Suppressing a fire condition within a cargo container

• US 9,555,271 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• 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: Ransom, John H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman, Darren W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dandridge, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US13/458,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20120318537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 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 37/38 by both sensor and actuator, e.g. valve, being in the danger zone
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0018 using gases or vapours that do not support combustion, e.g. steam, carbon dioxide

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 one or more areas of an aircraft each area having a corresponding initial pressure;

after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the one or more areas of the aircraft, depressurizing the one or more areas of the aircraft from the corresponding initial pressures in accordance with a depressurizing procedure for the aircraft, wherein depressurizing the one or more areas of the aircraft reduces the amount of oxygen in the one or more areas of the aircraft;

after depressurizing the one or more areas of the aircraft, releasing a first rapid discharge of an extinguishing agent in the one or more areas of the aircraft; and

after releasing the rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent, releasing a second controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the one or more areas 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 one or more areas of an aircraft;

after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the one or more areas of the aircraft, releasing a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the one or more areas of the aircraft;

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

after depressurizing the one or more areas of the aircraft, releasing a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the one or more areas 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 one or more areas 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 one or more areas of the aircraft.