Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Automatic analytical monitor and control of industrial process
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-30
2001-10-02
Judlow, Jan (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Automatic analytical monitor and control of industrial process
C134S05600D, C134S105000, C134S113000, C134S198000, C137S068120, C137S068130, C137S076000, C137S078100, C169S056000, C169S057000, C169S060000, C169S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296808
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally related to building plumbing. Specifically, the present invention is related to water sprinkler heads or washing stations activated in response to chemical or biological attack for the purpose of decontaminating personnel passing under the sprinkler heads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The recent demise of the cold war and decline in super-power tensions has been accompanied by an increase in concern about the viability of weapons of mass destruction such as chemical and biological (CB) weapons. CB weapons include chemical agents such as phosgene, nerve agents such as Sarin, and biological agents such as anthrax or smallpox. CB weapons may be delivered to occupants within a building by releasing the agents either external to the building or within the building.
In response to such a release of harmful agents, people may be moved into a building, out of a building, or from one part of a building to another, depending on the location of the release and the relative safety of various areas of the building or buildings. In response to such an agent release, it may also be desirable to attempt to wash the harmful agent from people to benefit the contaminated personnel and to lessen the spread of the agent carried by the contaminated personnel. While such decontamination may be desirable, it may not be desirable to generate concern by having an explicit and distinct CB decontamination station placed in a building hallway.
The risk of CB weapons being used may escalate rapidly over a short time period.
Given long-range awareness and time for preparation, particular buildings such as key military sites, can be equipped or designed in advance to deal with this possibility. However, the awareness of the imminent likely use of CB weapons against a building may give only a short time period for preparation. Also, the risk against a particular building may increase in a short time period.
What would be desirable is a system for decontaminating people that is unobtrusive and does not call attention to itself as a decontamination station for CB warfare. What would be desirable is a system for CB decontamination that could be added relatively quickly to existing building utilities while attracting little attention and incurring little expense.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a system for decontaminating persons in a building using at least one sprinkler head or wash station connected to a source of water or other gaseous or liquid decontamination fluid. One system includes a sprinkler head connected to a water pipe having other temperature-activated sprinkler heads connected. Another system utilizes a sensor for detecting agents harmful to human life such as chemical or biological agents. Yet another system utilizes automatic activation of the sprinkler in response to harmful agent detection, while another, manual system, requires human activation in response to harmful agent detection.
A sprinkler head or shower head can be positioned above a hallway in a building and attached to the water pipe serving the temperature activated fire sprinklers. The decontaminating sprinkler head can have a valve disposed between the head and the pipe, with the valve being opened by a remote activation device in response to detection of an agent harmful to human life such as a chemical or biological agent. In one embodiment, a severing device capable of severing the temperature sensitive element in a conventional fire sprinkler is used. The severing device may include a heating element capable of heating a temperature sensitive element to its melting point, severing the element and opening the sprinkler head to flow. Alternatively, the severing device may include a small explosive charge capable of severing the heat sensitive element. Both severing devices can be positioned around an existing temperature sensitive element in an existing fire control sprinkler in a very short time, while allowing the sprinkler to still function for its intended purpose. In yet another severing device, the original fire sprinkler temperature sensitive element is replaced with an element that is both temperature sensitive and severable upon command from a signal generated in response to detection of a harmful agent. The replacement device may be installed by removing the existing element and replacing it with the new element while the fire system remains active.
Installation can be accomplished in some systems by turning off the existing fire sprinklers, draining any water if present, and cutting in a new sprinkler head. The fire sprinkler line can then be filled with water and reactivated. In other systems, a severing element can be positioned near an existing sprinkler head element. Wires can be run from the newly installed sprinkler head or from the severing device to a device for initiating decontaminating water flow. Wires can be run either centrally to a triggering device or to local receiver in communication with a central triggering device. In some systems, the decontamination system is separate from the fire sprinkler system.
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Honeywell International , Inc.
Judlow Jan
Shudy, Jr. John G.
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