Shrink-wrap fire extinguishing method and container

• US 5,842,524 A
• Filed: 10/24/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: Farmer, Kent R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pike, Andrew C.
• Application Number:
  US08/738,938
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 169/45, 169/46, 169/49, 220/88.1
• US Class Current: 169/45
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/065 having as the main closure device materials, whose characteristics undergo an irreversible change under high temperatures, e.g. intumescent
• 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

Abstract

A container comprises a shrink wrap material having a thickness and a height sufficient that, upon exposure to a potential fire source inside of the container, at least a portion of the container shrinks in an amount sufficient to reduce the oxygen supply to the potential fire source inside of said container.

Claims

1. A method for reducing a risk of fire or heat damage inside of a container having a height and defining a substantially enclosed area, said method comprising

forming at least a section along said height of said container from shrink wrap material, wherein said section comprises a first diameter and said shrink wrap material comprises a thickness;

and

shrinking said section of said container comprising said shrink wrap material to a second diameter upon exposure to a potential fire source inside of said substantially enclosed area to reduce oxygen supply to said potential fire source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said shrink wrap material comprises a thermoplastic material that shrinks in a biaxial mode between about 20-65% when exposed to said potential fire source.

3. A first container having a height and defining a substantially enclosed area, and at least a section along said height comprising shrink wrap material,

wherein said section comprises a first diameter and said shrink wrap material comprises a thickness;

and wherein,

upon exposure to a potential fire source inside of said substantially enclosed area, said shrink wrap material shrinks to a second diameter, reducing oxygen supply to said potential fire source.

4. The first container of claim 3 wherein substantially all of said first container comprises said shrink wrap material.

5. The first container of claim 4 further comprising a second container, wherein said first container comprises a liner for said second container.

6. The first container of claim 5 wherein said shrink wrap material comprises a thermoplastic material that shrinks in a biaxial mode between about 20-65% when exposed to sufficient heat.

7. The first container of claim 6 wherein said shrink wrap material is selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl chloride, a polyolefin, a copolyolefin, and a copolymer of a polyolefin with ethylene vinyl acetate.

8. The first container of claim 7 wherein said polyolefin and said copolyolefin comprise olefins selected from the group of polyethylene and polypropylene.

9. The first container of claim 4 wherein said shrink wrap material comprises a thermoplastic material that shrinks in a biaxial mode between about 20-65% when exposed to sufficient heat.

10. The first container of claim 9 wherein said shrink wrap material is selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl chloride, a polyolefin, a copolyolefin, and a copolymer of a polyolefin with ethylene vinyl acetate.

11. The first container of claim 10 wherein said polyolefin and said copolyolefin comprise olefins selected from the group of polyethylene and polypropylene.

12. The first container of claim 3 further comprising a second container, wherein said first container comprises a liner for said second container.

13. The first container of claim 12 wherein said shrink wrap material comprises a thermoplastic material that shrinks in a biaxial mode between about 20-65% when exposed to sufficient heat.

14. The first container of claim 13 wherein said shrink wrap material is selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl chloride, a polyolefin, a copolyolefin, and a copolymer of a polyolefin with ethylene vinyl acetate.

15. The first container of claim 14 wherein said polyolefin and said copolyolefin comprise olefins selected from the group of polyethylene and polypropylene.

16. The first container of claim 3 wherein said shrink wrap material comprises a thermoplastic material that shrinks in a biaxial mode between about 20-65% when exposed to sufficient heat.

17. The first container of claim 16 wherein said shrink wrap material is selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl chloride, a polyolefin, a copolyolefin, and a copolymer of a polyolefin with ethylene vinyl acetate.

18. The first container of claim 17 wherein said polyolefin and said copolyolefin comprise olefins selected from the group of polyethylene and polypropylene.

19. A waste container having a height and defining a substantially enclosed area, and at least a section along said height comprising shrink wrap material,

wherein said section comprises a first diameter and said shrink wrap material comprises a thickness;

and wherein,

upon exposure to a potential fire source inside of said substantially enclosed area, said shrink wrap material shrinks to a second diameter, reducing oxygen supply to said potential fire source.