Fire protection system and method of manufacturing this

The present invention relates to a fire protection system comprising a container being filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, and at least a fuse for guiding activating energy to the detonator, which fuse is arranged at the external side of the container such that the fuse divides said external side in more than two portions as seen in at least one circumferential direction of the container.

Such a system is known in the art, wherein a plurality of fuses are mounted onto the outer wall of the container. Each of the fuses extends from the upper side of the container along a side wall to the bottom side thereof. At the bottom side the end portions of the fuses are joint and fixed to the bottom side of the container. In the prior art system the fuses divide the external side of the container in more than two portions as seen in circumferential direction at a location in longitudinal direction of the container. Such a configuration of fuses at the external side of the container increases the probability of contact of one of the fuses with a fire and shortens the delay time between the approach of a fire to the system and the moment of explosion thereof. However, the prior art system requires a rather complicated manufacturing method.

The present invention aims to provide a fire protection system which is simpler to assemble.

For this purpose the fuse is a single fuse wound around the external side of the container.

The advantage of this feature is that only a single fuse is necessary to achieve the effect of dividing the external side of the container in more than two portions, hence creating a high fuse density at the external side of the container with only a single fuse. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to separately mount different fuses against the external side of the container in order to achieve that

result. The fuse has the function of guiding activating energy to the detonator. In practice this may be a conventional fuse, which burns away such that a flamelet propagates along the path of the fuse towards the detonator, but an alternative guiding member is conceivable.

In a preferred embodiment the fuse is wound around the container such that the container is provided with more than one fuse windings, which at least partly follow different paths on the external side of the container, because this can be achieved by a further simplified manufacturing method. In practice several windings may be applied so as to cover a large portion of the external side of the container with the fuse. Preferably the distance between the windings is substantially evenly distributed in circumferential direction of the container.

The external side of the container may be provided with at least a recess for receiving at least a part of the fuse. This has the advantage that the fuse may submerge at least partly in the recess such that the risk of damaging the fuse is reduced in the case of collision of the container against another object. Besides, when the fuse lies in a recess it is retained on its path around the container, hence minimizing the risk of displacement of the fuse with respect to the container during use of the system. In one embodiment the fuse comprises a moisture- resistant cover which is arranged on the longitudinal outer wall thereof and has a first end portion and a second end portion, between which end portions the fuse is wound around the container, wherein the first end portion communicates with the detonator and projects from the container at a distance from a bottom side of the container, wherein the second end portion ends up at a distance from the bottom side. The advantage of this embodiment is that when the system with its bottom side is put on a wet floor or table or the like, the second end portion does not become wet, because of being located at a distance from the bottom side. It may be clear that the moisture-resistant cover is made of a material which

is removable by fire and/or has heat conducting properties so as to avoid obstruction of the functioning of the system. The material of the cover may be a plastic, for example, which easily burns away in the case of a fire such that the fire can quickly reach the fuse in order to ignite the detonator.

Preferably, the second end portion ends up near the location where the first end portion projects from the container, because it provides the opportunity to cover both the location where the first end portion projects from the container and the second end portion together, for example against wetting.

In an alternative embodiment of the fire protection system the fuse has two end portions, between which end portions the fuse is wound around the container, and at least one of these end portions is connectable to the detonator. The advantage of these features is that the system has an active condition, in which the fuse is connected to the detonator and an inactive condition, in which the fuse is disconnected. This improves the safety of the system when it is out of use, for example during transport or storage.

Such as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the fuse may comprise a moisture-resistant cover which is arranged on the longitudinal outer wall thereof, wherein the container has a bottom side, and the end portions of the fuse end up at a distance from the bottom side.

Preferably, at least one of the end portions is provided with a connector part which fits to a counter connector part of an internal fuse communicating with the detonator, because this simplifies the operation for activating the system by the user. When both end portions are provided with a connector part, one of those may be used for connecting it to something else, for example to another fuse so as to create a longer fuse which extends from the system to a remote igniter or to one or more other fire protection systems.

The counter connector part may end up near the end portions of the fuse. This provides the opportunity to cover

both the counter connector part and the first and second end portions together, for example against wetting.

The system may comprise connecting means for connecting the fuse to the detonator so as to activate the system, such as described in the European patent application having application number 07100864.3 of the same applicant as the current application. Therefore, the mentioned application is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

It is noted that EP 0 483 901 Bl discloses a fire protection system including a fuse which is mounted on the external side of the container. For manufacturing this prior art system the fuse must be put through holes in lugs which are located on the outer wall of the container. It may be clear to the skilled person that this is a time-consuming assembly operation.

The invention also relates to a fire protection system comprising a container being filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, and an activating energy guiding member for guiding activating energy to the detonator, wherein the system is provided with a removable fire-retarding isolator for isolating at least the activating energy guiding member from the environment when the system is out of use.

A fire protection system comprising a container being filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, and an activating energy guiding member for guiding activating energy to the detonator is known from EP 0 483 901 Bl. This prior art system comprises a container filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, which is connected to a fuse. When this system is placed in a fire the detonator detonates via the fuse and ruptures the container, thus releasing the extinguishant into the fire. This has been proven to be a very effective system for extinguishing a fire. A disadvantage of the prior art system is that it may explode when it is accidentally in contact with a fire when it is not in use, for example during storage or transport. This may cause dangerous situations.

Due to the removable fire-retarding isolator the risk of a premature explosion of the system is minimized when it is not in use, for example in the case of an open fire during storage or transport, or due to deliberately igniting the activating energy guiding member when the system is exposed in a shop. As a consequence, a safer fire protection system is provided. When the user wishes to use the system the isolator may be removed from the system after which the system can be placed on a desired location. The system may be in an active or inactive condition when the isolator is present.

This means that when the isolator is removed from the system it can be placed directly on its target location in the case of the active condition. When the system is still in its inactive condition when the isolator is removed the user has to carry out an activating operation first. The system may comprise connecting means for connecting the activating energy guiding member to the detonator so as to activate the system, such as described in the European patent application having application number 07100864.3 of the same applicant as the current application.

In an advantageous embodiment the isolator covers the container and the activating energy guiding member. The advantage is that each system can be handled as an isolated unit, which improves the user's feeling of security of the unit.

The isolator may comprise a canister, in which the container and the activating energy guiding member fit. This provides the opportunity of simply manufacturing the system, particularly when the isolator material is relatively rigid. In that case it is easier to put the container and the activating energy guiding member into a canister than wrapping them with the rigid isolator material, for example.

The canister may include a removable closure for opening the canister such that the container and the activating energy guiding member can be removed from the canister. The closure can have numerous embodiments, such as a

screwable cap or a wall portion which can be pulled away, or the like.

Preferably, the isolator is made of metal, because this material appears to have fire-retarding properties, whereas it offers good possibilities to distort it into a desired shape of the isolator, for example to form a canister which surrounds the container and the activating energy guiding member.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a fire protection system comprising a container being filled with a fire extinguishant and containing a detonator, and an activating energy guiding member for guiding activating energy to the detonator, wherein the fire protection system is canned. This is a simple method to improve the safety of the system when it is out of use.

The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a fire protection system according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, illustrating the embodiment including a container cover. Fig. 3 is a similar view as Fig. 1 of an alternative embodiment of the fire protection system.

Fig. 4 is a very schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a fire protection system according to the invention. Fig. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a fire protection system 1 according to the invention. The embodiment comprises a container 2 which is filled with a fire extinguishant 3. The container 2 also contains a detonator (not shown) , which is preferably placed in the middle of the container 2. When the detonator is ignited it will explode and the extinguishant 3 will be pressed outwardly such that the walls of the container 2 will burst open and the extinguishant 3 will be spread into

the environment. The detonator is ignited by a fuse 4 for guiding activating energy to the detonator, which fuse comprises a single fuse 4 in this embodiment. The fuse 4 has such a length that it is wound several times around the container 2. The fuse 4 is a so-called fast fuse comprising powder or gunpowder, but may be another type of guiding member for guiding activating energy to the detonator so as to ignite the detonator when the fuse 4 comes into contact with a fire. Fig. 1 shows that the fuse 4 forms three windings around the container 2. The windings of the fuse 4 follow different paths on the external side of the container 2. Due to this winding configuration the fuse 4 divides the external side of the container 2 in six portions as seen in circumferential direction of a side wall of the container 2. The fuse 4 is received in recesses 7 which are provided at the outer side of the container 2. In the embodiment shown the fuse 4 is guided once through six recesses 7. More windings per recess as well as more recesses 7 are also conceivable. An advantage of the recesses 7 is that the fuse 4 is retained in the desired place on the external side of the container 2, whereas the risk of damage to the fuse 4 is minimized.

The embodiment also comprises an internal fuse 5, which extends from the detonator in outward direction of the container 3. The internal fuse 5 projects from the container 2 at an upper side 11 thereof, which upper side 11 is opposite to a bottom side 12 of the container. The fuse 4 has two end portions 8, between which end portions 8 the fuse 4 is wound around the container 2. Both end portions 8 are provided with connector parts 9 which fit to a counter connector part 10 of the internal fuse 5. At least one of these end portions 8 is connectable to the detonator via connector parts 9 and the counter connector part 10. In this way the user can activate or de-activate the system. The fuse 4 comprises a moisture-resistant cover which covers the longitudinal outer wall thereof, and the end portions 8 of the fuse 4 end up at a distance from the bottom

side 12. This has the advantage that a core of the fuse 4 is not wetted when the container 2 is put with its bottom side 12 on a wet floor or the like. The counter connector part 10 on the internal fuse 5 ends up near the end portions 8 of the fuse 4 near the upper side 11 of the container 2. Due to this configuration the container 2 can be covered by a container cover 13, such as shown in Fig. 2. This prevents the end portions 8 of the fuse 4 and the internal fuse 5 from becoming wet when a liquid falls from above onto the container cover 13.

Figure 1, shows that the end portions 8 of the fuse 4 are fixed to the container 2 by a tape 14. Of course, other fixing means are conceivable. Alternatively, the end portions 8 are not fixed to the container 2. The moisture-resistant cover may be a coating which is made of a material which is removable by fire and/or has heat conducting characteristics, because it should not obstruct the functioning of the system 1 in the case that it is necessary to extinguish a fire. The coating material may, for example, melt or evaporate quickly when it is in contact with a fire.

In an alternative embodiment one of the end portions 8 of the fuse directly communicate with the detonator without a connector to activate or de-activate the system (not shown) . In that case the fuse 4 projects from the container 2 at the upper side 11 of the container 2. The other end portion of the fuse, which is a loose end in that case, may end up near the location where the fuse projects from the container 2. In that way the upper side of the system 1 can be covered by the container cover 13 such as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows still another alternative embodiment, which differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in that the manner of winding and the location of connector parts 9 is different. One of the connector parts 9 of the fuse 4 is connectable to the counter connector part 10 which is located within a tubular member 15 in this embodiment. The tubular member 15 projects into the container 2, and the detonator and the

internal fuse 5 are disposed within the tubular member 15. At the external side of the container 2 the tubular member 15 projects outwardly from the container 2 and forms a collar- shaped projection. Fig. 3 shows the situation that the connector part 9 and the counter connector part 10 are connected to each other. The portion of the fuse 4 projecting outwardly from the tubular member 15 is wound from A around the container to B, then wound around at least a portion of the collar-shaped projection to C, from where the fuse 4 is wound around the container 2 to D. Again the fuse 4 is wound around at least a portion of the collar-shaped projection and then the fuse is wound from E to F around the container 2.

The end portion 8 of the loose end of the fuse 4, which is remote from the counter connector part 10, is put through the windings of the fuse 4 around the collar-shaped projection. Subsequent pulling this end portion 8 away from the tubular member 15 results in a good fixation of the end portion 8 with respect to the container 2. This appears to be a surprising simple and effective way of winding the fuse 4 around the container 2 and fixing it thereto.

It will be clear that the invention provides a fire protection system, which can be manufactured relatively simple .

However, it is not necessary that the number of windings is a whole number. The fuse may also follow a nonlinear path on the external side of the container to obtain a desired distribution of the fuse around the container. In practice, the external side of the container may be covered at least partly by a label or the like further protecting and positioning the fuse and hiding it from sight.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a fire protection system 101 according to the invention. The system comprises a container 102 which is filled with a fire extinguishant . The container 102 also contains a detonator (not shown) , which is preferably placed in the middle of the container 102. When the detonator is ignited it will explode and the extinguishant will be pressed outwardly such that the

walls of the container 102 will burst open and the extinguishant will be spread into the environment. The detonator is ignited by an activating energy guiding member for guiding activating energy to the detonator, which activating energy guiding member comprises fuses 103 in this embodiment. The fuses 103 extend from the detonator in outward direction of the system 101 and are mounted on the external side of the container 102. Since the fuses are provided at the external side of the container 102 in this embodiment it is of relevance to envelope the whole container by an isolator and not only the fuses.

According to the invention the fire protection system 101 is provided with a removable fire-retarding isolator. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the isolator comprises a canister 104 which covers both the container 102 and the fuses 103. For clarity reasons the canister 104 is illustrated as a transparent box. The container 102 and fuses

103 fit in the canister 104. The canister 104 isolates the fuses 103 from the environment when the system is out of use. Thus, the canister 104 is basically a fire protection box and reduces the risk of a premature explosion of the container 102 when the system 101 is in contact with a fire.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the canister 104 is illustrated as a rectangular box, but numerous alternative shapes are conceivable. It is even possible to apply a heat insulation material between the canister 104 and the container 102 and fuses 103 so as to delay heat conduction from outside to the container 102 and fuses 103. Furthermore, the canister

104 is made of metal, but other materials are conceivable, for example a plastic having a high melting temperature or other fire-retarding materials.

The canister 104 also includes a removable closure (not shown) for opening it. When the closure is removed the container 102 including the fuses 103 can be removed from the canister 104 and placed on a desired location.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that the invention provides a fire protection system, which is safe to handle when it is out of use.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings and described hereinbefore, which may be varied in different manners within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents. For example, the activating energy guiding member may comprise electrical wires or the isolator may be a fire-retarding shield around the fuses which only shields the fuses, for example.