Collapsible Cooking Oil Fire Extinguisher with Pivot Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire extinguishing devices, such as portable chemical extinguishers and fire suppression blankets, are ineffective or unsafe for cooking oil fires due to the properties of vegetable oils, lack of proper training, improper deployment, and reliability issues, leading to potential harm and property damage.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible cooking oil fire extinguishing device with a telescoping shaft, rigid support arms, and pliable fire-resistant material, featuring a pivot mechanism that allows for easy deployment from a safe distance, automatic locking, and a manual release mechanism to prevent accidental unlocking, ensuring effective extinguishment without chemical residue or significant cleanup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If portable chemical fire extinguishers are used on cooking oil fires, then fire suppression is attempted, but the extinguishers are ineffective due to vegetable oil properties and may make the situation worse
Solution Approach 1:
The fire blanket creates an inert atmosphere by cutting off oxygen supply to the fire. The blanket material forms a physical barrier that isolates the burning cooking oil from atmospheric oxygen, effectively suppressing the fire without chemical reactions that could worsen the situation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful high-temperature burning oil into a controlled extinguishing process. By using the blanket to smother the fire, the thermal energy is contained and gradually dissipated without causing fire spread, turning a dangerous situation into a controlled extinguishment.
2Reliability
If fire suppression blankets are deployed close to the fire, then effective coverage is achieved, but the user is exposed to life-threatening burns
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed with extended length to provide local quality improvement in user safety. The extended handle creates additional distance between the user's hand and the hot fire zone, allowing effective blanket deployment while minimizing thermal exposure to the user.
3Volume of moving object
If the support arms are made flexible for easy storage, then compact storage is achieved, but the fire-resistant material cannot create an adequate airtight seal
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm system is segmented into collapsible sections that can fold together for compact storage. When deployed, the segments form a stable rigid structure capable of holding the fire-resistant material taut to create an effective seal around the cooking vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms transition from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible system. The arms can be quickly folded into a compact configuration for storage, then rapidly deployed into a rigid operational structure that maintains the fire blanket's sealing effectiveness.
4Speed
If springs are used for automatic deployment, then rapid deployment is achieved, but the springs degrade over time when under constant load in storage
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is extracted from the constant load position and only engaged during the deployment action. The spring remains uncompressed during storage, eliminating degradation, and is activated only when the user pulls the handle to trigger rapid deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-positioned and ready to act, but only engages when triggered by user action. The preliminary preparation of the spring mechanism allows rapid deployment when needed, while the trigger-based activation prevents premature engagement and degradation during long-term storage.
5Volume of moving object
If the handle is made short for compact storage, then storage compactness is improved, but the user cannot maintain a safe distance from the fire
Solution Approach 1:
The handle extends in the longitudinal dimension away from the fire blanket, allowing the user to grip the handle from a distance while the blanket covers the fire. This dimensional extension provides thermal protection without significantly increasing the storage footprint when collapsed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively extinguishes cooking oil fires from a safe distance, is easily deployable, and maintains functionality over time without spring degradation, reducing the risk of re-flash and minimizing cleanup efforts.
Implementation Method 1
Fire suppression blankets are used in many countries in Europe and other parts of the world to attempt to extinguish cooking oil fires, the concept being to cut off the supply of oxygen to the fire
Implementation Method 2
a manual pivot mechanism, which enables the rigid support arms to be changed between the collapsed storage position and the extended and expanded usage position
Implementation Method 3
automatic locking means, which automatically locks the support arms into the usage position
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible cooking oil fire extinguishing device having a shaft with two rigid support arms for support of a fire resistant material. An automatic locking mechanism with a manual pivot mechanism enables changing the device between a collapsed storage position and an expanded usage position. The rigid support arms extend only partially around the perimeter of the fire resistant material, which enables the fire resistant material to tightly cover a cooking oil fire in a vessel with a handle. The pivot mechanism, automatic locking means, and rigid support arms allow the user to exert downward pressure on the burning vessel, thereby creating an airtight seal, cutting off the supply of oxygen and extinguishing the fire. The spring in the automatic locking mechanism is not under compression in the storage position, which increases reliability and prevents malfunction during long periods of time in the storage position.