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US 6,474,420 B1Granted
Device and method for controlling fire
OwnerKayyani C. Adigainventor
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OwnerKayyani C. Adigainventor
Estimating the term…
The present invention contributes a novel device and method of controlling fire growth by diverting the heat release site from the flame zone to an easily extinguishable catalytic surface. The invention introduces a screen or mesh having a catalytic coating into a flame and causes severe flame instability. The catalytic surface of the screen has a significantly lower activation energy than the flame zone. Therefore, upon insertion of the catalytic screen into the flame plume, the heat release site transitions from the flame zone to the catalytic screen, and the glowing surface of the screen replaces the violent fire plume above a burning object. Because the glowing surface is less violent and combustion occurs at a much lower temperature, the fire is prevented from propagating to nearby structures. Further, without the strong buoyancy forces of hot gases rising upward and flame being augmented by crosswinds, the glowing surface of the catalytic screen is readily extinguished.
A method of controlling fire comprising the steps of providing a catalytic screening member, providing a combustion catalyst on a surface of the catalytic screening member, and placing the catalytic screening member into a flame causing said flame to transition into a glowing surface.
A method of controlling fire comprising the steps of providing a catalytic screening member, providing a substrate supporting a catalyst on the catalytic screening member and placing the catalytic screening member into a flame causing said flame to transition into a glowing surface.
A device for controlling a fire having a flame plume and a base, comprising a catalytic screen member formed of a substrate having at least one surface thereof coated by a catalyst.
A device for controlling a fire having a flame plume and a base, comprising a catalytic screen member formed of a substrate having at least one surface thereof coated by a catalyst in which the catalyst is either platinum or palladium and their alloys.
A device for controlling a fire having a flame plume and a base, comprising multiple screen members with at least one screen member having a catalytic surface supporting a combustion catalyst.
A device for controlling a fire having a flame plume and a base, comprising a catalytic screen member having a surface thereof coated by a combustion catalyst in which the combustion catalyst is coated onto the surface using chemical vapor deposition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.