Inerting method and apparatus for preventing and extinguishing fires in enclosed spaces
First Claim
1. An inerting method for reducing the risk of and for extinguishing fires in enclosed spaces, said method comprising the steps of monitoring the oxygen content in a wall-enclosed space to produce measured oxygen values;
- when said measured oxygen values exceed a selected base inerting level capable of reducing the risk of combustion yet supporting life, reducing the oxygen content in said space to said selected base inerting level;
in the event of a fire in said space, detecting selected fire characteristics in said space and producing a complete inerting signal, and in response to said complete inerting signal, rapidly further reducing the oxygen content in said space to a selected complete inerting level incapable of supporting combustion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Inerting method and apparatus reduce the risk of and extinguish fires in an enclosed space. The method provides that the oxygen content in the space is reduced to a set base inerting level and, in the event of a fire, is quickly further reduced to a complete inerting level. For carrying out the method, the apparatus includes an oxygen measuring device for the enclosed space, with a first system for producing the oxygen-expulsion gas or for extracting oxygen from the enclosed space, with a second system for rapidly feeding an oxygen-expulsion gas into the space being monitored, and with a fire detection device for detecting a fire characteristic in the enclosed space. A control unit sends a base inerting signal to the first system in accordance with the oxygen content in the enclosed space, and sends a complete inerting signal to the second system in accordance with a detection signal from the fire detection device.
11 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An inerting method for reducing the risk of and for extinguishing fires in enclosed spaces, said method comprising the steps of
monitoring the oxygen content in a wall-enclosed space to produce measured oxygen values; -
when said measured oxygen values exceed a selected base inerting level capable of reducing the risk of combustion yet supporting life, reducing the oxygen content in said space to said selected base inerting level;
in the event of a fire in said space, detecting selected fire characteristics in said space and producing a complete inerting signal, and in response to said complete inerting signal, rapidly further reducing the oxygen content in said space to a selected complete inerting level incapable of supporting combustion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification