Automotive fire suppression system with a composite reservoir having a combination lower closure and propellant base

• US 7,451,829 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Thompson, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman; Darren W
• Application Number:
  US11/425,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20060243461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 169/9, 169/62, 220/581, 220/582, 220/586, 220588-590, 220/592, 220/495.5, 220/200, 220212-214, 220/780, 220/782, 220/783, 220/789, 220/795, 220/310.1, 220/315, 220/319, 220/320, 220/324, 220/326, 220/359.1, 220/651, 220/652, 220/654
• US Class Current: 169/9
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles

Abstract

A composite reservoir for an onboard fire suppression system includes an outer wall of composite material, with the outer wall having a generally cylindrical section. An inner reinforcement has a section inserted into the generally cylindrical section of the outer wall. A closure plug is inserted into the generally cylindrical section of the outer wall. The closure plug has an inner surface in contact with the inner reinforcement. A circumferential groove circumscribes the closure plug, and a tension member displaces the outer wall into contact with the circumferential groove, so as to maintain the closure plug in contact with the outer wall and the inner reinforcement.

Claims

1. A composite reservoir for an onboard fire suppression system, comprising:

an outer wall, comprising a fiber-reinforced composite, with said outer wall having a generally cylindrical section;

an inner reinforcement comprising a fiber-reinforced composite, with said inner reinforcement having a section inserted into said generally cylindrical section of said outer wall;

a closure plug inserted into said generally cylindrical section of said outer wall, with said closure plug having an inner surface in contact with said inner reinforcement, and with a circumferential groove circumscribing said closure plug; and

a tension member displacing said outer wall into contact with said circumferential groove, so as to maintain said closure plug in contact with said outer wall and said inner reinforcement.

2. A composite reservoir according to claim 1, wherein said closure plug is chemically welded to said outer wall and said inner reinforcement.

3. A composite reservoir according to claim 1, wherein said closure plug is friction welded to said outer wall and said inner reinforcement.

4. A composite reservoir according to claim 1, wherein said closure plug is friction welded to said outer wall.

5. A composite reservoir according to claim 1, wherein said closure plug further comprises a propellant attached to said inner surface of said closure plug such that said propellant extends through an opening defined into said inner reinforcement and into the interior of the reservoir.

6. A composite reservoir according to claim 1, wherein said outer wall and said inner reinforcement comprise fiber-reinforced resin composites.

7. A composite reservoir for an onboard fire suppression system, comprising:

an outer wall, comprising a fiber-reinforced composite, with said outer wall having a generally cylindrical section;

an inner reinforcement comprising a fiber-reinforced composite, with said inner reinforcement having a section inserted into said generally cylindrical section of said outer wall;

a combination closure plug and propellant base inserted into said generally cylindrical section of said outer wall, with said closure plug having an inner surface forming a base for a propellant extending within said reservoir through an aperture formed in said inner reinforcement, and with a circumferential groove circumscribing said closure plug; and

a tension member displacing said outer wall into contact with said circumferential groove, so as to maintain said closure plug in contact with said outer wall and said inner reinforcement.

8. A method for fabricating a composite reservoir for an onboard fire suppression system, comprising:

forming an outer wall, comprising a fiber-reinforced composite, with said outer wall having a generally cylindrical section;

forming an inner reinforcement comprising a fiber-reinforced composite, with said inner reinforcement having a section inserted into said generally cylindrical section of said outer wall;

inserting a circumferentially grooved closure plug into said generally cylindrical section of said outer wall, with said closure plug having an inner surface in contact with said inner reinforcement; and

applying a tension member about the portion of said outer wall in proximity to said circumferential groove, so as to displace said portion of the outer wall into contact with said groove, in order to maintain said closure plug in contact with said outer wall and said inner wall.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of chemically bonding said closure plug to both said outer wall and said inner reinforcement.