Fire extinguishers – Fluid systems – Plural source – mixing in transit
Patent
1992-10-28
1994-08-16
Mitchell, David M.
Fire extinguishers
Fluid systems
Plural source, mixing in transit
169 70, A62C 502
Patent
active
053378300
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fire fighting foam generation system and in particular it relates to a system for mixing a foam forming chemical with water and air and for directing the foam so formed to the seat of the fire, or an area which is to be protected against a fire.
It is already known to use foam in fire-fighting and according to a method already in use, the foam forming chemical and water are mixed and issue from a jet directed to the area to be protected.
It is also well-known to protect buildings by sprinkler systems which are activated in the event of a fire and which spray the area at the seat of the fire.
It is well-known that the use of sprays of water in buildings when used for fire fighting purposes cause considerable damage to the contents of the buildings.
The use of foam has the advantage that by appropriate mixing of the foam generating chemical with the water, a relatively dry foam can result which, though effective in fighting fires, may do less damage to contents of areas where it is used and this is particularly so in areas where electrical equipment is involved.
The object of this invention is to provide a fire fighting foam generating system which is applicable in general fire fighting where a jet of foam, in particular, is advantageous and also for use in buildings, such as multi-storey buildings, where the areas themselves can be protected by foam as opposed to water sprays.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one form the invention could be said to reside in a fire fighting foam generation system including
means for mixing water, a fire fighting foam forming chemical and air to form a foam within a duct,
means to pressurize the foam to carry the foam through the duct to the site of the fire, or to the site to be protected against fire,
wherein a catalytic metal mesh located for relative circumvolutive contact with foam with respect to a direction in which the foam is to be carried downstream of a site where the water, the fire fighting foam forming chemical and air are mixed.
The actual construction of the invention can be considerably varied but according to one form a duct is provided which can be directed towards the area to be protected, and in this duct is mounted a fan which is driven by a motor which also drives a liquid pump, which in turn is connected to a flow control device which allows the water and foam chemical to be metered to the pump to issue from a jet fed by the pump as a spray into the air-stream in the duct, the spray being directed outwardly as well as along the duct to fill the duct and in its passage being directed into a zone in the duct which houses a catalysing unit such as a screen of a material selected to aid foam formation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The actual invention can be applied in various ways but for a better understanding of the general nature of it to be fully appreciated several embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view from one side of a first embodiment of the invention installed in the ceiling space of a building,
FIG. 2 is a view from above of the same embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view from one side of a second embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 4 is a part schematic cross-sectional end view from four different planes of the second embodiment as marked in FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 is a part schematic cross-sectional view of a hand held nozzle of a third embodiment of the invention, and
FIG. 6 is a part schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative hand held nozzle.
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the first embodiment shown, a fire fighting generating system according to the invention is fitted aside and within an air-conditioning duct 1 having a controlled airflow and located between a ceiling 2, and a floor above 3. The duct 1, is fastened to the floor above with brackets 4 and end
REFERENCES:
patent: Re19965 (1936-05-01), Schroeder et al.
patent: 3186490 (1965-06-01), Jamison et al.
patent: 3272263 (1966-09-01), Jamison
patent: 3393745 (1968-07-01), Durstewitz
patent: 3607779 (1971-09-01), King et al.
patent: 3780812 (1973-12-01), Lambert
patent: 3822217 (1974-07-01), Rogers
Hoge Gary C.
Mitchell David M.
Rogers Allen William
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