FIRE CONTAINMENT SYSTEM
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Abstract
A fire containment system and method is disclosed. The fire containment system is designed to assist in temporarily containing a fire within a semi-enclosed space. The system is designed for use with a semi-enclosed space defined by at least a back panel, a top panel and a bottom panel, and having an open side for an operator to access the semi-enclosed space. An exhaust vent is installed in the top panel in communication with the semi-enclosed space and a blower exhausts air through the exhaust vent. An inlet air vent is installed in the top panel and is in communication with the semi-enclosed space and is located proximate the back panel. An inlet air blower provides air through the inlet air vent. In the case of a fire in the semi-enclosed space, the fire will be drawn away from the open side and toward the inlet air vent due to the source of air supplied by the inlet air blower. The fire is thus encouraged to remain within the semi-enclosed space, allowing additional time for a fire suppression mechanism to be activated.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1-23. -23. (canceled)
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24. A popcorn machine comprising:
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a popcorn case having a semi-enclosed cooking space defined by at least two side panels, a back panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel; a popcorn kettle positioned within the semi-enclosed cooking space, wherein the popcorn kettle includes a cooking surface having at least one heating element associated therewith; a first vent positioned above and in communication with the semi-enclosed cooking space; a first blower operably coupled to the first vent to remove air from within the semi-enclosed cooking space through the first vent; a second vent positioned in communication with the semi-enclosed cooking space; a second blower operably coupled to the second vent to flow fresh air from outside the popcorn case into the semi-enclosed cooking space through the second vent; a temperature sensor configured to detect the presence of fire within the semi-enclosed cooking space; and a power circuit operably connected to the temperature sensor, the heating element, the first blower, and the second blower, wherein the power circuit interrupts power to the heating element and maintains power to the first and second blowers in response to the detection of fire by the temperature sensor, whereby the first blower continues to remove air from within the semi-enclosed cooking space through the first vent and the second blower continues to flow fresh air into the semi-enclosed cooking space through the second vent. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A popcorn machine comprising:
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a popcorn case having an interior space defined at least in part by two side panels, a back panel, a top panel and a bottom panel; a popcorn kettle positioned in the interior space; a first vent in communication with the interior space; a first blower configured to exhaust air from the interior space through the first vent; a second vent in communication with the interior space; and a second blower configured to direct fresh air from outside the popcorn case into the interior space through the second vent; wherein if a fire starts in the interior space, the first blower exhausts air and combustion products from the interior space through the first vent while the second blower provides fresh air to the interior space through the second vent, thereby facilitating containment of the fire to the interior space. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of controlling a fire in a popcorn machine, the method comprising:
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providing a popcorn machine having a popcorn kettle and a heating element in a semi-enclosed space; providing an exhaust vent in communication with the semi-enclosed space; providing an inlet air vent in communication with the semi-enclosed space; providing power to the heating element to pop corn in the popcorn kettle; while providing power to the heating element; providing power to a first blower in communication with the exhaust vent to remove air from the semi-enclosed space through the exhaust vent; and providing power to a second blower in communication with the inlet air vent to flow fresh air into the semi-enclosed space through the inlet air vent; detecting a fire within the semi-enclosed space; in response to detecting the fire in the semi-enclosed space; automatically stopping power to the heating element; continuing to provide power to the first blower to continue removing air from the semi-enclosed space through the exhaust vent; and continuing to provide power to the second blower to continue flowing fresh air into the semi-enclosed space through the inlet air vent. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification