Recent Patents

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Recent Patents

Descriptions of Patents Recently Issued of Interest to Fire Departments—Fire Apparatus and Extinguisher—Dust Explosions

Preventing Dust Explosions

A method of preventing dust explosions has been patented (No. 1,612,072) by Lewis Andrew Stinson of Oak Park, Ill., and is applicable especially in flour mills and elevators or where large quantities of explosive dusts accumulate.

The invention uses a spray arranged to use a liquid, and as occasion requires, a blast of air along with it. The liquid is composed of a solution that renders the dust substantially fire proof and non combustible. The illustration shows the device in use.

The nozzle is connected to the source of supply to receive compressed air through a hose connection. The hose is also connected to a supply of the fire proofing liquid.

In sections where the dust accumulates rapidly and particularly in such places as around drying machines or in heads, boots or spouts, and places that are not very accessible, fixed piping and fixed spray nozzles are provided. A relatively small amount of the fire proofing liquid is necessary to render the dust non-explosive.

The solution consists of sulphuric acid, and bicarbonate of soda mixed in water.

The force of the spray and the compressed air is sufficient to blow the dust away from the crevices where it generally lodges.

The inventor claims that more dust explosions are caused by blowing down the dust than by other means, and the spray that is used renders the process safe.

Fire Apparatus

A patent (No. 1,589,351) was granted to the late Jacob B. Blaw of Atlantic City, N. J., for a fire apparatus that has reference to directing a stream from a ladder.

The illustrations shows a vertical section of the ladder with the device attached. A ladder which may be part of the fire department equipment is arranged to have the improvements attached thereto. A truck of the general character and which is detachable is clamped to one of the rungs of the ladder at such position along its length as found convenient and upon which the ladder may be supported while being moved longitudinally or swung around in various positions.

The truck consists of a wooden block provided with widely spaced supporting wheels which may be of any of the usual types such as is employed under warehouse trucks. The wheels are universally jointed so that they may swing about a vertical axis for easy adjustment of the supporting load. The block is provided with a pair of clamps having adjustable hinged clamping parts and locking screws whereby the block may be attached to a rung of the ladder while the ladder may rest upon the block to support the main weight of the equipment. In this manner, the ladder and the truck move as a unit and permit the ladder to be balanced upon the truck and easily shifted to whatever position may be desired.

At the extreme end of the ladder is arranged a fire nozzle clamp which is also detachably clamped to the rungs of the ladder and adapted to support the fire nozzle at any angle desired. The nozzle is directed transversely of the ladder so that the stream may be thrown laterally upon the fire. The clamp is detachably clamped to the rungs of the ladder and consists of a head block with arms having their lower parts as clamps for the detachable connection with the rungs of the ladder. Hinged to head block is a rearwardlv extending arm having at its lower end a clamp for attachment to another of the rungs of the ladder. Pivoted upon the head block is a yoke adjustable at a vertical axis and upon which is pivoted a saddle clamp for receiving and clamping the fire nozzle. The yoke may be clamped in adjustable position by a clamping screw. In this manner the fire nozzle may be set at any horizontal and vertical adjustment which may be necessary to insure the stream being thrown in the direction desired.

In using this apparatus, the nozzle is clamped in the desired position required to project the water stream where needed and with the valve closed, the ladder with its equipment is pushed through the passage and adjusted to any particular horizontal angle that may be desired. The water may then be turned on by a valve and the stream directed upon the fire.

Fire Extinguisher

A design of a spray powder hand fire extinguisher has been patented (No. 1,606,066) by Walter E. Everitt of Seattle, Wash. The drawing shows a cross section of the device.

There is a container adapted to hold powder to be sprayed and a cap on the bottom of the container closing the opening through which the powder is inserted into the container. A cylinder extends into the container, preferably in the form of a cup leather and suitably secured to an operating rod by means of nuts threaded to receive the rod. The cup leather is backed by a circular plate. The outer end of the cylinder is provided with a suitable closure through which the operating rod passes— the rod is provided with a suitable handle.

The inner end of the cylinder has an open cone-shaped end and surrounding the end is a funnel-like member which extends through the adjacent end of the container. The funnel member is provided with a tapered seat adapted to form a seat for a closure member attached to the end of the operating roil. It extends beyond the piston and through the cone-shaped end of the cylinder. The closure member is preferably made of rubber.

The opening in the cap through which the operating rod passes is of the keyhole type to provide a slot to permit a radial pin on the rod to pass through the cap. This is to enable the plug of the valve to be held firmly to its seat in the funnel when the device is not in use.

When it is desired to operate the device, the rod is turned sufficiently to allow the pin to register with the slot in the cap, after which the rod may be freely reciprocated.

A port near the top of the cylinder permits free passage of the air as the piston is reciprocated.

In operation, the container is filled with a powder such as slaked lime, gypsum or other powder and the closure cap is pushed on tight. Reciprocation of the piston within the cylinder will force a current of air through the cone-shaped end of the cylinder and blow the powder out through the discharge opening. By providing a cone-shaped end surrounded by a funnel, the powder will be more readily forced out.

Report Issued on Pomona, Cal.—A report on the fire defences of Pomona, Cal., has been issued by the National Board of Fire Underwriters.

Harlan, la., Purchases Fire Apparatus- A Dodge truck fitted up with chemical appliances has been purchased by Harlan, la.

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Recent Patents

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Recent Patents

Descriptions of Patents Recently Issued of Interest to Fire Departments—Sprinkler Head—Fireman’s Helmet

Sprinkler Head

A design of a sprinkler head has been patented (No. 1,571,422) by Oswald J. Lubbock of Alameda, Cal. One of the objecs of the design is to construct a sprinkler head in which the release of the head is accomplished by the rupture of a frangible shell containing an expansible fluid. One of the illustrations shows a perspective drawing of the invention and the other a cross section taken vertically.

Cross Section of Sprinkler Head

The head consists of a cage yoke of such form as to provide the maximum protection for the strut and releading device against mechanical injury. The release of the head is affected by the collapse of a strut, normally held in operative position by a frangible shell disposed between the strut and the yoke, The shell is filled with a fluid capable of breaking the shell upon its expansion at a predetermined temperature, and upon the rupture of the shell, the strut collapses and the sprinkler head is released. Means are provided for adjusting the tension exerted upon the shell to keep it in place and for compensating for the changes in temperature.

Perspective of Sprinkler Head

The sprinkler head consists of a block termination at one end in a nipple which can be fitted into the usual pipe connection. The opposite end is formed to provide a nozzle normally closed by the cap between which and the nozzle, a soft metal jasket is placed. Formed on the block is a yoke comprising the arms which form a ring roughly circular in form and joining in the boss in which the strut adjusting screw carrying the deflected head is carried. A pin locks the screw in the adjusted position.

Between the cap and the point of the adjusting screw is a two-piece strut comprising the two half rings. One of the half rings is provided with a grooved seat along its diametral edges and the other is V-shaped to adapt it for complementary engagement in this seat. The adjusting screw is set so that the strut rings are laterally displaced a small amount—the line of contact lying a small distance to one side of the plane passing through the seats of the strut. Any other lateral displacement is prevented by a shell containing a fluid such as carbon tetrachloride capable of rupturing the shell due to expansion at a predetermined temperature. The interior of the strut ring is slightly beveled to form a seat for the shell and the shell is retained in the ring by a threaded stud adjustable in the transverse yoke arm.

The horizontal arm functions not only to support the stud but also as a protective means for the strut and releasing mechanism in which the latter function is aided by the yoke arm on the opposite side of the yoke.

In order to distribute the pressure between the shell and the stud over an appreciable portion of the surface of the shell, a bearingpiece is disposed against the shell to transmit the thrust of the stud. Against the bearing piece is a cup formed with a stud thereon adapted to seat in a corresponding recess in the bearing piece so that lateral disengagement of the two pieces is prevented. In the edge of the cup is a resilient diaphragm having an apertured center in which the point of the stud seats.

The shell and its contents are so arranged that when the surrounding temperature has passed a certain point, the expansion of the fluid ruptures the shell which thereupon tails from the sprinkler head. With the removal of the shell, the pressure of the water on cap causes the strut to collapse, and the strut parts will be thrown clear from the sprinkler by the pressure of the water. A lining bushing of copper is provided so that the stress on the strut will be lessened.

Fireman’s Helmet

A new form of a fireman’s helmet has been patented (No. 1,599,695) by Louis G. Wagner of Oakland, Cal. The object of the design is to provide a helmet that is light in construction and that will afford protection to the wearer. The illustration shows the helmet in cross section.

There is the usual crown that is formed from a number of panels. The panels are cut from commercial fibre board about 1/8-inch thick. In order to secure the edges of the various panels, a soft, pliable fibrous material is provided for the binding edge— a piece is provided for each of the panels.

The brim is preferably formed of a single piece of fibre with the usual head opening. The crown is secured to the brim by means of the lower projecting edges of the piece, and the edges are stitched or otherwise secured to the brim.

A head receiving-lining is formed of cloth, leather, or other suitable material, and secured at its outer edge by a fibre ring. This ring is mounted on the inside of the crown adjacent to the bottom thereof and it is secured to the crown by rivets or other suitable means. The lining is provided with a draw string to accommodate the head of the wearer. The lining fits over the head and distributes the shock of a blow so that the head is not injured. The lower edge of the helmet does not engage the head nor does the head touch the panels.

After the helmet is formed the inside is covered with a coat of lacquer which fills the pores of the fibre and leather binding; the outside is painted with an enamel.

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