Impact-activated triggering device for auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher and associated fire extinguisher

Abstract

The invention relates to a percussion-operated control device for activating an auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher. This device comprises a fire extinguisher head body (3) fixed to the upper part of a reservoir (1), a manual operating handle (4), and a striker (5) that is translationally movable by actuation of the handle (4). The handle (4) is rotationally movable about an axis (6) of articulation on the body (3) and carries a cam (10) in contact with the striker (5). The profile of the cam allows, by rotation of the handle (4) in a first direction, translation of the striker (5) to an activation position in which the striker (5) punctures a gas cartridge (11). According to the invention, the cam profile (10) is further configured to allow translation of the striker (5) to the activation position by rotation of the handle (4) about said axis (6) in a second direction opposite to the first. Figure for the summary: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Percussion control device for auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher and associated fire extinguisher technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of fire extinguishers, and more specifically to a percussion control device for activating a fire extinguisher with auxiliary pressure. Activation is understood to mean the action that pressurizes the fire extinguisher. Technological background

[0002] Unlike a permanently pressurized fire extinguisher in which an extinguishing agent (for example water, foam or powder) is placed under pressure in the extinguisher tank from the outset, an auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher is equipped with a gas cartridge whose seal must be pierced in order for the gas contained in the cartridge to flow into the extinguisher tank and pressurize it.

[0003] To pierce the seal of the gas cartridge, it is known to equip the auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher with a percussion control device allowing a user to activate the fire extinguisher when needed.

[0004] Such a percussion-operated control device generally comprises a fire extinguisher head body adapted to be fixed to the upper part of a fire extinguisher tank, a manual operating handle, and a striker that moves in translation within and along a longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher head body by actuating the manual operating handle. The manual operating handle is mounted to rotate about a pivot axis on the fire extinguisher head body and carries a cam in contact with an upper end of the striker. The cam has a profile configured to allow, by rotation of said manual operating handle about said pivot axis in a predefined direction of rotation, a translation of the striker from a rest position to an activation position in which a lower end of the striker punctures a gas cartridge.

[0005] In certain cases, such as that described for example in Figures 7 and 8 of document WO 2007 / 006987, on behalf of the Applicant, the direction of rotation of the handle around its pivot point corresponds to a single direction of rotation obtained by manually lifting the handle. In other words, the fire extinguisher can only be activated by manually lifting the handle.

[0006] Conversely, other fire extinguishers are configured so that they can only be activated by manually lowering the handle. This is the case, for example, of the fire extinguisher described in document FR 2 263 004 A.

[0007] Instructions for using an auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher are generally inscribed on the extinguisher tank so that any person likely to use the extinguisher can be easily guided, and know in particular whether the extinguisher should be activated by lowering the manual operating handle, or on the contrary by raising the manual operating handle.

[0008] However, precious minutes can be lost if a user has to read the operating instructions, and / or if that user tries, in the panic related to the emergency situation, to impart a rotational movement to the handle other than that for which the percussion control device was designed. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of known percussion control devices.

[0010] This objective is achieved in accordance with the present invention, the first object of which is a percussion control device for activating an auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher, said percussion control device comprising a fire extinguisher head body adapted to be fixed on an upper part of a fire extinguisher tank, a manual actuating handle and a striker that is movable in translation within and along a longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher head body by actuating said manual actuating handle, said manual actuating handle being mounted to rotate about an articulation axis on the fire extinguisher head body and carrying a cam in contact with an upper end of the striker, the cam having a profile configured to allow, by rotation of said manual actuating handle about said articulation axis in a first direction of rotation,a translation of the firing pin from a rest position to an activation position in which a lower end of the firing pin punctures a gas cartridge, characterized in that the cam profile is further configured to allow said translation of the firing pin from the rest position to the activation position by rotation of said manual actuation handle around said articulation axis in a second direction of rotation opposite to said first direction of rotation.

[0011] In possible embodiments, the cam is an integral part of said manual actuation handle.

[0012] Alternatively, the cam is carried by a separate part of the actuating handle, fixed to said manual actuating handle.

[0013] According to another possible feature, the cam profile is concave and symmetrical with respect to a plane containing the articulation axis and a longitudinal axis of the striker. In this case, the cam profile is, for example, dimensioned to allow said translation of the striker from the rest position to the activation position by rotating said manual actuation handle 20 degrees around said articulation axis in the first and second direction of rotation.

[0014] According to another possible feature, the extinguisher head body includes a fixing socket for fixing the pressurized gas cartridge below the striker.

[0015] The present invention also relates to an auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher comprising a percussion control device according to the first object of the invention. Brief description of the figures

[0016] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will clearly explain what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the accompanying figures:

[0017] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the upper part of an ex auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher equipped with a percussion control device according to the invention, in the rest position;

[0018] [Fig.2] Fig.2 illustrates a longitudinal section of the upper part of an ex auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher equipped with a percussion control device according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the rest position;

[0019] [Fig.3] Fig.3 illustrates, by means of five views (a) to (e), the activation possibilities of the auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher of the [Fig.2];

[0020] [Fig.4] Fig.4 illustrates a longitudinal section of the upper part of an ex Auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher equipped with a percussion control device according to a second embodiment of the invention, in the rest position. Description of embodiment(s)

[0021] In the figures, identical or equivalent elements shall bear the same reference numerals. The various diagrams are not to scale.

[0022] With reference to the various attached figures, a portable auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher classically comprises a reservoir 1, generally cylindrical in shape, containing an extinguishing agent such as a liquid, a foam or a powder, and a percussion control device 2 fixed to the upper part of the reservoir 1, allowing the extinguisher to be activated by pressurizing the contents of the reservoir 1.

[0023] In the two embodiments illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, corresponding to an auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher in its rest position, i.e., before use of the extinguisher requiring its activation, the percussion control device 2 conventionally comprises a fire extinguisher head body 3 (shown in the figures already fixed in an opening provided in the wall of the tank 1, on the upper part of the tank 1), a manual actuation handle 4, and a movable striker 5. translation inside and along a longitudinal axis of the body 3 of the extinguisher head by actuation of the manual actuation handle 4.

[0024] The manual operating handle 4, which also serves as a carrying handle for the fire extinguisher, is mounted to rotate about an articulation axis 6 on the extinguisher head body 3. In the illustrated examples, the manual operating handle 4 has an elongated gripping portion 7 to facilitate handling, one end of which is provided with a clevis 8 overhanging the body 3 and the striker 5, with two parallel wings 9 through which the articulation axis 6 passes. The manual operating handle 4 carries, in the portion covered by the clevis 8, a cam 10 in contact with an upper end of the striker 5.The cam 10 has a profile configured to allow, by rotation of the manual actuation handle 4 around its articulation axis 6, a translation of the firing pin 5 from a rest position to an activation position in which a lower end of the firing pin 5 pierces a seal (not referenced) closing the upper part of a gas cartridge 11.

[0025] In the illustrated examples, the gas cartridge 11 extends in the extinguisher reservoir 1, in alignment with the striker 5, and the upper part of the cartridge 11 is preferably fixed to the extinguisher head body 3, for example screwed or fitted into a socket of the extinguisher head body 3.

[0026] As seen in [Fig.1], a pin 12 associated with a safety seal 13 is provided to block any unintentional actuation of the manual actuation handle 4, in particular during the carrying of the fire extinguisher to the fire zone, and thus prevent a translation of the striker 5 to the activation position.

[0027] Unlike prior art devices in which the translation of the striker 5 from the rest position to the activation position can only be obtained by imparting a rotational movement on the handle in one direction only (for example by lifting the handle), referred to hereafter as the first direction of rotation, the profile of the cam 10 is configured, according to the invention, to allow the translation of the striker 5 from the rest position to the activation position by rotation of said manual actuation handle around the articulation axis 6 indifferently in a first direction of rotation, or in a second direction of rotation opposite to said first direction of rotation.

[0028] In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cam 10 is an integral part of the manual operating handle. Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of [Fig. 4], the cam 10 is carried by a part 14 separate from the operating handle 4, fixed to said manual operating handle 4, for example by means of fixing screws 15, between the pivot axis 6 and the upper part of the striker 5.

[0029] In both embodiments shown, the cam profile 10 is concave and symmetrical with respect to a plane containing the articulation axis 6 and a longitudinal axis of the striker 5.

[0030] The cam profile 10 can, for example, be dimensioned to allow the firing pin 5 to translate from its rest position to its activation position by rotating the manual operating handle 4 by 20 degrees around the pivot axis 6 in the first and second directions of rotation. The firing pin 5 can then be designed to perform a translational movement of, but not limited to, 6 to 12 millimeters, depending on the model. This translation depends on the design of each device.

[0031] Figure 3 illustrates the activation possibilities of the auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher of Figure 2, from its rest position. It should be noted that the rest position corresponds to the position in which the auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher is stored near an area to be protected. The pin 12 then keeps the striker 5 away from the unpierced seal of the cartridge 11, which contains pressurized gas. The gas in the upper portion of the reservoir 1 is substantially at atmospheric pressure.

[0032] In the event of a fire, a user grasps the fire extinguisher and removes the seal 13 and then the pin 12 to unlock the handle. View (a) of [Fig. 2] illustrates the fire extinguisher after the seal and pin have been removed. The user then has two options for striking the cartridge 11 and thus activating the fire extinguisher:

[0033] According to a first possibility shown in views (b) and (c) of [Fig. 3], the user strikes the cartridge 11 by lifting the handle 4 (arrow Fl). In doing so, the handle pivots around its axis 6, in the clockwise direction indicated by the dashed arrow. Given the concave profile of the cam 10, this rotational movement causes the firing pin 5 to move in translation towards the cartridge seal 11 (solid arrow), until it reaches the end position of the cam 10 shown in view (c) of [Fig. 3], in which the lower end of the firing pin 5 pierces the cartridge seal 11.

[0034] According to another possible configuration for the same fire extinguisher, shown in views (d) and (e) of [Fig. 3], the user strikes the cartridge 11 by lowering the handle 4 (arrow F2). In doing so, the handle still pivots around its axis 6, but in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the dashed arrow. Given the concave and symmetrical profile of the cam 10, this rotational movement also causes the striker 5 to move in translation towards the seal of the cartridge 11 (solid arrow), until it reaches the end position of the cam 10 shown in view (d) of [Fig. 3], in which the lower end of the striker 5 pierces the seal of the cartridge 11.

[0035] Regardless of the direction of the rotational movement imparted by the user to the handle 4, an identical movement of the striker 5 is obtained until the seal of the cartridge 11 is pierced. The pressurized gas then exits the cartridge 11, passes through a communication channel provided in the extinguisher head and opens into the reservoir 1, and fills the upper portion of the reservoir 1. The user orients the extinguisher so as to direct the pressurized extinguishing agent towards the fire via a nozzle 16 connected to the reservoir via the extinguisher head.

[0036] It should be noted that a similar operation to that illustrated in [Fig. 3] can be achieved for the auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher according to the second embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 4]. Indeed, in the case of [Fig. 4], the cam profile 10 carried by the separate part 14 is also concave and symmetrical with respect to a plane containing the pivot axis and a longitudinal axis of the striker. One advantage of having a separate part 14 is that it then becomes possible, for the same handle 4, to more easily adjust the contact between the cam profile 10 and the upper part of the striker by having a part 14 of suitable dimensions.

Claims

Demands

1. A percussion control device (2) for activating an auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher, said percussion control device (2) comprising a fire extinguisher head body (3) adapted to be fixed to an upper part of a fire extinguisher tank (1), a manual actuating handle (4) and a striker (5) movable in translation within and along a longitudinal axis of the fire extinguisher head body (3) by actuating said manual actuating handle (4), said manual actuating handle (4) being mounted movably in rotation about a pivot axis (6) on the fire extinguisher head body (3) and carrying a cam (10) in contact with an upper end of the striker (5), the cam (10) having a profile configured to permit, by rotation of said manual actuating handle (4) about said pivot axis (6) in a first direction of rotation,a translation of the firing pin (5) from a rest position to an activation position in which a lower end of the firing pin (5) punctures a gas cartridge (11), characterized in that the cam profile (10) is concave and symmetrical with respect to a plane containing the articulation axis (6) and a longitudinal axis of the firing pin (5) so as to further permit said translation of the firing pin (5) from the rest position to the activation position by rotation of said manual operating handle (4) around said articulation axis (6) in a second direction of rotation opposite to said first direction of rotation.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cam (10) is an integral part of said manual actuation handle (4).

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cam is carried by a part (14) separate from the actuating handle (4), fixed on said manual actuating handle (4).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cam profile (10) is dimensioned to permit said translation of the striker (5) from the rest position to the activation position by a rotation of said manual actuation handle (4) of 20 degrees around said articulation axis (5) in the first and second direction of rotation.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extinguisher head body (3) comprises a fixing socket

6. for securing the pressurized gas cartridge below the striker. Auxiliary pressure fire extinguisher, characterized in that it comprises a percussion control device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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