Patent Application
20230175650
The present invention relates generally to systems for and a method of recharging a figure extinguisher which uses pressurized air to expel an extinguishing solution for use in extinguishing fires.
There exist various portable fire extinguishers that utilize an extinguishing solution as a fire suppressant. Such extinguishers are referred to as pressurized water extinguishers. Generally these extinguishers are partially filled with water or water and a foaming agent. Once filled with the extinguishing solution, compressed air is added to the extinguisher. When in use, a valve is opened that allows the compressed air to expand and force the water or water and foaming agent from the extinguisher via a hose or nozzle to be directed at the fire. In order to reuse the extinguisher, water or water and a foaming agent are added to a discharged extinguisher and compressed air is reintroduced into the extinguisher. Known extinguishers require a pressurizing valve which is subject to leaks or physical damage or require the use of an adapter which replaces a flexible discharge hose portion of the extinguisher during the recharge process. What is needed is a device for recharging a pressurized water fire extinguisher without the need for pressurizing valve or adapter.
In exemplary embodiments, a pressurized water extinguisher is equipped with a spray nozzle that is configured to interface with a quick connect air fitting to allow for recharging the extinguisher without the need for an adapter or air valve.
In an exemplary embodiment, a pressurized water extinguisher is re-pressurized by connecting a spray nozzle located at a free end of a discharge hose to a quick connect air fitting which is in turn connected to a source of pressurized air. The pressurized air is applied to the spray nozzle and an operator opens the discharge valve on the fire extinguisher such that pressurized air is allowed to enter the fire extinguisher storage tank. Compressed air is applied until a desired pressure is indicated on a pressure valve of the pressurized water extinguisher.
These and other aspects and implementations are discussed in detail below. The foregoing information and the following detailed description include illustrative examples of various aspects and implementations, and provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed aspects and implementations. The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the invention. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that other skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the invention. The drawings provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and implementations, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:
While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.
In an exemplary embodiment, rather than requiring an adapter 302 or the use of a Schrader valve integral to the valve body 206, a recharging nozzle is affixed to a discharge hose such that a pressurized water fire extinguisher can be recharged through the discharge hose without requiring that the hose be removed and an adapter be used. An exemplary embodiment of a recharging nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in
An exemplary embodiment of a recharge nozzle 400 is illustrated in more detail in
Referring to
An exemplary hose assembly 600 is illustrated in
The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” “comprising” “having” “containing” “involving” “characterized by” “characterized in that” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, equivalents thereof, and additional items, as well as alternate implementations consisting of the items listed thereafter exclusively. In one implementation, the systems and methods described herein consist of one, each combination of more than one, or all of the described elements, acts, or components.
Any references to implementations or elements or acts of the systems and methods herein referred to in the singular can also embrace implementations including a plurality of these elements, and any references in plural to any implementation or element or act herein can also embrace implementations including only a single element. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements to single or plural configurations. References to any act or element being based on any information, act or element can include implementations where the act or element is based at least in part on any information, act, or element.
Any implementation or embodiment disclosed herein can be combined with any other implementation or embodiment, and references to “an implementation,” “some implementations,” “one implementation,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “certain embodiments,” or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation can be included in at least one implementation or embodiment. Such terms as used herein are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Any implementation or embodiment can be combined with any other implementation or embodiment, inclusively or exclusively, in any manner consistent with the aspects and implementations disclosed herein.
Where technical features in the drawings, detailed description or any claim are followed by reference signs, the reference signs have been included to increase the intelligibility of the drawings, detailed description, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs nor their absence have any limiting effect on the scope of any claim elements.
References to “or” can be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” can indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. A reference to “at least one of ‘A’ and ‘B’” can include only ‘A’, only ‘B’, as well as both ‘A’ and ‘B’. Such references used in conjunction with “comprising” or other open terminology can include additional items.
Modifications of described elements and acts such as variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations can occur without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed can be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements can be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions can be altered or varied. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions can also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the disclosed elements and operations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.
Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.
This application is a non-provisional patent application and claims priority to provisional application serial number 63/286383 filed Dec. 6, 2021.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63286383 | Dec 2021 | US |
