Independent fire extinguishing equipment for electrical equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of fire extinguishing, more particularly to a fire extinguishing device comprising an aerosol-forming or gas-forming component, said fire extinguishing device comprising a housing (1), a module (2) comprising an aerosol-forming or gas-forming component, and a trigger assembly in the form of a thermochemical igniter (15) comprising a heat-sensitive element (16), the invention relates to a fire extinguishing device (1) comprising a power supply line (11), and an electric igniter (6) of an aerosol-forming or gas-forming component, which igniter can be triggered by an external signal, said fire extinguishing device further comprising at least one thermal fuse (3) mounted on the power supply line (11), one of the contacts of said thermal fuse (3) being connected to a heat-sensitive triggering device (7), the heat-sensitive trigger device (7) is connected to an electric igniter (6) of aerosol-forming or gas-forming components. The technical result of the invention is a self-contained fire extinguishing device which can be used for electrical sockets, socket boxes, electronic components, digital modules, printed circuit boards and electronic and electrical devices and which can be triggered by a thermochemical igniter, an external electrical signal, or an internal or external heat-sensitive triggering device, the fire extinguishing device also being able to generate an information signal regarding the activation thereof.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an autonomous fire extinguishing device based on aerosol-forming or gas-forming components, which can be used to prevent fires in power sockets, interface extensions and sub-sockets, computers, radio electronic equipment (REA), digital and analog module components, electronic boards. Background Art

[0002] Fires often occur when operating electrical equipment due to: overloading of electrical equipment and wiring, short circuits, ignition of flammable materials near connected equipment, and excessive transient resistance of wires or printed circuit board contact groups.

[0003] It is necessary to suppress fires appropriately and automatically at an early stage, with the possibility of removing the voltage from the protected device (protected devices) and automatically forming information signals about the operation of fire extinguishing equipment without human intervention, eliminating the possibility of electric shock and saving expensive equipment, protection elements of automation and REA.

[0004] From the background of the invention fire extinguishing devices are known which are intended to suppress fires in electrical installations as follows.

[0005] An autonomous fire extinguishing device based on a heat-activated agent contained in microcapsules (patent RU 179466), consisting of a polymer composite plate with a regular surface relief and containing microcapsules with an extinguishing agent placed in a special organosilicon compound. The substrate on the back of the plate has a heat-resistant self-adhesive layer for fixing it in the protected volume. Microcapsules of 50-400 microns are used as extinguishing agent, which have a core of a fire-extinguishing ozone-safe liquid, which is placed in a spherical polymer shell (patent RU 2469761). The microcapsules are capable of explosive destruction at temperatures reaching 90°C. This fire extinguishing system is characterized by low fire extinguishing capacity and a short service life (no more than two years, as shown in application practice), which is a significant disadvantage.

[0006] An autonomous gas fire-extinguishing device (patent RU 139678), which consists of a cylinder with a gaseous extinguishing agent (for example, Halon), communicating with a main device for supplying the extinguishing medium to the protected volume designed using fusible polymer materials. The main device is connected to the cylinder by a closing and starting device with a pressure gauge and a ball valve, and is also equipped with an elastic casing in the form of a metal spiral. This fire-extinguishing device is characterized by its plurality and highly complex installation in the protected volume.

[0007] A device for fixing a fire extinguishing wire in an electrical cabinet is known (patent RU 190409). A fire extinguishing wire or fire burn wire is an autonomous fire extinguishing device with a heat-activated microcapsule extinguishing agent, intended to prevent fires in large fire-hazardous installations, including electrical equipment such as switchboards, control cabinets, electrical cabinets, safes, etc. The technology according to this patent is a device for fixing a fire extinguishing wire in an electrical cabinet, the electrical cabinet having a bracket for fixing to the inner wall of the electrical cabinet and designed in the form of a curved chassis having grooves for fixing the wires and the bottom of the chassis having an adhesive layer. The disadvantage of this technology is the complexity of the installation of the fire extinguishing wire, which is associated with the need to install the required device for fixing to the inner wall of the electrical cabinet along its periphery and then fix the fire extinguishing wire in the chassis.

[0008] A self-operating fire extinguishing device is known (patent RU 184841), which comprises a foam housing consisting of an explosive device and an extinguishing agent. The explosive device is connected to a fuse extending outward through a hole in the housing and is placed in a closed groove designed from the outside of the housing along its periphery, the width of the groove exceeding the width of the fuse. In order to facilitate the rupture of the housing when the explosive device is triggered, a groove is designed on the inside of the housing. The device is suspended on a bracket or placed on a flat surface and is activated independently when the flame contacts the fuse. The disadvantage of this technology is that the fire extinguishing device is placed in a guarded room and the electrical equipment uses a bracket or is mounted on a flat surface, which limits its location options and reduces the effectiveness of the fire extinguishing.

[0009] An automatic fire extinguishing device for telecommunication equipment is known, which is placed in a standard closed telecommunication rack (TCR) (patent RU 190222). The device is a unitary structure containing a housing that includes a generator of extinguishing agent (FEAG); the generator of extinguishing agent consists of two containers connected to the extinguishing agent delivery system and to the ignition source, consisting of pipes and FEAG nozzles. The device triggering unit is designed in the form of an external linear expansion sensor that passes through the area of ​​the strongest thermal load of the TCR and is connected to the input of the device, which in turn is connected inside the device to a sensor of the exceeded temperature threshold. In addition, the device includes an alarm device (light and sound indicator) indicating the fact that the generator has produced extinguishing agent. In this automatic fire extinguishing device, standard extinguishing agents are provided for use; they are characterized by insufficient extinguishing capacity and unsafe chemical composition. It reduces the extinguishing effect, and the presence of pipes and nozzles for supplying extinguishing agent to the guarded room increases the complexity of manufacturing the device, as well as the characteristics of installing the device in other types of rooms with electrical equipment due to the increased complexity of manufacturing due to the use of standard methods for fixing to the TCR.

[0010] An automatic fire extinguishing device fixed to a DIN rail is known (patent RU 204767), comprising a housing having a fire extinguishing aerosol generator (FAG) with a trigger unit; the structure of the FAG is a housing designed from non-flammable material with an outlet nozzle in which an aerosol-forming or gas-forming component (AFC) is placed, the housing of the automatic fire extinguishing system comprises a nozzle opening for outputting the aerosol-forming or gas-forming component and a slot for attaching the housing from the FAG to the DIN rail, the trigger unit comprising the form of a self-igniting hot wire. Preferably, the trigger unit comprises the form of a self-igniting hot wire with a thermosensitive element; the activation temperature is lower than the activation temperature of the hot wire. A disadvantage of the device is that the available thermosensitive elements have a high activation temperature, i.e. such thermosensitive elements are known to be triggered at temperatures of at least 150°C–180°C, which does not allow a rapid response to the temperature increase during a fire and significantly delays the start of the fire extinguishing cycle. The absence of an electronic igniter does not allow the device to be triggered by an external signal. Furthermore, there is no thermal fuse in the device, which does not allow disconnection of the load from the mains voltage in the event of a fire in the protected device. It should be noted that the device claimed in the patent does not include a trigger sensor and cannot signal the start of the fire extinguishing process. Furthermore, the device claimed in the patent is designed to be mounted only on a DIN rail and, due to its size, it cannot be installed in small volumes, such as sub-sockets, power supplies, REA elements or computers.

[0011] This technology is the closest similar solution to the claimed invention and can be used as a prototype. Summary of the invention

[0012] The technical problem that the requested solution aims to solve is the expansion of the functionality of autonomous fire extinguishing equipment.

[0013] The technical result of the claimed invention is the possibility of using an autonomous fire extinguishing device for any electrical and electronic equipment, as well as the possibility of initialization using a thermochemical igniter, an external electrical signal or a trigger from an internal or external thermosensitive device, as well as the possibility of generating an information signal capable of triggering the device.

[0014] The required technical result is achieved thanks to an autonomous fire extinguishing device (AFED) comprising a housing to which a conductor can be connected, in which an aerosol-forming or gas-forming component (AFC module) with a trigger unit is placed, the AFC module is placed in a housing with an outlet nozzle and comprises an aerosol-forming or gas-forming component (AFC), the trigger unit is made in the form of a thermochemical igniter containing a thermosensitive element, and an electric igniter, which can trigger the thermosensitive device by triggering a voltage, the trigger voltage being applied to the thermosensitive device via a conductor or a terminal, and in addition, an AFC trigger sensor in the housing is used to generate and output a signal about the start of the fire extinguishing process to an external device.

[0015] Alternatively, the AFED includes a thermal fuse for shutting down power to the load.

[0016] Alternatively, the AFED is attached to a printed circuit board using solder pins.

[0017] Alternatively, the AFED is attached to a printed circuit board using contact pads.

[0018] Alternatively, the AFED housing may be the housing of a sub-socket.

[0019] Alternatively, the AFED housing may be directly the housing of the interface, with an internal or upper embodiment of the latter.

[0020] Preferably, the trigger unit is in the form of a thermochemical igniter with a heat-sensitive chemical element, whose triggering temperature is lower than the triggering temperature of the thermochemical igniter and the electric igniter of the AFC, and is then connected to the triggering thermosensitive device and the conductor; a voltage is applied and the electric igniter is triggered.

[0021] The claimed fire extinguishing equipment is an assembled unit made in a single housing, having functional and structural unity, and therefore a patent can be claimed.

[0022] The claimed fire extinguishing apparatus, including an AFC module having a solid fuel aerosol-forming or gas-forming component, can be installed in a limited volume having electrical or electronic equipment, thereby extinguishing a fire at the installation site with a high fire extinguishing efficiency.

[0023] Taking into account that aerosol-forming components, in contrast to powders, carbon dioxide and foam compositions, have no restrictions on use (with respect to the presence of power and voltage of the protected electrical equipment) and do not have adverse effects on electrical or electronic equipment, the required fire-extinguishing equipment can be installed at any location in the protected equipment.

[0024] The presence of triggering units in the form of thermochemical igniters and electrical AFC igniters, which use the triggering of thermistor devices as well as external signal triggering, makes it possible to trigger the devices at lower operating temperatures, for example 75°C, thus providing greater versatility and allowing the use of AFED as an element, expanding the possibilities of fire extinguishing electrical devices by combining several similar devices. When any group of devices is triggered, all devices are triggered simultaneously.

[0025] Using an AFED housing with a solid fuel aerosol forming or gas forming component, the AFED can be assembled or mounted in any type of sub-socket, interface or interface extension, power supply, REA housing, digital or electronic module on a printed circuit board without the need for special fastening and reducing the complexity of device manufacturing.

[0026] The aerosol-forming or gas-forming component is a cryogenic solid fuel component. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 shows the scheme and type of two-line design of the required AFED; in ( Figure 4 ), the scheme is represented by a four-wire design, wherein 1 is the housing, 2 is the AFC module, 3 is the thermal fuse, 4 is the thermal fuse, 5 is the device trigger sensor, 6 is the AFC electric igniter, 7 is the triggering thermal device, 8 is the nozzle opening for the outlet of the aerosol forming or gas forming component, 9 is the inlet opening for triggering the thermal device, 10 is the input conductor, such as the power line "A", 11 is the output conductor, such as the power line "A", 12 is the input conductor of the power line "N", 13 is the output conductor of the power line "N", 14 is the conductor contact group of the device trigger sensor, 15 is the thermochemical igniter, 16 is the thermistor, 17 is the housing fastener, 18 is the conductor for triggering the electric igniter with an external signal, 19 is the thermal fuse, 20 is the thermal fuse, 21 is the input conductor, such as the power line "B", 22 is the output conductor, such as the power line "B", 23 is the input conductor, such as the power line "C", and 24 is the output conductor, such as the power line "C". DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The AFED comprises an aerosol forming or gas forming component (AFC module) (2) and a compact housing (1). The AFC module (2) is placed in the housing (1), wherein a nozzle opening (8) is used for the outlet of the aerosol forming or gas forming component and an inlet opening (9) is used to trigger the operation of a thermally sensitive device (7), and housing fasteners (17) (which may not be present) are used to attach the housing (1) to the AFC module (2). The AFED can be placed in the housing of any electrical device and connected to an input voltage and a load via conductors (10, 11, 12, 13) of a two-wire design and conductors (10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24) of a four-wire design.

[0029] Furthermore, when the second conductor (12, 13) does not pass through the equipment to be protected and one of the terminals of the AFC igniter (6) is connected to a designated line (12, 13) outside the equipment housing, a two-wire design may be used for connection (see Figure 1 ).

[0030] In this case, the connection can be made in a two-wire design in this way when the second conductor (12, 13) passes through the device to be protected (not shown) and the second of the terminals of the AFC electric igniter (6) is connected in a designated line (12, 13) inside the device housing. At the same time, this second line can also include its own thermal fuse.

[0031] The aerosol-forming or gas-forming component comes from an outlet nozzle (8) of the housing (1), which is connected to additional nozzle openings, which can be made in the housing (1) to supply the aerosol-forming component more evenly to the protected volume.

[0032] The AFC trigger unit is a thermochemical igniter (15) with a thermal element (16), and an electrical AFC igniter (6).

[0033] Preferably, the AFED thermochemical igniter (15) is made in the form of a housing element and is provided with a thermosensitive element (16), for example, located at the end of the thermochemical igniter (15), which reduces the autoignition temperature of the wire to, for example, 170° C. and below. The triggering temperature of the thermosensitive element (16) is less than the triggering temperature of the thermochemical igniter (15).

[0034] Originally, the AFED was designed with two wires, through the conductors of the power line, for example "A" (10) and the power line "N" (12), it was connected to the input voltage, for example 220V AC or for example 12V DC. The load was connected to the output conductor of the power line "A"' (11) and the conductor of the power line "N"' (13), which in turn were connected to the input conductor through the thermal fuse (3). The current flows through the following circuit: input (10) of the power line "A" - thermal fuse (3) - output (11) of the power line "A", load, output (13) of the power line "N" - input (12) of the power line "N". In addition, the power line "N" (12, 13) can either pass through the device according to the invention claimed herein or pass outside the device and can only be connected to one of the terminals of the electric igniter of the AFC (6).

[0035] In the four-wire embodiment, current also flows through the following circuits: input of power line "B" (21) - thermal fuse (19) - output of power line "B" (22) and input of power line "C" (23) - thermal fuse (20) - output of power line "C" (24).

[0036] In a four-wire embodiment, the thermal fuse (4) can be connected to the input (12) and output (13) conductors of the power line "N". In this case, the current will flow through the following circuit: input (12) of the power line "N" - thermal fuse (4) - output of the power line "N" (13).

[0037] Thermal fuses are known in the art and their selection is based on parameters of maximum operating current and maximum operating temperature. For example, the following parameters may be selected: shutdown current greater than -15A, shutdown temperature greater than -75°C. Thus, if any parameter exceeds the nominal value, such as an operating current of 15A, or is heated to a temperature above, for example, 75°C, a two-wire design thermal fuse (3) and a four-wire design thermal fuse (3), (4), (19), (20) will open the circuit.

[0038] In case power is supplied to the AFC electric igniter (6) via conductors (18) and (11), the AFC module (2) is activated, allowing the AFED to be remotely triggered by an external signal. In addition, when the thermal element (7) is triggered, when it is heated by the combustion products of the protected equipment entering the inlet opening (9) and triggers the AFC electric igniter (6), an electrical signal will briefly appear on the conductor (until the thermal fuse (3) opens, which can also activate the AFED).

[0039] In the event of a fire in the protected equipment, the AFC electric igniter (6) can also be triggered by an external signal through conductors (11) and (13), wherein an operating voltage is applied to conductors (11) and (13), which can start the AFC electric igniter (6) by triggering the thermistor (7). When the thermistor (7) is triggered, the voltage is directly applied to the AFC electric igniter (6), thereby igniting the AFC module (2). When the EPA burns and releases the fire extinguishing aerosol or fire extinguishing gas, the temperature in the housing (1) will rise with a delay, for example, exceeding 200°C, causing the thermal fuse (3) to open, the circuit is disconnected along the power supply line, for example "A"-"A" (10-11) and completely disconnect the load. The sensor (5) operates and then outputs an information signal about the operation of the equipment using a two-wire design to the conductor (14). In the four-wire embodiment, the thermal fuses (4), (19), (20) are also opened.

[0040] If the input voltage is lost before the AFED, but a fire occurs in the protected equipment at the same time, the AFC module (2) can be additionally triggered using a thermochemical igniter (15) and a thermistor (16), which significantly improves the reliability of the equipment in extinguishing fires in the absence of a trigger voltage.

Claims

1. An autonomous fire extinguishing device (AFED) having an aerosol-forming or gas-forming component placed inside, comprising a housing (1) and an aerosol-forming or gas-forming component module (2), characterized in that: A trigger unit is made in the form of a thermochemical igniter (15), which includes a thermistor (16) and an electric igniter (6) of an aerosol-forming or gas-forming component, and is made to be triggerable by an external signal and also includes at least one thermal fuse (3), which is installed on the power cord (11) and one of the contacts of the thermal fuse (3) is connected to the trigger thermistor (7), wherein the trigger thermistor (7) is connected to the electric igniter (6) of the aerosol-forming or gas-forming component.

2. The autonomous fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An additional trigger sensor (5) generates a signal regarding the operation of an autonomous fire extinguishing device installed in the housing (1) and has terminals extending through the housing (1).

3. The autonomous fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Additional holes (8) in the housing (1) are provided for the exit of the aerosol-forming or gas-forming component and contain holes (9) for triggering the heat-sensitive device (7).

4. The autonomous fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Having a cryogenic solid fuel aerosol-forming or gas-forming component.

5. The autonomous fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Compared to the triggering temperature of the thermochemical igniter (15), the heat sensitive element (16) has a lower triggering temperature.

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