Fire Extinguisher Safety Assembly for Shock-Resistant Valve Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic fire extinguisher systems face challenges in preventing unintentional release of extinguishing agents due to shocks or improper handling, which can lead to accidental discharge and potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A safety assembly with a valve assembly and a safety mechanism that includes a blocking member and an engagement member to prevent the valve from opening unintentionally, ensuring the extinguishing agent is only released in response to a thermal event, featuring a poppet valve and a safety assembly with a blocking member that moves between safe and armed positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple valve assembly is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing unintentional release is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The safety assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a blocking member that physically prevents valve movement, an engagement member that interfaces with the valve assembly, and an extension member that transmits motion between them. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member is positioned in advance within the valve housing to preemptively prevent any unintentional valve movement during transportation and handling. The safety assembly is pre-configured in a blocked state, requiring a deliberate unblocking action before the valve can operate, thus preventing accidental discharge before it can occur.
2Ease of operation
If the safety assembly is always in the armed position, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of unintentional release during transportation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety assembly transitions dynamically between two states: blocked and unblocked. During transportation, the blocking member is in place to prevent harmful effects. Upon deliberate activation, the blocking member moves away to permit valve operation. This dynamic state change allows the system to adapt to different operational phases, providing protection when needed and ease of operation when authorized.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member applies a preliminary counter-action to any forces that might unintentionally activate the valve during transportation. By physically blocking the valve assembly's movement path, it counteracts shock, vibration, or other external forces before they can cause harmful discharge, while still allowing legitimate activation when the blocking member is deliberately removed.
3Reliability
If the blocking member fully extends into the valve assembly path, then the reliability of preventing release is improved, but the device complexity and potential for malfunction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking function is extracted as a separate, dedicated component (the blocking member) rather than being integrated into the valve assembly itself. This extraction allows the blocking member to be a simple, robust element focused solely on prevention, reducing the complexity of the valve assembly while maintaining reliable inhibition through the dedicated blocking component.
Data Source
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AI summary
A safety assembly (92) provided with an automatic fire extinguisher system (10) includes an engagement member (110), a blocking member (112), and an extension member (114). The engagement member (110) is slidably received within an outlet port (44) of a valve housing (22). The blocking member (112) has a first blocking member portion (140) and a second blocking member portion (142) and is at least partially received within a cavity (82) defined by the valve housing (22). The extension member (114) extends between the engagement member (110) and the blocking member (112).