Portable Aerosol Fire-Extinguisher with Striker Starting Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable aerosol fire-extinguishers face issues with battery endurance and premature discharge, leading to potential failure in fire extinguishment due to simultaneous and uncontrolled chemical reaction propagation, causing gas overpressure and safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A portable aerosol fire-extinguisher design where the chemical reaction of the extinguishing charge is triggered at the distal end, avoiding overpressure by using an explosive capsule and striker mechanism, with a simplified cylindrical charge and elongate delivery shaft for focused aerosol discharge, ensuring a long-lasting and controlled aerosol stream.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an electrical resistor supplied by batteries is used for triggering the transformation of the extinguishing charge, then the fire-extinguisher can be activated electrically, but the batteries become discharged after months leading to potential failure when required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical activationVSAvoidbattery endurance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical triggering system (batteries and electrical resistor) with a mechanical striking system. The user activates the device by striking a flint or striker against a percussion cap, which ignites the extinguishing charge directly. This mechanical substitution eliminates batteries entirely, ensuring the device remains reliable indefinitely without electrical power source degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the chemical reaction is triggered at the proximal end near the capsule, then the reaction propagates simultaneously from bottom and top causing rapid pressure increase, but this leads to gas overpressure blowing off the casing and charge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction speedVSAvoidgas overpressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional triggering approach by placing the ignition capsule at the distal end (opposite end) of the extinguishing charge rather than at the proximal end near the center. This inversion causes the chemical reaction to propagate in a single direction from distal to proximal, preventing simultaneous ignition at both ends and the resulting dangerous pressure buildup that would blow off the casing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the reaction propagation path by positioning the ignition source at one extreme end (distal end) of the cylindrical charge, creating a unidirectional reaction front. This segmentation of the ignition approach ensures the reaction proceeds sequentially through the charge rather than simultaneously from multiple points, controlling pressure development.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a central shaft is used for flare propagation, then the flare can reach the flame-diffuser diaphragm, but the reaction propagates along the wall of the central shaft causing uncontrolled combustion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflare propagationVSAvoiduncontrolled reaction propagation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the central shaft structure from the device design. Instead of having a central shaft for flare propagation that could cause uncontrolled reaction along its walls, the design uses a simple cylindrical charge without internal shafts or complex flare channels. The ignition occurs at the distal end surface of the charge, allowing controlled propagation through the charge material itself without intermediate structural elements that could create uncontrolled reaction paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution provides a reliable and safe fire-extinguisher with a controlled aerosol discharge that effectively extinguishes fires without gas overpressure, ensuring the metal casing and charge remain secure, and the aerosol stream is directed precisely and sustained.

Implementation Method 1

an explosive starting capsule (10) and a striker mechanism (13, 14) associated with the explosive capsule (10)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDetonation: Detonation

Implementation Method 2

a charge (5) of a solid substance which can be transformed, at a predetermined temperature, into an aerosol with flame-extinguishing properties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS8393405B2Portable aerosol fire-extinguisher with a striker starting device

Publication Date: 2013.03.12 E S P SRL

AI summary

A portable fire-extinguisher comprises a metal casing (3) with an internal chamber (4) for housing a charge (5) of a solid substance which can be transformed, at a predetermined temperature, into an aerosol with flame-extinguishing properties. A delivery opening (7) puts the chamber (4) into communication with the exterior. An explosive cartridge primer (10), associated with a striker mechanism (13), is provided for triggering the reaction of the extinguishing charge (5). The primer (10) and the striker mechanism (13) are located near a distal end (5a) of the charge (5) so as to trigger the chemical reaction of the charge (5) from that end.