Fire suppression system for heavy mobile machines

Claim 2

An automatic fire suppression system for heavy mobile equipment and the like comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of precision, vibration and shock resistant thermostatic type heat sensors each providing a pair of normally open electrical contacts and being fixed at fire susceptible locations on an equipment to be protected; b. a plurality of fire fluId dispensing nozzles fixed on said equipment proximate said locations; c. an unpressurized container of fire extinguishing fluid material having piping connected to said nozzles and adapted when pressurized to exhaust said fluid material through said nozzles; d. a main gas cartridge having a puncturable sealed opening and opposite said opening an actuator device having a puncturing rod adapted to engage and puncture said opening and having piping connecting said opening to said container to allow gas escaping from said cartridge to pressurize said container and exhaust said fluid material; e. a cylinder-piston operator having a movable piston mounted in a cylinder housing connected to receive pressurized gas and adapted under the influence of such gas to engage and operate said puncturing rod; f. an auxiliary source of pressurized gas having a pipe connected to said cylinder; g. a normally closed electrically operated solenoid valve mounted in said pipe and adapted when closed to block said auxiliary source gas from said cylinder and when open to pass said auxiliary source gas to said cylinder to operate said piston, said auxiliary source gas being connected to pressurize said pipe on one side of said valve and while in a closed position; h. an electrical power source; and i. wiring means connecting each said sensor to said electrical source and being arranged whereby upon closing of the contacts in any of said sensors, said electrical source is connected to electrically energize and open said valve, said auxiliary gas source is allowed to flow and operate said piston to actuate said puncturing rod, said cartridge gas is released to said container and said fluid material is exhausted through said nozzles.

Claim 3

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical source comprises a battery independent of the electrical system of said equipment.

Claim 4

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary gas source comprises a punctured pressurized gas capsule.

Claim 5

A system as claimed in claim 2 including a panel board mounted on said equipment and mounting said container, main gas cartridge, cylinder-piston operator, solenoid valve, battery and auxiliary gas source.

Claim 6

A system as claimed in claim 1 having at least one normally open manual electrical switch connected to said electrical source and valve and adapted to energize and open said valve when said switch is closed.

Claim 7

A system as claimed in claim 4 including an electrical terminal board and pipe connector means on said panel board enabling both said sensor wiring and container-nozzle piping to be connected and disconnected at said panel board.

Claim 8

A system as claimed in claim 3 including a removable holder for said capsule and means adapted to puncture said capsule and release the gas therefrom into said pipe and being operable by installing said holder.

Claim 9

An automatic fire suppression system for heavy mobile equipment and the like comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of precision, vibration and shock resistant thermostatic type heat sensors each providing a pair of normally open electrical contacts and being fixed at fire susceptible locations on an equipment to be protected; b. a plurality of fire fluid dispensing nozzles fixed on said equipment proximate said locations; c. an unpressurized container of fire extinguishing fluid material having piping connected to said nozzles and adapted when pressurized to exhaust said fluid material through said nozzles; d. a main gas cartridge having a puncturable sealed opening and opposite said opening an actuator device having a puncturing rod adapted to engage and puncture said opening and having piping connecting said opening to said container to allow gas escaping from said cartridge to pressurize said container and exhaust said fluid material; e. a cylinder-piston operator having a movable piston and rod mounted in a cylinder housing connected to receive pressurized gas and adapted under thE influence of such gas to engage and operate said puncturing rod; f. an auxiliary source of pressurized gas including a pressurized gas capsule, a removable threaded cup holder for said capsule, a threaded mating cap member having a pipe connected to said cylinder and including means adapted to puncture said capsule upon said holder being threaded into said cap member and thereby release gas into said pipe; g. a normally closed electrically operated solenoid valve mounted in said pipe and adapted when closed to block said auxiliary source gas from said cylinder and when open to pass said auxiliary source gas to said cylinder to operate said piston, said auxiliary source gas being connected to pressurize said pipe on one side of said valve and while in a closed position; h. an electrical power source comprising a battery independent of the electrical system of said equipment; i. a panel board mounted on said equipment and mounting said container, main gas cartridge, cylinder-piston operator, solenoid valve, battery and auxiliary gas source and including an electrical terminal board and pipe connector means enabling both said sensor wiring and container nozzle piping to be connected and disconnected at said panel board; j. at least one normally open manual electric switch connected to said battery source and valve and adapted to energize and open said valve when said switch is closed; and k. wiring means connecting each said sensor to said battery source and being arranged whereby upon closing of the contacts in any of said sensors, said battery source is connected to electrically energize and open said valve, said auxiliary gas source gas is allowed to flow and operate said piston to actuate said puncturing rod, said cartridge gas is released to said container and said fluid material is exhausted through said nozzles.

Claim 10

An automatic fire suppression system for heavy mobile equipment and the like comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of precision, vibration and shock resistant thermostatic type heat sensors each providing a pair of normally open electrical contacts and being fixed at fire susceptible locations on an equipment to be protected; b. a plurality of fire fluid dispensing nozzles fixed on said equipment proximate said locations; c. an unpressurized container of fire extinguishing fluid material having piping connected to said nozzles and adapted when pressurized to exhaust said fluid material through said nozzles; d. a main gas cartridge having a puncturable sealed opening and opposite said opening an actuator device having a puncturing rod adapted to engage and puncture said opening and having piping connecting said opening to said container to allow gas escaping from said cartridge to pressurize said container and exhaust said fluid material; e. a cylinder-piston operator having a movable piston and rod mounted in a cylinder housing connected to receive pressurized gas and adapted under thE influence of such gas to engage and operate said puncturing rod; f. an auxiliary source of pressurized gas including a pressurized gas capsule, a removable threaded cup holder for said capsule, a threaded mating cap member having a pipe connected to said cylinder and including means adapted to puncture said capsule upon said holder being threaded into said cap member and thereby release gas into said pipe; g. a normally closed electrically operated solenoid valve mounted in said pipe and adapted when closed to block said auxiliary source gas from said cylinder and when open to pass said auxiliary source gas to said cylinder to operate said piston, said auxiliary source gas being connected to pressurize said pipe on one side of said valve and while in a closed position; h. an electrical power source comprising a battery independent of the electrical system of said equipment; i. a panel board mounted on said equipment and mounting said container, main gas cartridge, cylinder-piston operator, solenoid valve, battery and auxiliary gas source and including an electrical terminal board and pipe connector means enabling both said sensor wiring and container nozzle piping to be connected and disconnected at said panel board; j. at least one normally open manual electric switch connected to said battery source and valve and adapted to energize and open said valve when said switch is closed; and k. wiring means connecting each said sensor to said battery source and being arranged whereby upon closing of the contacts in any of said sensors, said battery source is connected to electrically energize and open said valve, said auxiliary gas source gas is allowed to flow and operate said piston to actuate said puncturing rod, said cartridge gas is released to said container and said fluid material is exhausted through said nozzles.

Claim 11

An automatic fire suppression system as claimed in claim 8 and including connector means providing a relatively loose and removable connection between said piston rod and puncturing rod, strap means releasably securing said container and main gas cartridge as a unit to said panel board and separate securing means mounting and securing said cylinder-piston operator, valve, battery and auxiliary gas source to said panel board thereby enabling said container-cartridge unit to vibrate and be readily removed as a unit separate from other components on said panel board.