This system relates generally to fire suppression systems and methods, and more particularly to fire suppression systems and methods for kitchen appliances.
Kitchens may include range top appliances with cookware and/or other kitchen appliances for cooking food. Kitchen appliances may create fire hazards, and kitchen fire suppression systems are utilized to suppress these fires.
A method of suppressing a kitchen fire according to an example of the present disclosure includes detecting a fire and identifying a location of the fire with a tracking system. The method includes aiming a nozzle at the location. The method includes releasing an agent through the nozzle at the location.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, aiming includes moving the nozzle laterally.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the lateral movement includes moving the nozzle along a track within a hood of a range top.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the agent is stored in a cylinder, and the nozzle is in fluid communication with the cylinder through a hose.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the aiming includes rotatabaly moving the nozzle.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the aiming includes angular movement of the nozzle.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, aiming includes detecting an object between a target area and the nozzle and moving the nozzle such that the object is not between the target area and the nozzle.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the tracking system includes at least one optical sensor.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, temperature information is received from a chip in a piece of cookware. The detecting includes determining that the fire exists based on the temperature information.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the location of the chip is identified with a positioning system.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the positioning system is a radio frequency identification system.
A fire suppression system for a kitchen according to an example of the present disclosure includes a tracking system that is configured to sense a location of a fire in the kitchen. A nozzle is movable to a select position based on the sensing and is configured to release fire suppression agent onto the fire.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the nozzle is movable laterally to the select position.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the lateral movement includes movement along a track within a hood of a range top.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the nozzle is movable rotatably to the select position.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the rotatable movement includes rotation of a swivel joint.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the nozzle is movable angularly to the select position.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, a controller is configured to send control signals to move the nozzle based on the sensing.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the tracking system includes an infrared sensor for sensing the location of the fire.
In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the nozzle is in fluid communication with an agent cylinder through a flexible hose.
These and other features may be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
In some examples, the nozzle 222 may utilize rotational movement R to pivot to a desired position for aiming. Alternatively or additionally, the nozzle 222 may utilize translational movement T to move laterally to aim at a desired position. Alternatively or additionally, the nozzle 222 may utilize angular movement A to angle the nozzle to a desired position. In some examples, the system 220 includes a controller 238 that receives information from the tracking system 230 and sends control signals to actuate the nozzle 222 to move to a desired position, as shown schematically. In some examples, the controller 238 may be programmed with the desired position of the nozzle 222 for each combination of burners 228 being utilized. The tracking system 230 may include one or more sensors 236, such as optical or thermal sensors in some examples.
The controller 238, in some examples, may include one or more computing devices, each having one or more of a computer processor, memory, storage means, network device and input and/or output devices and/or interfaces. The controller 238 is communicatively connected to the tracking system 230 and the nozzle 222, such as through an actuation system (not shown) of the nozzle 222 in some examples. In some examples, the controller 238 is communicatively connected using wired or wireless communications. In some examples, the controller 238 is an analog or electromechanical device configured to provide the disclosed functions of this disclosure. In some examples, the controller may be communicatively connected to the tracking system 230 and/or nozzle 222 through an analog of electromechanical device.
Although a range top 224 is disclosed as an example, other kitchen fire hazard areas, such as fryers, table top burners, open top toasters, griddles, char broilers, and other appliances may benefit from the examples of this disclosure. Although four burners 228 are shown, range tops 224 with more or fewer burners may also benefit from the examples of this disclosure.
In some examples, the tracking system 230 uses object detection to detect the location of a chip 232 embedded in cookware 234 on a burner 228 on a range top 224. The chip 232 may be able to detect and/or indicate temperature information that the system 220 may use to determine whether there is a fire. In some examples, the chip 232 sends signals only when temperatures above a certain threshold are detected. In some examples, the chip 232 sends signals indicative of temperature information continuously, and the controller 238 compares the temperature information to a threshold value to determine whether there is a fire. The tracking system 230 and chip 232 may incorporate active or passive radio frequency identification (RFID), RF-Based Indoor Location Determination, GPS, or other suitable positioning system to identify the location of the chip 232. In one example, the chip 232 may communicate temperature information to the tracking system 230 using a signal, such as radio or Bluetooth, to the tracking system 230 and/or communicate with the tracking system 230 through the internet (IoT), and the tracking system 230 may locate the chip 232 based on Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) or other passive tracking system. In one example, the chip 232 may send its location with respect to the nozzle 222, tracking system 230, or geographic coordinate system using a signal, such as radio or Bluetooth, or other active tracking signal to the tracking system 230 and/or communicate through the internet (IoT) using a suitable form of wireless communication. The nozzle 222 may then move to a desired position where it can most easily reach the cookware 234 in case of a fire.
Alternatively or additionally, the tracking system 230 may utilize thermal tracking to detect the location of a fire on the range top or other appliance 224. Thermal tracking may be done with the use of thermal imaging, thermocouples, or infrared sensors, for example. In some examples, the thermal tracking detects which area of an appliance 224 or which appliance 224 has a fire. The nozzle 222 may then be aimed at the fire in response to the fire detection.
The nozzle 222 is in fluid communication with an agent cylinder 240 through conduit 242. In some examples, all or a portion of the conduit 242 is a flexible hose to accommodate the movement of the nozzle 222. The example cylinder 240 may be located in a cabinet 244 to the side of the hood 226, but other locations may also be utilized.
An advantage of the system 220 is that the nozzle 222 may have a more concentrated targeted spray area than prior art systems, thus utilizing less agent for suppressing fires. The nozzle 222 dispensing area may be more concentrated because the nozzle is able to better target a desired location. In some examples, since less agent is utilized, less cylinders 240 may therefore be required, resulting in cost and space savings. Less nozzles may also be required than in some prior art systems. In some examples, one nozzle 222 may cover an entire kitchen or hood since the system 220 will no longer need to discharge onto all of the appliances, only the area on fire. However, although one nozzle 222 and one cylinder 240 are shown in the illustrative example in
Example systems 220 may include any combination of translational, rotational, and angular movement.
As schematically illustrated in
The aiming step 306 may include any one or combination of moving the nozzle 222 laterally, rotationally, or angularly, using, for example, one or both of the exemplary movement systems shown and described in
The systems and methods disclosed can concentrate the required amount of fire suppression agent available towards the fire, efficiently utilizing the agent. There can be less property damage and very little clean up after suppression that may result in less downtime. The systems and methods disclosed will be able to effectively avoid obstacles via tracking.
Although the different embodiments are illustrated as having specific components, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other embodiments.
The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/778,413, which was filed on Dec. 12, 2018 and is incorporated herein by reference.
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PCT/US2019/065181 | 12/9/2019 | WO |
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WO2020/123356 | 6/18/2020 | WO | A |
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