Electrical fire extinguishing system

• US 6,866,102 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Judith A. Lee, Lenuel Boyce
• Original Assignee: Judith A. Lee, Lenuel Boyce
• Inventors: Boyce, Lenuel, Lee, Judith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Thach H.
• Application Number:
  US10/424,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 169/5, 169/19, 169 26- 51, 169/56, 169/57, 169/59, 169/54, 169/58, 169/60, 169 61- 70
• US Class Current: 169/61
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/16 in electrical installations, e.g. cableways
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/11 controlled by a signal from the danger zone

Abstract

An electrical fire suppression system for a structure having electrical fixtures includes a central computer system and a plurality of fire sensing devices distributed through the structure. A central fire suppression fluid tank is connected to fire suppression fluid pipes and a set of valves are mounted on the fire suppression fluid pipes to control fire suppression fluid flow therethrough, the valves being controlled by the central computer system. Each of the plurality of fire suppression fluid pipes extend into at least one of the electrical fixtures for transfer of fire suppression fluid directly thereto. Upon detection of fire, the fire sensing device signals the central computer system to determine the location of the fire and command the valves on the fire suppression fluid pipes to open to release fire suppression fluid therethrough for extinguishing the fire at the electrical fixture at which it started.

Claims

1. An electrical fire suppression system for a structure having at least one of an electrical outlet, electrical device, electrical appliance and electrical fixture, said system comprising:

a central computer system;

a plurality of fire sensing devices distributed through the structure in information transmission connection with said central computer system;

a central fire suppression material tank;

a plurality of fire suppression material pipes in material transmission connection with said central fire suppression material tank;

a valve bank including a plurality of valves each operatively mounted on a selected one of said plurality of fire suppression material pipes for controlling fire suppression material flow therethrough, said valve bank controllable by said central computer system;

said central computer system operatively connected to said valve bank and said plurality of valves for opening and closing of said plurality of valves for release of fire suppression material through at least one of said plurality of fire suppression material pipes to a fire location signified by at least one of said plurality of fire sensing devices thereby extinguishing the fire at the fire location;

each of said plurality of fire suppression material pipes extending into the interior volume of at least one of the electrical outlets, devices, appliances and fixtures for transfer of fire suppression material directly into the interior volume of at least one of the electrical outlet, device, appliance and fixture thereby extinguishing electrically-caused fires at the source thereof; and

said central computer system, said plurality of fire sensing devices and said valve means cooperating such that upon at least one of said plurality of fire sensing devices detecting fire in the structure, said at least one of said plurality of fire sensing devices signals said central computer system, said central computer system operative to receive and analyze said signals to determine the location of the fire in the structure and command said valve bank and said plurality of valves on at least one of said fire suppression material pipes associated with the location of the fire to open to release fire suppression material therethrough for extinguishing the fire in the interior volume of at least one of the electrical outlet, device, appliance and fixture at which it started.

2. The electrical fire suppression system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of fire sensing devices are each operative to detect the local presence of at least one of a fire, smoke, electrical spark and increased heat.

3. The electrical fire suppression system of claim 1 wherein said central fire suppression material tank comprises a pressurized tank containing fire suppression fluid stored under pressure.

4. The electrical fire suppression system of claim 1 wherein the fire suppression material is selected from the group comprising monoammonia phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, carbon dioxide in gas form, carbon dioxide in liquid form and Halotron I fire suppression gas.