System and method for suppressing fires

• US 8,235,129 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N2 Global, SIA
• Original Assignee: N2 Towers Inc.
• Inventors: Richardson, Adam Tartar, Bennett, Joseph Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh Q
• Application Number:
  US12/870,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20100319937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 169/12, 169/6, 169/46, 169/26, 169/28, 169/71, 169/81
• US Class Current: 169/6
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 5/006 Extinguishants produced by combustion

Abstract

A fire suppression apparatus includes a canister containing a non-azide solid propellant chemical that generates an oxygen-displacing gas mixture when ignited; a pyrotechnic device associated with the canister for initiating ignition of the solid propellant chemical to generate the oxygen-displacing gas mixture; and at least one filter associated with the canister for filtering out contents of the oxygen-displacing gas mixture to result in a clean agent fire suppressant deliverable into a space. The fire suppression apparatus is preferably configured for use in fire suppression systems for normally occupied spaces.

Claims

1. A fire suppression apparatus comprising:

a canister containing a non-azide solid propellant chemical that generates an oxygen-displacing gas mixture when ignited;

a pyrotechnic device associated with the canister for initiating ignition of the solid propellant chemical to generate the oxygen-displacing gas mixture; and

at least one filter associated with the canister for filtering out contents of the oxygen-displacing gas mixture to result in a clean agent fire suppressant deliverable into a space.

2. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clean agent fire suppressant contains from about 0 to about five percent by weight of carbon dioxide.

3. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 2, wherein the clean agent fire suppressant contains from about 0 to about 3 percent by weight of carbon dioxide.

4. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter is capable of filtering out substantially all carbon dioxide from the oxygen-displacing gas mixture.

5. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter is capable of filtering out liquid water from the oxygen-displacing gas mixture such that any water vapor in the fire-suppressant is maintained above its dew point in the space.

6. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one screen configured to cause a reduction in temperature of the fire suppressant.

7. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one screen is incorporated as part of the canister.

8. A fire suppression system comprising:

a tower; and

at least one fire suppression apparatus as defined in claim 1 integrated with the tower to deliver the fire suppressant into the space.

9. The fire suppression system of claim 8, wherein the tower comprises a mounting flange adapted to receive mounting bolts for securing the tower to a floor in the space.

10. The fire suppression system of claim 8, further comprising a diffuser secured to the tower for directing the fire suppressant into the space.