GB2248018A - A system for extinguishing fires - Google Patents

Abstract

A domestic fire extinguishing system (10) includes a ceiling mounted detector (11) and an extinguisher (12) which can be actuated remotely by the detector (11) on detection of a fire. The detector (11) includes a transmitter (14) which produces an alarm signal on detection of the fire which is detected by a sensor (18) mounted in the extinguisher (12). The extinguisher (12) has a telescopic outlet (13) which is movable from a retracted position in which it can be concealed behind furniture (19) and an expanded position when the presence of a fire is detected whereby extinguishing material such as water, gas or foam can be directed onto the fire. <IMAGE>

Description

A SYSTEM FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES This invention relates to a system for extinguishing fires and more particularly to such a system for use in a domestic environment.

Systems of this kind are known and commonly comprise automatic water or gas sprinkler systems. In this case the sprinklers are usually mounted in the ceiling of the room to be protected along with a smoke alarm. The smoke alarm detects the smoke given off by the fire and actuates the sprinkler mechanisms to extinguish the fire.

Whilst this type of arrangement works well and will extinguish fires succesfully, the response of this system to all sizes of fire is the same insofar as the room will be covered in a relatively large amount of water and/or gas which can cause a large amount of damage to furniture and if persons are still present in the room, use of gas can have harmful and possibly fatal effects. A further problem that arises with arrangements of this type is that it may not be possible to conceal the parts thereof and thus the arrangement may be unsightly to persons in a room where the arrangement is mounted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for extinguishing fires which is capable of being concealed in a room in which it is provided and is more versatile relative to known arrangements insofar as it is capable to responding in a manner dependent on the severity of the fire.

According to the present invention therefore there is provided a system for extinguishing a fire comprising detection means mounted so as to be capable of detecting the presence of a fire, extinguishing means operable to extinguish the fire, said extinguishing means being actuable automatically by said detection means on detection of a fire, said extinguishing means having an outlet part, through which extinguishing material is ejected, mounted telescopically thereon whereby upon actuation of said device said outlet part can be caused to move from a retracted position to an expanded position whereby the extinguishing material can be effectively directed onto said fire.

With this arrangement it is possible to provide a substantially concealed fire extinguishing system which can be more versatile in operation.

Preferably said detection means comprises one or more detector devices. Said detector device(s) may be adapted to detect heat and/or smoke. Said devices may be mounted on a wall and/or ceiling of a room to be protected.

Said detector devices may further include transmitting means, which transmitting means is operable to transmit an alarm signal. Said extinguishing means may include sensor means to sense said alarm signal and cause actuation of said extinguishing means in response thereto. Preferably said transmitting means comprises an infra-red transmitter and said sensor comprises an infrared sensor. Of course, any form of transmitter and sensor can be used as desired or as appropriate. Said detector devices may further include means for detecting the position of the fire and thereby to produce a signal corresponding thereto. In this case said sensor may also include means to receive said signal and said extinguishing device may include means to control orientation of said outlet.

Said extinguishing means may comprise a device having a body thereto in which extinguishing material is stored. Alternatively, said device may be connected to a remote central storage of extinguishing material.

In the former case said material may be stored in said body under pressure and said means may incorporate a discharge valve means. Said discharge valve means may be adapted to be actuated by said sensor means.

Movement of said telescopic outlet from retracted to expanded position may also be actuated by said sensor means.

Said extinguishing material may comprise water and/or gas and/or foam.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, the single figure of which shows a representation of one form of system in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the Figure, there is shown a fire extinguishing system 10 comprising a detector 11 and at least one extinguishing device 12 with telescopic outlet tube 13.

The detector 11 comprises a smoke or heat detector which can be mounted on a wall or ceiling of a room to be protected or in any other suitable location which allows a fire in any part of the room to be detected.

The detector 11 also includes an infra-red transmitter 14 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Of course the transmitter 14 can take any other suitable form as desired or as appropriate, for example radio frequency, microwave ultrasound.

The extinguishing device 12 comprises a hollow body 16 in which extinguisning material is stored under pressure. A telescopic outlet tube 13 extends outwardly from a top part of the body, in its extended position, and is bent over in the region of its end 17. The end 17 is adapted for dispensing of material by the provision of a discharge nozzle thereon.

An infra-red sensor 18 (or if abovementioned alternative forms of transmitter are used then a corresponding suitable form of sensor) is included in the device 12 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The sensor 18 is operable such that on receiving a suitable alarm signal, it causes discharge of extinguishing material under pressure from the body 16, through outlet tube 13 and out of discharge nozzle 17 into the region of the fire. This can be achieved by way of the sensor 18 controlling operation of a suitable discharge valve (not shown) provided in the body and in this case receipt of an alarm signal causes the valve to be opened causing discharge of the material from the device 12. Of course, alternative forms of arrangement to perform this function will be readily contemplated.

In use the extinguishing device 12 can be located behind furniture, such as for example the chair 19 shown in the figure. In its non-activated state the telescopic outlet 13 is retracted and thus the device 12 can be concealed from view when not in use. The detector 11 is mounted on a wall or the ceiling of the room to be protected.

Upon the occurrence of a fire in the room, dependent on the type of detector 11 used, either the smoke or heat is detected. Once the detector 11 has detected the presence of a fire, an alarm signal is transmitted from the infra-red transmitter 11. This alarm signal is sensed by the sensor 18 mounted in the body of the extinguishing device 12 and this causes the telescopic outlet 13 to rise above the chair 19 and also actuation of the discharge valve to open the same. Thus the extinguishing material is discharged from the device 12 under pressure to extinguish the fire.

The system 10 can also include a suitable device (not shown) incorporated within the detector 11 which senses that the fire has been extinguished and ceases operation of the extinguishing device 12 by closing discharge valve via sensor 18. Thus the detector 11 can comprise a combination of heat and smoke detectors. The system can also further include suitable means for directional control of the telescopic outlet 13 dependent on the position of the fire within the room.

As an alternative to the abovementioned movable extinguishing device 12, the device 12 can be statically mounted in the room and can be connected to a suitable located central storage tank (not shown) of extinguishing material by way of an inlet pipe (not shown). Of course, it will be appreciated that any number of extinguishing devices 12 can be provided in a room assuming that there is sufficient concealment therefor, along with any number of detectors 11 as desired or as appropriate. In the case of statically mounted devices 12 each of these can be connected to a single central storage tank of extinguishing material.

With this arrangement it is possible to provide an efficient and safe system for extinguishing fires in a domestic environment and which is capable of variable response dependent on the severity of the fire.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Thus for example in the abovementioned statically mounted extinguishing device 12, it can be arranged that the device 12 can be located out of view, for example under the floor and in this case the telescopic outlet 13 may be arranged to extend and move upwardly from the floor, into a position whereby it can discharge extinguishing material onto a fire effectively, upon actuation by the detector 11. In its non-activated state, the telescopic outlet 13 is concealed in the floor.

Claims (18)

1. A system for extinguishing a fire ' comprising detection means mounted so as to be capable of detecting the presence of a fire, extinguishing means operable to extinguish the fire, said extinguishing means being actuable automatically by said detection means on detection of a fire, said extinguishing means having an outlet part, through which extinguishing material is ejected, mounted telescopically thereon whereby upon actuation of said device said outlet part can be caused to move from a retracted position to an expanded position whereby the extinguishing material can be effectively directed onto said fire.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said detection means comprises one or more detector devices.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said device(s) is adapted to detect heat and/or smoke.

4. A system according to claim X or claim 3 wherein said device(s) is mounted on a wall and/or ceiling of a room to be protected.

5. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said detector devices further include transmitting means, which transmitting means is operable to transmit an alarm signal.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 when dependent on claim 5 wherein said extinguishing means includes sensor means to sense said alarm signal and cause actuation of said extinguishing means in response thereto.

7. A system according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said transmitting means comprises an infra-red transmitter and said sensor means comprises an infra-red sensor.

8. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein said detector device(s) include means for detecting the position of the fire and thereby produce a signal corresponding thereto.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said sensor means includes means to receive said signal corresponding to the position of the fire.

10. A system according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said extinguishing device includes means to control orientation of said outlet.

11. A system according to any one cf claims 1 to 10 wherein said extinguishing means comprises a device having a body thereto in which extinguishing material is stored.

12. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said extinguishing means is connected to a remote central storage of extinguishing material.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein said material is stored in said body under pressure.

14. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein said extinguishing means incorporates a discharge valve means.

15. A system according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 6 wherein said discharge valve means is adapted to be actuated by said sensor means.

16. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 15 when dependent on claim 6 wherein movement of said telescopic outlet from said retracted to said expanded position is actuated by said sensor means.

17. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein said extinguishing material comprises water and/or gas and/or foam.

18. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.