Abstract:
A portable apparatus and method for dispensing fire retardant or other materials into relatively inaccessible areas. The apparatus and method are particularly suited for releasing an extinguishing agent on a fire that is burning under the hood of a vehicle or behind a wall or other barrier separating the fire from the firefighter or for dispensing other materials in like situations. The apparatus includes a tank and a nozzle rigidly attached to the tank. The attachment may be either separable by securing the nozzle to a jacket that fits around the tank, or integral by welding the nozzle to the tank. The tank, which conveniently may be the tank of a standard portable fire extinguisher, contains a fluent fire retardant, or other fluent material, and has an outlet through which the material can be dispensed. The nozzle extends from the tank and provides a penetrating end, a fluid-conducting passageway having an outlet opening through the penetrating end, and an inlet connected to the outlet of the tank. In use, the nozzle is manually thrust through the sheet metal of the vehicle&#39;s hood, or other barrier, using the weight of the tank to penetrate the barrier with the nozzle and position its outlet in the region of the fire, or other inaccessible area, whereupon a valve on the tank is opened to release fire retardant onto the fire or to dispense the other material into the area.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Extinguishing an automobile engine fire can be a very difficult and nerve-wracking task. Difficult because the fire may be burning under the closed and latched hood of the vehicle so spraying water or other fire retardant on the surface of the vehicle is ineffective to douse the flames. Nerve-wracking because of the financial loss and the possibility of imminent explosion if the burning is allowed to continue. Moreover, such fires often occur because of engine overheating while the vehicle is being driven on a busy thoroughfare, such as a freeway. The motorist is forced to pull over to the side of the highway in a dangerous location, is usually helpless to extinguish the fire, and must nervously await the arrival of the fire truck. 
     Upon arrival at the scene, the fire personnel must first gain access to the area under the hood before the fire can be controlled. Since the hood is usually down and latched, the fire makes manually releasing the latch very difficult and perhaps impossible. In the past, therefore, the firefighter has used an ax to chop an opening in the hood through which the nozzle of a fire hose can then be inserted and retardant released. This multi-step operation naturally delays the end objective of spaying fire retardant on the blaze, further exposing the firefighter and others to danger and allowing the fire to continue its damage. 
     Certain of the above described problems are experienced in fighting fires in inaccessible areas other than under the hood of a vehicle. Some of these problems exist when fires occur within the passenger compartment of a locked vehicle or a locked trunk; in a locked mobile home or truck trailer; in an aircraft; and even more commonly in a building where a fire is burning between walls of the building. Several patents disclose equipment for smothering a fire in such inaccessible areas. However, none of the known devices is sufficiently compact, portable and self-contained to make it ideal for extinguishing a serious but small fire burning in an automobile engine under the closed hood of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     A portable apparatus and method for dispensing fire retardant or other materials into relatively inaccessible areas are provided. The apparatus and method are particularly suited for releasing an extinguishing agent on a fire that is burning under the hood of a vehicle or behind a wall or other barrier separating the fire from the firefighter or for dispensing other materials into other inaccessible areas. The apparatus includes a tank and a nozzle rigidly attached to the tank. The attachment may be either separable by securing the nozzle to a jacket that fits around the tank, or integral by welding the nozzle to the tank. The tank, which conveniently may be the tank of a standard portable fire extinguisher that contains a fluent fire retardant, or another tank containing another fluent material, and has an outlet through which the material can be dispensed. The nozzle extends from the tank and provides a penetrating end, a fluid-conducting passageway having an outlet opening through the penetrating end, and an inlet connected to the outlet of the tank. In use to extinguish a fire, the nozzle is manually thrust through the sheet metal of the vehicle&#39;s hood, or other barrier, using the weight of the tank to penetrate the barrier with the nozzle and to place its outlet in the region of the fire, or other inaccessible area, whereupon a valve on the tank is opened to release fire retardant onto the fire or to dispense the other material into the area. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for dispensing fire retardant and other materials in relatively inaccessible areas. 
     Another object is provide a method and apparatus for extinguishing automobile fires. 
     A further object is to lessen the physical dangers and loss of property associated with fighting a vehicle fire. 
     An additional object is to provide a compact, portable and self-contained apparatus for fighting an engine fire burning under the closed hood of a vehicle. 
     Yet another object is to provide a method and apparatus that allows conventional portable fire-fighting equipment to be used to extinguish a serious but relatively small fire behind a barrier. 
     A still further object is to provide an apparatus that adapts a conventional portable fire extinguisher tank so that the tank can be used to assist in thrusting a retardant-emitting nozzle through a barrier behind which a fire is burning so that retardant may be sprayed onto the fire. 
     Yet an additional object is to provide a method and apparatus for extinguishing fires in relatively inaccessible areas that allows a conventional, portable, fire extinguisher to be quickly adapted for penetrating barriers, such as a vehicle hood, behind which a fire, such as an engine fire, is burning, but allows the fire extinguisher to be otherwise used in the usual manner for other types of fires. 
     A further object is to provide a holder for a conventional fire extinguisher that facilitates use of the extinguisher in many fire-fighting tasks. 
     Another object is to dispense fire retardant or other materials behind or underneath a barrier with a portable dispenser that can punch a hole in the barrier and simultaneously insert a dispensing nozzle on the opposite side of the barrier from the user. 
     A feature of the present invention is a fluid-conducting, barrier-penetrating nozzle attached to a fire extinguisher tank. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric side elevation of one embodiment of a fire extinguishing apparatus in accordance with the principals of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged, isometric side elevation of the fire extinguishing apparatus of FIG. 1 looking at the apparatus from a position at the left of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the fire extinguishing apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 at the scale of FIG. 1 but looking at the apparatus from a position at the right of FIG. 1 or the left of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the fire extinguishing apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 looking at the apparatus from a position at the left of FIG.  3 . 
       7 FIG. 5 is a somewhat enlarged, top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-4, as viewed when looking down on the apparatus from a position at the right of FIG. 3 or the front of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a somewhat reduced, bottom plan view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-5. 
     FIG. 7 is somewhat reduced, isometric computer-generated wire-frame view of the holder including the jacket, handles and penetrating nozzle of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-6 without the fire extinguishing tank fitted within the jacket, and since it is a wire-frame drawing showing interior features of the holder although such features would be normally hidden from view. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the holder as viewed from the right side of FIG.  7  and as viewed from the same angle as FIG. 3 although on a scale reduced from FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 9 is a computer-generated wire-frame view of a side elevation of the holder as viewed from the right of FIG.  8  and shown as transparent to see internal details. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation on a reduced scale of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, showing internal features in dashed lines. 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged side elevation of a variation of the embodiment of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation of an automobile schematically indicating the existence of a fire burning under the closed hood of the vehicle and showing the fire extinguishing apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention resting on the hood with the penetrating nozzle projected through the hood and spraying fire extinguishing material into the area of the fire. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment of a portable fire extinguishing apparatus incorporating the principles of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral  20  in FIGS. 1-4. In general, the apparatus of the first embodiment includes a fire extinguisher  22 , a jacket  24 , and a penetrating nozzle  26 . Each of these elements of the apparatus and their relationship will now be described in more detail. 
     The fire extinguisher  22  (FIGS. 1-5) is a conventional portable fire extinguisher that may use various types of fire extinguishing agents. Although not so limited, one such conventional fire extinguisher that may be used with the present invention is made by Ansul Incorporated of Marinette, Wis., sold under the trademark ANSUL® SENTRY®, containing ten pounds of FORAY® multi-purpose dry chemical extinguisher. Whether the fire extinguisher  22  is of the ANSUL brand, or of another brand, it includes a tank  30 , having a circular bottom wall  32 , a cylindrical side wall  34 , a frusto-conical top wall  36 , and a neck  38  terminating in a upper opening. By way of example and not limitation, and insofar as the ANSUL fire extinguisher is concerned, the side wall is approximately 5⅝″ in diameter and approximately 14½″ in length. Although similar dimensions as these are common for this conventional fire extinguisher, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular dimensions and that such dimension are given herein only by way of providing a specific example of one embodiment of the invention. 
     The conventional fire extinguisher  22  (FIGS. 1,  2  and  5 ) also includes a valve  46  having a fitting  48  that is threaded on the neck  38  of the tank  30  and an outlet  50 . The valve also includes a stationary valve handle  52  and a pivotally moveable valve handle  54 . A pressure gauge  56  is conventionally connected to the valve. A flexible hose  60  has an upper end  62  that is threaded into the outlet of the valve and a lower end  64 . 
     The tank  30  is filled with a dry chemical fire extinguishing material or other fire extinguishing agent, not shown in FIGS. 1-4 but indicated as being ejected from the nozzle  26  in FIG.  12 . When so filled with the extinguishing or fire retardant agent, the fire extinguisher weighs approximately 10 to 15 pounds. Again, the invention is not limited to this or any other particular weight, although the weight of the fire extinguisher does enhance the use of the apparatus, as will be described. 
     The jacket  24  of the first embodiment of the fire extinguishing apparatus  20  is shown assembled with the fire extinguisher  22  in FIGS. 1-6 but is shown separated from the fire extinguisher in FIGS. 7-9, to which attention is now directed. This jacket may also be referred to as a container or a housing or simply as a mounting device for the fire extinguisher  22  and the penetrating nozzle  26 . The jacket is of rigid construction, preferably metallic and preferably of 300 series stainless steel having a 0.87 inch thickness, although the invention is not limited to stainless steel and other rigid fire resistant materials may be employed. The jacket has a flat circular bottom wall  70  preferably providing a rim  72 . A side wall  74  extends upwardly from the bottom wall along the generatrix of a cylinder. The side wall has a front surface  76 , rear side  78 , side surfaces  80 , a top edge  82  terminating in an upper opening  84 . As used with the specific fire extinguisher  22  made by the Ansel Corporation, the side wall has a length of approximately 12¼ inch measured from the bottom wall to the top edge of the side wall. Furthermore, the upper opening has a diameter of approximately 6 inches. Again, the invention is not limited to these particular dimensions, although it is to be noted that the diameter of the upper opening and thus the side wall must be large enough to accommodate a sliding fit of the tank  30 . Furthermore, the length of the side wall is preferably slightly shorter than the length of the side wall  34  of the tank. 
     In order to reduce the weight of the jacket  24 , the side wall  74  has a cut-away indicated at  90  (FIGS. 1,  2  and  5 - 8 ) at the rear and side surfaces  78  and  80 . A T-shaped front insulating pad  97  is secured to the inside front surface of the jacket with upper portions of the pad extending partially around the upper mounting segment and with a lower portion extending downwardly into part of the lower mounting section of the jacket. Also, a bottom insulating pad  98  is adhered to the inside surface of the bottom wall  70  of the jacket  4 . This cut-away divides the jacket into an upper section  92  and a lower section  94 . The upper section is split at the rear surface  78  of the side wall thereby providing a gap  96 . In contrast, the lower section is continuous circumferentially of the side wall. 
     The penetrating nozzle  26  (FIGS. 1,  2 , and  5 - 8 ) is an elongated rigid tube that is securely fastened, as by welding, to the front surface  76  of the jacket  24 . As thus seen in FIG. 7, the nozzle has an intermediate attaching portion  100  that is rigidly secured, as by welding, to the front surface of the jacket adjacent to the bottom wall  70 . The nozzle also includes a penetrating end potion  102  projecting downwardly from the bottom wall  70  and the rim  72  in perpendicular relationship to the bottom wall. This penetrating end portion terminates in a sharp conical tip  104 . In a preferred embodiment of the nozzle, the tip of the penetrating end portion is approximately 3¼″ from the bottom wall, although the invention is not limited to this spacing. The nozzle also includes an upper coupling end portion  106  that is preferably slightly bent outwardly from the attaching portion so as to be in slightly spaced relation to the front surface  76  of the jacket. 
     The nozzle  26  (FIGS. 1,  2 . and  5 - 8 ) includes an internal longitudinal fluid passageway extending from the coupling end portion  106  to the tip  104  of the penetrating end portion  102 . The nozzle provides a plurality of outlet apertures  112  located circumferentially of the nozzle adjacent to the tip and communicating with the passageway. Furthermore, the coupling end portion terminates in an inlet  114 . A quick-connect or other suitable coupling  120  includes a female part connected to the coupling end portion  106  in communication with the inlet  114  and a male part  19  connected to the lower end  64  of the hose  60 . 
     Bracket-shaped handles  130  (FIGS. 1,  2 ,  7  and  8 ) have upper and lower mounting segments  132  and  134  rigidly secured, as by welding, to the opposite side surfaces  80  of the upper and lower sections  92  and  94 , respectively, of the jacket  24 . The handles also include intermediate holding segments that join their respective upper and lower mounting segments and bridge the space resulting from the cut-away  90 . As best shown in FIGS. 2,  5  and  6 , the handles thus project outwardly from the opposite side surfaces of the jacket and slightly rearwardly therefrom. In the embodiment of the jacket  24  used with the Ansel type of fire extinguisher  22 , the weight of the jacket, the pads  97  and  98 , the nozzle  26 , and the handles  130  is approximately 5 to 8 pounds. Again, this particular weight is not a limitation on the invention. 
     The fire extinguisher  22  and the jacket  24  are assembled to provide the fire extinguishing apparatus  20 , as shown in FIGS. 1-5. An adjustable band  140  is fitted around the upper section  92  of the jacket  24 , and a threaded fastener  142  interconnects opposite ends of the bands; alternatively, an over-center buckle may be used to provide for rapid assembly or disassembly of the extinguisher and the jacket. As such, the fire extinguisher is slidably fitted within the side wall  74  of the jacket through the upper opening  84  with the hose  60  hanging downwardly in front of the jacket. The tank is slid into the jacket until the rim  33  on the bottom wall  32  rests on the bottom insulating pad  98 . It is to be noted that the split upper section may be slightly expanded to accommodate insertion of the fire extinguisher tank  30 . The coupling  120  is connected so that the hose is in communication with the nozzle  26 . After the fire extinguisher is thus properly fitted within the jacket, the fastener  142  is tightened so that the tank is snugly held within the jacket. Thus, the jacket together with the nozzle, handles, and band, as a separate unit, may be considered as a holder or housing for the fire extinguisher, such holder or housing being generally indicated by the number  145 . 
     A second embodiment of the subject fire extinguishing apparatus is generally indicated by the number  150  in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this embodiment, both the fire extinguisher and the holder are combined into one self-contained unit. Thus, the second embodiment includes a tank or holder or housing  152 , all in one, containing a fire extinguishing agent, as before, and having an upper opening which is closed by a threaded cap  154  to facilitate refilling of the tank. A refill valve  156  is incorporated in the threaded cap, and a protective cap  158  is provided over the refill valve. A force-activated discharge valve  160  is provided in the lower end of the tank adjacent to its bottom wall. 
     An elongated penetrating nozzle  164  extends axially endwardly from the bottom wall of the tank and terminates in a sharp conical tip  166 . A stop plate  168  (FIG. 10 only) projects radially outwardly from the nozzle intermediate the tank and the tip. The nozzle has a plurality of apertures  170  located in the portion of the nozzle between the stop plate and the tip. The nozzle also has a fluid passageway  172  extending longitudinally therethrough and in communication with the tank  152  when the discharge valve  160  is opened. A handle (FIG. 10 only) or handles  180  (FIG. 11 only) projects or project outwardly from the tank. 
     OPERATION AND METHOD OF USE 
     The subject fire extinguishing apparatus  20  or  150  may be part of the equipment used by a fire department, may be used by other trained fire-fighting personnel, or especially because of the simplicity of its construction, may even be owned and used by individual laypersons in ways similar to the ways ordinary portable fire extinguishers are used. In the description that follows, reference is made to use by a fire department, but this is by way of example only, it being understood that the invention lends itself to use by many other persons, as suggested above. 
     If the first embodiment  20  is used, the fire department may choose to maintain the apparatus in the assembled condition shown in FIGS. 1-6, or it may choose to keep the fire extinguisher  22  and the jacket  24  separate since they can be readily assembled if needed. If separate, the conventional fire extinguisher is available as always for use on small fires other than those burning in inaccessible areas such as under the hood of a vehicle. Of course, even if assembled, the fire extinguisher is available for such other uses, but then the extra weight of the holder  145  may not be desired. If the second embodiment  150  of the apparatus is used, it will of course already be fully assembled since it is a self-contained unit not intended for disassembly. In describing the method of using the apparatus, it will be assumed that the first embodiment is to be employed and that the tank  30  is kept separate from the jacket  24  when these two elements are not in use. 
     With particular reference to FIG.  12 . an automobile  200  is shown to illustrate the existence of a fire  202  burning in the engine  204  under the hood  206  of the vehicle. When the fire department receives the alarm that a vehicle is on fire, the firemen jump onto a fire truck and race to the scene. As the fire truck is traveling toward the burning vehicle, the fire extinguisher  22  is quickly assembled with the holder  145  in the manner described above, assuming their storage in disassembled condition. Thus, upon reaching the vehicle, the fire extinguishing apparatus  20  is in the condition shown in FIGS. 1-6 and read), to use. 
     At the scene of the fire, the fireman grasps the handles  140  and carries the apparatus to the burning automobile  200 . Standing next to the hood  206 , the fireman lifts the apparatus over his head with the nozzle  26  pointed downwardly toward the hood. The fireman then thrusts the apparatus rapidly downwardly causing the tip  104  of the nozzle to penetrate or punch through the hood and the bottom wall  70  of the jacket  24  lo come to rest against the top of the hood. In this position, the apertures  112  of the nozzle are under the hood in the area of the fire. At that point, the fireman grasps the valve handles  52  and  54  and opens the valve  46 . This causes the fire extinguishing agent to be propelled under pressure from the tank  30 , through the hose  60 , into the penetrating nozzle  26  and out of the apertures  112 , as illustrated in FIG.  12 . As such, the fire retardant material is sprayed all over the area underneath the engine causing the material to smother the fire. 
     If the second embodiment  150  of the subject fire extinguishing apparatus is used, the handle  180  is grasped and the apparatus is swung downwardly causing the nozzle  164  to penetrate the hood of the vehicle, in a manner similar to that with regard to the first embodiment  20 . If the FIG. 10 version is used, the stop  168  limits penetration of the nozzle. The impact of the nozzle against the hood causes the discharge valve  60  to open thereby releasing the fire retardant material through the nozzle and out of the apertures and into the area of the fire, in a manner similar to that discussed above with regard to the first embodiment. 
     Several advantages of the subject fire extinguishing apparatus  20  or  150  are to be noted. First, the apparatus is portable and integrated. either as the assembled extinguisher  22  and holder  145  of the first embodiment or the self-contained unit  150  of the second embodiment. Although the first embodiment needs to be assembled before used, such assembly can be accomplished in a matter of seconds. If not assembled, the conventional fire extinguisher is available for use in the normal manner. Thus, the holder  145  allows a conventional fire extinguisher to be readily adapted for use in extinguishing vehicle fires. 
     A significant advantage is also realized by combining a conventional fire extinguisher, as  22 , with the subject holder  145 . That is, a predetermined force is of course necessary to thrust the nozzle  26  through the sheet metal of the vehicle hood  206 . The subject invention allows the weight of the conventional fire extinguisher to be used in achieving the mass necessary to cause the nozzle to penetrate the hood. Although the precise weight of the disclosed embodiment is not limiting to the invention, the combined weight of the fire extinguisher and the holder is approximately 15 to 20 pounds. This weight can readily be lifted by the fireman or other firefighting person, raised above his or her head, then thrust downwardly whereupon this extra weight assists in projecting the nozzle through the vehicle hood. 
     With the assembled apparatus  20  or the self-contained apparatus  150 , the fire extinguishing method is carried out in one step. That is, with prior methods, either a hole for inserting a nozzle first had to be chopped in the hood with an ax before the nozzle could be inserted or, alternatively, a nozzle with a penetrating point first had to be thrust into the hood and thereafter connected to a source of fire extinguishing material. In the present invention, the tank and the nozzle are combined into one unit so that when the nozzle is punched through the hood, it is already connected to the tank and immediately ready to dispense fire retardant, the weight of the tank being used to assist in penetrating the vehicle hood. 
     Although the invention has been described above and is especially suited for fighting a vehicle fire, it will be understood that it may be used for extinguishing fires behind barriers other than the described vehicle hood, such as in a closed compartment of a vehicle or otherwise or behind a wall or under a floor of a building. In general, use of the subject apparatus in such applications minimizes danger to the firefighter and others and helps to minimize property loss because it saves valuable time in the ever-present task of applying fire retardant on a fire just as quickly as possible. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications, substitutions and equivalents may exist without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.