Integrated Fire-Suppression Cable for Overheated Circuit Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical wiring systems lack a concurrent and integrated pathway for fire suppression, making it difficult to detect and extinguish fires caused by overheated circuits, which can spread rapidly and be challenging to access, especially in confined spaces or high-risk environments.
Innovation Solution
A cabling system that integrates electrical wires with a fluid conduit for fire suppressant, allowing concurrent routing and automatic suppression at the point of overheating, with components that activate fire suppression and alert users to hidden electrical fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electrical wiring systems are used without integrated fire suppression pathways, then the electrical system remains simple and easy to install, but the system lacks the capability to detect and suppress fires caused by overheated circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical wiring and fire suppressant delivery into a single integrated cabling system. The fluid conduit is positioned within or adjacent to the electrical cable assembly, allowing both electrical power delivery and fire suppression functionality to be provided through one installed system rather than separate parallel systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cabling system performs multiple functions: electrical power transmission through the wires and fire suppressant delivery through the fluid conduit. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate fire suppression infrastructure and enables automatic fire response at the point of overheating.
2Reliability
If separate fire suppression pathways are installed alongside electrical wiring, then fire suppression capability is improved, but the installation complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fire suppression pathway with the electrical wiring pathway into a single integrated assembly. The fluid conduit is positioned within or alongside the electrical cable, allowing both systems to be installed simultaneously through standard electrical installation procedures rather than requiring separate installation processes.
3Reliability
If fire suppressant is delivered to the point of overheating, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but the system complexity for routing and activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs temperature-sensitive components that automatically activate fire suppressant delivery when overheating is detected, without requiring external detection or control systems. The fluid conduit itself or associated components respond directly to thermal conditions, enabling self-activating fire suppression at the point of overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire suppressant is pre-positioned within the fluid conduit that runs alongside the electrical wiring throughout the building. This preliminary positioning ensures that suppressant is already at the point of potential fire ignition, enabling immediate suppression response without requiring complex delivery mechanisms.
4Ease of manufacture
If electrical wires and fluid conduits are routed separately, then each system can be optimized independently, but the overall system complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical wires and fluid conduits into a single integrated cabling assembly that can be manufactured as a unified product. This integration allows both systems to be installed simultaneously through standard electrical installation procedures, doubling the installation speed compared to separate routing while maintaining the ability to optimize each component's performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable system is provided which is configured with both electric wires and a fluid conduit running through the axial passage of a surrounding flexible sheath of the cable. The system allows for communication of electricity over the wires for electrical circuits and concurrent communication of a fire ignition suppressant fluid or gas through the fluid conduit, to all points in an electric circuit using the cable. One or both of a dye or scent can be included in the ignition suppressant fluid.