Wall-Mounted Spray Head With Rotatable Fire Targeting to Reduce Water Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire suppression systems, such as sprinkler systems, require high water flow and can cause significant water damage, making them costly and disruptive to retrofit in existing properties, while targeted water mist systems offer a more efficient alternative but lack effective fire detection and user engagement mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mounted spray head unit with a rotatable spray nozzle and integrated fire-locating sensors, including visible-light cameras and microphones, that can detect non-thermal signs of fire, along with a controller for real-time information display and adjustable deployment strategies to protect high-value objects and provide energy management features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional sprinkler systems are used for fire suppression, then fire suppression capability is achieved, but water damage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fire suppression function is segmented into multiple spray nozzles that can be independently controlled and directed. Each nozzle can be rotated and positioned to target specific areas, allowing precise water application only where fire is detected, thereby reducing overall water consumption and damage compared to conventional sprinkler systems that activate all outlets simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The spray head assembly is made dynamic through rotational capability about a vertical axis and adjustable nozzle orientation. This allows the system to dynamically track and follow the fire source, concentrating water flow precisely on the fire location rather than dispersing it across the entire protected area, thus minimizing water damage while maintaining effective suppression
2Object-affected harmful factors
If targeted water mist systems are used to reduce water flow, then water damage is reduced, but fire detection capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges fire detection functions (sensors, cameras, microphones) with fire suppression functions (spray nozzles, water delivery) into a single integrated spray head unit. This combination ensures that detection and suppression are closely coordinated, with the spray capability precisely positioned where fire is detected, eliminating the water damage problem while maintaining accurate fire detection through multiple sensor types
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through sensors and cameras that continuously monitor for fire conditions, with this information fed back to control the spray head rotation and activation. This closed-loop feedback ensures accurate fire detection triggers precise suppression response, maintaining detection accuracy while optimizing water usage through targeted application
3Measurement precision
If spray nozzles are made rotatable to track fire, then suppression precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable spray head assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both a detection platform (mounting sensors and cameras) and a suppression device (housing spray nozzles). This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by combining what could be separate components into a single universal unit, while maintaining the precision needed to track and suppress fire
Data Source
AI summary
A wall-mountable spray head unit for delivering a fire suppressant liquid is disclosed. The spray head unit includes a rotatable spray head assembly having a spray manifold rotatable about a first axis, and a spray nozzle supported by the spray manifold and orientated to deliver fire-suppressant material radially in a plane defined by the first axis and a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis. The spray head unit also includes one or more fire-locating, sensors including a visible-light camera, a microphone, or both.