Drive unit for a fire extinguisher and fire extinguisher

Abstract

The present application relates to a propulsion unit (10) for a fire extinguisher (1) for the pulsed discharge of a charge of a fire extinguishing agent (2), comprising an ignition chamber (28) with an ignition medium (30) stored therein, a gas chamber (29) with a gas-generating agent (31) stored therein, wherein the ignition chamber (28) and the gas chamber (29) are arranged in series along a longitudinal axis (32) of the propulsion unit (10) coaxially to each other and one behind the other along the longitudinal axis (32), wherein, when the propulsion unit (10) is in an unignited state, the gas chamber (29) is separated from the ignition chamber (28) by means of a membrane (54), wherein the gas-generating agent (31) is configured to be ignited by the ignition medium (30) as a result of ignition of the ignition medium (30), so that the gas-generating agent (31) explodes and thereby the propulsion unit (10) is suitable for a Fire extinguishing agent (2) is expelled impulsively from one end of the fire extinguisher (1). In order to provide a propellant unit for a fire extinguisher and a fire extinguisher that ensures better expulsion of extinguishing agent compared to the prior art, it is proposed that the propellant unit (10) be designed in the form of a cartridge having a cartridge housing (33) extending along the longitudinal axis (32) of the propellant unit (1), wherein the ignition chamber (28) and the gas chamber (29) are arranged inside the cartridge housing (33), wherein a cross-section of the gas chamber (29) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (32) of the propellant unit (10) expands continuously, preferably conically, in an expansion section (34) starting from a first end (35) of the gas chamber (29) facing the ignition chamber (28) towards a second end (36) of the gas chamber (29) opposite the first end (25) and facing away from the ignition chamber (28). Furthermore, the present application relates to a fire extinguisher (1) with such a propulsion unit (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive unit for a fire extinguisher according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the present application relates to a fire extinguisher according to the preamble of claim 8.

[0002] For the purposes of this application, a "propellant unit" means an ignitable unit capable of expelling fire extinguishing agent contained in the extinguishing agent chamber of the fire extinguisher upon ignition. For this purpose, the propellant unit comprises a gas-generating agent (also referred to in the art as a "propellant charge"), for example, black powder or black powder substitutes. Upon ignition, the gas-generating agent produces hot (combustion) gases that generate high pressure and are thus capable of accelerating the fire extinguishing agent and expelling it from the fire extinguisher. To ignite the gas-generating agent, the propellant unit also comprises an ignition device, also referred to in the art as a percussion cap or primer.

[0003] The invention is in the field of fire and rescue technology. Various types of fire extinguishers are known: liquid fire extinguishers (LFE), gel fire extinguishers (GFE), and powder fire extinguishers (PFE). One category of fire extinguishers is the so-called "mini fire extinguisher." The fire extinguisher described in this invention preferably falls into this category. Mini fire extinguishers differ from "normal" fire extinguishers in that they are compact, lightweight, and contain a comparatively small volume of extinguishing agent. Impulse fire extinguishers provide a fine atomization of typically about 0.5 l to 1 l of extinguishing agent (usually water) and enable effective extinguishing from a distance of no more than 1 m from the source of the fire. In a mini impulse fire extinguisher design, the volume of the extinguishing agent is more likely to be in the range of 0.1 l to 0.6 l, preferably in the range of 0.2 l to 0.3 l.A mini impulse fire extinguisher can be so small that it can be carried in a bag, such as a backpack. These extinguishers are suitable for extinguishing small fires, such as burning clothing on a person or fires in vehicles. Such a pocket-sized fire extinguisher is always portable, doesn't restrict movement, is easy to hold, reliable, effective, and activates in a very short time (one to two seconds). Its applications are manifold, including for drivers, police officers, firefighters, personnel in fire-prone industries, warehouses, military installations, offices, and homeowners. State of the art

[0004] A fire extinguisher of the type known as a mini fire extinguisher is already known in the prior art. For example, reference is made to Russian patent RU 2 795 921 C2. This patent relates to a mini impulse fire extinguisher, that is, a mini fire extinguisher designed and equipped to dispense a charge of a fire extinguishing agent in a pulsed manner. This dispensing is comparable to a gunshot, in which the fire extinguishing agent is accelerated to a high velocity and discharged from a front end of the fire extinguisher, similar to a shot from a rifle or pistol. For this purpose, the known fire extinguisher works in conjunction with a propellant unit inserted into the fire extinguisher, which contains a gas-generating agent.When this gas-generating agent is ignited, it explodes, creating a wavefront of hot gases that rapidly expand throughout the volume. This wavefront strongly accelerates a charge of fire extinguishing agent (for example, 0.1 to 0.6 liters of water) and ejects it from the extinguisher in a pulsed manner. The extinguishing agent is finely atomized, thus contributing significantly to the cooling of the fire. Such a mini-impulse fire extinguisher is therefore designed for the periodic release of extinguishing agent and must be recharged after each use (both with new extinguishing agent and a new propellant unit). Alternatively, such a fire extinguisher may be designed for single use only, i.e., for the release of a single charge of extinguishing agent.However, a continuous release of fire extinguishing agent over a longer period of time (for example, over several seconds), as is common with commercially available fire extinguishers, is not provided.

[0005] The well-known mini fire extinguisher has the disadvantage that the discharge of the extinguishing agent can be uneven. It was found that across a production batch of extinguishers, the quality of the discharge varied considerably, and the fire-extinguishing effect was not equally effective across all extinguishers. It was determined that the spread of the hot gases after ignition of the gas-generating agent was uneven, resulting in inconsistent discharge of the extinguishing agent across multiple extinguishers.

[0006] Impulse fire extinguishers are also known from the manufacturer IFEX GmbH, which produces pneumatic fire extinguishers. In these extinguishers, a charge of extinguishing agent is expelled from the extinguisher in a pulsed manner under high pneumatic pressure. The well-known fire extinguishers from IFEX GmbH have several disadvantages: short extinguishing range; due to their large size and weight, they cannot always be carried; the high-pressure quick-closing valve has a complex design; and high-pressure cylinders can only be refilled at a special station.

[0007] As further prior art, reference is made to British patent application GB 555 873 A. This describes a fire extinguishing cartridge whose gas-generating charge continues to burn completely below the surface of the extinguishing liquid after ignition. This allows the extinguishing agent to efficiently absorb the resulting heat, thus preventing dangerously high pressures. The cartridge consists of an ignition element above the liquid and a weighted combustion element that sinks after ignition. This design enables uniform gas development, allowing the fire extinguisher to be constructed more lightly.

[0008] Furthermore, reference is made to German patent application DE 196 41 711 A1. This patent discloses an impulse fire extinguishing device. The impulse fire extinguishing device comprises a tube that has at least one connection for filling the tube with the extinguishing agent, an end designed as a discharge opening for the extinguishing agent, and a self-opening and closing muzzle flap associated with the discharge opening. A device for ejecting the extinguishing agent under pressure is associated with the other end of the tube. This device includes a receptacle for a propellant cartridge and an ignition mechanism for igniting it. A closing mechanism is also associated with the muzzle flap.

[0009] Furthermore, reference is made to Russian patent RU 2692272 C1. This describes a compact, pulse-driven mini fire extinguisher without a piston mechanism. A pyrotechnic propellant generates a powerful extinguishing agent burst. The absence of moving parts reduces recoil and energy loss.

[0010] Furthermore, reference is made to Russian patent RU 2738510 C2. This patent discloses a universal mini fire extinguisher with a firing mechanism. The extinguisher forgoes a classic piston mechanism in favor of a pulsed discharge of a non-irritating extinguishing agent (liquid or gel) propelled by a pyrotechnic propellant system. The mini extinguisher operates with a fuse and a powder discharge that passes through a membrane and a special wall arrangement into the extinguishing liquid.

[0011] Furthermore, reference is made to Russian utility model RU 197664 U1. This discloses a powder-based mini fire extinguisher with a pulse function. It consists of a thin-walled cylindrical body made of fiber-reinforced polyamide. The extinguisher contains a pyrotechnic ignition system, an explosive charge, an extinguishing powder filling, and sealing and protective devices against moisture and recoil injuries. Upon activation, the explosive charge generates a concentrated discharge of propellant gas, forming a compact extinguishing vortex with a long range. Task

[0012] The present application is therefore based on the task of providing a drive unit for a fire extinguisher and a fire extinguisher that ensures a better expulsion of fire extinguishing agent compared to the prior art. Solution

[0013] The underlying problem is solved according to the invention by means of a drive unit with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims, the description, and the exemplary embodiment.

[0014] The propellant unit is designed and configured to be installed in the propellant chamber of a fire extinguisher. In particular, the propellant unit can be ignited by means of an actuation mechanism of the respective fire extinguisher, whereby the extinguishing agent contained in the extinguishing agent chamber of the fire extinguisher is ejected from the fire extinguisher in a pulsed manner. Preferably, each fire extinguisher is equipped with exactly one propellant unit according to the invention, which can be replaced with a new one after use.

[0015] The propellant unit comprises an ignition chamber and a gas chamber, wherein an igniter is stored in the ignition chamber and a gas-generating agent in the gas chamber. The igniter can also be referred to as a percussion cap, primer, or ignition cap. It can be designed, for example, as a centerfire or rimfire ignition system. Other variants, including electrically ignitable ones, are also conceivable. The gas-generating agent can be, for example, and preferably, black powder or black powder substitutes. The gas chamber and the ignition chamber are arranged coaxially to each other along a longitudinal axis of the propellant unit and one behind the other along this longitudinal axis, preferably with the gas chamber and the ignition chamber being directly adjacent to each other. When the propellant unit is in an unignited state, the gas chamber is separated from the ignition chamber, for example, and preferably, by means of a membrane.

[0016] The gas chamber can be fitted at an end opposite the ignition chamber with an insert that presses the gas-generating agent against the membrane. This insert can be made of wadding or cardboard. At an end of the propellant unit facing the extinguishing agent chamber, it can be sealed by a wall. This wall can have a central opening to allow the gases to escape from the gas chamber at the moment the gas-generating agent is ignited.

[0017] The gas-generating agent is designed to be ignited by the ignition device, causing it to explode. This enables the propellant unit to eject a charge of the respective fire extinguishing agent in a pulsed manner from the distal end of the fire extinguisher. Specifically, as described above, the ignition of the gas-generating agent produces hot gases that rapidly increase in volume and expand. This creates a spray wave of these gases, the wavefront of which propagates and is capable of striking the respective extinguishing agent. The spray wave mixes uniformly with the fire extinguishing agent, which is thereby accelerated. Consequently, the fire extinguishing agent erupts from the distal end of the fire extinguisher and is ejected in a pulsed spray cone.The fire extinguishing agent is finely atomized and its surface area is greatly increased, which significantly contributes to the good extinguishing effect of the fire extinguishing agent.

[0018] The propellant unit is designed in the form of a cartridge. In this configuration, the propellant unit forms a single assembly that can be used particularly easily by a single user. In this configuration, the propellant unit comprises a cartridge housing, which is preferably rotationally symmetrical, with one axis of symmetry of the cartridge housing coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the propellant unit. The diameter of the cartridge housing (and thus of the propellant unit as such) is, for example, preferably between 15 mm and 30 mm, and more preferably between 18 mm and 25 mm. The cartridge housing can, for example, have the shape of a cylinder. The cartridge housing extends along the longitudinal axis of the propellant unit, with the ignition chamber and the gas chamber arranged within the cartridge housing.

[0019] Furthermore, the drive unit is designed such that a cross-section of the gas chamber, guided perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drive unit, expands continuously, preferably conically, in an expansion section from a first end of the gas chamber facing the ignition chamber towards a second end of the gas chamber opposite the first end, which faces away from the ignition chamber. Preferably, the gas chamber in the expansion section is conically shaped, and preferably, the gas chamber is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive unit. Optionally, the gas chamber can expand along its entire length measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive unit, so that the expansion section extends over the entire gas chamber.Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the gas space, in addition to the expansion section, has at least one constant section in which the cross-section of the gas space does not change when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the propulsion unit. If such a constant section is present, it is advantageous if, starting from the ignition chamber and viewed along the longitudinal axis of the propulsion unit, the expansion section first connects to the ignition chamber, and subsequently the constant section connects to the expansion section.

[0020] The propulsion unit according to the invention has many advantages. In particular, the described design of the gas chamber with the continuously expanding extension section has the advantage that the wavefront, which forms during the ignition of the gas-generating agent and its explosion as explained above, develops particularly homogeneously and is distributed more evenly across the cross-section of the gas chamber. As a result, the wavefront also develops more homogeneously within the fire extinguisher and impinges more evenly on the extinguishing agent. Consequently, this design of the propulsion unit results in more uniform atomization of the extinguishing agent, which is then expelled more evenly from the fire extinguisher. Tests have shown that this significantly improves the extinguishing effect of the extinguishing agent.Furthermore, the cartridge-shaped design of the propellant unit offers the advantage that the user can insert the entire unit into the propellant chamber of a fire extinguisher (before use) and remove it as a whole (after use). This makes using the fire extinguisher and preparing it for reuse particularly easy. Moreover, the propellant unit is always inserted into its respective chamber in this manner, virtually eliminating the possibility of incorrect operation. This further contributes to consistent results regarding the discharge of the extinguishing agent across a large number of fire extinguishers. In other words, a consistently good discharge of the extinguishing agent is achieved across a large number of fire extinguishers using a propellant unit according to the invention.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of the drive unit, a wall of the gas space in the expansion section widens at an angle of at least 5°, preferably at least 15°, and more preferably at least 30°, as viewed in a longitudinal section along the longitudinal axis of the drive unit. The gas space in the expansion section is preferably conical or frustoconical in shape.

[0022] It can also be advantageous, preferably in combination, if the wall of the gas space in the expansion section described expands at an angle of at most 85°, preferably at most 75°, and more preferably at most 60°.

[0023] For example, such a design can be particularly advantageous if, in the aforementioned longitudinal section, the wall of the gas space in the extension section forms an angle between 15° and 60° with the longitudinal axis of the drive unit.

[0024] Furthermore, such a configuration of the drive unit can be particularly advantageous in which the ignition chamber has a constant cross-section along its length with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive unit. Preferably, the ignition chamber is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive unit. Preferably, the ignition chamber has a cylindrical shape. The diameter of the ignition chamber can, for example, be in the range between 5 mm and 10 mm. In principle, it can be advantageous if the diameter of the ignition chamber is smaller than the smallest diameter of the gas chamber. In this configuration, there is a cross-sectional step at a transition from the ignition chamber to the gas chamber, at which a free cross-section in the drive unit widens abruptly.

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment, the propellant unit has a mold insert, preferably a single piece, which is received in the cartridge case. The mold insert has a first section and a second section, wherein the first section of the mold insert spatially defines the ignition chamber and the second section defines at least part of the gas chamber. The second section adjoins the first section in the longitudinal direction of the propellant unit. The mold insert can be solid, for example, and preferably, made of metal. It forms a negative for the ignition chamber and at least part of the gas chamber. In combination with the aforementioned embodiment of the gas chamber extension section, it is particularly advantageous if the mold insert forms the wall of the gas chamber, which extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis.Such a design also results from the following exemplary embodiment.

[0026] Furthermore, it can be particularly advantageous if the propellant unit has an end stop located at the proximal end of the propellant unit, away from the gas chamber. The end stop is designed such that it projects radially beyond an outer surface of the cartridge housing, relative to the longitudinal axis of the propellant unit. This design has the advantage that the propellant unit can be positioned particularly easily in a defined position within the propellant chamber of a given fire extinguisher. The user can insert the entire propellant unit into the propellant chamber, preferably by inserting it into the chamber from a proximal end, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher.This insertion is only possible until the end stop engages a corresponding stop surface at the proximal end of the fire extinguisher, thereby preventing further insertion of the propellant unit into the propellant chamber. To ensure that the fire extinguisher is flush at the proximal end of the propellant chamber (which is located, for example, at the aforementioned pin-like extension), the fire extinguisher may have a recess corresponding to the end stop, into which the end stop engages. The propellant unit is then in its intended position, designed for the intended activation of the fire extinguisher. With this design, incorrect operation by a user, which could be caused by accidentally inserting a propellant unit incorrectly into the propellant chamber, is therefore virtually impossible.

[0027] The underlying problem is further solved by means of a fire extinguisher having the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims, the associated description, and the exemplary embodiments.

[0028] The fire extinguisher according to the invention is designed and configured for the pulsed release of a charge of fire extinguishing agent. Therefore, the fire extinguisher can also be referred to as an "impulse fire extinguisher." Preferably, the fire extinguisher is designed such that it falls into the category of mini-impulse fire extinguishers. As such, the fire extinguisher preferably has a mass of less than 1.5 kg, preferably less than 1.0 kg. Regardless, it is preferred that the fire extinguisher has a total length of at most 500 mm, preferably at most 400 mm, and more preferably at most 300 mm. Regardless, it is preferred that the fire extinguisher has a diameter of at most 100 mm, preferably at most 80 mm, and more preferably at most 60 mm (without considering an optional and advantageous retaining element, which is described below).Preferably, the fire extinguisher meets all three of the aforementioned criteria, that is, it has a mass of less than 1.5 kg, a total length of no more than 500 mm and a diameter of no more than 100 mm.

[0029] The fire extinguisher comprises a main housing extending along a longitudinal axis. The length of the main housing can, for example, and preferably, be in the range of 150 mm to 250 mm. The fire extinguisher also comprises an actuating housing extending coaxially to the main housing along its longitudinal axis and connected to the main housing in a force-transmitting manner. Preferably, the connection between the actuating housing and the main housing is non-destructive and preferably can be released without tools. The length of the actuating housing can, for example, and preferably, be in the range of 80 mm to 150 mm. Preferably, the actuating housing is connected to a proximal end of the main housing.Accordingly, it is preferred if the main housing and the actuating housing are directly connected to each other, with the main housing and the actuating housing arranged in series one behind the other along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. The connection of the main housing to the actuating housing can be, for example, in the form of a screw connection, bonding, welding, or a combination thereof, or in some other way.

[0030] The main housing comprises an extinguishing agent chamber, a propellant chamber, and a nozzle chamber. The extinguishing agent chamber is designed and configured to hold the respective fire extinguishing agent. The fire extinguishing agent can be, for example, water, a fire extinguishing powder, or a fire extinguishing gel. The extinguishing agent chamber extends along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. Preferably, the extinguishing agent chamber has a cylindrical shape. Preferably, a central axis of the extinguishing agent chamber coincides with the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. It is further advantageous if the length of the extinguishing agent chamber, measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher, significantly exceeds its diameter. For example, and preferably, the length of the extinguishing agent chamber is at least twice its diameter. Preferably, this ratio is at least 2.0:1, and more preferably at least 2.5:1.The extinguishing agent compartment can, for example, and preferably, have a clear diameter in the range of 30 mm to 70 mm, more preferably in the range of 40 mm to 60 mm, and / or a length in the range of 100 mm to 200 mm, preferably in the range of 120 mm to 160 mm. The volume of the extinguishing agent compartment is, for example, and preferably in the range of 0.1 l to 0.6 l, more preferably in the range of 0.2 l to 0.4 l.

[0031] To contain the extinguishing agent within the extinguishing agent chamber, the chamber can be sealed at both opposite ends, for example, by means of a liquid-tight membrane. Such a membrane can be made of a film, such as polyethylene. To protect the membrane, particularly the one at the distal end of the extinguishing agent chamber, from accidental damage and subsequent leakage, it can be advantageous for the fire extinguisher to have a cap that fits onto the distal end of the main casing, thus protecting the membrane from damage. This cap can be easily removed manually before using the fire extinguisher.

[0032] The propellant chamber is designed and configured to accommodate a propellant unit. Preferably, the propellant chamber is configured to accommodate exactly one propellant unit. The propellant chamber extends coaxially to the extinguishing agent chamber, being offset along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher relative to the extinguishing agent chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the propellant chamber is cylindrical, with a central axis of the propellant chamber coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. The diameter of the propellant chamber is preferably significantly smaller than the diameter of the extinguishing agent chamber, with the ratio of these diameters (extinguishing agent chamber to propellant chamber) preferably being at least 1.5:1, and more preferably at least 2:1. The diameter of the propellant chamber is, for example, and preferably, between 15 mm and 30 mm, and more preferably between 20 mm and 25 mm.

[0033] The outlet chamber also extends coaxially to the extinguishing agent chamber and is located between the extinguishing agent chamber and the propellant chamber. In this way, the outlet chamber forms a connection between the propellant chamber and the extinguishing agent chamber. This connection allows hot gases, which spread rapidly upon ignition of a propellant unit located in the propellant chamber, to flow from the propellant chamber into the outlet chamber and propagate through the outlet chamber towards the extinguishing agent chamber. The outlet chamber is preferably rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher, with its axis of symmetry preferably being congruent with the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher.

[0034] The nozzle chamber has an expansion section in which a cross-section of the nozzle chamber, viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher, widens continuously along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher towards the extinguishing agent chamber. If the nozzle chamber is rotationally symmetrical as described above, it is correspondingly advantageous if the expansion section is conical or frustoconical in shape. The expansion of the cross-section in the nozzle chamber helps the wavefront generated by the ignition of the propellant's gas-generating element to propagate radially along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher, thus allowing it to act on the extinguishing agent stored in the extinguishing agent chamber over a larger area.The angle at which the nozzle opening widens in the expansion section, relative to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher, is preferably between 15° and 85°. More preferably, this angle is between 20° and 65°, and further preferably between 25° and 45°. The expansion section of the nozzle opening can extend over the entire length of the nozzle opening measured along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. In this configuration, the nozzle opening does not have a constant section where its cross-section does not widen. Alternatively, the nozzle opening can also have a constant section in addition to the expansion section.

[0035] Viewed in the longitudinal direction of the main housing, the propellant chamber is located at the proximal end of the main housing and the extinguishing agent chamber at a distal end. Preferably, the extinguishing agent chamber extends directly to the distal end of the main housing. However, and preferably in combination, it can be advantageous if the propellant chamber extends directly to the proximal end of the main housing. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous if, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the fire extinguisher, the extinguishing agent chamber, the nozzle chamber, and the propellant chamber extend together over the entire length of the main housing.

[0036] The actuating housing accommodates an actuating mechanism. This actuating mechanism can, for example, and preferably, include a trigger that can be manually operated by a user of the fire extinguisher. The actuating mechanism serves to act upon a propellant unit housed in the propellant chamber of the main housing in such a way that it is ignited and thereby triggers the fire extinguisher. As a result of this triggering, the fire extinguishing agent is ejected from the distal end of the main housing in a pulse. In particular, the actuating mechanism can be used to act mechanically or electrically on the igniter of a respective propellant unit in order to ignite it and, consequently, the propellant unit as a whole. Advantageous embodiments of the actuating mechanism are explained below.

[0037] The fire extinguisher further comprises a drive unit, preferably exactly one drive unit. This drive unit is configured according to the present invention or one or more embodiments described as advantageous in the claims and the description.

[0038] The advantages of the fire extinguisher according to the invention have already been described above in connection with the drive unit according to the invention. In particular, the described design of the gas chamber with the continuously expanding extension section ensures that the wavefront of the hot gases forms particularly homogeneously and is distributed more evenly over the cross-section of the gas chamber. This effect is supported in the fire extinguisher by the continuously expanding extension section of the nozzle chamber, which allows the wavefront to propagate further radially along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher before the wavefront encounters the extinguishing agent stored in the extinguishing agent chamber at the distal end of the nozzle chamber. This results in a uniform mixing of the gases with the extinguishing agent and a uniform acceleration of the extinguishing agent.As a result, the atomization of the fire extinguishing agent is more uniform, leading to a more consistent discharge from the extinguisher. Tests have shown that this significantly improves the extinguishing effect of the agent.

[0039] In principle, it is conceivable that the extinguishing agent compartment is equipped, or can be equipped, with "loose" fire extinguishing agent (filled into the compartment) or with an extinguishing agent cartridge. Such an extinguishing agent cartridge can, for example, and preferably, be dimensionally and structurally adapted to the dimensions and shape of the extinguishing agent compartment so that it fits precisely into, or is already fitted into, the compartment. The extinguishing agent cartridge comprises a cartridge housing that is sealed liquid-tight at both opposite ends by means of a membrane. The extinguishing agent cartridge is filled with the extinguishing agent, for example, and preferably, with water, fire extinguishing powder, or fire extinguishing gel.In this design, reloading the fire extinguisher is particularly easy: after a previous use, the old, empty extinguishing agent cartridge is removed from the distal end of the main housing, and a new extinguishing agent cartridge is inserted into the extinguishing agent chamber of the main housing. To protect the diaphragm of the extinguishing agent cartridge facing the distal end of the main housing from accidental damage, a cap as described above can then be placed on the distal end of the main housing. Preferably, the extinguishing agent chamber and the extinguishing agent cartridge each have a cylindrical shape.

[0040] Preferably, the drive unit is accommodated in the drive chamber in such a way that its longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher are identical.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment of the fire extinguisher, the drive unit is accommodated in the drive chamber such that the ignition chamber and the gas chamber are arranged one behind the other along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher, with the ignition chamber located on the side of the gas chamber facing away from the extinguishing agent chamber. In this way, the ignition chamber can preferably be arranged at the proximal end of the main housing. This has the advantage that the actuating mechanism can act particularly effectively on the igniter stored in the ignition chamber. Variants of the actuating mechanism are described below as advantageous embodiments.

[0042] If the ignition chamber is located on the side of the gas space facing away from the extinguishing agent compartment, it can be further advantageous for the ignition device to be located at an end of the ignition chamber facing away from the extinguishing agent compartment, preferably at the proximal end of the main housing. In this embodiment, the actuating mechanism can act on the ignition device particularly easily.

[0043] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the fire extinguisher, the operating mechanism includes a trigger that can be manually operated by a user of the fire extinguisher. The trigger can be moved from a neutral position to an activated position. Preferably, the trigger is designed such that it extends radially along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. The trigger can, for example, be rod-shaped. When in its neutral position, the trigger protrudes at least with one end section facing away from the longitudinal axis beyond an outer surface of the operating housing. To move the trigger from the neutral position to the activated position, it can be pressed at least partially into the operating housing in a radial direction along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher.In other words, the trigger for activating the fire extinguisher is moved in a direction perpendicular to the extinguisher's longitudinal axis. This actuates the operating mechanism in such a way that it is capable of igniting a propellant unit located in the propellant chamber and thus triggering the fire extinguisher. The actuation can be achieved, for example, by fully retracting the trigger into the operating housing, so that its end section, facing away from the longitudinal axis, no longer protrudes beyond the outer surface of the operating housing.It is also conceivable that part of the trigger's end section, which protrudes beyond the housing surface when in its initial position, continues to protrude even when the trigger is in the activated position. This means that, during activation, the trigger is pressed a certain distance into the actuator housing in a direction perpendicular to the fire extinguisher's longitudinal axis, but not fully recessed. Various configurations for igniting a drive unit via the actuating mechanism are described as advantageous embodiments. Other configurations are equally conceivable.

[0044] A fire extinguisher whose operating mechanism is designed with such a trigger has the advantage of enabling particularly reliable, and therefore simple and effective, operation, as the user can hold the extinguisher with both hands simultaneously and activate it in this position. This is based on the idea that the trigger, which projects radially beyond the surface of the operating housing, can be pressed by the user with the palm of one hand. For operation, the user is intended to grasp the main housing with their first hand, that is, to grip the outer surface of the main housing with their fingers, and to grasp the operating housing with their second hand.In this gripped position, the user can operate the trigger with their other hand, which grips the operating housing, allowing them to hold the fire extinguisher with both hands while it is being discharged. This makes it significantly easier for the user, compared to previous models, to absorb the recoil caused by the ignition of the propellant unit and, consequently, to reliably aim the fire extinguisher at the source of the fire at the moment of discharge. This significantly increases the likelihood that the extinguishing agent will hit the fire as intended. Furthermore, the user is better protected from injuries resulting from incorrect operation of the fire extinguisher.

[0045] In an advantageous embodiment of the fire extinguisher, the actuating mechanism comprises a spring element that interacts with the trigger. This spring element is designed and configured to hold the trigger in its initial position in the absence of external forces, that is, to move the trigger out of the actuating housing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher or radially relative to the longitudinal axis. The spring element can, for example, be formed by a tensioning bracket or a coil spring. Preferably, the spring element interacts with the trigger in such a way that moving the trigger from its initial position to its actuating position is only possible against a spring force of the spring element.In this way, the user of the fire extinguisher receives tactile feedback, preventing accidental activation by requiring the user to overcome the spring force of the spring element. Furthermore, the trigger is held firmly in its activated position. This ensures that the user can always see that the fire extinguisher is unused, as the end section of the trigger pointing away from the extinguisher's longitudinal axis visibly protrudes beyond the outer surface of the operating housing.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the fire extinguisher, the actuating mechanism is designed as a percussion mechanism. Such a percussion mechanism is characterized in that it is configured to ignite a respective propellant unit by striking an ignition element of the propellant unit. For this purpose, the actuating mechanism preferably comprises an elongated trigger bolt oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher and a trigger spring operatively connected to the trigger bolt. The trigger bolt can, for example, and preferably, be mounted in an elongated channel of the actuating housing arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. The channel is open to the main housing, so that the actuating bolt can exit the channel at a distal end to ignite a propellant unit and mechanically act upon the ignition element of the propellant unit.When the trigger is in its initial position, the release spring is pre-tensioned and the release bolt is blocked from moving along its longitudinal axis. Only when the trigger is moved into its release position is the release bolt released and subsequently accelerated in its longitudinal direction by the release spring. This acceleration occurs towards the main housing, so that the release bolt strikes a propellant unit (or an ignition element of the propellant unit) located in the drive chamber of the main housing and ignites it upon impact. As will be explained below, it is particularly advantageous if the propellant unit includes an ignition element located at a proximal end of the drive chamber facing the actuating housing. In this configuration, the release bolt can strike the ignition element with particular ease and thereby ignite it.

[0047] The release spring is, for example, and preferably, formed by a coil spring. The release spring can be pre-tensioned with a compressive stress when the trigger is in its initial position. As a result of the release, the release spring relaxes and accelerates the release bolt.

[0048] If the operating mechanism is designed as a striking mechanism, it is particularly advantageous if, after being moved into its activated position, the trigger remains in this position even after the user releases the force applied to move the trigger into this position, despite the effect of the spring element. Similarly, it is advantageous if the trigger locks into place upon reaching its activated position, so that it remains in this position even after the external force is released. This makes it unmistakably clear to the user that the fire extinguisher has been used. If it is a single-use fire extinguisher, it should be disposed of after use.Otherwise, the fire extinguisher would have to be prepared for further use, whereby in the course of this preparation the locking of the trigger in the trigger position is released and the trigger is returned to its starting position due to the spring force of the spring element.

[0049] For locking the trigger in the activated position, it can be particularly advantageous if the actuating mechanism includes a guide slide that is rigidly connected to the trigger bolt and movably mounted in a guide channel oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher within the actuating housing. The trigger bolt can, for example, be screwed, glued, or welded to the guide slide. When a guide slide is used, the trigger bolt is initially held by the guide slide against the spring force of the trigger spring, so that the trigger spring cannot yet relax and accelerate the trigger bolt. For example, and preferably, the guide slide can be prevented from moving towards the main housing by the trigger in its initial position.For example, and preferably, the guide slide can be prevented from moving towards the main housing by the trigger in its initial position. When the trigger is moved into its activation position, this obstruction, which may be caused, for example, by a positive fit between the trigger and the guide slide, is released, allowing the guide slide to move together with the release bolt (driven by the spring force of the release spring). This moves the guide slide relative to the trigger in such a way that it then provides a stop for the trigger, preventing its radial movement back to its initial position relative to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. In this way, the guide slide is suitable for causing the described locking of the trigger in the activation position.In this design, the trigger and the guide slide interact in a coordinated manner. Initially (when the trigger is in its initial position), the trigger blocks any movement of the guide slide (and thus of the trigger bolt attached to the guide slide) under the influence of the trigger spring's spring force. Then, after the trigger has been moved into its activation position and the guide slide has been freed, the guide slide blocks any movement of the trigger back to its initial position, a movement the trigger would otherwise make due to the spring force of the spring element and in the absence of any other external forces. When resetting the fire extinguisher for reuse after it has been used, this design requires the user to release the positive locking mechanism between the guide slide and the trigger in its activation position.For this purpose, the movement of the guide carriage, which it has performed after being released by the trigger, can be reversed manually by overcoming the spring force of the trigger spring. For example, the guide carriage can be manually pulled back against the spring force of the trigger spring by means of a pulling device, such as a cord, attached to it and accessible by hand at the proximal end of the fire extinguisher, until the trigger is released and consequently moved back to its initial position by the action of the spring element. The confirmation mechanism is then ready for further use.

[0050] As an alternative to a mechanical actuation mechanism, it can also be advantageous for the actuation mechanism to be designed as an electrical mechanism. Such a mechanism is characterized by the fact that it ignites a respective drive unit using electricity. For example, and preferably, the actuation mechanism can be configured to generate at least one ignition spark and / or an arc by means of which an ignition element of a drive unit can be ignited. In a preferred embodiment, such an actuation mechanism comprises an electrical release element that is operatively connected to the release in such a way that it generates an electrical pulse when the release is moved from its initial position to its activated position. This electrical pulse can, for example, be one of the aforementioned ignition sparks.In this configuration, the actuation mechanism can, for example, include a piezoelectric element. It is also conceivable that the actuation mechanism comprises a battery and at least one electrode that generates a spark when an electrical voltage is applied. In this configuration, the trigger acts as an electrical switch, which, upon being moved into the actuation position, causes the spark to be generated at the electrode.

[0051] It is also conceivable that the actuating mechanism is designed as a rocker mechanism. In this embodiment, the actuating mechanism preferably comprises a rocker element and a striking element, wherein the rocker element interacts with the trigger in such a way that, as a result of the trigger being moved from its initial position to its release position, the rocker element pivots about a rocker axis, thereby releasing the striking element. This striking element can, for example, be pre-tensioned by a spring element so that it can strike a propellant unit housed in the drive chamber of the main casing and thereby ignite it.

[0052] In an advantageous embodiment of the fire extinguisher, the main housing and the actuating housing comprise corresponding threaded sections by means of which the two housings can be connected or joined together non-destructively via a screw connection. This embodiment has the particular advantage that connecting the actuating housing to the main housing is especially simple and possible for anyone. Furthermore, the non-destructively detachable connection makes it particularly easy to reuse the fire extinguisher multiple times. In particular, by loosening the screw connection between the actuating housing and the main housing, the propellant chamber of the main housing can be accessed. In this way, it is particularly easy to insert a propellant unit into the propellant chamber from the proximal end of the main housing or to remove a previously used propellant unit from the propellant chamber.In other words, this design makes "reloading" the fire extinguisher's propellant unit particularly easy. After a (new) propellant unit has been inserted into the propellant chamber, the main housing and the operating housing can be screwed back together, after which the fire extinguisher is ready for use again.

[0053] Provided the fire extinguisher is designed with the corresponding threaded sections as described, it can be particularly advantageous if the main housing has a pin-like extension in its proximal end section, on which the threaded section of the main housing is formed as an external thread. The diameter of the main housing is smaller in the area of ​​the pin-like extension than in the remaining area of ​​the main housing. For example, the diameter of the main housing in the area of ​​the pin-like extension is only 50% to 70% of the diameter of the main housing in the remaining area. In this design, the proximal end of the main housing corresponds to the proximal end of the extension. The extension is preferably arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. It can, for example, have a length of 20 mm measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher.Preferably, the length of the extension is between 10 mm and 30 mm. The diameter of the extension can be, for example, 35 mm. Preferably, the diameter of the extension is between 30 mm and 50 mm.

[0054] In combination with the pin-like extension of the main housing, the actuating housing has a recess in its distal end section facing the main housing, complementary to the extension of the main housing. The threaded section of the actuating housing is formed as an internal thread on the inner surface of this recess. The recess in the actuating housing can, for example, be designed like a blind hole, with the described internal thread formed on its inner surface. Preferably, the extension and the recess are dimensionally matched so that, when the fire extinguisher is in a state of use in which the actuating housing is screwed to the main housing, the actuating housing and the main housing merge seamlessly at their outer surfaces in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher.In this process, the extension preferably abuts the bottom of the recess with its proximal end, so that the recess is completely filled by the extension.

[0055] If the main housing has the described pin-like extension, it is particularly advantageous if the drive chamber of the main housing is at least partially located within the pin-like extension and preferably extends to the proximal end of the extension (and thus to the proximal end of the main housing). In this configuration, the drive chamber is particularly easily accessible from the proximal end of the main housing if the actuator housing and the main housing are separate. This allows the drive chamber to be fitted with a drive unit particularly easily. Preferably, the drive chamber is open at the proximal end of the main housing to the surroundings (if the actuator housing is not screwed onto the extension) or to the actuator housing (if the actuator housing is screwed onto the extension).

[0056] Notwithstanding the design of the main housing with a pin-like extension and the actuating housing with a complementary recess, it can be particularly advantageous if the propellant chamber extends directly from the proximal end of the main housing into the main housing and is open at the proximal end of the main housing. Provided the actuating housing is detachable from the main housing, this design has the particular advantage that a user of the fire extinguisher can insert a propellant unit into the propellant chamber from the proximal end of the main housing when the actuating housing is not connected to the main housing. In the same way, the user can remove a used propellant unit from the propellant chamber particularly easily with this design. To ensure access to the propellant chamber, the actuating housing is separate from the main housing.However, even without the ability to detach the actuating housing from the main housing, the open design of the drive chamber towards the proximal end of the main housing is advantageous, so that the actuating mechanism can act particularly easily on a drive unit contained in the drive chamber.

[0057] Furthermore, a fire extinguisher design can be particularly advantageous in which the main housing and / or the operating housing has a retaining element projecting radially in the direction of the fire extinguisher's longitudinal axis over a larger surface area of ​​the main housing or the outer surface of the operating housing, respectively. Such a retaining element can, for example, and preferably, be designed in the form of a partial annular element or a full annular element and extend tangentially along the housing surface with respect to the fire extinguisher's longitudinal axis. If the retaining element is designed as a full annular element, it runs completely around the respective outer housing surface. Designing the fire extinguisher with at least one retaining element has the advantage that the user can grip the fire extinguisher particularly well with the help of the retaining element.In particular, the user can position one hand on the holding element so that the hand braces itself against the element in a direction parallel to the fire extinguisher's longitudinal axis. This effectively absorbs the recoil that occurs when the fire extinguisher is activated (due to the ignition of the propellant). Consequently, the at least one holding element further improves the accuracy and thus the effectiveness of the fire extinguisher.

[0058] To effectively counteract the recoil, it is advantageous for the retaining element to be located at the distal end of the main housing, with the distance between the distal end of the main housing and the retaining element preferably being less than 30%, more preferably less than 25%, and more preferably less than 20% of the length of the main housing. This allows the user to position their hand, gripping the main housing, proximal to the retaining element when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher, so that the hand rests against the retaining element. The recoil that occurs when the fire extinguisher is activated (due to the ignition of a propellant unit and the directed release of the extinguishing agent at the distal end of the main housing) propels the fire extinguisher back in a proximal direction parallel to its longitudinal axis.The holding element strikes against the user's hand, thus largely blocking any relative movement between the hand and the fire extinguisher in a direction parallel to the extinguisher's longitudinal axis. This prevents the fire extinguisher from accidentally slipping when it is activated.

[0059] Additionally or alternatively, the fire extinguisher can be coated on the outer surface of the main housing and / or the operating mechanism with a rubber-like coating that has a high coefficient of friction. Additionally or alternatively, the outer surface of the main housing and / or the operating mechanism can be ergonomically shaped to provide a particularly secure and comfortable grip. For example, it may have contours or indentations that mimic human fingers. These measures contribute to making the use of the fire extinguisher both more comfortable and safer for the user.It can also be advantageous if the main housing and / or the operating housing has a slightly protruding profile (for example, in the form of bumps or ribs) extending radially beyond the respective outer housing surface in relation to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. This makes the respective housing surface easier to grip and thus provides a better hold for the user.

[0060] Furthermore, such a design of the fire extinguisher can be particularly advantageous in which the main housing and / or the operating housing have a cylindrical shape. A design in which both housings have a cylindrical shape is particularly preferred. It can also be advantageous if the two housings have at least substantially the same diameter, and preferably, the outer surfaces of the two housings transition seamlessly into one another. Thus, the fire extinguisher is preferably cylindrical overall, or has the shape of a cylinder whose central axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher. Examples of implementation

[0061] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the figures. These show: Fig. 1: A cross-section through a fire extinguisher according to the invention, which is in a state that has not yet been activated, Fig. 2: The fire extinguisher according to Fig. 1, which is in a triggered state, Fig. 3: A main housing of the fire extinguisher according to Fig. 1, Fig. 4: A first variant of an operating housing for the fire extinguisher according to Fig. 1, Fig. 5: A second variant of the fire extinguisher's operating housing according to Fig. 1, Fig. 6: A charge of fire extinguishing agent in a fire extinguishing cartridge, Fig. 7: A propellant unit in the form of a cartridge for the fire extinguisher according to Fig. 1.

[0062] A first embodiment, which is described in the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a fire extinguisher 1 according to the invention, which is designed and configured to release a charge of a fire extinguishing agent 2 in a pulsed manner. Thus, the fire extinguisher 1 is not designed to release a particular fire extinguishing agent continuously over a longer period of time, for example, for several seconds, but rather to release the fire extinguishing agent in a pulsed manner "in one shot".

[0063] The fire extinguisher 1 is elongated and extends along a longitudinal axis 3. It comprises a main housing 4 and an actuating housing 5. Both housings 4 and 5 are, preferably, physically independent in the sense that they can be connected and disconnected as needed. To use the fire extinguisher 1, the actuating housing 5 must be connected to the main housing 4. This is achieved by connecting the actuating housing 5 to a proximal end 6 of the main housing 4. Thus, in the example shown, the actuating housing 5 is arranged coaxially with the main housing 4 along the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. The two housings 4 and 5 are therefore arranged in series, one behind the other.

[0064] The main housing 4, which stands out particularly well on its own thanks to... Fig. The resulting housing, as shown in the example, has a cylindrical shape. It has a length of approximately 190 mm, measured parallel to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. The main housing comprises an extinguishing agent chamber 7, which contains the extinguishing agent 2. The latter is preferably water. However, it is also conceivable that the extinguishing agent 2 is a fire-extinguishing gel or powder. Other types of extinguishing agents are also possible. In the example shown, the extinguishing agent chamber 7 is elongated, extending coaxially to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. The extinguishing agent chamber 7 has the shape of a cylinder, with one central axis of the extinguishing agent chamber 7 being congruent with the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1.In the example shown, the extinguishing agent chamber 7 has a length of 140 mm measured parallel to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. The extinguishing agent chamber 7 extends in a longitudinal direction parallel to the main housing 4 to a distal end 11 of the main housing 4. Accordingly, the extinguishing agent chamber 7 is located at the distal end 11 of the main housing 4. At the distal end 11, the extinguishing agent chamber 7 is sealed liquid-tight by means of a membrane 43, so that the fire extinguishing agent 3 cannot unintentionally escape from the extinguishing agent chamber 7. To protect the membrane 43, which is made of polyethylene in this case, from damage, the fire extinguisher 1 preferably has an end cap 44 that is fitted over the main housing 4 at the distal end 11. This is particularly evident from the following: Fig. 1.

[0065] Viewed in the longitudinal direction parallel to the fire extinguisher 1, a discharge chamber 9 is connected in series to a proximal end of the extinguishing agent chamber 7, and a propellant chamber 8 is connected in series to the discharge chamber 9. In other words, the discharge chamber 9 is arranged between the extinguishing agent chamber 7 and the propellant chamber 8. The propellant chamber 8 is preferably arranged in the main housing 4 such that, viewed in the proximal direction, it extends to the proximal end 6 of the main housing 4. Accordingly, the propellant chamber 8 is associated with the proximal end 6 of the main housing 4. In this way, when the fire extinguisher 1 is in a state in which the actuating housing 5 is not connected to the main housing 4, the propellant chamber 8 is open and accessible from the proximal end 6 of the main housing 4. In particular, this makes it possible to equip the propellant chamber 8 with a propellant unit 10, which is described separately below.

[0066] The propellant chamber 8 preferably has a cylindrical shape, with a central axis of the propellant chamber 8 being congruent with the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. Thus, the propellant chamber 8 is arranged coaxially with the extinguishing agent chamber 7. The outlet chamber 9, which connects the propellant chamber 8 and the extinguishing agent chamber 7, is also arranged coaxially with the extinguishing agent chamber 7. Therefore, the three chambers (extinguishing agent chamber 7, outlet chamber 9, propellant chamber 8) are arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis 3, extending preferably together over the entire length of the main housing 4 measured parallel to the longitudinal axis 3. The diameter of the propellant chamber 8, which is 20 mm in the example shown, is significantly smaller than the diameter of the extinguishing agent chamber 7. The latter is 45 mm (clear internal diameter) in the example shown.In the example shown, the outer diameter of the main housing is 55 mm (excluding the retaining element 27 described below). The volume of the extinguishing agent compartment 7, which can be filled with or is filled with the fire extinguishing agent 2, is approximately 0.22 l in the example shown.

[0067] The outlet chamber 9 is designed such that it has an expansion section 12 in which the outlet chamber 9 widens continuously (here: conically). This expansion consists of a cross-section of the outlet chamber 9, oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1, becoming continuously (i.e., without discontinuities) larger along the longitudinal axis 3. Since the outlet chamber 9, like the cylindrical extinguishing agent chamber 7 and the cylindrical propellant chamber 8, is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis 3, the outlet chamber 9 in the example shown has a conical or frustoconical shape in the expansion section 12. The expansion in the expansion section 12 is designed such that the outlet chamber 9 widens distally to the fire extinguisher 1 in this expansion section.Thus, the diameter of the outlet chamber 9 at a proximal end of the expansion section 12, facing the propulsion chamber 8, is smaller than at a distal end of the expansion section 12, facing away from the propulsion chamber 8. Here, and preferably, the outlet chamber 9 is formed entirely by the expansion section 12, such that the proximal end of the expansion section 12 corresponds to a proximal end of the outlet chamber 9 and a distal end of the expansion section 12 corresponds to a distal end of the outlet chamber 9. It is also conceivable that, in addition to the expansion section 12, the outlet chamber 9 has a fixed section in which the outlet chamber 9 does not expand along the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. Such a fixed section can, for example, have a cylindrical shape.In the example shown, an angle 58, at which a room wall 60 of the mouth chamber 9 expands in the extension section 12 with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1, is 30°.

[0068] The diameter of the outlet chamber 9 at its proximal end corresponds here, and preferably, to the diameter of the propulsion chamber 8. Thus, the propulsion chamber 8 and the outlet chamber 9 transition seamlessly into one another. Towards its distal end, the outlet chamber 9 widens in the example shown to a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the propulsion chamber 8 and smaller than the diameter of the extinguishing agent chamber 7. In the example shown, the diameter of the outlet chamber 9 at its distal end is 35 mm. Therefore, there is a change in cross-section at the transition between the outlet chamber 9 and the extinguishing agent chamber 7. A membrane 45 is arranged at this transition, which separates the extinguishing agent chamber 7 from the outlet chamber 9 in a liquid-tight manner. This membrane 45 is also made of polyethylene.The fire extinguishing agent 2 is enclosed in a liquid-tight manner between the membranes 43, 45 in the extinguishing agent compartment 7.

[0069] In a proximal end section, the main housing 4 has a pin-like extension 23 that extends along the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. The proximal end 6 of the main housing 4 corresponds to a proximal end of the extension 23. The diameter of the main housing 4 in the region of the extension 23 is reduced compared to the rest of the main housing 4. In the example shown, the diameter of the extension 23 is approximately 30 mm. The diameter of the main housing 4 in the region of the extension 23 is therefore approximately 55% of the (outer) diameter of the main housing 4 in the remaining area. A threaded section 21 in the form of an external thread is formed on an outer surface of the extension 23. This is designed and configured to interact with a complementary threaded section 22 of the actuating housing 5, which is designed as an internal thread.In this way, the main housing 4 can be connected or joined to the actuating housing 5 in a particularly simple, force-transmitting manner, without damage and without tools (the latter is shown in the . Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown).

[0070] As an alternative to such a screw connection, it is also conceivable to connect the main housing 4 and the actuating housing 5 in another way, for example by gluing or welding. With the latter two variants, non-destructive separation of the actuating housing 5 from the main housing 4 is generally no longer possible, so a drive unit 10 must be inserted into the drive chamber 8 before attaching the actuating housing 5 to the main housing 4. After the main housing 4 is connected to the actuating housing 5, the fire extinguisher 1 is then intended for single use only. However, if the screw connection shown here as an example or another non-destructively detachable connection is used, the fire extinguisher 1 can be used several times.

[0071] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the main housing 4 has a retaining element 27 on its outer housing surface 26, which surrounds the housing surface 26 tangentially with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. Here, and preferably, the retaining element 27 is formed by a full circular annular element that completely surrounds the main housing 4. The retaining element 27 forms a stop on the housing surface 26, by means of which the main housing 4 (and thus the fire extinguisher 1 as a whole) can be held particularly well with one hand by a user of the fire extinguisher 1. In other words, the retaining element 27 projects radially outwards beyond the outer housing surface 26 of the main housing 4 with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. In the example shown, the radially measured height of the retaining element 27 with respect to the housing surface 26 of the main housing 4 is approximately 10 mm.In particular, at the moment of activation of the fire extinguisher 1, a recoil resulting from the ignition of a propellant unit 10 (see explanation below) can be particularly well absorbed manually by the holding element 27 being supported by or striking the hand. In the example shown, the holding element 27 is located at a distance of 40 mm from the distal end 11 of the main housing, measured parallel to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. This distance therefore corresponds to 20% of the length of the main housing 4. To further improve the grip on the fire extinguisher 1, the main housing 4 also has a rubber-like coating and a profile 46 on its outer housing surface 26, which further facilitate and improve the user's grip.The profile 46 can, for example, be modeled on the shape of a human palm, allowing the user to grip the main housing 4 comfortably and securely with one hand. Additionally or alternatively, the profile 46 can project slightly radially beyond the housing surface 26 and provide a relief (for example, in the form of ribs or bumps) to improve the grip of the main housing 4.

[0072] To facilitate the simplest possible reuse of the fire extinguisher 1 after its initial use, the extinguishing agent 2 can be inserted into the main housing 4 in the form of an extinguishing agent cartridge 49. An example of such an extinguishing agent cartridge 49 is shown in Fig. Figure 6 shows the extinguishing agent cartridge 49. It comprises an outer cartridge housing 50, which is dimensioned and shaped to complement the extinguishing agent chamber 7. In particular, the cartridge housing 50 can be in the form of a cylinder extending along a central axis 63. When inserted into the fire extinguisher 1 or the extinguishing agent chamber 7 of the main housing 4, the central axis 63 of the extinguishing agent cartridge and the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1 are congruent. This allows the extinguishing agent cartridge 49 to be inserted precisely into the extinguishing agent chamber 7. When in a transport state, the extinguishing agent cartridge 49, which is closed at each of its opposite ends by means of a diaphragm 51, is enclosed at each end by a cap 52, the caps 52 protecting the diaphragms 51 from damage.Before inserting the extinguishing agent cartridge 49 into the extinguishing agent chamber 7, the sealing caps 52 are removed, and finally, after the extinguishing agent cartridge 49 is inserted, the sealing cap 44 is placed on the distal end 11 of the main housing 4. Before using the fire extinguisher 1, it is then only necessary to remove the sealing cap 44.

[0073] As explained above, the actuating housing 5 is connected to the proximal end 6 of the main housing 4. In the example shown, it has a length of 130 mm. As already explained, it includes a threaded section 22 in the example shown, which is designed as an internal thread. This internal thread is formed in the area of ​​a recess 24, which is formed in a distal end section of the actuating housing 5. The recess 24 is formed here by a blind bore, which is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. The recess 24 of the actuating housing 5 and the pin-like extension 23 of the main housing 4 are dimensionally matched such that when the actuating housing 5 is in a state connected to the main housing 4 ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) The actuating housing 5 abuts the main housing 4 at its distal end 25, and conversely, the main housing 4 abuts the actuating housing 5 at a proximal end 6 (the latter against the bottom of the recess 24). In the example shown, the extension 23 therefore completely fills the recess 24. The two threaded sections 21, 22 of the two housings 4, 5 thus extend over the same length in the longitudinal direction parallel to the fire extinguisher 1.

[0074] The actuating housing 5 extends coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1 to the main housing 4, wherein, in a preferred embodiment, the actuating housing 5 also has a cylindrical basic shape. Here, and preferably, the main housing 4 and the actuating housing 5 have the same diameter, so that the transition from the outer housing surface 26 of the main housing 4 to an outer housing surface 16 of the actuating housing 5 is free of a radially projecting projection with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. The actuating housing 5 is preferably also provided with a rubber-like coating on its outer housing surface 16 and / or with a profile 46 that projects radially slightly beyond the outer housing surface 16.

[0075] The actuating housing 5 accommodates an actuating mechanism 13, which is largely located within the actuating housing 5. The actuating mechanism 13 is designed and configured to trigger the fire extinguisher 1, igniting a propellant unit 10 located in the propellant chamber 8 and thereby pulsing the extinguishing agent 2 from the distal end 11 of the main housing 4 (or the distal end of the fire extinguisher 1). For this purpose, the actuating mechanism 13 includes a trigger 14, which can be manually actuated by a user of the fire extinguisher 1. The trigger 14 extends radially in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1, with an end section 15 facing away from the longitudinal axis 3 projecting radially beyond the housing surface 16 of the actuating housing 5, at least when the trigger 14 is in its initial position.In this way, the user of the fire extinguisher 1 can press the trigger 14 radially into the operating housing 5, thereby moving it into its activation position. This has the particular advantage that the user can grasp the fire extinguisher 1 with one hand at the operating housing 5 and activate the trigger 14 with the palm of that hand while simultaneously holding the fire extinguisher 1 with that hand. This makes two-handed operation of the fire extinguisher 1 particularly easy, with the user holding the main housing 4 with one hand and the operating housing 5 with the other hand as described. To activate the fire extinguisher 1, it is not necessary for the user to release either hand. The state of the fire extinguisher 1 when the trigger 14 is in its initial position is shown in [reference missing]. Fig. 1 illustrates.

[0076] In the example shown, the trigger 14 interacts with a spring element 17, which is pre-tensioned such that the trigger 14 is held in its initial position in the absence of external forces. To move the trigger 14 into its release position, it is necessary to press the trigger 14 radially into the actuating housing 5 against the spring force of the spring element 17 relative to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. In the example shown, the spring element 17 is formed by a clamping bracket. The state in which the trigger 14 is in its release position is shown in Fig. 2 illustrated.

[0077] In the example shown, according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 The actuating mechanism 13 is designed in the form of a striking mechanism. This is particularly evident from the following: Fig. 5. The striking mechanism as such is characterized in that it exerts a blow on an ignition element 30 of a respective drive unit 10, thereby igniting the ignition element 30. Here, and preferably, the actuating mechanism 13 comprises for this purpose an elongated trigger bolt 18 which is arranged within the actuating housing 5 in a channel 61 arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1 and extends in a longitudinally parallel direction to the fire extinguisher 1. One longitudinal axis of the trigger bolt 18 is congruent with the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. The channel 61 in which the trigger bolt 18 is mounted extends to the bottom of the recess 24 of the actuating housing 5 and is open at its distal end, so that the trigger bolt 18 can exit the channel 61 at its end to trigger the drive unit 10.The release bolt 18 interacts with a release spring 19, which biases the release bolt 18 towards the distal end 25 of the actuating housing 5 or towards the main housing 4. The release spring 19 is preferably a coil spring, which is biased with a compressive force when the release 14 is in its initial position.

[0078] The preload of the release spring 19 is maintained by blocking the movement of the release bolt 18 in the longitudinal direction parallel to the fire extinguisher 1 when the release 14 is in its initial position. For this purpose, the release bolt 18 is coupled, preferably at a proximal end, to a guide slide 47, which is positively locked in its movement parallel to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1 by the release 14. In the example shown, the release bolt 19 is welded to the guide slide 47. The guide slide 47 is movably mounted in a guide channel 59 of the actuating housing 5, which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1 and is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis 3.The moment the trigger 14 is moved into its release position, the positive locking between the trigger 14 and the guide slide 47 is released, allowing the spring force of the release spring 19 to relax and thereby accelerate the release bolt 18 together with the guide slide 47 towards the main housing 4. Driven by this acceleration, the release bolt 18 can "eject" from the actuating housing 5 with its distal end in the area of ​​the recess 24, striking an ignition element 30 of a drive unit 10 located in the drive chamber 8 and thereby igniting it. The state immediately before the ignition of the ignition element 30 is shown in . Fig. Figure 2 illustrates this. The propellant chamber 8 is partially incorporated into the cone-shaped extension 23 and extends to the proximal end 6 of the main housing 4 (or the extension 23). In this way, the detonator is located at the proximal end 6 of the main housing 4 and is particularly easily accessible to the trigger bolt 18.

[0079] Once the trigger 14 has been moved into its activation position and the guide carriage 47 has been released as described, the latter blocks the trigger 14 from returning to its initial position. Although the spring element 17 continues to act on the trigger 14 and attempts to return it to its initial position, this movement is blocked by the guide carriage 47. In this way, it is immediately apparent to the user of the fire extinguisher 1 that it has already been used.For reuse, in addition to refilling with a new charge of the fire extinguishing agent 2 and inserting a new drive unit 10, it is first necessary to retract the guide carriage 47 against the spring force of the release spring 19 (i.e., towards a proximal end of the actuating housing 5) so that the release 14 is moved back to its initial position by the spring force of the spring element 17. In this position, the release 14 engages the guide carriage 47 in such a positive-locking manner that its movement in the longitudinal direction parallel to the fire extinguisher 1 in its guide channel 59 is again blocked. In this state, the release spring 19 is again pre-tensioned with compressive stress and ready for the next activation.To retract the guide carriage 47 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1, the guide carriage 47 can be connected to a cord (not shown in the figures) which can be grasped manually from a proximal end of the fire extinguisher 1, so that the user can manually retract the guide carriage 47 against the spring force of the release spring 19 in the guide channel 59.

[0080] As an alternative to designing the actuating mechanism 13 as a striking mechanism, it is also conceivable, for example, to design the actuating mechanism 13 as an electrical mechanism. Such a design is exemplified by the following: Fig. 6. In accordance with the example described above, the trigger 14 of the actuating mechanism 13 extends radially beyond the outer housing surface 16 of the actuating housing 5, at least in one end section 15, with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1. However, unlike the impact mechanism, the trigger 14 is moved from its initial position to its position in Fig. Figure 6 illustrates that in the actuation position, a trigger bolt is not released, but rather an electrical impulse is generated. For this purpose, the actuation mechanism 13 has an electrical release element 20, which can, for example, be a piezoelectric element. It is also conceivable that the actuation mechanism 13 has a battery 48, by means of which the respective electrical release element 20 can be supplied with electrical current and thereby generate the electrical impulse. For example, the electrical release element 20 can be formed by an electrode which, as a result of the trigger 14 being moved into its actuation position, generates a spark suitable for igniting a respective ignition device 30. By means of the electrical impulse, a respective ignition device 30 of a respective drive unit 10 can be ignited, thereby triggering the fire extinguisher 1.

[0081] To use the fire extinguisher 1, it is necessary to equip it with a propellant unit 10. An example of such a propellant unit 10 is shown in Fig. Figure 7 illustrates the propellant unit 10, which comprises an ignition agent 30 and a gas-generating agent 31. The latter can, for example, be black powder. The gas-generating agent 31 is designed and configured to explode upon ignition, thereby instantly generating hot gases that rapidly expand and increase in volume. These gases expand at high speed and pressure, forcing them to escape. This escape occurs in the direction of the muzzle chamber 9, so that the hot gases ultimately strike the proximal end of the extinguishing agent chamber 7 and forcefully expel the charge of the fire extinguishing agent 2 stored therein from the fire extinguisher 1. The fire extinguishing agent 2 is thus "shot" out of the fire extinguisher 1 in a single discharge, becoming finely atomized and thereby achieving a particularly high fire-extinguishing effect.

[0082] Here, and preferably, the propellant unit 10 is designed in the form of a cartridge. This comprises a cartridge case 33 in which a firing chamber 28 and a gas chamber 29 are arranged. The cartridge case 33 has a cylindrical shape with respect to a longitudinal axis 32 of the propellant unit 10, with a diameter of the cartridge case 33 being approximately 20 mm in the example shown. In this way, the propellant unit 10 can be inserted precisely into the firing chamber 8 of the main housing 4. Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows that the propellant unit 10 is housed or inserted into the propellant chamber 8. The propellant unit 10 can be inserted into the propellant chamber 8 as a whole by a user of the fire extinguisher 1 and, after use, removed again as a whole (i.e., as a single, integrated assembly) from the propellant chamber 10. This makes the use of the fire extinguisher 1 very user-friendly.

[0083] The ignition chamber 28 is arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis 32 of the drive unit 10 and also has a cylindrical shape. A central axis of the ignition chamber 28 is congruent with the longitudinal axis 32 of the drive unit 10. The ignition chamber 28 extends from a proximal end 53 of the drive unit 10 along the longitudinal axis 32, with the igniter 30, which is stored in the ignition chamber 28, being located directly at the proximal end 53 of the drive unit 10. This is particularly evident from Fig. 7. This arrangement has the particular advantage that the detonator 30 is directly associated with the proximal end 6 of the main housing 4 when the propellant unit 10 is housed in the propellant chamber 8. In this way, the detonator 30 can be triggered particularly easily, for example by a trigger bolt 18 of an actuating mechanism 13 designed as a striking mechanism, as described above.

[0084] The ignition chamber 28 is separated from the gas chamber 29 by a membrane 54. The gas-generating agent 31 is pressed against this membrane 54. The membrane 54 is destroyed as a result of ignition of the ignition agent 30, so that the ignition agent 30 can act on the gas-generating agent 31 and ignite it. The gas chamber 29 is also rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis 32 of the drive unit 10 and extends coaxially to the ignition chamber 28. Thus, a central axis of the gas chamber 29 and the longitudinal axis 32 of the drive unit 10 are coincident. The gas chamber 29 has an expansion section 34 in which a cross-section of the gas chamber 29, oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 32 of the drive unit 10, expands continuously (here: conically). The gas space 29 has a conical or frustoconical shape in the extension section 34.In the example shown, the diameter of the gas chamber 29 at a first end 35 of the gas chamber 29, facing the ignition chamber 28, is larger than the diameter of the ignition chamber 28. Thus, at the transition from the ignition chamber 28 to the gas chamber 29, there is a sudden widening of the cross-section. The widening section 34 extends directly from the first end 35 of the gas chamber 29. The widening of the cross-section of the gas chamber 29 in the widening section 34 occurs towards a second end 36 of the gas chamber 29, facing away from the ignition chamber 28, up to a maximum dimension, whereby a maximum diameter of the gas chamber 29 at a distal end of the widening section 34, facing away from the ignition chamber 28, corresponds to an inner diameter of the cartridge case 33.In the example shown, a constant section follows the expansion section 34 in the longitudinal direction parallel to the drive unit 10, in which the gas space 29 has a constant cross-section up to its second end 36. Alternatively, the expansion of the gas space 29 can extend over its entire length measured parallel to the longitudinal axis 32.

[0085] The expansion of the gas space 29 in the expansion section 34 is shaped as described above in a frustoconical form. In the example shown, the gas space 29 in the expansion section 34 expands at an angle of 15° with respect to the longitudinal axis 32 of the drive unit 10. In other words, the gas space 29 in the expansion section 34 is formed by a truncated cone. Fig. In the longitudinal section shown in Figure 7 through the drive unit 10, the longitudinal axis 32 and a room wall 37 form an angle 38, which in the example shown is the aforementioned 15°.

[0086] For forming both the ignition chamber 28 and the gas chamber 29, the propellant unit 10 preferably includes a mold insert 39 which is inserted into the cartridge case 33. This mold insert 39 forms a negative for the ignition chamber 28 and the expansion section 34 of the gas chamber 29. The mold insert 39 thus has a cylindrical recess with a constant diameter in a first section 40, wherein the mold insert 39 delimits the ignition chamber 28 in this first section 40. In a subsequent, conically expanding second section 41, the mold insert 39 delimits the expansion section 34 of the gas chamber 29.

[0087] At a distal end of the gas chamber 29, facing away from the ignition chamber 28, it is closed by means of an insert 57, which may, for example, be in the form of wadding or cardboard. The insert 57 also serves to press the gas-generating agent 31 against the membrane 54. At a distal end 55 of the drive unit 10, it is finally provided with a wall 56, which forms a physical closure of the drive unit 10 and holds the insert 57 in position. The wall 56 preferably has a central recess 64.

[0088] Finally, in the example shown, the drive unit 10 has an end stop 42 located at its proximal end 53. The end stop 42 is designed such that it projects radially beyond an outer housing surface of the cartridge housing 33 with respect to the longitudinal axis 32 of the drive unit 10. This offers the advantage that the drive unit 10 can be inserted into the drive chamber 8 of the main housing 4 particularly easily, with the end stop 42 enabling a defined positioning of the drive unit 10 within the drive chamber 8. For this purpose, the user inserts the drive unit 10 as a whole into the drive chamber 8 from the proximal end 6 of the main housing 4 until the drive unit 10, with its end stop 42, comes to rest against an end-face of an end groove 62 of the main housing 4. A proximal end surface of the main housing 4 is flush with the proximal end of the drive unit 10.Movement of the drive unit 10 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1 further into the propellant chamber 7 is then no longer possible. In order to finally use the fire extinguisher 1, the user only needs to screw the actuating housing 5 to the main housing 4 using the threaded sections 21, 22 described above. The drive unit 10 is then securely mounted in the propellant chamber 8, with the ignition device 30 being located directly at the proximal end 6 of the main housing 4, so that the actuating mechanism 13, which is housed in or on the actuating housing 5, can act on the ignition device 30 particularly easily.

[0089] In use, the fire extinguisher 1 functions as follows: With one hand, the user holds the fire extinguisher 1 by the outer surface 26 of the main housing 4, pressing the back of the hand firmly against the holding element 27. With the other hand, the user first removes the front cap 44 from the distal end 11 of the main housing 4. The extinguishing agent chamber 7 remains closed by the membrane 43. The user then places the second hand on the operating housing 5 and also grasps it by its outer surface 16. The user then points the fire extinguisher 1 at the fire so that at least approximately the longitudinal axis 3 of the fire extinguisher 1 is directed towards the fire.The user then presses the trigger 14 with the palm of their other hand, whose fingers continue to grip the actuating housing 5. This moves the trigger into its firing position and releases the pre-tensioned release spring 19. This spring accelerates the release bolt 18, which then strikes the igniter 30 of the propulsion unit 10 with its distal end. As a result, the igniter 30 generates a fire that spreads in the ignition chamber 28, destroys the diaphragm 54, and finally ignites the gas-generating device 31. This then burns very rapidly (explosion) and produces a spray of gases that forms due to the truncated cone-shaped gas chamber 29. The spray pierces the insert 57, spreads in the truncated cone-shaped muzzle chamber 9, and pierces the diaphragm 45.Here, the spray wave repeatedly undergoes interphase transitions, while a wavefront of the spray wave is stretched and compressed. This stretches the acceleration process, and the spray wave mixes uniformly with the fire extinguishing agent 2, which is thereby accelerated more effectively. This results in a multi-vortex flow with a compressed front that ruptures the membrane 43, whereupon the mixture of gases and fire extinguishing agent 2 is discharged from the fire extinguisher 1 in a cone shape at high velocity. This makes it particularly easy to capture and extinguish at least a large part of a fire in one go. The multi-vortex structure and the large surface area of ​​the cone-shaped front of fire extinguishing agent 2 and gases ensure effective extinguishing of all fire classes and the most common combined fires encountered in practice.

[0090] Thanks to this design, a fire extinguisher 1 with small dimensions and an extinguishing effect on the level of conventional fire extinguishers, which have an extinguishing agent charge of at least two to three liters, was achieved. Reference symbol list 1 fire extinguisher 2 fire extinguishing agents 3 Longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher 4 Main case 5 Actuator housings 6 proximal end of the main case 7 Fire extinguishing agent room 8 Fuel chamber 9 Estuary 10 drive unit 11 distal end of the main casing 12 Extension section of the estuary 13 Actuating mechanism 14 triggers 15 Final section 16 Housing surface of the actuator housing 17 Spring element 18 trigger bolts 19 Release spring 20 electrical release element 21 Thread section 22 Thread section 23 continuation 24 In-depth study 25 distal end of the actuator housing 26 Housing surface of the main housing 27 Holding element 28 Ignition chamber 29 Gas chamber 30 ignition devices 31 gas-producing agent 32 Longitudinal axis of the drive unit 33 cartridge cases 34 Extension section of the gas space 35 first end of the gas space 36 second end of the gas space 37 Room wall 38 angles 39 Mold insert 40 first section 41 second section 42 End stop 43 Membran 44 Cap 45 Membran 46 Profiling 47 guide carriages 48 Battery 49 extinguishing agent cartridges 50 cartridge cases 51 Membran 52 Cap 53 proximal end of the drive unit 54 Membran 55 distal end of the drive unit 56 wall 57 deposit 58 angles 59 Guide channel 60 Room wall Channel 61 62 Nut 63 Central axis 64 Exclusion

Claims

[1] Propulsion unit (10) for a fire extinguisher (1) for the impulse-like release of a charge of a fire extinguishing agent (2), comprising - an ignition chamber (28) with an ignition medium (30) stored therein, - a gas space (29) with a gas-generating agent (31) stored therein, wherein the ignition chamber (28) and the gas chamber (29) are arranged in series along a longitudinal axis (32) of the drive unit (10) coaxially to each other and one behind the other along the longitudinal axis (32), wherein, when the propulsion unit (10) is in an unignited state, the gas space (29) is separated from the ignition space (28) by means of a membrane (54), wherein the gas-generating means (31) is arranged to be ignited by the ignition means (30) as a result of ignition of the ignition means (30), so that the gas-generating means (31) explodes and thereby the propulsion unit (10) is suitable to expel a fire extinguishing agent (2) impulseally from one end of the fire extinguisher (1), characterized by , that the propulsion unit (10) is designed in the form of a cartridge which has a cartridge case (33) extending along the longitudinal axis (32) of the propulsion unit (1), wherein the ignition chamber (28) and the gas chamber (29) are arranged within the cartridge case (33), wherein a cross-section of the gas space (29) guided perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (32) of the drive unit (10) expands continuously, preferably conically, in an expansion section (34) starting from a first end (35) of the gas space (29) facing the ignition chamber (28) in the direction of a second end (36) of the gas space (29) opposite the first end (35) and facing away from the ignition chamber (28). [2] Drive unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that a space wall (37) of the gas space (29) - viewed in a longitudinal section along the longitudinal axis (32) of the drive unit (10) - extends with respect to the longitudinal axis (32) of the drive unit (10) at an angle (38) of at least 5°, preferably at least 15°, more preferably at least 30°. [3] Drive unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that a space wall (37) of the gas space (29) - viewed in a longitudinal section along the longitudinal axis (32) of the drive unit (10) - extends with respect to the longitudinal axis (32) of the drive unit (10) at an angle (38) of at most 85°, preferably at most 75°, more preferably at most 60°. [4] Driving unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the ignition chamber (28) has a cross-section that is constant over its length with respect to the longitudinal axis (32) of the drive unit (10), wherein preferably the ignition chamber (28) has a cylindrical shape. [5] Driving unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a largest diameter of the ignition chamber (28) is smaller than a smallest diameter of the gas chamber (29), wherein preferably a cross-sectional change is present at a transition from the ignition chamber (28) to the gas chamber (29) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (32) of the drive unit (10). [6] Driving unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a, preferably one-piece, mold insert (39) which is received in the cartridge housing (33), wherein the mold insert (39) spatially delimits the ignition chamber (28) in a first section (40) and at least partially the gas chamber (29) in a second section (41) adjoining the first section (40) in the longitudinal direction of the propellant unit (10). [7] Driving unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an end stop (42) which is arranged at an end of the propulsion unit (10) facing away from the gas chamber (29), wherein the end stop (42) projects radially beyond an outer surface of the cartridge case (33) with respect to the longitudinal axis (32) of the propulsion unit (10). [8] Fire extinguisher (1) for the impulse-like release of a charge of a fire extinguishing agent (2), in particular water, comprising - a main casing (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (3) of the fire extinguisher (1), - an actuating housing (5) which extends coaxially to the main housing (4) along the longitudinal axis (3) and is connected in a force-transmitting manner to a proximal end (6) of the main housing (4), wherein a fire extinguishing agent compartment (7), a propulsion compartment (8) and a muzzle compartment (9) are arranged in the main housing (4), wherein the extinguishing agent compartment (7), which is designed to hold the fire extinguishing agent (2), extends parallel to the longitudinal axis (3), wherein the drive chamber (8), which is designed to accommodate a drive unit (10), extends coaxially to the extinguishing agent chamber (7) and is arranged offset along the longitudinal axis (3) relative to the extinguishing agent chamber (7), wherein the discharge chamber (9) extends coaxially to the extinguishing agent chamber (7) and is arranged between the extinguishing agent chamber (7) and the propulsion chamber (8) so that it connects the propulsion chamber (8) and the extinguishing agent chamber (7), where, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the main housing (4), the propulsion chamber (8) is assigned to the proximal end (6) of the main housing (4) and the extinguishing agent chamber (7) is assigned to a distal end (11) of the main housing (4) opposite the proximal end (6), wherein the outlet chamber (9) has an expansion section (12) in which a cross-section of the outlet chamber (9) viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (3) expands continuously, preferably conically, in the direction of the extinguishing agent chamber (7), wherein the actuating housing (5) accommodates an actuating mechanism (13) which is suitable to act on a drive unit (10) accommodated in the drive chamber (8) of the main housing (4) in such a way that the drive unit is ignited and thereby triggers the fire extinguisher (1) in such a way that the fire extinguishing agent (2) is impulsively discharged from the distal end (11) of the main housing (4), characterized by a propulsion unit (10) which is housed in the propulsion chamber (8), wherein the drive unit (10) is designed according to one of the preceding claims. [9] Fire extinguisher (1) according to claim 8, characterized by , that the longitudinal axis (32) of the drive unit (10) and the longitudinal axis (3) of the fire extinguisher (1) are congruent. [10] Fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by, that the propulsion unit (10) is received in the propulsion chamber (8) such that the ignition chamber (28) and the gas chamber (29) are arranged one behind the other along the longitudinal axis (3) of the fire extinguisher (1), wherein the ignition chamber (28) is located on a side of the gas chamber (29) facing away from the extinguishing agent chamber (7). [11] Fire extinguisher (1) according to claim 10, characterized by that the ignition means (30) is located at an end of the ignition chamber (28) facing away from the extinguishing agent chamber (7), preferably the ignition means (30) being located at the proximal end (6) of the main housing (4). [12] Fire extinguisher (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized by, that the actuating mechanism (13) comprises a trigger (14) that can be manually actuated by a user of the fire extinguisher (1), which, at least when in its initial position, in which it is located as long as the fire extinguisher (1) has not yet been activated, extends in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis (3) and projects at least with one end section (15) facing away from the longitudinal axis (3) beyond an outer housing surface (16) of the actuating housing (5), wherein the trigger (14) can be pressed at least partially into the actuating housing (5) in a radial direction from its initial position with respect to the longitudinal axis (3) and can thereby be moved into its activation position, enabling the fire extinguisher (1) to be activated. [13] Fire extinguisher (1) according to claim 12, characterized by, that the actuating mechanism (13) comprises a spring element (17) cooperating with the trigger (14) which biases the trigger (14) into its initial position in the absence of external forces, wherein preferably the spring element (17) cooperates with the trigger (14) in such a way that a transition of the trigger (14) from its initial position to its release position is only possible against a spring force of the spring element (17). [14] Fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized bythat the actuating mechanism (13) is designed in the manner of a striking mechanism, wherein preferably the actuating mechanism (13) comprises an elongated trigger bolt (18) oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis (3) of the fire extinguisher (1) and a trigger spring (19) operatively connected to the trigger bolt (18), wherein when the trigger (14) is in its initial position the trigger spring (19) is pre-tensioned and the trigger bolt (18) is blocked from moving in its longitudinal direction, wherein as a result of the trigger (14) being moved from the initial position to the trigger position the trigger bolt (14) can be released and can then be accelerated in its longitudinal direction towards the main housing (4) by means of the trigger spring (19), so that the trigger bolt (18) can strike a drive unit (10) received in the drive chamber (8) of the main housing (4) and ignite it by the impact. [15] Fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized by , that the actuating mechanism (13) is designed in the manner of an electrical mechanism, wherein preferably the actuating mechanism (13) comprises an electrical release element (20) which is operatively connected to the release (14) in such a way that the electrical release element (20) generates an electrical impulse as a result of the release (14) being moved from the initial position to the release position, by means of which a drive unit (10) received in the drive chamber (8) of the main housing (4) can be ignited. [16] Fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized by, that the actuating mechanism (13) is designed in the manner of a rocker mechanism, wherein preferably the actuating mechanism (13) comprises a rocker element and a striking element, wherein the rocker element interacts with the trigger (14) in such a way that, as a result of the trigger (14) being moved from the initial position to the trigger position, the rocker element can be pivoted about a rocker axis and thereby the striking element can be released, which can strike a drive unit (10) received in the drive chamber (8) of the main housing (4) and ignite it by the impact. [17] Fire extinguisher (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 16, characterized by , that the main housing (4) and the actuating housing (5) have corresponding threaded sections (21, 22) by means of which the two housings (4, 5) are connected to each other in a non-destructively releasable manner by forming a screw connection. [18] Fire extinguisher (1) according to claim 17, characterized by, that the main housing (4) has a pin-like extension (23) in a proximal end section, on which the threaded section (21) of the main housing (4) is formed in the form of an external thread, wherein the actuating housing (5) has a recess (24) in a distal end section facing the main housing (4) that is complementary to the extension (23) of the main housing (4), on the inner surface of which the threaded section (22) of the actuating housing (5) is formed in the form of an internal thread. [19] Fire extinguisher (1) according to claim 18, characterized by , that the propulsion chamber (8) is at least partially located in the area of ​​the cone-shaped extension (23) in the main casing (4). [20] Fire extinguisher (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 19, characterized by, that the propellant chamber (8) extends directly from the proximal end (6) of the main casing (4) into the main casing (4) and is open at the proximal end (6) of the main casing (4), so that a user of the fire extinguisher (1) can insert a propellant unit (10) into the propellant chamber (8) from the proximal end (6) of the main casing (4). [21] Fire extinguisher (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 20, characterized by , that the main housing (4) and / or the actuating housing (5) has or have a retaining element (27) projecting radially in the direction of an outer housing surface (26) of the main housing (4) or an outer housing surface (16) of the actuating housing (5) with respect to the longitudinal axis (3) of the fire extinguisher (1). [22] Fire extinguisher (1) according to claim 21, characterized by, that the retaining element (27) is designed in the form of a partial circular ring element or a full circular ring element and extends in a tangential direction along the housing surface (16, 26) with respect to the longitudinal axis (3) of the fire extinguisher (1). [23] Fire extinguisher (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 22, characterized by , that the main housing (4) and the actuating housing (5) each have a cylindrical shape, wherein preferably both housings (4, 5) have at least substantially the same diameter, wherein further preferably outer housing surfaces (16, 26) of the two housings (4, 5) transition seamlessly into one another.

Images