IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,192,798
Granted Patent B2
US 9,192,798 · App. 13/281,208 · Granted Nov 24, 2015

Automatic fire extinguishing system with gaseous and dry powder fire suppression agents

Inventors: Robert G. Dunster (Slough, GB); Paul W. Weller (Slough, GB); Robert Pallant (Slough, GB); Francis T. Clarence (Egham, GB); John W. Porterfield, Jr. (Raleigh, NC); Daniel R. MacLachlan (Wilson, NC)
Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
A62C13/72A62C13/003A62C13/64A62C13/66A62C13/76A62C35/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,192,798
App. No.
13/281,208
Granted
Nov 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic fire extinguishing system includes a canister having a central axis, an outlet port disposed on the canister, a dip tube disposed in the canister about the central axis and in partial fluid communication with the canister and coupled to the outlet port, a propellant gas mixture disposed within the canister, a gaseous fire suppression agent disposed in the canister and a dry powder fire suppression agent disposed in the canister.

Claims (38)

1. An automatic fire extinguishing system, comprising:

a canister having a central axis;

an outlet port disposed on the canister;

a dip tube longitudinally disposed in the canister about the central axis and in partial fluid communication with the canister, the dip tube including a first end that is coupled to the outlet port, a plurality of side holes, and a directionally opposite second end that includes an inlet port with one or more openings;

a propellant gas mixture disposed within the canister;

a gaseous fire suppression agent disposed in the canister and configured to form into a two phase solution within the canister;

a dry powder fire suppression agent disposed in the dip tube;

an internal ring disposed inside the dip tube that covers the plurality of side holes in a non-activated state,

wherein the plurality of side holes configured to reduce a time taken to discharge the gaseous fire suppression agent from the canister and to maintain an enhanced mass flow rate of a gaseous extinguishing agent while the gaseous fire suppression agent is forming into the two phase solution within the canister;

an electric actuator that is mechanically coupled to a central rod, wherein the electric actuator is configured to selectively move the central rod against the internal ring to open the plurality of side holes and displace a semi-permeable membrane for full fluid communication between the canister and the dip tube in the activated state; and

the semi-permeable membrane disposed at the second end and configured to cover the one or more openings.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dry powder fire suppression agent is pressurized by the propellant gas mixture.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the dry powder fire suppression agent is isolated within the dip tube by the semi-permeable membrane, wherein the propellant gas mixture permeates the semi-permeable membrane to keep the dip tube pressurized.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the canister is configured to discharge at least a portion of the dry powder fire suppression agent from the outlet port prior to discharging the gaseous fire suppression agent.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the central rod that is disposed along a longitudinal length of the dip tube, wherein the central rod is configured to selectively move along the central axis.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:

a broad head cutter disposed on the central rod; and

a burst disc disposed in the dip tube and adjacent the broad head cutter;

wherein the burst disc is configured to isolate the fire suppression agents from the external environment in the non-activated state.

7. An automatic fire extinguishing system, comprising:

a canister having a central axis;

an outlet port disposed on the canister;

a dip tube longitudinally disposed in the canister about the central axis and in partial fluid communication with the canister, the dip tube including a first end that is coupled to the outlet port, a plurality of side holes, and a directionally opposite second end that includes an inlet port with one or more openings;

a propellant gas mixture having a first propellant gas and a second propellant gas within the canister;

a gaseous fire suppression agent disposed in the canister and configured to form into a two phase solution within the canister; and

a dry powder fire suppression agent disposed in the dip tube;

an internal ring disposed inside the dip tube that covers the plurality of side holes in a non-activated state,

wherein the plurality of side holes configured to reduce a time taken to discharge the gaseous fire suppression agent from the canister and to maintain an enhanced mass flow rate of a gaseous extinguishing agent while the gaseous fire suppression agent is forming into the two phase solution within the canister;

an electric actuator that is mechanically coupled to a central rod, wherein the electric actuator is configured to selectively move the central rod against the internal ring to open the plurality of side holes and displace a semi-permeable membrane for full fluid communication between the canister and the dip tube in the activated state; and

the semi-permeable membrane disposed at the second end and configured to cover the one or more openings.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the dry powder fire suppression agent is pressurized by the propellant gas mixture.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the dry powder fire suppression agent is isolated within the dip tube by the semi-permeable membrane, wherein the propellant gas mixture permeates the semi-permeable membrane to keep the dip tube pressurized.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the canister is configured to discharge at least a portion of the dry powder fire suppression agent from the outlet port prior to discharging the gaseous fire suppression agent.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the central rod that is disposed along a longitudinal length of the dip tube, wherein the central rod is configured to selectively move along the central axis.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising:

a broad head cutter disposed on the central rod; and

a burst disc disposed in the dip tube and adjacent the broad head cutter;

wherein the burst disc is configured to isolate the fire suppression agents from the external environment in the non-activated state.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2011
From: DUNSTER, ROBERT G.; WELLER, PAUL W.; PALLANT, ROBERT; CLARENCE, FRANCIS T.; PORTERFIELD, JOHN W., JR.; MACLACHLAN, DANIEL R.
To: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 027126/0423 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130098639A1 · Apr 25, 2013