FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
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 the extinguishment, 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 variable resistance in the internal circuitry of the programmable controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A vehicle fire suppression system comprising:
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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 the extinguishment, 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 variable resistance in the internal circuitry of the programmable controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A vehicle fire suppression system comprising:
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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 variable resistance in the monitoring circuit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A vehicle fire suppression system comprising:
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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 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 variable resistance in the internal circuitry of the programmable controller. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A connector for coupling a device to a signal bus for the transfer of any one of power, data or sensing signals, the connector comprising:
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a first connector end, a second connector end and an intermediate connector end extending between the first and second connector ends; and a plurality of internal wires, wherein at least one of the plurality of internal wires extends from the first connector end to the intermediate connector end then to the second connector end such that when a voltage signal is applied to the at least one internal wire at the first end connector and a device is coupled to the intermediate connector end, the second connector end and the intermediate connector end have the same voltage as the first connector end.
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Specification