FR2843886A1 - Vehicle fire fighting system, for commercial vehicles, has computer control using temperature sensors to detect overheating and extinguishers with shock initiation and radio alarm system - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle fire fighting system has temperature sensors (31 - 34) monitoring the drive systems including engine, axles (41, 43), wheels (41R - 43R), brakes (41F - 43F) and with central controller (11) using a correspondence table (65) in status memory (60) to control extinguishers (20 - 23) through time delay units (19). Includes Independent claims for shock detectors to initiate fire suppression and a radio alarm system linked to a central monitoring station through a radio data or radio telephone system.

Description

The present invention relates to fire protection of

  Land transport vehicles, in particular very long ones, such as heavy goods vehicles such as trucks or tractor trucks hitched to a trailer, or even coaches. The components of such a vehicle are subjected to very high mechanical and thermal stresses. This is the case with the engine, on uphills, and brakes on descents. The heavily loaded wheel axles are thermally sensitive to excessive friction. In all these power organs, there is therefore a risk of

  overheating which may cause fire.

  When the fire occurs in the engine compartment, the driver is likely to detect the smoke fairly quickly, and therefore to stop his vehicle for

  intervene using a portable fire extinguisher.

  On the other hand, when the fire is located behind the

  driving seat, it may remain ignored for a long time and therefore take on a scale such that any action to combat it will be too late and therefore futile.

  The present invention aims to propose a solution to

this problem.

  To this end, the invention relates to a fire-fighting device intended to equip a land transport vehicle, characterized in that it comprises temperature sensor means, intended to monitor at least one of a set of power organs

  comprising an engine block, an axle, axle wheels.

  and braking means, and provided for controlling fire fighting means arranged to deliver a fire fighting product in at least one zone to

  deal with the monitored power unit.

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  Thus, a fire risk can be detected in time and therefore be dealt with before the fire starts, or

quickly after this one.

  Preferably, a central unit, for monitoring the states of the sensor means and for controlling consequently the control means, comprises a central unit associated with memory means for memorizing the states of the sensors and

  memorization of control means controls.

  The overall state of the environment of the device is thus directly accessible to it in order to take the

  appropriate measures over time.

  Advantageously, the central unit is associated with a

  correspondence table arranged to provide logical position links between each sensor means and at least one of the control means.

  Countermeasures to combat an increasing risk

  can thus be targeted.

  The central unit can be associated with timer means arranged to control the launch, towards the control means, of orders for additional countermeasures. The system can thus judge the effectiveness of first countermeasures and decide to send additional orders. The table can contain an additional position logical links indicating, for at least some of the sensor means, some of the control means to activate in emergency, in the event of other ineffectiveness of the control means. The device can thus have a good perception of the relative positions of the monitored organs, to

best contain a fire.

  The timer means can for this purpose be arranged to control the reading of the additional links of

Table.

  In addition, the timer means can be arranged to command a reading, in the table, of a history, containing states of the sensors after activation of some of the control means, controlling

  activation of emergency response means.

  The history makes it possible to judge the effectiveness of the initial counter measures.

  Preferably, the control means comprise at least two product containers arranged to operate in

  mutual aid under the control of the central unit.

  Redundancy is thus ensured.

  The central unit preferably cooperates with a console for monitoring and controlling the device by a driver. The sensor means are advantageously arranged for

  provide, for at least one of the monitored organs, a pre-alarm indication.

  Advantageously, the control means comprise switching means that can be controlled, connected downstream of means for supplying control product to deliver it to the area to be treated. However, the switching means 25 can be arranged so that the switching can be inhibited on command, in order to supply the product to

at least two areas to be treated.

  Some of the means of control, for example a container

  of control product, are preferably arranged to be fixed under a towing vehicle.

  The device can be arranged to be carried entirely by a trailer, then with a battery

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  own supply, preferably recharged by a

tractor when coupled to it.

  The device may include radio means for transmitting alarms to a monitoring station, for example means for accessing a radiotelephony network. In such a case, it is advantageous to provide means for determining the position of the device and for transmitting position data corresponding to the

radio means.

  The invention will be better understood using the

  following description of an embodiment of the fire fighting device of the invention, in

  reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: - Figure 1 is a side view of a road assembly 15 consisting of a tractor vehicle coupled to a trailer, comprising the device according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a view from below of the road combination in Figure 1, and

  - Figure 3 is a block diagram of the fire fighting device fitted to the road unit.

  The road assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises, in this example, a tractor vehicle 1, with engine block 44, coupled to a trailer 2 carried, at the front, by an axle 43 of the tractor 1, and to the rear, by two twin axles 41, 42. The power members 40 to 44 above and their environment are designed and dimensioned to be able to dissipate a determined maximum flow of calories which they generate while driving, without exceeding a temperature threshold predetermined. For example, the engine compartment should not exceed 135 C. However, as mentioned at the beginning, the engine is sometimes heavily stressed,

  same as the axles 41, 42, 43 or brakes 41F, 42F and 43F which are associated therewith respectively. The temperature of the wheels 41R, 42R and 43R themselves can be monitored and provision can be made to spray them with a mist of fire-fighting product (fire extinguisher and / or cooler), if the wheel or even the associated brake drum reaches an excessive temperature.

  FIG. 3 schematically represents the device 10 for fighting against fire.

  It comprises an electronic central unit 10 located in this example in the tractor 1 and supplied from the latter's battery and / or by solar collector. central unit 11, comprising at least one input port, here 15 makes a plurality of four input ports referenced 12, 13, 14, 15, and at least one output port, here makes two ports referenced 16 and 17. The input ports 12 to 15 are respectively connected to temperature sensors 31, 32, 33, 34 in close thermal contact with the respective axles 41, 42 (shown partially), 43 and the motor 44. The sensors 31 to 33 are for example sorts of end caps or capsules held against, or even in, the body of the axles 41 to. 43 of the wheels 41R, 42R, 43R, for example by screwing into a cavity in order to protect them. The sensors 31 to 34 are, for example, bimetal type thermostats, opening a hot contact. We can more particularly think of Curie point temperature sensors, appearing as waterproof relay bulbs, says Reed, containing a flexible blade closing a contact under the effect of a magnet associated with a particular material, contact which opens when the material loses its magnetic properties if the temperature reaches its Curie point. It is therefore in this example a binary indication sensor, with a high threshold. The sensor 34 of the motor 44 may for example be constituted by a pair of parallel and neighboring electrical wires, extending above the motor 44, separated by an insulating sheath melting at a predetermined temperature, for example 138 C, this

  which produces a contact closure between the two wires.

  For the sake of clarity, additional thermal sensors have not been shown connected to the power dissipative members 10 of the respective brakes 41F, 42F,

  43F. These power members may for example relate to friction contact elements, such as drums, intended to provide a braking torque, or also to braking elements with electromagnetic recovery of kinetic energy.

  The links 31A to 34A connect the sensors 31 to 34 to the respective ports 12 to 15. In this example, these links are loops which open or close when the temperature threshold is exceeded, depending on the nature of the sensor 31 to 34 associated, and whose associated port 12 to 15

detects the state.

  The control unit 10 controls, via the port 16 controlling a link 16B, a fire extinguisher 20 located under the trailer 2, near the axles 41, 42. The control of the fire extinguisher 25 consists in triggering a pyrotechnic charge releasing an opening of the container fire extinguisher. The port 16 also controls, in this example, a link 16A for controlling a device 22 for switching extinguishing fluid under pressure, for example a network of solenoid valves connected in parallel downstream of the extinguisher 20 , to direct the product, in the form of a mist, possibly via a conduit specific to each

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  (the two upper arrows with double lines), towards an area containing the axle 41 or 42 associated with the sensor 31 or 32 providing an overheating alarm. It could have been provided that the axle 43 of the tractor 1 and the engine 44 5 could also be supplied from the extinguisher 20.

  However here, the tractor 1 has its own fire extinguisher 21, here fixed at the rear of the cabin, controlled by the port 17 through a link 17B, and associated with a fire extinguisher fluid switch 23 controlled by a link 17A for a 10 diffusion, by other conduits (the two lower arrows with double lines), towards the axle 43 or the motor 44, when the associated sensor 33 or 34 indicates a

threshold crossing.

  A panel or console 50 for visualization and manual or other control, arranged in the driver's cabin, includes warning lights and / or sound transmitters 51, 52, 53, 54 for copying the alarm state of the sensors 31 to 34. Buttons or the like 55, 56 and the like which are not drawn allow the driver to manually control the activation of any of the fire extinguishers 20 and 21 if he deems it useful, and possibly of the associated switch 22 and 23 The buttons 55, 56 have an involuntary anti-control cover or are of the stroke type.

  chicane, said to "turn then push".

  The fire extinguishers 20, 21 and the switches 22, 23 are used for the overall fight against the fire, that is to say

  prevention and, where appropriate, extinction.

  It will be noted that the switch 22, 23 is optional, because it could be provided to diffuse the extinguisher 30 in all the neighboring monitored zones, one of which is

  in alarm, such as for example the twin axles 41, 42.

  In addition, provision can be made to inhibit the switching function on command, that is to say to be able to control a diffusion of extinguishing agent simultaneously towards the two bodies concerned, such as the axles 41 and 42 for example. Such an inhibition can be carried out by controlling the simultaneous opening of the two solenoid valves with parallel inputs on the output of the extinguisher 20 or 21. Alternatively, an additional output channel of the switch 22, 23 can be provided. , to which are connected in common two arteries for diffusing the product towards the two respective protected members, such as the axles 41 and 42, possibly through the original conduits at the outlet of the switch 22, 23, with valves then non-return in both arteries to avoid a hydraulic short circuit in normal operation

  referrals. The function of inhibiting the referral from a supply point to several zones for controlled supply of the product, thus makes it possible to deal with a global fire, in several of the zones protected by the same extinguisher 20, 21.

  In particular, additional extinguishers can be provided, without a locally associated sensor, to protect the rest of the vehicle 1, 2 and in particular the cargo of the trailer 2. The control of these extinguishers 25 can be manual from the console 50 and / or automatic, when overheating is detected in an area where a fire could spread to the rest of the vehicle. For example, an engine temperature overheating detection can automatically trigger a diffusion of fire-fighting product, product

  which is a fire extinguisher and / or cooler such as foam or water, on the fuel tank of the tractor 1.

  On the other hand, overheating of the axles 41, 42 or brakes 41F, 42F of the trailer 2 will not automatically trigger action at the level of the tractor 1, and it is the driver who will make a decision, if a fire breaks out in trailer 2 and that it considers that it is not controllable, for example for lack of being extinguished in one

determined time.

  Provision may be made to associate, with the same vehicle body 1, 2, several thermal sensors with a threshold for a change of state or a single sensor with progressively progressive measurement (temperature-sensitive resistance), in order to provide the driver with a pre-alarm and / or allow it to follow the thermal evolution of an organ in a declared fire, to detect the effectiveness of the extinguisher 20, 21 activated and to take the preventive measures, mentioned above, for the others vehicle zones 1, 2. There may also be provided sensors for the effects of a fire, such as radiation in one or more wavelength ranges, fumes, and the like, in order to estimate the effectiveness of the extinguishers 20, 21. The pre-alarm, at a temperature T1 lower than a temperature T2 for alarms and countermeasures, does not trigger an automatic action of countermeasures, but it allows the driver, warned by the console 50, to stop his 25 vehicle early enough so that a start of overheating, for example of the brakes or the engine 44, does not turn into a fire. The driver can however decide as a precaution to activate a fire extinguisher 20, 21 by command of the central unit 1.1. The control of the control means 20 to 23 can therefore originate from a command from a person or be automatically generated from the signal of a

sensors 31 to 34.

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  In order to improve the possibilities of fighting the fire, provision may also be made for the fire extinguisher and switcher assemblies 20, 22, on the one hand, and 21, 23, on the other hand, to be able to operate in mutual aid, by 5 mutual supply of the switches 22, 23. In such a case, the switches 22 and 23 each comprise, for example, an additional output supplying the opposite switch 23, 22 on command. The driver can thus control, by buttons not shown on the console 50, 10 or by voice command, the refueling of a switch 22 or 23 whose associated fire extinguisher 20, 21 has emptied without extinguishing the fire or lowering it sufficiently temperature. As a variant or addition, the central unit 11 can detect the empty state of an activated fire extinguisher 20, 21, or estimate that it is empty when a time delay of a timer circuit 19, launched during activation , expires, so connect the other fire extinguisher 21, 20 upstream of the active switch 22, 23. This passage on the previously inactive fire extinguisher 21, 20 can however be conditioned by the detection of the continuity of the fire, in order to avoid unnecessarily emptying the inactive extinguisher 21, 20, while another fire may very well be declared in the short term, for the same cause, for example the heating of another brake 41F at 43F in a long descent, if that was the case at the start. A detected drop in temperature, even if it remains above the threshold, can indicate that the fire has stopped and avoid starting

the other fire extinguisher 21, 20.

  The operation of the central unit 10 is specified below.

  For managing the detection of overheating zones and countermeasures taken against fire, ll the central unit 11 has a memory 60 in which four memory blocks 61, 62, 63, 64 are used to memorize the state of the sensors respective 31 to 34. It can be provided that each block 61 to 64 allows the storage of a history of the state of the concerned sensor 31 to 34, indicating the successive states and the instant of each change of state. In the case where, as a variant and as already mentioned, the overheating sensors would be of a type providing continuously evolving values, and not all or nothing as here, the measured values, analog or digital, would be sampled cyclically in ports 12 to 15 to be memorized and, to trigger an alarm, the central unit 11 would carry out a monitoring comparison between the measurement and the temperature setpoint threshold, the value of which may depend on the type of organ

41 to 44 monitored.

  The memory 60 furthermore comprises two memory blocks and 71 for memorizing activation commands of the respective extinguishers 20 and 21 issued by the central unit 20 through the ports 16 and 17. Likewise, memory blocks 81, 82, 83, 84 are used to store the routing commands sent to the switches 22, 23. Each block 81 to 84 therefore represents the activated state of one of the four extinguishing agent conduits, that is to say say electro25 valves controlling them. Two associated blocks, such as 81 and 82 for example, can also indicate a joint activation of the two distribution pipes or arteries, such as

mentioned above.

  To manage the development of the commands for the extinguishers 30 20, 21 and the switches 22, 23, the memory 60 comprises a memory block 65 comprising a correspondence or patch table, of logical position links between each sensor 31 to 34 and at least one of the extinguishing elements 20 to 23. The table 65 therefore associates each sensor 31 to 34 with that or those of the extinguishers 20 and 21 which is physically associated with it, that is to say capable, in cooperation with the switch 22, 23 associated, to return the measurement from the sensor 31 to 34 below the threshold, by cooling the monitored member 41 to 44 or even extinguishing a fire

  in the sensor area 31 to 34 considered.

  Thus, in the event of detection of the crossing of the high threshold 10 of the sensor 31 for example, the central unit 11 reads the

  correspondence table 65 and deduces therefrom that it is necessary to activate the extinguisher 20 and to control the switch of the switchman 22 on the duct leading to the overheated axle 41.

  The table 65 thus allows the return switch, or loopback, between the alarm input link 31A and the

  output control link 16A, 16B making it possible to deliver the extinguishing product in the zone of the sensor 31 in alarm. The corresponding commands are then issued.

  The memory blocks 61, 70 and 81 then receive a bit of 20 data representing the states activated above at input (12) and output (16). The activated state of block 61 is displayed by the indicator 51 which lights up. In general, the console 50 may include indicators representing the state

blocks of memory 60.

  As mentioned above, the central processing unit 11 can detect a return of the temperature below the threshold, or at least a tendency to fall towards the high threshold, if necessary by additional sensors or by the use of scalable measurement sensors, and not all or nothing as described. In the absence of any indication of a significant drop in temperature, the central unit 11 can then, after the expiration of the time delay 19, armed during the issuance of the fire fighting commands, take measures to additional control, for example watering of the tank, emergency activation of the extinguisher at rest 21, 20 if the active extinguisher 20, 21 5 is considered or detected as being emptied. Table 65 comprises for this purpose a complementary table, of the second plan, constituting an extension of the logical links of association sensors 31 to 34 / extinguishers 20, 21 with the switches 22, 23, extension which is consulted by the central unit. 11 after expiration of the timer 19. The timer 19 then commands the reading of the additional links from the table 65. To avoid unnecessary triggering of the extinguisher 21, 20 which has remained at rest, the timer 19 commands a reading, in the 15 table 65, of the history, containing states of the sensors

  31 to 34 after activation of some of the extinguishing means (20 to 23). This reading controls the emergency activation of the extinguisher 21, 20 at rest, that is to say that it is activated only if the history does not indicate an extinction of the fire.

  As a variant, the central unit 10 could be carried by the trailer 2, insofar as the console 50 remains

accessible to the driver.

  The control unit 10 could also be split, that is to say that each element 1, 2 of the road unit would have its own fire-fighting device. In such a case, the two central units 11 would preferably be linked to exchange data - in order to offer the global management possibilities described

above.

  Radio circuits can be provided for transmitting alarms (state of memory 60) to a monitoring station, for example circuits of a cordless telephone handset for accessing a radiotelephony network, such as the GSM network. It can also be provided that the radio circuits control the central unit 11 5 in the manner of the console 50, thus functionally remote, In addition, it can also be provided for circuits for determining the position of the device, for example GPS, and for transmitting position data corresponding to radio circuits. These radio circuits and the associated GPS receiver are conventional and therefore do not have

been drawn.

Claims (17)

claims   1. Fire-fighting device intended to equip a land transport vehicle (1, 2), 5 characterized in that it comprises temperature sensor means (31 to 34), provided for monitoring one at less among a set of power members (41 to 44, 41F to 43F, 41R to 43R) comprising an engine block (44), an axle (41 to 43), wheels (41R to 43R) of the axle and braking means (41F to 43F), and provided for controlling fire fighting means (20, 21, 22, 23) arranged to deliver a fire fighting product in at least one area to be treated comprising the organ of   power (41 to 44, 41F to 43F, 41R to 43R) monitored.   2. Device according to claim 1, in which a central unit (10), for monitoring the states of the sensor means (31 to 34) and consequently for controlling the control means (20 to 23), comprises a central unit (11 ) associated with memory means (60) for memorizing the states of the sensors (31 to 34) and for memorizing the   control means controls (20 to 23).   3. Device according to claim 2, in which the central unit (11) is associated with a correspondence table (65) arranged to provide logical position links between each sensor means (31 to 34) and to the   minus one of the means of control (20 to 23).   4. Device according to one of claims 2 and 3,   wherein the central unit (11) is associated with timer means (19) arranged to control the launch,   towards the means of control (20 to 23), of orders for complementary countermeasures.   5. Device according to one of claims 3 and 4,   in which the table (65) contains an additional position logical links indicating, for at least some of the sensor means (31, to 34), some of the control means 5 (20 to 23) to be activated in emergency, in the event of 'inefficiency   others means of struggle (20 to 23).   6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the timer means (19) are arranged to control   reading the additional links from the table (65).   7. Device according to one of claims 5 and 6,   in which the timer means (19) are arranged to command a reading, in the table (65), of a history, containing states of the sensors (31 to 34) after activation of some of the control means (20 to 23) , 15 controlling the emergency activation of the control means (20 to 23).   8. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7,   wherein the control means comprise at least two containers of control product (20, 21) arranged to operate as mutual aid under the control of the unit central (11).   9. Device according to one of claims 2 to 8,   wherein the central unit (11) is arranged to cooperate with a console (50) for monitoring and control of the device by a driver.   10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9,   in which the sensor means (31 to 34) are arranged to supply, for at least one of the monitored organs (41 to   44, 41F to 43F), a pre-alarm indication.   11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10,   wherein the control means comprise controllable switching means (22, 23), connected downstream of means (20, 21) for supplying product for the deliver in the area to be treated.   12. Device according to claim 11, in which   the switching means (22, 23) are arranged so that the switching can be inhibited on command, in order to supply the product to at least two areas to be treated.   13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12,   in which some of the means of struggle (20, 22) are   arranged to be fixed under a towing vehicle (2).   14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13,   arranged to be carried entirely by a trailer.   15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14,   comprising radio means for transmitting alarms to a surveillance post.   16. Device according to one of claim 15, in which the radio means are means of accessing a network. of radiotelephony.   17. Device according to one of claims 15 and   16, comprising means for determining the position of the device and for transmitting position data corresponding to radio means.