Fire extinguishers – Fluid systems – Gas-pressure discharge
Patent
1999-03-05
2000-12-19
Kashnikow, Andres
Fire extinguishers
Fluid systems
Gas-pressure discharge
169 43, 169 48, 169 56, A62C 3500
Patent
active
061616230
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for controlling fire and smoke in an area threatened by fire; and, more particularly, to an improved method and apparatus for excluding smoke from people suffering from fire so that an escapee can move to a safe place without the danger caused by smoke and an escapee can survive without danger caused by smoke inhalation until a rescue team saves him.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There are two known types of conventional methods for controlling smoke in an area threatened by fire. One type of method is the forced air charging method wherein air pressure in a control section is greater than that in a remainder section, thereby preventing smoke in the remainder section from permeating into the control section. The other is the charging and exhausting method wherein smoke within the control section is exhausted compulsorily from the control section and, at the same time, fresh air is supplied to the control section.
In the forced air charging method, since air pressure is maintained in the control section in order to prevent smoke generated outside the control section from permeating thereinto, it is difficult for the old and the weak or a child outside the control section to open an exit door due to the high air pressure generated therein. Further, in the forced air charging method, if an exceedingly large amount of air is supplied to the control section, there may be a further spread of fire or an inadvertent counter flow of smoke and heat toward a corridor.
The charging and exhausting method has two advantages. One is that smoke permeating into the control section is exhausted compulsorily from the control section. The other resides in that the method can reduce the possibility of the smoke permeation by keeping a pressure within the control section greater than the remainder, e.g., in such a manner that a flow rate of the supply air is kept higher than the flow rate of the exhaust smoke by 50% of the latter. Though greater pressure is maintained within the control section, however, in the tope level of the control section, the smoke permeation is not reduced due to an imbalance between the flow rate of the supply air and the exhaust smoke.
Further, the charging and exhausting method requires mechanical power to charge air and exhaust smoke, thereby rendering the whole control device complicated and requiring careful adjustment of the flow rates.
On the other hand, the methods also have a common fatal flaw that when an emergency exit door is opened, both methods cannot maintain a required minimum pressure within a control section, e.g., in an emergency stairway, the control section is charged with smoke easily due to a chimney draft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a smoke-control system capable of solving the problems of the prior art smoke-control apparatuses.
Further objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a method and apparatus for controlling smoke and fire in a region threatened by a fire, wherein a pump supplies water to a water supply tube connected to the doorcase from a water reservoir sustaining a constant level of pressure, the pump being actuated by a signal from a power controller actuated by a receiver, and the water supply tube is provided with a solenoid valve for controlling water flow into the doorcase depending upon a signal from the receiver, and the water supplied to the doorcase is sprayed through a plurality of nozzle holes formed within the doorcase to prevent smoke permeation through a gap between the doorcase and the exit door, and when an escapee opens the exit door, a pressure sensor allows pressurized air from an air reservoir to flow into a branch connecting portion to be mixed with the water from the water supply tube.
The present invention is further characterized by a compressor that is energized by a power controller actuated by a signal from a receiver to produce pressurized air which is supplied t
REFERENCES:
patent: 3050134 (1962-08-01), Multin
patent: 4079786 (1978-03-01), Moling
patent: 4121790 (1978-10-01), Graham
patent: 4345654 (1982-08-01), Carr
patent: 5353879 (1994-10-01), Watanabe
Bocanegra Jorge
Kashnikow Andres
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for controlling fire and smoke does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for controlling fire and smoke, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for controlling fire and smoke will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-263954