Patent Application
20150367153
This disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatuses used to extinguish ignited or ignitable materials. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses used to extinguish ignited or ignitable metals and/or metal-containing compounds.
Damage from fires remains costly and potentially dangerous. In a commercial environment, loss of equipment, inventory as well as injury to workers remains a serious concern. Waste receptacle fires can be particularly dangerous and destructive if not extinguished quickly. Previous solutions have either required human intervention to suppress the fire, or an element of the fire itself (heat, smoke, etc.) is responsible for triggering the operation of a fire suppression system to release a compound to the environment (e.g. water, halon, or other fire suppressant, etc.). However, in many instances, the widespread release of a fire suppressant from a fire suppression system can, itself, cause significant damage.
In addition, certain fires are not easily overcome with standard fire suppressants. For example, so-called Class D fires result from the ignition of metals and metal-containing compounds. Class D fires burn at a high temperature and do not respond well to the types of fire suppressants used to combat other fire types (Class A “Ash”—wood, paper, etc.; or Class B “Barrel”—petroleum, gasoline, oil, etc.; Class C—“Flammable Gases”; Class E—“Electrical”; Class K—“Kitchen Oils and Fats). In fact, the high velocity CO2 and/or water used to combat Class A fires, and the high velocity dry chemical compounds that are designed to interrupt the chemical reactions for Class B fires, for example, are all specifically not rated for use in combating Class D fires, and often exacerbate the flames of a Class D fire.
Class D fires rely on a fire retardant being provided to the fire: 1) in a low velocity so as to not spread the area of the fire, and 2) in a sufficient amount such that the fire suppressant is applied thickly to the fire so as to form a crust that effectively smothers the fire by cutting off the direct supply of oxygen to the fire.
As a result, Class D fires must typically be fought by a human responder, since it is difficult for an automated system to determine how much suppressant is required, or if enough suppressant has been delivered to the fire to completely interrupt the oxygen supply to the fire.
In addition, if a Class D fire occurs in a waste receptacle designed to collect metal particulate, for example, from a machining function, and the fire is allowed to burn, and otherwise goes unnoticed, the fire may breach the waste receptacle and spread to surrounding areas in an uncontrolled fashion. Further, even if a Class D fire in a waste receptacle is detected quickly, if the proper fire suppressant is not readily available, the fire may quickly spread beyond the confines of the receptacle.
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a container comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, and a system for suppressing a fire occurring in the container. The system is in communication with the inner surface, and the system comprises a predetermined amount of deployable fire suppressant material.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the fire suppressant material is located adjacent to the inner surface of the container.
A further aspect of the disclosure is directed to a container, preferably comprising a body section and a lid section in communication with the body section. The lid section comprises a first side and a second side with a retainer in communication with the lid section second side and the retainer dimensioned to retain a predetermined amount of fire suppressant material. In a further aspect, the lid section comprises a retainer, and the retainer provides at least a partial boundary for a cavity located in the second side of the lid section.
According to a further aspect, the container comprises a lid section with the lid section comprising an inner and outer surface, with the inner surface comprising an amount of fire suppressant material.
Still further, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a container further comprising a retainer dimensioned to retain a predetermined amount of fire suppressant material with the retainer being in communication with the inner surface of the container.
In a further aspect, the retainer is integrated in an element dimensioned to fit within the container. Preferably, the element may be self-supporting.
In a still further aspect, the retainer is integral with the inner surface of the container.
In a further aspect, the retainer comprises a mesh section and, in a further aspect, the mesh section is made from a metal-containing or a non-metal containing material, or combinations thereof.
According to a further aspect, the container is in communication with a source of metal debris to be contained within the container.
In a further aspect, the retainer provides a partial boundary for a cavity located in the inner surface of the container and/or the second side of the lid section.
In a further aspect, the metal debris comprises a metal including magnesium, potassium, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, lithium, calcium, and combinations thereof.
In a still further aspect, the fire suppressant material includes a material such as, for example, dry soda ash, sand, dry sodium chloride, dry sodium chloride-containing compounds, graphite powder, graphite-containing compounds, and combinations thereof.
In yet another aspect, the retainer is integral with the lid. Still further, in another aspect, the retainer provides a partial boundary for a cavity located in the second side of the lid section.
In a further aspect, the retainer further comprises a mesh segment that is preferably perforated or otherwise configured to allow a particulate material to pass there through. The mesh segment may be made from a metal, a metal-containing material, a non-metal-containing material, such as, for example, steels and steel alloys, stainless steels, refractory materials, concrete, ceramics (including cast ceramics and ceramic woven fibers, etc.), glass, asbestos, mineral wool fabrics, silica woven fabrics, fire-proof fibers (including Kevlar, Nomex, etc.), composite materials, etc. and combinations thereof. It is further contemplated that certain of the materials listed immediately above may be commonly available in cloth form and could be woven into a screen-like or other configuration as desired, etc.
In a further aspect of the present disclosure, the fire suppressant is encapsulated, and the suppressant is preferably encapsulated in an encapsulating material, with the encapsulating material preferably having a melting point of from about 250° F. to about 2200° F., more specifically from about 250° F. to about 1000° F., and more specifically from about 250° F. to about 500° F. In this way, aspects of the present disclosure contemplate that the encapsulating material may be selected to rupture when material within the container approaches or has achieved a “smoldering temperature”, or other desired temperature that is less than an ignition temperature, or to the point of actual flames.
In another aspect, the encapsulating material comprises a compound including, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(vinylchloride), polyurethane, polystyrene, poly(vinylacetal), paraffin, etc., and combinations thereof.
In a still further aspect, the fire suppressant material comprises a binding material such as, for example, a wax, or wax-containing compound, paraffin, etc., alone or in combination with other materials. The binding material may or may not also be an encapsulating material.
In a still further aspect, the fire suppressant is a known Class D fire suppressant.
In a further aspect, the disclosure is directed to methods for suppressing a fire within a container comprising the steps including: 1) providing a container comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; 2) providing an amount of fire suppressant to a location within the container, with a source of flammable material contained within the container; 3) collecting an amount of a flammable material in the container, with the flammable material having an ignition temperature; and 4) releasing an amount of fire suppressant material onto the flammable material when the temperature within the container is at about or in excess of predetermined temperature such as, for example, at about or in excess of a smoldering or ignition temperature of a flammable material.
Still further, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods for suppressing a fire within a container, comprising steps including: 1) providing a container, with the container comprising a body section, a lid section in communication with the body section, and with the lid section comprising a first side and a second side, and a retainer in communication with the lid section second side, with the retainer dimensioned to retain a predetermined amount of fire suppressant material; 2) collecting an amount of a flammable material in the container, with the flammable material having an ignition temperature; and 3) releasing an amount of fire suppressant material from the retainer and onto the flammable material when the temperature within the container is at about or in excess of the ignition temperature of the flammable material.
In a further aspect, the container is in communication with a source of flammable material to be contained within the container.
Still further, the flammable material is metal debris including magnesium, potassium, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, lithium, calcium, and combinations thereof.
In a still further aspect, the fire suppressant material comprises materials including dry soda ash, sand, dry sodium chloride, dry sodium chloride-containing compounds, graphite powder, graphite-containing compounds, and combinations thereof.
According to still further aspects, the container comprises a retainer dimensioned to retain a predetermined amount of fire suppressant material, with the retainer positioned in a predetermined location in the container.
In yet another aspect, the retainer is attached to the inner surface of the container.
In another aspect, the retainer is integral with the lid.
Still further, in another aspect, the retainer provides a partial boundary for a cavity located in the second side of the lid section.
In a further aspect, the retainer further comprises a mesh segment that is preferably perforated or otherwise configured to allow a predetermined amount of a particulate material to pass there through. The mesh segment may be made from a metal, a metal-containing material, a non-metal containing compound, a refractory material, etc., and combinations thereof.
According to further aspects, the fire suppressant material is encapsulated in an encapsulating material.
In a further aspect, the fire suppressant material comprises a binding material such as, for example, a wax, or wax-containing compound, paraffin, etc., alone or in combination with other materials. The binding material may or may not also be an encapsulating material.
In a still further aspect of the present disclosure, the fire suppressant is encapsulated, and the suppressant is preferably encapsulated in an encapsulating material, with the encapsulating material preferably having a melting point of from about 250° F. to about 2200° F.
In another aspect, the encapsulating material comprises a material including, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(vinylchloride)polyurethane, polystyrene, poly(vinylacetal), paraffin, and combinations thereof.
In a still further aspect, the fire suppressant is a known Class D fire suppressant.
Still further, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods of suppressing a metal fire in a container comprising the use of a container comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, and a system for suppressing a fire occurring in the container. The system is in communication with the inner surface, and the system comprises a predetermined amount of deployable/releasable fire suppressant material.
In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to apparatuses comprising a container having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a system for suppressing a fire occurring in the container. In a further aspect, the system is in communication with the inner surface, and the system comprises a predetermined amount of deployable/releasable fire suppressant material.
These and other aspects of the disclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the field, and are described in greater detail in the description and accompanying drawings wherein:
Implementations described herein can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, and drawings. Elements, apparatus, and methods described herein, however, are not limited to the specific implementations presented in the detailed description, examples, and drawings. It should be recognized that these implementations are merely illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
In addition, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and all sub-ranges subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of “from about 250° F. to about 2200° F.” should be considered to include any and all sub-ranges beginning with a minimum value of 220° F. or more and ending with a maximum value of 2200° F. or less. Similarly, a stated range of from about 250° F. to about 1000° F. should be considered to include any and all sub-ranges beginning with a minimum value of 220° F. or more and ending with a maximum value of 1200° F. or less. Still further, a stated range of from about 250° F. to about 500° F. should be considered to include any and all sub-ranges beginning with a minimum value of 220° F. or more and ending with a maximum value of 520° F. of less.
Further, when the phrase “up to” is used in connection with an amount or quantity, it is to be understood that the amount is at least a detectable amount or quantity. For example, a material present in an amount “up to” a specified amount can be present from a detectable amount and up to and including the specified amount.
These and other implementations are described in greater detail in the detailed description which follows.
Further, for purposes of the disclosure, the terms “container” and “receptacle” are interchangeable. In addition, the term “canister” as used in this specification refers to a device smaller than the containers and receptacles. “Canisters” are used to house the fire suppressant materials in certain aspects. The contemplated containers/receptacles and canisters may be made from any material not inconsistent with aspects of the present disclosure, and that can withstand and retain their structural integrity at, and preferably above, the typical ignition temperatures of any contents, including metal debris, etc. Materials including metal-containing and non-metal-containing materials are contemplated for fabricating the containers, including, without limitation, steels and steel alloys, stainless steels, refractory materials, ceramics, composite materials, etc. and combinations thereof.
According to further aspects, the fire suppressant material may itself comprise a material suitable to bind the fire suppressant material into a solid or semi-solid form, such as, for example, a “cake”. In this aspect, any suitable binding material may be used such as, for example, a wax, or wax-containing compound, paraffin, etc., alone or in combination with other materials. See
According to still further aspects, the fire suppressant material may be held in a predetermined location within the container, integrally, or through the aid of an additional supporting element, such as, for example, a bracket, rack, stand, etc. According to this aspect, the retention of fire suppressant material, “integrally”, within the container means that the fire suppressant is held within a feature of the container that is integral with the container itself, such as, for example, a fire suppressant cavity molded into the container itself as opposed to the material being retained in a feature, such as those listed above, that is added to the container for the purpose of holding the material in a desired location within the container. The supporting element can be a self-supporting structure. See
The fire suppressant packet contains a predetermined amount of fire suppressant, at an elevated or ambient pressure, that is adequate when released from the packet, to cover a metal fire that may ignite in a receptacle. Useful fire suppressants for use in extinguishing a Class D metal fire include dry soda ash, sand, dry sodium chloride, dry sodium chloride-containing compounds, graphite powder, graphite-containing compounds, and combinations thereof.
It is further understood that the contemplated Class D fires include those fires where metals are ignited, including metals such as magnesium, potassium, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, lithium, calcium, and combinations thereof.
It is also understood that, while the present description focuses on extinguishing, containing and otherwise controlling Class D fires, especially in the workplace, the present disclosure contemplates that aspects of the present disclosure may be modified to extinguish, contain and otherwise control fires in classes other than Class D, such as including Class A, B, C, E and K fires. It is further understood that containers designed to address fires other than Class D fires may incorporate or be otherwise modified to accommodate a fire suppressant system such that the system provides the appropriate fire suppressant to address such non-Class D fires. Aspects of this disclosure further contemplate that, in certain instances, for example, instances where suffocation/oxygen deprivation is an appropriate extinguishing method, Class D fire suppressant may be used to extinguish additional fire types.
As would be understood by those skilled in the field, the container/receptacle, the retainer and the retaining mesh may be made from any suitable material not inconsistent with the objectives of the present disclosure. Such suitable containers/receptacles, retaining elements and retaining meshes may be made from materials including steel, steel alloys, stainless steel, ceramic materials, etc., and combinations thereof. It is further understood that the retaining mesh may be an optional feature, and fire suppressant may be held in position within the receptacle by the retaining element alone.
Additional aspects of the invention provide for and include a self-supporting bracket, rack, stand, etc. that may be self-supporting and that is dimensioned to fit within the container.
Still further,
The present disclosure further contemplates receptacles and containers that integrally contain fire suppressant materials other than Class D fire suppressant materials. Also contemplated are receptacles and containers that contain self-supporting elements that comprise fire suppressant materials other than Class D fire suppressant materials. Still further, the present disclosure contemplates receptacles and containers that are adapted to include or are otherwise attached to fire suppressant systems comprising fire suppressant materials other than Class D fire suppressant materials. More specifically, so-called Class A fires encompass of ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, fabric, plastic and most kinds of trash that tend to leave an ash. In most cases, water or more complex types of fire suppressants, including CO2, foams, etc. may be used to extinguish such a Class A fire. Class B fires typically encompass flammable liquids. Class C fires typically encompass flammable gases. In the cases of both Class B and Class C fires, fire suppressants typically such as dry chemicals, Halon, and FM-200 (a Halon replacement) inhibit the chain reaction of the fire. In some instances, CO2, or for liquids, foams are also effective. However, water is not a recommended fire suppressant for many Class B and C fires as the application of water serves to scatter and spread the fire. Class E fires encompass electrical fires largely resulting from energized electrical equipment. The use of water and other conductive fire suppressants is obviously not recommended for extinguishing Class E fires. Instead, Class E fire suppressants include CO2, FM-200 and dry powder fire suppressants such as, for example, Purple-K (PKP), Monnex (potassium allophanate), baking soda, etc. Finally, Class K fires encompass cooking oils and fats (kitchen fires). Low velocity water mist, as well as CO2 and other dry powders (as well as suffocation or oxygen deprivation by placing lids on stovetop pot fires) are common fire suppressants known to usefully extinguish Class K fires.
Therefore, while primarily directed to the particular problems associated with extinguishing Class D metal fires, the present disclosure further contemplates aspects that are also directed to receptacles and containers adapted to include appropriately matched fire suppressants located within or connected to such receptacles and containers to extinguish or control other fires classified as Class A, B, C, E and K fires. As stated above, aspects of this disclosure further contemplate that, in certain instances, for example, instances where suffocation/oxygen deprivation is an appropriate extinguishing method, Class D fire suppressant may be used to extinguish additional fire types.
According to further aspects, the receptacles and containers of the present disclosure and their component parts may further comprise sensors and the ability to sense a fire by sensing, for example, temperature deviations and/or smoke. Such sensors may then communicate the presence of a fire from the receptacle to an alarm function located on the container and/or to a central and remote location such as a fire station and/or a central warning location at, or remote from, the location of the fire via any suitable communication network (such as, for example, a wireless network).
It is contemplated that the receptacles and containers of the present disclosure may therefore comprise the components necessary to sense a desired characteristic occurring within the container, such as, for example, a temperature, a rate of temperature increase, the presence of smoke, etc. Such sensors would be understood to be in communication with the required systems necessary to produce, receive and send a signal, for example, to and from a unit or system located remotely from the location of the container/receptacle. In this way, 24-hour monitoring of the container and the manufacturing apparatuses comprising such self-extinguishing containers can be achieved. As would readily be understood by one in the electronic and communication fields, such sensing, and sending and receiving of signaling, may be achieved wirelessly and may be directed to readouts in conventional computing systems (PCs, laptops, etc.) as well as to central receiving stations such as those used by first responders (e.g. fire stations, ambulance units, police stations, hospitals, etc.). It is also understood that signaling may be directed to a readout on a smart phone or other smart personal device including tablets, readers, etc.
Various implementations of the disclosure have been described in fulfillment of the various objectives of the disclosure. It should be recognized that these implementations are merely illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and adaptations thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
