Abstract: A protective barrier or enclosure comprising a protective wall element including inner and outer wall portions, a protective liquid located between the inner and outer wall portions, the protective liquid being characterized in that it absorbs a significant amount of kinetic energy from a moving projectile passing therethrough, causing a pressure buildup in the liquid.

Abstract: An explosion suppression system disposed externally of a structure that encloses a protected zone. The system includes a source of pressurized explosion suppressant, a pressure detector, a release mechanism for releasing the suppressant through a discharge port opening into the protected zone in response to detection of a pressure wave by the detector, and tubulation providing fluid communication between the detector and the protected zone. An inclined portion of the tubulation terminates with an intake port and comprises both vertical and horizontal components of substantial magnitude.

Abstract: A method of purging an enclosed space of an explosive or combustible gas or vapor comprises filling the space with a foam the bubbles of which are filled with a preprepared gaseous mixture of air and a non-toxic fire-suppressant gas, such as bromotrifluoromethane, in predetermined proportions and allowing the foam to decay. The proportions of air and said fire-suppressant gas in the gaseous mixture are such that when the foam decays the gaseous mixture remaining in the tank and freed by the decay of the foam is capable of supporting human life.

Abstract: A high speed, horizontal discharge hazard suppression device for preventing fire and explosions in confined zones such as dust collectors is provided which includes a tank having a generally arcuate tubular elbow extending from the underside thereof, and a selectively operable rupture disc mounted at the end of the elbow remote from the tank. The tank and elbow contain a desired fluid suppressant, and the device is mounted in an upright relation such that the suppressant bears directly against the rupture disc. The device serves to deliver suppressant in reduced time as compared with prior horizontal discharge units, and completely eliminates the costly and inefficient delivery pipe usually provided downstream of the rupture disc.

Abstract: A system for sensing and acting to suppress flame conditions as well as an explosion associated with a flame front in an enclosure which is susceptible to fire and explosion condition, such as trash shredders, grain elevators, and enclosed areas where oxygen and combustible material may be present in the necessary proportions to feed a fire of such rapid propagation as to result in explosive proportions resulting in damage to the structure forming the enclosure. The system comprises means distributed about the enclosing structure to sense a flame as well as a sudden rise in pressure and set off a fire and explosion suppressing system which operates to flood the enclosed area with an agent capable of quenching the flame causing the pressure rise, and programmable monitoring control circuits for operating the system and all of its components during the time when a pressure rise signals the development of an explosion, and following the suppression of an explosion.

Abstract: A pile of scrap turnings can undergo exothermic reactions, especially when wet. To reduce the temperature of the pile, an inert gas, preferably nitrogen, is introduced into the pile. This technique is particularly useful for a pile of turnings in a ship's hold. This technique can be used either alone, or in conjunction with introduction of nitrogen into the turnings as they are loaded into the ship's hold.

Abstract: A pile of scrap turnings and pre-crushed sponge iron can undergo exothermic reactions, especially when wet. To reduce the temperature of the pile, an inert gas, preferably nitrogen, is introduced into the pile. This technique is particularly useful for a pile of turnings or sponge iron in a ship's hold. This technique can be used either alone, or in conjunction with introduction of nitrogen into the turnings or sponge iron as they are loaded into the ship's hold.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing apparatus particularly but not exclusively for protecting large areas comprising a reservoir for a fire extinguishing fluid under pressure connected by a normally closed differential valve to a plastics tube which traverses the area to be protected, the tube being filled with air and/or an inert gas under pressure and being adapted to burst when exposed to a predetermined temperature, bursting of the tube and the consequent sudden decrease in pressure in the tube causing opening of the valve to allow the extinguishing fluid to flow from the reservoir along the tube to the region of the burst.

Abstract: An improved inflammable liquid safety tank comprising a double walled tank body with the tank walls being interconnected by support plates. An intermediate container is formed by the inner wall structure of the tank and is adapted to hold inflammable liquid. A pressurized gas bottle is threadably mounted to a sleeve secured to and extending into the intermediate container. The pressurized gas bottle is selectively connected to the intermediate container to pressurize liquid held in the intermediate container. The pressurized gas bottle also communicates with the tank to pressurize a foam, nonflammable fluid, or cleaning agent placed in the chamber or outer compartment defined by the outer wall structure of the intermediate container and the inner wall structure of the tank body so that the foam, fluid or agent will be expelled from the tank if the tank wall is accidentally punctured. The outer compartment is preferably pressurized at a lower pressure than the intermediate container.

Abstract: An explosive-suppressive mass comprises layers of expanded metal of which each layer is arranged in a selected orientation so that its mesh strands are inclined with respect to the mesh strands of the layers adjacent thereto. This gives economic and other advantages in the manufacture of the anti-explosive materials.

Abstract: A storage tank such as those used to store petroleum products has a floating roof for the top closure and a seal between the roof and the tank sidewall for sealing the space and allowing relative movement therebetween. A conduit system is provided for the delivery of foam to the seal area in the event of a fire so as to extinguish the flame which is normally present in the seal area. The foam delivery system includes a conduit which preferably is flexible and functions both as a roof drain conduit and a foam delivery conduit which by a valve mechanism selectively allows draining of water from the roof or the delivery of foam to the roof.

Abstract: A military vehicle equipped with a hollow panel containing a fire supprest, the panel being located directly inboard from one of the vehicle fuel tanks, whereby enemy projectiles fired into the tank also penetrate the panel; fire suppressant sprays out of the hole formed by the projectile, thereby preventing formation of or extinguishing a potential fireball within the vehicle before it can grow into a massive holocaust of lethal proportions. A foraminous screen is positioned on the inboard face of the panel to prevent the panel from fragmenting as the suppressant enlarges the hole formed by the projectile.

Abstract: In a military vehicle having an upright fuel tank, an improved hollow panel ontaining pressurized fire-suppressant, the panel being located so that the suppressant sprays through an opening formed in the panel by an enemy projectile after its passage through the fuel tank. The hollow panel is reinforced against premature bursting forces by the provision of internal partitions running parallel to the major axis of the panel; the major walls of the panel are curved or bowed parallel to the minor axis of the panel to further reinforce the panel against premature bursting.

Abstract: A method of and a device for extinguishing burning gases forming by evapoion of a low-temperature liquid gas stored in tank spaces and ignited upon entering atmosphere by random effects is described. The method and device include means for introducing a hydrocarbon (halone) such as difluorochlorobromomethane or trifluorobromomethane or mixtures thereof as an extinguishing agent into burning low-temperature gases underneath the root of the flame for achieving a chemical reaction with the burning low-temperature gases.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system for use especially on a floating roof tank includes an enclosure secured to the tank roof. The enclosure carries an agent tank, an expellant tank and an accumulator tank. The agent tank contains fire extinguishing agent. The expellant tank contains pressurized expellant fluid. An expellant conduit extends from the expellant tank to an inlet of the agent tank. A sprayer duct is connected to an outlet of the agent tank and is arranged along one protected zone of the roof rim. A control valve is disposed in the expellant conduit. A heat sensitive pilot conduit is disposed along the protected zone and fluidly connects the expellant conduit with the control valve so that pressure from the expellant tank maintains the control valve closed. If the pilot conduit ruptures, agent is discharged. A bypass conduit connects the expellant conduit with the sprayer duct.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system for use especially on a floating roof tank includes an enclosure secured to the tank roof. The enclosure carries an agent tank, an expellant tank and an accumulator tank. The agent tank contains fire extinguishing agent and includes an expellant inlet and an agent outlet. The expellant tank contains pressurized expellant fluid. An expellant conduit extends from the expellant tank to the inlet of the agent tank. A sprayer duct is connected to the outlet of the agent tank and is arranged along one protected zone of the roof rim. A control valve is disposed in the expellant conduit. A flow control member is disposed in the expellant conduit upstream of the control valve for metering the rate of flow of expellant fluid. The accumulator communicates with the expellant conduit upstream of the control valve and downstream of the flow control member so that the accumulator is normally pressurized by the expellant tank.

Abstract: An improved gasoline safety tank and fire extinguisher comprising a tank body with interchangeable inlet and outlet fittings secured thereto, an intermediate container mounted in the tank for holding gasoline, and a carbon dioxide bottle mounted in the intermediate container. A conduit is connected to an inlet fitting and extends into the intermediate container adjacent the floor of the intermediate container and below the level of liquid placed in the intermediate container. A pressurized carbon dioxide bottle is selectively connected to the inlet fitting and adapted to discharge pressurized carbon dioxide gas into the intermediate container so that the gas bubbles up through the liquid in the intermediate container into the top of the intermediate container simultaneously cooling the liquid and pressurizing the liquid in the intermediate container.

Abstract: A device is needed to rapidly suppress gasoline fuel fires which are star as a result of the rupture of military vehicle fuel tanks by armor-piercing projectiles. The present invention contemplates a fuel fire suppressing device in the form of two hollow panels pressurized with a fire suppressant substance, such as Halon 1301; the panels are located in the path that an enemy projectile would take during passage through the fuel tank. The opening formed in each panel by the projectile permits automatic discharge of the pressurized suppressant onto the fuel escaping from the tank.