Fire extinguishers – Processes – Of extinguishing fire
Patent
1996-02-14
1997-10-21
Hoge, Gary C.
Fire extinguishers
Processes
Of extinguishing fire
169 5, 169 10, 169 37, 239208, 239434, A62C 3502
Patent
active
056786379
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Summary of the Invention
The invention relates to a fire extinguishing apparatus and method.
According to the invention, there is provided a fire extinguishing apparatus comprising: in the container; container through the outlet; and comprising a micromist of finely dispersed water droplets on operation of the release means, the discharge head having an inlet for heated water from the container and a discharge outlet.
The invention also provides a discharge head for use in the apparatus and method of the invention, the discharge head having an inlet for heated water, a discharge outlet, and means to break up heated water mass into an extinguishant comprising a micromist of finely dispersed water droplets.
In one embodiment of the invention, the discharge head includes means for generating flash steam and water droplets within the discharge head which forms, on release from the discharge head, a micromist of finely dispersed water droplets.
In one embodiment of the invention the means for generating flash steam and water droplets includes means for injecting steam or gas into the discharge means. Typically the apparatus includes a pipe for leading steam from the container to the discharge head.
In one embodiment of the invention the means for generating flash steam and water droplets includes surface roughening within the discharge head. Preferably the surface roughening is provided adjacent to the inlet to the discharge head.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the discharge head includes an expansion section downstream and adjacent to the surface roughening.
Preferably the discharge outlet is defined by at least one discharge orifice. Most preferably there are a plurality of discharge orifices in a distributor section of the discharge head.
In one embodiment of the invention the container comprises an inner wall means and an outer wall means which are spaced-apart to define therebetween an insulating space.
Preferably the insulating space is a vacuum space. The insulating space may be filled with an insulating material and/or gas sorbing devices.
In one embodiment of the invention the heated water outlet of the container is provided in an outlet manifold and the heating means is mounted to the manifold. Preferably a steam pipe extends from a steam outlet in the manifold to a steam inlet in the head space of the container. Most preferably the steam pipe inlet is positioned within the container to define a fill level.
In one embodiment of the invention the heating means comprises a heating element having a heated portion and an unheated portion, the unheated portion lying wherein the manifold.
In a preferred arrangement the manifold defines an unheated water leg to insulate the apparatus against heat loss by conduction.
In one embodiment of the invention the heating means comprises a high output element for initial heating and a low output element for maintaining the desired temperature of heated water in the container.
Preferably the apparatus includes mounting means for mounting the apparatus to a fixture.
In a preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a steam outlet and steam release means for releasing steam into the discharge head.
Preferably the heated water release means comprises a valve means which is operated in response to fire conditions to release a charge of heated water into the discharge head.
In a preferred arrangement the steam release means comprises a valve means which is operated in response to fire conditions to release steam into the discharge head.
The container may alternatively or additionally comprise a length of piping or the like.
In one embodiment of the invention the heating means is external of the container. In this case preferably the heating means comprises an external inline heater for water make-up to the container and control means for operating the inline heater to maintain desired operating conditions of heated water in the container.
The invention also provides a method of generating a fire extinguishant comprising the steps o
REFERENCES:
patent: 822546 (1906-06-01), Newman
patent: 1370661 (1921-03-01), Maxwell
patent: 1595413 (1926-08-01), Meloon
patent: 4417626 (1983-11-01), Hansen
patent: 4930579 (1990-06-01), George
patent: 4986366 (1991-01-01), O'Connell
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