As expressed in the title of the present specification, the present invention refers to an improved actuator mechanism for fire extinguishers, whose handling causes the bottom perforation of a bottle, capsule or cartridge containing pressure gas, such as CO2, the gas coming out of the same through the nozzle, at the same time that it will mix with a powdered substance, which is of course located inside the fire extinguisher itself.
The mechanism of the invention includes important advantages over the Spanish Utility Model no. 9301448 which also refers to an actuator mechanism for fire extinguishers.
Conventional fire extinguishers include a head on the top part of which is mounted a hand-operated swivel-mounted, lever, which when pressed on moves an axial shaft which is to perforate the top end of a CO2 bottle or capsule located inside a tube-probe, in such a way that the perforation involves the outflow of the gas contained in the bottle or capsule and the corresponding mixing and draught of the powdered product contained in the fire extinguisher, so that by virtue of that pressure the mixture comes out through the corresponding nozzle, so that it complies with its last purpose, which is to try to put out a fire that has started.
Logically, the CO2 capsule or bottle is hermetically sealed until the moment when the fire extinguisher is to be used, or in other words until the top lever is actuated, which involves the perforating of the capsule or bottle.
As it can be seen from what has just been said, perforating the CO2 bottle or capsule is done by the top end thereof in such a way that the gas that comes out will remove part of the powder contained in the fire extinguisher itself, but it will not be able to reach the bottom area of said fire extinguisher, where large amounts of powder that, obviously, become spoiled, are deposited.
Therefore, in accordance with the perforating system of the CO2 bottle provided with fire extinguisher heads, to provide the corresponding discharge means, part of the powdered product contained in the fire extinguisher is not used advantageously, that is to say, that it remains in the bottom of the fire extinguisher precisely because the gas that comes out through the top part of the bottle does not effectively move the bottom of the fire extinguisher, leaving, as it has been said, part of the powder in said bottom.
The actuator mechanism for fire extinguishers corresponding to Utility Model no. 9301448 does not have the above mentioned problems, mainly thanks to the perforating of the CO2 bottle or capsule located in a probe-tube, is carried out by the bottom part of said bottle, there being in correspondence with the area of that perforation, some side outlets through which the gas comes out to mix with the powder inside the fire extinguisher, the mixture then coming out with a lot of force and speed through the corresponding nozzle.
DE-A-1 759 582 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1 of the present patent.
DE-A-25 32 562 and BE-A-866 485 disclose actuator shafts arranged such that they can close off the opening through which the extinguishing medium escapes; the shafts comprise strikers for breaking the closures of the corresponding bottles with pressurised gas.
The improved actuator mechanism for fire extinguishers, object of the invention, has important advantages with regard to other conventional ones and also with regard to Utility Model no. 9301448. The improvements introduced in connection with the latter are centered on the structure thereof which contributes to simpler and more effective operation, at the same time that the manufacturing cost is reduced notably.
It comprises a probe-tube, inside of which a bottle or capsule containing pressure gas, such as CO2, is housed, coupling in the top part of the same a head that is provided with an articulated lever, actuating a sealing shaft stabilized axially by means of a spring, in such a way that upon pressing on the lever, the sealing shaft drops and pushes directly downward the CO2 bottle, whose bottom end will knock against, as it happened in Utility Model no. 9301448, a striker established in the probe-tube, which has some side gas outlets so that the gas mixes with the powdered substance of the fire extinguisher, the mixture finally coming outside to extinguish a possible fire.
On the other hand, the bottle adjust and fits by its bottom part into a circular opening where an elastic seal is inserted to prevent the CO2 gas once the bottle is perforated, from escaping upward, or in other words, towards the cavity where the gas capsule is located.
Hence, this new mechanism as it has already been said above, is more effective and simpler than the mechanism of Utility Model no. 9301448, as the extension piece has been eliminated and also due to the inclusion of the elastic adjustment seal of the gas bottle and the prevention from the same from escaping upward.
Hereinafter to provide a better understanding of this specification and forming an integral part of the same, a figure in which the object of the invention has been represented in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner is attached hereto.
Figure 1 is a sectioned view of the improved actuator mechanism for fire extinguishers, object of the invention.
Making reference to the numbering used in the figures, the improved actuator mechanism for fire extinguishers is formed from a probe-tube or body (1), in whose bottom (2) there is a small cavity where a piece (3) carrying a striker (4) fits in, defining in the bottom part of said body (1), a cylindrical narrow space (5) where a CO2 bottle or cartridge (7) located inside the probe-tube (1) and whose bottom end remains very close to the striker (4) adjusts by insertion of an elastic seal (6.) Of course, said bottle (7) is hermetically sealed and contains pressure gas, such as the above cited CO2.
On the other hand, in the top part of the body (1) a head (8) provided with an operating lever (9) that is articulable around a rivet or pin (10) is housed, said head (8) also including inside it a sealing shaft (11) axially stabilized by means of a coaxila spring (12), at the same time that the bottom end of the former, remains near the top part of the bottle (7.) The sealing shaft (11) has a bottom broadening where a bottom seal (13) that contacts with the side wall of a conical generating opening is adjusted, also including a top washer (15) and another bottom washer (16), both coupled to the shaft and between which the spring (12) remains retained, at the same time that the bottom washer (16) sits on an inside annular projection (17) of the head (8), with the insertion of an elastic seal (18.)
With the described arrangement, upon pressing on the lever (9) the sealing shaft (11) will drop axially pushing the bottle (7) downward until the bottom end of the same knocks against the striker (4) which will cause the gas contained in the cited bottle (7) initially sealed hermetically to come out. Hence, this gas, will then come out under pressure through some side outlets (19) close to the bottom of the body (1), the gas then mixing with the powdered substance of the fire extinguisher, the mixture then coming out at a high speed through the corresponding nozzle of the same.
The elastic seal (6) where the bottom part of the capsule (7) adjusts, advantageously prevents the mixture of gas and powder from going into the cavity (20) where said capsule (7) is located.