Patent Application
20230241434
This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 22154086.7, filed Jan. 28, 2022, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates to cartridge-operated fire extinguishers, particularly to a valve body and cylinder for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher and a method of assembling the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher.
The regular inspection and maintenance of fire extinguishers is important to ensure that fire extinguishers remain operational and safe to use.
There are different types of fire extinguishers such as stored pressure fire extinguishers and cartridge-operated fire extinguishers.
Cartridge-operated fire extinguishers typically have a configuration in which a fire suppressant (e.g. water or dry powder) is stored in an unpressurised cylinder and a propellant is stored under pressure in a separate sealed cartridge within the cylinder. The top of the cylinder is sealed with a valve body. The valve body also holds the cartridge. Activation of a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher first requires piercing of the pressurised cartridge. Piercing of the pressurised cartridge releases the propellant into the unpressurised cylinder through the valve body and forces the fire suppressant out of the cylinder through the valve body and into a hose. The hose can then be aimed by a user at a fire to direct fire suppressant at the fire.
Cartridge-operated fire extinguishers are often used in industrial environments such as in construction and heavy equipment industries due to their heavy duty, robust design. However, the robust design of such fire extinguishers often means that cartridge-operated fire extinguishers are heavy.
The valve body assembly of a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher is typically designed such that it has a threaded connector and is attached to the cylinder of the fire extinguisher by being screwed in to a corresponding threaded opening of the cylinder. To remove the valve body for inspection and maintenance of the fire extinguisher, specialist tools are required. Further, there is a risk that, when the valve body is reattached to the cylinder, cross-threading can occur. This can mean that servicing of a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher can be complex or lengthy process and may result in human errors.
There is a desire to simplify the inspection and maintenance process of cartridge-operated fire extinguishers while maintaining appropriate safety standards.
According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a valve body for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher, the valve body comprising: a first fixing point comprising a first aperture for receiving a first shaft of a first bolt, wherein the first aperture has a first fixing point axis; a second fixing point comprising a second aperture for receiving a second shaft of a second bolt, wherein the second aperture has a second fixing point axis; and a third fixing point comprising a third aperture for receiving a third shaft of a third bolt, wherein the third aperture has a third fixing point axis, wherein the first fixing point axis and the second fixing point axis are parallel, and wherein the third fixing point axis is oriented at an angle relative to the first fixing point axis and the second fixing point axis.
The valve body may be for mounting on a cylinder for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher. The cylinder may comprise the first, second, and third bolts. The cylinder for use with the valve body may be patentable in its own right.
Thus according to a second aspect, the present invention provides a cylinder for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher, the cylinder comprising: a first bolt having a first shaft, wherein the first shaft comprises a first shaft axis; a second bolt having a second shaft, wherein the second shaft comprises a second shaft axis; and a third bolt having a third shaft, wherein the third shaft comprises a third shaft axis, wherein the first, second, and third bolts are for fixing a valve body to the cylinder, wherein the first shaft axis and the second shaft axis are parallel, and wherein the third shaft axis is oriented at an angle relative to the first shaft axis and the second shaft axis.
The valve body may be mounted on the cylinder to provide a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher. Thus the first, second and third bolts referred to in the first aspect may be the first, second and third bolts of the cylinder of the second aspect.
Thus, according to a third aspect, the present invention provides a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher comprising a valve body in accordance with the first aspect and a cylinder in accordance with the second aspect.
The following description may be applicable to one, or more or all of the first, second and third aspects of the invention as applicable.
A cartridge-operated fire extinguisher may comprise one or more of a cylinder, a valve body, a cartridge, a hose connector, a cartridge piercer, a hose, and/or a lever/handle. The valve body may be mounted to the top of the cylinder. The cylinder may house fire suppressant. The cartridge may contain a propellant stored under pressure. The cartridge may be housed within the cylinder. The cartridge piercer may be for piercing the cartridge to release the propellant contained therein. When the fire extinguisher is assembled the valve body may be connected to the cartridge. When the valve body is mounted on the cylinder the cartridge may be held within the cylinder by the valve body. The hose connector may be mounted on the valve body. The hose connector may be used to couple the hose to the valve body. The valve body may support the piercer.
The fire extinguisher may be arranged so that when the fire extinguisher is operated the handle/lever is depressed to cause the cartridge to be pierced by the piercer. After the cartridge is pierced by the cartridge piercer, the propellant may be released from the cartridge such that the fire suppressant stored in the cylinder is expelled from the cylinder. Specifically, once the cartridge has been pierced, the propellant may flow from the cartridge though the valve body into the cylinder. This may force the fire suppressant (e.g. powder or water) out of the cylinder, though the valve body, through the hose connector and into the hose, from where it can be directed at a fire. Thus, the fire suppressant may be expelled via the valve body, the hose connector, and the hose.
Fire suppressants used in cartridge-operated fire extinguishers may include dry powder, water, foam, or any other suitable fire suppressant.
An advantage of the valve body and/or cylinder design may be improved stress distribution across the valve body and/or the cylinder, particularly when the fire extinguisher is in use. The improved stress distribution means that the plate thickness of the valve body and/or top of the cylinder may be reduced without compromising safety or structural integrity. This also enables the use of materials other than metals, such as a plastic (e.g. polyamide), for the valve body. A further advantage is that, unlike valve bodies of the prior art, the valve body itself may not be threaded. In other words, the valve body may be connected to the cylinder by a non-threaded connection. This means that there may be no likelihood of cross-threading when attaching the valve body to the cylinder of the fire extinguisher, thereby improving safety.
Another potential advantage is that fixing the valve body using bolts may mean that a single commonplace tool can be used to remove the valve body, which may simplify, speed up, and/or make fool-proof the inspection and maintenance process. A faster and simpler maintenance and inspection process may also reduce costs for operators.
The valve body may comprise and/or be made of a plastic material. The plastic may be polyamide.
An advantage of the valve body being plastic is that it may be cheaper, lighter, and more resistant to aggressive fire suppressant agents than metal valve bodies. Further, plastic may be more resistant to environmental damage and stresses due to temperature fluctuations.
Each of the first, second, and third apertures of the valve body may be a hole, slot or opening, or other suitable feature for receiving a bolt. The first aperture and the second aperture may be holes. The third aperture may be a slot. One or more of the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture may be non-threaded. An advantage of the third aperture being a slot is that with an angled bolt on the cylinder, assembly of the valve body onto the cylinder may be facilitated.
The valve body may comprise a core and each of the first fixing point, the second fixing point, and the third fixing point may protrude radially outward from the core. That is, the core may be for interfacing with an opening in the cylinder of the fire extinguisher. One or more of the first fixing point, the second fixing point, and the third fixing point may be integrally formed with the core. The core may be circular in shape. The valve body may be a single piece component. The valve body may be injection moulded.
The first fixing point, the second fixing point, and the third fixing point may be equally spaced around the perimeter of the core of the valve body, e.g. spaced by 120°. An advantage of equally spacing the fixing points may be an improved stress distribution.
The valve body, e.g. a core of the valve body, may comprise an opening for a cartridge piercer mechanism and an opening for a hose connector. The opening for the cartridge piercer and the opening for the hose connector may be separate openings.
The valve body may comprise a support for a lever for dispensing fire suppressant.
As mentioned above, the valve body, e.g. the core of the valve body, may be for interfacing with an opening of a cylinder of a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher. When the valve body is mounted on the cylinder it may seal/close the opening.
The valve body, e.g. core of the valve body, may comprise an embossed portion (i.e. a raised portion) for interfacing with a perimeter of an opening of the cylinder. For example, the embossed portion may be circular and may have substantially the same diameter as that of the core itself. An advantage of the embossed portion is to provide an improved seal with the cylinder when the valve body is fixed to the cylinder, thereby improving safety.
The cylinder comprises three bolts for fixing the valve body to the cylinder. Whilst the cylinder may comprise more than three bolts, the cylinder may consist of three bolts (i.e. only have three bolts), for fixing the valve body to the cylinder. One or more of these bolts may additionally be used to fix other components, such as a hose connector, to the valve body and/or cylinder. For example, the third, angled bolt may be used to fix a hose connector to the cylinder. This may be in a location on top of the valve body. The valve body, e.g. upper surface of the core of the valve body, may comprise a support surface for a hose connector. The support surface may be closer to the third bolt than the first and second bolt. For example, the bolt with a shaft axis oriented at an angle relative to the first shaft axis and the second shaft axis may be used to also secure a hose connector to the valve body and hence the cylinder.
The first bolt may comprise a first shaft. The first shaft may comprise a first shaft axis. The second bolt may comprise a second shaft. The second shaft may comprise a second shaft axis. The third bolt may comprise a third shaft. The third shaft may comprise a third shaft axis. The first shaft axis and the second shaft axis may be parallel to one another, and may also be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The third shaft axis may be at an angle relative to the first shaft axis, and therefore at the same angle relative to the second shaft axis and the longitudinal axis.
As mentioned above, the shaft axis of the third bolt may be angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The third shaft axis may be at an angle of about 10° to 50°, e.g. at about 30° or 45°, relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder.
The valve body may fit in only one orientation on the cylinder. This may reduce errors during assembly of the fire extinguisher.
The valve body may include support for a cartridge piercer mechanism. As mentioned above, the cylinder of a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher may be used for housing fire suppressant and the cartridge. When the fire extinguisher is assembled, the cartridge may be attached to the valve body and suspended inside the cylinder through the opening of the cylinder. Before activation, the cylinder of the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher may be not pressurised. But, when the cartridge is activated and the lever/handle for releasing fire suppressant is activated, propellant in the cartridge may be released into the cylinder (e.g. via the vale body) and rapidly increase the pressure within the cylinder to propel the fire suppressant out of the cylinder and through the valve body, hose connector, and hose. Therefore, the cylinder may be designed to have a shape and strength capable of supporting all the usual features of a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher and withstanding high pressures in operation, i.e. after activation.
An advantage of the cylinder of the first aspect is that a valve body may be fixed to the cylinder without a threaded connection, meaning that a corresponding threaded portion of the opening of the cylinder is not required. The threaded portion of the opening of prior art cylinders are typically thick metal portions, so an advantage of removing the need for this feature may be a reduction in weight of the fire extinguisher. Further, the use of bolts for fixing a valve body to the cylinder has an advantage that a single commonplace tool, such as a wrench, may be used to secure and remove the valve body, which may simplify, speed up, and make fool-proof the inspection and maintenance process. A faster and simpler maintenance and inspection process may also reduce costs for operators.
The first, second, and third bolts may be designed, e.g. have the same diameter, so that the same type of nut can be used with each bolt. That is, the first shaft, the second shaft, and the third shaft may all have the same diameter. This may allow a single tool to be used to assemble and disassemble the fire extinguisher.
The opening of the cylinder may be at the top of the cylinder. The bolts may be spaced around the opening.
The first, second, and third bolts may be equally spaced around the perimeter of the opening so that the angular separation between each bolt is 120° relative to the centre of the opening, i.e. 120° around the opening. An advantage of the even separation of the bolts may be an improved stress distribution in the valve body and/or cylinder.
The cylinder may comprise a longitudinal axis, where the longitudinal axis extends in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder. The angular separation between the first bolt and the second bolt may be 120° around the longitudinal axis, the angular separation between the first bolt and the third bolt may be 120° around the longitudinal axis, and the angular separation between the second bolt and the third bolt may be 120° around the longitudinal axis.
One or more of the first bolt, the second bolt, and the third bolt may be spot welded to the cylinder.
According to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method of assembling the cartridge-operated fire extinguisher, the method comprising: mounting a valve body on the cylinder, wherein a first shaft of a first bolt of the cylinder passes through a first aperture of the valve body, a second shaft of a second bolt of the cylinder passes through the second aperture of the valve body, and a third shaft of a third bolt of the cylinder passes through a third aperture of the valve body, and securing the valve body to the cylinder.
The valve body may be the valve body of the first aspect (and may include one or more or all of the above described optional features of the valve body).
The cylinder may be the cylinder of the second aspect (and may include one or more or all of the above described optional features of the cylinder).
The fire extinguisher may be the fire extinguisher of the third aspect (and may include one or more or all of the above described optional features of the fire extinguisher).
Each of the bolts may pass though each of the apertures simultaneously.
The valve body may be secured to the cylinder by screwing on nuts onto each of the bolts. Each nut may be the same type of nut.
The bolts and nuts may be the only means by which the valve body is secured to the cylinder.
Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The hose 108 comprises a handle 110 and a nozzle 112. A lever 114 is connected to the valve body 104. When the fire extinguisher 100 is not in use, the hose 108 may be mounted on to the lever 114 in a storage position.
As mentioned above, the cylinder 102 comprises an internal space 120. The internal space comprises a fire suppressant 122. The fire suppressant 122 may be dry powder, water or any other suitable fire suppressant.
The internal space also comprises a cartridge 124, wherein the cartridge 124 is connected to the valve body 104. The cartridge 124 comprises a propellant 126 stored under pressure.
The valve body 104 houses a cartridge piercer. The cartridge piercer is configured to pierce the cartridge 124 when the lever 114 is operated by a user in order to activate the fire extinguisher 100. When the cartridge 124 is pierced, the propellant 126 is released through the valve body 104 into a blow tube 128 and then into the internal space 120 of the cylinder 102. The blow tube 128 is configured to direct the propellant 126 in a manner that forces the fire suppressant back out through the valve body 104, the hose connector 106, and through the hose 108. The nozzle 112 of the hose 108 may then be directed by a user towards a fire for extinguishing the fire and opened using handle 110.
The cylinder 102 comprises a first bolt 210, a second bolt 212, and a third bolt 214. The bolts 210, 212, 214 are positioned on the top cylinder 102 and radially outside of the perimeter 202 of the opening 200. The first bolt 210 comprises a first shaft 210a. The first shaft 210a comprises a first shaft axis X. The second bolt 212 comprises a second shaft 212a. The second shaft 212a comprises a second shaft axis Y. The third bolt 214 comprises a third shaft 214a. The third shaft 214a comprises a third shaft axis Z.
The first shaft axis X and the second shaft axis Y are parallel to one another, and are also parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the cylinder 102. The third shaft axis Z is at an angle relative to the first shaft axis X, and therefore at the same angle relative to the second shaft axis Y and the longitudinal axis L.
The bolts 210, 212, 214 are for fixing the valve body 104 to the cylinder 102. The bolts 210, 212, 214 in
The bolts 210, 212, 214 have an equal angular distribution about the longitudinal axis L. That is, the angle between the positions of each bolt 210, 212, 214 around the longitudinal axis L is 120°. Further, the radial distance for each bolt 210, 212, 214 from the longitudinal axis L is the same.
The valve body 104 comprises a first fixing point 300, a second fixing point 302, and a third fixing point 304. The first fixing point 300 comprises a first aperture 300a. The first aperture 300a comprises a first fixing point axis A centred through the first aperture 300a. The second fixing point 302 comprises a second aperture 302a. The second aperture comprises a second fixing point axis B centred through the second aperture 302a. The third fixing point 304 comprises a third aperture 304a. The third aperture 304a comprises a third fixing point axis C centred through the third aperture 304a.
The valve body comprises a core 306. The core 306 is circular in shape, i.e. it has a circular cross section. The fixing points 300, 302, 304 protrude radially from the core 306. The core 306 is for interfacing with the opening 200 of the cylinder 102. The fixing points 300, 302, 304 are integrally formed with the core 306. That is, the valve body 104 shown in
The first fixing point axis A and the second fixing point axis B are parallel. The third fixing point axis C is oriented at an angle relative to the first fixing point axis A, and therefore at the same angle relative to the second fixing point axis B. In this case, the third fixing point axis C is at an angle of 30° relative to the first and second fixing point axes A, B.
The first aperture 300a is for receiving the first shaft 210a of the first bolt 210 of the cylinder 102. The second aperture 302a is for receiving the second shaft 212a of the second bolt 212. The third aperture 304a is for receiving the third shaft 214a of the third bolt 214. The first aperture 300a and the second aperture 302a are through-holes in the first and second fixing points 300, 302, respectively. The third aperture 304a is a slot in the third fixing point 304.
The fixing points 300, 302, 304 are equally spaced around a perimeter of the core 306 of the valve body 104. That is, the fixing points 300, 302, 304 are positioned such that the fixing point axes A, B, C have an angle of 120° about an equidistant point between each axis.
The valve body 104 comprises a cartridge piercer opening 308 and a hose connector receiving hole 310. The cartridge piercer opening 308 and the hose connector receiving hole 310 are separate openings. The cartridge piercer opening 308 comprises an axis that is parallel to the first fixing point axis A and the second fixing point axis B. The hose connector receiving hole 310 comprises an axis that is parallel to the third fixing point axis C.
The valve body 104 comprises a support 312 for the lever 114. The support 312 is positioned between the first fixing point and the second fixing point 302.
As shown in
As shown in
To mount the valve body 104, the first shaft 210a of the first bolt 210 of the cylinder 102 passes through the first aperture 300a of the first fixing point 300 of the valve body 104. Likewise, the second shaft 212a of the second bolt 212 of the cylinder 102 passes through the second aperture 302a of the second fixing point 302 of the valve body 104, and the third shaft 214a of the third bolt 214 of the cylinder 102 passes through the third aperture 304a of the third fixing point 304 of the valve body 104. As the valve body 104 is mounted on the cylinder 102 each of the bolts 210, 212, 214 may pass through each respective aperture 300a, 302a, 304a simultaneously.
Then, the valve body 104 is secured to the cylinder 102. The valve body 104 in
In
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22154086.7 | Jan 2022 | EP | regional |
