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US 7,341,113 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for fire suppression
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsStephen Fallis, Joseph A. Manchor, Gary W Meyers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus and a method for fire suppression including the utilization of an explosive composition layered between a fire suppressant panel such as, for example, a powder panel and another fixed structure such as, for example, a fuel tank dry bay wall. Upon impact or other means of detonation the explosive composition effects the rupture of a large number of frangible cells in the panel, dispersing the fire suppressant substance, thereby extinguishing or preventing fire.
Claims20
A fire suppressant wall comprising:
- (a) a first wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- (b) a layer comprising an explosive composition, said explosive composition being insensitive to ordinary handling and environmental conditions but said explosive composition being detonated under extreme duress or impact, wherein said explosive composition comprises at least one of CL20, RDX, HMX, tetryl, and picric acid and their analogs, homologs, derivatives and isomers;
- (c) said explosive composition having properties including the ability to detonate instantly with detonation velocities in a range of 1500 to 9000 meters per second;
- (d) a second wall having an inner surface and a frangible outer surface spaced apart from the inner surface of said second wall, said second wall having a plurality of frangible cells placed between the inner surface of said second wall and the outer surface of said second wall, said cells having a fire suppressant substance contained therein:
- and
- (e) said layer comprising said explosive composition being fixedly positioned between the outer surface of said first wall and the inner surface of said second wall, wherein a detonation of said layer of explosive composition produces said detonation velocity in the range of 1500 to 9000 meters per second which completely shatters said plurality of frangible cells in said second wall, thereby completely dispersing said fire suppressant substance to prevent or extinguish a fire.
3 more elements
A fire suppressant wall comprising:
- (a) a first wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- (b) a layer comprising an explosive composition, said explosive composition being insensitive to ordinary handling and environmental conditions but said explosive composition being detonated under extreme duress or impact, wherein said explosive composition comprises CL20 and its analogs, homologs, derivatives and isomers;
- (c) said explosive composition having properties including the ability to detonate instantly with detonation velocities in a range of 1500 to 9000 meters per second;
- (d) a second wall functioning as a fire suppressant panel to prevent or extinguish a fire when said explosive composition detonates, said second wall having an inner surface and a frangible outer surface spaced apart from the inner surface of said second wall, said second wall having a plurality of frangible cells placed between the inner surface of said second wall and the outer surface of said second wall, said cells having a fire suppressant substance contained therein, said second wall functioning as a fire suppressant panel to prevent or extinguish a fire when said explosive composition detonates:
- and
- (e) said layer comprising said explosive composition being fixedly positioned between the outer surface of said first wall and the inner surface of said second wall, wherein a detonation of said layer of explosive composition produces said detonation velocity in the range of 1500 to 9000 meters per second which completely shatters said plurality of frangible cells in said second wall, thereby completely dispersing said fire suppressant substance to prevent or extinguish said fire.
3 more elements
A method for fire suppression comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a first wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- (b) providing a layer comprising an explosive composition, said explosive composition being insensitive to ordinary handling and environmental conditions but said explosive composition being detonated under extreme duress or impact, said explosive composition having properties including the ability to detonate instantly producing detonation velocities in a range of 1500 to 9000 meters per second;
- (c) providing a second wall having an inner surface and a frangible outer surface spaced apart from said the inner surface of second wall and having a plurality of frangible cells placed between the inner surface of said second wall and said the outer surface of said second wall, said cells having a fire suppressant substance contained therein;
- and,
- (d) positioning said layer of said explosive composition fixedly between said first wall and said second wall, wherein said detonation of said layer of explosive composition produces said detonation velocities in the range of 1500 to 9000 meters per second shattering said plurality of frangible cells in said second wall, thereby completely dispersing said fire suppressant substance to prevent or extinguish a fire.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.