Fire Suppression System Remote Valve Control to Reduce Water Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fire suppression systems cause extensive water damage to buildings due to their inability to be remotely controlled and deactivated after extinguishing a fire, as they rely on manual intervention by firefighters who may take varying response times.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system for remotely controlling fire suppression systems, allowing for the activation and deactivation of water supply through a centralized computer system that verifies fire extinguishment using multiple sensors and enables user control via a computing device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fire suppression systems use mechanical components for activation (glass bulbs, heat-sensitive materials), then the system can automatically detect and respond to fire, but the system cannot be shut off individually and relies on manual intervention by firefighters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic fire detection and responseVSAvoidremote shutdown capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical shutdown mechanisms with electronic control systems. Each sprinkler head is equipped with an electronic actuator that can be controlled remotely via wireless communication, allowing the system to be shut off individually without manual intervention by firefighters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a remote control system as an intermediary between the fire suppression system and the user. This system includes a control panel, wireless communication module, and power management circuitry that enable remote activation and shutdown of sprinkler heads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If fire suppression systems continue to extinguish until water supply is manually turned off, then fires can be fully extinguished, but extensive water damage is inflicted on buildings and property during firefighter response time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire extinguishing effectivenessVSAvoidwater damage to building and property

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the water supply control dynamic by implementing real-time monitoring of fire conditions and automatically adjusting the water flow. The system monitors temperature sensors and fire detection signals to determine when the fire is extinguished, then automatically shuts off the water supply to prevent further damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors fire conditions through temperature sensors and detection devices, compares the current state with safety thresholds, and automatically adjusts the water supply accordingly. When the fire is detected as extinguished, the system receives feedback and automatically shuts off the water supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If firefighters respond to fire emergencies, then the fire suppression system can be deactivated, but response times vary greatly depending on distance and availability of firefighters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem deactivationVSAvoidfirefighter response time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the fire suppression system to service itself by implementing automatic shutdown functionality. The system monitors its own operation through integrated sensors and control circuits, and automatically deactivates when the fire is extinguished, eliminating the need for firefighter intervention for shutdown.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares the system for automatic shutdown by pre-installing electronic actuators, control panels, and communication modules during initial system setup. This preliminary configuration enables the system to autonomously respond to fire extinction conditions without waiting for firefighter arrival.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Minimizes damage from both fire and water by ensuring fire suppression systems can be deactivated once a fire is fully extinguished, using redundancies to verify fire status and providing reliable, independent determinations.

Implementation Method 1

Such glass bulbs are heat-sensitive, such as through the use of an internal liquid that expands in response to heat, and burst when a threshold temperature is reached

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS20250262469A1Automated emergency detection and response systems

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 TABOR MOUNTAIN LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for automated emergency detection and response. A kit, for example, can include a sensor that monitors water usage, temperature, and pressure in a building to generate sensor signals, and a mobile application that can be configured to present, in one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs), (i) notifications that correspond to expected conditions for the building and an emergency event that is detected in the building based on the sensor signals and (ii) user interface elements that, when selected by a user at a mobile device, causes a valve control device to perform an automated action to change a state of a valve. Sometimes, the kit can also include the valve and/or the valve control device.