Suppressing a fire condition in a cargo container

• US 10,252,093 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ransom, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valvis, Alexander M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dandridge, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US15/371,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20170080268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/24 Operating or controlling mechanisms emergency operation of doors and windows E05F1/002, E05F15/72
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/246 having non-mechanical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/247 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/248 pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/00 Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in oil wells E21B29/08, A62C35/00; in mines or tunnels E21F5/00 ; for nuclear reactors G21C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/08 in aircraft A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/38 by both sensor and actuator, e.g. valve, being in the danger zone
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0018 using gases or vapours that do not support combustion, e.g. steam, carbon dioxide

Abstract

Various concepts are provided for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft. In one embodiment, the presence of a fire condition in an aircraft is detected. After such a detection, extinguishing agents can be dispensed and/or certain areas of the aircraft can be depressurized.

Claims

1. A method for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising:

detecting the fire condition in one or more areas of the aircraft;

following the detection of the fire condition in the one or more areas of the aircraft, depressurizing the one or more areas of the aircraft for a period of time;

following the depressurization of the one or more areas of the aircraft for the period of time, releasing a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the one or more areas of the aircraft at a first discharge rate; and

following the first discharge of the extinguishing agent at the first discharge rate, releasing a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the one or more areas of the aircraft at a second discharge rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first discharge rate of is greater than the second discharge rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time is controlled by a timer circuit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds when discharged.

5. A method for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising:

detecting the fire condition in one or more areas of the aircraft;

following the detection of the fire condition, depressurizing the one or more areas of the aircraft for a period of time; and

following the depressurization of the one or more areas of the aircraft for the period of time, releasing a discharge of an extinguishing agent in the one or more areas of the aircraft to at least partially suppress the fire condition.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, following the discharge of the extinguishing agent, releasing another discharge of the extinguishing agent at a controlled rate.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the period of time is controlled by an aneroid switch.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the discharge of the extinguishing agent is initiated by a control system in communication with one or more containers from which the extinguishing agent is released.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds when discharged.

10. A method for controlling a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising:

detecting the fire condition in one or more cargo areas of the aircraft using one or more fire detectors located in the one or more cargo areas;

following the detection of the fire condition in the one or more cargo areas of the aircraft, depressurizing the one or more cargo areas of the aircraft for a period of time;

following the depressurization of the one or more cargo areas of the aircraft for the period of time, releasing a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the one or more cargo areas of the aircraft at a first discharge rate; and

following the release of the first discharge of the extinguishing agent, releasing a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the one or more cargo areas of the aircraft at a second discharge rate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first discharge rate is greater than the second discharge rate.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the period of time is controlled by a timer circuit.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds when discharged.

14. An apparatus for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

one or more fire detectors;

one or more containers that hold extinguishing agent; and

a control system connected to the one or more fire detectors and to the one or more containers, the control system;

detecting the fire condition in one or more areas of the aircraft based on a signal from the one or more fire detectors;

following the detection of the fire condition in the one or more areas of the aircraft, depressurizing the one or more areas of the aircraft for a period of time;

following the depressurization of the one or more areas of the aircraft for the period of time, releasing a first discharge of the extinguishing agent in the one or more areas of the aircraft at a first discharge rate; and

following the first discharge of the extinguishing agent at the first discharge rate, releasing a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the one or more areas of the aircraft at a second discharge rate.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control system is further configured to send a notification of the fire condition following detection of the fire condition.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the period of time is controlled by a timer circuit.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds when discharged.