US 5,038,866 A · Powder discharge apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for the discharge of powder by a fluidic propellant is suitable for use as a fire extinguisher, the apparatus including a container wherein powder and propellant is pressurized prior to use of the apparatus. Discharge of the powder and the propellant from the container is accomplished by means of a diaphragm in a wall of the container, there being a gas generator contained within a well of the container for providing an overpressure which, in combination with the pressure to which the propellant has been charged, fractures the diaphragm. Thereupon, the propellant and the powder exits the container in a homogeneous stream. The overpressure is less than approximately 30 percent, preferably 20 percent of the pressure to which the propellant and the powder are subjected during a charging of the container with the powder and the propellant. The charge pressure is in the range of 400-600 p.s.i. so as to be many times greater than the pressure of an environment external to the container. A battery operated circuit may be connected between a fire sensor and the gas generator for activation of the generator in a modular self-contained form of fire extinguisher.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A self-contained fire extinguisher comprising:

a container for storing fire-suppressant powder and a fluidic propellant under pressure, said container having a port for release of the fire suppressant powder;
means located at said port and outside of said container for opening said port to allow for escape of said powder and said propellant in a homogeneous discharge free of a clumping of the powder;
radiation sensors including a heat detector and a light detector mounted on said container;
battery operated electrical circuitry mounted on said container and responsive to signals of said radiation sensors for activating said opening means, said electrical circuitry including a filter having a pass band set to pass spectral components of pulsations in thermal radiation for enabling said electrical circuitry to respond to the presence of a fire;
and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a low-noise, low-current, differential amplifier coupled to said heat detector, and an operational amplifier connecting said differential amplifier to said filter, currents drawn by said differential amplifier and by said operational amplifier and by said detectors being sufficiently low to permit use of a battery by said electrical circuit for a period of time in excess of one year.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Powder discharge apparatus

Life of this patent

Powder discharge apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6