GB2305121A

GB2305121A - Fire extinguishing system

Info

Publication number: GB2305121A
Application number: GB9519601A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Morris
Original assignee: LIFELINE FIRE AND SAFETY SYSTE
Current assignee: LIFELINE FIRE AND SAFETY SYSTE
Priority date: 1995-09-26
Filing date: 1995-09-26
Publication date: 1997-04-02
Also published as: GB9519601D0

Abstract

A fire extinguishing system, especially for installation in a motor vehicle such as a racing car, having an undivided quantity of fire extinguishing agent (10) under pressure in a container (12), the latter having fitted thereto a single, valved, operating head (14) through which extinguishing agent can flow, when the head is operated, to two or more discharge applicators (16, 16A) to deliver the agent at differential flow rates.

Description

Fire Extinguishing Svstem This invention relates to a fire extinguishing system.

in some instances, fire extinguishing systems are required to discharge different quantities of fire extinguishing agent to different areas. One example of this is a fire extinguishing system installed in a vehicle, such as a racing car, where a major proportion of extinguishing agent is required to be directed at a target area where fire is most likely to be initiated in the event of an accident.

Currently, in order to achieve this aim, partitioned containers for the extinguishing agent are employed, with an outlet port from each compartment and a discharge applicator connected one to each port. Compartments of differential sizes are employed to discharge proportionate amounts of extinguishing agent at the respective applicators.

According to the invention, there is provided a fire extinguishing system comprising a container holding an undivided quantity of pressurised fire extinguishing agent, a single operating head on the container for the extinguishing agent, and a plurality of discharge applicators for the extinguishing agent connected to the single operating head, and means whereby the discharge flow rates at the applicators are differentially controlled.

The flow rates may be differentially controlled at the operating head or at the discharge applicators or between the head and the applicators, for example by means of flow restrictors in the connecting lines.

Preferably, however the flow rates are differentially controlled at the discharge applicators. For this purpose, adjustable flow restrictors may be provided, to be preset when the system is installed. Alternatively, a range of discharge applicators with different flow rates may be provided.

The invention has the advantages that expensive partitioning of the container is no longer necessary, and that only a single operating head on the container is required.

A practical example of fire extinguishing system in accordance with the invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing, in a fire extinguishing system, for example installed in a racing car to be operated by push button or possibly automatically in the event of an accident, an undivided quantity of fire extinguishing agent 10 is held under pressure in a container 12.

The container 12 has fitted thereto a single outlet port for the extinguishing agent, in the form of an operating head 14 which is usually battery powered so that, when the push button or an impact sensor is operated, a valve is opened to allow the pressurised extinguishing agent to flow to two discharge applicators 16, 16A through lines 18. These applicators are disposed to direct extinguishing agent to different areas cf the vehicle.

in acordance with the invention, the respective flow rates of he two discharge applicators 16, 16A are different, so that in use a greater quantity of agent. is directed to a prime target area, for example where fel leakage may occur, than to a secondary area such as the vehicle battery.

The applicators may have adjustably preset -flow restrictors for the purpose of differential flow Te control, or a range of substitutable applicators may be made available.

Whereas the drawing shows two applicators 16, 16A, three or more applicators having different flow rates may be connected to the single operating head 14 if desired.

The invention is not limited in application to fire extinguishing systems for vehicles and, in other cases especially, it may be more convenient to control the respective flow rates by providing flow restrictors in the lines 18, or even at the operating head 14 if separate connecting lines extend from the head to the different applicators.

Claims

1. A fire extinguishing system comprising a container holding an undivided quantity of pressurised fire extinguishing agent, a single operating head on the container for the extinguishing agent, and a plurality of discharge applicators for the extinguishing agent connected to the single operating head, and means whereby the discharge flow rates at the applicators are differentially controlled.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the flow rates are differentially controlled at the operating head.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the flow rates are differentially controlled between the operating head and the applicators.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the flow rates are differentially controlled by means of flow restrictors in connecting lines between the head and the applicators.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the flow rates are differentially controlled at the discharge applicators.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein adjustable flow restrictors are provided at the discharge applicators.

7. A system according to claim 5, in combination with a range of discharge applicators with different flow rates.

8. A system according to any Or claims 1 to 7, operable b > means of 2 pushbutton.

9. A system according to any of claims 1 to 7, operable automatically in the event of the likelihood of fire.

10. A system according to any of claims 1 to 9, when installed in a motor vehicle.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the flow rates are differentially controlled to deliver a greater quantity of extinguishing agent to a fuel leakage area than elsewhere in the vehicle.

12. A fire extinguishing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.