Fire detection system

• US 20030058114A1
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Mark S., Wiegele, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,333,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/577
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/08 Containers destroyed or opened by bursting charge
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/40 with electric connection between sensor and actuator
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0045 using solid substances, e.g. sand, ashes; using substances forming a crust
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/125 by using a video camera to detect fire or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/183 Single detectors using dual technologies G08B13/1672, G08B13/2448, G08B13/2494 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/20 Calibration, including self-calibrating arrangements

Abstract

A fire detection system for an enclosed area comprises: at least one infrared (IR) imager for generating infrared images of at least a portion of the enclosed area, for determining from the images that a fire is perceived present in the enclosed area, and for generating a first signal indicative of the perceived presence of fire; at least one fire detector for monitoring at least a portion of the enclosed area, the fire detector comprising at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor for generating at least one second signal representative of the presence of at least one fire byproduct chemical in the enclosed area; and a controller governed by the first and second signals to confirm that a fire is present in the enclosed area. In one embodiment, the enclosed area is divided into a plurality of detection zones with at least one fire detector disposed at each detection zone. In this embodiment, the controller includes a first controller governed by the second signals for generating a third signal indicative of the presence of fire in the corresponding detection zone; and a second controller governed by the first and third signals to confirm that a fire is present in at least one detection zone of the enclosed area.

Claims

1. A fire detection system for an enclosed area, said system comprising

at least one infrared (IR) imager for generating infrared images of at least a portion of the enclosed area, for determining from said images that a fire is perceived present in the enclosed area, and for generating a first signal indicative of said perceived presence of fire;

at least one fire detector for monitoring at least a portion of the enclosed area, said fire detector comprising at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor for generating at least one second signal representative of the presence of at least one fire byproduct chemical in the enclosed area; and

a controller governed by said first and second signals to confirm that a fire is present in the enclosed area.

2. The fire detection system of claim 1 wherein the enclosed area includes a plurality of detection zones;

and including at least one fire detector for each detection zone.

3. The fire detection system of claim 2 wherein the controller comprises:

a first controller for each fire detector, said first controller governed by the second signals of the sensors of the corresponding fire detector to generate a third signal indicative of the presence of fire in corresponding detection zone; and

a second controller coupled to the first controllers of the fire detectors and the at least one IR imager and governed by the first and third signals generated thereby to confirm that a fire is present in the enclosed area.

4. The fire detection system of claim 3 wherein the first and second controllers are operative independently of one another to confirm the presence of fire in the enclosed area.

5. The fire detection system of claim 3 including dual fire detectors for each detection zone;

and wherein the fire detectors are coupled to the second controller over a dual loop bus.

6. The fire detection system of claim 1 including a plurality of IR imagers, each IR imager for generating infrared images of a corresponding portion of the enclosed area, for determining from said images that a fire is perceived present in said portion of the enclosed area, and for generating a first signal indicative of said perceived presence of fire in said portion, said plurality of first signals coupled to the controller.

7. The fire detection system of claim 6 wherein the first signals of the plurality of IR imagers coupled to the controller over a dual loop bus.

8. The fire detection system of claim 1 wherein the sensors of the fire detector are disposed within a detection chamber.

9. The fire detection system of claim 1 wherein the at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor comprises a carbon monoxide sensor.

10. The fire detection system of claim 9 wherein the carbon monoxide sensor comprises a multi-layer micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) semiconductor structure.

11. The fire detection system of claim 10 wherein the MEMS carbon monoxide sensor comprises a tin oxide gas sensing layer.

12. The fire detection system of claim 11 wherein the MEMS carbon monoxide sensor comprises an aluminum substrate;

a ruthenium oxide heater layer; and

a glass layer disposed between the substrate layer and heater layer for thermal isolation; and

wherein the tin oxide layer being disposed over the heater layer with an insulating layer disposed therebetween.

13. The fire detection system of claim 9 wherein the carbon monoxide sensor includes a built in test portion.

14. The fire detection system of claim 1 wherein the at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor comprises a hydrogen sensor.

15. The fire detection system of claim 14 wherein the hydrogen sensor comprises a multi-layer micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) semiconductor structure.

16. The fire detection system of claim 15 wherein the MEMS hydrogen sensor comprises a tin oxide gas sensing layer.

17. The fire detection system of claim 14 wherein the hydrogen sensor includes a built in test portion.

18. The fire detection system of claim 1 wherein the at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor includes both a carbon monoxide sensor and a hydrogen sensor.

19. The fire detection system of claim 1 wherein the fire detector includes a smoke sensor for generating a fourth signal indicative of the presence of smoke in the enclosed area;

and wherein the controller is governed by the first, second and fourth signals to confirm that a fire is present in the enclosed area.

20. The fire detection system of claim 19 wherein the controller comprises:

a first controller for each fire detector, the first controller of the fire detector including the smoke sensor is governed by the second and fourth signals of the sensors of the corresponding fire detector to generate a third signal indicative of the presence of fire in the enclosed area; and

a second controller coupled to the first controllers of the fire detectors and the at least one IR imager and governed by the first and third signals generated thereby to confirm that a fire is present in the enclosed area.

21. The fire detection system of claim 19 wherein the smoke sensor includes a built in test portion.

22. The fire detection system of claim 1 wherein each IR imager includes a built in test portion.

23. The fire detection system of claim 1 wherein each fire detector includes a built in test portion.

24. A fire detection system for an enclosed area having a plurality of detection zones, said system comprising:

a plurality of infrared (IR) imagers, each IR imager for generating infrared images of a corresponding portion of the enclosed area, for determining from said images that a fire is perceived present in the corresponding portion, and for generating a first signal indicative of said perceived presence of fire;

at least one fire detector disposed at each detection zone, each fire detector for monitoring the corresponding detection zone of the enclosed area, each fire detector comprising at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor for generating at least one second signal representative of the presence of at least one fire byproduct chemical in the corresponding detection zone, and a first controller governed by the second signals for generating a third signal indicative of the presence of fire in the corresponding detection zone; and

a second controller governed by said first and third signals to confirm that a fire is present in at least one detection zone of the enclosed area.

25. The fire detection system of claim 24 wherein the first and second controllers are operative independently of each other to confirm the presence of fire in the enclosed area.

26. The fire detection system of claim 24 including dual fire detectors for each detection zone;

and wherein the fire detectors are coupled to the second controller over a dual loop bus.

27. The fire detection system of claim 26 including two IR imagers for the enclosed area;

and wherein the IR imagers are coupled to the second controller over the dual loop bus.

28. The fire detection system of claim 27 wherein the second controller includes third and fourth controllers;

wherein the dual loop bus is coupled to both the third and fourth controllers; and

wherein each of the third and fourth controllers is operative independent of the other to confirm that a fire is present in at least one detection zone of the enclosed area based on the signals of the dual loop bus coupled thereto.

29. The fire detection system of claim 24 wherein each IR imager includes means for producing a video signal representing the infrared images generated thereby;

and including a video display; and

a video selection switch coupled to the video signals and the video display and governed by the second controller to select a video signal for display on the video display.

30. The fire detection system of claim 29 wherein the second controller includes means for selecting a video signal for display on the video display based on the confirmation of fire in one of the portions of the enclosed area.

31. The fire detection system of claim 24 wherein the enclosed area comprises a cargo hold of an aircraft.

32. The fire detection system of claim 24 wherein at least one fire detector includes a smoke sensor for generating a fourth signal indicative of the presence of smoke in the corresponding detection zone;

and wherein the first controller of each fire detector that includes the smoke sensor is governed by the second and fourth signals of the sensors of the corresponding fire detector to generate the third signal indicative of the presence of fire in the corresponding detection zone.

33. A fire detection system for a plurality of enclosed areas, each having a plurality of detection zones, said system comprising:

a plurality of infrared (IR) imagers for each enclosed area, each IR imager for generating infrared images of a corresponding portion of the corresponding enclosed area, for determining from said images that a fire is perceived present in the corresponding portion, and for generating a first signal indicative of said perceived presence of fire;

at least one fire detector disposed at each detection zone of each enclosed area, each fire detector for monitoring the corresponding detection zone of the corresponding enclosed area, each fire detector comprising at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor for generating at least one second signal representative of the presence of at least one fire byproduct chemical in the corresponding detection zone, and a first controller governed by the second signals for generating a third signal indicative of the presence of fire in the corresponding detection zone; and

a second controller governed by said first and third signals to confirm that a fire is present in at least one detection zone of at least one of the enclosed areas.

34. The fire detection system of claim 33 wherein the first and second controllers are operative independently of each other to confirm the presence of fire in at least one of the enclosed areas.

35. The fire detection system of claim 33 including dual fire detectors for each detection zone of each enclosed area;

and wherein the fire detectors are coupled to the second controller over a dual loop bus.

36. The fire detection system of claim 35 including two IR imagers for each of the enclosed areas;

and wherein the IR imagers are coupled to the second controller over the dual loop bus.

37. The fire detection system of claim 36 wherein the second controller includes third and fourth controllers;

wherein the dual loop bus is coupled to both the third and fourth controllers; and

wherein each of the third and fourth controllers is operative independent of the other to confirm that a fire is present in at least one detection zone of at least one enclosed area based on the signals of the dual loop bus coupled thereto.

38. The fire detection system of claim 33 wherein each IR imager includes means for producing a video signal representing the infrared images generated thereby;

and including a video display; and

a video selection switch coupled to the video signals and the video display and governed by the second controller to select a video signal for display on the video display.

39. The fire detection system of claim 38 wherein the second controller includes means for selecting a video signal for display on the video display based on the confirmation of fire in one of the portions of the enclosed areas.

40. The fire detection system of claim 33 wherein the enclosed areas comprise cargo holds of an aircraft.

41. The fire detection system of claim 33 wherein at least one fire detector includes a smoke sensor for generating a fourth signal indicative of the presence of smoke in the corresponding detection zone;

and wherein the first controller of each fire detector that includes the smoke sensor is governed by the second and fourth signals of the sensors of the corresponding fire detector to generate the third signal indicative of the presence of fire in the corresponding detection zone.

42. A fire detection system for an enclosed area, said system comprising

at least one infrared (IR) imager for generating infrared images of at least a portion of the enclosed area, for determining from said images that a fire is perceived present in the enclosed area, and for generating a first signal indicative of said perceived presence of fire;

at least one fire detector for monitoring at least a portion of the enclosed area, said fire detector comprising a smoke sensor for generating a second signal indicative of the presence of smoke in the enclosed area, and at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor for generating at least one third signal representative of the presence of at least one fire byproduct chemical in the enclosed area; and

a controller governed by said first, second and third signals to confirm that a fire is present in the enclosed area.

43. A fire detection system for an enclosed area having a plurality of detection zones, said system comprising:

a plurality of infrared (IR) imagers, each IR imager for generating infrared images of a corresponding portion of the enclosed area, for determining from said images that a fire is perceived present in the corresponding portion, and for generating a first signal indicative of said perceived presence of fire;

at least one fire detector disposed at each detection zone, each fire detector for monitoring the corresponding detection zone of the enclosed area, each fire detector comprising a smoke sensor for generating a second signal indicative of the presence of smoke in the corresponding detection zone, at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor for generating at least one third signal representative of the presence of at least one fire byproduct chemical in the corresponding detection zone, and a first controller governed by the second and third signals for generating a fourth signal indicative of the presence of fire in the corresponding detection zone; and

a second controller governed by said first and fourth signals to confirm that a fire is present in at least one detection zone of the enclosed area.

44. A fire detection system for a plurality of enclosed areas, each having a plurality of detection zones, said system comprising:

a plurality of infrared (IR) imagers for each enclosed area, each IR imager for generating infrared images of a corresponding portion of the corresponding enclosed area, for determining from said images that a fire is perceived present in the corresponding portion, and for generating a first signal indicative of said perceived presence of fire;

at least one fire detector disposed at each detection zone of each enclosed area, each fire detector for monitoring the corresponding detection zone of the corresponding enclosed area, each fire detector comprising a smoke sensor for generating a second signal indicative of the presence of smoke in the corresponding detection zone, at least one fire byproduct chemical sensor for generating at least one third signal representative of the presence of at least one fire byproduct chemical in the corresponding detection zone, and a first controller governed by the second and third signals for generating a fourth signal indicative of the presence of fire in the corresponding detection zone; and

a second controller governed by said first and fourth signals to confirm that a fire is present in at least one detection zone of at least one of the enclosed areas.