Apparatus and methods for sensing of fire and directed fire suppression

• US 20040129434A1
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Tan
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Tan
• Inventors: Tan, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,066,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/37
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0271 Detection of area conflagration fires fire alarms for forest fires G08B17/005
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0292 by spraying extinguishants directly into the fire A62C3/0242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/40 with electric connection between sensor and actuator

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for pro-active, intelligent fire suppression and/or control using a micro-controller that is communicatably connected to at least one fire-energy detection sensor and to at least one fire suppression device. The present invention provides apparatus and methods for sensing the exact direction of a fire as well as a regional location of a fire. The present invention provides apparatus and methods for directing a fire suppressant at the source of the flame. As depicted in FIG. 1a, the present invention provides fine protection apparatus (10) for identifying the existence of a fire hazard and for determining the exact direction and regional location of the file hazard by using multiple infrared (IR) detectors. A first IR detector (20) with a wide angle view of an area of coverage corresponding to an area requiring fire protection will be continuously queried by a micro-controller (100). During normal operation, the wide-angle IR detector (20) will be located in no specific position but will be generally pointed towards the area requiring fire protection. The present invention further provides a second IR detector (30) with a narrow-angle field of view that is mounted on a movable platform (45) comprising an elevation manipulator (50) and an azimuthal manipulator (60). The elevation manipulator (50) of the movable platform (45) is connected to a second stepper-motor (91). The second stepper-motor (91) controls the elevation manipulator (50). The outer edge of the circumference of the azimuthal manipulator (60) of the movable platform (45) forms a first cog wheel (61). The first cog wheel (61) contacts a second cog wheel (62) which is connected to and driven by a first stepper-motor (90).

Claims

1. A fire detection and suppression apparatus, said fire detection and suppression apparatus comprising:

a micro-controller that is communicatably connected to an analog-to-digital converter;

at least one fire-energy detection sensor for detecting the presence of fire communicatably connected to the analog-to-digital converter;

a nozzle attached to a supply of fire suppressant material and mounted on an assembly that is communicatably connected to the micro-controller and that is movable in a plurality of directions.

2. A fire detection and suppression apparatus, said fire detection and suppression apparatus comprising:

a wide-angle infra-red detector for detecting a presence of a fire;

a narrow-angle infra-red detector for detecting a direction of the fire;

a nozzle attached to a supply of fire suppressant material;

a micro-controller programmed to continuously monitor the wide-angle IR detector to determine the presence of fire.

3. The fire detection and suppression apparatus of claim 2, wherein the narrow-angle infra-red detector and the nozzle are mounted on a platform that is movable in a plurality of directions and wherein the narrow-angle infra-red detector and the nozzle are both directed to a single point.

4. The fire detection and suppression apparatus of claim 3, wherein said micro-controller is further programmed to:

manipulate said platform to point said narrow-angle infra-red detector in the direction of the fire; and

spray a fire suppressant through said nozzle.

5. A method using a microcontroller for detecting and suppressing a fire, said method comprising:

receiving a digital signal from an analog-to-digital converter representing an electrical characteristic change to a first fire-energy detector connected to the analog-to-digital converter until the received digital signal is equal to or greater than a first pre-established value.

6. The method of claim 5, said method further comprising:

manipulating a second fire-energy detector to sweep across an area of view in a plurality of directions until a direction of the fire is detected.

7. The method of claim 6, said method further comprising:

manipulating a nozzle connected to a supply of fire suppressant to point in the direction of the fire; and

opening a valve for controlling the delivery of the fire suppressant.

8. A computer device for detecting and suppressing a fire, said computer device programmed to:

receive a digital signal from an analog-to-digital converter representing an electrical characteristic change to a first fire-energy detector connected to the analog-to-digital converter until the received digital signal is equal to or greater than a first pre-established value.

9. The computer device of claim 8, said computer device further programmed to:

manipulate a second fire-energy detector to sweep across an area of view in a plurality of directions until a direction of the fire is detected.

10. The computer device of claim 9, said computer device further programmed to:

manipulate a nozzle connected to a supply of fire suppressant to point in the direction of the fire; and

opening a valve for controlling the delivery of the fire suppressant.

11. The computer device of claim 8, said computer device further programmed to:

receive a digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter representing an electrical characteristic change to a second fire-energy detector sensitive to a first range of wavelengths until a first maximum azimuthal point is identified.

12. The computer device of claim 11, said computer device further programmed to:

receive a digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter representing an electrical characteristic change to a third fire-energy detector sensitive to a second range of wavelengths until a second maximum azimuthal point is identified.

13. The computer device of claim 12, said computer device further programmed to:

determine a relative intensity of the fire.

14. A computer device for detecting and suppressing a fire, said computer device programmed to:

identify a time at which the fire is first detected; and

store a digital representation of the time in a memory storage device.

15. A computer device for detecting and suppressing a fire, said computer device programmed to:

identify a direction in which the fire is first detected; and

store a digital representation of the direction in a memory storage device.