Classifications

• • 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
  • A62C3/16—Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in electrical installations, e.g. cableways

Definitions

• This invention relates to heat and fire containment enclosures used to isolate a fire event in electrical equipment that may be subject to rapid intense combustion due to malfunction of the electrical system.
• portable equipment fires may be difficult to control and extinguish given the nature of the burning battery that burns at a high temperature with its own oxidation agent emitting nauseous fumes.
• Such fires cannot be easily extinguished and must typically be allowed to burn themselves out of their own accord.
• Prior art devices of this type are typically directed to room or cabinet enclosures positioned around electronic equipment in case of fire.
• Such enclosures are primarily used ⁇ o protect the equipment from fire rather than to contain and control the fire in the equipment.
• An example of a fireproof or resistant enclosure in a related venue would be a fireproof or resistant filing cabinet that will keep the contents of the cabinet safe from fire for a
• Patent 4,685,402 is directed to a tire resistant cabinet for storing easily damaged electronic data storage material which is essentially a safe like configuration having insulated interior sidewalls to resist fire from the outside, thus keeping the contents presumably safe.
• Patent 6,158,833 claims a fire resistant computer storage apparatus which is a thermally insulated cabinet providing protection for electronic data storage device from accidental and environmental conditions.
• the cabinet has multiple layers of fire resistant and heat dissipation insulation material to provide storage for data positioned within on electronic readable means.
• Patent 7,232, 197 illustrates a fire safety electronic data storage protection device which is a cabinet to store electronic data such as zip drives or CD ROM storage and is of a fireproof configuration to prevent damage to the fire that would occur within the facility thus maintaining the integrity of backup copies stored within.
• Patent 7,545,639 is directed to a fireproof container with heat activated closure panel in which a heat sensitive activation panel is provided to automatically close over vent holes within the container restricting airflow therewithin.
• the container is designed to store hard drives and the like and upon exterior temperature reaching a predetermined condition will close sealing the fireproof container with its contents therewithin.
• U.S. Patent Publication 2009/0014188 describes a device for containing ignited electrical equipment specifically electronic devices with lithium ion batteries.
• the enclosure is formed of material that is capable of withstanding heat and is of a fabric nature with a flap configuration for its openings so that once the item is placed inside the flap is closed thus containing the device within.
• a pair of fire resistant and heat temperature gloves are provided for allowing the individual to grasp and insert the device within the flexible fabric pouch.
• a fire containment case for selectively receiving and securing a portable electronic device and their batteries in the event of fire.
• the case provides an easy access airtight sealing closure for receipt and containment of the device.
• the case being of heaf resistance construction to contain and control products of combustion from a device so involved.
• An integrated filter canister and optional vacuum canister in communication with the case equipment receiving interior absorbs and contains combustion fumes and gases.
• Case containment insulation can be of both an active thermal insulation and/or passive to maintain case integrity. External temperature gauge and fire suppression may be provided with external access fittings, pressure gauge and gas vents if necessary.
• Figure 1 is a graphic perspective view of the primary containment case of the invention.
• Figure 2 is a front elevational and partial sectional view of the containment case construction showing alternate features associated therewith in broken lines.
• Figure 3 is a section on lines 3-3 of figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an equipment transport container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• a fire containment case 10 of the invention can be seen for receiving electronic equipment (not shown) that is on fire.
• the containment case 10 has a main exterior housing 12 defined of a base portion 13 and a hinge closure portion 14 having hinge assemblies 14A.
• the exterior housing 12 is preferably of a rectangular configuration of a known size and dimension to accommodate and receive a variety of portable electronic equipment therewithin.
• An airtight sealing gasket configuration 15 is provided and formed by the respective perimeter engagement flanges 13A and 13B of the base and closure portions 13 and 14 as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.
• a common latch system 16 assures closure portion 14 retainment and secures the housing 12 with a sealing gasket assembly 15 and will be described in greater detail with alternate forms hereinafter.
• an internal equipment receiving case 17 is formed within the exterior case housing 12 of the case 10 with thermal flame retardant insulation 18 infilling between the infernal receiving case 17 and fhe exterior housing 12.
• transportation container 19 as best seen in figure 5 of the drawings is generally of a rectangular configuration having a receiving base panel 19A with upstanding interconnected side and end walls 20A and 20B and 20C
• An integral fop panel 21 forms an equipment transport receiving area 22 therewithin.
• the sidewalls 20A and 20B are tapered at their respective opening defined by the enclosure forming in essence a side edge scoop therein.
• a collapsible wire handle assembly 23 is secured to fhe fop panel 21 which will allow for user's grasp and lifting for engaging and receiving electronic equipment while on fire.
• the transportation container 19 is of an overall dimension less than that of the receiving case 17 with optional spacer tabs 21 A extending from the exterior of the side wall 20A so as ⁇ o be slidably received therewithin and spaced same associate ⁇ o fhe inferior thereof as illustrated in solid and broken lines in figure 2 of fhe drawings.
• the thermal insulation 18 hereinbefore described may be of a passive static material chosen from a variety of thermal insulation materials currently available commercially or alternately of an active thermal material 18A as illustrated in figure 2 of the drawings.
• Such an active thermal insulation material has a phase charged change material based on inorganic salts that absorb heat and therefore help maintain the outer case temperature of the containment case housing 12.
• phase change insulation materials are commercially marketed, for example, by PCM Energy Ltd.
• the containment case 10 of the invention has a gas and fume collection filter and retainment system 24 in communication with the interior of the internal equipment receiving case 17.
• the gas and fume system 24 in this example is positioned in the hinge insulated closure portion 14 and may have multiple filter zones including, for example, an initial particle filter 24A, a gas fume filter 24B and an optional chemical zone filter 24C to collect and retain dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide and cyanide that may result from the burning of synthetic resin based materials during combustion.
• the filter system 24 then vents treated gases to atmosphere at 25.
• an evacuation gas canister 26 may be used as an alternate to the filter under negative pressure to collect the gases expelled by the burning electronic devices, not shown, sealed within the equipment receiving case 17 within the containment case 10 as illustrated in broken lines in figure 2 of the drawings as an alternate gas collection system.
• valve fitting 27 is provided allowing for direct
• An auxiliary fire suppression system 28 can be seen in figure 2 of the drawings having a water injection fitting 29 extending through the insulated closure portion 14 of the case 10 in communication with the equipment receiving case 17.
• a water bottle WB shown in broken lines can therefore be attached to the water injection fitting 29 and manually expelled by manual compression into the case 17.
• an alternate canister dispenser 30 of thermal insulating fire retardant foam that would be activated once the case is closed during active use in the presence of burning equipment positioned therewithin. Such firefighting foam is released into the respective equipment receiving case 17 to effectively control gases and temperature and extinguish the fire and is illustrated in broken lines as an alternate suppression system in figure 2 of the drawings in the closure portion 14.
• the alternate containment case 10 insulation 18A can be seen in a portion of figure 2 of the drawings which illustrates, as noted, the positioning of the thermal phase change material insulation 18A against the inside surface S of the exterior housing 12 with a layer of conventional flame proof insulation 18B. Additionally, a flame proof liner 31 surrounds the interior receiving chamber defined by the case 17.
• the sealing gasket assembly 15 is defined by the pair of elongated contoured continuous integrated engagement flanges 13A and 14A extending respectively about the open end edges of the base portion 13 and closure portion 14, as noted.
• an O-ring gasket 32 is fitted within a channel therein and provides an airtight seal therebetween when engaged and secured by the latch assembly 16, as noted.
• an alternate sealing gasket material can be used, such as a graphite material gasket well within the doctrine of the art.
• the latch system 16 of the case 10 being identified as a so-called butterfly twist catch latches to maintain an airtight pressure tight seal between the closure 14 and the base portion 13, as described.
• the case housing 12 construction is preferably defined as heat resistant synthetic resin as wherein an inferior wall of the retainmenf case 17 is of preferably aluminum material with an increase interior and exterior dimensions respectively over that of the primary dimension formed so as hereinbefore described as ⁇ o be sufficient to receive and hold electronic equipment in question.
• a digital temperature gauge 33 to indicate the internal temperature of the case 17 for confirmation as to the status and removal of the combustion contents may be provided as shown in broken lines in the closure portion 14.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
• Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=50685040

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 2012
  • 2012-11-09 AU AU2012393961A patent/AU2012393961A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-11-09 KR KR1020157015231A patent/KR20150082586A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2012-11-09 JP JP2015541751A patent/JP6185074B2/ja active Active
  • 2012-11-09 CN CN201280078112.8A patent/CN105102075A/zh active Pending
  • 2012-11-09 EP EP12888051.5A patent/EP2916920A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-11-09 WO PCT/US2012/064404 patent/WO2014074113A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-11-09 CA CA2925258A patent/CA2925258A1/en not_active Abandoned

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