Fire suppression systems and methods

• US 8,672,045 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whitney Projects, LLC
• Original Assignee: Whitney Projects, LLC
• Inventors: Whitney, Paul K
• Primary Examiner(s): JONAITIS, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US11/757,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20080017393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,482 Days
• Field of Search: 169/60, 169/46, 169/26, 169/88, 169/77, 169/21, 169/29, 169/19, 169/47, 169/56, 169/61, 169/65, 169/89, 239/280, 239/282, 239/283, 239/237, 239/240, 239/241, 239/69, 239/537, 239/541, 239/583
• US Class Current: 169/60
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/023 the extinguishing material being expelled by compressed gas, taken from storage tanks, or by generating a pressure gas for foam generation A62C5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/11 heat-sensitive

Abstract

Fire suppression systems and methods are described. One described system includes a housing configured to house a container of a fire suppression material, a delivery block in fluid communication with the container, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the delivery block and configured to disperse the fire suppression material from the delivery block. The described system can also include a power supply; a thermal indicator coupled to the power supply and operable to: detect the presence of a fire, generate a first signal indicating the presence of the fire, and transmit the first signal; and an actuator coupled to the power supply, the actuator in communication with the thermal indicator and configured to cause the fire suppression material to be transferred from the container to the delivery block in response to receipt of the first signal.

Claims

1. A fire suppression system comprising:

a housing configured to house a container of a fire suppression material;

a delivery block in fluid communication with the container, the delivery block comprising;

a mounting surface configured to mount the delivery block on an external surface; and

a moveable assembly operable to align the delivery block;

a nozzle in fluid communication with the delivery block and configured to disperse the fire suppression material from the delivery block;

a power supply;

a thermal indicator coupled to the power supply and operable to;

detect the presence of a fire,

generate a first signal indicating the presence of the fire, and

transmit the first signal; and

an actuator coupled to the power supply, the actuator in communication with the thermal indicator and configured to cause the fire suppression material to be transferred from the container to the delivery block in response to receipt of the first signal, wherein the actuator comprises;

a motor having a shaft;

a gear coupled to the shaft; and

a discharge assembly engaged with the gear, the discharge assembly comprising a sloped trigger comprising a sloped track and further comprising a discharge tube configured to move along the sloped track, the discharge assembly configured to rotate when the gear is rotated and thereby move the sloped trigger and push the discharge tube into the container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sloped trigger comprises a ramp.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fire suppression material comprises a liquid having foaming properties.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery block and actuator comprise a single structure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises a first nozzle and further comprising a second nozzle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal indicator comprises an infrared detector.

7. A fire suppression system comprising:

a housing configured to house a container of a fire suppression material;

a delivery block in fluid communication with the container, the delivery block comprising;

a mounting surface configured to mount the delivery block on an external surface; and

a moveable assembly operable to align the delivery block;

a nozzle in fluid communication with the delivery block and configured to disperse the fire suppression material from the delivery block;

a power supply;

a thermal indicator coupled to the power supply and operable to;

detect the presence of a fire,

generate a first signal indicating the presence of the fire, and

transmit the first signal; and

an actuator coupled to the power supply, wherein the actuator comprises at least one shut-off switch and is in communication with the thermal indicator and configured to cause the fire suppression material to be transferred from the container to the delivery block in response to receipt of the first signal, and wherein the actuator further comprises a discharge assembly comprising a sloped trigger comprising a sloped track and further comprising a discharge tube configured to move along the sloped track, the discharge assembly configured to rotate when the gear is rotated and thereby move the sloped trigger and push the discharge tube into the container.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the fire suppression material comprises a liquid having foaming properties.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the delivery block is remote from the actuator and housing.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the delivery block and actuator comprise a single structure.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the delivery block comprises a moveable assembly for aiming the nozzle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the moveable assembly comprises an alignment device.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the delivery block comprises a first delivery block and further comprising a second delivery block.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the nozzle comprises a first nozzle in fluid communication with the first delivery block and further comprising a second nozzle in fluid communication with the second delivery block.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the nozzle comprises a first nozzle and further comprising a second nozzle.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the thermal indicator comprises a first thermal indicator and further comprising a second thermal indicator.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the thermal indicator comprises a thermistor.

18. The system of claim 7, wherein the thermal indicator comprises an infrared detector.

19. The system of claim 7, wherein the power supply comprises a battery and wherein the actuator comprises a low power indicator.

20. The system of claim 7, wherein the actuator is further configured to generate a second signal in response to the first signal.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the second signal is operable to engage a cut-off.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the cut-off comprises a gas line cut-off.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the cut-off comprises an electrical cut-off.

24. A fire suppression system comprising:

a housing configured to house a container of a fire suppression material;

an end cap configured to position the container;

a delivery block in fluid communication with the container, the delivery block comprising;

a mounting surface configured to mount the delivery block on an external surface; and

a moveable assembly operable to align the delivery block;

a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the delivery block and configured to disperse the fire suppression material from the delivery block;

a power supply;

a thermal indicator coupled to the power supply and operable to;

detect the presence of a fire,

generate a first signal indicating the presence of the fire, and

transmit the first signal; and

an actuator coupled to the power supply, wherein the actuator comprises a reset button and is in communication with the thermal indicator and configured to cause the fire suppression material to be transferred from the container to the delivery block in response to receipt of the first signal, and wherein the actuator further comprises a discharge assembly comprising a sloped trigger comprising a sloped track and further comprising a discharge tube configured to move along the sloped track, the discharge assembly configured to rotate when the gear is rotated and thereby move the sloped trigger and push the discharge tube into the container.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the fire suppression material comprises a liquid having foaming properties.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the delivery block and actuator comprise a single structure.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the nozzle comprises a first nozzle and further comprising a second nozzle.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the thermal indicator comprises an infrared detector.

29. A method for suppressing a fire comprising:

receiving a first signal indicating a presence of a fire from a thermal indicator;

causing an actuator to transfer a fire suppression material from a container to a delivery block in fluid communication with the container in response to receipt of the first signal, wherein the actuator comprises a reset button wherein the fire suppression material is dispersed from the delivery block mounted on an external surface through a plurality of nozzles, and wherein the actuator further comprises a discharge assembly comprising a sloped trigger comprising a sloped track and further comprising a discharge tube configured to move along the sloped track, the discharge assembly configured to rotate when the gear is rotated and thereby move the sloped trigger and push the discharge tube into the container.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

generating a second signal in response to the first signal; and

outputting the second signal.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the second signal is configured to engage a cut-off.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the second signal is configured to trigger a communication.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the actuator is configured to transfer the material in pulses.