Fire protection system and method of manufacturing this

Abstract

 A fire protection system (1) comprises a container (2) which is filled with a fire extinguishant and contains a detonator, and an activating energy guiding member (3) for guiding activating energy to the detonator. The system (1) is provided with a removable fire-retarding isolator (4) for isolating at least the activating energy guiding member (3) from the environment when the system (1) is out of use. The isolator may comprise a canister (4), in which the container (2) and the activating energy guiding member (3) fit.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to afire protection system comprising a container being filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, and an activating energy guiding member for guiding activating energy to the detonator.

[0002] Such a fire protection system is known from EP 0 483 901 B1. This prior art system comprises a container filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, which is connected to a fuse. When this system is placed in a fire the detonator detonates via the fuse and ruptures the container, thus releasing the extinguishant into the fire. This has been proven to be a very effective system for extinguishing a fire. A disadvantage of the prior art system is that it may explode when it is accidentally in contact with a fire when it is not in use, for example during storage or transport. This may cause dangerous situations.

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a safer fire protection system.

[0004] For this purpose the system is provided with a removable fire-retarding isolator for isolating at least the activating energy guiding member from the environment when the system is out of use.

[0005] Due to these features the risk of a premature explosion of the system is minimized when it is not in use, for example in the case of an open fire during storage or transport, or due to deliberately igniting the activating energy guiding member when the system is exposed in a shop. When the user wishes to use the system the isolator may be removed from the system after which the system can be placed on a desired location. The system may be in an active or inactive condition when the isolator is present. This means that when the isolator is removed from the system it can be placed directly on its target location in the case of the active condition. When the system is still in its inactive condition when the isolator is removed the user has to carry out an activating operation first. The system may comprise connecting means for connecting the activating energy guiding member to the detonator so as to activate the system, such as described in the European patent application having application number 07100864.3 of the same applicant as the current application. Therefore, the mentioned application is incorporated herein by reference thereto. A second co-pending European patent application of the same effective date as the current application is incorporated herein, as well.

[0006] In an advantageous embodiment the isolator covers the container and the activating energy guiding member. The advantage is that each system can be handled as an isolated unit, which improves the user's feeling of security of the unit.

[0007] The isolator may comprise a canister, in which the container and the activating energy guiding member fit. This provides the opportunity of simply manufacturing the system, particularly when the isolator material is relatively rigid. In that case it is easier to put the container and the activating energy guiding member into a canister than wrapping them with the rigid isolator material, for example.

[0008] The canister may include a removable closure for opening the canister such that the container and the activating energy guiding member can be removed from the canister. The closure can have numerous embodiments, such as a screwable cap or a wall portion which can be pulled away, or the like.

[0009] Preferably, the isolator is made of metal, because this material appears to have fire-retarding properties, whereas it offers good possibilities to distort it into a desired shape of the isolator, for example to form a canister which surrounds the container and the activating energy guiding member.

[0010] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a fire protection system comprising a container being filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, and an activating energy guiding member for guiding activating energy to the detonator, wherein the fire protection system is canned. This is a simple method to improve the safety of the system when it is out of use.

[0011] The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to the drawing showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a very schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a fire protection system 1 according to the invention.

[0013] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a fire protection system 1 according to the invention. The system comprises a container 2 which is filled with a fire extinguishant. The container 2 also contains a detonator (not shown), which is preferably placed in the middle of the container 2. When the detonator is ignited it will explode and the extinguishant will be pressed outwardly such that the walls of the container 2 will burst open and the extinguishant will be spread into the environment. The detonator is ignited by an activating energy guiding member for guiding activating energy to the detonator, which activating energy guiding member comprises fuses 3 in this embodiment. The fuses 3 extend from the detonator in outward direction of the system 1 and are mounted on the external side of the container 2.

[0014] According to the invention the fire protection system 1 is provided with a removable fire-retarding isolator. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the isolator comprises a canister 4 which covers both the container 2 and the fuses 3. For clarity reasons the canister 4 is illustrated as a transparent box. The container 2 and fuses 3 fit in the canister 4. The canister 4 isolates the fuses 3 from the environment when the system is out of use. The canister 4 reduces the risk of a premature explosion of the container 2 when the system 1 is in contact with a fire.

[0015] In the embodiment shown the canister 4 is illustrated as a rectangular box, but numerous alternative shapes are conceivable. It is even possible to apply a heat insulation material between the canister 4 and the container 2 and fuses 3 so as to delay heat conduction from outside to the container 2 and fuses 3. Furthermore, the canister 4 is made of metal, but other materials are conceivable, for example a plastic having a high melting temperature or other fire-retarding materials.

[0016] The canister 4 also includes a removable closure (not shown) for opening it. When the closure is removed the container 2 including the fuses 3 can be removed from the canister 4 and placed on a desired location.

[0017] From the foregoing, it will be clear that the invention provides a fire protection system, which is safe to handle when it is out of use.

[0018] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings and described hereinbefore, which may be varied in different manners within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents. For example, the activating energy guiding member may comprise electrical wires or the isolator may be a fire-retarding shield around the fuses which only shields the fuses, for example.

Claims

1. Fire protection system (1) comprising a container (2) being filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, and an activating energy guiding member (3) for guiding activating energy to the detonator, characterised in that the system (1) is provided with a removable fire-retarding isolator (4) for isolating at least the activating energy guiding member (3) from the environment when the system (1) is out of use.

2. Fire protection system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the isolator (4) covers the container (2) and the activating energy guiding member (3).

3. Fire protection system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the isolator comprises a canister (4), in which the container (2) and the activating energy guiding member (3) fit.

4. Fire protection system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the canister (4) includes a removable closure for opening the canister (4) such that the container (2) and the activating energy guiding member (3) can be removed from the canister (4).

5. Fire protection system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the isolator (4) is made of metal.

6. Method of manufacturing a fire protection system (1) comprising a container (2) being filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, and an activating energy guiding member (3) for guiding activating energy to the detonator, wherein the fire protection system (1) is canned.

Drawing