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Fire suppression control system for an aircraft

  • US 10,195,469 B2
  • Filed: 07/14/2016
  • Issued: 02/05/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A fire suppression system for an aircraft having a plurality of enclosures, the fire suppression system comprising:

  • a plurality of agent discharge lines, each extending to an enclosure of the plurality of enclosures; and

    a plurality of directional valves provided in the plurality of agent discharge lines for controlling the discharge of fire suppression agent to each enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, each directional valve comprising a valve member for controlling the discharge of fire suppression agent, wherein the valve member comprises;

    a blocking portion to provide a closed setting for the fire suppression agent;

    a first orifice to provide a fully open setting for the fire suppression agent; and

    a second orifice to provide a restricted opening setting in which flow of fire suppression agent is restricted,wherein the valve member is configured so that during opening of the directional valve from a closed setting, the first orifice follows the blocking portion and precedes the second orifice in order to provide a fully open setting followed by a restricted opening setting;

    one or more sensors configured to detect presence, and subsequent extinguishing or sufficient subduing, of a first fire in a first enclosure of the plurality of enclosures; and

    a control unit configured so that if the first fire in the first enclosure of the plurality of enclosures is detected, the control unit regulates the pressure of the fire suppression agent reaching the plurality of directional valves so that a high rate discharge of the fire suppression agent is provided to the first enclosure initially, followed by a low rate discharge of the first suppression agent once the one or more sensors indicate that the first fire is extinguished or sufficiently subdued;

    wherein the second orifice of each directional valve of the plurality of directional valves is sized to produce a level of discharge of the fire suppression agent when subjected to a high-rate-discharge pressure that corresponds to using the first orifice under a low-rate-discharge pressure; and

    wherein the control unit is configured so that if a second fire is detected in a second enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, and the first enclosure is being subjected to a low rate discharge of fire suppression agent, the control unit;

    permits further actuation of the directional valve for the first enclosure to select the second orifice; and

    regulates the pressure of the fire suppression agent reaching the directional valves of the first enclosure and the second enclosure to a higher-rate-discharge pressure in order to produce a high rate discharge of fire suppression agent in the second enclosure while the discharge rate in the first enclosure is restricted by the second orifice of the directional valve for the first enclosure.

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