Process for the automatic reporting and extinguishing of fires

• US 4,005,754 A
• Filed: 03/06/1975
• Issued: 02/01/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dierk Lay, Gerhard Linden, Karl Tiedtke
• Original Assignee: Dierk Lay, Gerhard Linden, Karl Tiedtke
• Inventors: Linden, Gerhard, Lay, Dierk, Tiedtke, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Blunk, Evon C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/555,987
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 169/43, 169/46, 169/54, 169/56, 169/60, 169/61, 169/23, 340/418, 340/228 S, 340/227 R
• US Class Current: 169/46
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/40 with electric connection between sensor and actuator

Abstract

A process for the automatic reporting and extinguishing of fires and an automatic fire reporting and extinguishing system capable of performing such process are provided. The process uses at least two different types of fire reporting devices and requires a signal from each type of device in order to respond by releasing extinguishing agent. This requirement eliminates many false alarms and unnecessary releasing of extinguishing agent. According to the process extinguishing agent is released in a predetermined quantity and then a check is made to determine whether the fire has been extinguished. If the fire is not extinguished, another quantity of extinguishing agent, equal to the first, is released. Succeeding quantities of extinguishing agent are released until the fire is extinguished or the extinguishing agent is spent.

Claims

1. A process having a fire reporting system which controls a locally fixed fire extinguishing installation for the automatic reporting and extinguishing of fires, said process comprising

A. receiving and storing for a first predetermined time period a first report of a fire from a first fire reporter,

B. receiving and storing a second report of the fire from a second fire reporter within the first predetermined time period,

C. operating the locally fixed fire extinguishing installation to release a first quantity of extinguishing agent in response to steps A and B,

D. after a second predetermined time period, determining whether the fire is extinguished, and

E. repeating steps C and D until the fire is extinguished.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the first fire reporter is a smoke reporter or a heat reporter and the second fire reporter is a flame reporter, said process further comprising immediately resetting the flame reporter after its report except when fire reports are received according to steps A and B in order to avoid a false alarm.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the flame reporter is an infrared flame reporter.

4. The process of claim 2 wherein the first report consists of one signal when the first fire reporter is a heat reporter or of two signals within a third predetermined time period when the first fire reporter is a smoke reporter, said process further comprising blocking the immediate resetting of the flame reporter when the first report has been received.

5. The process of claim 1 further comprising delaying the release of extinguishing agent for a fourth predetermined time period, and

warning individuals for purposes of evacuation prior to the release of extinguishing agent.

6. The process of claim 1 further comprising recording the first report in a central station.

7. In an automatic fire reporting and extinguishing system comprising a central station;

fire reporting means for reporting a fire to said central station;

fire extinguishing means for releasing a fire extinguishing agent to extinguish the fire in response to a signal from said central station; and

control means for regulating the release of extinguishing agent according to a predetermined plan;

the improvement which comprises;

said fire reporting means comprising a first fire reporter and a second fire reporter, said first and second fire reporters each reporting to said central station by a separate reporting line, said first fire reporter comprising a smoke reporter or a heat reporter, and said second fire reporter comprising a flame reporter;

said central station comprising smoke reporter resetting means for cancelling a first signal from said smoke reporter unless a second signal from said smoke reporter is received within a predetermined time period;

report storage means for storing a first fire signal from said first fire reporter and a second fire signal from said flame reporter;

flame reporter resetting means for cancelling said second fire signal from said flame reporter unless received by said central station within a second predetermined time period after receipt of said first fire signal;

blocking means for blocking the operation of said flame reporter resetting means during said second predetermined time period after said central station receives and stores said first fire signal in said report storage means; and

means including an AND gate for initiating the release of extinguishing agent when said report storage means simultaneously has said first fire signal and said second fire signal stored therein.

8. The automatic fire reporting and extinguishing system of claim 7, wherein said central station further comprises a delay means for delaying the relese of extinguishing agent for a third predetermined time period in order to evacuate a fire area.

9. The automatic fire reporting and extinguishing system of claim 7, wherein said delay means further comprises an alarm means for delivering a warning signal to said fire area, said alarm means having a manual shut-off.