Fire extinguishing system

• US 6,648,077 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bryan K. Hoffman
• Original Assignee: Bryan K. Hoffman
• Inventors: Hoffman, Bryan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US09/902,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20030010509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 169/16, 169/37, 169/54, 169/56, 169/60, 169/65, 239/68, 239/70, 239/209
• US Class Current: 169/56
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/04 for dust or loosely-baled or loosely-piled materials, e.g. in silos, in chimneys flame traps A62C4/00
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/21 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/38 Time, e.g. duration
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/02 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/62 Stopping or disabling machine operation
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/42 Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/20 General details of domestic laundry dryers D06F59/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/50 Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of blowers

Abstract

A fire extinguishing system is adapted particularly for incorporation with a clothes dryer in a home laundry area, for extinguishing any fire occurring from ignition of lint or other combustible material. The system may also be installed with other large, heat producing appliances (kitchen stove, etc.) for extinguishing any fire resulting therefrom. The system includes one or more conventional, heat activated fire extinguisher spray heads connected to the main water line of the structure. Each extinguisher head is secured in a fitting including an automatically actuated water shutoff valve, which closes after the fire has been extinguished to reduce water damage to the surrounding area. The system also includes an automatic disconnect or shutoff for at least the electrical circuit associated with the appliance which causes activation of the extinguisher head, and may further include an automatically actuated local (household) and/or distant (fire department) alarm.

Claims

1. A fire extinguishing system for installing with an electrical device receiving electrical power from an electrical circuit having at least one electrical circuit protective device therein, the system comprising:

a pipe fitting having an inflow end and at least one outflow end;

a fire extinguisher sprinkler head installed to said at least one outflow end of said pipe fitting;

a water flow sensor communicating with said inflow end of said pipe fitting, for transmitting an electrical signal when water flows through said pipe fitting;

an electrical circuit shutoff electrically communicating with said water flow sensor, for disconnecting electrical power to the electrical device when water flow occurs through said pipe fitting; and

a water shutoff control connected to the pipe fitting, for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head when a predetermined condition is met.

2. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, wherein:

said electrical circuit shutoff comprises a selectively closable electrical connection across the electrical circuit supplying power to the electrical device, thereby shorting the electrical circuit and opening the electrical circuit protective device associated with the electrical circuit.

3. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, wherein:

said electrical circuit shutoff comprises a selectively operable electrical ground from the electrical circuit supplying power to the electrical device, whereby a ground fault interrupter is tripped in order to open the electrical circuit protective device associated with the electrical circuit.

4. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, wherein said water shutoff control comprises:

a valve disposed in the pipe fitting; and

a timer control connected to the valve for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head after a predetermined elapsed period of time has passed.

5. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, wherein said water shutoff control comprises:

a valve disposed in the pipe fitting; and

at least one fire sensor connected to the valve for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head after the fire has been extinguished.

6. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, further including a manually operable reset connected to said water shutoff control, for resetting said water shutoff control to an open position after closure thereof.

7. A fire extinguishing system for installing with an electrical device receiving electrical power from an electrical circuit having at least one electrical circuit protective device therein, the system comprising:

a pipe fitting having an inflow end and at least one outflow end;

a fire extinguisher sprinkler head installed to said at least one outflow end of said pipe fitting;

a water flow sensor communicating with said inflow end of said pipe fitting, for transmitting an electrical signal when water flows through said pipe fitting; and

an electrical circuit shutoff electrically communicating with said water flow sensor, for disconnecting electrical power to the electrical device when water flow occurs through said pipe fitting.

8. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 7, wherein:

said electrical circuit shutoff comprises a selectively closable electrical connection across the electrical circuit supplying power to the electrical device, thereby shorting the electrical circuit and opening the electrical circuit protective device associated with the electrical circuit.

9. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 7, wherein:

said electrical circuit shutoff comprises a selectively operable electrical ground from the electrical circuit supplying power to the electrical device, whereby a ground fault interrupter is tripped in order to open the electrical circuit protective device associated with the electrical circuit.

10. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 7, further including:

a water shutoff control connected to the pipe fitting, for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head when a predetermined condition is met.

11. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 10, wherein the water shutoff control comprises:

a valve disposed in the pipe fitting; and

a timer control connected to the valve for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head after a predetermined elapsed period of time has passed.

12. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 10, wherein the water shutoff control comprises:

a valve disposed in the pipe fitting; and

at least one fire sensor connected to the valve for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head after the fire has been extinguished.

13. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 10, further including a manually operable reset connected to said water shutoff control, for resetting said water shutoff control to an open position after closure thereof.

14. A fire extinguishing system for installing with an electrical device receiving electrical power from an electrical circuit having at least one electrical circuit protective device therein, the system comprising:

a pipe fitting having an inflow end and at least one outflow end;

a fire extinguisher sprinkler head installed to said at least one outflow end of said pipe fitting;

a water flow sensor communicating with said inflow end of said pipe fitting, for transmitting an electrical signal when water flows through said pipe fitting; and

a water shutoff control, for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head and including;

a valve disposed in the pipe fitting; and

one of a timer control connected to the valve for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head after a predetermined elapsed period of time has passed or at least one fire sensor connected to the valve for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head after the fire has been extinguished.

16. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 14, further including an electrical circuit shutoff electrically communicating with said water flow sensor, for disconnecting electrical power to the electrical device when water flow occurs through said pipe fitting.

17. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 16, wherein:

said electrical circuit shutoff comprises a selectively closable electrical connection across the electrical circuit supplying power to the electrical device, thereby shorting the electrical circuit and opening the electrical circuit protective device associated with the electrical circuit.

18. The fire extinguishing system according to claim 16, wherein:

said electrical circuit shutoff comprises a selectively operable electrical ground from the electrical circuit, whereby a ground fault interrupter is tripped in order to open the electrical circuit protective device associated with the electrical circuit.

15. A fire extinguishing system for installing with an electrical device receiving electrical power from an electrical circuit having at least one electrical circuit protective device therein, the system comprising:

a pipe fitting having an inflow end and at least one outflow end;

a fire extinguisher sprinkler head installed to said at least one outflow end of said pipe fitting;

a water flow sensor communicating with said inflow end of said pipe fitting, for transmitting an electrical signal when water flows through said pipe fitting;

a water shutoff control, for shutting off water flow from said fire extinguisher sprinkler head when a predetermined condition is met; and

a manually operable reset connected to said water shutoff control, for resetting said water shutoff control to an open position after closure thereof.