# US 2014/0151072 A1 · Suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0151072 A1
- Document ID: US20140151072A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/175,067
- Filed: 2014-02-07
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-17
- Assignees: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
- Applicants: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
- Inventors: Keith M. Stehman; John H. Ransom, JR.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151072A1

## CPC

- A62C 3/08: in aircraft {(A62C3/0207 takes precedence)}
- A62C 5/006: {Extinguishants produced by combustion}
- A62C 2/24: Operating or controlling mechanisms {(emergency operation of doors and windows E05F1/002, E05F15/72)}
- A62C 2/246: {having non-mechanical actuators}
- A62C 2/247: {electric}
- A62C 2/248: {pneumatic}
- A62C 3/00: Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places ({in oil wells E21B29/08, A62C35/00; in mines or tunnels E21F5/00} ; for nuclear reactors G21C9/04)
- 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

Various concepts are provided for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft. In one embodiment, the presence of a fire condition in an aircraft is detected. After such a detection, extinguishing agents can be dispensed and/or certain areas of the aircraft can be depressurized.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
detecting a presence of a fire condition in a compartment of an aircraft;
after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the compartment of the aircraft, depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft; and
after depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 further comprising releasing a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft once the aircraft has started a descent to land.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the second discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.

### Claim 6

A method for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
detecting a presence of a fire condition in a compartment of an aircraft;
after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft;
depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft; and
after depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the first discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the second discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.

### Claim 10

A method for suppressing a fire condition in an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
detecting a presence of a fire condition in a compartment of an aircraft;
after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the compartment of the aircraft, releasing a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft; and
after releasing the first discharge of the extinguishing agent (a) releasing a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft and (b) depressurizing the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the first discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the second discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.

### Claim 14

A compartment comprising one or more fire detectors adapted to detect fire conditions and one or more containers adapted to release an extinguishing agent, the compartment adapted to:
detect a presence of a fire condition in the compartment aboard an aircraft, wherein at least one area of the aircraft is depressurized after detecting the presence of the fire condition; and
after the at least one area of the aircraft is depressurized, release a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The compartment of claim 14, wherein the first discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The compartment of claim 15 further adapted to release a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment once the aircraft has started a descent to land.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The compartment of claim 16, wherein the second discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The compartment of claim 14, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.

### Claim 19

A compartment comprising one or more fire detectors adapted to detect fire conditions and one or more containers adapted to release an extinguishing agent, the compartment adapted to:
detect a presence of a fire condition in the compartment aboard an aircraft;
after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the compartment aboard the aircraft, release a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft; and
after at least one area of the aircraft is depressurized in response to detecting the presence of the fire condition, release a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The compartment of claim 19, wherein the first discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The compartment of claim 20, wherein the second discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The compartment of claim 19, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.

### Claim 23

A compartment comprising one or more fire detectors adapted to detect fire conditions and one or more containers adapted to release an extinguishing agent, the compartment adapted to:
detect a presence of a fire condition in the compartment aboard an aircraft;
after detecting the presence of the fire condition in the compartment aboard the aircraft, release a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft; and
after releasing the first discharge of the extinguishing agent, release a second discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment of the aircraft while at least one area of the aircraft is depressurized in response to detecting the presence of the fire condition.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The compartment of claim 23, wherein the first discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a rapid discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The compartment of claim 24, wherein the second discharge of the extinguishing agent comprises a controlled discharge of the extinguishing agent in the compartment.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The compartment of claim 23, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises a liquefied gas or a solid compound that generates an aerosol containing potassium compounds.