Fire suppression systems and methods

• US 10,709,919 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2018
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Sandahl, Derek M., Counts, Brian L., Fernstrum, Marvin B., Ryczek, Chad, Escalante-Ortiz, Saul, Werth, John T., Lilley, Gregory J., Strehlow, David R., Kreft, Anthony J., Myers, Thomas John, Bushert, John S., Hackl, Richard J., Thorell, Marvin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanders, Joshua T
• Application Number:
  US16/112,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20190175969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 700283
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/023 the extinguishing material being expelled by compressed gas, taken from storage tanks, or by generating a pressure gas for foam generation A62C5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/64 pressurised
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/00 Control of fire-fighting equipment heat-sensitive devices G01K
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/36 an actuating signal being generated by a sensor separate from an outlet device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

Fire suppression systems (10) for vehicles and industrial applications including arrangements of an input bus (24) and output bus (26) coupled to a centralized controller (20) to provide for automatic and manual detection of a fire (H) and manual and automatic system actuation in response to the fire. The arrangements further provide for system information regarding the status and operation of the system components. Additionally, the arrangement of system components provide for expandability and programmability to configure the system for the protection of multiple and variable hazards (H) using customized or programmed detection and/or actuation. The systems include configured connectors (25) and colour coded schemes to facilitate system installation.

Claims

1. A vehicle fire suppression system comprising:

a centralized controller;

at least one input bus coupled to the centralized controller, the input bus providing for connecting analog and digital devices to the centralized controller;

at least one output bus coupled to an extinguishment supply and an actuating device for releasing extinguishment from the extinguishment supply, the actuating device being coupled to the centralized controller; and

a manual actuating device coupled to the input bus for communication with the centralized controller to electrically signal the actuating device on the output bus to provide for manual actuation via an electrical signal,

wherein the centralized controller is a programmable controller including internal circuitry to detect the status of at least one of the input bus and output bus, further comprising a fire detection circuit coupled to the at least one input bus, the internal circuitry detecting the status of the at least one input bus so as to discern between;

a fault condition, a sensed detection, and a manual release along the fire detection circuit depending upon a single variable resistance in the internal circuitry of the programmable controller; and

wherein the fault condition corresponds to a first range of resistance values of the variable resistance, wherein the sensed detection corresponds to a second range of resistance values of the variable resistance, and wherein the manual release corresponds to a third range of resistance values of the variable resistance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one input bus includes at least one fire detection device, the at least one fire detection device being one of an analog or digital device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one fire detection device includes one of:

(i) a spot thermal detectors;

(ii) a linear detection wire;

(iii) optical sensor; and

(iv) a linear pressure detector.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one fire detection device is an analog device coupled to a detection module for digital communication with the centralized controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal circuitry detects the status of the output bus, the output bus including a release circuit, the internal circuitry includes a fault detection circuit for the release circuit, the fault detection circuit including:

a first resistor, a first diode, a mini DIN connector, a second diode and a third diode in series with the second diode and coupled to ground, the mini DIN connector being coupled to the at least one output bus and at least one actuating device, the programmable controller evaluating a detection voltage at the mini DIN connector to determine if there is a ground fault in the release circuit, the system including a power source providing a sensing current to define the detection voltage, the power source being grounded to the chassis of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input bus includes a plurality of interconnected cables, the interconnected cables including a linear detection wire.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the interconnected cables form a closed circuit with the centralized controller, the input bus including a branch terminator at the end of the linear detection wire.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the centralized controller is a programmable controller including internal circuitry to detect the status of at least one of the input bus and output bus, wherein detecting the status of the at least one input bus includes detecting one or more of:

a normal state, ground state, an open circuit, and a manual release.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the internal circuitry includes a first portion coupled to the at least one input bus, a second portion coupled to the at least one output bus, a third portion for output to a display or audio device and a fourth portion coupled to a power bus.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a first resistor, a first inductor, a mini DIN connector, a second inductor and a second resistor coupled to ground;

the mini DIN connector being coupled to the at least one input bus to define a path for a sensing signal through the first resistor and the first inductor, out the mini-DIN connector, through the at least one input bus and fire detection circuit and back through the mini-DIN connector, through the second inductor and through the second resistor, the programmable controller evaluating the voltage across second resistor to determine a fault in the fire detection circuit.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the internal circuitry includes a fault detection circuit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a pair of terminals, the programmable controller evaluates the voltage across the terminals to determine a resistance value across the terminals, the resistance values defining the state of the fire detection circuit.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fire detection circuit and a detection module to couple the fire detection circuit to the centralized controller, the detection module having internal circuitry to detect the status of the fire detection circuit including discerning between:

a fault condition, a sensed detection, and a manual release along the fire detection circuit.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the internal circuitry includes a fault detection circuit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a first resistor, a first inductor, a mini DIN connector, a second inductor and a second resistor coupled to ground;

the mini DIN connector being coupled to the at least one input bus to define a path for a sensing signal through the first resistor and the first inductor, out the mini-DIN connector, through the at least one input bus and fire detection circuit and back through the mini-DIN connector, through the second inductor and through the second resistor, the detection module evaluating the voltage across second resistor to determine a fault in the fire detection circuit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a pair of terminals, the programmable controller evaluates the voltage across the terminals to determine a resistance value across the terminals, the resistance value defining the state of the fire detection circuit.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising releasing circuit and a releasing module to couple the releasing circuit to the centralized controller, the releasing module having internal circuitry to detect a fault in the releasing circuit, the internal circuitry including:

a first resistor, a first diode, a mini DIN connector, a second diode and a third diode in series with the second diode and coupled to ground, the mini DIN connector being coupled to the at least one output bus and at least one actuating device, the programmable controller evaluating a detection voltage at the mini DIN connector to determine if there is a ground fault in the releasing circuit, the system including a power source providing a sensing current to define the detection voltage, the power source being grounded to the chassis of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display device coupled to the centralized controller, the display device having a housing having an outer surface defining an opening and an internal wall to define a chamber in communication with the opening, the internal wall including an inclined surface to define taper of the chamber in the direction of the opening to provide a drain, the chamber being separated by a sounding disc.

19. A vehicle fire suppression system comprising:

an input bus having a plurality of detection fire detection devices to define a fire detection circuit;

a power supply;

a centralized controller coupled to the input bus and the power supply; and

a monitoring circuit coupled to the centralized controller to discern between;

a fault condition, a sensed detection, and a manual release along the fire detection circuit depending upon a single variable resistance in the monitoring circuit; and

wherein the fault condition corresponds to a first range of resistance values of the variable resistance, wherein the sensed detection corresponds to a second range of resistance values of the variable resistance, and wherein the manual release corresponds to a third range of resistance values of the variable resistance.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second range of resistance values and the third range of resistance values are separated from one another by a dead range of resistance values of the variable resistance.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the monitoring circuit includes a first resistor, a first inductor, a mini DIN connector, a second inductor and a second resistor coupled to ground;

the mini DIN connector being coupled to the at least one input bus to define a path for a sensing signal through the first resistor and the first inductor out the mini DIN connector, through the at least one input bus and fire detection circuit and back through the mini-DIN connector, through the second inductor and through the second resistor, the centralized controller evaluating the voltage across second resistor to determine a fault in the fire detection circuit.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the monitoring circuit includes a pair of terminals, the centralized controller evaluates the voltage across the terminals to determine a resistance value across the terminals, the resistance values defining the state of the fire detection circuit.

23. The system of claim 19, further comprising a detection module to couple the input bus to the centralized controller, the detection module including the monitoring circuit to detect a fault in the fire detection circuit.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the monitoring circuit includes a first resistor, a first inductor, a mini DIN connector, a second inductor and a second resistor coupled to ground;

the mini DIN connector being coupled to the at least one input bus to define a path for a sensing signal through the first resistor and the first inductor out the mini-DIN connector, through the at least one input bus and fire detection circuit and back through the mini-DIN connector, through the second inductor and through the second resistor, the detection module evaluating the voltage across second resistor to detect the fault in the fire detection circuit.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the monitoring circuit includes a pair of terminals, the centralized controller evaluates the voltage across the terminals to determine a resistance value across the terminals, the resistance values defining the state of the fire detection circuit.

26. The system of claim 19, further comprising a detection module coupling the fire detection circuit to the centralized controller, the detection module being programmable to detect a particular hazard.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the input bus includes a first input bus protecting a first hazard and at least a second input bus protecting a second hazard different than the first hazard.

28. A vehicle fire suppression system comprising:

an output bus having a plurality of actuating devices and at least one manual actuating device to define a releasing circuit;

a power supply; and

a centralized controller coupled to the output bus and the power supply; and

a fault detection circuit to detect a fault in the releasing circuit, the fault detection circuit including a first resistor, a first diode, a mini DIN connector, a second diode and a third diode in series with the second diode and coupled to ground, the mini DIN connector being coupled to the at least one output bus and at least one actuating device, the centralized controller evaluating a detection voltage at the mini DIN connector to determine if there is a ground fault in the releasing circuit, the system including a power source providing a sensing current to define the detection voltage, the power supply being grounded to the chassis of the vehicle,

wherein the centralized controller is a programmable controller including internal circuitry to detect the status of at least one of the input bus and output bus, further comprising a fire detection circuit coupled to the at least one input bus, the internal circuitry detecting the status of the at least one input bus so as to discern between;

a fault condition, a sensed detection, and a manual release along the fire detection circuit depending upon a single variable resistance in the internal circuitry of the programmable controller; and

wherein the fault condition corresponds to a first range of resistance values of the variable resistance, wherein the sensed detection corresponds to a second range of resistance values of the variable resistance, and wherein the manual release corresponds to a third range of resistance values of the variable resistance.

29. The system of claim 28, comprising at least one releasing module to couple the output bus to the centralized controller, the releasing module including the fault detection circuit to detect a ground fault.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least one releasing module is coupled to a plurality of actuating devices, the releasing module including internal circuitry for selective actuation of each of the plurality of actuating devices.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of actuating devices each include a protracted actuation device (PAD) and a pressurized cylinder, the plurality of cylinders including five to ten cylinders.

32. The system of claim 28, further comprising an actuating circuit, the actuating circuit providing for simultaneous or sequential actuation of the plurality of actuating devices.

33. The system of claim 28, further comprising an actuating circuit including a releasing capacitor to provide a current source for the releasing circuit, the releasing capacitor being charged by one of:

an external power source, an internal source, or a vehicle battery, wherein the actuating circuit includes the mini-DIN connector for output of an actuating current pulse through the output bus to each of the plurality of actuating devices and a current limiting circuit having a second resistor.