Man-rated fire suppression system and related methods
First Claim
1. A fire suppression system comprising:
- a plurality of gas generators positioned within a defined space where a fire is to be suppressed, each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators having a solid gas generant composition positioned within a combustion chamber, separate from any other combustion chamber of any other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators, the combustion chamber having walls capable of withstanding a maximum working pressure, and each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators configured to generate a flow of gas into the defined space upon ignition of its respective solid gas generant composition; and
at least one initiating device configured to ignite each of the respective solid gas generant compositions of each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators, and to ignite the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one gas generator of the plurality of gas generators independent of ignition of the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators in a predetermined, time-ordered sequence selected to achieve and substantially maintain pressure within a predetermined range within the defined space during gas generation during ignition of the at least one gas generator and the at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fire suppression system for producing an inert gas mixture having a minimal amount of carbon monoxide, particulates, or smoke. The inert gas mixture may be generated by combusting a gas generant. The gas generant may be a composition that includes hexa(ammine)-cobalt(III)-nitrate. The fire suppression system also includes a heat management system to reduce a temperature of the inert gas mixture. In one embodiment, the system includes multiple gas generators and is configured to ignite the respective gas generant of each gas generator in a predetermined, time based sequential order. For example, the gas generant of each gas generator may be ignited in a sequential order at specified time intervals. Methods of extinguishing fires are also disclosed.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A fire suppression system comprising:
-
a plurality of gas generators positioned within a defined space where a fire is to be suppressed, each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators having a solid gas generant composition positioned within a combustion chamber, separate from any other combustion chamber of any other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators, the combustion chamber having walls capable of withstanding a maximum working pressure, and each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators configured to generate a flow of gas into the defined space upon ignition of its respective solid gas generant composition; and at least one initiating device configured to ignite each of the respective solid gas generant compositions of each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators, and to ignite the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one gas generator of the plurality of gas generators independent of ignition of the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators in a predetermined, time-ordered sequence selected to achieve and substantially maintain pressure within a predetermined range within the defined space during gas generation during ignition of the at least one gas generator and the at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of suppressing a fire in a defined space, the method comprising:
-
positioning a plurality of gas generators within the defined space, each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators comprising a separate pressure controlling orifice; igniting a solid gas generant composition of each of the plurality of gas generators, to generate a flow of gas through the separate pressure controlling orifice of each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators and into the defined space from each of the plurality of gas generators independent of generation of gas by any other of the plurality of gas generators, and igniting the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one gas generator of the plurality of gas generators and the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators in a predetermined time-based sequence to achieve and substantially maintain pressure within a predetermined range within the defined space during gas generation and to suppress a fire within the defined space throughout ignition of the at least one gas generator and the at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A fire suppression system comprising:
-
a plurality of gas generators positioned within a defined space where a fire is to be suppressed, each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators having a solid gas generant composition positioned within a combustion chamber separate from any other combustion chamber of any other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators, each combustion chamber having a separate pressure controlling orifice from any other combustion chamber of any other gas generator, and each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators configured to generate a flow of gas into the defined space upon ignition of its respective solid gas generant composition; and at least one initiating device configured to ignite each of the respective solid gas generant compositions of each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators, and to ignite the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one gas generator of the plurality of gas generators independent of ignition of the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators in a predetermined, time-ordered sequence selected to achieve and substantially maintain pressure within a predetermined range within the defined space during gas generation during ignition of the at least one gas generator and the at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators.
-
Specification