Automatic fire suppression apparatus and method

• US 6,029,751 A
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UPN Incorporated
• Original Assignee: UPN Incorporated
• Inventors: Ford, Wallace Wayne, Gunnels, Terry Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Application Number:
  US09/019,845
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 169/65, 169/70, 169/61, 169/60
• US Class Current: 169/60
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/006 for kitchens or stoves
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/023 the extinguishing material being expelled by compressed gas, taken from storage tanks, or by generating a pressure gas for foam generation A62C5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/20 Resetting after use; Tools therefor

Abstract

An automatic fire suppression unit and method for use in various fire exposures where the area in which a fire can occur is limited, manually operated portable extinguishment is either impractical or not recommended, the ability to provide additional suppression in the event of re-ignition is crucial to fire safety, or the ability to limit environmental impact of the fire suppressant is desired. The system includes a tank containing a suitable fire extinguishing agent and equipped with a temperature activated valve to discharge the extinguishing agent when a thermocouple or metallic alloy element responds to a high temperature condition and opens the valve. When the fire has been suppressed and a high temperature condition no longer exists, the valve automatically closes and stops the discharge of suppressant. Position indication contacts within the valve are utilized to activate appropriate alarms and to remove electrical or gas supply if necessary.

Claims

1. A fire suppression unit, comprising:

a pressurized cylinder of suitable propellant gas;

a self-contained automatic temperature activated valve attached to said cylinder and which automatically opens upon sensing a fire, automatically closes upon sensing cessation of the fire, and thereby may provide for additional fire suppression in the event of fire re-ignition;

a suitable fire suppressant chemical cylinder attached to said temperature activated valve; and

,

a nozzle attached to said fire suppressant cylinder, wherein said nozzle and said temperature activated valve are located in a fire protection area.

2. The fire suppression unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional nozzle attached to said cylinder.

3. The fire suppression unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit is compact and adapted to be located in a residential stove or range vent hood.

4. The fire suppression unit according to claim 1, wherein said valve is a snap-action temperature sensitive valve.

5. A fire suppression unit, comprising:

a pressurized cylinder of suitable propellant gas;

a temperature activated valve attached to said cylinder;

a suitable fire suppressant chemical cylinder attached to said temperature activated valve;

a nozzle attached to said fire suppressant cylinder, wherein said nozzle and said temperature activated valve are located in a fire protection area; and

,

an alarm circuit, wherein said alarm circuit is activated by position indication contacts within said temperature activated valve.

6. The fire suppression unit according to claim 5, further comprising:

a pressure sensor attached to said pressurized cylinder of propellant gas, wherein said sensor is used for detecting when the pressure of said gas has fallen below a predetermined pressure, wherein said fire suppression system alarm is coupled to said pressure sensor whereby when said pressure sensor senses said predetermined fallen pressure, said pressure sensor causes said alarm to activate.

7. The fire suppression unit according to claim 5, further including a radio transmitter activated by said valve position contacts.

8. The fire suppression unit according to claim 7, further including a radio receiver and an electrical energy shut off, wherein the detection of a fire by said valve causes said valve position contacts to close and cause the transmission and receiving of a radio signal, and receiving of said signal causes the operation of said shut off to remove electrical energy supply from an appliance or equipment.

9. The fire suppression unit according to claim 7, further including a radio receiver and a gas supply shut off, wherein the detection of a fire by said valve causes said valve position contacts to close and cause the transmission and receiving of a radio signal and causes the operation of said shut off to remove gas supply from an appliance or equipment.

10. The fire suppression unit according to claim 5, further including a reset and a latching relay, wherein the detection of a fire by said valve causes said valve position contacts to close and activate said latching relay, said reset is used to deactivate or reset said latching relay.

11. The fire suppression unit according to claim 5, wherein said temperature activated valve automatically opens upon sensing a fire, automatically closes upon sensing cessation of the fire, and thereby may provide for additional fire suppression in the event of fire re-ignition.

12. A fire suppression unit, comprising:

a pressurized cylinder of suitable propellant gas;

a temperature activated valve attached to said cylinder;

a suitable fire suppressant chemical cylinder attached to said temperature activated valve;

a nozzle attached to said fire suppressant cylinder, wherein said nozzle and said temperature activated valve are located in a fire protection area, and, wherein said temperature activated valve includes a thermocouple bulb for sensing the presence of a fire and automatically opens upon sensing a fire, automatically closes upon sensing cessation of the fire, and thereby may provide for additional fire suppression in the event of fire re-ignition.

13. A fire suppression unit, comprising:

a container suitable for holding a pressurized fire suppressant;

an automatic temperature sensitive valve operatively attached to said container, wherein said valve automatically opens in response to the temperature of a fire to start the release of said suppressant, and wherein said valve automatically closes and stops the release of said suppressant and resets itself for further operation once it has cooled below the temperature of a fire; and

,

a dispersion nozzle operatively attached to said valve to control the dispersion of said suppressant.

14. The fire suppression unit according to claim 13, wherein said valve has electrical contacts to signal an open or closed position of said valve by closing and opening said contacts.

15. The fire suppression unit according to claim 14, further comprising:

an alarm means for signaling the opening of said valve, wherein said alarm is activated and deactivated in corresponding relation to said position of said electrical contacts.

16. The fire suppression unit according to claim 14, further comprising:

a light means for signaling the opening of said valve, wherein said light is activated and deactivated in corresponding relation to said position of said contacts.

17. The fire suppression unit according to claim 14, further comprising:

a heat source removal means for blocking at least one of fuel and electricity upon the opening of said valve, wherein said heat source removal means is activated and deactivated in corresponding relation to said position of said electrical contacts.

18. A fire suppression apparatus comprising:

a detecting means for detecting a fire;

a signal creating means for creating a fire signal and which is connected to said detecting means;

a radio transmitter for transmitting said fire signal and which is operatively connected to said signal creating means;

a radio receiver for receiving said transmitted fire signal; and

,

a means for disabling a heat source operatively controlled by said receiving means.

19. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 18, wherein said detecting means is a temperature activated valve.

20. The fire suppression apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said detecting means includes a temperature activated valve which automatically opens upon sensing a fire, automatically closes upon sensing cessation of the fire, and thereby may provide for additional fire suppression in the event of fire re-ignition.

21. A fire suppression apparatus comprising:

a detecting means for detecting a fire;

a signal creating means for creating a fire signal and which is connected to said detecting means;

a transmitting means for transmitting said fire signal and which is operatively connected to said signal creating means;

a receiving means for receiving said transmitted fire signal;

a means for disabling a heat source operatively controlled by said receiving means;

a pressurized gas cylinder;

an input side of a temperature activated valve connected to said pressurized gas cylinder;

an output side of said temperature activated valve connected to an input connection on a fire retardant containment cylinder; and

,

an output side of said fire retardant containment cylinder operatively connected to a dispersion nozzle, wherein the activation of said valve causes the pressurized gas cylinder to release a pressurized gas which flows through said valve, into said fire retardant containment cylinder where it mixes with a fire retardant material and the combined gas and material flow out through said dispersion nozzle.

22. The fire suppression apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said temperature activated valve automatically opens upon sensing a fire, automatically closes upon sensing cessation of the fire, and thereby may provide for additional fire suppression in the event of fire re-ignition.

23. A fire suppression apparatus comprising:

detecting means for detecting a fire including a thermocouple bulb;

a signal creating means for creating a fire signal and which is connected to said detecting means;

a transmitting means for transmitting said fire signal and which is operatively connected to said signal creating means;

a receiving means for receiving said transmitted fire signal; and

,

a means for disabling a heat source operatively controlled by said receiving means.

24. The fire suppression apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said apparatus includes a valve operated by said thermocouple bulb which automatically opens upon sensing a fire, automatically closes upon sensing cessation of the fire, and thereby may provide for additional fire suppression in the event of fire re-ignition.

25. A fire suppression apparatus comprising:

a pressurized gas cylinder;

a self-contained automatic temperature activated valve;

an input side of said temperature activated valve connected to said pressurized gas cylinder;

a fire retardant containment cylinder;

an output side of said temperature activated valve connected to an input connection on said fire retardant containment cylinder;

a dispersion nozzle;

an output side of said fire retardant containment cylinder operatively connected to said dispersion nozzle, wherein the activation of said valve causes the pressurized gas cylinder to release a pressurized gas which flows through said valve, into said fire retardant containment cylinder where it mixes with a fire retardant material and the combined gas and material flow out through said dispersion nozzle, and deactivation of said valve causes said pressurized gas cylinder to stop releasing pressurized gas.

26. A fire suppression apparatus comprising:

a self-contained automatic temperature activated valve for detecting a fire and for creating a fire signal;

a transmitting means for transmitting said fire signal and which is operatively connected to said valve;

a receiving means for receiving said transmitted fire signal; and

,

a means for disabling a heat source operatively controlled by said receiving means.

27. A fire suppression apparatus comprising:

a pressurized gas cylinder;

a thermocouple activated valve;

a thermocouple bulb for detecting a fire and activating the thermocouple activated valve;

an input side of the valve connected to said pressurized gas cylinder;

a fire retardant containment cylinder;

an output side of said valve connected to an input connection on the fire retardant containment cylinder;

a dispersion nozzle;

an output side of said fire retardant containment cylinder operatively connected to the dispersion nozzle, wherein the activation of said valve causes the pressurized gas cylinder to release a pressurized gas which flows through said valve, into said containment cylinder where it mixes with a fire retardant material and the combined gas and material flow out through said dispersion nozzle.