Fire detection system

• US 9,248,917 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Gastonides, Josephine Gabrielle, Rennie, Paul Alan, Smith, Paul David
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US14/208,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 340/963, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/002 for warehouses, storage areas or other installations for storing goods
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/08 in aircraft A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/36 an actuating signal being generated by a sensor separate from an outlet device
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/009 Fire detection or protection; Erosion protection, e.g. from airborne particles
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

A fire detection system for an aircraft, freight transportation vehicle or freight storage facility comprises one or more RFID tags associated with one or more items of freight being transported or stored. The RFID tag is configured to detect a condition indicative of a fire in or in the vicinity the item of freight, for example a temperature rise or generation of smoke. One or more RFID readers are arranged to read the RFID tags. The RFID reader is connected to or forms part of a control system, the RFID reader or the control determining whether the RFID tag has detected a fire.

Claims

1. A fire detection system for an aircraft, freight transportation vehicle or freight storage facility comprising:

one or more RFID tags associated with one or more items of freight being transported or stored, said RFID tag being configured to detect a condition indicative of a fire in or in the vicinity the item of freight;

one or more RFID readers arranged within the transportation vehicle or storage facility to read said one or more RFID tags;

said RFID reader being connected to or forming part of a control system, the RFID reader or the control system determining whether the RFID tag has detected a fire condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fire condition is a temperature condition.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the temperature condition is a predetermined temperature or a temperature rise.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fire condition is a smoke or gas production condition.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a warning is produced when a fire condition has been detected.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the warning is provided in or on the aircraft, freight transportation vehicle or storage facility and/or remotely therefrom.

7. The system of claim 6, comprising communication means for communicating a warning to a remote location.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the warning includes data held by the RFID relating to the item of freight.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the data includes one or more of an indication of the type of freight, the quantity of freight and the location of the freight.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein prior to a fire condition being detected, only data relevant to fire detection is accessible, other data only becoming accessible after a fire condition has been detected.

11. The system claim 10, wherein the data comprises ID data which is linked to a cargo manifest, which gives an indication of the location of the freight item.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the freight transportation vehicle or storage facility is additionally provided with a fixed fire detector system and the RFID tag detector system is integrated with the fixed fire detector system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the detection of a fire condition by an RFID tag acts to increase the sensitivity of one or more the fixed fire detectors.

14. A method of detecting a fire in an aircraft, other freight transportation vehicle or freight storage facility comprising:

providing one or more items of freight with an RFID tag said RFID tag being configured to detect a condition indicative of a fire in or in the vicinity of the item of freight;

providing the transportation or storage facility with one or more RFID tag readers;

reading said RFID tag with said RFID tag reader; and

determining from that reading if a fire condition has been detected.

15. The method of 14, wherein the fire condition is a smoke or gas production condition.

16. The method claim 15 wherein a warning is produced when a fire condition has been detected.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the warning is provided in or on the aircraft, freight transportation vehicle or storage facility and/or remotely therefrom.

18. A fire detection system for an aircraft, freight transportation vehicle or freight storage facility comprising:

one or more fixed fire detectors;

one or more RFID tags associated with one or more items of freight being transported or stored;

one or more RFID readers arranged within the transportation vehicle or storage facility for interrogating said one or more RFID tags in the event that said fire detector senses a fire for making data regarding the item of freight available to the fire detection system.