US3876010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foam fire-extinguishing device for walled containers
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus comprising a liquid storage container and a foam dispensing fire-extinguishing means wherein the container has at an upper portion of the wall thereof an elongated, substantially continuous, substantially horizontal foam inlet slot, and wherein the fire-extinguishing means comprises an elongated substantially horizontal foam distribution channel communicating with the foam inlet slot along substantially the entire length of the foam inlet slot, the fire-extinguishing means further comprising foam generator means and conducting means for conducting foam from the foam generator to the distribution channel. Also, a process for quenching fires in a flammable liquid storage container by passing foam down the interior wall of the container in a substantially continuous curtain from at least one substantially horizontal foam inlet slot located in and through and substantially around the container wall at an upper portion thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 David L Blomquist
- 👤 Frederick W Almus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:55
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C3/00; A62C3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
Apparatus comprising a walled liquid storage container and a foam-dispensing fire extinguishing means, said container having at an upper portion of the wall thereof an elongated, substantially continuous, substantially horizontal foam inlet slot, said fire extinguishing means comprising an elongated substantially horizontal foam distribution channel communicating with said foam inlet slot along substantially the entire length of said foam inlet slot, said fire extinguishing means further comprising foam generator means and conducting means for conducting foam from said foam generator to said distribution channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus comprising a walled liquid storage container and a foam-dispensing fire extinguishing means, said container having at an upper portion of the wall thereof an elongated, substantially continuous, substantially horizontal foam inlet slot, said fire extinguishing means comprising an elongated substantially horizontal foam distribution channel communicating with said foam inlet slot along substantially the entire length of said foam inlet slot, said fire extinguishing means further comprising foam generator means and conducting means for conducting foam from said foam generator to said distribution channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said fire extinguishing means is mounted at an upper portion of said wall on the outside of said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said foam distribution channel substantially surrounds said container, and wherein said foam distribution channel is so constructed and arranged to channel foam introduced thereinto substantially around said container as a foam reservoir before said foam overflows through said inlet slot into said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said horizontal foam distribution channel is a pipe having a substantially continuous aperture therein and deflector means for directing foam to said inlet slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for quenching fires in a walled liquid storage container, said container having in and through an upper portion of the wall thereof at least one elongated substantially horizontal foam inlet slot, which comprises substantially horizontal elongated channel means located outside said wall adjacent to said slot and in communication with said slot along substantially the entire length thereof, said channel means being so constructed and arranged with respect to said walls and said slot that foam introduced therein will flow substantially throughout the length of said channel means before flowing from said channel means through said slot into said container, and means for introducing foam into said channel means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for quenching fires in a walled liquid storage container, said container having in and through an upper portion of the wall thereof at least one elongated substantially horizontal foam inlet slot, which comprises substantially horizontal elongated channel means located outside said wall adjacent to said slot and in communication with said slot along substantially the entire length thereof, said channel means being so constructed and arranged with respect to said walls and said slot that foam introduced therein will flow substantially throughout the length of said channel means before flowing from said channel means through said slot into said container, and means for introducing foam into said channel means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said means for introducing foam into said channel means comprises a foam generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A storage tank for liquid hydrocarbons comprising in combination at least one substantially horizontal elongated fire-quenching foam inlet slot located in and through and substantially completely around the wall of said tank at an upper portion thereof, and a substantially horizontal elongated foam distribution channel surrounding said tank adjacent to said inlet slot, said channel communicating with said slot along substantially the entire length thereof and so constructed and arranged with respect to said slot that foam introduced into said channel will flow substantially along the entire length thereof before reaching a sufficient depth to overflow into said tank through said slot, and means for introducing foam into said channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A storage tank for liquid hydrocarbons comprising in combination at least one substantially horizontal elongated fire-quenching foam inlet slot located in and through and substantially completely around the wall of said tank at an upper portion thereof, and a substantially horizontal elongated foam distribution channel surrounding said tank adjacent to said inlet slot, said channel communicating with said slot along substantially the entire length thereof and so constructed and arranged with respect to said slot that foam introduced into said channel will flow substantially along the entire length thereof before reaching a sufficient depth to overflow into said tank through said slot, and means for introducing foam into said channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tank as in claim 6 wherein said means for introducing foam into said channel comprises a foam generator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tank as in claim 6 further comprising a floating roof and foam dam means for directing said foam to the seal area of said floating roof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for quenching fires in a hydrocarbon liquid storage tank which comprises means located outside said tank for forming a substantially horizontally elongated collar of foam substantially around said tank at an upper portion thereof, at least one substantially horizontal foam inlet slot located in and through and substantially around the wall of said tank at an upper portion of said wall, and means for passing said foam through said inlet slot and thence down the interior of said wall in a substantially continuous curtain.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for quenching fires in a hydrocarbon liquid storage tank which comprises means located outside said tank for forming a substantially horizontally elongated collar of foam substantially around said tank at an upper portion thereof, at least one substantially horizontal foam inlet slot located in and through and substantially around the wall of said tank at an upper portion of said wall, and means for passing said foam through said inlet slot and thence down the interior of said wall in a substantially continuous curtain.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process for quenching fires in a flammable liquid storage container which comprises (1) generating foam, (2) distributing said foam around the exterior of said container at an upper portion thereof, and (3) passing said foam down the interior wall of said container in a substantially continuous curtain from at least one substantially horizontal foam inlet slot located in and through and substantially around the container wall at an upper portion thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process for quenching fires in a flammable liquid storage container which comprises (1) generating foam, (2) distributing said foam around the exterior of said container at an upper portion thereof, and (3) passing said foam down the interior wall of said container in a substantially continuous curtain from at least one substantially horizontal foam inlet slot located in and through and substantially around the container wall at an upper portion thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 10 wherein a substantially horizontally elongated collar of foam is formed substantially around said tank at an upper portion thereof, and is then passed through said inlet slot and thence down the interior of said wall in a substantially continuous curtain.
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) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |