Fire suppression device and method for using
A wildfire suppressor made from a composite mixture bonded by a resin. The suppressor may be cylindrically shaped so that it wraps around a wooden utility pole or it may be a flat sheet adapted to be used under shingles or siding on a house or other suitable building. The fire suppressor comprises two layers. The first layer is adapted to reflect heat and is located on the outer portion of the sheet. The second layer is located closer to the object being protected. Above a certain predetermined temperature the second layer undergoes a chemical reaction to help protect the pole, building, or other object being protected.
1. A fire suppressor sheet having two ends, said suppressor for protecting a cylindrically shaped object from excessive heat, said suppressor comprising:
a first layer forming a first side of the sheet, said first layer comprised of a heat reflective material;
a second layer combined with the first layer and forming a second side of the sheet, wherein the second layer is comprised of a material that expands to become a poor conductor of heat above a predetermined temperature;
wherein the sheet is movable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the sheet is generally cylindrically shaped to form an opening which is adapted to receive the cylindrical object, in the second position the ends of the sheet are separated to allow the object to be received by the opening;
wherein the sheet is biased in the first position;
wherein the second side of the sheet is adjacent to the opening when the sheet is in the first position.
2. The suppressor of claim 1 wherein the length of the sheet is longer than the circumference of the cylindrical object which results in the two ends of the sheet overlapping when the sheet is in the closed position.
3. The suppressor of claim 1 wherein the first layer is comprised of a ceramic material.
4. The suppressor of claim 1 wherein the second layer is comprised of an expandable graphite material.
5. The suppressor of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises Alumina Trihydrate.
6. A suppressor sheet having two ends, said suppressor sheet for protecting cylindrically shaped object from excessive heat, said suppressor comprising:
a first layer forming a first side of the sheet for reflecting heat, wherein the first layer permanently changes from a first color to a second color when it is exposed to a first predetermined temperature;
a second layer combined with the first layer and forming a second side of the sheet, wherein the second layer expands to become a poor conductor of heat above a second predetermined temperature;
wherein the sheet is movable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the sheet is generally cylindrically shaped to form an opening which is adapted to receive the cylindrical object, in the second position the ends of the sheet are separated to allow the object to be received by the opening;
wherein the sheet is biased in the first position;
wherein the second side of the sheet is adjacent to the opening when the sheet is in the first position.
7. A suppressor sheet having two ends, said suppressor sheet for protecting cylindrically shaped object from excessive heat, said suppressor comprising:
a first layer made from a ceramic material and forming a first side of the sheet, wherein the first layer changes color when exposed to a first predetermined temperature;
a second layer combined with the first layer and forming a second side of the sheet, wherein the second layer is made from an expandable graphite compound, wherein the second layer expands to become a poor conductor of heat above a second predetermined temperature;
wherein the sheet is movable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the sheet is generally cylindrically shaped to form an opening which is adapted to receive the cylindrical object, in the second position the ends of the sheet are separated to allow the object to be received by the opening;
wherein the sheet is biased in the first position;
wherein the second side of the sheet is adjacent to the opening when the sheet is in the first position.
8. A method of using a fire suppressor sheet to protect an object from heat during a fire wherein the sheet comprises a first layer combined with a second layer and two ends, and wherein the sheet is movable between a first position in which it is generally cylindrically shaped and a second position in which the ends are separated, said sheet being biased in its first position, said method comprising the steps of:
securing the sheet to the object by moving the sheet from the first position to the second position, placing the sheet around the object, then letting the sheet retract to the first position, wherein the second layer is positioned closer to the object than the first layer after the sheet has been secured to the object;
reflecting heat from the fire with the first layer to protect the object;
above a first predetermined temperature, releasing water vapor from the first layer to help cool and extinguish the fire;
above a second predetermined temperature, expanding the second layer so that it becomes a poor conductor of heat and so that it occludes the oxygen necessary for combustion of the object.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of changing the color of the external portion of the sheet when the sheet is exposed to a third predetermined temperature.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of viewing the first layer to determine whether a color change has occurred.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein multiple sheets are used on the same object.
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of securing the sheet to the object with a mechanical fastener.