Abstract:
A discharging device for safety-related fluids, such as liquid solutions of irritants such as Oleoresin Capsicum, riot control and self-defense agents such as a combination of (E)-2-butenyl mercaptan (C4H7SH), 3-methyl butanethiol and corresponding S-acetyl compounds, marking agents such as dyes and fluorescent pigments, combinations of the same, and extinguishing agents for fire fighting and early fire fighting such as 1,1,1,2,2,4,5,5,5-nonafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pentanone, in particular in technical equipment such as switchgear cabinets. The device has a valve connected to a safety-related fluid source. The valve leads to a distributor having discharge openings. The distributor is a driven atomization wheel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a discharge appliance for safety liquids, such as liquid solutions of irritants, such as oleoresin capsicum, riot control and self-defense agents, such as a combination of (E)-2-butenylmercaptan (C4H7SH), 3-methylbutanthiol and the corresponding S-acetyl compounds, markers, such as dyes and fluorescent pigments, combinations of the aforesaid and extinguishing agents for fire fighting and preventive fire fighting, such as 1,1,1,2,2,4,5,5,5-nonafluoro-4-(triflouromethyl)-3-pentanone, known as Novec™ 1230 from 3M™, particularly in technical equipment, such as, for example, switch cabinets, with a valve which is connected to a safety liquid source and which issues into a distributor having discharge orifices. Furthermore, the discharge appliance may also contain a control device for releasing the safety liquid. 
     In order to build up a specific concentration of safety liquid in an appropriate period of time, nozzles for the most diverse possible types of construction are used in the present time, to which the safety liquid is supplied by means of a pressurized pipeline system. In this method, there is a disadvantage that the particle size of the safety liquid mist and the discharge time of the safety liquid rise with a falling system pressure. To achieve the necessary pressure, at the present time, on the one hand, various propellants, such as CO 2 , argon, N 2 , etc., which have to be stored in pressure vessels in an appropriate quantity and under appropriate pressure, and, on the other hand, pressure-increasing pumps are employed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a discharge appliance, by means of which safety liquid can be discharged, if possible without the use of propellants or pressure-increasing pumps, and can be atomized, at the same time with rapid evaporation and with the least possible droplet flight distances, and by means of which the required concentration of safety liquid can be built up quickly. 
     The object is achieved by means of a discharge appliance of the type initially mentioned, in which the distributor is a drivable atomizer wheel. 
     As a result of the rotation of the atomizer wheel, the safety wheel is flung away, and a vacuum is generated which sucks the safety liquid from the safety liquid source, for example out of a storage container. 
     Preferably, the safety liquid source is connected to the atomizer wheel via a liquid duct in the valve, and the valve has an air inlet duct which is sealed off with respect to the liquid duct. Air can continue to flow through the air inlet duct to the safety liquid source, and pressure equalization becomes possible. Owing to the use of the atomizer wheel, the safety liquid is accelerated by centrifugal force and is introduced as high velocity into the ambient atmosphere. A rapid uniform increase in the safety liquid concentration in the ambient atmosphere thereby takes place. 
     In order to achieve better atomization and better intermixing of safety liquid and air, a baffle surface, which is preferably inclined with respect to the axial rotation of the atomizer wheel, is advantageously provided around the circumference of the atomizer wheel. 
     Preferably, the valve is a slide valve with a valve piston and with a valve body, which, in the closed state, closes the safety liquid outlet duct and the air inlet duct and, in the open state, connects the safety liquid outlet duct to the atomizer wheel and connects the air inlet duct to the atmosphere. The slide valve, while having high leaktightness, can be actuated in a simple way mechanically, electrically, electromechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically or pyrotechnically. 
     In the atomizer wheel, a run-on element may be provided, which cooperates with a run-on surface on the valve piston, in order to displace the latter during the rotation of the atomizer wheel. Thus, as a result of the rotation of the atomizer wheel, not only can the safety liquid be discharged and the required vacuum generated, but the valve can also be opened. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the atomizer wheel contains a release element with a claw function, which cooperates with a clearance on the valve piston, in order to displace the latter by spring force during the rotation of the atomizer wheel. Thus, as a result of the rotation of the atomizer wheel, not only can the safety liquid be discharged and the required vacuum generated, but the valve can also be opened. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the discharge appliance according to the invention contains an electric motor for rotating the atomizer wheel. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the discharge appliance according to the invention contains a safety liquid filling-level monitoring device. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the safety liquid used is the extinguishing agent Novec™ 1230 from 3M™. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the safety liquid which may be used is a liquid solution of irritants, such as oleoresin capsicum, riot control and self-defense agents, such as a combination of (E)-2-butenylmercaptan (C4H7SH), 3-methylbutanthiol and the corresponding S-acetyl compounds, markers, such as dyes and fluorescent pigments, or a combination of the aforesaid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The invention is described and explained below with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1 : illustrates a discharge appliance according to the invention with safety liquid filling-level monitoring, and with a storage container for the safety liquid, in the filled state, with the valve closed, in a vertical sectional illustration, 
         FIG. 2 : illustrates the discharge appliance from  FIG. 1 , with the valve open and the storage container emptied, 
         FIG. 3 : illustrates an enlarged detail from  FIG. 1  in the region of the valve, 
         FIG. 4 : shows an enlarged detail from  FIG. 2  in the region of the valve, 
         FIG. 5 : shows a discharge appliance according to the invention with safety liquid filling-level monitoring and with a storage container for the safety liquid, in the filled state, with the valve closed, in the vertical sectional illustration, 
         FIG. 6 : shows the discharge appliance from  FIG. 5 , with the valve open and with the storage container emptied, 
         FIG. 7 : shows an enlarged detail from  FIG. 5  in the region of the valve, 
         FIG. 8 : shows an enlarged detail from  FIG. 6  in the region of the valve. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 , the storage container  1  is in the form of a bottle which has a safety liquid outlet orifice  2  and an air inlet tube  3  separate from the latter. The safety liquid outlet orifice  2  and the air inlet tube  3  issue into separate bores  4 ,  5  in the valve housing  6  which is screwed onto the bottle neck. Inserted into the valve housing  6  is a valve sleeve  7  which is sealed off at its tank-side end with respect to the valve housing  6  and which issues at its end facing away from the storage container  1  into an atomizer wheel  8 . Arranged displaceably in the valve sleeve  7  is a valve piston  9  having a central bore  10  into which projects a safety liquid tube  11  prolonging the bore  4  for safety liquid in the valve housing  6 . The shaft  12  of the atomizer wheel  8  is driven by an electric motor  13 . A baffle surface  14  which is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the valve is provided around the circumference of the atomizer wheel  8 . Further, a filling-level monitoring tube  32  is fastened sealingly to the valve housing  6  on the safety liquid filling-level monitoring and has an upper and a lower float stop  30 ,  31  at the upper end facing away from the valve housing  6 . Inside the filling-level monitoring tube  32 , a reed contact  33  is mounted, which switches by means of the magnet  34  during the lowering of the coaxial float  28 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the safety liquid level  29  above the safety liquid filling-level monitoring device.  FIG. 2  illustrates an emptied storage container. 
     When the valve is in the open state (see  FIG. 4 ), the safety liquid passes from the storage container  1  through the safety liquid outlet orifice  2  into the bore  4  in the valve housing  6  and through the safety liquid tube  11  into the central bore  10  of the valve piston  9 . It passes from the central bore  10  through radial bores  15  into the space  16  between the valve piston  9  and the valve sleeve  7 , which space communicates with an inner space of the atomizer wheel  8  when the valve is in the open state. The path of a safety liquid which is described and which is illustrated by the arrowed line  26  in  FIG. 4  forms the liquid duct of the valve. Air simultaneously passes through an air orifice  17  in the valve housing  6  and a perforation  18  in the valve sleeve  7  into a space  19  between the valve sleeve  7  and the valve piston  9 , which space communicates, in the open state of the valve, with the bore  5  for air in the valve housing  6  and consequently with the air inlet tube  3  and the interior of the storage container  1 . The path of the air which is described and which is illustrated by the arrowed line  27  in  FIG. 4  forms the air inlet duct. The liquid duct and the air inlet duct are separated from one another by the O-ring  21 , so that, during use, the safety liquid can be extracted from the storage container and the storage container can be ventilated at the same time, so that the safety liquid quantity per unit time can be kept approximately constant while the safety liquid is being discharged. 
     In the closed state of the valve (see  FIG. 3 ), the space  16  between the valve piston  9  and the valve sleeve  7  is closed by the O-rings  20  and  21  and communicates only with the radial bores  15 , so that no safety liquid can pass out of the liquid duct into the inner space of the atomizer wheel  8 . At the same time, the space  19  between the valve piston  9  and the valve sleeve  7  is closed by the O-rings  21  and  22  and communicates only with the perforation  18  in the valve sleeve  7 , so that no air can pass through the air inlet duct into the air inlet tube  3  and consequently into the storage container  1 . The position of the valve piston  9  with respect to the valve sleeve  7  ensures a permanently leaktight closure of the storage container  1 . 
     In the discharge appliance according to the invention, as illustrated, the valve designed as a slide valve can be displaced from its closed position ( FIG. 3 ) into its open position ( FIG. 4 ) by the electric motor  13 . In the event of a fire, the electric motor  13 , activated, for example, by a control unit which has received a signal from a fire detection device, sets the atomizer wheel  8  in rotation. In the inner space of the atomizer wheel, a radial pin  23  is provided which serves as a run-on element for a run-on surface  24  on the valve piston  9 . During the rotation of the atomizer wheel  8 , the run-on surface  24  of the valve piston  9  runs on the pin  23 , and the valve piston  9  is displaced in the direction of the storage container  1  with respect to the valve sleeve  7  until it is in the open position ( FIG. 4 ) in which the O-rings  20  and  22  lying on the circumference of the valve piston  9  are no longer in contact with the valve sleeve  7  and in which the liquid duct  26  and the air inlet duct  27  are therefore open. The safety liquid can therefore flow from the space  16  into the inner space of the atomizer wheel  8  and from there radially outward through the discharge orifices  25 . The centrifugal force generated as a result of the rotation of the atomizer wheel  8  gives rise to a vacuum and sucks safety liquid out of the storage container  1 . The safety liquid emerging from the discharge orifices  25  is atomized further as a result of impingement upon the baffle surface  14 . At the same time, air can continue to flow through the air inlet duct into the storage container  1 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 8 , the storage container  35  is in the form of a hollow parallepiped which is sealed off by means of a cover  36  and O-ring  37 . The safety liquid filling-level monitoring is implemented by a commercially available level sensor  68 . In  FIG. 5 , the safety liquid level is above the level sensor  68 , and in  FIG. 6  it is below it. Further, the storage container has a safety liquid outlet orifice  38  and an air inlet tube  39  separate from this. The safety liquid outlet orifice  38  issues into a central bore  40  of the valve piston  41 , and the air inlet tube  39  issues into a cavity  42  between the valve housing  43  and a pot  44 . The valve housing  43  is screwed sealingly to the storage container  35 , is sealed off by means of an O-ring  45  and issues into an atomizer wheel  46  at the end facing away from the storage container  35 . The valve piston  41  is arranged displaceably in the valve housing  43  and has a central bore  40  into which projects a safety liquid tube  47  prolonging the safety liquid outlet orifice  38 . The shaft  48  of the atomizer wheel  46  is driven by an electric motor  49 . A baffle surface  50 , which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the valve, is provided around the circumference of the atomizer wheel  46 . 
     In the open state of the valve (see  FIG. 8 ), the safety liquid passes from the storage container  35  through the safety liquid outlet orifice  38  and through the safety liquid tube  47  into the central bore  40  of the valve piston  41 . It passes from the central bore  40  through radial bores  51  into the space  52  between the valve piston  41  and the valve housing  43 , which space communicates with the inner space  53  of the atomizer wheel  46  in the open state of the valve. The path of the safety liquid which is described and is illustrated by the arrowed line  54  in  FIG. 8  forms the liquid duct of the valve. At the same time, air passes through an air orifice  55  in the valve housing  43  into a space  56  between the valve housing  43  and the valve piston  41 , which space communicates, in the open state of the valve, with a cavity  42  between the valve housing  43  and the pot  44  and the air inlet bore  57  and consequently with the air inlet tube  39  and the interior of the storage container  35 . The path of the air which is described and which is illustrated by the arrowed line  58  in  FIG. 8  forms the air inlet duct. The liquid duct and the air inlet duct are separated from one another by the O-ring  69 , so that, during use, the safety liquid can be extracted from the storage container and the storage container can be ventilated at the same time, so that the safety liquid quantity per unit time can be kept approximately constant while the safety liquid is being discharged. 
     In the closed state of the valve (see  FIG. 7 ), the space  52  between the valve piston  41  and the valve housing  43  is closed by the O-rings  69  and  59  and communicates only with the radial bores  51 , so that no safety liquid can pass out of the liquid duct in  FIG. 8  into the inner space  53  of the atomizer wheel  46 . At the same time, the space  56  between the valve piston  41  and the valve housing  43  is closed by the O-rings  69  and  60  and communicates only with the air orifices  55  in the valve housing  43 , so that no air can pass through the air inlet duct in  FIG. 8  into the air inlet tube  39  and consequently into the storage container  35 . The position of the valve piston  41  with respect to the valve housing  43  ensures a permanently leaktight closure of the storage container  35 . 
     In the discharge appliance according to the invention, as illustrated, the valve piston  41  in the valve designed as a slide valve can be displaced from its closed position ( FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 ) into its open position ( FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 ) by the electric motor  49 . In the position of rest ( FIG. 7 ), the valve piston  41  is prestressed by a spring  61  which, on the one hand, is supported on the valve housing  43  and, on the other hand, presses the valve piston  41  via its claws  62  onto the claws  63  of the atomizer wheel  46  which are oriented so as to overlap with these. During use, the electric motor  49 , activated, for example, by a control unit, sets the atomizer wheel  46  in rotation. As soon as the claws  62  of the valve piston  41  are no longer supported on the claws  63  of the atomizer wheel  46 , the valve piston  41  is displaced by the spring  61  in the direction of the electric motor  49  with respect to the valve housing  43 , until its shoulder  64  bears against the holding surface  65  of the supporting disk  66  and is therefore in the open position ( FIG. 8 ), in which the O-rings  59  and  60  lying on the circumference of the valve piston  41  are no longer in contact with the valve housing  43  and in which the liquid duct and the air inlet duct are therefore open. The safety liquid can therefore flow from the space  52  into the inner space of the atomizer wheel  46  and from there radially outward through the discharge orifices  67 . The centrifugal force generated as a result of the rotation of the atomizer wheel  46  gives rise to a vacuum and sucks safety liquid out of the storage container  35 . The safety liquid emerging from the discharge orifices  67  is atomized further as a result of impingement onto the baffle surface  50 . At the same time, air can continue to flow through the air inlet duct into the storage container  35 .