Automotive onboard fire suppression system reservoir having multifunction control valve
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorRobert H. Thompson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automotive vehicle includes a vehicle body and at least one reservoir containing a fire suppressant agent. A distribution system receives the fire suppression agent from the reservoir and conducts the agent to at least one location about the vehicle's body in response to the determination by a sensor system and controller that the vehicle has been subjected to a significant impact. The reservoir includes a multifunction valve element which controls pressure and vacuum within the reservoir during standby operation, while causing the fire suppressant agent to be directed through the distribution system if the propellant activates.
Claims13
An onboard fire suppression system, comprising:
- at least one reservoir containing a fire suppressant agent;
- a propellant, operatively associated with said reservoir, for expelling the fire suppressant agent from the reservoir under pressure;
- a distribution system for receiving fire suppressant agent expelled from said reservoir and for distributing the suppressant agent;
- and
- a multifunction control valve, operatively connected with said reservoir, for maintaining pressure within said reservoir within a predetermined range during standby operation, with said control valve closing in the event that said propellant is activated, wherein said multifunction control valve comprises a vacuum responsive element, a standby pressure relief element, and a high flow closure element.
An onboard fire suppression system, comprising:
- at least one reservoir containing a fire suppressant agent;
- a propellant, operatively associated with said reservoir, for expelling the fire suppressant agent from the reservoir under pressure;
- a distribution system for receiving fire suppressant agent expelled from said reservoir and for distributing the suppressant agent;
- and
- a multifunction control valve, operatively connected with said reservoir, for maintaining pressure within said reservoir within a predetermined range during standby operation of said fire suppression system, with said control valve comprising:
- a vacuum responsive element having an inward-opening poppet;
- and a dual-mode poppet having an outward-opening valve element for standby pressure relief, and an outward-closing valve element for shutting off flow through the multifunction control valve if the propellant is activated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.