Cordless/wireless automatic detection and suppression system

• US 6,952,169 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adrian Simtion
• Original Assignee: Adrian Simtion
• Inventors: Simtion, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/277,142
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 340/577, 340/578, 340/579, 340/627, 340/628, 340/539.26, 340/539.27, 340/430, 340/528, 340/426.29, 340/449, 340/532, 169/60, 169/19, 169/56, 169/61
• US Class Current: 340/577
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/44 only the sensor being in the danger zone

Abstract

A wireless automatic detection and suppression system for the detection and suppression of a hazard within an environment, the system includes a wireless automatic suppression apparatus, and at least one detector positioned about the environment to detect a hazard, each detector further includes a transceiver for transmitting a wireless signal to a receiver upon detecting a hazard. The receiver is in communication with the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a cylinder containing an extinguishing agent and a valve attached to the cylinder. The valve has at least one discharge port that may be opened such that the extinguishing agent flows through each discharge port and out a discharge nozzle positioned about the environment. A receiver is in communication with the valve such that upon receiving a wireless signal that a hazard exists in the environment the valve will automatically open and expel the extinguishing agent out of the discharge nozzle(s). The apparatus has a capability to be activated manually in case of an emergency, and the capability to shut off all the sources that can be a hazard re-generator. Once the extinguishing agent is expelled a visual/audio indicator will be activated to indicate the suppression.

Claims

1. A wireless automatic detection and suppression system for the detection and suppression of a hazard within an environment, the system comprising:

a wireless automatic suppression apparatus, the apparatus includes;

a cylinder containing an extinguishing agent,

a valve attached to the cylinder, the valve has at least one discharge port that when opened, the extinguishing agent flows through said one discharge port,

each discharge port having a discharge tubing and at least one discharge nozzle positioned about the environment, and

a receiver in communication with the valve such that upon receiving a wireless signal that a hazard exists in the environment the valve opens the at least one discharge port to expel the extinguishing agent out of said at least one discharge nozzle;

at least one detector positioned about the environment to detect a hazard, each detector further includes a transceiver for transmitting a wireless signal to the receiver upon detecting a hazard; and

an entrance sensor in communication with the receiver in communication with the valve, the entrance sensor sends an open entrance signal or a closed entrance signal to the receiver such that when the receiver receives said open entrance signal, said suppression apparatus disarms and when the receiver receives said closed entrance signal, said suppression apparatus is capable of being armed.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller positioned outside of the environment, the controller having a receiver for receiving the wireless signal from the detectors, when the detectors detect a hazard within the environment.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the transceiver, of each detector, transmits said wireless signal to the receiver of the controller and said controller includes a control transceiver to relay the signal to the receiver in communication with the valve.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said entrance sensor is in wireless communication with the controller, such that the entrance sensor sends said open entrance signal or said closed entrance signal to the controller such that when the controller receives said open entrance signal, said controller disarms the suppression apparatus and when the controller receives said closed entrance signal, said controller is capable of being rearmed by entering a pin number into the controller.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising at least two wireless automatic suppression apparatuses and corresponding detectors are wirelessly linked together within the environment, such that when a detector detects a hazard and sends a wireless signal to a corresponding wireless automatic suppression apparatus, said corresponding wireless automatic suppression apparatus will expel the extinguishing agent contained therein while a non-corresponding wireless automatic suppression apparatus retains extinguishing agent contained therein until the reception of a wireless signal from a detector corresponding to said non-corresponding wireless automatic suppression apparatus.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes an audio and/or visual indicator to indicate the reception of a wireless signal and to indicate the expulsion of extinguishing agent.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a siphon tube and a charge port to pressurize the cylinder such that substantially all of the extinguishing agent is discharge at a constant pressure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes a charge port for pressurizing or charging the extinguishing agent with but not limited to an inert expellant gas.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pressure relief device to vent excess pressure in the cylinder if a pressure in the cylinder exceeds a predetermined pressure set in the pressure relief device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes a manual activation.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes a pressure gauge to indicate a current pressure of the extinguishing agent contained within the cylinder.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a means in communication with a power source, fuel source, gas source, heat source and/or ventilation system such that when the extinguishing agent is being expelled, said means disconnects the power source, fuel source, gas source, heat source and/or ventilation system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the environment is a car and said wireless automatic suppression apparatus, discharge nozzles and detectors are positioned about an engine of said car, wherein upon detecting a hazard, a fuel supply line, defined by said car is automatically deactivated.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a means for determining when the current pressure of the extinguishing agent contained within the cylinder decreases because of a leak, such that when a leak occurs, said means indicates a malfunction with the apparatus.

15. A wireless automatic detection and suppression system for the detection and suppression of a hazard within an environment, the system comprising:

at least two wireless automatic suppression apparatuses, each apparatus includes;

a cylinder containing an extinguishing agent,

a valve attached to the cylinder, the valve has at least one discharge port such that when the valve is opened, the extinguishing agent flows through said one discharge port,

each discharge port having a discharge tubing and at least one discharge nozzle positioned about the environment, and

a receiver in communication with the valve such that upon receiving a wireless signal that a hazard exists in the environment the valve opens to expel the extinguishing agent out of said at least one discharge nozzle;

at least one corresponding detector positioned about the environment to detect a hazard, each corresponding detector further includes a transceiver for transmitting a wireless signal to the receiver upon detecting a hazard; and

an entrance sensor in communication with the receivers in communication with the valves, the entrance sensor sends an open entrance signal or a closed entrance signal to the receivers such that when the receivers receive said open entrance signal, said suppression apparatuses disarms and when the receivers receive said closed entrance signal, said suppression apparatuses are capable of being rearmed.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes an audio and/or visual indicator to indicate the expulsion of extinguishing agent by a respective apparatus.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein each wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes a manual activation.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein each wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes a siphon tube and a charge port for pressurizing or charging the extinguishing agent with but not limited to an inert expellant gas.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes a pressure gauge to determine a pressure of the extinguishing agent.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising a pressure relief device in each automatic suppression apparatus to vent excess pressure in the cylinders if a pressure in said cylinders exceeds a predetermined pressure set in said pressure relief device.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least two wireless automatic suppression apparatuses and corresponding detectors are wirelessly linked together within the environment, such that when a corresponding detector detects a hazard and sends a wireless signal to a corresponding wireless automatic suppression apparatus, said corresponding wireless automatic suppression apparatus will expel the extinguishing agent contained therein while a non-corresponding wireless automatic suppression apparatus retains extinguishing agent contained therein until the reception of a wireless signal from a detector corresponding to said non-corresponding wireless automatic suppression apparatus.

22. The system of claim 21 further includes a controller in wireless communication with the at least two wireless automatic suppression apparatuses, each detector upon detecting a hazard sends a hazard signal to the controller and the controller further relays said hazard signal to the corresponding wireless automatic suppression apparatus.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein when the hazard signal is a predetermined type the controller sends an activation signal to each wireless automatic suppression apparatus whereupon each wireless automatic suppression apparatus that receives said activation signal automatically activates to release the extinguishing agents contained therein.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein each wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes a means for determining whether the pressure of the extinguishing agent inside the cylinder decreases because of a leak, and wherein said means upon detecting a leak, indicates a malfunction is occurring.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein when the hazard is a predetermined type and a detector detects said predetermined type of hazard, said detector sends an activation signal to each wireless automatic suppression apparatus whereupon each wireless automatic suppression apparatus that receives said activation signal automatically activates to release the extinguishing agents contained thereon.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein each wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes a indicating means for the indication of a malfunction with the apparatus.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein each wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes a means that is in communication with a power source, fuel source, gas source, heat source or ventilation system such that when the extinguishing agent is being expelled, the means disconnects the power source, fuel source, gas source, heat source or ventilation system.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the environment is a warehouse having a plurality of machines each having a separate power and fuel supply, and wherein each machines includes a wireless automatic suppression apparatus and corresponding detectors positioned about one of the machines, of said plurality of machines, such that upon detecting a hazard on a machine, of said plurality of machines, a wireless automatic suppression apparatus positioned about said machine suppresses said hazard and the means on said wireless automatic suppression apparatus shuts the power and fuel supply of said machine.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the environment is a macro environment that is divisible into a plurality of micro environments and wherein each wireless automatic suppression apparatus and corresponding detector, of said at least one detector, are designated to a single micro environment, of said plurality of micro environments, such that when one of the detectors, detects a hazard in a micro environment, the wireless automatic suppression apparatus designated to said micro environment activates to extinguish the hazard.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the environment is an engine and the means disconnects the fuel source to the engine.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the environment is an office space and each wireless automatic suppression apparatus includes nozzles that are positioned inside a corresponding cabinet and the corresponding detectors are positioned inside said corresponding cabinet, such that upon detecting a hazard inside a corresponding cabinet, the wireless automatic suppression apparatus corresponding to said corresponding cabinet extinguishes the hazard.