Fire Suppression Systems and Methods

• US 20080017393A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whitney Projects, LLC
• Original Assignee: Whitney Projects, LLC
• Inventors: Whitney, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/60
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/023 the extinguishing material being expelled by compressed gas, taken from storage tanks, or by generating a pressure gas for foam generation A62C5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/11 heat-sensitive

Abstract

Fire suppression systems and methods are described. One described system includes a housing configured to house a container of a fire suppression material, a delivery block in fluid communication with the container, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the delivery block and configured to disperse the fire suppression material from the delivery block. The described system can also include a power supply; a thermal indicator coupled to the power supply and operable to: detect the presence of a fire, generate a first signal indicating the presence of the fire, and transmit the first signal; and an actuator coupled to the power supply, the actuator in communication with the thermal indicator and configured to cause the fire suppression material to be transferred from the container to the delivery block in response to receipt of the first signal.

Claims

1. A fire suppression system comprising:

a housing configured to house a container of a fire suppression material;

a delivery block in fluid communication with the container;

a nozzle in fluid communication with the delivery block and configured to disperse the fire suppression material from the delivery block;

a power supply;

a thermal indicator coupled to the power supply and operable to;

detect the presence of a fire,

generate a first signal indicating the presence of the fire, and

transmit the first signal; and

an actuator coupled to the power supply, the actuator in communication with the thermal indicator and configured to cause the fire suppression material to be transferred from the container to the delivery block in response to receipt of the first signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fire suppression material comprises a liquid having foaming properties.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery block is remote from the actuator and housing.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery block and actuator comprise a single structure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery block comprises a moveable assembly for aiming the nozzle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the moveable assembly comprises an alignment device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery block comprises a first delivery block and further comprising a second delivery block.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the nozzle comprises a first nozzle in fluid communication with the first delivery block and further comprising a second nozzle in fluid communication with the second delivery block.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises a first nozzle and further comprising a second nozzle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal indicator comprises a first thermal indicator and further comprising a second thermal indicator.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal indicator comprises a thermistor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal indicator comprises an infrared detector.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:

a motor having a shaft;

a gear coupled to the shaft; and

a discharge assembly engaged with the gear.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the discharge assembly comprises a ramp.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises at least one shut-off switch.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a reset button.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a battery and wherein the actuator comprises a low power indicator.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is further configured to generate a second signal in response to the first signal.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second signal is operable to engage a cut-off.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the cut-off comprises a gas line cut-off.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the cut-off comprises an electrical cut-off.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to transfer the material in pulses.

22. A method for suppressing a fire comprising:

receiving a first signal indicating a presence of a fire from a thermal indicator;

causing an actuator to transfer a fire suppression material from a container to a delivery block in fluid communication with the container in response to receipt of the first signal.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

generating a second signal in response to the first signal; and

outputting the second signal.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second signal is configured to engage a cut-off.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the second signal is configured to trigger a communication.

27. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded executable program code for suppressing a fire, the program code comprising:

program code for receiving a first signal indicating the presence of a fire from thermal indicator;

program code for causing an actuator to transfer a fire suppression material from a container to a delivery block in fluid communication with the container in response to receipt of the first signal.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

program code for generating a second signal in response to the first signal; and

program code for outputting the second signal.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the second signal is configured to engage a cut-off.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the second signal is configured to trigger a communication.