GB2139495A

GB2139495A - Automatic fire protection arrangement for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2139495A
Application number: GB08411702A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernst Landsberg
Original assignee: Total Walther Feuerschutz GmbH; Total Feuerschutz GmbH
Current assignee: Total Walther Feuerschutz GmbH; Total Feuerschutz GmbH
Priority date: 1983-05-10
Filing date: 1984-05-08
Publication date: 1984-11-14
Also published as: DE3316991A1; GB8411702D0; GB2139495B; DE3316991C2

Abstract

An automatic fire protection device for use in a vehicle which travels on the land, sea or in the air, the vehicle having a compressed air system, the device comprising a sprinkler arrangement with a compressed air/extinguishing material container from which a sprinkler pipe line is led to one or more sprinker(s). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automatic Fire Protection Arrangement for Vehicles The invention relates to a device for an automatic fire protection, having a sprinkler arrangement consisting of a compressed air extinguishing material container from which a sprinkler line with an alarm emitter is led to the sprinklers.

Sprinkler arrangements are known as stationary arrangements in buildings such as warehouses, department stores or such like. Until now an automatic fire protection by means of such arrangements has not been provided in vehicles.

With the prime aim of further improving protection for people -- even in a fire on a vehicle in a tunnel -- considerable efforts are being made at present in the field of preventive fire protection in underground trains and other vehicles.

However, designing a vehicle to be attractive and at the same time fulfilling the requirements for fire protection to the fullest degree is problematic.

Saving human life is also the primary concern of the fire brigade. Also, the valuable vehicles should be protected from arson.

Despite all efforts, fires in vehicles cannot be generally excluded. Rescue and fire-fighting exercises by the fire-brigade in subterranean installations confirm that in a fire in a vehicle in a tunnel it is 30 to 60 minutes before extinguishing water is available at disadvantageous sites. The rescue of people takes an approximately equally long time. Compare this with the approximate ten minutes needed for a vehicle to be completely ablaze and thereby the entire tunnel installation to be filled with dense smoke and poisonous gases, and the danger for passengers and rescuers becomes clear.

At present, underground train vehicles or similar are equipped with an emergency brake-bypass. It enables the drivers to drive on to the next station even when an emergency brake has been actuated by passengers. This involves the risk that a burning vehicle will breakdown in the tunnel between two stops, a reduced risk it is true, but one which cannot be absolutely excluded.

The rescue of people threatened by a fire in a vehicle in extensive subterranean stations is also not without risk, because here too the provision of extinguishing water takes far too long. Also, essential escape routes for the people in danger are lacking.

Even in sidings vehicles are at risk during quiet operating periods, because fires there are discovered far too late and, in the extensive installations, the start of fire fighting is accordingly considerably delayed.

The underlying object of the invention is to protect vehicles of the type mentioned initially automatically when a fire starts and thus to avoid the disadvantages mentioned.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic fire protection device for use in a vehicle which travels on the land, sea, or in the air, the vehicle having a compressed air system, which device comprises a sprinkler arrangement with a compressed air/extinguishing material container from which a sprinkler pipe line is led to one or more sprinkler, wherein the compressed air contained in the compressed air/extinguishing material container is taken from the vehicles' compressed air system and there is fitted, in the compressed air supply line to the container, a non-return valve which ensures an automatic refilling of the extinguishing material container with compressed air.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic fire protection device for use in a vehicle which travels on the land, sea or in the air, the vehicle having a compressed air system, which device comprises a sprinkler arrangement with a compressed air/extinguishing material container from which a sprinkler pipe line is led to one or more sprinkler, wherein the one or more sprinkler comprises: a spray disc; a sprinkler body; two or more arms fixed to the sprinkler body; and a trigger element protected from mechanical damage by the arms.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic fire protection device for use in a vehicle which travels on the land, sea or in the air, the vehicle having a compressed air system, which device comprises a sprinkler arrangement with a compressed air/extinguishing material container from which a sprinkler pipe line is led to one or more sprinkler, wherein: the compressed air contained in the compressed air/extinguishing material container is taken from the vehicles' compressed air system and there is fitted, in the compressed air supply line to the container, a non-return valve which ensures an automatic refilling of the extinguishing material container with compressed air; and the one or more sprinkler comprises a spray disc; a sprinkler body; two or more arms fixed to the sprinkler body and a trigger element protected from mechanical damage by the arms.

The sprinklers are conveniently designed as mini-sprinklers and may be fitted to the ceiling of the vehicle; the sprinklers preferably have a small water output.

The sprinkler line is preferably minimised in length.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the extinguishing material is brine which is a frost-secure substance and prevents the device becoming inoperable at low temperatures. The container, which contains the extinguishing material, may be additionally provided with inner baffles.

These measures allow the sprinkler arrangement to be accommodated in the smallest possible space and adequate fire extinguishing to be achieved in the case of fires. The sprinkler installation is dimensioned so that an optimal extinguishing effect in the case of a fire is possible without altering the vehicle. A further advantage of the measure according to the invention is to be seen in that increased protection for people in fires in vehicles in underground transport installations is provided by using an extinguishing substance harmless to people and thus there is no danger to people from the spray jets issuing from the sprinklers. Also, the invention offers a reliable, automatic detection and extinguishing of vehicle fires at an early stage of the fire, irrespective of the vehicle's location at that time, of the vehicle's working order and occupation.Thus, the action of the installation extends to empty vehicles and vehicles in sidings. Fire damages remain within the minimal limits. Also, large-scale fires are prevented and thus fewer toxic and corrosive gases are released. The consequential damages are considerably reduced. A further advantage of the invention is an automatic fire alarm as an additional function when a sprinkler installation is actuated in one of the vehicles. In this way it is possible for the driver in the driver's cab to be alerted of a fire or, by communication through the continuous automatic train running control, for the staff in a control centre to be alerted. The risk of mis-use is very slight as anyone starting the extinguishing process as a prank will himself be sprayed with extinguishing substance. The maintenance cost for this type of installation is also very low.

A further improvement of the extinguishing plant is given by providing a common compressed air-extinguishing substance container for two or more vehicles in a train consisting of several coupled vehicles.

Using the compressed air-brake arrangement belonging to the vehicle results in a very high reliability of the extinguishing arrangement as adequate pressure means is always available, leakages can be compensated for, and no additional space is required for the production of compressed air.

A minimised sprinkler with an arrangement of carrying arms for the spray disc, which arms provide a protective cage-type effect, are essentially more stable and also better equipped against outside damage (vandalism in vehicles).

Also, the spray disc is optimally matched to the local circumstances of a vehicle, because, with less water on a smaller sprinkling area it provides adequate efficiency of the extinguishing action with a minimized arrangement.

The extinguishing substance issuing from the sprinkler is, for the greatest part, dispersed uniformly over a sprinkling area suited to the vehicle cross-section. A smaller portion of the extinguishing substance must be sprayed on the ceiling in order also to deal with fires on the panelling. For this purpose, the teeth of the spray disc are inwardly curved at their ends at the inner surface. The downwardly suspended sprinklers thereby ensure that this desired smaller proportion of extinguishing substance is sprayed upwards.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is represented in a drawing and is described in more detail in the following: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic arrangement of the sprinkler installation; Figure 2 shows a view of the sprinkler; Figure 3 shows a plan view of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a section through the spray disc according to line A-B in Figure 3.

The automatic fire extinguishing arrangement for a vehicle consists of a compressed airextinguishing substance container 1 which is filled up to a determined level with the extinguishing substance 2 and compressed air 3.

The extinguishing substance is conducted into the container 1 via a line 4 with a filling connection piece 5 and shut-off devices. The pressure medium, namely the compressed air, is supplied to the container 1 via a line 6, a non-return valve 7 and further fittings being arranged inside the line 6. The compressed air arrangement belonging to the vehicle is not shown. A sprinkler line 8 leaving the extinguishing substance container 1 is provided with an alarm emitter 9 and is led to the sprinklers 10.

The sprinkler line 8 is merely shown diagrammatically in Figure 1. In reality it is divided into several branch lines and conducted from the container 1 into the individual vehicles which have not been shown. In Figure 1 a flexible connection between two vehicles is designated by 1 Oa. In order to avoid aitering and therefore spoiling the appearance of the vehicles, the sprinkler pipe lines 8 are accommodated inside the hollow spaces which are formed by the vehicles' outer walls or outer roofs respectively, and the inner panellings (not shown). The sprinklers 10 are arranged in the passenger area of a vehicle, for example in an underground train carriage, as far as possible along the central line below the ceiling as overhead sprinklers. The number of sprinklers is determined by the size of the vehicle, in order to protect the given area completely.

The sprinklers 10 consist of a sprinkler body 1 1, a small glass barrel 12 and, in the exemplary embodiment three carrying arms 13 to 1 5 connecting the spray disc 1 6 to the sprinkler body 1 The carrying arms 13 to 1 5 are formed from a square profile section and arranged radially to the sprinkler. The sprinkler thus acts like a protective cage. Using more than three carrying arms also falls within the essence of the invention. The spray disc 1 6 has several teeth 1 7 which form slit-like openings 18 which disperse the extinguishing substance uniformly in the case of a fire when the small glass barrel 12 shatters. The uniform dispersal of the extinguishing substance over a small sprinkling area is also achieved among other ways by the slits 18 ieading approximately to the centre 1 9 of the spray disc 1 6. The centre 19 forms a small area which is sufficient to hold the small glass barrel 12. The teeth 1 7 are provided at their ends on the inner surface with a convex portion 20 which conducts a small portion of the extinguishing substance to the ceiling of the vehicle. In the exemplary embodiment the sprinkler 10 in Figure 2 is arranged vertically, but in reality it is arranged suspended from the ceiling inside the vehicle. In the case of fire the small glass bulb 12 shatters and thus releases the bore 21 from which the extinguishing substance can issue.

The alarm emitter 9 is used to give warning of the fire when the extinguishing substance 2 is issuing from the container 1 when one or more sprinklers 10 are open.

Claims

1. An automatic fire protection device for use in a vehicle which travels on the land, sea, or in the air, the vehicle having a compressed air system, which device comprises a sprinkler arrangement with a compressed air/extinguishing material container from which a sprinkler pipe line is led to one or more sprinkler, wherein the compressed air contained in the compressed air/extinguishing material container is taken from the vehicles' compressed air system and there is fitted, in the compressed air supply line to the container, a non-return valve which ensures an automatic refilling of the extinguishing material container with compressed air.

2. An automatic fire protection device for use in a vehicle which travels on the land, sea or in the air, the vehicle having a compressed air system, which device comprises a sprinkler arrangement with a compressed air/extinguishing material container from which a sprinkler pipe line is led to one or more sprinkler, wherein the one or more sprinkler comprises; a spray disc; a sprinkler body; two or more arms fixed to the sprinkler body; and a trigger element protected from mechanical damage by the arms.

3. An automatic fire protection device for use in a vehicle which travels on the land, sea or in the air, the vehicle having a compressed air system, which device comprises a sprinkler arrangement with a compressed air/extinguishing material container from which a sprinkler pipe line is led to one or more sprinkler, wherein: the compressed air contained in the compressed air/extinguishing material container is taken from the vehicles' compressed air system and there is fitted, in the compressed air supply line to the container, a non-return valve which ensures an automatic refilling of the extinguishing material container with compressed air; and the one or more sprinkler comprises a spray disc; a sprinkler body; two or more arms fixed to the sprinkler body and a trigger element protected from mechanical damage by the arms.

4. A device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, when several vehicles are coupled together, a common compressed air/extinguishing material container with suitable lines and connections is provided for two or more vehicles.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the sprinkler pipe line is accommodated inside the hollow spaces which are formed by the vehicles' outer walls, or outer roofs, and the inner panellings.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the sprinkler pipe line is flexible and serves as a connection line between individual vehicles, when several vehicles are coupled together.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more sprinkler are provided with a protective cage which largely prevents mechanical damage from outside without impairing water distribution.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the spray discs of the one or more sprinkler have on the outer edge thereof a series of teeth, and the disc itself is provided with slits which project into the spray disc so as to distribute the extinguishing material to ensure the required protection of the interior of the vehicle and also its walls and ceiling.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the arms are arranged radially to the sprinkler body and are formed from a square profile section material.

1 0. A device according to Claim 8, wherein the teeth are curved inwards at their ends at the inner surface.

11. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein an additional compressor is used to increase pressure in the compressed air/extinguishing material container.

1 2. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein outside on the vehicle there is a connecting branch which is in connection with the sprinkler system and thus enables the extinguishing material to be replenished even during the extinguishing process.

1 3. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the extinguishing material in the compressed air/extinguishing material container is brine.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the sprinkler has a small water output.

1 5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressed air/extinguishing material container is provided with inner wash walls.

1 6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the trigger element is a glass bulb.

17. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein an alarm is provided in the sprinkler pipe line.

1 8. A device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.