Integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system

• US 9,919,169 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2010
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lewinski, Daniel F., Meier, Oliver C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Chee-Chong
• Application Number:
  US12/852,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,782 Days
• Field of Search: 169 62, 169 70, 169 56, 169 60, 169 16
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/08 in aircraft A62C3/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/62 dry, i.e. empty of extinguishing material when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/44 only the sensor being in the danger zone

Abstract

An integrated cargo-fire-suppression agent distribution system is disclosed. The integrated cargo-fire-suppression agent distribution system comprises a shut-off valve operable to close such that an airflow is blocked, and vehicle ventilation means operable to distribute a fire-suppression agent if the airflow is blocked.

Claims

1. An aircraft integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system, comprising:

a conditioned air supply source;

a cargo compartment enclosed within an interior space of an aircraft body;

a passenger compartment separated from the cargo compartment;

at least one fire-suppression agent supply source;

a duct system coupling both (i) the conditioned air supply source to the cargo compartment and (ii) the at least one fire-suppression agent supply source to the cargo compartment;

a conditioned air shut-off valve coupled to the conditioned air supply source;

a fire-suppression agent flow-control valve coupled to (i) the at least one fire-suppression agent supply source and (ii) a plumbing connection, wherein the plumbing connection is coupled to the duct system; and

a controller, wherein the system consists of a dual-mode conditioned air/fire-suppression agent distribution system, wherein the controller controls the conditioned air shut-off valve and the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve such that only one of the conditioned air shut-off valve and the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve is open at any given time, wherein the controller commands a closed state in response to receiving a fire-warning signal, wherein the conditioned air shut-off valve is closed in the closed state to thereby block the flow of the conditioned air to the cargo compartment, and wherein the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve is opened in the closed state to thereby allow distribution of a fire-suppression agent from the at least one fire-suppression agent supply source to the cargo compartment via the duct system.

2. The aircraft integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the duct system is coupled to an aircraft.

3. The aircraft integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the fire-suppression agent suppresses a fire within the cargo compartment.

4. The aircraft integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the conditioned air comprises oxygen and is blocked from flowing to the cargo compartment thereby enhancing fire suppression in the contained volume.

5. The aircraft integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to command an open state in response to receiving a fire-suppressed signal, wherein the conditioned air shut-off valve is opened in the open state to thereby unblock the airflow and allowing ventilation with the airflow via the duct system, and wherein the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve is closed in the open state to thereby block distribution of the fire-suppression agent from the at least one fire-suppression agent supply source to the cargo compartment.

6. The aircraft integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the fire-suppression agent comprises:

an inert gas with a high volumetric flow rate in an order of about 2000-3000 cubic feet per minute for an approximate 5000 cubic foot compartment volume.

7. The aircraft integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the fire-suppression agent comprises:

Halon with a low volumetric flow rate of about 150 cubic feet per minute.

8. An integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution method, comprising:

coupling an air supply source to a cargo compartment via a duct system through a conditioned air shut-off valve, wherein the cargo compartment is enclosed within an interior space of an aircraft body, and wherein the cargo compartment is separated from a passenger compartment;

coupling at least one fire-suppression supply source to the cargo compartment via the duct system through a fire-suppression agent flow-control valve, wherein the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve is coupled to (i) the at least one fire-suppression agent supply source and (ii) a plumbing connection, wherein the plumbing connection is coupled to the duct system; and

configuring the duct system to distribute a fire-suppression agent to the cargo compartment from the at least one fire-suppression supply source without using a separate dedicated distribution system in addition to the duct system when a controller commands a closed state in response to receiving a fire-warning signal, wherein the shut-off valve is closed in the closed state to thereby block the airflow to the cargo compartment, wherein the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve is opened in the closed state to thereby allow distribution of the fire-suppression agent from the at least one fire-suppression agent supply source to the cargo compartment via the duct system, wherein the system consists of a dual-mode conditioned air/fire-suppression agent distribution system, and wherein the controller controls the conditioned air shut-off valve and the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve such that only one of the conditioned air shut-off valve and the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve is open at any given time.

9. The integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution method according to claim 8, further comprising configuring the duct system to distribute an inert gas.

10. An integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution method, the method comprising:

closing a conditioned air shut-off valve coupled to a conditioned air supply source such that an airflow of conditioned air from the conditioned air supply source is blocked in a duct system thereby blocking flow of the conditioned air, wherein the duct system couples both (i) the conditioned air supply source to a cargo compartment, and (ii) at least one fire-suppression agent supply source to the cargo compartment, wherein the cargo compartment is enclosed within an interior space of an aircraft body, wherein the cargo compartment is separated from a passenger compartment, and wherein the duct system is coupled to the at least one fire-suppression agent supply source through a fire-suppression agent flow-control valve and a plumbing connection, wherein the plumbing connection is coupled to the duct system; and

distributing a fire-suppression agent instead of the airflow to the cargo compartment using the duct system without using a separate dedicated distribution system in addition to the duct system when a controller commands a closed state in response to receiving a fire-warning signal, wherein the conditioned air shut-off valve is closed in the closed state to thereby block the flow of the conditioned air to the cargo compartment from the conditioned air supply source, wherein the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve is opened in the closed state to thereby allow distribution of the fire-suppression agent from the at least one fire-suppression agent supply source to the cargo compartment via the duct system, wherein the system consists of a dual-mode conditioned air/fire-suppression agent distribution system, and wherein the controller controls the conditioned air shut-off valve and the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve such that only one of the conditioned air shut-off valve and the fire-suppression agent flow-control valve is open at any given time.

11. The integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution method according to claim 10, further comprising opening the conditioned air shut-off valve in response to receiving a fire-suppressed signal such that the airflow is unblocked.

12. The integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution method according to claim 10, further comprising:

ventilating the cargo compartment with the airflow;

terminating distribution of the fire-suppression agent; and

re-ventilating the cargo compartment with the airflow.

13. The integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution method according to claim 10, wherein distribution of the fire-suppression agent is terminated in response to receiving a fire-suppressed signal.

14. The integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution method according to claim 10, further comprising distributing the fire-suppression agent instead of the airflow to the cargo compartment, the fire-suppression agent comprising at least one of the group consisting of:

gaseous chemical agents, an inert gas, a semi-inert gas, aerosolized liquid mists, and Halon.

15. The integrated cargo fire-suppression agent distribution method according to claim 10, wherein the fire-suppression agent comprises:

HFC-125, Pentafluoroethane (CF₃CHF₂), Nitrogen, Argon, Helium, aerosolized liquid mist, fire protection fluid (C₆F₁₂O), water, Halon, or a mixture thereof.