Projectile Fire Suppressant for Non-Line-of-Sight Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire suppression methods cause significant property damage, require direct line-of-sight application, and are not easily refillable, with dry chemical systems having limited range and single-use limitations.
Innovation Solution
A fire suppression device that propels a fire suppressant to the fire source using a combustion process, featuring an internal chamber with accelerants that combust to disperse the suppressant, allowing for pinpoint accuracy and refillability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If water is sprayed onto the fire, then the fire is extinguished, but significant property damage occurs to the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The fire suppression system is segmented into multiple projectile devices that can be deployed independently to different locations of the fire, allowing targeted suppression without overwhelming the entire structure with water
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dry chemical powder as an intermediary suppressant that can be dispersed through projectiles, providing fire suppression without the damaging effects of direct water application on structural components
2Reliability
If liquid fire suppressant is used, then fire can be extinguished, but the suppressant is heavy and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses disposable projectile devices that are lightweight and easy to transport, each containing the necessary suppressant quantity for targeted fire suppression, eliminating the need to transport heavy bulk liquid suppressant
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the suppressant from liquid to dry chemical powder, and delivers it through a propulsion system, transforming the delivery method from heavy liquid handling to lightweight projectile deployment
3Reliability
If liquid suppressant is sprayed, then fire can be extinguished, but direct line-of-sight to all burning material is required
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile-based system adds the dimension of aerial delivery, allowing suppressant to be dropped onto fires from above or approached from angles not possible with ground-based hose operations, eliminating line-of-sight constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The projectile acts as an intermediary delivery vehicle that can traverse obstacles and deliver suppressant to fires in locations inaccessible to direct hose placement, enabling operation without direct line-of-sight
4Reliability
If dry chemical suppressant is used from fire extinguisher, then fire can be extinguished, but the effective range is very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual compression mechanism of traditional fire extinguishers with a combustion-based propulsion system, using chemical energy to propel the suppressant much farther than human strength alone could achieve
5Reliability
If dry chemical suppressant is used from fire extinguisher, then fire can be extinguished, but the device is single-use and cannot be refilled on site
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed with recoverable projectile casings that can be retrieved after use and refilled with additional suppressant, transforming the single-use model into a reusable system that can be replenished on-site
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 property damage, enables line-of-site and non-line-of-site fire extinguishing, and provides a reusable solution for fire suppression.
Implementation Method 1
a base with a proximal end and a distal end including a first accelerant for explosively expanding when compressed and a primer configured to compress the first accelerant
Implementation Method 2
an interior section connected to the distal end of the base, the interior section comprising a fuse configured to ignite a second accelerant, wherein the fuse is ignited by the first accelerant; and an interior housing containing the second accelerant, wherein the second accelerant is ignited by the fuse
Implementation Method 3
the interior housing ruptures from an increase in pressure when the second accelerant expands
Implementation Method 4
The fire suppression device may be ruptured by a fuse when launched, by timer, or by heat from the fire
Data Source
AI summary
A fire suppression device may be launched from a hand-held, stand alone, or object- or vehicle-mounted device. The fire suppression device may be propelled by a first accelerant ejected out of a proximal end of the fire suppression device. The fire suppression device may be ruptured by a second accelerant after a predetermined amount of time. A fire suppressant may be dispersed on a fire when the fire suppression device is ruptured.