Fire suppressing apparatus
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorKenneth E. Buttrey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for smothering a liquid sodium fire comprises a pan, a perforated cover on the pan, and tubes depending from the cover and providing communication between the interior of the pan and the ambient atmosphere through the perforations in the cover. Liquid caught in the pan rises above the lower ends of the tubes and thus serves as a barrier which limits the amount of air entering the pan.
Claims11
Apparatus for quenching combustion of flowable material such as liquid sodium comprising:
- a pan for receiving said flowable material;
- a cover on said pan having perforations formed therein;
- and
- tubes vertically disposed below said cover and, respectively, communicating with the space above said cover through said perforations, the lower ends of said tubes closely approaching but being spaced from the bottom of said pan so that said flowable material entering one or more of said tubes will quickly establish a surface level above said lower tube ends, vent means arranged to permit gas flow from the interior space within said pans and said cover to the space above said cover, and prevent gas flow in the opposite direction.
Apparatus for suppressing a fire caused by escape of liquid sodium from process equipment, comprising:
- a pan for receiving said sodium;
- a cover disposed on said pan and having a plurality of perforations formed in spaced relation therein;
- a plurality of tubes vertically disposed below said cover and having their upper ends attached thereto so that said tubes respectively communicate with the space above said cover through said cover perforations, the lower ends of said tubes closely approaching but being spaced above the bottom of said pan so that sodium entering one or more of said tubes will quickly establish a surface level above said lower tube ends;
- a structural wall spaced from said pan;
- heat insulation disposed between said structural wall and the side of said pan in spaced relation with the latter;
- a support surface spaced below the bottom of said pan;
- and
- heat insulation disposed between the bottom of said pan and said support surface, vent means arranged to permit gas flow from the interior space within said pan and said cover to the space above said cover, and prevent gas flow in the opposite direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.