Gas-Operated Valve for Rapid Electrical Fire Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire suppression systems face challenges in effectively targeting and extinguishing electrical fires without causing further spread, particularly due to delays in activation and the need for high pressure delivery of fire suppression materials.

Innovation Solution

A gas-operated valve system that uses a piston to control the release of non-flammable gas and fire suppression material, ensuring rapid and controlled delivery to the fire source, with integrated plug valves and seals to maintain pressure and prevent contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a traditional sprinkler system using water is used, then the system can be simple and easy to implement, but water may cause electrical fires to spread further and the activation delay increases response time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidfire spread and response time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the medium from water to a non-flammable gas (inert gas or CO2), fundamentally altering the physical and chemical properties of the fire suppression agent to eliminate the harmful effect of causing electrical fires to spread while maintaining system effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical sprinkler head system with a gas-operated valve system that uses pneumatic pressure differentials to control the release of fire suppression material, enabling more precise and rapid activation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a pneumatic system with heat sensitive tube is used to directly target the fire source, then the fire suppression material can be delivered directly to the affected area, but the response time is diminished by the system first having to detect pressure loss before delivering material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect targeting capabilityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system is pre-charged with pneumatic pressure in a reservoir, and the valve is configured to automatically release the fire suppression material as soon as the triggering event occurs, eliminating the need to wait for pressure loss detection and enabling immediate response

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a gas-operated valve as an intermediary component that mediates between the pressure source and the fire suppression material, controlling the timing and rate of material release based on the triggering event rather than waiting for pressure loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If high pressure is used to deliver fire suppression material rapidly, then sufficient volume can be delivered to the fire source, but the system complexity increases to maintain and control the pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery rateVSAvoidpressure control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pneumatic pressure differentials created by the expansion and compression of a gas (inert gas or CO2) to automatically control the opening and closing of the valve, eliminating the need for external pressure control systems while maintaining high delivery rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The gas reservoir serves its dual function of providing the fire suppression material and generating the pneumatic pressure to deliver it, with the system automatically regulating its own operation through the natural expansion and compression cycles of the gas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 system ensures rapid and controlled release of fire suppression materials directly to the fire source, minimizing delay and spread, and operates effectively at high pressures required for extinguishing fires.

Implementation Method 1

the piston being movable within the body between a first axial position in which the piston is configured to seal a valve opening when pneumatic pressure provided by a non-flammable gas is applied to the piston

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a stem seal between the stem and blind bore providing a fluid-tight seal between the stem and the blind bore thereby to prevent reduction of the pneumatic pressure by escape of the non-flammable gas between the stem and blind bore

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid-tight seal:

Implementation Method 3

a check valve positioned within the channel such that fluid can enter the check valve in a first longitudinal direction but not in a second longitudinal direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCheck valve one-way flow:

Implementation Method 4

the piston comprises a machined flange which defines volumes for non-flammable gas and pressurised fire suppression material respectively separated by the machined flange

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical separation:

Data Source

PatentUS12508455B2Gas-operated valve

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 REACTON FIRE SUPPRESSION LIMITED

AI summary

A gas-operated valve for use in a fire suppression system, a fire suppression system comprising the gas-operated valve of the invention, and a method for operating the fire suppression system.