Fire sensor, fire detection system, fire suppression system, and combinations thereof

• US 7,810,577 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Popp, James B., Benjamin, Arthur J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dinh Q
• Application Number:
  US11/213,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20070044979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 169/7, 169 14- 17, 169/24, 169/52, 169/56, 169/62, 169/70, 239/271, 239/272
• US Class Current: 169/70
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/08 in aircraft A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/22 specially adapted for piercing walls, heaped materials, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/44 only the sensor being in the danger zone
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0014 for sensing the radiation from gases, flames
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0066 for hot spots detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/48 Thermography; Techniques using wholly visual means

Abstract

A combination fire detection and fire suppression system may include a fire detection system configured to detect an undesirably high temperature associated with an area. The fire detection system may include a temperature sensor including a temperature sensor array and a fire alerting system associated with the temperature sensor. The fire alerting system may be configured to receive information from the temperature sensor and generate a warning signal based on an undesirably high temperature associated with the area. The fire detection system may include a fire control panel configured to receive the warning signal. The system may also include a fire suppression system including a fire suppressant delivery system configured to provide at least one fire suppressant agent to the area associated with the undesirably high temperature.

Claims

1. A fire suppression system configured to be mounted within a vehicle and at least one of reduce the temperature of an area inside the vehicle experiencing an undesirably high temperature, suppress a fire associated with the area, and extinguish a fire associated with the area, the system comprising:

a fire suppressant delivery system configured to be mounted within the vehicle and provide at least one fire suppressant agent to the area;

a nozzle in flow communication with the fire suppressant delivery system, the nozzle being configured to discharge fire suppressant agent; and

an extension device associated with the nozzle and configured to be mounted within the vehicle, the extension device being configured to move the nozzle,

wherein the nozzle comprises a tip configured to penetrate a barrier within the vehicle such that the nozzle can discharge fire suppressant agent into an area behind the barrier,

wherein the tip is configured to penetrate the barrier as the extension device extends the nozzle such that the nozzle can discharge fire suppressant agent behind the barrier,

wherein the barrier comprises a portion of one of a container and a pallet, and

wherein the extension device is mounted within the vehicle such that the extension device moves from a retracted position in which the tip does not contact the barrier to an extended position in which the tip extends at least partially through the barrier.

2. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein the extension device comprises a motor-driven scissors device.

3. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, and the system is configured to be mounted within the aircraft.

4. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein the fire suppressant agent comprises at least one of a nitrogen-aerated foam and an argon-aerated foam.

5. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein the fire suppressant delivery system comprises:

a first container containing a surfactant,

a second container containing a gas, and

at least one manifold in flow communication with the first and second containers.

6. The fire suppression system of claim 5, wherein the fire suppressant delivery system comprises a mixing area configured to be in flow communication with a supply of the surfactant and a supply of the gas.

7. The fire suppression system of claim 6, wherein the mixing area is located between the first and second containers and the at least one manifold.

8. The fire suppression system of claim 6, wherein the at least one manifold comprises two manifolds each configured to convey one of the surfactant and the gas to the mixing area, and wherein the mixing area is located in the nozzle.

9. The fire suppression system of claim 5, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one material configured to generate a foam agent when mixed with the gas.

10. The fire suppression system of claim 5, wherein the gas comprises a non-oxygen carrying gas.

11. The fire suppression system of claim 5, wherein the gas comprises at least one of argon and nitrogen.

12. The fire suppression system of claim 5, wherein the first container comprises a corrosion-resistant container.

13. The fire suppression system of claim 5, wherein the second container comprises a pressure vessel.

14. The fire suppression system of claim 13, wherein the pressure vessel comprises aluminum-spun carbon fiber.

15. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein the extension device comprises a pneumatically-operated linear actuator.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a body defining an interior; and

a fire suppression system mounted within the interior of the vehicle and configured to at least one of reduce the temperature of an area inside the vehicle experiencing an undesirably high temperature, suppress a fire associated with the area, and extinguish a fire associated with the area, the system comprising

a fire suppressant delivery system mounted within the interior of the vehicle and configured to provide at least one fire suppressant agent to the area,

a nozzle in flow communication with the fire suppressant delivery system, the nozzle being configured to discharge fire suppressant agent, and

an extension device associated with the nozzle and mounted within the interior of the vehicle, the extension device being configured to move the nozzle,

wherein the nozzle comprises a tip configured to penetrate a barrier within the interior of the vehicle such that the nozzle can discharge fire suppressant agent into an area behind the barrier,

wherein the tip is configured to penetrate the barrier as the extension device extends the nozzle such that the nozzle can discharge fire suppressant agent behind the barrier,

wherein the barrier is a portion of one of a container and a pallet, and

wherein the extension device is mounted within the vehicle such that the extension device moves from a retracted position in which the tip does not contact the barrier to an extended position in which the tip extends at least partially through the barrier.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the extension device comprises a motor-driven scissors device.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the fire suppressant delivery system comprises:

a first container containing a surfactant,

a second container containing a gas, and

at least one manifold in flow communication with the first and second containers.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the fire suppressant delivery system comprises a mixing area configured to be in flow communication with a supply of the surfactant and a supply of the gas.