Patent GB-191402938-A (GB)
Title: Fire Protecting Devices for Holds and Tanks Containing Hydrocarbons of any Nature and Density, Alcohol, Oils and other Inflammable Liquids.
Inventor: GEORGES ADAM
IPC: A62C3/06
Filed: 1914-02-04
Abstract: 2938. Adam, G. Feb. 4, 1913, [Convention date]. Void [Published under Sect. 91 of the Act.] P'ires, preventing and minimizing in receptacles and storage apparatus for inflammable liquids; fire-extinguishing by gases; sprinklers, automatic.-Relates to fire extinguishing and preventing devices for storage chambers, tanks, ship holds, oil baths of transformers, switches &c., containing inflammable liquids, in which the chambers &c. are automatically closed and the valves of liquid sulphur dioxide or like containers are automatically opened when the temperature of the chambers attains a predetermined limit. The storage chambers are arranged underground and are built of brickwork, reinforced concrete, &c., the openings being provided with steel plated doors, window frames &c., and armoured glass, the chambers being lit by daylight and ventilated by chimneys extending through the roof, and electric fans 18, 19, Figs. 2 and 3. Access to the chambers is obtained by special stairs and doors 29, 30, Fig. 2, which automatically shut when the temperature is raised, by the fusing of connexions, normally retaining weights 41, 42 which operate to close the doors. The woodwork of the doors consists of three layers of wood free from resin and arranged with the grain crossing, the layers being secured by metal clamps and lined with steel plates interengaging with one another. The tanks inside the chambers are provided with man-holes 4, Fig. 3, ladders 5 &c. giving access to the inside or outside of the tanks, and in the case of viscous oils with heating coils 10. The suction pipes 20, 21, Figs. 2 and 3, of the fan extend into the chambers through openings provided with doors 22, 23 having fusible locking devices and weights for closing them on the temperature rising. The pipes for conducting the oils are provided with valves 15 operated from the outside by levers 16, the fuel being pumped into intermediate tanks. The valves 15 are provided with sleeves preventing water and napthalene from being drawn off with the oils, the water and napthalene being discharged from the tanks by valves 17. The liquid sulphur dioxide containers are connected to the storage chamber by pipes and are provided with valves controlled automatically by an electrical apparatus operated by the thermostatic devices. Thermostats 27 and saturated steam thermometers 46 are used to indicate the temperatures in the chambers and are connected to alarm bells &c. The efficiency of the installation is tested periodically by switches 49 and experimental thermostats 50. When the liquids are stored in large tanks in the open air, the tanks are protected against lightning by surrounding the tank with a Farraday's cage and providing detached lightning conductors. Adjacent to the tank is fixed a box 64 containing the sulphur dioxide containers 65, the valves of which are automatically operated by an electric device 66, 67 connected by a pipe 75' to a vapour-pressure thermometer, electric alarm bells being provided. The sulphur dioxide is conducted to an annular spraying nozzle 70 arranged at the top of the tank, any liquid sulphur dioxide being caught in a suspended cup 72. A fan 76 draws off vapour collected at the top of the tank, the end of the pipe 77 being provided with a door 71 which is automatically closed when the sulphur dioxide apparatus is in operation. Instead of the electrical apparatus, the sulphur dioxide containers may be operated by connecting the containers with pipes closed with a fusible device arranged above the oil &c.