Apparatus and methods for sensing of fire and directed fire suppression

• US 7,066,273 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Tan
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Tan
• Inventors: Tan, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US10/474,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20040129434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 169/37, 169/40, 169/41, 169/23, 239 67- 73, 250/339.15, 250/339.14, 340/578
• US Class Current: 169/37
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0271 Detection of area conflagration fires fire alarms for forest fires G08B17/005
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0292 by spraying extinguishants directly into the fire A62C3/0242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/40 with electric connection between sensor and actuator

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for pro-active, intelligent fire suppression and/or control using a micro-controller that is communicatably connected to at least one fire-energy detection sensor and to at least one fire suppression device. The present invention provides apparatus and methods for sensing the exact direction of a fire as well as a regional location of a fire. The present invention provides apparatus and methods for directing a fire suppressant at the source of the flame. As depicted in FIG. 1a, the present invention provides fine protection apparatus (10) for identifying the existence of a fire hazard and for determining the exact direction and regional location of the file hazard by using multiple infrared (IR) detectors. A first IR detector (20) with a wide angle view of an area of coverage corresponding to an area requiring fire protection will be continuously queried by a micro-controller (100). During normal operation, the wide-angle IR detector (20) will be located in no specific position but will be generally pointed towards the area requiring fire protection. The present invention further provides a second IR detector (30) with a narrow-angle field of view that is mounted on a movable platform (45) comprising an elevation manipulator (50) and an azimuthal manipulator (60). The elevation manipulator (50) of the movable platform (45) is connected to a second stepper-motor (91). The second stepper-motor (91) controls the elevation manipulator (50). The outer edge of the circumference of the azimuthal manipulator (60) of the movable platform (45) forms a first cog wheel (61). The first cog wheel (61) contacts a second cog wheel (62) which is connected to and driven by a first stepper-motor (90).

Claims

1. A fire detection and suppression apparatus, said fire detection and suppression apparatus comprising:

a wide-angle infra-red detector for detecting a presence of a fire;

a narrow-angle infra-red detector for detecting a direction of the fire;

a nozzle attached to a supply of fire suppressant material; and

a micro-controller programmed to continuously monitor the wide-angle infra-red detector to determine the presence of fire, wherein the narrow-angle infra-red detector and the nozzle are mounted on a platform that is movable in a plurality of directions and wherein the narrow-angle infra-red detector and the nozzle are both directed to a single point.

2. The fire detection and suppression apparatus of claim 1, wherein said micro-controller is further programmed to:

manipulate said platform to point said narrow-angle infra-red detector in the direction of the fire; and

spray a fire suppressant through said nozzle.

3. A method using a microcontroller for detecting and suppressing a fire, said method comprising:

monitoring a digital signal from an analog-to-digital converter representing an electrical characteristic change to a first fire-energy detector connected to the analog-to-digital converter until the digital signal is equal to or greater than a first pre-established value, wherein said first fire-energy detector is capable of detecting fire-energy in a first angle of view wherein said first angle of view has a first width; and

after the digital signal is equal to or greater than the first pre-established value, manipulating a platform on which a second fire-energy detector and a nozzle are mounted to sweep across an area of view in a plurality of directions until a direction of the fire is determined, wherein said second fire-energy detector is capable of detecting fire-energy in a second angle of view, wherein the second angle of view has a second width, wherein the second width is narrower than the first width, wherein the nozzle is connected to a supply of fire suppressant, and wherein the second fire-energy detector and the nozzle are each directed to a common view relative to the platform.

4. The method of claim 3, said method further comprising:

after the direction of the fire is determined, manipulating the platform to point the nozzle to the direction of the fire.

5. The method of claim 4, said method further comprising:

opening a valve between the nozzle and the supply of fire suppressant; and

controlling delivery of fire suppressant.