# US 2013/0240221 A1 · Automatic actuation of a general purpose hand extinguisher > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0240221 A1 - Document ID: US20130240221A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/421,568 - Filed: 2012-03-15 - Published: 2013-09-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-15 - Assignees: Kidde Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Marcus Chaney; Patrick Lofvenholm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130240221A1 ## CPC - A62C 35/13: with a finite supply of extinguishing material - A62C 13/62: with a single permanently pressurised container - A62C 13/64: the extinguishing material being released by means of a valve - A62C 35/023: {the extinguishing material being expelled by compressed gas, taken from storage tanks, or by generating a pressure gas (for foam generation A62C5/02)} - A62C 37/36: an actuating signal being generated by a sensor separate from an outlet device - A62C 3/07: in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles - A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10) ## Abstract An automatic fire extinguisher valve assembly includes a valve body, a push rod disposed in the valve body, a poppet stem arranged perpendicular to the push rod and disposed in the valve body, a poppet-to-valve body seal coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body and a poppet return spring coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body, wherein the push rod is configured to engage the poppet stem to open the poppet-to-valve body seal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic fire extinguisher (AFS) valve assembly, comprising: a valve body; a push rod disposed in the valve body; a poppet stem arranged perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the push rod and disposed in the valve body; a poppet-to-valve body seal coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body; and a poppet return spring coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body, wherein the push rod is configured to engage the poppet stem to open the poppet-to-valve body seal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the push rod includes an angled face. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the angled face includes a keyway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the poppet stem engages the keyway, and travels along the keyway upon actuation of the push rod. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the poppet stem includes deformable material that secures the poppet stem to the push rod upon actuation of the push rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an end stop disposed in the valve body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the push rod includes deformable material that secures the push rod to the end stop upon actuation of the push rod. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the push rod includes a groove configured to receive the poppet stem upon actuation of the push rod. ### Claim 9 An automatic fire extinguisher (AFE) system, comprising: a valve assembly; an actuator coupled to the valve assembly; a main outlet coupled to the valve assembly; a refill valve coupled to the valve assembly; and a cylinder coupled to the valve assembly, wherein the actuator is configured to place the valve assembly and the cylinder in fluid communication. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the valve assembly comprises: a valve body; a push rod disposed in the valve body; a poppet stem arranged perpendicular to the push rod and disposed in the valve body; a poppet-to-valve body seal coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body; and a poppet return spring coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body, wherein the push rod is configured to engage the poppet stem to open the poppet-to-valve body seal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the push rod includes an angled face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the angled face includes a keyway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the poppet stem engages the keyway, and travels along the keyway upon actuation of the push rod. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the poppet stem includes deformable material that secures the poppet stem to the push rod upon actuation of the push rod. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising an end stop disposed in the valve body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the push rod includes deformable material that secures the push rod to the end stop upon actuation of the push rod. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the push rod includes a groove configured to receive the poppet stem upon actuation of the push rod. ### Claim 18 A method for operating an automatic fire extinguisher (AFE), the method comprising: detecting at least one of a fire or explosion in a confined space; activating an automatic fire extinguisher that includes: a valve assembly including: a valve body; an end stop disposed in the valve body; a push rod having an angled face and keyway disposed in the angled face, and disposed in the valve body; a poppet stem arranged perpendicular to the push rod and disposed in the valve body; a poppet-to-valve body seal coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body; and a poppet return spring coupled to the poppet stem and disposed in the valve body, wherein the push rod is configured to engage the poppet stem to open the poppet-to-valve body seal; an actuator coupled to the valve assembly; a main outlet coupled to the valve assembly; a refill valve coupled to the valve assembly; and a cylinder coupled to the valve assembly, wherein the actuator is configured to place the valve assembly and the cylinder in fluid communication in response to the at least one of the fire and explosion event; and securing the push rod. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the poppet stem includes deformable material that secures the poppet stem to the push rod upon actuation of the push rod, and wherein the push rod includes deformable material that secures the push rod to the end stop upon actuation of the push rod. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the push rod includes a groove configured to receive the poppet stem upon actuation of the push rod, which secures the push rod to the poppet stem.