Fire extinguisher and alarm apparatus

A fire extinguisher and alarm apparatus for a container having a rim and a cavity to retain combustible materials comprising a reservoir having a chamber for retaining a fire extinguishing fluid under gas pressure, a hollow nozzle for ejecting the fire extinguishing fluid, a temperature sensitive device which softens in the presence of heat, a device for mounting the reservoir on the container rim with the nozzle and temperature sensitive device located ajacent the container cavity, an alarm which issues an audible signal responsive to gas under pressure, and a valve responsive to softening of the temperature sensitive device for simultaneously connecting the fire extinguishing fluid in the reservoir to the nozzle for ejection therethrough into the container cavity and connecting the gas under pressure in the reservoir to the alarm to issue the audible signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to fire extinguisher and alarm apparatuses. 
Frequently, highly combustible materials are temporarily stored in 
wastebaskets or other suitable containers until permanent disposition may 
be made of the materials. Such containers are a possible source of fire 
which may arise from spontaneous combustion of the stored flammable 
materials or carelessness of an employee in discarding a lighted cigarette 
or match into the container. 
Several fire extinguishers have been proposed to extinguish fires in such 
containers. The U.S. patent Le Day, U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,813, proposes a 
fire extinguisher and alarm, but the device is mounted on the wall, and 
the extinguisher may miss the container if the container is misaligned 
with the extinguisher. Also, the extinguisher of that patent is located 
too high relative to the container, and it may be actuated too late to 
extinguish the fire. Also, the device of that patent requires a relatively 
high velocity of fluid to actuate the alarm which is directed at the 
contents of the container, and this high-velocity fluid may spread burning 
paper or other materials to locations outside the container in the room, 
which might start other fires. 
The U.S. patent Wilson, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,996, also proposes a 
fire extinguisher for containers. However, the device of this patent 
requires separate reservoirs for a fire extinguishing fluid and an alarm 
fluid and is unduly complex in construction. Also, this unit sounds its 
alarm only after discharging the fire extinguishing fluid--a delay which 
could prove most harmful in an emergency situation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of an 
improved fire extinguisher and alarm apparatus for a container having a 
rim and a cavity to retain combustible materials. 
The fire extinguisher and alarm apparatus of the present invention 
comprises a reservoir having a chamber for retaining a fire extinguishing 
fluid under gas pressure, a hollow nozzle for ejecting the fire 
extinguishing fluid, temperature sensitive means which softens in the 
presence of heat, means for mounting the reservoir on the container rim 
with the nozzle and temperature sensitive means located adjacent the 
container cavity, and an alarm which issues an audible signal responsive 
to gas under pressure. 
A feature of the present invention is the provision of valve means 
responsive to softening of the temperature sensing means for 
simultaneously connecting the fire extinguishing fluid in the reservoir to 
the nozzle for ejection therethrough into the container cavity and 
connecting the gas under pressure in the reservoir to the alarm to issue 
the audible signal. 
Another feature of the invention is that the fire extinguishing fluid for 
extinguishing the fire and the gas for actuating the alarm are retained in 
a single reservoir. 
Yet another feature of the invention is that the apparatus is mounted on 
the container rim in a position to sense and extinguish the fire. 
A further feature of the invention is that the fire extinguishing fluid may 
be ejected at a velocity sufficiently low so as to not disturb and blow 
burning materials out of the container. 
A feature of the present invention is that the apparatus is of simplified 
construction and may be manufactured at a reduced cost. 
Further features will become more fully apparent in the following 
description of the embodiments of this invention and from the appended 
claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a fire extinguisher and alarm 
apparatus generally designated 10 which is removably mounted on the rim R 
of a container C having a cavity C' to retain combustible materials, such 
as oil-soaked rags or papers. 
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus 10 has a reservoir 12 having 
a chamber 14 for retaining a fire extinguishing liquid 16, such as Halon, 
and a gas 18, such as Halon, under pressure in the chamber 14. The 
apparatus 10 has a closure member 20 releasably attached to an upper end 
of the reservoir 12 by suitable means, such as cooperating threads 22, and 
having a channel 24 extending therethrough. The closure member 20 has a 
bore 26 communicating between the channel 24 and the chamber 14 of the 
reservoir 12. 
The apparatus 10 has an elongated tubular section 28 depending from the 
closure member 20 and communicating between a lower portion of the 
reservoir chamber 14 and the channel 24 of the closure member 20, such 
that the liquid 16 is introduced into the tubular section 28. 
The apparatus 10 has an elongated hollow nozzle 30 which may be constructed 
from a suitable metallic material, such as brass. The nozzle 30 has an 
outer end portion 32 and an inner end portion 34 connected to the closure 
member 20 by suitable means, such as cooperating threads 36. The nozzle 30 
defines an extension of the channel 24 of the closure member 20. 
The apparatus 10 has a temperature sensitive plug 38 which softens in the 
presence of heat engaged against an inner surface of the outer end portion 
32 of the nozzle 30 and closing the channel 24 in the nozzle 30. As best 
shown in FIG. 4, the plug 38 has a main body portion 40 constructed from a 
material which softens in the presence of heat, such as 21% indium, 49% 
bismuth, 18% lead, 12% tin alloy or other suitable alloy or wax as known 
in the art. The plug 38 also has a heat conductive member 42 in the form 
of a wire extending through the body portion 40 and out of the plug 38, 
with the heat conductive member 42 being constructed from copper. The heat 
conductive member 42 has a pair of spaced sections 44 and 46 extending 
longitudinally through the body portion 40 and having curved end portions 
48 and 50, respectively, located outside the plug 38, with the conductive 
member 42 having a cross section 52 connecting the longitudinal sections 
44 and 46. The plug 38 has an inner disc 54 of heat conductive material, 
such as copper, with the cross section 52 of the heat conductive member 42 
contacting the disc 54. During use of the apparatus 10, heat is conducted 
by the member 42 into the main body portion 40 and along the disc 54 in 
order to soften the main body portion 40 and release the engagement of the 
plug 38 against the nozzle 30, as will be further described below. 
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus 10 has a hollow tubular 
section 56 having an outer end portion 58 and an inner end portion 60 
connected to the closure member 20 by suitable means, such as cooperating 
threads 62, on a side of the closure member 20 opposite the nozzle 30. As 
shown, the tubular section 56 defines an extension of the channel 24 of 
the closure member 20. 
The apparatus 10 has an alarm 64 of conventional type connected to the 
outer end portion 58 of the tubular section 56 and communicating with the 
channel 24 in the tubular section 56. As known to the art, such an alarm 
64 issues an audible signal responsive to gas under pressure. The alarm 
may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,670,690, incorporated 
herein by reference. 
The apparatus 10 has an elongated valve element 66 slidably received in the 
channel 24. The valve element 66 has an elongated first lumen 68 extending 
from an intermediate portion of the valve element 66 to an outer end 70 of 
the valve element 66. The valve element 66 has a first outer annular 
groove 72 in an outer surface of the valve element 66 adjacent an inner 
end of the first lumen 68, and a first aperture 74 extending between the 
first groove 72 and the inner end of the first lumen 68. The valve element 
66 has a second lumen 76 spaced from the first lumen 68 and extending from 
the intermediate portion of the valve element 66 to an inner end 78 of the 
valve element 66. The valve element has a second annular groove 80 in the 
outer surface of the valve element 66 adjacent an inner end of the second 
lumen 76, and a second aperture 82 communicating between the second groove 
80 and the inner end of the second lumen 76. The valve element 66 has a 
third annular groove 84 in an outer surface of the valve element 66 
intermediate the first and second grooves 72 and 80, and an 0-ring 86 
positioned in the third groove 84 to prevent fluid communication between 
the first groove 72 and the second groove 80. This 0-ring 86 serves, in 
the repose position of FIG. 2, to prevent leakage of liquid or gas to the 
alarm 64. 
The valve element 66 is movable between a first position, as shown in FIG. 
2, with the outer end 70 engaged against an inner surface of the plug 38, 
with the first groove 72 disconnected from the reservoir tubular section 
28, and with the second groove 80 disconnected from the bore 26, and a 
second position, as shown in FIG. 3, with the outer end 70 of the valve 
element 66 located adjacent the outer end of the nozzle 30 with the first 
groove 72 connected to the reservoir tubular section 28, and with the 
second groove 80 connected to the bore 26. 
The apparatus 10 has a helical spring 88 engaged between the outer end 
portion 58 of the tubular section 56 and the inner end portion of the 
valve element 66 in order to bias the valve element 66 from the first 
position, as shown in FIG. 2, to the second position, as shown in FIG. 3, 
and drive the plug 38 from the nozzle 30 when the plug 38 softens in the 
presence of heat, as will be further described below. 
With reference to FIG. 1, the closure member 20 has an outwardly directed 
clip 90 with a downwardly extending flange 92 in order to removably mount 
the apparatus on the rim R of the container C with the nozzle 30 located 
adjacent and generally tangentially to the cavity C'. In this 
configuration, the reservoir 12 is located outside the container C, and 
the plug 38 is located adjacent the cavity C' in order to sense heat from 
materials which may burn in the cavity C'. 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, with the plug 38 in place in the nozzle 
30, the valve element 66 closes the tubular section 28 and bore 26 in 
order to prevent passage of the liquid 16 and gas 18 outside the reservoir 
12. However, if material should begin to burn in the cavity C' of the 
container C, the plug 38 senses the heat, and the main body portion 40 
melts sufficiently to loosen the grip of the plug 38 on the inside of the 
nozzle 30, and the spring 88 moves the valve element 66 from the first to 
the second position in order to drive the plug 38 out of the nozzle 30. In 
this actuated position of the apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 3, 
communication is established between tubular section 28 and the first 
groove 72 of the valve element 66', and the pressure of the gas 18 in the 
reservoir 12 drives the fire extinguishing liquid 16 through the tubular 
section 28, the first groove 72, the first aperture 74, and the first 
lumen 68, out of the valve element 66 and nozzle 30 in a tangential 
direction along the cavity C' in order to extinguish fire of the materials 
in the cavity C' without sufficient velocity to blow the materials out of 
the cavity C' and into the surrounding room. At the same time, 
communication is established between the bore 26 and the second groove 80 
of the valve element 66, such that the gas 18 passes through the bore 26, 
the second aperture 82, the second lumen 76, and the channel 24 into the 
alarm 64 in order to simultaneously actuate the alarm 64 in the presence 
of the gas 18 under pressure from the reservoir 12. 
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, an apparatus 10 of the 
present invention is described which is constructed in a simplified manner 
for removable placement upon the rim of the container. Upon sensing heat 
in the cavity of the container, the apparatus is actuated in order to 
eject fire extinguishing liquid from the apparatus in order to extinguish 
the fire without sufficient velocity to blow burning materials from the 
cavity of the container, and simultaneously to actuate an audible alarm to 
warn of the fire. 
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 
6, in which like reference numerals designate like parts. In this 
embodiment, the nozzle 30 and valve element 66 are constructed from a 
flexible or malleable material, such that they may be located at a desired 
position adjacent the container cavity C'. The plug 38 is shown in 
position in the outer end portion of the nozzle 30 in FIG. 5, and the 
apparatus is shown as actuated in FIG. 6 with the plug 38 having been 
driven out of the nozzle 30 by the valve element 66. 
Referring to FIG. 7, there is depicted a further embodiment of the 
invention which is generally designated by the number 10'. This embodiment 
10' is similar to that of the previous unit 10 except that it is mounted 
with the chamber 12 atop of the valve unit. In this embodiment, the liquid 
receiving opening 28' does not have a siphon tube. Instead, the gas 
receiving base 26' is provided with a tube 26T which extends to the top or 
gaseous phase of the container. 
A second O-Ring and groove 86S and 84S are provided forward of the liquid 
receiving base 72 so as to prevent liquid from entering the tube when in 
the stand-by mode. (The top of the tube 26T may be fitted with a "snorkel" 
like valve to keep liquid from entering it but allowing gas to pass 
through it unimpeded.) 
Also provided for the unit 10' is a rim clamp arrangement 100 for snapping 
over the rim R' of a wastepaper basket or like container C". 
The unit 10' also includes a spacer section 66S which is also ejected, as 
shown, so as to provide an enlarged diameter zone 68Z at the discharge 
point for the now gaseous anti-fire material. This enlarged discharge zone 
68Z serves to allow the gas to expand under controlled conditions and thus 
to exit the tube 38 at a lower velocity than otherwise would be the case. 
The spacer and zone arrangement may be employed with the embodiments of 
FIGS. 1-6. 
Several prototypes of the invention have been made, tested, and shown to 
work well. These prototypes essentially followed the construction of the 
FIGS. 1-4 embodiment. For purposes of definiteness of disclosure but not 
for purposes of limitation, the details of one such prototype will be 
hereafter set out. It should be clearly understood that the invention may 
be practiced in many forms and that the inventor, himself, may well decide 
to change the details and manner of his practicing the invention, as 
future experience indicates or to adapt it to different environments. 
One successfully tested prototype employed a plug 38 having an outside 
diameter of 5/16 inch and a length of 1/4 inch. The disc 70 was of copper 
0.010 inch thick and had a diameter of 9/32 inch. Its main (meltable) body 
was Cerro Metals Alloy "low 136", an alloy of 49% bismuth, 21% indium, 18% 
lead, and 12% tin. The copper wire forming the horns was a section of #12 
gauge conventional electrical copper conductor. This plug was designed to 
release, reading approximately 136 degrees, F. (Of course, for different 
environments, other temperature alloys could be used, and alloys are well 
known in this art.) The plug was cast in place at the end of the tube by 
first inserting the disc 54 and the member 42 and then pouring in molten 
alloy and allowing it to harden in place. This effectively solders the 
plug in place to the tube 32, until the heat from a fire releases it. 
The valve unit was formed of a brass tubing set into a plastic top and 
employed a machined sliding valve made of brass. In commercial production, 
the member 66 would preferably be made of Torlon grade 9040. The gas 
discharge tube had an inside diameter of approximately 3/8 inch. The Halon 
container was of glass and was charged with Halon 1211 obtained from Great 
Lakes Chemical Co. This is believed to be Bromochlorodifluromethane (C Br 
CLF.sub.2). The audio alarm unit was made from a modified commercially 
purchased "Screamer", manufactured by Qualco Products Co. of Fernwood, 
N.J. Of course, many different gas pressure operated alarm units can be 
used. 
The foregoing detailed description is given for clarity of understanding 
only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as 
modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art. For example, 
other materials known to the art may be utilized as liquid and gas in the 
reservoir.