Marine vessel fire extinguisher

Claim 2

A fire extinguishing system for use in a confined, enclosed compartment of a marine vessel, comprising, at least one fire extinguishing unit, including a generally-cylindrical container mounted in said compartment, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, dispersing means operatively mounted on said container to distribute said extinguishing agent throughout said compartment, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and including gas-impermeable piston means mounted adjacent said extinguishing agent and in gas-tight relation with the walls of said container and flame-responsive ignition means resistant to ignition by heat generated in said compartment, operatively connected to said propellant means to actuate said propellant means and cause it to generate gas pressure and disposed about said compartment.

Claim 3

A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the propellant means includes a container of a gas under pressure and puncturing means for puncturing said container.

Claim 4

A fire extinguishing system for use in a confined, enclosed compartment of a marine vessel, comprising, at least one fire extinguishing unit, including a container mounted in said compartment, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, dispersing means operatively mounted on each end of said container to distribute said extinguishing agent throughout said compartment, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means, and flame-responsive ignition means resistant to ignition by heat generated in said compartment, operatively connected to said propellant means to actuate said propellant means and cause it to generate gas pressure and disposed about said compartment.

Claim 5

A fire extinguishing system for use in a confined, enclosed compartment of a marine vessel, comprising, at least one fire extinguishing unit, including a container mounted in said compartment, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, dispersing means operatively mounted on each end of said container to distribute said extinguishing agent throughout said compartment, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means, and flame-responsive ignition means resistant to ignition by heat generated in said compartment, operatively connected to said propellant means to actuate said propellant means and cause it to generate gas pressure and disposed about said compartment.

Claim 6

A fire extinguishing system for use in a confined, enclosed compartment of a marine vessel, comprising, at least one fire extinguishing unit, including a container mounted in said compartment, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container comprising a metal carbonate selected from the group consisting of alkali meTal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkaline earth metal bicarbonates and mixtures thereof, in a major amount of about 50 to 95% by weight, and a synthetic metal silicate, in a minor amount of about 50 to 5% by weight and sufficient to form an air-impermeable coating on the burning surface to which it is applied and prevent reignition of an extinguished flame for at least 10 minutes, dispersing means operatively mounted on said compartment to distribute said extinguishing agent throughout said compartment, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means, and flame-responsive ignition means resistant to ignition by heat generated in said compartment operatively connected to said propellant means to actuate said propellant means and cause it to generate gas pressure and disposed about said compartment.

Claim 7

A fire extinguishing system for use in a confined, enclosed compartment of a marine vessel, comprising, at least one fire extinguishing unit, including a container mounted in said compartment, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container comprising a metal carbonate selected from the group consisting of alkali meTal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkaline earth metal bicarbonates and mixtures thereof, in a major amount of about 50 to 95% by weight, and a synthetic metal silicate, in a minor amount of about 50 to 5% by weight and sufficient to form an air-impermeable coating on the burning surface to which it is applied and prevent reignition of an extinguished flame for at least 10 minutes, dispersing means operatively mounted on said compartment to distribute said extinguishing agent throughout said compartment, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means, and flame-responsive ignition means resistant to ignition by heat generated in said compartment operatively connected to said propellant means to actuate said propellant means and cause it to generate gas pressure and disposed about said compartment.

Claim 8

A system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the compartment is an engine compartment.

Claim 9

A fire extinguishing system for use in a confined, enclosed compartment of a marine vessel, comprising, a container mounted in said compartment, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, dispersing means operatively mounted on said container to distribute said extinguisning agent throughout said compartment, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means, and wire-type, flame-responsive ignition means resistant to ignition by heat generated in said compartment, operatively connected to said propellant means to actuate said propellant means and cause it to generate gas pressure and disposed about said cabinet and comprising 20 to 80% by volume of a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum and palladium and 80 to 20% by volume of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and magnesium.

Claim 10

A fire extinguishing system for use in a confined, enclosed compartment of a marine vessel, comprising, a container mounted in said compartment, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, dispersing means operatively mounted on said container to distribute said extinguisning agent throughout said compartment, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means, and wire-type, flame-responsive ignition means resistant to ignition by heat generated in said compartment, operatively connected to said propellant means to actuate said propellant means and cause it to generate gas pressure and disposed about said cabinet and comprising 20 to 80% by volume of a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum and palladium and 80 to 20% by volume of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and magnesium.

Claim 11

A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein the compartment is an engine compartment.