Passive microwave system and method for protecting a structure from fire threats
First Claim
1. An integrated fire detection, protection and suppression system for one of a structure and a transporter comprisinga plurality at passive microwave receivers comprising at least one passive microwave directional receiver located for receiving passive microwave radiation emitted an area to be protected including the structure, the passive microwave receivers operating within a range of microwave frequencies protected from active transmission in a geographic area encompassing a location of said plurality of passive microwave receivers and for outputting an electrical signal proportional to a passively received level of microwave radiation at a given time;
- a signal processor for receiving the electrical signal output of the plurality of passive microwave receivers and for comparing the received electrical signal output with a reference level and with characteristic fire event signature data and outputting a signal indicating a fire event responsive to the comparison;
a memory connected to the signal processor for storing the characteristic fire event signature data for one of a fuel fire, a motor fire, and an electrical fire; and
a fire protection system for protecting the one of the structure and the transporter from the one of the fuel fire, the motor fire and the electrical fire, the signal processor actuating the fire protection system for protecting the structure or the transporter responsive to the fire event signal output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic fire suppression system used to provide protection of window glass and other structural elements in aircraft terminals which are exposed to exterior fires caused by natural, accidental, or intentional events comprises a directional passive microwave receiver, a central processor for processing received microwave signals over time and comparing the received signals over time with thermal event signatures stored in memory to selectively actuate a sprinkler system for protecting the window glass in the vicinity of an identified fire event. The memory may further store a model of the aircraft terminal, and the processor utilizes a fire dynamics simulator to simulate a thermal event at the terminal. A related fire suppression process involves the detection of incipient fires through an array of exterior passive microwave heat sensor fire detectors connected to an electronic control processor which identify zones such as 30 to 100 linear foot zones of exterior glass surface and automatically initiates an array of quenching sprinkler heads applying water to the exposed surfaces of glass and other structural elements in response to detection of an identified fire event by its signature.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An integrated fire detection, protection and suppression system for one of a structure and a transporter comprising
a plurality at passive microwave receivers comprising at least one passive microwave directional receiver located for receiving passive microwave radiation emitted an area to be protected including the structure, the passive microwave receivers operating within a range of microwave frequencies protected from active transmission in a geographic area encompassing a location of said plurality of passive microwave receivers and for outputting an electrical signal proportional to a passively received level of microwave radiation at a given time; -
a signal processor for receiving the electrical signal output of the plurality of passive microwave receivers and for comparing the received electrical signal output with a reference level and with characteristic fire event signature data and outputting a signal indicating a fire event responsive to the comparison; a memory connected to the signal processor for storing the characteristic fire event signature data for one of a fuel fire, a motor fire, and an electrical fire; and a fire protection system for protecting the one of the structure and the transporter from the one of the fuel fire, the motor fire and the electrical fire, the signal processor actuating the fire protection system for protecting the structure or the transporter responsive to the fire event signal output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of detecting a particular fire event at a particular location and suppressing a fire associated with the detected fire event comprising
storing a plurality of different fire event signatures in memory including at least a transporter fire signature, an electrical fire signature and a fuel fire signature, such signatures characterized by a received electrical signal level of a microwave frequency over time the microwave frequency being selected as a frequency protected from active transmission in a geographic area encompassing the particular location of the particular fire event; -
detecting the electrical signal level corresponding to the microwave frequency received at a given time from at least one directional passive microwave receiver located in the geographic area encompassing the particular location of the fire event, the electrical signal level for transmission to a central processor; comparing a value of the electrical signal level of the detected microwave frequency over time at the central processor with the different fire event signatures; determining a particular fire event signature and the particular location of the particular fire event, the particular location of the particular fire event being proximate to one of a structure and a transporter, the determination being made by a fire detection system from the comparison of the electrical signal level of the detected microwave frequency with the different stored fire event signatures at a given time at the central processor; and selectively actuating a fire protection system for protecting the one of the structure and the transporter responsive to the determination of the particular fire event signature of the particular fire event at the particular location by the fire detection system, the particular location being proximate to the one of the structure and the transporter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An integrated fire detection, protection and suppression system comprising
a plurality of passive microwave receivers comprising at least two directional passive microwave receivers, each directional passive microwave receiver including a directional antenna located for receiving passive microwave radiation emitted in an area to be protected in a direction of the directional antenna reception, the area to be protected comprising one of a structure and a transporter, the passive microwave receivers operating within a range of frequencies protected from active transmission in a geographic area encompassing a location of the plurality of passive microwave receivers and for outputting an electrical, signal proportional to a passively received level of microwave radiation at a given time, the at least two directional passive microwave receivers being located at different locations proximate to the structure to be protected; -
single processor for receiving the electrical signal output of the directional passive microwave receiver at the given time and for comparing the received electrical signal output with a reference level and with characteristic fire event signature data and outputting a signal indicating, a particular fire event comprising one of a fuel fire event, an electrical fire event and a transporter fire event responsive to the comparison; a memory connected to the signal processor for storing the characteristic fire event signature data; and a fire protection system, responsive to a fire detection system comprising the signal processor, for protecting the one of the structure and the transporter located within the area to be protected and susceptible to fire, the signal processor actuating the fire protection system for protecting the one of the structure and the transporter responsive to the particular fire event signal output of the signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification