Liquid-augmented, generated-gas fire suppression systems and related methods
First Claim
1. A fire suppression apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having gas generant material disposed therein;
an initiator operatively associated with at least a portion of the gas generant material and configured to ignite at least a portion of the gas generant material to form gas upon actuation of the initiator; and
a cooling system disposed adjacent to the housing, the cooling system including a first housing defining a first chamber therein and a second housing defining a second chamber therein, the first housing and the second housing having respective first openings proximate the housing having a gas generant material disposed therein and respective second openings opposite the housing having a gas generant material disposed therein, the first chamber having a coolant material disposed therein, wherein upon actuation responsive to pressure of gas exiting the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein, at least a portion of the coolant material is caused to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber by a piston movably disposed within the first chamber, extending from an interior surface of the first housing to an exterior surface of the second housing, wherein the piston is movable relative to the first housing and the second housing, and responsive to the pressure of the gas exiting the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein,wherein the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein, the first housing, and the second housing are configured to provide a substantially axial flow pathway for gas formed upon ignition of the gas generant material, the substantially axial flow pathway extending in a substantially axial direction from the housing having gas generant material disposed therein, in the substantially axial direction into the first housing of the cooling system through the first opening thereof and against the piston, in the substantially axial direction into the second housing of the cooling system through the first opening thereof, and in the substantially axial direction out of the second housing of the cooling system through the second opening of the second housing.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Fire suppression apparatuses include a housing with gas generant material disposed therein, an initiator for igniting the gas generant material, and a cooling system. The cooling system includes a first chamber with a coolant material disposed therein and a second chamber. The coolant material is caused to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber to cool gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant material upon exiting from the housing under pressure. The cooling system may further include a piston disposed within the first chamber and movable responsive to gas pressure. Methods for cooling a fire suppressant gas and methods for suppressing a fire include flowing a fire suppressant gas into first and second chambers of a cooling system, flowing a coolant material from the first chamber into the second chamber, and contacting the fire suppressant gas with the coolant material to cool the fire suppressant gas.
150 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A fire suppression apparatus, comprising:
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a housing having gas generant material disposed therein; an initiator operatively associated with at least a portion of the gas generant material and configured to ignite at least a portion of the gas generant material to form gas upon actuation of the initiator; and a cooling system disposed adjacent to the housing, the cooling system including a first housing defining a first chamber therein and a second housing defining a second chamber therein, the first housing and the second housing having respective first openings proximate the housing having a gas generant material disposed therein and respective second openings opposite the housing having a gas generant material disposed therein, the first chamber having a coolant material disposed therein, wherein upon actuation responsive to pressure of gas exiting the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein, at least a portion of the coolant material is caused to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber by a piston movably disposed within the first chamber, extending from an interior surface of the first housing to an exterior surface of the second housing, wherein the piston is movable relative to the first housing and the second housing, and responsive to the pressure of the gas exiting the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein, wherein the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein, the first housing, and the second housing are configured to provide a substantially axial flow pathway for gas formed upon ignition of the gas generant material, the substantially axial flow pathway extending in a substantially axial direction from the housing having gas generant material disposed therein, in the substantially axial direction into the first housing of the cooling system through the first opening thereof and against the piston, in the substantially axial direction into the second housing of the cooling system through the first opening thereof, and in the substantially axial direction out of the second housing of the cooling system through the second opening of the second housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A method for suppressing a fire with a fire suppression apparatus, the method comprising:
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igniting a gas generant material in a gas generant housing to form a fire suppressant gas; flowing the fire suppressant gas in a substantially axial direction from the gas generant housing into a first chamber defined by a first housing and into a second chamber defined by a second housing of a cooling system; flowing a coolant material from the first chamber of the cooling system into the second chamber by forcing a piston to move in the first chamber in the substantially axial direction along and relative to an interior surface of the first housing and an exterior surface of the second housing responsive to pressure of the fire suppressant gas, the piston fully contained within the first chamber throughout movement thereof in the first chamber; contacting the fire suppressant gas with the coolant material to cool the fire suppressant gas within the second housing; and flowing the combination of the fire suppressant gas and the coolant material from the second housing in the substantially axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for cooling a fire suppressant gas, the method comprising:
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flowing a fire suppressant gas in a substantially axial direction into a first opening of a first chamber defined by a first housing and a first opening of a second chamber defined by a second housing proximate the first chamber; moving a piston disposed fully in the first chamber and extending from an interior surface of the first housing to an exterior surface of the second housing in the substantially axial direction and relative to the first housing and the second housing by applying pressure of the fire suppressant gas to the piston; flowing a coolant material disposed in the first chamber from the first chamber into the second chamber responsive to movement of the piston; contacting the fire suppressant gas with the coolant material in the second chamber to cool the fire suppressant gas; flowing the fire suppressant gas from the first opening of the second housing through the second chamber in the substantially axial direction; and flowing the combination of the fire suppressant gas and the coolant material from the second housing through a second opening of the second housing in the substantially axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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21. A fire suppression apparatus, comprising:
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a housing having gas generant material disposed therein; an initiator operatively associated with at least a portion of the gas generant material and configured to ignite at least a portion of the gas generant material to form gas upon actuation of the initiator; a cooling system disposed adjacent to the housing, the cooling system including a first housing defining a first chamber therein and a second housing defining a second chamber therein, the first chamber having a coolant material disposed therein, wherein upon actuation responsive to pressure of gas exiting the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein, at least a portion of the coolant material is caused to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber by a piston movably disposed within the first chamber, extending from an interior surface of the first housing to an exterior surface of the second housing and responsive to the pressure of the gas exiting the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein; and at least one additional opening into the first chamber for enabling pressure of the fire suppressant gas to force at least a portion of the coolant material to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber.
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Specification