nozzle with a central blind bore and radially projecting bores communicating therewith, means surrounding said nozzle in overlapping relationship with said radial bores for deflecting extinguishant issuing from said radial bores in a random fashion toward and over the surface of said control zone.

Claim 12

In an apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said nozzle and overlapping means are horizontally directed for laying down a blanket of extinguishant over said control zone.

Claim 13

A fire control apparatus for use in controlling fire in a heated open vat containing melted grease, a hood overhanging said vat in vertically spaced relationship, a stack communicating with said hood for removing exhaust fumes and the like from sAid vat, and fire control means for controlling a fire in said vat comprising a pressurized cylinder of fire extinguishant, a rupturable disc sealing said extinguishant in said cylinder, means directing discharge from said cylinder over said vat into said hood and up said stack, a valve means controlling the flow of fluid from said cylinder into said discharge directing means, said valve means comprising a valve body, a valve stem slidably mounted in said valve body, spring means in said valve body urging said valve stem in an extended position toward said rupturable disc on said cylinder, said valve stem being hollow throughout a portion thereof, a puncturing point on said stem with an opening therethrough communicating with said hollow portion, axially spaced ports through the sides of said stem communicating with said hollow portion of the stem, a seal carried by said valve body and slidably engaging the outside of said stem, cocking means engaging said stem for holding said spring compressed and for holding said puncturing point spaced away from said rupturing disc, and means in said vat, hood or stack for releasing said cocking means upon detection of a fire therein, whereby upon release of said cocking means said spring will drive said point through said rupturable disc whereupon pressure in the hollow stem will recompress the spring and a large volume of extinguishant will be discharged through said ports and into said discharge directing means, upon release of sufficient pressure said stem will slowly move downward until at least one of said ports is closed thereby reducing the discharge proportionally.

Claim 14

A fire control apparatus for use in controlling fire in a heated open vat containing melted grease, a hood overhanging said vat in vertically spaced relationship, a stack communicating with said hood for removing exhaust fumes and the like from sAid vat, and fire control means for controlling a fire in said vat comprising a pressurized cylinder of fire extinguishant, a rupturable disc sealing said extinguishant in said cylinder, means directing discharge from said cylinder over said vat into said hood and up said stack, a valve means controlling the flow of fluid from said cylinder into said discharge directing means, said valve means comprising a valve body, a valve stem slidably mounted in said valve body, spring means in said valve body urging said valve stem in an extended position toward said rupturable disc on said cylinder, said valve stem being hollow throughout a portion thereof, a puncturing point on said stem with an opening therethrough communicating with said hollow portion, axially spaced ports through the sides of said stem communicating with said hollow portion of the stem, a seal carried by said valve body and slidably engaging the outside of said stem, cocking means engaging said stem for holding said spring compressed and for holding said puncturing point spaced away from said rupturing disc, and means in said vat, hood or stack for releasing said cocking means upon detection of a fire therein, whereby upon release of said cocking means said spring will drive said point through said rupturable disc whereupon pressure in the hollow stem will recompress the spring and a large volume of extinguishant will be discharged through said ports and into said discharge directing means, upon release of sufficient pressure said stem will slowly move downward until at least one of said ports is closed thereby reducing the discharge proportionally.