Description SELF ROTATION TYPE FOAM NOZZLE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a foam generator nozzle that is used in a high- expansion foam fire extinguishing system, which is provided to extinguish fires, which may occur in a vessel or the like. Background Art

[2] A foam generator for a typical high-expansion foam fire extinguishing system includes a foam generation plate, in which small holes are formed, and a nozzle for spraying foam solution toward the foam generation plate.

[3] Generally, when foam solution, which is obtained by mixing concentrated foam solution with water, is sprayed from the nozzle, the sprayed foam solution is mixed with air while passing through small holes in the foam generation plates, and thus foam including a large quantity of bubbles is generated.

[4] That is, the foam fire extinguishing system extinguishes fire in such a way as to interrupt contact between oxygen and combustible materials by covering flames, in the region in which a fire occurs, with an expanded foam solution.

[5] In the foam generator of the high-expansion foam fire extinguishing system, the most important thing is to increase the expansion rate of the foam by mixing the foam solution with a large quantity of air.

[6] In a foam solution having a low expansion rate, it takes a lot of time to cover flames. Furthermore, the amount of water and concentrated foam solution, which are used to generate the foam solution, is increased compared with a foam solution having a high expansion rate, so that the capacity of a pump, which is used to supply water, must be increased, and the amount of concentrated foam solution foam that must be stored is also increased, therefore various problems occur upon installation in an engine room of limited size in a vessel.

[7] Meanwhile, a high expansion rate can be achieved by increasing the spray pressure of the nozzle. However, in this case, the flow rate and pressure of the water supply pump must be increased, and thus the design is uneconomical.

[8] Meanwhile, a method of separately providing an electric motor pan to the downstream of the nozzle and realizing a high expansion rate by forcibly sending air is well known. However, in the above-described method, additional equipment is necessary when the foam fire extinguishing system is used in an emergency situation. Furthermore, the design is uneconomical in that separate work of installing related electric equipment must be conducted. Furthermore, there is the possibility that the

motor pan may not operate in an emergency situation in which it is necessary to operate the foam generator. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and the present invention is intended to propose a new foam generator nozzle, in which blades are provided in the foam generator nozzle, and which forcibly rotates the blades using the spraying force when a foam solution is sprayed from the nozzle, so that it can cause the blades to forcibly supply air to the foam solution, with result that a high expansion rate can be realized by the increased inflow of air even at a low spray pressure. Technical Solution

[10] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a self- rotation type foam generator nozzle, the foam generator nozzle being configured to spray foam solution to a foam generation plate having holes, the foam generator nozzle including: a nozzle body having a foam solution inflow path; a nozzle head having a nozzle body holding part into which a leading end of the nozzle body is inserted, the nozzle head being configured such that a plurality of foam solution discharge paths communicating with the nozzle body holding part is formed therein, and being provided so as to rotate with respect to the nozzle body; extension pipes provided with spraying holes having spraying directions so that the nozzle head is rotated by the reaction to the spraying of the foam solution, the extension pipes being configured such that the ends thereof are connected to the respective foam solution discharge paths; and a plurality of blades radially provided to the nozzle head.

[11] In the foam generator nozzle, a sealing member is used between the nozzle body and the nozzle head, thus achieving a seal.

[12] In the foam generator nozzle, a bearing is provided between the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle body and the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle head for the nozzle head to rotate with respect to the nozzle body.

[13] In the foam generator nozzle, respective caps are coupled to the remaining ends of the extension pipes.

Advantageous Effects

[14] As described above, the present invention can provide a new foam generator nozzle, in which blades are provided in the foam generator nozzle, and which forcibly rotates the blades using the reaction of spraying force when a foam solution is sprayed from the nozzle, so that it can cause the blades to forcibly supply air to the foam solution, with the result that a high expansion rate can be realized by the increased inflow of air

even at a low spray pressure. [15] In particular, the foam solution according to the present invention has a high expansion rate, so that fire can be effectively extinguished using a small amount of foam solution. [16] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the size of the foam generator can be greatly reduced, so that foam generators can be effectively arranged in an engine room of limited space in a vessel, with the result that the total weight of the vessel can be reduced due to the reduction in the size of the foam generator.

Brief Description of the Drawings [17] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the use of a foam generator, in which an embodiment of the present invention is provided; [18] FIG. 2 is a front view of the foam generator, in which an embodiment of the present invention is provided; [19] FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2;

[20] FIG. 4 is a conceptual longitudinal sectional view of the foam generator nozzle of

FIG. 2;

[21] FIG. 5 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of principle parts of FIG. 4;

[22] FIG. 6 is a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle body of FIG. 4;

[23] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blade of FIG. 4;

[24] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 7;

[25] FIG. 9 is a view showing, in detail, a blade plate of FIG. 4;

[26] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of an extension pipe of FIG. 4;

[27] FIG. 11 is a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle head of FIG.

4; and

[28] FIG. 12 is a plan view and a front view showing the operational concept of FIG. 4.

[29] <Description of characters of principal elements>

[30] 100: nozzle 110: nozzle body

[31] 120: nozzle head

[32] 121: nozzle body holding part

[33] 122: foam solution discharge paths

[34] 130: blades 140: extension pipes

[35] 141: caps

[36] 142: spraying holes

[37] 151: bearing

[38] 161: rotation-type sealing member

[39] 162: O-ring 200: foam generation plate

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[40] The construction and operation of an embodiment of the present invention are described in detail below.

[41] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the use of a foam generator, in which an embodiment of the present invention is provided, FIG. 2 is a front view of the foam generator, in which an embodiment of the present invention is provided, FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a conceptual longitudinal sectional view of the foam generator nozzle of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of the principle parts of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle body of FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blade of FIG. 4, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a view showing, in detail, a blade plate of FIG. 4, FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of an extension pipe of FIG. 4, FIG. 11 is a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle head of FIG. 4, and FIG. 12 is a plan view and a front view showing the operational concept of FIG. 4.

[42] The foam generator 10 of the present invention includes a foam generator nozzle

100 and a foam generation plate 200.

[43] The foam generation plate 200, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, is configured such that small holes 210 are formed in the lower portion thereof, and is also configured to have a bowl shape, the upper portion of which is opened.

[44] Accordingly, foam solution, which is sprayed through the upper portion of the foam generation plate 200, is mixed with air while passing through the small holes 210, and is thus expanded.

[45] The foam generation plate 200 is fastened to the nozzle 100 (in greater detail, a nozzle body 110) via connection bars 220.

[46] The nozzle 100 includes a nozzle body 110, a nozzle head 120, blades 130, and extension pipes 140.

[47] The nozzle body 110 has a foam solution inflow path 111. The upper portion of the nozzle body 110 has a flange shape and is connected with the counter flange (not shown) of a foam solution supply line.

[48] That is, the nozzle body 110 is a fixed part.

[49] The lower end of the nozzle body 110 is inserted into the nozzle body holding part

121 of the nozzle head 120.

[50] In this case, the nozzle head 120 is provided so as to rotate along with the nozzle body 110, with which it is concentrically arranged.

[51] For this purpose, a bearing 151 is provided between the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle body 110 and the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle head 120. The bearing 151 is supported by a bearing cover 152, which is coupled with the upper portion of the nozzle head 120, and a snap ring 153, which is coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle body 110.

[52] Furthermore, in order to prevent the foam solution from leaking between the nozzle head 120 and the nozzle body 110, sealing members are used between the nozzle head 120 and the nozzle body 110, and thus a seal is achieved.

[53] In the present embodiment, an O-ring 162 and a rotation-type sealing member 161 are provided as the sealing members.

[54] In the present embodiment, in order to install the sealing members, an upper sealing member support part 163 and a lower sealing member support part 164 are separately provided. Thereafter, both the upper sealing member support part 163 and the lower sealing member support part 164 are fitted to the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle head 120.

[55] Accordingly, the sealing member support parts 163 and 164 can be rotated along with the nozzle head 120.

[56] Furthermore, the O-ring 162 is used between the lower sealing member support part

164 and the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle head 120, thus achieving a seal. The O-ring 162 prevents the foam solution from leaking when in a stationary state.

[57] The rotation-type sealing member 161 is provided between the upper sealing member support part 163 and the lower sealing member support part 164. The rotation- type sealing member 161 can prevent the foam solution from leaking even when the foam solution is sprayed at a pressure of 4 bar, and also can cause the nozzle head 120 to rotate while generating only a small amount of friction with the nozzle body 110.

[58] Meanwhile, a plurality of foam solution discharge paths 122 is radially formed in the lower portion of the nozzle head 120 in the downward direction.

[59] Accordingly, the foam solution, which enters through the foam solution inflow path

111 of the nozzle body 110, is discharged through the foam solution discharge paths 122 via the nozzle body holding part 121.

[60] The respective ends of the extension pipes 140 are coupled to the foam solution discharge paths 122.

[61] Respective caps 141 are coupled to the other ends of the extension pipes 140. A plurality of spraying holes 142 is formed in the main surface of each extension pipe.

[62] Accordingly, the foam solution, which is discharged through the foam solution discharge paths 122, flows into the extension pipes 140, and is sprayed through the spraying holes 142.

[63] In this case, the foam solution must not be vertically sprayed through the spraying holes 142.

[64] The extension pipes 140 are affected by the reaction, which is generated in a direction opposite the spraying direction due to the foam solution, which is sprayed through the spraying holes 142. In this case, the reaction must be sufficient to rotate the nozzle head 120.

[65] That is, the foam solution, which is sprayed through the spraying holes 142, must have one or more velocity components in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the nozzle head 120.

[66] Furthermore, among the velocity components of the foam solution, which is sprayed through the spraying holes 142, the components in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the nozzle head 120 must be oriented in respective directions that do not intersect the center of the nozzle head 120.

[67] That is, the components in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the nozzle head 120, which have respective directions, which do not intersect the center of the nozzle head 120, among the velocity components of the foam solution, which is sprayed through the spraying holes 142, are responsible for rotating the extension pipes 140. In this case, the forces act as moments, and are proportional to respective distances in the axial direction of the nozzle head.

[68] Accordingly, the nozzle head 120 can be strongly rotated as the spraying holes 142 are spaced further apart from the center of the nozzle head 120. This is proportional to the lengths of the extension pipes 140.

[69] As described above, the nozzle head 120 receives a moment from the reaction to the spraying of the foam solution through the spraying holes 142, and is rotated.

[70] Meanwhile, the blades 130 are radially provided on the main surface of the nozzle head 120.

[71] Accordingly, when the nozzle head 120 rotates, the blades 130 rotate along with the nozzle head 120, and thus air is forcibly supplied in a downward direction.

[72] Each of the blades 130 includes a blade plate 131 and a blade support part 132, but the shape and form of each blade 130 may be optionally modified according to embodiments.

[73] In particular, the use of the foam generator can be checked in FIG. 1.

[74] Although, in the drawings, various elements, such as bolts, nuts and threads, may be used for coupling or to assist coupling work, a description thereof has been omitted. It is appreciated that such coupling elements may be easily understood to those skilled in the art, without requiring a separate description.

[75] The drawing, which is located in the upper portion of FIG. 12, shows the operation of the nozzle based on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the nozzle head, and the drawing, which is located in the lower portion of FIG. 12, is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of the nozzle based on a vertical plane.

[76] In order to rotate the nozzle head using the reaction, attributable to the foam solution, which is sprayed through the spraying holes 142, the spray of foam solution must be shown in the upper portion of FIG. 12, and the spraying direction must also be oriented so as not to intersect the center of the nozzle head.

[77] The embodiment described above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the technical spirit of the present invention may be implemented in various ways by those skilled in the art through modification or adjustment. Such modification or adjustment is included in the scope of the present invention as long as it is based on the technical spirit of the present invention. Industrial Applicability

[78] The present invention can be used for foam generator nozzles that are used in a high-expansion foam fire extinguishing system, which is provided to extinguish fires, which may occur in a vessel or the like.