Fire extinguishing system
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing system comprising a pressurized detection conduit ( 115 ), an extinguishing line ( 108 ) separate from the detection conduit ( 115 ), and a control module ( 105 ) adapted for sensing a pressure drop in the detection conduit ( 115 ) and for opening supply of extinguishing medium from a storage ( 103 ) to the extinguishing line ( 108 ). The detection conduit ( 115 ) is gas-permeable and filled with a detection liquid. The fire extinguishing system further comprises a liquid-gas interface ( 117 ) fluidly connecting the detection conduit ( 115 ) to a pressurized gas source ( 103, 106 ), wherein the liquid-gas interface ( 117 ) comprises an interface container ( 123 ) defining a gas space ( 131 ) which communicates with the pressurized gas source ( 106 ) and a liquid space ( 133 ) which communicates with the detection conduit ( 115 ).
1. A fire extinguishing system for a vehicle engine compartment, comprising:
a pressurized container containing an extinguishing liquid, wherein the pressurized container is disposed outside of the engine compartment;
a release valve connected to the pressurized container for supplying the extinguishing liquid to an extinguishing line and to a detection conduit formed from a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, wherein the detection conduit is at least partially disposed in the vehicle engine compartment, is filled with a liquid, and is not gas-tight;
a detection system coupled to the detection conduit, the detection system comprising an interface container to pressurize a gas to maintain the liquid in the detection conduit, and a pressure controller to monitor a pressure associated with the interface container, wherein the release valve is configured to release the extinguishing liquid to the extinguishing line when a liquid-gas interface in the interface container falls below a predetermined pressure, and wherein the pressure controller is configured to generate an electric trigger signal to activate a shut-off function if a pressure in the detection conduit falls below a predetermined value, wherein the shut-off function provides an automatic shut-off of a fuel.
2. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1 , wherein the detection conduit is coupled at a first end to the release valve and at a second end to the interface container.
3. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1 , wherein the interface container is interposed between the detection conduit and the release valve.
4. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1 , wherein the interface container is disposed outside of the engine compartment.
5. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure controller is configured to generate a signal to activate the release valve.
6. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1 , wherein the pressurized container has an internal pressure of 100 bar and the detection conduit has an internal pressure of 24 bar.
7. The fire extinguishing system of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined value for the detection conduit is 4 bar.
8. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1 , further comprising a fire alarm system that generates an audible alarm and/or a visible alarm, wherein the pressure controller is configured to activate the fire alarm system if the pressure in the detection conduit falls below a predetermined value.
9. A fire extinguishing system for a vehicle engine compartment, the system having a pressurized extinguishing medium, comprising:
a detection conduit at least partially disposed in the vehicle engine compartment, wherein the detection conduit is not gas-tight and is filled only with a liquid, the liquid maintained at a pressure less than that of the pressurized extinguishing medium; and
a detection system coupled to the detection conduit, the detection system comprising an interface container coupled to the detection conduit to pressurize the liquid filled detection conduit and a pressure controller to monitor a pressure associated with the interface container; wherein, if a pressure in the detection conduit falls below a predetermined value, the pressurized extinguishing medium is deployed and wherein the pressure controller is configured to generate an electric trigger signal to activate a shut-off function if the pressure in the detection conduit falls below the predetermined value, wherein the shut-off function provides an automatic shut-off of a fuel.
10. The fire extinguishing system of claim 9 , wherein the interface container contains a gas space in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source and a liquid space in fluid communication with the detection conduit.
11. The fire extinguishing system of claim 10 , wherein the source of the pressurized gas is a gas container that is not in communication with the pressurized extinguishing medium.
12. The fire extinguishing system of claim 10 , wherein the source of the pressurized gas is the pressurized extinguishing medium.
13. The fire extinguishing system of claim 10 , wherein the gas space and the liquid space of the interface container are separated by a piston, wherein the piston is displaceable within the interface container depending on a level of the liquid.
14. The fire extinguishing system of claim 13 , wherein the piston comprises a position sensor for monitoring the position of the piston in the interface container.
15. The fire extinguishing system of claim 13 , wherein the piston falling below a predetermined lower position activates a switch that generates a signal to deploy extinguishing medium.
16. The fire extinguishing system of claim 10 , wherein the detection conduit is formed from a thermoplastic fluoropolymer.
17. The fire extinguishing system of claim 9 , wherein the detection conduit is adapted to operate without rupture when the vehicle engine compartment temperature is 150° C.
18. The fire extinguishing system of claim 9 , wherein the fire extinguishing medium is water.