Thermally activated metal hydride sensor/actuator

A system employing a confined metal hydride material initially stored in a nongaseous state which senses an ambient fire and uses the heat therefrom to emit hydrogen in a gaseous state and to actuate the discharge of a fire suppressant material comprising:

• a hollow thermal sensor used to sense the rise in temperature of ambient air, and said sensor being curved in configuration and closed on all sides except one and having a metal hydride material deposited in its hollow inner portion;
• said sensor's metal hydride material while in a nongaseous state being capable of storing hydrogen gas at a given temperature range and releasing said hydrogen gas a second higher temperature corresponding to an ambient fire;
• a housing with an inner cavity to receive a movable piston head, said housing and cavity being connected to said sensor at its opened side by a gas tight connection;
• a movable piston head with an attached actuator mounted in the cavity of the housing, said head being moved by the release of pressurized hydrogen gas from the metal hydride when at or above the second higher temperature, corresponding to an ambient fire;
• biasing means to normally bias the piston and its actuator to a first position;
• and
• a container connected to said housing by a gas tight connection, said container having its own source of pressurized fluid and means capable of being actuated by the actuator of the piston's head to release its pressurized fluid from the container when the hydride has reached its second higher temperature and, as a result, causes the piston with its actuator to move to a second position.