US1839658.Pdf

LLSeJSLaLJS S zJS MLLS 00Y SLE A LcLS SLLS SLLeeS : 3 / Patented Jan. 5, 1932 1,839,658

UNITED STATES ??????? ??????

LODLAS J. DUGAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DU-GAS FIRE EXTINGUISHER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N.Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE WIETHOD OF EXTINGUISHING FIRES Application filed October 30, 1929. Serial No. 403,381. This invention relates to a method of extin invention will become apparent from the dis guishing fires and more particularly to a closures in the specification and the accom method wherein a gaseous mixture contain panying drawings. ing a dry fire extinguishing powder is em This invention (in a preferred form) is 5 ployed for fighting fires. illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter 55 It has heretofore been proposed to blow a more fully described. fire extinguishing powder or a smothering On the drawings: substance such as sand or the like onto fires Figure 1 illustrates the method of extin for the purpose of extinguishing them. Such guishing fires according to my invention. 10 proposed methods have not, however, come Figure 2 is an elevational view of appara- 60 into practical use for various reasons, Chief tus adapted for use with my method. among these reasons have been the difficulty Apparatus suitable for use with my meth encountered in devising a fire extinguishing od of extinguishing fires comprises a fire ex powder that would not cake or hang up in tinguisher container 1 and a gas cylinder 2 15 the extinguisher container and also the diffi connected thereto by piping 3, the container 65 culty of obtaining a continuously uniform 1 and cylinder 2 being preferably mounted mixture of the chemical and gas. The tend upon a wheeled truck, indicated as a whole by ency is for the dry fire extinguishing powder the reference numeral 4. It will be under to be ejected in an irregular and uncontrolla 20 ble manner. Furthermore, it has never here stood, however, that other designs and sizes tofore been thought possible to fight really of apparatus, either portable or stationary, 70 large fires with a dry fire extinguishing pow may be employed. Fire extinguishers of a der, since no methodnormeanshas previously suitable type are more specifically described been devised for effectively delivering the fire and claimed in my copending application en 25 extinguishing powder at any considerable dis titled “Fire extinguisher container', Serial tance from the point of discharge. Conse No. 325,675, filed December 13, 1928. 5 quently, the only use to which dry chemicals The cylinder 2 is preferably charged with have been put up to the present time has in.nitrogen p??SSürêTalthough gas under about pressures 1800 from lbs. i00per lbs.sq. been in fighting small fires, either by throw up to over 2000 lbs. may be utilized satis 30 ing the dry chemical by hand from a small factorily. Also other gases than nitrogen 80 tube onto the fire or else directing a feeble may be employed, such as carbon dioxide. and irregular gaseous stream containing the The fire extinguishing chemical contained chemical against the fire. «? in receptacle 1 is a freely flowing powder It is therefore an object of this invention 35 to provide an improved method of extin adapted when heated to generate a fire guishing fires wherein a continuously uni Smothering gas and a non-volatile residual 85 form gaseous mixture containing a freely flux that coats the burning object and pre flowing fire extinguishing powder is deliyered vents reignition thereof. A suitable type at high pressure and at great velocity direct of fire extinguishing powder is disclosed in 40 ly against the conflagration, the operator be the copending application of D. Julian Block, 90 ing protected from the heat of the fireby the entitled “Composition of matter', Serial No. protective screen of gas and powder delivered 307.785, filed September 22, 1928. The chem against the fire. O ical therein disclosed consists principally of It is a further important object of this sodium bicarbonate and a substance adapted 45 invention to provide a method of extinguish to render the bicarbonate non-packing and 95 ing very large fires, and especially oil fires, non-hygroscopic, such as a metallic salt of by the combined effect of a non-fire support a fatty acid, for instance, magnesium stear ing gas and a powdered chemical adapted on ate. A fire extinguishing chemical of this being heated to form a fire Smothering, gas. type does not become wet when moisture is 50 Other and further important objects of this present nor does it pack or hang up in the con- 10a 2 1889,658 tainer but remains under all conditions in an oil in the instance above described, a thick apparently dry, free flowing state. flux that prevents reignition or flare-back of The connecting piping 3 between the gas the oil. This flux forms a continuous pro cylinder 2 and the extinguisher container 1 tective coating over the surface of the oil suitably includes a valve 5 and a second valve and spreads as rapidly as the flame is ex O 6 for controlling the flow of gas into the con tinguished so that a flare-back cannot occur. tainer 1, pressure gages 7 and 8 being posi Because of the heat of the fire and perhaps tioned in said connecting piping 3 for indicat the inclusion of undecomposed chemicals in ing the pressure of the gas in the cylinder 2 the residual flux, this flux foams up to form 0. and the pressure of the gas delivered into the a relatively deep Smothering blanket Over the ?5 container 1. The gas mixes with and picks heated surface of the oil. up the dry chemical contained in the recep It will be understood that other types of tacle 1 and is delivered therefrom through fires may be extinguished by my method, in a flexible hose 9 having at its end a valve con cluding such extremely difficult fires to fight trolled nozzle 10, through which the gaseous as burning ether, alcohol, pyroxylin lacquer 80 15 mixture containing the uniformly distrib solvents, and the like. Ordinary wood fires uted dry chemical is discharged against the may likewise be extinguished in a similar scene of conflagration. Preferably, the noz 8. zle 10is provided with a flaring, comparative The important feature of my invention is 20 ly flat discharge end 11 in order that the dis that the gaseous stream containing the dry 85 charged stream of gas and chemical may be chemical is delivered under such pressure and distributed in a fan-shaped blast. at such a high velocity that it forms a pro Figure 1 illustrates my method of extin tective screen for the operator, thereby guishing fires, using the type of apparatus enabling him to approach the fire much more 25 and the type of chemical above described. closely than would otherwise be possible. 90 The fire shown is an oil fire, a pit of oil being The very considerable advantages in fighting represented by the numeral 12. Flames and a fire with a dry chemical rather than with a Smoke from the burning oil are represented liquid are obvious, since there is no attendant by the reference numeral 13. In fighting a damage such as results from the use of liquid. 30 fire of this type, which, as is well known, is I am aware that many changes may be 95 an extremely difficult one to extinguish by or made and numerous details of construction dinary means, the operator, indicated by the may be varied through a wide range without reference numeral 14, drags the flexible hose departing from the principles of this inven 9 with him to the burning pit and directs the tion, and I, therefore, do not purpose limit 35 nozzle 10 toward the base of the fire, the valves ing the patent granted hereon otherwise than 100 5 and 6 being adjusted to deliver gas into the necessitated by the prior art. container 1 under say about 200 lbs. per sq. I claim as my invention: in. pressure. A fan-shaped stream of gas 1. The method of extinguishing fires which i under high pressure and at a high Velocity comprises directing against the fire a stream 40 and containing the dry fire extinguishing of a gas that does not support combustion chemical uniformly mixed and distributed and a finely powdered chemical capable of therein, is thus delivered as at 15 directly forming a fire smothering gas when heated, against the base of the fire. the stream of gas being delivered in such a The velocity and volume of the gaseous manner under such high pressure and at such 45 stream so delivered forms a protective screen IO to prevent the operator from being scorched high velocity as to forma protective curtain or burned and permit him to approach the for the operator against the heat of the fire, fire more closely than would otherwise be whereby the operator can approach the fire possible. Also, the rapid flow of gas away much more closely than would otherwise be 5 from the operator draws with it a flow of possible without himself being burned. 5 cool air from behind the operator that sur 2. The method of extinguishing fires which rounds him and further protects him from the comprises directing against the fire a fan heat of the fire. shaped stream of mixed gas and dry fire ext The operator 14 starts at one end of the tinguishing chemical under a discharge pres 5 burning oil pit and proceeds rapidly toward sure of above 100 lbs. per sq. in., whereby the 20 the other end of the pit, usually being able to velocity of said discharging stream is such extinguish the fire as rapidly as he can run. as to drive the heat of the fire away from the For instance, I have demonstrated in putting operator and cause an inflow of unheated air out oil fires in pits as large as 6x36 ft. that around the body of the operator to protect st) the fire can be extinguished in less than ten him and enable him to approach the fire 25 seconds by my method. more closely. It is an important feature of my method 3. The method of extinguishing fires which that the residues formed by the composi comprises directing a continuously uniform tion of the dry fire extinguishing chemical gaseous mixture containing a freely flow 65 form over the burning objects, such as the ing fire extinguishing powder against a fire, 30 FFRE EXR i FN GUSHERS, 3/ 1889,658 the gaseous mixture being delivered in a fan shape stream under such high pressure as to form a curtain to protect the operator against the heat of the fire. 5 4. The method of extinguishing fires which comprises directing against the base of a fire a fan-shaped, high pressure stream of a non combustion supporting gas containing a sus pended powdered mixture composed princi 0 pally of sodium bicarbonate, said mixture forming over the burning surface a fire Smothering flux. In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto sub scribed my name at Chicago, Cook County, 5 Illinois. LODLAS J. DUGAS.