Heat-activated alarm and response system
View Patent ↗A heat-activated fire-suppression system is provided. The system can include one or modules installed in an exterior panel of a building. The one or more modules can include a shape memory alloy wire that deforms upon heating to cause the module to release a pressurized substance. The system can include an alarm module that emits an auditory alarm. The system can include a fire-suppression module that releases a fire-suppressing substance upon the shape memory wire deforming in response to heating.
1 . A module for a heat-activated alarm system, the module comprising:
a sound emitter;
a power circuit configured to connect the sound emitter to a source of electrical power;
an insulator disposed at least partially within the power circuit when the module is in an armed configuration such that the insulator interrupts the power circuit; and
a shape memory alloy wire configured to connect the power circuit to provide electrical power to the sound emitter by at least partially removing the insulator from the power circuit upon a heating of the shape memory alloy wire to a deformation temperature,
wherein a first end of the shape memory alloy wire is fixed relative to the module,
wherein a second end of the shape memory alloy wire opposite the first end is mechanically connected to the insulator, and
wherein the heating of the shape memory alloy wire to the deformation temperature causes a length of the shape memory alloy wire to decrease such that the insulator is pulled away from the power circuit.
2 . The module of claim 1 , wherein the power circuit comprises at least one battery and a conductive contact positioned to connect to a first terminal of the at least one battery, the insulator disposed between the conductive contact and the first terminal when the module is in the armed configuration.
3 . The module of claim 1 , wherein the sound emitter comprises an electromagnetic horn.
4 . The module of claim 1 , wherein the sound emitter comprises a speaker configured to play at least one of an alarm sound and a verbal message.
5 . The module of claim 4 , wherein the speaker is configured to play at least a verbal message selected to activate one or more voice-activated network-connected devices.
6 . The module of claim 1 , further comprising at least one light source configured to be powered by the power circuit when the insulator is at least partially removed from the power circuit.
7 . The module of claim 6 , wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one strobe.