Shock actuated fire prevention system for automobiles

• US 4,383,579 A
• Filed: 05/18/1982
• Issued: 05/17/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Guerdon M. Monk
• Original Assignee: Guerdon M. Monk
• Inventors: Monk, Guerdon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weidenfeld, Gil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverberg, Fred A.
• Application Number:
  US06/379,464
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 16/14, 16/15, 16/19, 16/20, 16/42, 16/57, 16/58, 16/62, 252/3, 252/8.05, 169/9, 169/11
• US Class Current: 169/62
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/00 Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in oil wells E21B29/08, A62C35/00; in mines or tunnels E21F5/00 ; for nuclear reactors G21C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles

Abstract

A portable foam generator system adaptable for use in any vehicle, land, sea or air. A plurality of separate trip zones are provided in the vehicle in the passenger compartment, engine compartment, fuel tank compartment and in other critical zones. When one of the vehicle trip zones receives a shock, there will be opened a ball valve to cause a mixing flow of water and foam which will exit through a foam line to the zone or zones provided. Each such zone includes a plurality of foam outlet nozzles selectively directed to provide maximum effective distribution of the foam. The particular foam used is a high expanding foam with non-flammable ingredients and including preferably a propanol solvent. The foam is such that it can be breathed and at the same time it protects passengers from flames. Dissipation of the foam after evacuation of the system is done without damage to articles or goods in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A fire prevention system for a vehicle divided into a plurality of compartments and zones, comprising:

a trip valve operatively mounted in each of said zones and actuable responsive to shock received in one of said compartments and zones;

a reservoir of water;

a reservoir of high expanding foam concentrate;

a pressurized vessel operatively connected to and controlling the mixture of water and concentrate from said reservoirs;

a mixing valve operative to receive and mix a flow output from said two reservoirs responsive to the actuation of said trip valves and the release of air pressure from said vessel;

a plurality of conduits each communicating between said mixing valve and different ones of said zones;

said trip value releasing pressurized air which is initially stored in the conduits;

and a plurality of outlet nozzles, each operatively connected to one of said conduits and mounted in a different one of said zones for providing output of high expanding foam to said zones responsive to shock in any one of said zones, said high expanding foam concentrate including a plurality of non-flammable ingredients and a propanol solvent such that it can be breathed and at the same time protect passengers from flames.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said zones and compartments include the fuel tank zone, the passenger compartment, and the engine of said vehicle.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reservoirs and said vessel are all mounted in the luggage compartment of said vehicle and a further plurality of said nozzles are further mounted therein for dissipating said foam in that compartment.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said non-flammable ingredients includes a sulfated biodegradable surfactant and a non-flammable alcohol.