Abstract:
A METHOD OF CONTROLLING FIRE WITHIN AN ENCLOSURE INVOLVING THE APPLICATION TO THE OBJECT SUBJECTED TO FIRE OF A COATING OF AN ABLATIVE FLUID TO FORM A LAYER OF SUFFICIENT THICKNESS SO THAT THE LAYER POSSESSES ABLATIVE PROPERTIES, SAID CAOTING BEING APPLIED FROM AN AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE FIXED SOURCE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS STEAM IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITY TO MAINTAIN SAID LAYER AT SAID SUFFICIENT THICKNESS.
Abstract:
A piping in which a plastic tubular member is encased in wire mesh for use in fire sprinkler systems. The mesh substantially protects the tubular member from thermal deterioration. When deterioration does occur, it is generally in the form of pin holes which permit water to flow onto the mesh, cooling it, and preventing further heat transfer to the tubular member.
Abstract:
A fire extinguishing system for low temperature environments in which a network of pipes are supported in an elevated position in the space to be protected and are connected to a source of extinguishant. A plurality of thermally operable extinguishant discharge heads are connected to the network of pipes and are adapted to open in response to a predetermined fire condition in the space. A control valve normally prevents the flow of extinguishant to the network of pipes, and is responsive to the opening of one or more of the heads for permitting the flow of extinguishant to the network of pipes. One or more common drain lines are connected to the pipes in the network for permitting the flow of extinguishant through all of the pipes upon the opening of one or more of the heads.
Abstract:
A system and method for extinguishing fires is provided which includes applying an aqueous solution of a gel-forming material to structures in an area to be protected and separately applying an aqueous solution of a gel-inducing material to the same structures so that the solutions will mix and form a blanket of gas impervious aqueous gel which flowingly envelopes the structures and tends to smother any fire therein. The preferred gel-forming material is polyvinyl alcohol and the preferred gelinducing material is borax.
Abstract:
An injection apparatus for introducing a slurry of water swellable gelling agent into a water line feeding a fixed fire extinguishing system to form an ablative extinguishant therein. The apparatus includes a peristaltic pump driven by a hydraulic motor using water at line pressure for motive fluid and controlled by a servomechanism driven in part by a flow sensor to ensure injection rates corresponding to flow rates of water in the line. The injection apparatus is operated in a no-injection failure mode to avoid interference with normal flow of plain water to the fire extinguishing system.
Abstract:
A method of fire protection in which a foam extinguishant is discharged towards the fire in response to a predetermined fire condition in the space to be protected. At least a portion of the foam discharge is terminated and a fluid extinguishant is discharged towards the fire in response to an additional predetermined fire condition.
Abstract:
The discharge outlet plug of a fire extinguishant nozzle is retained by an external lever system that is conditioned by the operation of a heat fusible means in response to the presence of a first temperature rise to permit release of the plug under fluid pressure in the nozzle. An overriding beam arrangement is provided to prevent release of the plug unless the nozzle fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure floor, and in some forms a temperature responsive override arrangement is provided to disable the overriding beam arrangement in the presence of a materially higher temperature rise to permit the plug to be expelled by fluid pressures below the pressure floor.