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(11) | EP 2 567 736 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PERMANENTLY CONTROLLING ITS FILLING OR CHARGE LEVEL |
| (57) A device for supporting a fire extinguisher (E) and permanently controlling its filling
or charge level provided with a fixed assembly (FA); a mobile assembly (MA), which
is suited to be coupled to and to support the fire extinguisher (E); said assembly
(MA) being mobile from a rest end position to an end position which however represents
the full charge of said fire extinguisher (E), and a connection assembly (17, 18,
19, 20) for connecting the fixed assembly (FA) to the mobile assembly (MA); the connection
assembly (17, 18, 19, 20) comprising elastic means (18, 19) provided with a spring
(19), which has a first fixed end connected to the fixed assembly (FA) and a second
mobile end connected to the mobile assembly (MA).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a device for supporting a fire extinguisher and permanently controlling its filling or charge level.
[0002] As known, the fire extinguishers are usually divided into four families according to the type of extinguishing agent: the dry powder fire extinguishers, the foam fire extinguishers, the halogenated fire extinguishers and the CO2 fire extinguishers. Of these four families, the powder fire extinguishers, the foam fire extinguishers and the halogenated fire extinguishers are normally provided with a pressure gauge which is adapted to detect the pressure within the fire extinguisher and, accordingly, the level of filling or charging of the fire extinguisher itself.
[0003] The CO2 fire extinguishers and cartridge fire extinguishers (with any type of extinguishing agent, i.e., foam, powder or halogenated) are however not provided with any pressure gauge because there is no legislation to regulate the need to provide CO2 fire extinguishers and cartridge fire extinguishers with a special device for detecting the filling or charge level of the fire extinguisher itself.
[0004] The CO2 fire extinguishers and the cartridge fire extinguishers described so far have therefore the drawback of not allowing to the users an immediate recognition of the filling or charge level of the fire extinguisher itself.
[0005] The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for supporting a fire extinguisher and permanently controlling its filling or charge level which can overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and, at the same time, is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
[0006] According to the present invention, a device for supporting a fire extinguisher and permanently controlling its filling or charge level is provided, as claimed in claim 1 and, preferably, in any one of the following claims depending directly or indirectly on claim 1.
[0007] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show some examples of nonlimiting embodiments, wherein:
- Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the device for supporting a fire extinguisher and permanently controlling its filling or charge level built in accordance with the present invention directly fixed to a wall and coupled to a fire extinguisher;
- Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1 in a first position and without a protective casing;
- Figure 3 is a side view of the device of Figure 1 in a second position and without a protective casing; and
- Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of figure 1 provided with a protective casing.
[0008] In Figure 1, the number 1 indicates as a whole a device for supporting fire extinguishers E, in particular a CO2 or cartridge type.
[0009] The device 1 may alternatively be directly fixed to a wall W (as shown in Figure 1) or can be connected to the fire extinguisher support element (not shown).
[0010] The device 1 comprises a fixed assembly FA and a mobile assembly MA. The fixed assembly FA in turn comprises a plate 2 made of metallic material for the connection with the wall W by way of fixing means 3 (in particular, screws). The plate 2 has a reduced thickness, presents a rectangular shape and is provided with an outer flat surface 4.
[0011] The mobile assembly MA comprises instead a shaped element 5 made of metallic material and comprising two walls, indicated respectively with 6 and 7, joined together, inclined relative to one another and mobile with respect to the plate 2. The shaped element 5 and in particular the wall 6, carries connected an appendix 8. The appendix 8 is also made of metallic material, is arranged perpendicular to the wall 6 and protrudes outwards. The appendix 8 shows in side view a substantially trapezoidal shape and is provided, at one of its outer ends, with a projecting portion 9 which carries connected a pin 10 predisposed for the coupling and support of the fire extinguisher E.
[0012] The mobile assembly MA then comprises a further plate 11 made of plastic material and of reduced thickness. The plate 11 is connected, at a lower end thereof, to an inner surface of the wall 6 of the shaped element 5 by way of suitable fastening means (of known type and not shown in detail). In other words, the plate 11 is interposed in use between the plate 2 and the shaped element 5. The plate 11 then presents an emerged portion 12 that is arranged in contact with an upper portion of the plate 2. In particular, a rear surface of the plate 11 rests with contact and slides on the outer flat surface 4. In correspondence with the upper end of the emerged portion 12, the plate 11 has then a through opening 13 of an oblong shape.
[0013] The mobile assembly MA formed by the shaped element 5 and by the plate 11 is mobile with respect to the fixed assembly FA between a lower end or rest position (shown in Figure 2) and an upper end position (showed in Figure 3).
[0014] The fixed assembly FA in turn comprises an appendix 14. In particular, the plate carries connected the appendix which is arranged orthogonal to the plate itself and extends towards the outside so as to be arranged in contact with the appendix 8 of the shaped element 5. In particular, a flat outer surface of the appendix 8 is arranged in contact with a flat inner surface of the appendix 14. The appendix 14 is made of metallic material and presents in side view a substantially trapezoidal shape which reproduces the shape of the appendix 8, is arranged orthogonal to the plate 2 and extends towards the outside. The two appendices indicated with 8 and 14, are coupled to one another by means of a pin 15 provided with an axis X1.
[0015] The appendix 8 is made mobile, in particular rotatory about the axis X1. The appendix 14 also comprises an upper flap 16 that projects outwards of the device 1 from an upper edge of the appendix 14 itself. In the flap 16 is formed a through hole within which a threaded screw 17 is inserted presenting an axis X2.
[0016] The device 1 then also comprises elastic means 18 comprising a spring 19 which is arranged, in use, in the longitudinal direction and coaxial to the axis X2. In particular, the spring 19 is connected to an upper end of the screw 17 and with a lower end is coupled to a lower portion of the appendix 14. According to a preferred variant the coupling between the screw 17 and the spring 19 takes place by means of the interposition of a bushing 20 internally threaded, which is also coaxial to the axis X2, which is fitted inside the spring 19. The screw 17 engages directly with the bushing 20.
[0017] The device 1 also comprises a protection casing 21 made of plastic material which is connected to the appendix 14. In the protection casing 21 a U-shaped recess 22 is formed in correspondence to the head of the screw 17; in this way the head of the screw 17 is always accessible to an operator in order to achieve the calibration of the spring 19 acting on the adjustment screw 17 itself. By way of the screw 17 adjustment, the assembly formed by the spring 19 and by the bushing 20 moves along the axis X2. The spring 19 therefore has a lower fixed end connected to the appendix 14 (i.e. the fixed assembly FA) and an upper end connected to the mobile assembly MA.
[0018] In use, the fire extinguisher E is coupled to the device 1 by connecting it to the pin 10, once the calibration of the spring 19 has been carried out. Assuming to have a fire extinguisher E fully charged, the weight of the fire extinguisher itself causes a rotation in the clockwise direction of the appendix 8 and a sliding movement of the shaped element 5 from the lower rest end position (shown in Figure 2) to the of upper end position (shown in Figure 3) which represents the full charge of the fire extinguisher E. In this position, by way of the through opening 13 it is possible to display a message shown on the outer flat surface 4 of the plate 2 adapted to indicate to the users that the fire extinguisher E is fully charged (typically the message may presents for example the word "LOAD" and/or "FULL" or in another language on a green or other background color). Reducing the charge and therefore the weight of the fire extinguisher E, the appendix 8 rotates in the counterclockwise direction and the shaped element 5 moves from the upper end position which represents the full charge of the fire extinguisher E towards the rest end position. In this position, by way of the through opening 13 a message can be displayed on the outer flat surface 4 of the plate 2 adapted to indicate to the user that the fire extinguisher is completely discharged (typically the message may presents for example the words "DISCHARGE" and/or "EMPTY" or in another language on a red or other background color).
[0019] Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a removable element 22 to avoid contact of the fire extinguisher E with the wall W. The removable element 22 comprises a rod 23 which is connected at an upper end by way of the fixing means to a lower end of the fixed appendix 14. The rod 23 extends along the wall W downwards and, at a lower end thereof has two elements 24A, 24B for supporting the fire extinguisher E.
[0020] In particular, the two support elements 24A, 24B are hinged to the rod 23 and are rotatory about a common supporting axis X3 and are arranged orthogonal to the rod 23. They are arranged so as to surround and accommodate the fire extinguisher cylinder E and prevent it from entering directly in contact with the wall W.
[0021] The discussion that precedes makes explicit reference to a device for supporting a CO2 or cartridge fire extinguisher and permanently controlling its filling or charge level but it may find advantageous application for the support and the recognition of the charging of any type of fire extinguisher E without loss of generality.
[0022] The device 1 for supporting a fire extinguisher E and permanently controlling its filling or charge level so far described has certain advantages.
[0023] The device 1 described in the foregoing discussion allows to permanently monitor the weight of the fire extinguisher E ensuring the user the ability to easily display the charge state of the fire extinguisher E itself, requiring no energy. Furthermore, the device 1 so far described is particularly simple and economical to implement.
1. - A device for supporting a fire extinguisher (E) and permanently controlling its
filling or charge level comprising:
a fixed assembly (FA);
a mobile assembly (MA), which is suited to be coupled to and
support the fire extinguisher (E); said assembly (MA) being mobile from a rest end position to an end position which represents the full charge of said fire extinguisher (E), and
a connection assembly (17, 18, 19, 20) for connecting the fixed assembly (FA) to the mobile assembly (MA); the connection assembly (17, 18, 19, 20) comprising elastic means (18, 19) provided with a spring (19), which presents a first fixed end connected to the fixed assembly (FA) and a second mobile end connected to the mobile assembly (MA);
the device is characterized in that the mobile assembly (MA) presents a through opening (13) through which it is possible to display a message adapted to indicate to the user of the fire extinguisher (E) the filling or charge level of the fire extinguisher (E).
2. - The device according to claim 1, wherein the spring (19) presents a first axis (X2);
and the connection assembly (17, 18, 19, 20) for connecting the fixed assembly (FA)
to the mobile assembly (MA) comprising a screw (17) coaxial to the first axis (X2)
and connected to the fixed assembly (FA).
3. - The device according to claim 2, wherein the screw (17) engages the spring (19).
4. - The device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the connection assembly (17, 18, 19,
20) for connecting the fixed assembly (FA) to the mobile assembly (MA) comprises a
bushing (20), which bushing (20) is coaxial to the first axis (X2) and is threaded
on the inner side so as to house the screw (17);
said bushing (20) being fitted inside the spring (19).
said bushing (20) being fitted inside the spring (19).
5. - The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring (19), in
use, is arranged longitudinally.
6. - The device according to one of the preceding claims and comprising a removable element
(22) provided with a rod (23), which rod (23) is connected to the fixed assembly (FA)
in correspondence to its upper end; the rod (23) extending downwards and presenting,
in correspondence to its lower end, two support elements (24A, 24B) which are suited
to house the fire extinguisher (E).
7. - The device according to claim 6, wherein the two support elements (24A, 24B) are
hinged and arranged orthogonal to the rod (23) and are rotatory around a common axis
(X3) so as to adjust to the fire extinguisher (E).