Disposable Fire Extinguisher Valve Assembly for Vehicle Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic fire extinguishing (AFE) systems for vehicles are costly and provide excessive protection for vehicles that may not require such high-level threat protection, leading to higher lifecycle costs and unnecessary weight and space usage.
Innovation Solution
Modifying standard residential and commercial fire extinguishers to create AFE systems that can withstand vehicle environments, using automatic actuators and valve assemblies to rapidly disperse extinguishing agents within confined spaces, such as engine compartments and wheel bays, employing common dry chemical agents and gaseous agents like FM200, and implementing pipe and nozzle networks for directed agent delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional AFE systems are used for vehicle protection, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but system cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable, pre-charged extinguishing cartridges that are replaced after use rather than maintaining complex reusable suppression systems. These cartridges contain pre-measured amounts of extinguishing agent and simple discharge mechanisms, providing reliable fire suppression at lower cost and weight compared to conventional AFE systems with complex actuation and delivery mechanisms.
2Reliability
If conventional AFE systems are used for vehicle protection, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but system cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable, pre-charged extinguishing cartridges that are replaced after use rather than maintaining complex reusable suppression systems. These cartridges contain pre-measured amounts of extinguishing agent and simple discharge mechanisms, providing reliable fire suppression at lower cost and weight compared to conventional AFE systems with complex actuation and delivery mechanisms.
3Productivity
If high-rate discharge systems are used for rapid fire suppression, then fire suppression speed is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The extinguishing cartridges are pre-charged with extinguishing agent and pre-assembled with discharge mechanisms before installation on the vehicle. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid high-rate discharge when activated, eliminating the need for complex on-vehicle charging and assembly systems while maintaining high productivity during actual fire suppression events.
4Reliability
If conventional AFE systems are used for vehicle protection, then adequate fire protection is provided, but lifecycle cost and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable, pre-charged extinguishing cartridges that are replaced after use rather than maintaining complex reusable suppression systems. These cartridges contain pre-measured amounts of extinguishing agent and simple discharge mechanisms, providing reliable fire suppression at lower cost and weight compared to conventional AFE systems with complex actuation and delivery mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses disposable cartridges that are discarded after use and replaced, eliminating the need for complex recovery, refurbishment, and maintenance of suppression system components. This approach reduces lifecycle costs by avoiding expensive maintenance operations while ensuring adequate fire protection through fresh, pre-charged cartridges.
Data Source
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AI summary
An automatic fire extinguisher valve assembly (310) includes a valve body (320), a push rod (355) disposed in the valve body (320), a poppet stem (335) arranged perpendicular to the push rod (355) and disposed in the valve body (320), a poppet-to-valve body seal (340) coupled to the poppet stem (335) and disposed in the valve body (320) and a poppet return spring (345) coupled to the poppet stem (335) and disposed in the valve body (320), wherein the push rod (355) is configured to engage the poppet stem (335) to open the poppet-to-valve body seal (340).