Systems and methods for improving fire safety in agricultural machinery

A vehicle configured to at least partially process harvested plant material and at least partially control any sparks, embers, and/or flames associated with the plant material, the vehicle comprising:

• a chassis;
• a material processing unit supported by the chassis and configured to at least partially define a flow path for transporting the harvested plant material, wherein the material processing unit comprises a chamber supported by the chassis and having an interior space;
• a pump supported by the chassis and configured to supply liquid fire suppressant under pressure when the pump is operated;
• first and second nozzles each mounted to the material processing unit and connected to the pump for receiving the liquid fire suppressant under pressure from the pump and discharging the liquid fire suppressant into the flow path, wherein:
• the first and second nozzles are configured to discharge the liquid fire suppressant into the interior space of the chamber,
• the first nozzle is configured to discharge the fire suppressant in a spray pattern having a central axis extending outwardly from the first nozzle in a first direction,
• the second nozzle is configured to discharge the fire suppressant in a spray pattern having a central axis extending outwardly from the second nozzle in a second direction, and
• the first and second directions are different from one another;
• a passageway supported by the chassis and having a downstream end configured to be in fluid communication with the interior space of the chamber;
• a fan supported by the chassis and in fluid communication with the passageway, wherein at least the fan and the passageway are cooperatively configured to at least partially cause harvested plant material to be transported through the passageway and into the interior space of the chamber;
• an electric motor configured to drive the pump;
• a controller;
• and
• a detector mounted to the passageway and configured to provide, in response to detecting at least one predetermined fire-related condition in the passageway, at least one signal to the controller,
• wherein the controller is configured to initiate operation of the pump, comprising the controller being configured to analyze the signal and initiate operation of the electric motor in response to the condition in the passageway exceeding a threshold.