FIRE SENSOR, FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM, FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM, AND COMBINATIONS THEREOF

• US 20090315726A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Popp, James B., Benjamin, Arthur J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,905,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/08 in aircraft A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/22 specially adapted for piercing walls, heaped materials, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/44 only the sensor being in the danger zone
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0014 for sensing the radiation from gases, flames
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0066 for hot spots detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/48 Thermography; Techniques using wholly visual means

Abstract

A combination fire detection and fire suppression system may include a fire detection system configured to detect an undesirably high temperature associated with an area. The fire detection system may include a temperature sensor including a temperature sensor array and a fire alerting system associated with the temperature sensor. The fire alerting system may be configured to receive information from the temperature sensor and generate a warning signal based on an undesirably high temperature associated with the area. The fire detection system may include a fire control panel configured to receive the warning signal. The system may also include a fire suppression system including a fire suppressant delivery system configured to provide at least one fire suppressant agent to the area associated with the undesirably high temperature.

Claims

1-73. -73. (canceled)

74. A temperature sensor array configured to receive temperature information associated with an area, the temperature sensor array comprising:

a base, and

a plurality of temperature sensing devices associated with the base such that the temperature sensing devices are arranged to monitor the temperature of the area,

wherein at least one of the temperature sensing devices is oriented at an angle with respect to the base that differs from an angle with respect to the base at which at least one other temperature sensing device is oriented with respect to the base.

75. The temperature sensor of claim 74, wherein the temperature sensing devices are configured to detect infrared radiation.

76. The temperature sensor of claim 74, wherein the temperature sensing devices are thermopiles.

77. The temperature sensor of claim 74, wherein the base defines a plurality of apertures configured to receive at least one temperature sensing device.

78. The temperature sensor of claim 77, wherein the apertures are configured such that each of the temperature sensing devices is aimed so that each temperature sensing device receives temperature information from at least a portion of the area different from another temperature sensing device.

79. The temperature sensor of claim 74, wherein the temperature sensor comprises at least four temperature sensing devices.

80. The temperature sensor of claim 74, wherein the temperature sensing comprises at least 36 temperature sensing devices.

81. The temperature sensor of claim 74, further comprising a device for determining the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the temperature sensor.

82. The temperature sensor of claim 74, wherein at least one of the temperature sensing devices is associated with the base at angle with respect to an axis orthogonal to the base, wherein the angle ranges from about 1 degree to about 60 degrees.

83. The temperature sensor of claim 82, wherein the angle ranges from about 4 degrees to about 27 degrees.

84-98. -98. (canceled)