US2390732A - Fire-resisting cabinet - Google Patents

Description

106-15Fp' v 46' Application July 3, 1944, serial No. 543,402

Pu.. n.041? ff f-glj-uNlTED STATES* PATENT .QFFlCE 4olaimsfcrios-s4) f f j This invention relates to improvements in lireresisting les, cabinets, safes or like containers,

metal casing lined with a suitable heat insulating material. A common form of insulating material iis made of;g y psumor similar plaster-like material, molded in one piece within the outer casing to form an inner liner therefor. It has been observed that when the structures ofthe kind described above are cailed upon to perform their ultimate function of resisting fire and heat, certain gases are formed within the outer casing particularly when the master-liner gives up itspygatermgufmgrystalliaation in the form of steam under excessive"lt.`"mth'ougldeh` -drolyzation of the lining material is usually relied upon as one of the factors contributing to the protection of the contents of the container, yet theresulting steam pressure generated in the casing tends to separate the outer metal shell from its liner so as to form a hollow space therebetween.

In carrying out my invention I provide an immy invention illustrated in the drawing, the in vention is shown as applied to a typical form of fire-resisting container suitable foruse as a file, cabinet, safe, or the like, indicated generally at IG. The side, top and bottom walls Il, I2 and I3 respectively, each consist of an outer metal shell I4 having an inner liner I5, of high heatresisting material such as .gypsum plaster or other insulatingv material commonly used in containers of this character. An inner metal shell i6 may also be employed to formY an enclosure for `the liner, as shown in Figure 3. The liner i5 mayfbe formed as usual in a single piece (eX- ceptng for the door) by molding it within the outer shell I4 or by forming a separate hollow mold, and later inserting it within the outer shell. [The insulating liner may also be formed of a plurality of separate slabs, or of other insulating material in more or less finely divided state.

The principal feature of my invention consists in disposing a relatively small amount of a heat expansible fire-resisting material within and adproved form of wall structure for containers of the character described wherein the suitable amount ofwexpansible insulating material, such asarrwriiculiteamis utilized as part` of the 'lui-ning mateial within "the" metal mc'fasi'ng." mfermwiculite has the Seeeialgllaraeteistiwheine ''xih sib'lrdgr abnormal neat so that wn'rtljsing 1s subjected'tdre, th'yerm'iculite *becomes expanded*y and fills the hollow`spaces`otherwise fod within the metal casingof the container.

The invention may best be understoo y' rereren'ce to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional View of a fire-resisting container as it is manufactured and used.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the container after it has been exposed to destructive re.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken through one of the walls of the container shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3, but showing the liner in expanded condition after withstanding re.

Figures 5, 6 and '7 illustrate different methods which 'may be employed to apply the expanslble lining material to the Walls of the container during manufacture.

Referring now to details 0f the embodiment of jacent the outer metal shell Ill, in such position as to increase the effective thickness of the insulating liner, and to iill the voids which otherwise would be formed within the metal shell, when the container issubjected to a destructive fire, I find that vermiculite is especially suitable forthis purpose.

rerlni f uliterisamicacious mginggal, usually commonly used as an insulating material after it has been subjected to expansion by heat. It derives its name from its peculiar property of expanding under excessive heat in such a manner that the expanded flakes resemble worms. This action is explained by the fact that heat causes ,the many microscopically hin layers of each grain to expand into greatly enlarged cellular granules in the direction perpendicular to the layers. Ordinarily a batch of Vermiculite will expand to about fifteen times its natural volume when subjected to heat of about 350 F. or over. It is used commerciallyv in its eismd'statr many kinds of insulation yand as an aggregate for plaster and cement where special lightness is desired.

In my invention vermiculite is applied in its natural unexpangdeglwstategvithin the outer metal shell I4`oth`'container I0, and preferably between said shell and the liner I5, as shown in Figure 3. Various methods of application of the vermiculite may be employed. Figure 5 illusciably interfere 'v more finely divided state, it may be disposed in close contact with the inner surface of the vermi- 1. In a fire-resisting container, an outer metal casing having an associated molded hydrous 1ining of heat-resisting material, and a quantity of vermiculite in its natural unexpanded state dis- Y posed in a relatively thin layer between said casgranules with a binder andLsjl'ellirectly upon v thickness of natural granular state is mixed with any suitable light binding material which will not apprewith the expansion of the vermiculite, and isa ie ith I5 is then applied withlite in any suitable manner. For instance, if the can be poured .into direct contact `with the layerl of vermiculite so as to become bonded thereto f during the molding process. Where the lining material I5is applied to th casing in the form of individual slabs, or in culite layer, as indicated in Figure 3.

An alternat lite as an adhesive layer to the entire inner surface of the outer shell I4 is shown in Figure 6' wherein the is mixedn nely divided the inn'er face of the'outer sli-l Another method of applying the vermiculite, illustrated in Figure '7, is particularly applicable when the main insulating liner I5 is applied to the structure in the form of individual slabs,

which are normally spaced slightly from the outer l thin layer of vermiculite in its natural unexpandshell I4 so as to leave room for a thin layer of vermiculite therebetween. In such case the vermiculite'may be poured from a hopper I8 directly into the space between the metal shell I4 and the lining material I5. The vermiculite rntigrihegig poured in itsnaturaldrnsiatencr agamcombingi' l a Suitable amgnmv bindsntahldntdmnlane if"desirfd Instead of applying the layer of ver. ,1

miculite to the interior surface of the outer wall or pouring it between the outer wall and the liner 40v as previously described, the vermiculite may also.

if desired, be applied to the exterior surface of the L insulating lining I5 before the latter is inserted...v .Within the casing.

be understood the vermiculite is It will now applied between the outer shell I4 and the lining material I5 in position to become expanded under re conditions and thus increase the effective thickness of the insulation as .the outer walls bulge f outwardly due to the pressure of gases generated 5U between the outer shell I4 and the liner I5. It will be further understood that vermiculite can also be applied to the inner metal shell I6 if desired,

' :but it will not be so eicient, and may not even be necessary, if sufficient protection against heat aioi'ded by the liner I5 and the conduction is trowel or the like 5- to form a thin layer I9 of, say, one-quarter inch f Y in thickness to the inner surface of the outerV shell I4. The main liner in the outer shell next to said layer of vermicu- :1

. lining material is molded within the outer shell itl V"understood as limiting myself to the specic form -andarrangement of materials herein described and' shown, but that various modiiications thereof *may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as dened in the method of applying the vermicuall layer I9 of vermiculite on the outer face of the latter.

It will also be understood that limited amounts of unexpanded vermiculite can also be employed to .special advantage along the joints separating vindividual slabs of lining material, so as .toinsure tightly packed joints between adjoining slabs due to the expansion of the vermiculite under re conditions Although I have shown and described certain i embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be appended claims.

,What is claimed is:

ing and its lining so as to increase the effective 2. In a nre-.resisting container, an out-er metal easing having an associated molded hydrous lining of heat-resisting material, and a relatively ed state fixed in a binder applied to the exterior 'surface of said lining so as to increase the effective thickness of the insulation within said casing when said vermiculite becomes expanded under abnormal heat.

. 3. In a nre-resisting container, an outer metal casing having an associated molded hydrous 1ining of heat-resisting material and a relatively thin layer of vermiculite in its natural unexpandyed state fixed in a binder applied adhesively to the l inner surface of said casing in position to expand rv.within the voids produced between said casing 'and its lining when said container is subjected to abnormal heat.

the insulation within said casing when said vermiculite becomes expanded under. l vabnormal heat.

' 4. In a nre-resisting container, an outer metal i casing having an associated molded hydrous linf. ing of heat-resisting material and a quantity of jected to abnormal heat.

. JOHN H. PAGE.

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