Anti-fire system for vehicles

• US 5,590,718 A
• Filed: 10/13/1995
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roberto Bertossi
• Original Assignee: Roberto Bertossi
• Inventors: Bertossi, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US08/543,124
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 169/62, 200/61.45 R
• US Class Current: 169/62
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles

Abstract

A fire extinguishing system for a vehicle or a boat having a fire extinguisher supplying a fire extinguishing substance through a nozzle to discharge the fire extinguishing substance. The fire extinguisher and nozzle may be spatially separated and connected by an elongated pipe. Additional nozzles may be connected with pipes to the fire extinguisher, or additional fire extinguishers and nozzles may be used instead. At least one valve is used to regulate the flow of the fire extinguishing substance through the pipes to the nozzles. The valve is controlled by at least one impact sensor which opens the valve when a collision of the vehicle with another object is detected by the sensor.

Claims

1. A fire extinguishing system which can be installed in a vehicle or a boat, the system comprising:

a fire extinguishing substance;

at least one fire extinguisher for containing and supplying the fire extinguishing substance;

at least one nozzle;

at least one distribution pipe connecting the at least one nozzle, to the at least one fire extinguisher;

at least one valve to control the flow of the substance through the at least one distribution pipe;

valve control means for opening each valve; and

an impact sensor for activating the valve control means in case of a collision of the vehicle, the impact sensor comprising a casing having an interior, an exterior, and two diametrically opposed holes through the casing, one hole being in communication with an external pipe section connected around the hole to the outside of the casing;

a sliding piston inside the external pipe;

the valve control means being located inside the external pipe for opening each valve when activated by the piston;

a piston rod, integrated with the piston, having two ends each end supported in one of the opposed holes;

a bottom which can be fixed to the casing;

an upright cradle projecting from the bottom;

a weighted ball movably held in said cradle;

a lever having a fulcrum on the interior of the casing, a lever elastic end in contact with and supported by the ball for flexibly maintaining the ball on the cradle, a lever second end which is slidably connected to the piston rod; and

a tensioned spring connected to the lever second end for moving the lever second end when a collision occurs which causes the ball to fall out of the cradle, releasing the lever elastic end and allowing the lever to pivot about the fulcrum, which movement of the lever second end slides the piston rod and the piston within the external pipe, such that the piston activates the valve control means.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising the piston controlling an amount of fire extinguishing substance supplied through a section of feeding pipe connected between the at least one distribution pipe and the at least one fire extinguisher.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one valve comprises at least one electrovalve, the system further comprising, an electrical power means for providing electrical power;

a control board for controlling the at least one electrovalve, the control board electrically connected to the electrical power means; and

a switch, operated by the piston and electrically connected to the control board, such that, when the switch is operated, the at least one electrovalve opens.

4. A system according to claim 3, further comprising at least one fire sensor connected with the control board.

5. A system according to claim No. 4, further comprising a secondary electrovalve on the outlet of the at least one fire extinguisher in parallel with the impact sensor, the secondary electrovalve being selectively controlled by the control board after receiving a signal from the at least one fire sensor, for supplying the fire extinguishing substance to the at least one nozzle independently of the collision of the vehicle.

6. A system according to claim 4, further comprising hand control means for opening the secondary electrovalve.

7. A fire extinguishing system for a vehicle, comprising:

a fire extinguishing substance;

at least one fire extinguisher for containing and supplying the fire extinguishing substance;

at least one nozzle;

at least one distribution pipe connecting the at least one nozzle, to the at least one fire extinguisher;

a first valve to control the flow of the substance through the at least one distribution pipe;

a first valve control means for opening the first valve;

an inertial impact sensor for activating the first valve control means in case of a collision of the vehicle, the impact sensor capable of sensing the collision independent of an angle or a direction of the collision;

a second valve to control the flow of the substance through the at least one distribution pipe;

a second valve control means for opening the second valve;

at least one fire sensor located in proximity to the at least one nozzle, the at least one fire sensor for sensing a fire;

a control board connected with the at least one fire sensor and the second valve control means, the control board for selectively controlling the second valve control means to open the second valve controlling the flow of the substance through the at least one pipe connected to the at least one nozzle located h proximity to the at least one fire sensor which senses the fire.