Automated fire blanket deployment system for vehicular fire suppression

Abstract

The invention relates to an automated fire blanket deployment system 100 designed for extinguishing vehicular fires. The system comprises a frame structure 102, preferably rectangular, equipped with a

Description

[002] The development of fire safety measures for vehicles, particularly in parking spaces or garages, has been an ongoing concern in the field of fire safety engineering. While there have been significant advancements in fire detection and suppression systems, there remain notable limitations and drawbacks in current systems when it comes to vehicular fires. Traditional fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers and chemical extinguishers, are often designed for building interiors and may not be as effective or practical for use in open or semi-open spaces like parking lots or garages. These systems can also cause collateral damage, including water or chemical damage to vehicles and surrounding areas.

[003] Fire blankets, known for their effectiveness in smothering fires by cutting off oxygen, have been used as a manual fire suppression tool. However, their deployment in the context of vehicular fires presents challenges. Manual deployment is not only time-consuming but also puts individuals at risk, as it requires close proximity to the fire. Furthermore, the effectiveness of a fire blanket is highly dependent on its rapid and correct placement over the fire source, which is not always feasible in emergency situations.

[004] There has been a growing need for a fire suppression system that combines the efficiency and safety of a fire blanket with the speed and automation of conventional fire suppression systems. Current fire suppression solutions lack a dedicated mechanism for the rapid, automated deployment of fire blankets in environments where vehicular fires are a risk. This gap in fire safety measures is particularly concerning given the increasing incidence of vehicular fires, including those involving electric vehicles, which may present different fire characteristics compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles.

[005] It is within this context that the present invention is provided. Summary

[006] The present disclosure pertains to a fire blanket deployment device, specifically designed for rapid and automated deployment in response to vehicular fires. It includes a frame structure with four corners, preferably rectangular, and a centrally located motor assembly connected to the frame. The device features a plurality of detachable weights, each coupled to a respective corner of the frame, such as for example in respective hollow cylinders placed at each corner. These weights have coupling elements for securing corners of a fire blanket.

[007] A key component of the device is a release mechanism that detaches the weights from the frame in response to a signal. This mechanism is characterized by retractable pin locking mechanisms at each weight, connected to the motor assembly. The retractable pins are configured for simultaneous retraction upon activation of the motor, linked by a wire assembly. When the pins are pulled, the weights are allowed to fall away from the frame and whatever mechanism is holding them in place.

[008] The control unit of the device triggers the release mechanism based on fire conditions detected by a sensor system. This system is capable of detecting heat above a predetermined threshold, smoke particles, and specific chemical compositions indicative of various fire types.

[009] Additional features include a user interface for manual activation of the fire blanket deployment and a construction of the frame structure from materials like steel or aluminium. The fire blanket, suitable for suspension above vehicle parking spaces, includes corner loops that couple to hooks on the weights. This arrangement allows for quick deployment of the blanket over a vehicle in the event of a fire. Brief Description of the Drawings

[010] Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. [Oil] FIG. 1A: This figure shows an isometric view of the fire blanket deployment device with a rectangular frame, detachable weights at each corner, a central motor assembly, and hooks for attaching a fire blanket.

[012] FIG. IB: Illustrated here is the deployment device with a fire blanket attached to the weights via corner loops and hooks, demonstrating the readiness of the system for deployment.

[013] FIG. IC: This figure depicts the moment of activation, where the motor assembly retracts pins, releasing the weights and showing the blanket in the process of deployment over a designated area.

[014] FIG. 2: A close-up view of one of the weights attached to the frame, highlighting the retractable pin mechanism, the connection of the fire blanket's loop to the weight's hook, and the wire leading to the motor assembly.

[015] Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and the detailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above figures are examples and that other architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, and elements / functions can be provided and implemented without departing from the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth in the claims. Detailed Description and Preferred Embodiment

[016] The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by the claims.

[017] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured. DEFINITIONS:

[018] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

[019] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[020] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[021] It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[022] The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variant thereof, are defined as joined, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and includes elements that are physically or functionally linked. In the context of the fire blanket deployment device, these terms describe the relationship between components such as the motor assembly, retractable pins, control unit, sensor system, and other related elements.

[023] The term "frame structure," as mentioned in this specification, encompasses any support structure that can hold and position the fire blanket and its associated deployment mechanism. This includes, but is not limited to, frames of various shapes, sizes, and materials, such as steel or aluminum.

[024] References to a "control unit" in this specification denote any electronic, mechanical, or electromechanical system or component that controls the operation of the fire blanket deployment device, including triggering the release mechanism based on input from the sensor system. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[025] The present disclosure relates to a fire blanket deployment device specifically designed for use in vehicular fire scenarios. The primary objective of this device is to provide an automated solution for rapidly deploying a fire blanket in response to a fire, thereby enhancing safety measures in environments such as parking spaces where vehicles are at risk of catching fire. The invention includes several key components that work in tandem to ensure the effective execution of its purpose.

[026] FIG. 1A presents an isometric view of an exemplary deployment device, denoted as 100. It features a rectangular frame 102, which forms the primary structure of the device. Positioned at each of the four corners of this frame are hollow cylindrical shells 104 with weights held inside used in the deployment of the fire blanket. A central motor assembly 108 is depicted as being connected to these weights via wires 110. These wires terminate in pins that secure the weights to the frame, holding them inside the cylinders 104. Additionally, hooks 106 are shown on the bottom end of each weight, positioned to attach to a fire blanket.

[027] FIG. IB illustrates the deployment device 100 with a fire blanket 200 attached. This blanket is equipped with loops on each of its corners, designed to facilitate attachment to the device. The loops are coupled to the weights through hooks 106, ensuring that the blanket is securely held and ready for deployment. The blanket is shown in a suspended state, hanging below the frame 102 and the cylinders holding the weights 104, poised for rapid release in response to a fire.

[028] FIG. IC depicts the deployment device 100 at the moment of activation. A trigger has been sent to the controller of the motor assembly 108, for example due to a fire detection signal from a sensor system. In response, the motor assembly 108 has retracted the wires 110, leading to the withdrawal of the pins 112 from the weights 104. As a result of this action, the weights 107 have been released from the cylinders 104 at each corner of the frame and been allowed to begin freefalling, pulling the corners of the blanket 200 down with them by the hooks 106. Each corner of the blanket is being drawn down by the respective weights, demonstrating the mechanism of the blanket's deployment over a potentially burning vehicle or area.

[029] FIG. 2 provides a detailed close-up isometric view, focusing on one of the cylinders 104 holding the weights 107 as it is coupled to the corner of the frame 102. The cylinder is situated at the corner of the frame 102. At the bottom end of the held weight 107 a hook 106 is shown with the corner loop 202 of the fire blanket 200 attached to it. The retractable pin 112 is shown threaded through a pair of openings in the weight 104. This positioning of the pin ensures that it can be retracted effectively to release the weight 107 from the cylinder 104 and thereby deploy the fire blanket. Above the blanket 200, the wire 110 that connects the retractable pin 112 to the motor assembly is visible. The wire is positioned such that it leads directly to the central motor assembly, which, due to the close-up perspective of the figure, is not visible in this illustration. CONCLUSION

[030] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[031] The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the deployment device and associated methods have been described in a specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

[032] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fire blanket deployment device, comprising:a frame structure having four corners;a motor assembly connected to the frame;a plurality of detachable weights each detachably coupled to a respective corner of the frame, each weight having a coupling element for securing a corner of a fire blanket to it;a release mechanism for detaching the weights from the frame in response to a signal; anda control unit configured to trigger the release mechanism based on a detected fire condition.

2. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 1, wherein the frame structure is rectangular.

3. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 1, wherein the motor assembly is centrally located within the frame structure.

4. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism comprises a set of retractable pin locking mechanisms holding each weight in place against the frame, each retractable pin being operatively connected to the motor assembly.

5. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 4, wherein the retractable pins are configured to be simultaneously retracted upon activation of the motor assembly.

6. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 4, wherein the retractable pins are each coupled to the motor assembly by a wire assembly.

7. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is coupled to a sensor system, and is configured to trigger the release mechanism based on signals received from said sensor system.

8. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 7, wherein the sensor system is configured to detect heat above a predesignated threshold.

9. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 7, wherein the sensor system is configured to detect smoke particles.

10. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 7, wherein the sensor system is configured to detect chemical compositions indicative of one or more specific types of fires.

11. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 1, wherein the frame structure is made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel and aluminium.

12. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for manual activation of the fire blanket deployment.

13. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 1, wherein the fire blanket is configured to be suspended above vehicle parking spaces.

14. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 13, wherein the system comprises the fire blanket itself, which includes corner loops configured to couple to hooks on the weights.

15. The fire blanket deployment device of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a hollow shell at each corner, shaped for housing the respective weights, the detachable coupling allowing the weights to fall from an open bottom end of the shells upon release.

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