FIRE EXTINGUISHER VALVE BODY
A valve body ( 5 ) for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher includes a first socket ( 51 ) configured to have an end of a cartridge ( 11 ) filled with propellant installed therein; and a latch ( 57 ) movable relative to the first socket ( 51 ) between a first position and a second position; in the first position the latch ( 57 ) is configured to permit an end of a cartridge ( 11 ) filled with propellant to be installed within and removed from the first socket ( 51 ); and in the second position the latch ( 57 ) is configured to engage with an end of a cartridge ( 11 ) installed within the first socket ( 51 ) to thereby lock and retain the end of the cartridge ( 11 ) within the first socket ( 51 ).
1 . A valve body ( 5 ) for a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher ( 1 ), the valve body ( 5 ) comprising:
a first socket ( 51 ) configured to have an end of a cartridge ( 11 ) installed therein; and
a latch ( 57 ) movable relative to the first socket ( 51 ) between a first position and a second position;
wherein in the first position the latch ( 57 ) is configured to permit an end of a cartridge ( 11 ) to be installed within and removed from the first socket ( 51 ); and
wherein in the second position the latch ( 57 ) is configured to engage with a cartridge ( 11 ) installed within the first socket ( 51 ) to thereby lock and retain the cartridge ( 11 ) within the first socket ( 51 ).
2 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the latch ( 57 ) is configured to engage with a collar ( 14 a , 14 b ) provided at an end of a cartridge ( 11 ) installed within the first socket ( 51 ).
3 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first socket ( 51 ) comprises a wall ( 51 a ) configured to surround an end of a cartridge ( 11 ) once installed therein, and wherein the latch ( 57 ) is configured to move through a slot ( 52 ) in the wall ( 51 a ) as it moves between the first position and the second position.
4 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 1 , comprising biasing means ( 63 ) configured to bias the latch ( 57 ) toward the first position.
5 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 1 , comprising fastening means ( 61 ) configured to reversibly fasten the latch ( 57 ) in the second position.
6 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the fastening means ( 61 ) comprises a screw or bolt ( 61 ) having a head ( 61 a ) and a shank ( 61 b ), wherein a threading on the shank ( 61 b ) is configured to engage with a counterpart threading in a portion of the valve body ( 5 ), and wherein engagement between the threading on the shank ( 61 b ) and the counterpart threading permits fastening of the latch ( 57 ) in the second position.
7 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the valve body ( 5 ) comprises a second socket ( 53 ) configured to have an end of a dip tube ( 13 ) installed therein.
8 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 7 , wherein in the first position the latch ( 57 ) is configured to permit an end of a dip tube ( 13 ) to be installed within and removed from the second socket ( 53 ), and wherein in the second position the latch ( 57 ) is configured to engage with a dip tube ( 13 ) installed in the second socket ( 53 ) to thereby lock and retain the dip tube ( 13 ) within the second socket ( 53 ).
9 . A valve body as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the second socket ( 53 ) comprises a wall ( 53 a ) configured to surround an end of a dip tube ( 13 ) installed therein, and wherein the latch ( 57 ) is configured to move through a slot ( 54 ) in the second socket wall ( 53 a ) as it moves between the first position and second position.
10 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a third socket ( 55 ) configured to have an end of a blow pipe ( 15 ) or a shutter valve installed therein.
11 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the valve body ( 5 ) is arranged to provide a visual indication when the latch ( 57 ) is in the second position.
12 . A valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the valve body comprises a marker ( 67 ) that is arranged to provide the visual indication and/or wherein the visual indication comprises abutment of the latch ( 57 ) against a prominence ( 65 ) of the valve body ( 5 ).
13 . A cartridge-operated fire extinguisher ( 1 ) comprising:
a cylinder ( 3 ) with an opening at an end of the cylinder ( 3 );
a valve body ( 5 ) as claimed in claim 1 fixed to the cylinder ( 3 ) to seal the opening; and
a cartridge ( 11 ) housed within the cylinder, wherein an end of the cartridge ( 11 ) is installed within the first socket ( 51 ), and wherein the latch ( 57 ) is in the second position such that the cartridge ( 11 ) is locked and retained within the first socket ( 51 ).
14 . A method of assembling a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher ( 1 ) comprising:
installing an end of a cartridge ( 11 ) into a first socket ( 51 ) of a valve body ( 5 ) in accordance claim 1 whilst the latch ( 57 ) is in the first position;
moving the latch ( 57 ) into the second position such that the cartridge ( 11 ) is locked and retained within the first socket ( 51 ); and
fixing the valve body ( 5 ) having the cartridge ( 11 ) locked thereto to an end of a cylinder ( 3 ) in order to seal an opening in the end of the cylinder ( 3 ), wherein the cartridge ( 11 ) is housed within the cylinder ( 3 ) when the valve body ( 5 ) is fixed to the cylinder ( 3 ).
15 . A method of disassembling a cartridge-operated fire extinguisher ( 1 ) comprising:
detaching a valve body ( 5 ) in accordance with claim 1 from an end of a cylinder ( 3 ) of the fire extinguisher ( 1 ), wherein the valve body ( 5 ) has a cartridge ( 11 ) locked thereto;
moving the latch ( 57 ) of the valve body ( 5 ) from the second position and into the first position such that the cartridge ( 11 ) is no longer locked within the first socket ( 51 ); and
removing the end of the cartridge ( 11 ) from the first socket ( 51 ).