Air ventilation and washing system

Claim 2

In a ventilation system including an interior wall defining a chamber through which contaminated hot air is adapted to pass, an improved cleaning and fire extinguishing system for cleaning contaminants from said interior wall and extinguishing any fire or incipient fire in the proximity of said chamber, comprising: a fluid dispersing member in said chamber; said fluid dispersing member having outlet openings through which cleaning fluid may be dispersed onto said interior wall of said chamber to wash away contaminants thereon; pump means for delivering cleaning fluid through said fluid dispersing member and onto said interior wall of said chamber; means for selectively operating said pump means to selectively deliver cleaning fluid to said fluid dispersing member and through said outlet openings thereof and onto said interior wall of said chamber; temperature sensing means in close proximity to said chamber for sensing the temperature within said chamber; and means operatively associated with said temperature sensing means for operating said pump means when said temperature sensing means senses a temperature above a first predetermined level in the vicinity of said chamber to deliver fluid to said fluid dispersing means and into said chamber, and further including a bypass line passing around said pump means for delivering fluid from a source of fluid to said fluid dispersing member and into said chamber; and further including a normally closed valve means in said bypass line; and further including means connected to said valve means for opening said valve means when the temperature in the vicinity of said chamber exceeds a second predetermined level above said first predetermined level for opening said valve means to deliver fluid from a source of fluid to said fluid dispersing member and into said chamber.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1, wherein said means for selectively operating said pump means includes a time clock means for operating said pump to deliver cleaning fluid through said fluid dispersing means and onto said interior wall of said chamber at pre-selected time intervals.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1, wherein said means connected to said valve means includes a heat fusible link adapted to be disrupted when the temperature in the vicinity of said chamber exceeds said second predetermined level.

Claim 5

In a ventilation system including an exhaust fan chamber, an exhaust hood and a duct extending between said exhaust fan chamber and said exhaust hood, an improved cleaning and fire extinguishing system, comprising: a fluid dispersing member extending through said duct and into said exhaust fan chamber and said exhaust hood; said fluid dispersing member having outlet openings through which cleaning fluid may be dispersed into said exhaust fan chamber, said duct and said exhaust hood; pump means for delivering cleaning fluid to said fluid dispersing member; means for selectively operating said pump means to selectively deliver cleaning fluid to said fluid dispersing member and through said fluid dispersing member and into said exhaust fan chamber, said duct and said exhaust hood; first temperature responsive means disposed in close proximity to said exhaust hood and operatively associated with said pump means for operating said pump to deliver fluid to said fluid dispersing member and through said fluid dispersing member and into said exhaust fan chamber, said duct and said exhaust hood when the temperature in the proximity of said exhaust hood exceeds a first predetermined level; a bypass line bypassing said pump means for selectively delivering fluid from a source of fluid to said fluid dispersing member when the temperature in the vicinity of said exhaust hood exceeds a second predetermined level; valve means disposed in said bypass line; and second temperature responsive means disposed in close proximity to said exhaust hood and operatively associated with said valve means in said bypass line for causing fluid to be delivered from a source of fluid through said bypass line and to said fluid dispersing member when the temperature in the proximity of said exhaust hood exceeds a second predetermined level above said first predetermined level.

Claim 6

In a ventilation system including an exhaust fan chamber, an exhaust hood and a duct extending between said exhaust fan chamber and said exhaust hood, an improved cleaning and fire extinguishing system, comprising: a fluid dispersing member extending through said duct and into said exhaust fan chamber and said exhaust hood; said fluid dispersing member having outlet openings through which cleaning fluid may be dispersed into said exhaust fan chamber, said duct and said exhaust hood; pump means for delivering cleaning fluid to said fluid dispersing member; means for selectively operating said pump means to selectively deliver cleaning fluid to said fluid dispersing member and through said fluid dispersing member and into said exhaust fan chamber, said duct and said exhaust hood; first temperature responsive means disposed in close proximity to said exhaust hood and operatively associated with said pump means for operating said pump to deliver fluid to said fluid dispersing member and through said fluid dispersing member and into said exhaust fan chamber, said duct and said exhaust hood when the temperature in the proximity of said exhaust hood exceeds a first predetermined level; a bypass line bypassing said pump means for selectively delivering fluid from a source of fluid to said fluid dispersing member when the temperature in the vicinity of said exhaust hood exceeds a second predetermined level; valve means disposed in said bypass line; and second temperature responsive means disposed in close proximity to said exhaust hood and operatively associated with said valve means in said bypass line for causing fluid to be delivered from a source of fluid through said bypass line and to said fluid dispersing member when the temperature in the proximity of said exhaust hood exceeds a second predetermined level above said first predetermined level.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 4, wherein said first temperature responsive means includes a thermostat for sensing a rise in temperature above said first predetermined level in the vicinity of said exhaust hood, and further including electric circuit means operative in response to said thermostat sensing a rise in temperature above said first predetermined level in the vicinity of said exhaust hood for causing said pump means to operate to deliver fluid to said fluid dispersing member and through said fluid dispersing member and into said exhaust fan chamber, said duct and said exhaust hood.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 4, wherein said second temperature responsive means comprises a mechanical link which is adapted to be disrupted in response to a rise in temperature above said second predetermined level in the vicinity of said exhaust hood, and further including means connecting said mechanical link to said valve means in said bypass line for opening said valve means when said mechanical link is disrupted to deliver fluid from a source of fluid to said fluid dispersing member and through said fluid dispersing member and into said exhaust fan chamber, said duct and said exhaust hood.

Claim 9

An improved exhaust, cleaning and fire extinguishing system, comprising: means defining an exhaust chamber having an interior wall; fluid dispersing means disposed in said exhaust chamber for selectively dispersing fluid into said exhaust chamber; fluid delivery means for selectively delivering fluid to said fluid dispersing means; first temperature responsive means disposed in close proximity to said exhaust chamber and operatively associated with said fluid delivering means for causing fluid to be delivered to said fluid dispersing means and onto the interior wall of said exhaust chamber when the temperature within said exhaust chamber exceeds a first predetermined level; and second temperature responsive means disposed in close proximity to said exhaust chamber and operatively associated with said fluid delivery means for causing fluid to be delivered to said fluid dispersing means and into said exhaust chamber when the temperature in said exhaust chamber exceeds a second predetermined level above said first predetermined level.

Claim 10

An improved exhaust, cleaning and fire extinguishing system, comprising: means defining an exhaust chamber having an interior wall; fluid dispersing means disposed in said exhaust chamber for selectively dispersing fluid into said exhaust chamber; fluid delivery means for selectively delivering fluid to said fluid dispersing means; first temperature responsive means disposed in close proximity to said exhaust chamber and operatively associated with said fluid delivering means for causing fluid to be delivered to said fluid dispersing means and onto the interior wall of said exhaust chamber when the temperature within said exhaust chamber exceeds a first predetermined level; and second temperature responsive means disposed in close proximity to said exhaust chamber and operatively associated with said fluid delivery means for causing fluid to be delivered to said fluid dispersing means and into said exhaust chamber when the temperature in said exhaust chamber exceeds a second predetermined level above said first predetermined level.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 7, wherein said first temperature responsive means includes a thermostat for sensing a rise in temperature above said first predetermined level in the vicinity of said exhaust chamber, and further including electric circuit means operative in response to said thermostat sensing a rise in temperature above said first predetermined level in the vicinity of said exhaust chamber for causing said pump means to operate to deliver fluid to said fluid dispersing means and through said fluid dispersing means and into said exhaust chamber.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 8, wherein said second temperature responsive means comprises a mechanical link which is adapted to be disrupted in response to a rise in temperature above said second predetermined level in the vicinity of said exhaust chamber, and further including means operative in response to disruption of said mechanical link to deliver fluid from a source of fluid to said fluid dispersing means and through said fluid dispersing means and into said exhaust fan chamber, said duct and said exhaust hood.

Claim 13

An improved exhaust, cleaning and fire extinguishing system according to claim 7, wherein said fluid delivery means includes a fluid pump for pumping fluid into said fluid dispersing means; and wherein said pump is operatively associated with said first temperature responsive means and is actuated thereby to deliver fluid to said fluid dispersing means and cause said fluid to be dispersed against the interior wall of said exhaust chamber when the temperature within said exhaust chamber exceeds said first predetermined level.

Claim 14

An improved exhaust, cleaning and fire extinguishing system according to claim 10, and further including a fluid by-pass line by-passing said pump; and wherein said fluid delivery means further includes a normally closed by-pass valve in said by-pass line; said valve being adapted, when opened, to pass fluid through said fluid dispersing means and into said exhaust chamber; said valve being operatively associated with said second temperature responsive means and being opened thereby when the temperature in said exhaust chamber exceds said second predetermined level above said first predetermined level.

Claim 15

An improved exhaust, cleaning and fire extinguishing system according to claim 7, wherein said exhaust chamber has an inlet end and an outlet end; and further comprising an air delivery chamber; said air delivery chamber including an inlet end and an outlet end; said outlet end of said air delivery chamber being disposed adjacent to said inlet end of said exhaust chamber; and means for delivering air through said air delivery chamber.

Claim 16

An improved exhaust, cleaning and fire extinguishing system according to claim 7, wherein said second temperature responsive means comprises a temperature sensitive element which is adapted to be disrupted when the temperature in said exhaust chamber exceeds said second predetermined level.

Claim 17

An improved exhaust, cleaning and fire extinguishing system according to claim 13, wherein said second temperature responsive means comprises a fusable link.

Claim 18

An improved exhaust, cleaning and fire extinguishing system according to claim 7, wherein said fluid dispersing means includes a rotatable spray tube extending through at least a substantial portion of said exhaust chamber; and further comprising drive means for rotating said tube.