Suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9550080-B2
Application number	US-201414175067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2014
Priority date	Jun 17, 2011
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

Various concepts are provided for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft. In one embodiment, the presence of a fire condition in an aircraft is detected. After such a detection, extinguishing agents can be dispensed and/or certain areas of the aircraft can be depressurized.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
detecting a presence of a fire condition in a compartment of an aircraft having an initial pressure;
after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the compartment of the aircraft, depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft from the initial pressure in accordance with a depressurizing procedure for the aircraft, wherein depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft reduces the amount of oxygen in the compartment;
after depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a first rapid discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft; and
after releasing the rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent, releasing a second controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft;
wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second controlled discharge of extinguishing agent is released once the aircraft has started a descent to land.

3. A method for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
detecting a presence of a fire condition in a compartment of an aircraft;
after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft;
after releasing the first discharge of the extinguishing agent, depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft in accordance with a depressurizing procedure for the aircraft, wherein depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft reduces the amount of oxygen in the compartment; and
after depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft;
wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Stehman Keith M
• Ransom Jr John H

Classifications

• A62C2/24

  Operating or controlling mechanisms {(emergency operation of doors and windows E05F1/002, E05F15/72)} · CPC title

• A62C2/248

  pneumatic · CPC title

• A62C2/247

  electric · CPC title

• A62C5/006

  Extinguishants produced by combustion · CPC title

• A62C2/246

  having non-mechanical actuators · CPC title