Remote control of fire suppression systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire suppression systems in buildings often cause extensive water damage due to their inability to be remotely controlled after a fire has been extinguished, leading to prolonged water usage and potential re-emergence of fires if shut off prematurely.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that allows for remote monitoring and control of fire suppression systems, utilizing sensors to verify fire extinguishment before enabling users to shut off the water supply through a computing device, ensuring accurate determination and minimizing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fire suppression systems are activated to extinguish fires, then fire damage is reduced, but water damage increases due to prolonged water flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical fire suppression control with an automated electronic control system. The system uses sensors to detect fire conditions and automatically activates sprinkler heads, then monitors temperature to detect when the fire is extinguished and automatically shuts off the water supply, eliminating the need for manual intervention and preventing prolonged water flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensors continuously monitor temperature conditions in the building. When temperature exceeds a threshold, the system activates the fire suppression system. After activation, the sensors continue monitoring to detect when temperature returns to normal, triggering automatic shut-off of the water supply, thus creating a closed-loop control system that prevents water damage.
2Device complexity
If manual shutdown of water supply is required after fire extinguishment, then system simplicity is maintained, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the fire suppression system to shut itself off automatically. The control system monitors sensor data and autonomously determines when the fire is extinguished, then automatically closes the water valve without requiring human intervention. This self-service capability eliminates delays associated with manual shutdown while adding only moderate system complexity.
3Reliability
If fire suppression systems continuously douse until water supply is turned off, then fire extinguishment is ensured, but water damage to building and property increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of temperature conditions after fire suppression activation. The system continuously checks sensor data at regular intervals to determine whether the fire has been extinguished. This periodic action ensures reliable fire extinguishment while enabling timely shut-off of the water supply, preventing unnecessary water loss to the building and property.
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
This solution minimizes both fire and water damage by allowing controlled shutdown of fire suppression systems post-extinguishment, reducing the risk of re-emergent fires and improving the reliability and safety of fire suppression operations.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting a control signal that causes an electromechanical device to close a water valve within the building
Implementation Method 2
The electromechanical device can include a solenoid valve that is located along the water supply for the building
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a computer system, information that indicates that a fire has been detected in a building and that a fire suppression system within the building has begun dousing the fire; monitoring sensor information from one or more sensors located within the building; determining, by the computer system and based on the sensor information, whether the fire has been extinguished; activating, in response to determining that the fire has been extinguished, a feature to turn off a water supply to the building, the feature being presented on a computing device for a user who is associated with the building; receiving, after activating the feature and from the computing device, a command to turn off the water supply; and transmitting, by the computer system, a control signal that causes an electromechanical device to close a water valve within the building.