Scalable cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9248326-B2
Application number	US-201414556177-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 29, 2011
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A scalable cargo-fire-suppression agent distribution system and method is disclosed. A supply source unit subset of a set of fire-suppression agent supply source units is selected based on an operation condition to provide a selected supply source unit subset, and a fire-suppression agent from the selected supply source unit subset is distributed during the operation condition.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for scaling cargo fire-suppression agent distribution, comprising:
detecting an operation condition;
selecting a supply source unit subset of a set of fire-suppression agent supply source units to provide a selected supply source unit subset if the operation condition indicated a descent;
discharging a fire-suppressant agent at a discharge rate directly from the selected supply source unit subset into a vehicle ducting; and
distributing the fire-suppression agent into a contained volume at the discharge rate from the selected supply source unit subset during the descent.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising shutting off a supply of air to the contained volume if the operation condition indicated cruise.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reducing pressure in the contained volume if the operation condition indicated cruise.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discharge rate is fixed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discharge rate is variable.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising discharging the fire-suppressant agent directly into the contained volume.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contained volume comprises a Class E cargo compartment of an aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected supply source unit subset comprises: at least one extra dedicated high rate discharge (HRD) descent storage source, at least one low rate discharge bottle, a descent storage bottle, or at least one dump bottle.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling the set of fire-suppression agent supply source units to the vehicle ducting.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising coupling the vehicle ducting to the contained volume.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising suppressing a fire within the contained volume.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein an aircraft comprises the contained volume.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of fire-suppression agent supply source units comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of: a storage bottle, an On-Board Inert Gas Generation System (OBIGGS), an HFC-125 supply source, a Pentafluoroethane (CF 3 CHF 2 ) supply source, a Nitrogen supply source, an Argon supply source, a Helium supply source, an aerosolized liquid mist supply source, an FK 5-1-12 (C 6 F 12 O) supply source, a water supply source, and a Halon supply source.

14. A scalable cargo fire-suppression agent distribution system comprising:
a set of fire-suppression agent supply source units coupled to a vehicle ducting;
a plurality of distribution nozzles operable to distribute a fire-suppression agent during a descent; and
a controller operable to: shut off airflow to reduce a flow of oxygen to a contained volume coupled to the vehicle ducting during cruise such that a fire is suppressed, and select a supply source unit subset of the set of fire-suppression agent supply source units such that the fire-suppression agent is distributed at an increased flow rate therefrom directly into the vehicle ducting during the descent.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the controller is further operable to reduce pressure in the contained volume during cruise such that the fire is suppressed.

16. A method for scaling cargo fire-suppression agent distribution in an aircraft, comprising:
shutting off airflow to reduce a flow of oxygen to a contained volume during cruise such that a fire is suppressed, wherein the contained volume is coupled to a ducting;
selecting a supply source unit subset of a set of fire-suppression agent supply source units such that a high flow rate of a fire-suppression agent is distributed therefrom during a descent flight phase; and
distributing directly into the ducting the fire-suppression agent during the descent flight phase.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising distributing the fire-suppression agent directly into the contained volume.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising reducing pressure in the contained volume during cruise such that the fire is suppressed.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Meier Oliver C
• Lewinski Daniel F
• Miller Bruce R

Classifications

• A62B18/025

  Halfmasks (A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11) · CPC title

• A62C99/009

  Methods or equipment not provided for in groups A62C99/0009 - A62C99/0081 · CPC title

• B64D37/32

  Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions · CPC title

• A62C35/60

  wet, i.e. containing extinguishing material even when not in use · CPC title

• A62C35/023

  the extinguishing material being expelled by compressed gas, taken from storage tanks, or by generating a pressure gas (for foam generation A62C5/02) · CPC title