Electrical fire sensing and prevention/extinguishing system

• US 5,936,531 A
• Filed: 03/06/1998
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank A. Powers
• Original Assignee: Frank A. Powers
• Inventors: Powers, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/036,656
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628, 340/632, 340/517, 340/520, 340/521, 340/577, 340/578, 169/60, 169/61, 169/70, 169/65
• US Class Current: 340/628
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/16 in electrical installations, e.g. cableways
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/28 dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof

Abstract

An electrical fire sensing and fire prevention/extinguishing system which senses properties of electrical fires in cabinets having electrical circuits or circuit boards and detects sparks for detecting an electrical short in the electrical circuits or circuit boards. Upon detecting a spark, power to the electrical circuits or circuit boards is turned off to prevent a fire from developing within the cabinet. Furthermore, the electrical fire sensing and fire prevention/extinguishing system senses heat increases and smoke for activating a fire extinguishing device to extinguish a fire and turning off power to the electrical circuits or circuit boards.

Claims

1. An electrical fire sensing and fire prevention/extinguishing system comprising:

a sealed cabinet, having a cabinet door, for enclosing electrical circuits wherein said electrical circuits have coupled thereto a power supply, said sealed cabinet preventing ambient light from entering said sealed cabinet except when said cabinet door is open;

a spark sensor for detecting flashes or sparks of light within said sealed cabinet, said spark sensor being a photoelectric cell;

a heat sensor for detecting a rise in temperature in said sealed cabinet;

a smoke detector for detecting smoke in said sealed cabinet;

a fire extinguisher device for storing a fire extinguishing agent;

a control logic circuit having coupled thereto said spark sensor, said heat sensor, said smoke detector, said fire extinguisher device and said power supply wherein in response to said spark sensor detecting a flash or spark of light in said sealed cabinet, said control logic circuit shuts off said power supply and when said heat sensor or said smoke detector detects a rise in temperature or the presence of smoke, respectively, said control logic circuit shuts off said power supply and activates said fire extinguishing device, and

a cabinet door switch coupled between the spark sensor and the control logic circuit wherein when said cabinet door is opened said cabinet door switch is opened to open a path from the spark sensor to the control logic circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one alarm wherein when said control logic circuit shuts off said power supply, said at least one alarm is activated.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said spark sensor further detects a flaming fire;

and wherein when said flaming fire is detected said control logic shuts off said power supply and activates said fire extinguishing device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said fire extinguishing agent is carbon dioxide (CO2).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said fire extinguishing device comprises:

a cylindrical enclosure for storing therein said fire extinguishing agent;

first and second storage tank attachment members coupled to a side of said cabinet wherein said first and second storage tank attachment members each comprise a circular member fixedly coupled circumferentially around said cylindrical enclosure and a support bar member coupled to said circular member for securing said cylindrical enclosure to the side of said sealed cabinet;

a valve coupled to a bottom side of said cylindrical enclosure and to a path from said control logic circuit;

at least one agent distribution hose coupled to said valve; and

,

at least one inlet port coupled to said cabinet and to one end of said agent distribution hose.

6. An electrical fire sensing and fire prevention/extinguishing system comprising:

a sealed cabinet, having a cabinet door, for enclosing electrical circuits wherein said electrical circuits have coupled thereto a power supply, said sealed cabinet preventing ambient light from entering said sealed cabinet except when said cabinet door is open;

a spark sensor for detecting flashes or sparks of light within said sealed cabinet, said spark sensor being a photoelectric cell;

a heat sensor for detecting a rise in temperature in said sealed cabinet;

a smoke detector for detecting smoke in said sealed cabinet;

a fire extinguisher device for storing a fire extinguishing agent;

a control logic circuit having coupled thereto said spark sensor, said heat sensor, said smoke detector, said fire extinguisher device and said power supply wherein in response to said spark sensor detecting a flash or spark of light in said sealed cabinet, said control logic circuit shuts off said power supply and when said heat sensor or said smoke detector detects a rise in temperature or the presence of smoke, respectively said control logic circuit shuts off said power supply and activates said fire extinguishing device; and

,

a cabinet door switch coupled between said spark sensor and said control logic circuit wherein when said cabinet door is opened said cabinet door switch is opened to open a path from said spark sensor to said control logic circuit.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least one alarm wherein when said control logic circuit shuts off said power supply, said at least one alarm is activated.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said spark sensor further detects a flaming fire;

and wherein when said flaming fire is detected said control logic shuts off said power supply and activates said fire extinguishing device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said fire extinguishing agent is CO2.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said fire extinguishing device comprises:

a cylindrical enclosure for storing therein said fire extinguishing agent;

first and second storage tank attachment members coupled to a side of said cabinet wherein said first and second storage tank attachment members each comprise a circular member fixedly coupled circumferentially around said cylindrical enclosure and a support bar member coupled to said circular member for securing said cylindrical enclosure to the side of said sealed cabinet;

a valve coupled to a bottom side of said cylindrical enclosure and to a path from said control logic circuit;

at least one agent distribution hose coupled to said valve; and

,

at least one inlet port coupled to said cabinet and to one end of said agent distribution hose.

11. An electrical fire sensing and fire prevention/extinguishing system comprising:

a sealed cabinet, having a cabinet door, for enclosing electrical circuits wherein said electrical circuits have coupled thereto a power supply, said sealed cabinet preventing ambient light from entering said sealed cabinet except when said cabinet door is open;

a spark sensor for detecting flashes or sparks of light within said sealed cabinet, said spark sensor being a photoelectric cell;

a heat sensor for detecting a rise in temperature in said sealed cabinet;

a smoke detector for detecting smoke in said sealed cabinet;

a fire extinguisher device for storing a CO2 fire extinguishing agent;

a control logic circuit having coupled thereto said spark sensor, said heat sensor, said smoke detector, said fire extinguisher device and said power supply wherein in response to said spark sensor detecting a flash or spark of light in said sealed cabinet, said control logic circuit shuts off said power supply and when said heat sensor or said smoke detector detects a rise in temperature or the presence of smoke, respectively said control logic circuit shuts off said power supply and activates said fire extinguishing device; and

,

a cabinet door switch coupled between said spark sensor and said control logic circuit wherein when said cabinet door is opened said cabinet door switch is opened to open a path from said spark sensor to said control logic circuit.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one alarm wherein when said control logic circuit shuts off said power supply, said at least one alarm is activated.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said spark sensor further detects a flaming fire;

and wherein when said flaming fire is detected said control logic shuts off said power supply and activates said fire extinguishing device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said fire extinguishing device comprises:

a cylindrical enclosure for storing therein said CO2 fire extinguishing agent;

first and second storage tank attachment members coupled to a side of said cabinet wherein said first and second storage tank attachment members each comprise a circular member fixedly coupled circumferentially around said cylindrical enclosure and a support bar member coupled to said circular member for securing said cylindrical enclosure to the side of said sealed cabinet;

a valve coupled to a bottom side of said cylindrical enclosure and to a path from said control logic circuit;

at least one agent distribution hose coupled to said valve; and

,

at least one inlet port coupled to said cabinet and to one end of said agent distribution hose.