Explosion-suppressing structure

• US 6,302,026 B1
• Filed: 09/09/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parkes John Humphries
• Original Assignee: Parkes John Humphries
• Inventors: Parkes, John Humphries
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US09/392,922
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 102/303, 102/323, 102/324
• US Class Current: 102/303
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/045 Detonation-wave absorbing or damping means

Abstract

An explosion-suppressing structure comprises an explosion-suppressing barrier, such as a wall of liquid-filled tanks or blocks, and rupturable explosion-suppressing roof members 23 such as hollow rigid bodies containing liquid-filled bags 24 and supporting further bags 25. In an alternative embodiment, the roof member comprises a net stretched over the barrier.

Claims

1. An explosion-suppressing structure comprising support walls, a separate roof comprised of at least one member, at least one of said members being a support member and at least one of said members being a rupturable liquid-filled container, the liquid being aerozolizable responsive to an explosion that ruptures said at least one container.

2. A roof member according to claim 1 wherein said liquid filled container includes at least one rupturable liquid-filled bag.

3. A roof member according to claim 2 wherein said at least one rigid support member includes a sheet of fabric-supporting said at least one liquid filled container.

4. A roof member according to claim 3, wherein the fabric is reticulated.

5. A roof member according to claim 1, wherein said at least one rupturable liquid container comprises at least one liquid-containing hollow body of uniform cross-section.

6. A roof member according to claim 2, wherein said at least one rupturable liquid container comprises at least one liquid-containing hollow body of uniform cross-section.

7. A roof member according to claim 5 wherein said at least one liquid filled container is said rigid support member.

8. A roof member according to claim 6 wherein said at least one liquid filled container is said rigid support member.

9. An explosion-suppressing structure including at least one explosion-suppressing barrier comprising a permanently rigid support member defining or supporting at least one rupturable support member, and further including a roof spanning the top of the barrier, the roof having at least one member, at least one of said members being a support member and at least one member having at least one liquid filled container, said liquid being aerozolizable responsive to an explosion that ruptures said at least one container.

10. A structure according to claim 9, wherein the support member comprises a wall of blocks or tanks.

11. A structure according to claim 10, wherein the blocks or tanks are of polystyrene, polyurethane or glass-reinforced plastic.

12. A structure according to claim 10, wherein the blocks or tanks comprise cavities filled with liquid.

13. A structure according to claim 9, wherein any straight line running to the exterior of the structure from a central location inside the structure passes through either the explosion-suppressing barrier or the explosion-suppressing roof.

14. A structure according to claim 10, wherein any straight line running to the exterior of the structure from a central location inside the structure passes through either the explosion-suppressing barrier or the explosion-suppressing roof.

15. A structure according to claim 12, wherein any straight line running to the exterior of the structure from a central location inside the structure passes through either the explosion-suppressing barrier or the explosion-suppressing roof member.

16. The structure according to claim 9, wherein the container includes at least one rupturable liquid-filled bag.

17. The structure according to claim 9, wherein the at least one rigid support member includes a sheet of fabric supporting said at least one liquid-filled container.

18. The structure according to claim 17, wherein the fabric is reticulated.

19. The structure according to claim 9, wherein the liquid filled container includes at least one liquid-containing hollow body of uniform cross-section.

20. The structure according to claim 19, wherein said liquid filled container is said rigid member.