Hazard detection and suppression apparatus

A hazard detection and suppression apparatus comprising:

• (a) a single-action discharge valve for discharging the contents of a vessel, said valve comprising:
• i. a valve body having a passage therethrough through which said contents are discharged, said passage having a perimeter thereabout and having a substantially constant cross-section area, and said passage having a center;
• ii. a frangible seal held within said valve body and sealing said passage while said seal is intact;
• iii. a solenoid for selective connection to a power source for selective actuation thereby, said solenoid including an armature substantially exterior of said passage and movable from a first position to a second position, with substantially all of said passage passing axially through said armature, said passage having a substantially constant cross-section area from said frangible seal through said substantially all of said passage passing axially through said armature;
• and
• iv. impacting means for impacting said seal remote from said center of said passage and proximate said perimeter of said passage and for breaking said seal into at least two pieces, said impacting means being moved by said armature to break said seal as said armature moves into said second position;
• (b) an electrical power source;
• (c) control means interposed between said valve and said electrical power source for selective connection of said electrical power source to said valve;
• and
• (d) a hazard detector for detecting a hazard, said hazard detector being operably connected to said control means;
• said control means being responsive to detection of said hazard by said hazard detector by connecting said electrical power source to said valve.