Background Art Electrical fires make up more than 30% of fires. Electrical fires are often caused by problems, e. g., short circuiting and overheating inside electricity distribution boards or electricity panels, in electric devices, such as household appliances. Also, electrical fires may break out due to short circuiting and overheating inside electricity distribution boards or various kinds of electricity panels installed in electric power control rooms of power plants, substations, factories, or buildings. In structure, however, fire extinguishers cannot be directly installed inside the electricity distribution boards or electricity panels, thereby failing to extinguish a fire occurring inside the electricity distribution boards or electricity panels.

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view illustrating a first conventional automatic fire extinguisher used for an electricity distribution board and an electricity panel.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a container 110 in which a fire extinguishing gas is stored is installed outside an electricity panel 113. A metal pipe 140 is connected to the container 110. A gas discharge nozzle124 is mounted on a free end of the metal pipe 140. The gas discharge nozzle 124 is inserted into the electricity panel 113, and a fire detector 150 is installed inside the electricity panel 113.

The fire detector 150 is electrically connected to an external controller 160. The

external controller 160 controls a selection valve 170, which is installed on the metal pipe 140, to be opened or closed in response to a signal transmitted from the fire detector 150. In the above structure, if a fire breaks out inside the electricity panel 113, the fire detector 150 detects the fire and transmits a signal to the controller 160. Then, the controller 160 opens the selection valve 170 in response to the transmitted signal. Once the selection valve 170 is opened, the fire extinguishing gas stored in the container 110 is sprayed into the electricity panel 113 through the metal pipe 140 and the gas discharge nozzle 124. The fire inside the electricity panel 113 can be immediately extinguished by the gas sprayed through the gas discharge nozzle 124 before the fire grows larger.

However, the first conventional automatic fire extinguisher in which the fire extinguishing system is installed outside of and the gas discharge nozzle is inserted into the electricity panel has a problem in that the electricity panel needs to be altered, namely, a hole must be made therein so that the gas discharge nozzle can be inserted into the electricity panel, in order to extinguish the fire inside the electricity panel. Thus, the electricity panel may be functionally disordered when it is altered. In addition, since various kinds of electrical parts and wires are intricately connected inside the electricity panel, interference may occur when the fire extinguishing gas is sprayed.

FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view illustrating a second conventional automatic fire extinguisher for an electricity distribution board and an electricity panel.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the automatic fire extinguisher is of a total flooding type in which a fire extinguishing system installed in a room where an electricity panel is located totally operates. Metal pipes 140a are connected to a container (not shown) in which a fire extinguishing gas is stored, and gas discharge nozzles 124a are installed on the metal pipes 140a above an electricity panel 113a. Thus, if a fire breaks out inside the electricity panel 113a, the fire extinguishing system located in the room totally operates to put out the fire inside the electricity panel 113a.

However, the second conventional automatic fire extinguisher in which the fire extinguishing system in the electricity panel room totally operates has a

problem in that since many electricity distribution boards and electricity panels are connected by electric wires, when a fire breaks out inside the electricity distribution boards or the electricity panels, it instantly grows large, but the second conventional automatic fire extinguisher is found to be poor at detecting fires at an early stage and operates at a time when the electricity distribution boards have already been destructed and the fire has spread to the insides of buildings. Even though the automatic fire extinguisher detects a fire at an early stage, it takes a certain amount of time for the sprayed fire extinguishing gas to reach the electricity panel. During that time, gas inside the room may leak out of the room, thereby deteriorating the effect of extinguishing the fire. Additionally, since the electricity panel is sealed, it is difficult for the fire extinguishing gas to reach the electricity panel, causing even more difficulties in immediately extinguishing the fire inside the electricity panel.

Disclosure of the Invention The present invention provides an automatic fire extinguisher for an electricity distribution board and an electricity panel, which can immediately put out a fire that has broken out inside the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel without altering the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel and without the need to additionally install an external fire extinguishing system, thereby preventing the fire from growing larger.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is an automatic fire extinguisher for an electricity distribution board and an electricity panel, which can extinguish a fire that has broken out inside the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel, the automatic fire extinguisher comprising: a container, which has an accommodating space, in which an injected gas is stored, and is installed in the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel ; at least one gas discharge nozzle assembly, which has a connecting path connected to the accommodating space of the container and a plurality of gas ejecting paths, each of which connects between the connecting path and the outside and forms a passage through which the gas stored in the accommodating space is ejected outwardly after passing through the connecting path, and is

coupled to the container; and a thermostatic fuse, which is installed in the connecting path such that the thermostatic fuse usually keeps the connecting path closed to prevent the gas stored in the accommodating space from flowing out through the gas ejecting paths but melts away to open the connecting path when heat over a predetermined temperature is transmitted from the gas discharge nozzle assembly.

A plurality of gas discharge nozzle assemblies may be coupled to a sidewall of the container.

The connecting path may include a first connecting path connected to the accommodating space and a second connecting path connected to the first connecting path, and the gas discharge nozzle assembly may include : a coupling member, which allows the first connecting path to be formed therein and is coupled to the sidewall of the container; and a cylindrical heat-sensitive gas ejector, which allows the second connecting path and the gas ejecting paths to be formed therein and is coupled to the coupling member.

One end of the heat-sensitive gas ejector may be detachably inserted into an annular accommodating groove formed in the coupling member, and a heat shielding member may be interposed between a sidewall of the accommodating groove and an outer sidewall of the heat-sensitive gas ejector to shield heat transmitted from the heat-sensitive gas ejector, so that if a fire breaks out, heat from the fire can smoothly spread from the heat-sensitive gas ejector to the thermostatic fuse and accordingly the thermostatic fuse can instantly melt away to open the connecting path.

An acoustic alarm unit may be installed on at least one of outlets of the gas ejecting paths and, when the gas stored in the accommodating space is sprayed, make a mechanical sound under the pressure of the sprayed gas, so that the presence of the fire inside the electricity panel can be notified.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view illustrating a first conventional automatic fire extinguisher used for an electricity distribution board and an electricity panel.

FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view illustrating a second conventional automatic fire extinguisher used for an electricity distribution board and an electricity panel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an automatic fire extinguisher for an electricity distribution board and an electricity panel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the automatic fire extinguisher shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the automatic fire extinguisher shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 7A through 7C are schematic perspective views illustrating the automatic fire extinguisher of FIG. 2 used for various electricity distribution boards and electricity panels.

Best mode for carrying out the Invention The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown.

The present invention can be installed in various places, such as in electricity distribution boards or electricity panels at power plants, substations, or the like, small airtight rooms including chemical laboratories, computer rooms and storage rooms where fires are not easy to detect, engine rooms, gear boxes, and machinery and equipment including heavy equipment that has the possibility of catching fire due to overheating. However, the present invention installed in an electricity panel will be explained below.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an automatic fire extinguisher for an electricity distribution board and an electricity panel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a top view of the automatic fire extinguisher shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the automatic fire extinguisher shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 6, the automatic fire extinguisher for the electricity distribution board and the electricity panel includes a container 10, a gas discharge nozzle assembly 20, and a thermostatic fuse 30. The container 10 has an accommodating space 12, in which gas is injected and stored, and is installed in the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel. The gas discharge nozzle assembly 20 has a connecting path 22 connected to the accommodating space 12 and a plurality of gas ejecting paths 24, each of which is connected between the connecting path 22 and the outside and allows the gas inside the accommodating space 12 to be ejected therethrough after passing through the connecting path 22. The gas discharge nozzle assembly 20 is coupled to the container 10. The thermostatic fuse 30 is installed in the connecting path 22 such that the thermostatic fuse 30 usually keeps the connecting path closed to prevent the gas stored in the accommodating space 12 from flowing out through the gas ejecting paths 24 but melts away to open the connecting path 22 when a fire breaks out inside the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel and thus heat over a predetermined temperature is transmitted from the gas discharge nozzle assembly 20.

The container 10 is mainly installed inside the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel but may be installed on top of or on a lateral side of the electricity panel in a state where the gas discharge nozzle assembly 20 is inserted into the electricity panel. A fire extinguishing gas is pressurized and stored in the accommodating space 12 of the container 10. A combination safety valve and gas inlet 11 is installed on the upper end portion of the container 10, and an indicating pressure gauge 13 is installed on the bottom end portion of the container 10. The fire extinguishing gas is injected into the container 10 through the combination safety valve and gas inlet 11. The indicating pressure gauge 13 disposed at the bottom end portion of the container 10 helps the injected fire extinguishing gas to be pressurized under a desirable pressure and indicates whether there is enough fire extinguishing gas stored in the container 10 to extinguish a fire. CO2, Halon, or a clean fire extinguishing agent can be used as the fire extinguishing gas according to the characteristics of the electricity panel.

A container support 15 is disposed on the container 10 and helps the container 10

to be installed in the electricity panel. An optimal size and number of the containers 10 installed in the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel are determined in consideration of the internal capacity of the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel.

A plurality of gas discharge nozzle assemblies 20 may be coupled to the sidewall of the container 10. Each gas discharge nozzle assembly 20 includes the connecting path 22 connected to the accommodating space 12 of the container 10, and the plurality of gas ejecting paths 24. Each gas ejecting path 24 is connected between the connecting path and the outside and forms a passage through which the gas stored in the accommodating space 12 is ejected outwardly after passing through the connecting path 22. The connecting path 22 includes a first connecting path 22a connected to the accommodating space 12 and a second connecting path 22b connected to the first connecting path 22a.

The gas discharge nozzle assembly 20 includes a coupling member 21, which allows the first connecting path 22a to be formed thereinside and is coupled to the sidewall of the container 10, and a cylindrical heat-sensitive gas ejector 23, which allows the second connecting path 22b and the plurality of gas ejecting paths 24 to be formed thereinside and is detachably coupled to the coupling member 21.

An annular accommodating groove (not shown) is formed in the coupling member 21, and one end of the heat-sensitive gas ejector 23 is detachably inserted into the annular accommodating groove. A heat shielding member 25 is interposed between the outer sidewall of the end of the heat-sensitive gas ejector 23 and a sidewall of the accommodating groove, more specifically, one of two sidewalls of the accommodating groove that is farther than the other from the center of the coupling member 21, in order to shield heat transmitted from the heat-sensitive gas ejector 23. The heat shielding member 25 is made of ceramic such that it suppresses heat from being transmitted to regions other than the thermostatic fuse 30 and thermal energy from being lost. Accordingly, as much heat as possible can be transmitted to the thermostatic fuse 30 and the thermostatic fuse 30 can melt as soon as possible to open the connecting path 22.

Threads formed on the end of the heat-sensitive gas ejector 23 correspondingly mate with threads formed on the coupling member 21 so that the heat-sensitive

gas ejector 23 can be assembled after the container 10 is installed in the electricity panel. Therefore, the heat-sensitive gas ejector 23 is easily separated from and coupled to the coupling member 21 that is welded to the container 10.

In the meantime, the thermostatic fuse 30 is generally structured so that a bronze frame is dressed with lead and the lead melts when being heated. Thus, the thermostatic fuse 30 is designed to melt at a temperature over the expected highest temperature of the electricity panel, for example, at a temperature of 70°C, 90°C, or 102°C, so as to open the connecting path 22.

An acoustic alarm unit 27 may be installed on one of the outlets of the gas ejecting paths 24 formed in at least one of the plurality of gas discharge nozzle assemblies 20 such that when the gas stored in the accommodating space 12 is sprayed, the acoustic alarm unit 27 makes a mechanical sound under the pressure of the sprayed gas. In this case, by the acoustic alarm unit 27 sounding after the thermostatic fuse 30 melts to open the connecting path 22 and then the fire extinguishing gas is sprayed, the existence of the fire is notified. The acoustic alarm unit 27 is well-known technology, and thus, a detailed explanation thereof will not be made.

The operation of the automatic fire extinguisher constructed as above will be described below.

FIGS. 7A through 7C are schematic perspective views illustrating the automatic fire extinguisher of FIG. 2 used for various electricity distribution boards and electricity panels.

Referring to FIGS. 7A through 7C, an automatic fire extinguisher 1 is installed in consideration of the internal arrangement of an electricity distribution board or the electricity panel 3a, 3b, or 3c. At this time, the automatic fire extinguisher 1 is mainly installed within the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel 3a, 3b, or 3c, but may be installed on the outer wall of the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel 3a, 3b, or 3c in a state where the ejecting nozzle assembly 20 is inserted into the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel.

If a fire breaks out inside the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel 3a, 3b, or 3c after the automatic fire extinguisher 1 for the electricity

distribution board and the electricity panel is installed in the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel 3a, 3b, or 3c, heat from the fire is transmitted to the gas discharge nozzle assembly 20 and further transmitted to the thermostatic fuse 30 that is installed in the connecting path 22 of the gas discharge nozzle assembly 20. As a result, the thermostatic fuse 30 melts to open the connecting path 22 and the pressurized fire extinguishing gas stored in the container 10 is ejected outwardly through the gas ejecting paths 24. Here, since the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel 3a, 3b, or 3c is sealed and, accordingly, the fire extinguishing gas is maintained in a concentration high enough to check fires within the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel 3a, 3b, or 3c, the fires can be effectively extinguished and the time taken for the fires to grow larger is delayed.

As previously described, the automatic fire extinguisher 1 for the electricity distribution board and the electricity panel includes the container 10, which has the accommodating space 12 in which the injected gas is stored and is installed in the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel 3a, 3b, or 3c, the gas discharge nozzle assembly 20, which has the connecting path 22 connected to the accommodating space 12 of the container 10 and the plurality of gas ejecting paths 24 each of which forms a passage through which the gas stored in the accommodating space 12 is ejected outwardly after passing the connecting path 22, and the thermostatic fuse 30, which is installed in the connecting path 22 to keep the connecting path 22 closed and melts to open the connecting path 22 when heat over a predetermined temperature is transmitted from the gas discharge nozzle assembly 20. Therefore, the automatic fire extinguisher 1 can immediately extinguish a fire occurring inside the electricity panel without altering the electricity panel and without additionally installing an external fire extinguishing system, thereby avoiding the growth of the fire into an uncontrollable fire.

Although the plurality of gas discharge nozzle assemblies 20 are coupled to the sidewall of the container 10 in the described preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. The plurality of gas discharge nozzle assemblies 20 may be coupled to the top or the bottom of the container 10.

Also, although the acoustic alarm unit 27 is installed on one of the gas

discharge nozzle assemblies 20, a plurality of acoustic alarm units 27 may be installed on all of the gas discharge nozzle assemblies 20 or may not be installed at all.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Industrial Applicabilitv As described above, the automatic fire extinguisher for the electricity distribution board and the electricity panel can immediately extinguish a fire occurring inside the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel and prevent the fire from growing much larger without altering the electricity distribution board or the electricity panel and without additionally installing an external fire extinguishing system.