Firefighter training system with thermal agent detection

• US 5,226,818 A
• Filed: 11/25/1991
• Issued: 07/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kidde Fire Trainers, Inc. (Kidde Fire Trainer Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: AAI Corporation (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Feiock, Douglas H., Smith, Lester L., Palmer, Ramon L. Jr., Layton, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, L.
• Application Number:
  US07/796,938
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 434/226, 434/219, 432/19, 432/25, 432/46
• US Class Current: 434/226
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0081 Training methods or equipment for fire-fighting
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for providing control of a fuel-operable burner assembly of a firefighter trainer in accordance with a sensed environmental parameter such as the temperature of an object such as a metal grating or prop that is positioned adjacent to the burner assembly. The control system and method are particularly advantageous to simulate fire reflash following substantial extinguishment of the fire, as operational parameters such as the rate of flame growth, maximum flame height, and reflash delay can be selected and varied from one scenario to the other to modify the training scenario in accordance with such factors as trainee proficiency and the type or class of fire. Burner control is preferably accomplished by an automated processing system in accordance with the foregoing environmental and operational parameters.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the presence of a genuine or simulated fire extinguishing agent and controlling flame height of a fuel-operable burner unit of a firefighter trainer in response thereto, comprising:

providing a thermally conductive member exhibiting thermal mass and having a temperature sensor, and positioning said member in proximity to the burner unit;

supplying fuel to the burner unit and igniting the fuel to produce a fire having flames;

applying one of a fire extinguishing agent or a simulated fire extinguishing agent to said thermally conductive member for a period of time sufficient to effect a decrease in the temperature of said thermally conductive member;

detecting application of said fire extinguishing agent or simulated extinguishing agent by sensing the temperature of said thermally conductive member using said temperature sensor; and

controlling flame height in accordance with temperature sensed by said temperature sensor.

2. A method for controlling flame height of a fuel-operable burner unit of a firefighter trainer, comprising:

positioning a thermally conductive member having a temperature sensor in proximity to the burner unit;

supplying fuel to the burner unit and igniting the fuel to produce a fire having flames;

controlling flame height in accordance with temperature sensed by said temperature sensor; and

applying one of a fire extinguishing agent or a simulated fire extinguishing agent to said fire to effect cooling of said temperature sensor, thereby causing a reduction in burner flame height.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein flame height is increasable at a prescribed rate once signal output from said temperature sensor indicates attainment of at least a threshold temperature value.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said rate of flame height increase is user selectable at the outset of a training scenario.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said fire is substantially extinguished upon application of said extinguishing agent and re-generated in the absence of a diminution in sensed temperature to a user selectable threshold temperature.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein flame height is reduced by applying fire extinguishing agent to an auxiliary temperature sensor that is positioned remote from the burner unit.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein flame height is reduced upon sensing by said auxiliary temperature sensor of a temperature drop of a user-selectable prescribed minimum temperature value.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said auxiliary temperature sensor is mounted near a trainer ceiling.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive member is securable to a thermally conductive structure overlying the burner unit.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor data is received by an automated processing unit operable to automatically control flame height in accordance with said received temperature sensor data.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein flame height is controlled by regulating the rate of fuel delivery to the burner unit.

12. A system for detecting application of a fire extinguishing agent or a simulated fire extinguishing agent in a firefighter trainer containing a burner unit, comprising:

a thermally conductive member positionable adjacent to the burner unit, said thermally conductive member having a temperature sensor that produces an output that is variable in response to application to said thermally conductive member of one of a fire extinguishing agent or a simulated fire extinguishing agent for a period of time sufficient to effect a decrease in the temperature of said thermally conductive member; and

a burner control system operable to regulate flame height in the burner unit in accordance with said sensor output.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said flame control system is operable to decrement burner flame height in response to a diminution in sensed temperature of a prescribed rate.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said flame control system comprises an automated processing system that is operable to receive signal output from said temperature sensor and to generate signal output responsive thereto for effecting control of burner flame height.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said automated processing system implements flame height control by regulating fuel supply to the burner unit.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein burner fuel supply is regulated by a valve assembly having an adjustably positionable valve mounted within a fuel supply line that extends between a fuel reservoir and the burner unit, said valve assembly being operable to receive variable signal output from said automated processing system and to position said valve in accordance with said signal output received thereby.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said burner control system comprises an input device for entry into the system of a user-selectable operation parameter for affecting signal output from said automated processing system.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said operation parameter is reflash activation temperature for the temperature sensor.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said operation parameter is maximum flame height.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein said operation parameter is reflash delay time.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein said operation parameter is fire extinguishment temperature.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein said flame control system further comprises an auxiliary temperature sensor and said operation parameter is flame suppression temperature for diminishing flame height upon sensing by said auxiliary sensor of a temperature drop in excess of a prescribed value.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said auxiliary temperature sensor is mounted in proximity to a trainer ceiling.

24. The system according to claim 12, wherein said thermally conductive member comprises a metallic block and said temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said thermocouple includes a tip that protrudes beyond a surface of the thermally conductive member.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said tip is oriented substantially transverse to the surface plane adjacent to said tip.

27. The system according to claim 24, wherein said thermally conductive member is comprised of a stainless steel selected from the group consisting of 306, 314 and Inconnel stainless steel.

28. The system according to claim 12, wherein said temperature sensor is adjustably positionable with respect to said thermally conductive member.

29. The system according to claim 12, wherein said thermally conductive member is adjustably positionable with respect to the burner unit.

30. The system according to claim 12, wherein the burner unit is provided with an overlying thermally conductive grating having a plurality of interstices, said thermally conductive member being mountable within at least one of said grating interstices in heat conducting relation therewith.

31. A method for sensing application of a fire extinguishing agent in a firefighter trainer containing a burner unit, comprising the steps of:

positioning a thermally conductive member having a temperature sensor in proximity to a burner unit;

operating the burner unit to produce a fire having flames;

applying a fire extinguishing agent in the vicinity of the burner flames;

sensing the temperature of the thermally conductive member with a temperature sensor; and

generating an output signal from the temperature sensor and adjusting burner flame height in accordance with said output signal.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of selecting a threshold temperature value for said temperature sensor, monitoring said sensor signal output, and modifying burner operation once said threshold temperature value has been attained.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein said selected temperature value is reflash activation temperature.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein said selected temperature value is fire extinguishment temperature.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of increasing flame height to a prescribed maximum level when said extinguishment temperature is not attained in a prescribed time interval.

36. The method according to claim 31, wherein the thermally conductive member is received within an interior portion of a heat conductive simulated structure so as to be isolated from physical contact with the applied extinguishing agent.