The present invention relates to automatic fire extinguishing (AFE) systems, and more specifically, to systems and methods for dispersing extinguishing agents within a confined space.
AFE systems deploy after a fire or explosion event has been detected. In some cases, AFE systems are deployed within a confined space such as the crew or engine compartment of a military vehicle following an event. The AFE systems provide protection to some or all of the external features on a commercial or military vehicle following a fire or explosion event. The AFE systems are rapidly deployed as a high rate discharge after the event has been detected. Common means of detection used within the fire industry for these types of applications are high speed Infra-red (IR) and/or ultra violet (UV) sensors or thermal devices such as overheat cable and point thermal sensors. Other means such as melting pressurised tubes or measurement of acceleration levels have also been employed.
The AFE systems provide rapid detection and a high level of suppression efficacy against a wide range of fire and explosion events. However, such systems are costly. Conventional fire/explosion protection is provided on vehicles that may not be exposed to the level of threats for which existing systems have been specified. Such vehicles include vehicles or related events in which the crew are able to rapidly evacuate or have fast access to other fire fighting means. As such, other conventional vehicle extinguishing systems include lower cost system components that provide an adequate level of protection by employing slower detection and/or ways of extinguishing. These systems offer lower lifecycle costs for the user and often provide savings in weight and space as well.
Exemplary embodiments include an automatic fire extinguisher valve assembly, including a valve body, a push rod disposed in the valve body, a poppet stem arranged perpendicular to the push rod and disposed in the valve body, a poppet-to-valve body seal coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body and a poppet return spring coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body, wherein the push rod is configured to engage the poppet stem to open the poppet-to-valve body seal.
Additional exemplary embodiments include an automatic fire extinguisher system, including a valve assembly, an actuator coupled to the valve assembly, a main outlet coupled to the valve assembly, a refill valve coupled to the valve assembly and a cylinder coupled to the valve assembly, wherein the actuator is configured to place the valve assembly and the cylinder in fluid communication.
Further exemplary embodiments include a method for operating an automatic fire extinguisher. The method includes detecting at least one of a fire or explosion in a confined space, and activating an automatic fire extinguisher. The automatic fire extinguisher includes a valve assembly including a valve body, an end stop disposed in the valve body, a push rod having an angled face and keyway disposed in the angled face, and disposed in the valve body, a poppet stem arranged perpendicular to the push rod and disposed in the valve body, a poppet-to-valve body seal coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body and a poppet return spring coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body, wherein the push rod is configured to engage the poppet stem to open the poppet-to-valve body seal. The automatic fire extinguisher further includes an actuator coupled to the valve assembly, a main outlet coupled to the valve assembly, a refill valve coupled to the valve assembly and a cylinder coupled to the valve assembly, wherein the actuator is configured to place the valve assembly and the cylinder in fluid communication in response to the at least one of the fire and explosion event. The method further includes securing the push rod.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
In exemplary embodiments, the systems and methods described herein include an AFE system that utilize standard components from residential and commercial (e.g., hand-held) fire extinguishers, modified to withstand the rugged environment of vehicle protection.
In the example, the modified extinguisher 215 is mounted remotely and the pipe and nozzle network 220 carries the extinguishing agents to the wheel bay. It will be appreciated that
As described herein the exemplary modified extinguishers (e.g., the modified extinguishers 115, 215) are primarily designed to employ common dry chemical fire extinguishing agents (e.g., Monnex fine grind) as the fire extinguishing agent. Other common dry chemical fire extinguishing agents (e.g. sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate) could be implemented. Water based agents could also be implemented. Additives could include alkali salts (e.g. potassium bicarbonate, potassium acetate, potassium lactate etc.) or foams (e.g. AFFF). Gaseous extinguishing agents such as FM200, FE36 and Novec 1230 could also be implemented but care would be required if installing these systems within potentially hot environments as the maximum working pressure for the examples described herein (e.g.,
In one embodiment, the modified extinguishers described herein include a valve that is automatically opened with an automatic actuator. The actuation devices open under harsh environments such as large changes and extremes of ambient temperature and vibration.
In exemplary embodiments, upon actuation, linear motion of the push rod 355 as a result of the activation of the actuator 350 forces the poppet stem 335 along the keyway 358 until the poppet stem 335 reaches the thickest portion of the push rod 355. The push rod 355 continues its linear movement until the push rod 355 is near or impacts the end stop 360. As described herein, the poppet stem 335 opens the poppet-to-valve body seal 340 during the linear motion of the poppet stem 335. The linear motion of the push rod 355 is generally perpendicular to the linear motion of the poppet stem 335. The actuator 350 is an internally explosive electric device that, when activated pushes the pin against the push rod 355 as described herein. When activation is complete, the push rod 355 may tend to retract, which would allow the poppet return spring 345 to restore the poppet stem 335, thus closing the poppet-to-valve body seal 340.
Upon actuation, the linear motion of the push rod 355 forces the poppet stem 335 along the keyway 358 until it reaches the outer diameter of the push rod 355. The push rod 355 continues the linear motion within the valve body 320 until finally impacting the end stop 360. As described herein, after the actuator 350 is activated, the push rod 355 may tend to retract. The actuator 350 may keep the push rod 355 extended, but this extension is not guaranteed. As such, the push rod 355 may retract, thereby allowing the poppet stem 335 to restore under the force 301 of the poppet return spring 345 (See
Upon actuation, the linear motion of the push rod 355 forces the poppet stem 335 along the keyway 358 until it reaches the outer diameter of the push rod 355. The push rod 355 continues the linear motion within the valve body 320 until finally impacting the end stop 360. As described herein, after the actuator 350 is activated, the push rod 355 may tend to retract. The actuator 350 may keep the push rod 355 extended, but this extension is not guaranteed. As such, the push rod 355 may retract, thereby allowing the poppet stem 335 to restore under the force 301 of the poppet return spring 345 (See
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
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