US3830309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire extinguishing apparatus
Assignee: Foamex Canada Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-16
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Granted: 1974-08-20
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Expires: 1993-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A fire suppression system utilizing high expansion foam has the foam concentrate held in a rupturable container immersed within a water tank so that in response to a burst of pressure introduced into the system at the outbreak of a fire, the container ruptures to charge the water with foam concentrate and to rush the resulting solution to generating hoods from which the foam is discharged to extinguish the fire. Alternative embodiments disclose a flexible bag for the concentrate or a rigidly walled container having a breakable seal that guards the outlets for the concentrate. Special structural features of the generators, including air inlet and foam outlet relationships, the disposition of an air baffle within each generator with respect to its foam outlet, and nozzle positioning cooperate to produce a high foam expansion ratio.
Inventors
- 👤 C Ray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:45
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C5/00; A62C5/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus: a tank containing a first agent in liquid form capable of producing a foamable solution when mixed with a second agent; a foam generator in flow communication with said tank for receiving said solution from the tank, converting the solution to foam and discharging the foam for extinguishing a fire; an actuatable source of pressurized fluid coupled with said tank for forcing said solution to said generator under pressure in response to the detection of a fire; and a rupturable container within said tank holding said second agent immersed within said first agent, said container being responsive to a predetermined burst of pressurized fluid from said source when the latter is actuated by the detection of a fire to charge and thoroughly mix said first agent with said second agent whereby to produce said solution and rush the same to said generator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus: a tank containing a first agent in liquid form capable of producing a foamable solution when mixed with a second agent; a foam generator in flow communication with said tank for receiving said solution from the tank, converting the solution to foam and discharging the foam for extinguishing a fire; an actuatable source of pressurized fluid coupled with said tank for forcing said solution to said generator under pressure in response to the detection of a fire; and a rupturable container within said tank holding said second agent immersed within said first agent, said container being responsive to a predetermined burst of pressurized fluid from said source when the latter is actuated by the detection of a fire to charge and thoroughly mix said first agent with said second agent whereby to produce said solution and rush the same to said generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
In fire extinguishing appartus as claimed in claim 1, said container comprising a flexible, openmouthed bag suspended within said tank in position for receiving said burst of pressurized fluid through said mouth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bag is provided with a line of weakness along which the bag ruptures to release said second agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
In fire extingushing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container has an inlet at one end thereof for said pressurized fluid and an outlet at the opposite end thereof for said second agent, said outlet having a seal thereacross normally closing the outlet but being breakable in response to said predetermined pressure burst to open the outlet and release said second agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pressurized fluid is a gas, said outlet being located adjacent the bottom of said tank whereby said gas issuing from the outlet after discharging the second Agent from the container churns through the first and second agents to rapidly and thoroughly mix the same as the gas rises toward the top of the tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said outlet is provided with diffuser having at least a pair of dissimilarly directed spouts for disseminating the seond agent throughout the first agent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said generator includes a housing having an air inlet, a foraminous foam outlet spaced from said inlet, a nozzle interposed between said inlet and outlet for directing a spray of said solution against said outlet and for drawing air into said spray from said inlet to produce foam, a floor underlying said nozzle and the outlet, and an inclined baffle leading from said floor to the outlet for directing air from said inlet to the spray and through said outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said outlet is inclined upwardly away from said nozzle and at a steeper angle than said baffle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said nozzle is so positioned that one generally lateral extremity of the spray is disposed at the junction of said baffle and said outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the angle of inclination of said outlet is approximately forty-five degrees from horizontal, that of said baffle is approximately thirty degrees from horizontal, and that of said nozzle is approximately fifteen degrees from horizontal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
In fire extinguishing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein is provided a series of said nozzles spaced apart in side-by-side relationship and so positioned that the sprays from adjacent nozzles impinge upon one another to increase the amount of air drawn into the sprays.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
In fire extingushing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said inlet is provided with a perforated member disposed across the same for reducing back spray in the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3750754A
Cited
US3709302A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |