Highly integrated data bus automatic fire extinguishing system

• US 8,511,397 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Frasure, David, Norris, Jeff, Wetzork, John, Embry, Bruce, Wyatt, Johnny Dewayne, Cooke, James
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US12/685,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20110168416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 169/56, 169/60, 169/61, 174/72.A, 340/577, 340/584
• US Class Current: 169/61
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/04 with electrically-controlled release
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/40 with electric connection between sensor and actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0045 Cable-harnesses

Abstract

A fire extinguishing system includes a first data bus having respectively first power and command leads. The system has multiple zones, each of which may include one or more detectors, and/or one or more suppressors and activation devices. The first data bus is directly connected and common to the detectors, suppressors and activation devices. A controller is connected to the multiple zones via the first data bus. A fire activation module includes the actuation device. First and second power leads are connected to the actuation device. A capacitor is connected to the actuation device and the power leads. The capacitor is configured to store electricity from the power leads and discharge the electricity to the actuation device during a suppression event. A wiring harness provides a zone identification element in communication with a connector and configured to provide a zone location assignment to the connector.

Claims

1. A fire extinguishing system comprising:

a first data bus including respectively a first power lead and a first command lead;

multiple zones, each zone including a detector, a suppressor and an activation device, the first data bus directly connected and common to the detectors, suppressors and activation devices of the multiple zones; and

a controller connected to the multiple zones via the first data bus;

wherein each zone includes an activation module and at least one microprocessor in at least one of the detector and the activation module, each zone configured to operate independently from the controller to detect and suppress a suppression event;

wherein the at least one microprocessor includes a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor, and the activation module includes the second microprocessor configured to receive a command from the first microprocessor and actuate the activation device in response to the command; and

wherein the suppressor of each zone includes the activation device having a valve configured to selectively release a suppressant into a suppression area.

2. The system according to claim 1, comprising a second data bus including second power and command leads, the second data bus directly connected and common to the detectors, suppressors, and activation devices and the controller.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detector includes the first microprocessor configured to detect the suppression event in a suppression area and command the activation device in response to the suppression event.

4. The system according to claim 1, comprising a network configuration device interfacing with the controller and providing a network map to the controller including the multiple zones and the detectors, the suppressors and the activation modules.

5. A fire extinguishing system comprising:

a first data bus including respectively a first power lead and a first command lead;

multiple zones, each zone including a detector, a suppressor and an activation device, the first data bus directly connected and common to the detectors, suppressors and activation devices of the multiple zones;

a controller connected to the multiple zones via the first data bus;

wherein each zone includes an activation module and at least one microprocessor in at least one of the detector and the activation module, each zone configured to operate independently from the controller to detect and suppress a suppression event;

wherein the at least one microprocessor includes a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor, and the activation module includes the second microprocessor configured to receive a command from the first microprocessor and actuate the activation device in response to the command; and

wherein the device having a current draw during the suppression event, the first power lead and a second power lead connected to the actuation device and having a current capacity less than the current draw, and wherein the activation module including at least one capacitor connected to the actuation device and the power leads, the capacitor configured to store electricity from the power leads and discharge the electricity to the actuation device during the suppression event.

6. A fire extinguishing system comprising:

a first data bus including respectively a first power lead and a first command lead;

multiple zones, each zone including a detector, a suppressor and an activation device, the first data bus directly connected and common to the detectors, suppressors and activation devices of the multiple zones;

a controller connected to the multiple zones via the first data bus; and

wherein the first data bus includes a wiring harness including a connector having a pair of power leads including the first power lead and a pair of command leads including the first command lead, and at least one zone identification element in communication with the connector and configured to provide a zone location assignment to the connector.