Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C37/00—Control of fire-fighting equipment
  • A62C37/36—Control of fire-fighting equipment an actuating signal being generated by a sensor separate from an outlet device
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C3/00—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places
  • A62C3/07—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles
  • A62C3/10—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles in ships
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C37/00—Control of fire-fighting equipment
  • A62C37/50—Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device, system and method for activation of a plurality of fire extinguishing devices, In particular, but
• a ship for example the engine room, is fitted with a number of gas-based extinguishing units.
• the unit is activated manually by personnel in response to detection of a fire whereby the personnel manually opens a valve to release gas to extinguish the fire.
• the manual activation avoids false activation of the extinguishing units.
• the present invention seeks to provide a system for providing robust actuation of a plurality of fire extinguishing devices.
• a device for activation of a plurality of fire extinguishing devices comprising
• a controller for determining a fault in the system comprising the first and second actuator and the means for activating the plurality of devices and fire
• a system for activation of a plurality of fire extinguishing devices comprising:
• control panel a plurality of fire extinguishing devices connected in parallel to the control panel, the control panel comprising:
• a controller for determining a fault in the system comprising the first and second actuator and the means for activating the plurality of devices and a bypass path connecting the first and second actuator to each of the plurality of fire
• step of activating the plurality of fire extinguishing devices is not performed by means of a controller.
• the controller central controller
• the controller can be usefully employed to continuously monitor the integrity of the system. In particular, it may employed to determine if the connections between first and second actuator and the fire extinguishing units are in order. The connections are especially monitored for short circuits and cable breakage. Therefore, it provides a robust activation of the fire extinguishing devices.
• the first and second actuators are manual actuators. This further assists in avoiding false activation of the fire extinguishing devices as a dual manual input (actuation) is required.
• the first actuator may be different to the second actuator. This assists the user to confirm that it is their intent to activate the fire extinguishing devices since the user can easily differentiate between the different inputs required, improving the avoidance of false activation.
• the second actuator may be prevented from actuation until the first actuator has been actuated. This simplifies registration by the system of the correct dual input by preventing the second actuation occurring before the first whilst maintaining the required dual input.
• the first actuator may comprise a moveable cover of a control panel and wherein actuation of the first actuator is achieved by movement of the moveable cover of the control panel from a first position, suitably from a closed position to an open position.
• the cover may be lifted, hinged or slide from its first position.
• the cover may be released by action of turning a locking mechanism such as a handle.
• This provides a simple technique for detecting the first actuation and also provides an actuation that is intuitive to the user.
• the device may drive generation of an alarm in response to occurrence of actuation of the first actuator. The alarm enables to alert all personnel of danger of fire and that the fire extinguisher units are to be activated.
• the second actuator may comprise a switch and the second actuation detector detecting movement of the switch from a first position (e.g. "off” position) to a second position (e.g. "on” position).
• the switch may comprise a rotatable switch. This provides a different second actuation which is simple to detect and intuitive to use.
• the system may further comprise indication means for indicating a fault in the system comprising the first and second actuator and the means for activating the plurality of devices.
• the fault as indicated is determined by the controller,.
• the controller has means to detect faults in said system, and especially a logic to determine short circuiting and cable breakage of said system. This may be in the form of detecting and indicating a fault and/or the type of fault.
• the means for activating a plurality of fire extinguishing devices is suitably by providing an electrical charge to said fire extinguishing devices.
• the fire extinguishing devices are aerosol extinguishing units which are activated by means of an electrical charge.
• aerosol fire extinguishing any manner of extinguishing a fire by means of an aerosol as formed by combustion of a composition
• a composition comprising at least an oxidant, preferably a nitrate of an alkali metal and a secondary fuel, preferably a low-carbon polynitrogen, a carbon free polynitrogen, an organic azide and/or an inorganic azide.
• the composition preferably also comprises a resin, preferably a phenol formaldehyde resin and one or more additives such as for example described in EP925808 or US5831209A.
• Figure 1 is a simplified schematic of the system according to an
• Figure 2 is a simplified schematic of the control panel of Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 3a is front view of the control panel of Figure 1 and 2 with its front cover in its closed position according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 3b is front view of the control panel of Figure 1 and 2 with its front cover removed or in its open position according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 4 is a flowchart of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• the system 100 of an embodiment of the present invention comprises a control panel 1 10.
• the control panel 1 10 is shown in more detail in Figure 2.
• the control panel 1 10 comprises a first output terminal 210 and power source 220.
• the first output terminal 210 is connected, in parallel, to a plurality of fire extinguishing devices 120_1 , 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5.
• Figure 1 illustrates five fire extinguishing devices connected to the output terminal 210 of the control panel 1 10, it can be appreciated that any number of fire
• extinguishing devices may be connected to the output terminal 210 of the control panel 1 10.
• the fire extinguishing devices may comprise fire
• extinguishing units for example, aerosol fire extinguishing units.
• the first output terminal 210 of the control panel 1 10 of the system 100 of Figure 1 is connected to a power source 220 via a second actuator 250 and a first actuator 240.
• Power source 220 is suitably sourced from at least two independent power sources 220a and 220b.
• a controller 270 central controller
• Controller 270 is present in order to detects faults in the system comprising the first 240 and second actuator 250 and the means 210 for activating the plurality of devices 120.
• control lines 280 are shown.
• Controller 270 is powered by power source 220 via 260.
• the logic controller 270 is also connected to an indicator 290.
• the control panel 1 10 is contained in a housing 300 as shown in Figure 3a.
• the control panel housing 300 comprises a front cover plate 310 on which is arranged a user interface 320 having a display 330 and a plurality of push buttons 340.
• the user interface 320 is illustrated having push buttons 340 and a display 330 it can be appreciated that a touch sensitive screen may be utilized for interaction with the user.
• the cover plate 310 also comprises a plurality of indicator lights 360_1 to 360_5 comprising a plurality of different colored lights for indicating different operating condition modes of the system 100. For example a red light may indicate a fault of the system, for example a short circuit in the connections between the second actuator 250 and the means 210 for activating the plurality of devices 120.
• the cover plate 310 also comprises an interlocking mechanism 350, for example, a handle which unlocks the cover plate 310 for removal or movement of the cover plate 310, constituting the first actuator 230 of the control panel 1 10 as shown in Figure 2.
• FIG 3b shows the control unit 300 of Figure 3a in which the cover plate 310 has been removed or moved to its "open" position. Behind the cover plate 310 is located a switch 370.
• the switch is in the form of a rotatable switch which is rotated from a first position 380 (an "off position) to a second position 390 (an “on” position). The rotational movement of the switch 370 may be limited between the first position 380 and the second position 390.
• a rotatable switch 370 is illustrated in Figure 3b, it can be appreciated that any form of switch may be utilized.
• the switch 370 of Figure 3b forms the second actuator 250 as shown in Figure 2. Switch 370 may be in the same
• switch 370 is in a different compartment than the remaining elements such that when the cover plate 310 is removed or moved to its Open' position any water entering the control unit 300 will not directly contact the other units.
• FIG. 4 Typically on board of a ship an alarm will be generated upon detection of a hazard, e.g. a fire. Personnel on hearing the alarm will proceed to the location of the hazard. If the personnel establish that this is not a false alarm and that the fire extinguishing devices need to be actuated, they proceed to the control unit 300 and actuate the first actuator 240 by turning the interlocking mechanism 350 on the cover plate 310 of the control panel housing 300, step 420. This will cause removal of the cover plate 310 or, at least opening of the cover plate 310, from the control panel housing 300 exposing the second actuator 250, i.e. the switch 370. Removal of cover plate 310 will also generate an alarm, step 430.
• a hazard e.g. a fire.
• Personnel on hearing the alarm will proceed to the location of the hazard. If the personnel establish that this is not a false alarm and that the fire extinguishing devices need to be actuated, they proceed to the control unit 300 and
• the user rotates the switch 370 from its first position 380 to a second position 390 thus actuating the second actuator 250, step 440.
• a electrical charge is allowed to run from power source 220 to fire extinguishing devices 120_1 , 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5, thereby by-passing controller 270 and activating said devices, step 450.
• controller 270 would not function properly it would still be possible to activate devices 120 by performing steps 420-450. This makes the device, system and method very robust.
• the detector 280 detects any faults in the connection between the actuators 240, 250 and the fire extinguishing devices 120_1 , 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5 by detecting, for example short circuits or interruptions in the connection between the first and second actuator 240, 250 of the control panel 1 10 and the fire extinguishing devices 120_1 , 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5. If a fault is detected by the fault detector 280, the controller 270 changes the status of the indicator 290 by illuminating the different indicator lights 360_1 to 360_5 of the front plate 310 and/or displaying an error message on the display 330. In this manner the crew is informed of any faults and can take adequate repair activity during the normal course on board a ship. In the event the fire extinguishing units have been activated a fault will also be detected and indicated by indicator 290. In this manner the crew can check which panels have been used after an emergency situation has occurred.
• the controller 270 is not a part of the activation circuit.
• the controller 270 can be usefully employed to monitor the system 100 via simple fault detector or detectors 280. In particular, it may be employed to detecting a short-circuit or interruption in the bypass path between the actuation detectors 240, 250 and the fire extinguishing devices 120_1 , 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5. Therefore, it provides a robust activation of the fire extinguishing devices 120_1 , 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5, which is particularly useful in the use of fire extinguishing units on board a ship or an offshore platform.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)
• Fire Alarms (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=45774305

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2011
  • 2011-02-17 NL NL2006235A patent/NL2006235C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2012
  • 2012-02-13 EP EP12706719.7A patent/EP2675532A2/de not_active Ceased
  • 2012-02-13 WO PCT/NL2012/050075 patent/WO2012112034A2/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events