GB2391807A

GB2391807A - Apparatus for suppressing fires

Info

Publication number: GB2391807A
Application number: GB0318983A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Prewer
Original assignee: Advanced Motion Technologies Inc
Current assignee: Advanced Motion Technologies Inc
Priority date: 2002-08-13
Filing date: 2003-08-13
Publication date: 2004-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-13
Also published as: GB0318983D0; GB0218796D0; GB2391807B

Abstract

A fire suppressant apparatus 10 for delivering a mist of fire suppressant material to a protected environment comprises a linear array of nozzle outlets 14 which may be distributed along the length of an elongated tubular member 12. The tubular member may also contain a fire detector 13 and a container for fire suppressant material. The spray pattern formed by the apparatus may be a linear sheet spray formed by a plurality of effectively conical spray patterns. The ejected atomized fire suppressant material is conveyed by convection currents to the source of the fire. The apparatus may be fitted at a high level, such as, for example, a cornice in the corner between a wall and a ceiling of a room.

Description

( 2391807

IMPROVED APPARATUS AND) METHOD

FOR SUPPRESSING FIRES

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for suppressing 5 fires, and in particular to a fire suppressant apparatus having advantageous features when formed both as a self-contained unit and as part of an installation.

Previous proposals for self-contained fire fighting systems automatically include those which have involved the storage of a supply of fire suppressant material in a storage 0 container which can be located in or closely adjacent a protected environment.

By providing self-contained automatically operable fire suppressant apparatus it is intended to attack a fire quickly, as soon as it its detected, and, hopefully, before it develops into a conflagration needing considerable quantities of fire suppressant 5 material to put it out. It is recognised, however, that a small self-contained unit may not always be sufficient completely to extinguish a fire, but nevertheless may serve a useful function in delaying the onset of the main conflagration to give occupants of a protected environment a window of opportunity to leave the scene safely.

2 0 The present invention relates particularly to apparatus for generating a fine mist or fog of water or other fire-suppressant material inhalation of which even if accompanied by a displaced quantity of combustion products, is less harmful to the lungs than the inhalation of smoke and hot combustion products.

: t't::: Although it is known to provide fixed installations for firesuppressant systems with extended distribution arrangements, in particular with sprinkler nozzles or heads distributed over the area to be protected, for example mounted in the ceiling of a room, it is not known to provide self contained systems with such extended 5 distribution or delivery arrangements. Extended distribution patterns of water, mist or fog may, on the other hand, be advantageous, and, therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention fire-suppressant apparatus, for delivering a fire suppressant material to a protected environment, is provided in which there are means for delivering the fire suppressant material substantially along at least one linear 0 dimension of the protected environment.

By forming the fire-suppressant dehvery means as a tubular, linear or otherwise extended rigid or flexible array of delivery outlets or nozzles it is possible to deliver an extended mist or fog of fire-suppressant material into a protected environment in 15 order more rapidly to approach the seat of the fire which has triggered the fire suppressant apparatus to operate.

In this application, the conventional term "fire extinguisher" will not be used since this implies that the apparatus is capable always and with certainty of entirely 2 0 extinguishing a fire, which may not be the case. It is considered preferable to refer to i the apparatus as firesuppressant apparatus, recognizing that if caught in time, a fire may be completely extinguished by fre-suppressant apparatus.

The means for delivering fire suppressant material preferably comprises a linear array

Àt I: BIt' ll 'll' c:' of nozzles or nozzle outlets in a support mountable to a fixed support in the protected environment. In this respect the term "protected environment" is not intended to refer solely to 5 stationary structures such as buildings, warehouses or the like, but to include any enclosed volume such as the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, an aircraft or ship or any other circumstance in which a fire, if it occurred, would cause a circulating convection current to flow. The principle behind the present invention is the generation of a fog or mist of fire-suppressant material such as fine water droplets, 0 perhaps with additional fire suppressant chemicals, which are sufficiently small to be effectively suspended in the air, or at least to fall through the air at a relatively low rate so that they can be carried by convection current from the distribution point to the seat of the fire where they act to deprive it of oxygen and/or cool the combustible material.

5 The spray pattern from the said linear array of nozzles is preferably substantially a planar sheet spray.

The support for the linear array of nozzles or nozzle outlets may be rectilinear or, if appropriate, curved or otherwise shaped to match the curvature of a non-rectilinear; 2 0 boundary of the protected environment. An elongate hollow nozzle outlet system or structure may also be formed as a self-contained unit in which the structure may be, for example a tube which acts not only to support the nozzle outlet array, but also as the container for fire-suppressant material. The term "tubular" will obviously be understood to refer to more than just circular or right- circular tubes, and to include i

e I'' tr' red I l; l: t;::: t elongate hollow structures of any crosssectional shape such as a square, triangular or other. In particular, for use in a building, the tubular structure may be formed to represent the cornice often fitted between the upper part of a wall and the adjacent part of a ceiling as a decorative embellishment. Here, however, the cornice can act also as 5 a fire protection system.

The said support may alternatively be of variable configuration, that is being made of a non-rigid material or from an articulated or otherwise connected array of elements allowing it to be brought into a shape to match a non-rectilinear boundary of the 10 protected environment. The curved roofline of a motor vehicle, for example, may be followed by a linear support of this nature. The array of elements need not be connected of course, but may be simply arranged close to one another.

The nozzle outlets of the support preferably comprise a plurality of nozzle formations 5, on or in the said support. Alternatively the nozzle outlets may comprise a plurality of nozzle structures mounted or mountable on the said support.

Although reference is made herein to a self-contained fire-suppressant system the fire-

suppressant material delivery means of the invention may be part of a fire protection 2 0 system installed in a building and distributed throughout the building rather than being a separate self-contained unit.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, be way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

1 1 '

8 r. 1 -

::e:':;:: I: which: Figure l is a schematic view of a tubular selfcontained fire-suppressant system formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a room fitted with a fire-suppressant system s such as that described in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic view of a motor vehicle having a fire suppressant system with a flexible nozzle support; and Figure 4 is a schematic view of a linear or planar sheet spray pattern formed by a tubular delivery system.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure I thereof, a self-contained fire-suppressant system generally indicated 10 comprises an elongate tubular member 12 having a fire detector 13 at one end and a plurality of nozzle outlets 14 distributed along its length. The nozzle outlets may be formed in recesses in the tubular body 12 and covered by appropriate caps (not shown) which are blown off when the nozzle commences to deliver. The tube 12 comprises or includes a container for fire suppressant material such as water.

The tube may be fitted at a high level, such as, for example, a cornice in the corner 2 0 between a wall 16 and a ceiling 17 of a room generally indicated 18. In Figure 2, two such systems 10 are illustrated. The spray pattern of each is indicated in broken outline and, upon triggering, the mist or fog generated thereby quickly fills the upper region of a room enabling it to be conveyed rapidly by convection currents to the source of a fire. i

' r I 1 1 1

1 À À Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a motor vehicle having a curved roofline with a fire-

suppressant system in the form of a curved tubular array 20 in the headlining.

5 The spray pattern from such a system 20 may be a linear sheet spray formed by a plurality of effectively conical spray patterns combining with one another as illustrated in Figure 4. Wider or shallower angles may be used depending on circumstances and the shape of the space or volume being protected.

Claims

. À À À r À À À I À À ' t't; I. À r CLAIMS

1. Fire suppressant apparatus, for delivering a fire suppressant material to a protected environment, in which there are means for delivering the fire suppressant 5 material substantially along at least one linear dimension of the protected environment.

2. Fire suppressant apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the means for

delivering fire suppressant material comprises a linear array of nozzles or nozzle 10 outlets in a support mountable to a fixed support in the protected environment.

3. Fire suppressant apparatus as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, in which the spraypattern from the said linear arrayofnozzles is a substantiallyplanar sheet spray.

5

4. Fire suppressant apparatus as claimed in any of Claims I to 13, in which the support for the linear array of nozzles or nozzle outlets is curved to match the curvature of a non-rectilinear boundary of the protected environment.

5. Fire suppressant apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the said 2 0 support is of variable configuration allowing it to be brought into a shape to make a non-rectilinear boundary of the protected environment.

6 Fire suppressant apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the nozzle outlets comprise a plurality of nozzle formations in or on the said support.

tr' f,':: t' A:::::

7. Fire suppressant apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in with the nozzle outlets comprise a plurality of nozzle structures mounted of mountable on the said support.

8. Fire suppressant apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the means for delivering the fire suppressant material is part of a selfcontained fire suppressant system including a container for the said fire suppressant material.

0

9. Fire suppressant apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support is in the form of a decorative cornice for a room.

10. Fire suppressant apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the nozzles are of such dimensions as to produce atomised droplets of fire suppressant l 5 liquid at least the majority of which are between 25nm and 75nm in size.

11. A method of suppressing fires in which a linear array of nozzle is provided to deliver a fine mist of fire suppressant material into a protected environment over at least a proportions of the length of one side of the protected environment.

20;

12. A method as claimed in Claim 12, in which the fine suppressant material is determined in droplets between 25nm and 75nm in size.

13. A method as claimed In Claims 11 or Claim 12, in which the spray pattern

r 2. '# l".' to; Dom the nozzles are closely adjacent so as to combine to form a substantially continuous spray pattern.

14. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as 5 shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. A method substantially as hereinbefore described.