This application makes reference to U.S. Prov. App. No. 63/167,381 filed Mar. 29, 2021, and incorporates it in its entirety, by reference.
The present invention relates to a fire-protection system comprising two elements: 1) A retractable fire-protection mat that may be automatically deployed over a building and stowed after the threat has passed; and, 2) A water fire spray system for wetting the lower aspects of a building to protect the lower and uncovered aspects of a building from fire. Using these systems simultaneously allows the user to mitigate forest and brush fire threats that may periodically threaten a building.
Currently, there are a variety of methods disclosed to mitigate the damage to buildings and other structures from forest and brush fire threats that may periodically occur. Fire-proof blankets that may be placed over a structure to prevent the intrusion of fire are well known. However, deploying these is difficult and labor intensive. Lighter fire-retardant sheets that may be positioned over a structure are also well known. However, these are lighter and subject to being blown off by the high winds that occur in conjunction with a forest or brush fire.
What is needed therefore is a system where blankets that protect the sides and upper aspects of the structure from fire are secured to the structure so that they can be automatically deployed and not blown off during the fire.
Also, what is needed, is a system where a ridged framework is constructed around the outer aspects of a structure and a mat of fire-retardant material, affixed to the rigid framework, is pulled by means of a motor, over the rigid framework so that the mat of fire-retardant material covers essentially all of at least two sides and the roof or upper surfaces of the building to protect them from fire.
Also, what is needed is a water fire spray system that simultaneously activates and wets the lower, exposed aspects and sides of structure not covered by the mat of fire-retardant material.
Finally, what is needed is a method of storing and stowing the mat of fire-retardant material, so that it is hidden out of view when not being used. This method will use a motor to pull the mat of fire-retardant material over the rigid framework and return the mat to the stowing reel from whence it was originally deployed.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a roller-deployable and stowable covering or mat of fire-resistant fabric aligned along one side of a building or other structure. A motor is affixed to the end of the receiving roller associated with the roller-deployable and stowable mat to withdraw/deploy the mat from the storing roller associated with the roller-deployable and stowable mat. A motor is affixed to the end of the storing roller associated with the roller-deployable and stowable mat to recover the mat from the receiving roller associated with the roller-deployable and stowable mat. These two motors are used to deploy and recover the mat of fire-resistant fabric before and after the fire-resistant fabric is used.
The receiving and storing rollers are deployed on opposite sides of the building or other structure. They may be mounted underground to hide them from view when not being used. At least at the ends of the receiving and storing rollers are at least two spools for accepting the draw cables affixed to the ends of the fire-resistant fabric wound around the storing roller aligned along the first side of the building or other structure. The draw cables are routed over a set of rollers indirectly attached (e.g., mounted on a metal frame erected over the building or other structure) or directly attached to the building or other structure.
Assuming the building is roughly rectangular in plan, a water fire spray system is deployed on the two sides of the building or other structure that the mat is not aligned along to deliver water to the unprotected lower aspect and sides of the building or other structure. By this means all four sides of a square or rectangular building may be protected during a fire. Additional roller-deployable and stowable mats may be deployed to cover a building with a complex (multi-rectangular section) roof. Also, the roller-deployable and stowable mat may be deployed during time of hailstorm or other weather calamity to protect the roof of the building from flying debris.
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After protection covering or mat 513 is drawn over the building 100 through 106 a fire spray system 600 is activated on the two sides of the building 100 through 106 that the protection covering or mat 513 is not aligned along to deliver a protecting substance or a protecting gas by means of at least one spray nozzle 601 to the unprotected lower aspect and sides of the building 100 through 106. Alternative embodiments of the fire spray system 600 also may spray protective substances on the terrain adjoining the building 100 through 106 to limit the approach of fire while the fire is in progress. Alternative embodiments may have a fire spray system 600 that sprays protective substances on the terrain adjoining the building 100 through 106 in all four directions around the building 100 through 106 to limit the approach of fire while the fire is in progress. Alternative embodiments may have a fire spray system 600 that sprays protective substances on the roof 104 and eaves 103 of the building 100 through 106 to limit the approach of fire while the fire is in progress. Alternative embodiments may have no fire spray system 600 protecting the building 100 through 106. Protecting substances may be, without limitation, water, water-based foam, and fire-retardant spray liquids. Protecting gases may be, without limitation, carbon dioxide, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen bromide. By this means all four sides of a square or rectangular building may be protected during a fire.
After the fire or other calamity has passed, fire spray system 600 is deactivated. Simultaneously, storing motor 512 rotates storing roller 511 in direction C pulling protection covering or mat 513 and the at least one affixed strap 514 so that protection covering or mat 513 is rolled back around back around storing roller 511 ready for a new deployment.
The disclosed invention is used in the following manner: 1) A manually switched, or an automatically derived, stimulus, causes receiving motor 522 affixed to the end of receiving roller 521 associated with the roller-deployable and stowable protection covering or mat 513 to withdraw the protection covering or mat 513 from the storing roller 511 by rotating in direction B. The protection covering or mat 513 is withdrawn and pulled over the building or other structure 100 through 106 by means of a multiplicity of straps 514 affixed to the leading edge of the protection covering or mat 513 by means of passing over a multiplicity of rollers 504a1 through 504a3 through 504c1 through 504c3 affixed to roller roof rods 504a through 504c to be rolled onto receiving roller 521; 2) The same stimulus causes the fire spray system 600 deployed on the two sides of the building or other structure that the protection covering or mat 513 is not aligned along to deliver a fire retardant substance or gas by means of at least one spray nozzle 601 to the unprotected lower aspect and sides of the building or other structure 100 through 106. By this means the uncovered sides of the building or other structure 100 through 106 are provided some level of fire retardance; 3) After the fire or other calamity has passed, the fire spray system 600 is deactivated; and, 4) The storing motor 512 affixed to the end of the storing roller 511 associated with the roller-deployable and stowable protection covering or mat 513 is activated and withdraws the protection covering or mat 513 from the receiving roller 521. The protection covering or mat 513 is pulled over the building or other structure 100 through 106 by means of the multiplicity of straps 514 passing over a multiplicity of rollers 504a1 through 504a3 through 504c1 through 504c3 affixed to roller roof rods 504a through 504c affixed to the building and returned for stowing on the storing roller 511.
Many buildings are comprised of multiple interconnected rectangular areas. Such a building may require that more than one roller-deployable and stowable protection covering or mat 513 be installed to achieve adequate coverage of the roof structure. These additional roller-deployable and stowable protection covering or mats 513 will each be equipped with a storing roller 511 and receiving roller 521 and all other equipment (motors, trenches, etc.) required to deploy and store them. Also, each additional roller-deployable and stowable protection covering or mats 513 may or may not be accompanied by a fire spray system 600.
Various control methods are envisioned. For example, an application running on a cell phone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, or the like may communicate a stimulus causing the receiving motor 522 and the storing motor 512 to activate to deploy and store protection covering or mat 513, respectively, as desired. Also, an application running on a cell phone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, or the like may communicate a stimulus causing the fire spray system 600 to activate or cease activation. Also, a manual switch installed inside the building or other structure 100 through 106 may serve to perform equivalent functions. Also, one or more sensors attached to the exterior or interior of the building or other structure 100 through 106 may serve to perform equivalent functions. Also, the fire department or some other civil authority, may have a cell phone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, or the like to perform equivalent functions. Such a cell phone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, or the like may be installed in a fire department vehicle or alternately in a government building.
Although various embodiments have been described with reference to the Figures, other embodiments are possible. A number of these implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modification may be made. For example, advantageous results may be achieved if the steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different sequence, or if components of the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner, or if the components were supplemented with other components. Accordingly, other implementations are contemplated.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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63167381 | Mar 2021 | US |