EP3609585A1

EP3609585A1 - Vehicle fire suppression system

Info

Publication number: EP3609585A1
Application number: EP18721160.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo ARDUINI
Original assignee: Lug Prince & Decker Srl
Current assignee: Lug Prince & Decker Srl
Priority date: 2017-04-13
Filing date: 2018-04-13
Publication date: 2020-02-19
Also published as: IT201700041390A1; WO2018189716A1

Abstract

A vehicle fire suppression system (100) comprising a delivery member (2) of fire- fighting substances in communication with the passenger compartment (11) of the vehicle (10); a first sensor (3) designed to detect the presence of carbon monoxide or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment (11); a second temperature sensor (4) designed to detect the temperature or a variation thereof; a control unit (1) designed for carrying out the functions of: - receiving the data said first (3) and second (4) sensors detected; comparing the data with preset values. The control unit (1) is designed for determining the fire presence on the basis of a criterion according to a correlation between a variation of concentration of carbon monoxide detected by the first sensor (3) and a variation of temperature detected by the second sensor (4) and activating a delivery member of fire-fighting substances if the criterion establishes the fire presence.

Description

VEHICLE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle fire suppression system and in particular to a car fire suppression system, preferably to racing car fire suppression system.

Known Art

Typically, cars currently in circulation are equipped with a fire suppression safety system of electronic type that, in case of impact or accident, allows the delivery of petrol to the engine to be blocked by operating on a solenoid valve, and this is done to impede the fuel to feed the possible fire.

However the Applicant noticed that currently systems able to intervene to attempt to extinguish the possible fire do not exist on cars.

Instead, in racing cars systems which, in the event of a collision, act to deliver flame- retardant foaming substances into the engine compartment and in other delicate parts of the vehicles, are provided. In the state of the art an example of delivery system of flame- retardant substances is described in the document CN105664403 A.

However, in these cases the fire suppression system must be activated, by a button typically placed on the vehicle dashboard, by the driver or alternatively by a person outside the vehicle which is in the vicinity of the accident, such as a competition judge. The Applicant observed that also for sport cars, the fire suppression system is not effective because in case of loss of driver's senses and in absence of people external to the vehicle able to promptly intervene, it is not possible to activate the fire suppression system. Furthermore, very often the known fire suppression systems are based on detecting a possible discharge of fuel to be able to activate and intervene by delivering flame-retardant substances. An example of fire suppression system of the above described type is explained in the document WO 2004/091729.

Thus, the Applicant found the need to provide a safe and reliable fire suppression system for any type of vehicle, for road or sport use, that is able to activate itself also in case of loss of the driver's senses or without other rescue people external to the vehicle or however when timely intervention is not possible.

Summary of the Invention Therefore, in its first aspect the invention relates to a vehicle fire suppression system comprising:

- a delivery member of fire-fighting substances, in communication with the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

- a first sensor designed to detect the presence of carbon monoxide or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

- a second temperature sensor designed to detect the temperature or a variation thereof in the vehicle;

- an electric control unit designed for:

- receiving the data said first and second sensors detected;

- comparing said data with preset values stored in a memory of said control unit;

- determining the fire presence on the basis of a predetermined criterion according to a correlation between a variation of concentration of the carbon monoxide detected by the first sensor and a variation of temperature detected by the second sensor; and

- - activating the delivery member of fire-fighting substances if the criterion establishes the fire presence.

The present invention, in the above mentioned aspect, can have at least one of the preferred characteristics hereinafter described.

Preferably, the fire suppression system comprises an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope designed to measure the acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle or their variation. Conveniently, the accelerometer or gyroscope is connected to the control unit to send the detected data.

Preferably, the vehicle fire suppression system comprises a visual alarm device operated by said control unit; the alarm displaying/emitting device is controlled by the control unit to activate itself if the control unit determines the fire presence on the basis of the criterion.

Preferably, the control unit is designed to activate the delivery member of fire-fighting substances with a time delay with respect to the activation of the alarm displaying/emitting device.

Conveniently, the fire suppression system comprises a control that can be manually operated from the inside of the passenger compartment of the vehicle and that is designed to send a signal to the control unit if the driver does not detect any fire presence.

Preferably, the accelerometer or gyroscope is designed to detect the variation of the vehicle acceleration/deceleration along at least one axis or else to determine the vehicle attitude according to a predetermined position of neutral attitude.

Conveniently, the accelerometer comprises a triaxial accelerometer.

Advantageously, the accelerometer is rigidly constrained to the vehicle chassis.

Preferably, in more detail, the first sensor is designed to detect a sequence of values of the concentration of carbon monoxide or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Preferably, the system comprises at least two first sensors designed to detect a sequence of values of the concentration of carbon monoxide or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The two first sensors are preferably arranged inside a passenger compartment of the vehicle on a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and are spaced from one another.

Preferably, in more detail, the second sensor is designed to detect a sequence of values of the temperature or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Preferably, the system comprises at least two second sensors designed to detect a sequence of values of the temperature or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The two second sensors are preferably arranged inside a passenger compartment of the vehicle on a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and are spaced from one another.

Conveniently, the fire suppression system comprises a plurality of second temperature sensors 4 connectable in a sequence in series or in parallel.

Advantageously, the criterion comprises detecting a variation of concentration of said carbon monoxide detected by the first sensor and a variation of temperature detected by the second sensor.

In more detail, the criterion comprises detecting at least one temperature variation of at least 50°C and at least one variation of the carbon monoxide concentration of at least 20 ppm inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more evident from the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a car fire suppression system according to the present invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more evident from the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a vehicle fire suppression system, in particular car fire suppression system, according to the present invention.

Such description will be set forth herein with reference to the attached drawings provided for illustration purposes only and without limitation, in which:

figure 1 depicts a schematic view of a fire suppression system according to the present invention;

figure 2 depicts a schematic view of a vehicle in which the fire suppression system of figure 1 is arranged; and

- figure 3 is a schematic view of a vehicle in which the fire suppression system of figure 1 is arranged with the delivery member showed.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

With reference to figures 1-3, a vehicle fire suppression system, in particular a car fire suppression system according to the present invention, is denoted by the numerical reference 100.

The fire suppression system 100, as depicted in the figures, comprises an electric control unit 1 designed to control a delivery member 2 of fire-fighting substances, for example foaming substances.

The control unit 1 comprises an electric power supply battery 9.

In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the system 100 further comprises at least one first sensor 3 designed to detect the concentration of carbon monoxide or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10, at least one second sensor 4 designed to detect the temperature or a variation thereof inside the vehicle 10, and an accelerometer 5 designed to detect a vehicle acceleration/deceleration 10. In an alternative embodiment, the system 100 comprises a gyroscope (not depicted in the attached figures) designed to determine the vehicle attitude according to a predetermined position of neutral attitude.

In more detail, at least the first sensor 3 of the concentration of carbon monoxide and the second sensor 4 of the temperature are designed to detect and determine an absolute value of the respective quantities (concentration and temperature) or else a variation of such quantities with respect to the predetermined threshold values. What herein described by way of example refers to sensors that are at least temperature and gas concentration sensors and generally divided in absolute or relative sensors. Such a distinction belongs to the inventive concept of the present invention, it is described by way of example and does not constitute any limitation to the invention itself.

Preferably, the system 100 comprises a first sensor 3 designed to detect the variation of concentration of carbon monoxide inside the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10 and at least one second sensor 4 designed to detect the variation of temperature inside the vehicle 10, and an accelerometer 5 designed to detect a vehicle acceleration/deceleration 10.

The first sensor 3, the second sensor 4 and the accelerometer 5 are in communication with the control unit 1 to exchange information with the latter.

Preferably, the system 100 is designed to determine the fire presence according to a correlation between a variation of concentration of the carbon monoxide detected by the first sensor 3 and a variation of temperature detected by the second sensor 4.

In detail, in an embodiment of the present invention the vehicle fire suppression system 100 is designed to establish a correlation between a variation of concentration of the carbon monoxide detected by the first sensor 3 and a variation of temperature detected by the second sensor 4 with respect to predetermined threshold values. In this embodiment, preferably the threshold values are stored in the control unit 1 itself according to a statistic processed on a population of experimental values of temperature and concentration of carbon monoxide.

In a different embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle fire suppression system 100 is designed to establish a correlation between a variation of concentration of said carbon monoxide detected by the first sensor 3 and a variation of temperature detected by the second sensor 4, by detecting, inside the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10, at least one variation of the first quantity, i.e. the concentration of carbon monoxide of at least 20 ppm, and at least one variation of the second quantity, i.e. the temperature of at least 50°C.

In a further and different embodiment, the fire suppression system 100 for vehicles 10 is designed to establish a correlation between an absolute measurement of the concentration of the carbon monoxide detected by the first sensor 3 and an absolute measurement of the temperature value detected by the second sensor 4.

In a further embodiment different from those previously described, the present invention relates to a fire suppression system 100 designed to establish a correlation between a measurement of a temperature value measured by the second sensor 4 and a value of a concentration of carbon monoxide derived from said temperature value in the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10.

In the embodiment depicted in the attached figures the first sensor 3, the second sensor 4 and the accelerometer 5 are in communication with the control unit by appropriate electrical wires, but could be in communication with other communication systems, for example wireless communication systems, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The control unit 1 is in communication with the delivery member 2 of fire-fighting substances.

The first sensor 3 designed to detect the variation of carbon monoxide inside the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10 can have a response time preferably lower than 30 seconds, a detection range preferably between 0 and 1000 ppm and an operating temperature range between -30°C and +80°C.

A first sensor 3 suitable for the purpose could be the sensor of carbon monoxide sold by DD Scientific, but other sensors of carbon monoxide having the same characteristics could be used without departing from the scope of protection of the present patent.

In the embodiment depicted in the figures there are two first sensors 3 to detect the presence of carbon monoxide inside the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10. The two first sensors 3, as depicted in figure 2, can be arranged along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, preferably along a longitudinal axis arranged so as to be equally distant from the side walls of the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10.

The two first sensors 3 are reciprocally apart to one another, preferably at a distance equal to at least 20 cm.

The Applicant believes that such a choice allows the concentration of carbon monoxide to be monitored inside the passenger compartment 11 of a medium size car 10 such as a sedan, however a higher or lower number of first sensors 3 could be provided for without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The second sensor 4 designed to detect the variation of temperature inside the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10 is preferably a non-contact sensor.

A second sensor 4 suitable for the purpose could be a temperature non-contact sensor, an infra-red sensor, or alternatively a thermopile.

By way of example, a second sensor 4 could be the infra-red sensor IR200 sold by Aviorace.

In order to make the temperature detection more precise and reliable, so to avoid possible areas not covered by the second sensor 4, a plurality of second sensors 4 are preferably provided. Still more preferably, the temperature sensors 4 are connectable in a sequence in series or in parallel so to be able to detect and send to the control unit 5 variations of the temperature value, keeping the linearity of operation of the chain of sensors 4 themselves under control.

Advantageously, the linearity of operation of the plurality of sensors 4 allows the control unit 5 to have a quick, effective processing and with minimum margin of error in the assessment of the aforementioned correlation.

By way of example with reference to figure 2, it can be seen that eight second sensors 4 are provided, of which four sensors are placed on a cross line arranged so that to virtually separate the passenger compartment 11 from the engine of the vehicle 10 and four sensors at the side walls of the passenger compartment 11, in particular two per each of the side walls.

Preferably, the second sensors 4 are arranged at a minimum distance one to another of at least 15 cm.

The accelerometer 5 comprises a triaxial accelerometer and a communication module with said control unit 1. A type of accelerometer 5 suitable for the purpose could be an accelerometer able to detect the dynamic acceleration resulting from movement or impacts with respect to an orthogonal triad placed in the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10.

The communication module of the accelerometer 5 communicates through a wire with the control unit 1.

Alternatively, a wireless communication module communicating with the control unit 1 could be provided.

The accelerometer 5 preferably has an outer casing made of anodized aluminum, completely sealed by resin resistant to water, oils and gasoline.

By way of example, an accelerometer 5 suitable for the application could be the triaxial accelerometer ADXL 312 sold by Analog Devices.

According to an embodiment depicted in figure 1, the fire suppression system 100 can have an alarm displaying/emitting device 8 driven by the control unit 1. The alarm displaying/emitting device 8 is driven by the control unit 1 so as to become active if the control unit 1 determines the fire presence on the basis of a predetermined criterion, better described below.

Also the alarm displaying/emitting device 8 is connected by a wire to the control unit 1 controlling it.

In the embodiment depicted in the figures and in particular in figure 1, the alarm displaying/emitting device 8 could be a digital display or a bright led, alternatively it could be an emitter of an audible alarm, such as a siren, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Still in the embodiment depicted in figure 1, the system comprises a control 7 that can be manually activated from the inside of the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10. The command 7 is designed to send a signal to the control unit 1 , in case the driver does not find the fire presence and thus intends to prevent the delivery of the fire- fighting substances.

In other terms, if the predetermined criterion determines the fire presence, the displaying/emitting device 8, activated by the control unit 1, displays/emits an alarm signal, in this circumstance before the delivery member 2 of fire-fighting substances starts operating there is the chance for the driver, who saw/heard the alarm signal and realized it was a false alarm, to avoid delivering the fire-fighting substances by manually activating the interruption command 7. The interruption control 7 consequently sends a signal to the control unit that doesn't activate the delivery of the fire-fighting substances.

The electric control unit 1 is designed for:

receiving the data the first 3 and second 4 sensors detected;

- comparing the detected data with preset values stored in a memory of the control unit 1;

determining the fire presence on the basis of a predetermined criterion; and activating the delivery member 2 of fire-fighting substances.

The data detected by the first sensor 3 and the second sensor 4 can be computed, processed and filtered by the control unit 1 before being compared with the preset values stored in a memory of the control unit 1 itself.

The control unit 1 has a mass memory designed to store the preset values on which the criterion is based on, to discriminate the presence or absence of a fire.

With reference to the embodiment depicted in figures 1-3, as a criterion the control unit 1 stored a temperature value of at least 50°C and a value of concentration of carbon monoxide of 20 ppm, exceeding both these values determines the fire situation.

In other terms, the second sensors 4 detect temperatures in the vicinity where they are placed and send this datum to the control unit 1, when the temperature detected by one or more of the second sensors 4 is higher than 50° a pre-alarm situation is triggered. Contemporaneously, the same thing happens with the first sensors 3 designed to detect the presence of carbon monoxide or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment 1 1 of the vehicle 10. In other terms, the first sensors 3 detect the variation of concentration of carbon monoxide inside the passenger compartment 11 and send it to the control unit 1, when the variation of concentration of carbon monoxide inside the passenger compartment 1 1 of the vehicle 10 is higher than 20 ppm a pre-alarm situation is triggered.

If the control unit 1, thanks to the data obtained by the sensors 3,4 and to the stored values, jointly detects a variation of temperature of at least 50° and at least one variation of the concentration of carbon monoxide of at least 20 ppm inside the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10, there is an alarm situation and the control unit 1 controls the switching on of the alarm displaying/emitting device 8 and, with a predetermined time delay, the activation of the delivery of the fire-fighting substances by the delivery member 2.

If in the time delay interval preset by the control unit 1, for example 30 s, the driver or other person doesn't interrupt the process by manually intervening on the interruption control 7, the control unit 2 starts the delivery of fire-fighting substances, by the delivery member 2.

If the control unit 1, according to accelerations/decelerations detected by the accelerometer 5 and to the variation of preset and stored acceleration/deceleration, detects an acceleration higher than 30g, preferably higher than 40g, jointly to the situations of pre-alarm due to the data detected by the first 3 and second sensors 4, the control unit 1 intervenes to drive the delivery of the fire-fighting substances, thus by reducing the time delay or even eliminating it.

The delivery member 2 of fire-fighting substances comprises a tank 12, an activating device electronically driven and a plurality of ducts 14 linking to the tank 12 and that have a plurality of dispensing nozzles 15.

The delivery member 2 of fire-fighting substances according to an embodiment looks like a pressurized container with thin, calendered and welded walls made for example of steel.

The fire extinguisher 2 can comprise a flexible dip tube, not depicted in the figures, to allow delivering in any position the delivery member 2 is. As an activating device, a pyrotechnic capsule activated by a low voltage electric impulse, which is shaped and arranged to break a diaphragm of the tank 2 and to allow the pressurized content to flow out of the tank itself, can be provided.

The ducts 14 are preferably made of aluminum and have quick couplings to allow an easy connection to the tank 2 and the dispensing nozzles 15.

In the embodiment depicted in figure 3 six dispensing nozzles 15 are depicted, of which four are arranged to deliver the fire- fighting substance at the engine and two are arranged to deliver the fire-fighting substance in the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10. Alternatively, a higher or lower number of nozzles 15 could be provided, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Various modifications may be made to the embodiments herein described in detail, being still within the protection scope of the invention, defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) comprising:

a delivery member (2) of fire-fighting substances, in communication with the passenger compartment (11) of the vehicle (10);

a first sensor (3) designed to detect the presence of carbon monoxide or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment (11) of the vehicle (10);

second temperature sensor (4) designed to detect the temperature or a variation thereof;

- an electric control unit (1) designed for carrying out the functions of:

receiving the data said first (3) and second (4) sensors detected;

comparing said data with preset values stored in a memory of said control unit

(i);

characterized in that said electric control unit (1) of said fire suppression system (100) is designed for

determining the fire presence on the basis of a predetermined criterion according to a correlation between a variation of a value of the concentration of said carbon monoxide detected by said first sensor (3) and a variation of a temperature value detected by said second sensor (4) and

- activating said delivery member of fire-fighting substances if said criterion establishes the fire presence.

2. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising an accelerometer (5) designed to measure the acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle (10) or their variation; said accelerometer (5) being connected to said control unit (1) to send the detected data.

3. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according claim 1, characterized by comprising an alarm displaying/emitting device (8) to display/emit an alarm operated by said control unit (1); said alarm displaying/emitting device (8) being operated by said control unit (1) to become active if the control unit (1) determines the fire presence on the basis of said criterion.

4. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said control unit (1) is designed to activate said delivery member (2) of fire-fighting substances with a time delay with respect to the activation of said alarm displaying/emitting device (8).

5. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising an interruption control (7) that can be manually operated from the inside of the passenger compartment (1 1) of the vehicle (10) and is designed to send a signal to said control unit (1) if the driver does not detect any fire presence.

6. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said accelerometer (5) is designed to detect the variation of the vehicle accel erati on/ decel eration al ong at 1 east one axi s .

7. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that said accelerometer (5) comprises a triaxial accelerometer and/or a gyroscope.

8. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first sensor (3) is designed to detect a sequence of values of the concentration of carbon monoxide or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment (11) of the vehicle (10).

9. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising at least two first sensors (3) designed to detect a sequence of values of the concentration of carbon monoxide or a variation thereof inside the passenger compartment (11) of the vehicle (10), said two first sensors (3) being preferably arranged inside the passenger compartment (11) of the vehicle (10) on a longitudinal axis of the vehicle (10) and being spaced from one another.

10. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a plurality of second temperature sensors (4) connectable in a sequence in series or in parallel.

11. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said criterion comprises establishing a correlation between a variation of a value of the concentration of said carbon monoxide detected by said first sensor (3) and a variation of a temperature value detected by said second sensor (4) with respect to predetermined threshold values, preferably stored in said control unit (1).

12. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said criterion comprises establishing a correlation between a variation of a value of the concentration of said carbon monoxide detected by said first sensor (3) and a variation of a temperature value detected by said second sensor (4) by detecting, inside the passenger compartment (11) of said vehicle (10), at least one temperature variation of at least 50°C and at least one variation of the carbon monoxide concentration of at least 20 ppm.

13. Vehicle fire suppression system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said criterion comprises establishing a correlation between an absolute measurement of a value of the concentration of said carbon monoxide detected by said first sensor (3) and an absolute measurement of a temperature value detected by said second sensor (4).