SELF-CONTAINED AUTOMATIC SEQUENCING FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM

• US 3,783,946 A
• Filed: 01/29/1973
• Issued: 01/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joan A. Petrinec, Robert G. Petrinec
• Original Assignee: Joan A. Petrinec, Robert G. Petrinec
• Inventors: Petrinec, Robert G., Petrinec, Joan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/327,706
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 169/1R,2R,2A,5,9,26,11
• US Class Current: 169/61
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/08 in aircraft A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/645 with compressed gas in pipework

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is directed to a self-contained fire extinguishing system which includes a quantity of fire extinguishing material under pressure which is connected through conduit means to one or more dispensing nozzles. Control valve means are interposed in conduit means and are initially energized to cause the extinguishing material to pass through the valve means during a first initial condition and thereafter to cause subsequent sequential energization of the flow control valve means to insure that fire extinguishing characteristics are maintained for a predetermined time thereafter.

Claims

1. A self-contained automatic fire extinguishing system, comprising, in combination:

container means having a quantity of fire extinguishing material under pressure therein, nozzle means to be placed at one or more strategic locations, conduit means connected between said container means and said nozzle means, flow control valve means interposed in said conduit means, condition sensing means for sensing the occurrence of a fire, and sequence means responsive to said condition sensing means to cause initial energization of said valve means for releasing the extinguishing material through said nozzle means for a given time interval and for causing subsequent sequential energization of said flow control valve means to insure that complete fire extinguishing characteristics are maintained for a predetermined time after the initial energization of said valve means.

2. The self-contained fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, whereiN said sequence means includes electrical control means connected to said valve means for causing electrical sequential energization thereof during said predetermined time.

3. The self-contained fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, wherein said sequence means includes electrical means to effect said initial energization of said flow control valve means and mechanical means to effect said subsequent sequential energization thereof during said predetermined time.

4. The self-contained fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, wherein said fire extinguishing material is Dupont FE 1301.

5. A self-contained automatic fire extinguishing system for moving vehicles, comprising in combination;

container means having a quantity of fire extinguishing material under pressure therein, nozzle means to be placed at one or more strategic locations within the vehicle and at one or more strategic locations at the exterior of the vehicle, conduit means connected between said container means and said nozzle means, first and second flow control valve means interposed in said conduit means, first condition sensing means for sensing the occurrence of a fire within the interior of the vehicle to cause initial energization of said flow control valve means for releasing the extinguishing material through the nozzle means and for subsequent sequential energization of said flow control valve means thereafter to insure complete fire extinguishing characteristics for a predetermined time thereafter, and second condition sensing means for sensing the movement of the vehicle for energizing said second flow control valve means to release extinguishing material to the exterior of the vehicle when the movement of the vehicle is below a predetermined minimum speed.

6. The self-contained fire extinguishing system according to claim 5, wherein said fire extinguishing material is a liquified gas under pressure which, when released through said nozzle means, decreases the combustible characteristic of the ambient atmosphere sufficient to extinguish and prevent ignition of combustible materials, but which maintains an atmospheric level sufficient to support life for at least said predetermined time interval.

7. The self-contained fire extinguishing system according to claim 6, wherein said fire extinguishing material is Dupont FE 1301.

8. The self-contained fire extinguishing system according to claim 5, wherein said first and second condition sensing means includes electrical energization of said flow control valve means to control initial energization thereof and to control said subsequent sequential energization thereof.

9. The self-contained fire extinguishing system according to claim 5, wherein said first and second flow control valve means includes electrical means for initial energization thereof and mechanical means for said subsequent sequential energization of said flow control valve means.

10. The self-contained fire extinguishing system according to claim 5, wherein said nozzle means includes a plurality of discrete nozzles to be positioned along predetermined sites at the exterior skin of the moving vehicle and a plurality of discrete nozzles to be positioned at predetermined sites along the interior of the vehicle, and further including means for selectively directing the fire extinguishing material to the interior and the exterior of the vehicle depending on the conditions sensed.