SYSTEM AND METHOD OF NOTIFICATION OF AN AIRCRAFT CARGO FIRE WITHIN A CONTAINER

• US 20130120162A1
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stehman, Keith M., Fisher, Richard S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,796,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/08 in aircraft A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/009 Fire detection or protection; Erosion protection, e.g. from airborne particles
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for notifying a flight crew of a fire condition in a cargo container of an aircraft. For instance, particular embodiments involve installing at least one notification device on a cargo container that is in communication with at least one of a fire-detection system or a fire-suppression system for the cargo container. In these particular embodiments, the notification device is configured to emit energy when the fire-detection system detects the fire condition in the cargo container or the fire-suppression system activates as a result of the fire condition. Further, particular embodiments of the invention involve installing at least one detector positioned to detect the energy emitted by the notification device. In these particular embodiments, the detector is configured to send a signal to notify the flight crew of the fire condition after detecting the energy emitted by the notification device.

Claims

1. A system for notifying a flight crew of a fire condition in a cargo container on an aircraft, the system comprising:

at least one strobe light in communication with at least one of a fire-detection system or a fire-suppression system for the cargo container, the strobe light being mounted on the exterior roof of the cargo container and configured to emit infrared energy when at least one of the fire-detection system detects the fire condition in the cargo container or the fire-suppression system activates as a result of the fire condition in the cargo container; and

at least one infrared detector mounted on the aircraft and positioned to detect the infrared energy emitted by the at least one strobe light and configured to send a signal to notify the flight crew of the fire condition in the cargo container after detecting the infrared energy emitted by the at least one strobe light.

2. A system for notifying a flight crew of a fire condition in a cargo container on an aircraft, the system comprising:

at least one notification device in communication with at least one of a fire-detection system or a fire-suppression system for the cargo container in which the at least one notification device is configured to emit energy when at least one of the fire-detection system detects the fire condition in the cargo container or the fire-suppression system activates as a result of the fire condition in the cargo container; and

at least one detector positioned to detect the energy emitted by the at least one notification device and configured to send a signal to notify the flight crew of the fire condition in the cargo container after detecting the energy emitted by the at least one notification device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the emitted energy is not a wireless electrical transmission, a cellular transmission, or a radio frequency transmission.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the emitted energy is at least one of infrared light, laser light, visible light, ultrasound, or acoustic sound.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one notification device is attached to an exterior of the cargo container and the at least one detector is attached to the aircraft.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one notification device is mounted on the exterior roof of the cargo container.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal sent to notify the flight crew causes an alarm to sound.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal sent to notify the flight crew causes an indicator light to come on.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal sent to notify the flight crew causes a message to flash across a display.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal sent to notify the flight crew causes information on the activation of the fire-suppression system to be recorded.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal sent to notify the flight crew causes information on the activation of the fire-suppression system to be communicated to ground personnel.

12. A method for notifying a flight crew of a fire condition in a cargo container on an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting energy from at least one notification device in communication with at least one of a fire-detection system or a fire-suppression system for the cargo container after at least one of the first-detection system detecting the fire condition in the cargo container or the fire-suppression system activating as a result of the fire condition in the cargo container;

detecting the energy by at least one detector positioned to detect the energy emitted by the at least one notification device; and

sending a signal by the at least one detector to notify the flight crew of the fire condition in the cargo container.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the emitted energy is not a wireless electrical transmission, a cellular transmission, or a radio frequency transmission.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the emitted energy is at least one of infrared light, laser light, visible light, ultrasound, or acoustic sound.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one infrared strobe is attached to an exterior of the cargo container and the at least one detector is attached to the aircraft.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one notification device is mounted on the exterior roof of the cargo container.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal sent to notify the flight crew causes an alarm to sound.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal sent to notify the flight crew causes an indicator light to come on.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal sent to notify the flight crew causes a message to flash across a display.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of recording information on the activation of the fire-suppression system.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of communicating information on the activation of the fire-suppression system to ground personnel.