Suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft

• US 9,550,080 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stehman, Keith M., Ransom, John H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dandridge, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US14/175,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20140151072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 169/43, 169/45, 169/46, 169/11, 169/54, 169/56, 169/60, 169/61, 169/62, 169/53, 169/70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/24 Operating or controlling mechanisms emergency operation of doors and windows E05F1/002, E05F15/72
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/246 having non-mechanical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/247 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/248 pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/00 Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in oil wells E21B29/08, A62C35/00; in mines or tunnels E21F5/00 ; for nuclear reactors G21C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/08 in aircraft A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 5/006 Extinguishants produced by combustion

Abstract

Various concepts are provided for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft. In one embodiment, the presence of a fire condition in an aircraft is detected. After such a detection, extinguishing agents can be dispensed and/or certain areas of the aircraft can be depressurized.

Claims

1. A method for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a presence of a fire condition in a compartment of an aircraft having an initial pressure;

after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the compartment of the aircraft, depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft from the initial pressure in accordance with a depressurizing procedure for the aircraft, wherein depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft reduces the amount of oxygen in the compartment;

after depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a first rapid discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft; and

after releasing the rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent, releasing a second controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft;

wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second controlled discharge of extinguishing agent is released once the aircraft has started a descent to land.

3. A method for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a presence of a fire condition in a compartment of an aircraft;

after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft;

after releasing the first discharge of the extinguishing agent, depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft in accordance with a depressurizing procedure for the aircraft, wherein depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft reduces the amount of oxygen in the compartment; and

after depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft;

wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.