(19)
(11) EP 0 878 212 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
27.10.1999 Bulletin 1999/43

(43) Date of publication A2:
18.11.1998 Bulletin 1998/47

(21) Application number: 98108720.8

(22) Date of filing: 13.05.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: A62C 35/68
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 16.05.1997 US 857546

(71) Applicant: ANSUL, INCORPORATED
Marinette, Wisconsin 54143 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Shipley, William
    Marinette, WI 54143 (US)
  • Biehl, Richard
    Marinette, WI 54143 (US)

(74) Representative: Vossius, Volker, Dr. et al
Dr. Volker Vossius, Patentanwaltskanzlei - Rechtsanwaltskanzlei, Holbeinstrasse 5
81679 München
81679 München (DE)

   


(54) Fire suppression system


(57) The present invention relates to a fire suppression system and method in which an extinguishing agent is automatically discharged from a limited source of supply of the wet chemical extinguishing agent for rapid extinguishment of the fire, followed by water application to the locus of the fire from an unlimited source of supply of water. The subsequent automatic application of water provides rapid cooling of the hot burning material below its reflash temperature. The present hybrid system exploits the best fire suppression properties of both agents against fires i.e. the wet chemical extinguishing agent provides rapid flame extinguishment and water provides rapid cooling following extinguishment. The present hybrid system is significantly more robust (fire test variables are less critical to its fire suppression performance) than current water or wet chemical agent systems.






Search report