Integral Fire Extinguisher Cradle With Mechanical Puncture Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aviation fire extinguisher vessels are cumbersome due to appendages like attachment lugs and discharge outlets, increasing weight and potential failure points, necessitating a simpler and more reliable mounting system.
Innovation Solution
A fire extinguisher assembly with a mounting cradle that supports a removable vessel, featuring a puncturing device for mechanical release of the extinguishing agent through a discharge head, eliminating the need for explosive squibs and allowing multiple uses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If appendages like attachment lugs and discharge outlets are added to fire extinguisher vessels, then the vessels can be mounted and discharged, but the weight increases and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mounting function and discharge function into the cradle structure rather than adding separate appendages to the vessel. The cradle integrates support prongs for mounting and a discharge outlet for agent release, eliminating the need for attachment lugs and separate discharge outlets on the vessel itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the mounting and discharge mechanisms from the vessel and places them in the cradle. This separation allows the vessel to be a simple, lightweight container while the cradle provides all necessary interface functions with the vehicle fire suppression system.
2Ease of operation
If appendages like attachment lugs and discharge outlets are added to fire extinguisher vessels, then the vessels can be mounted and discharged, but the number of potential failure points increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle integrates multiple functions (mounting support and discharge outlet) into a single structure, reducing the total number of separate components and potential failure points compared to having both attachment lugs and discharge outlets on the vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
By removing mounting lugs and discharge outlets from the vessel, the patent eliminates the failure points associated with these appendages. The vessel becomes a simple sealed container with fewer components that can fail.
3Productivity
If explosive squibs are used for mechanical release, then the extinguishing agent can be discharged, but hazardous materials are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces explosive squibs with a mechanical puncturing device. A knife or awl is driven through a weakened region of the vessel by mechanical means (such as a spring-loaded mechanism or manual activation), eliminating the need for explosive chemicals while achieving the same agent discharge function.
Solution Approach 2:
The vessel is designed as a disposable component with a weakened region that is intentionally designed to be punctured. After use, the entire vessel is discarded rather than refilled, eliminating the need for complex closing mechanisms and hazardous explosive materials while maintaining reliable agent discharge.
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 assembly reduces weight and failure points by integrating the discharge mechanism into the cradle, enabling reusable and refurbishable components, and ensuring reliable and efficient agent delivery without hazardous materials.
Implementation Method 1
a puncturing device disposed in the internal volume... a knife translates from a stowed position within a housing of the puncturing device to a deployed position in which a pointed tip of the knife extends through a weakened region of a fire extinguisher vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A fire extinguisher assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting cradle having a base comprising a base plate, the base plate partially defining an internal volume, a puncturing device disposed in the internal volume, and at least one discharge head fluidly connected to the internal volume. The fire extinguisher assembly further includes a vessel removably mounted to the mounting cradle and supported by the base plate. The vessel contains at least one fire suppression agent.