Apparatus and methods for sensing of fire and directed fire suppression

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for pro-active, intelligent fire suppression and/or control using a micro-controller that is communicatably connected to at least one fire-energy detection sensor and to at least one fire suppression device. The present invention provides apparatus and methods for sensing the exact direction of a fire as well as a regional location of a fire. The present invention provides apparatus and methods for directing a fire suppressant at the source of the flame. As depicted in FIG. 1a, the present invention provides fine protection apparatus (10) for identifying the existence of a fire hazard and for determining the exact direction and regional location of the file hazard by using multiple infrared (IR) detectors. A first IR detector (20) with a wide angle view of an area of coverage corresponding to an area requiring fire protection will be continuously queried by a micro-controller (100). During normal operation, the wide-angle IR detector (20) will be located in no specific position but will be generally pointed towards the area requiring fire protection. The present invention further provides a second IR detector (30) with a narrow-angle field of view that is mounted on a movable platform (45) comprising an elevation manipulator (50) and an azimuthal manipulator (60). The elevation manipulator (50) of the movable platform (45) is connected to a second stepper-motor (91). The second stepper-motor (91) controls the elevation manipulator (50). The outer edge of the circumference of the azimuthal manipulator (60) of the movable platform (45) forms a first cog wheel (61). The first cog wheel (61) contacts a second cog wheel (62) which is connected to and driven by a first stepper-motor (90).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.