Apparatus for preventing and extinguishing automotive vehicle fires

• US 3,876,011 A
• Filed: 02/19/1974
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bloom-1 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Poitras
• Inventors: Poitras, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/443,514
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 169/62,56,57,60,61,85,26
• US Class Current: 169/57
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/06 of highly inflammable material, e.g. light metals, petroleum products
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles

Abstract

The present invention provides a system in which a significant collision impact of a vehicle is sensed and used to trigger the release of a fire-inhibiting fluid medium. Pressure is provided to expel onto the underside of the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s fuel tank the fluid medium, which is a dense adherent liquid at room temperature and capable of extinguishing gasoline fires. The expelled liquid coats the surface of the fuel tank so as to become mixed with and thereby prevent ignition of fuel escaping from any rupture in the tank.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preventing or extinguishing fires in motor vehicles comprising:

a source of a fluid fire extinguishing medium;

distribution means comprising engine distribution means for conveying extinguishing medium to the engine of said vehicle, and tank distribution means for conveying extinguishing medium to the fuel tank of said vehicle;

release means for inducing release of extinguishing medium from said source into said distribution means;

a plurality of detector means for actuating said release means to induce release of extinguishing medium, said detector means comprising a temperature responsive detector means disposed to sense the ambient temperature in a region adjacent said engine and a vehicle acceleration responsive detector means; and

selector valve means for connecting said source to said engine distribution means in response to detection of excessive temperature by said temperature responsive detector and connecting said source to said tank distribution means in response to detection of an excessive rate of vehicle acceleration by said acceleration responsive detector.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 with the addition of manual means carried by said frame and operable to control said actuating means independently of said tilt-sensitive device.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including control means for actuating said pressure source means in response to either detection of excessive temperature by said temperature responsive means or detection of excessive vehicle acceleration by said acceleration responsive means.

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 3 with the addition of release means operable when energized to release said detent, said tilt-sensitive device being operable to energize said release means whenever said vehicle frame is tilted forwardly to a pre-determined degree.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said source comprises a source of dibromotetrafluoroethane having the following structure: