Method for fire fighting

• US 5,810,090 A
• Filed: 12/08/1995
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marioff Corporation Oy (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Goran Sundholm
• Inventors: Sundholm, Goran
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US08/569,490
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 169/46, 169/9, 169/62, 169/43, 169/44
• US Class Current: 169/46
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/10 in ships A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/05 with two or more outlets
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/64 pressurised
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/08 comprising an outlet device containing a sensor, or itself being the sensor, i.e. self-contained sprinklers
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0072 using sprayed or atomised water

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide a new method for extinguishing fires. The method is advantageously used for fighting fires in engine rooms and similar spaces. According to the method, the fire is extinguished or at least suppressed by means of concentrated fog sprays with strong penetrating power, by utilizing high operating pressure, which is gradually decreased for the provision of spread fog-like liquid spraying providing for effective heat absorption and control of fire. The extinguishing liquid is preferably delivered to spray heads (43, 44, 45) by using hydraulic accumulators (41, 41a).

Claims

1. A method for fire fighting, comprising the steps of:

delivering extinguishing liquid using pressure charged energy;

spraying said extinguishing liquid in the form of concentrated fog sprays with strong penetrating power from spray heads and a high operating pressure of about 100-300 bar in order to at least suppress a fire; and

thereafter spraying said extinguishing liquid in the form of spread fog-like sprays from said spray heads and a lower operating pressure that is lower than said high operating pressure in order to effect effective heat absorption and control of said fire.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said delivering uses at least one high pressure hydraulic accumulator for providing said pressure charged energy and operating pressures of said extinguishing liquid that are reduced gradually from said high operating pressure to said lower operating pressure.

3. The method according to claim 8, wherein the amount of said foam is gradually increased as said operating pressures are gradually reduced.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a liquid at a low pressure of 5 to 20 bar is maintained in piping leading up to said spray heads before said high operating pressure of about 100-300 bar of said extinguishing liquid, said delivering being through said piping.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, before said spraying of said concentrated fog sprays, liquid is sprayed through said spray heads at least during a short time from another operating pressure that is lower than said high operating pressure to cool said spray heads.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said another operating pressure is 5 to 25 bar.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein foam is sprayed after said spraying of said extinguishing liquid at said high operating pressure.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said concentrated fog sprays having a medium droplet size below 500 microns.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said spray heads are provided with at least two first nozzles with a first orifice size and at least one second nozzle with a second orifice size smaller than said first orifice size for said spraying of said concentrated fog sprays through said at least two first nozzles and said spread fog-like sprays through said at least one second nozzle.

9. A method for fire fighting, comprising the steps of:

delivering extinguishing liquid using pressure charged energy;

spraying said extinguishing liquid in the form of concentrated fog sprays with strong penetrating power from spray heads and a high operating pressure of about 100-300 bar in order to at least suppress a fire; and

thereafter spraying said extinguishing liquid in the form of spread fog-like sprays from said spray heads and a lower operating pressure that is lower than said high operating pressure in order to effect effective heat absorption and control of said fire;

wherein said delivering uses a number of hydraulic accumulators connected in parallel and discharged in cycles;

wherein said hydraulic accumulators are charged between said cycles; and

wherein said extinguishing liquid is delivered from a pressure of 5 to 10 bar through said spray heads during said charging of said hydraulic accumulators.