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EP-4008410-B1 - AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM HAVING A SAFETY ASSEMBLY

EP4008410B1EP 4008410 B1EP4008410 B1EP 4008410B1EP-4008410-B1

Inventors

  • Frasure, David
  • BAXENDELL, DOUG JOHN
  • WILSON, CHRISTOPHER
  • SIMPSON, TERRY
  • Porterfield, John W. Jr.
  • LEITCH, KEVIN R.
  • DAVIS, MICHAEL LEE

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20170322

Claims (11)

  1. A safety assembly (92) provided with an automatic fire extinguisher system (10) comprising a valve assembly, the safety assembly (92) comprising: an engagement member (110) slidably disposed within an outlet port (44) of a valve housing (22); a blocking member (112) having a first blocking member portion (140) and a second blocking member portion (142) that is at least partially disposed within a cavity (82) defined by the valve housing (22); and an extension member (114) that extends between and connects the engagement member (110) and the blocking member (112), characterised in that the safety assembly comprises an indicator (120) that extends through the valve housing (22); the second blocking member portion (142) includes a protrusion (172) that is spaced apart from the end of the second blocking member portion (142), wherein the protrusion (172) is spaced apart from the indicator (120) while the blocking member (112) is in an extended position, and wherein the protrusion (172) engages the indicator (120) while the blocking member (112) is in a retracted position in which the first blocking member portion (140) is spaced apart from the path of travel of the valve assembly (90).
  2. The safety assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a biasing member (118) disposed within the cavity (82), the biasing member (118) engages an end of the second blocking member portion (142).
  3. The safety assembly of claim 2, wherein the biasing member (118) biases the blocking member (112) towards an extended position in which the first blocking member portion (140) is disposed within a path of travel of a valve assembly (90) disposed within the valve housing (22).
  4. An automatic fire extinguisher system (10), comprising: a valve housing (22) having an inlet port (42) in fluid communication with an outlet port (44), the valve housing (22) having a safety block (80) disposed opposite the outlet port (44); an extinguisher bottle (20) configured to receive an extinguishing agent, the extinguisher bottle (20) in fluid communication with the inlet port (42); a valve assembly (90) movable between a closed position in which the valve assembly (90) inhibits fluid communication between the inlet port (42) and the outlet port (44) and an open position in which the valve assembly (90) permits fluid communication between the inlet port (42) and the outlet port (44); a safety assembly (92) as recited claim 1 disposed within the valve housing (22), the safety assembly (92) movable between a safe position in which the safety assembly (92) inhibits movement of the valve assembly (90) from the closed position towards the open position and an armed position in which the safety assembly (92) permits movement of the valve assembly (90) from the closed position towards the open position, wherein the blocking member (112) is at least partially disposed within the safety block (80).
  5. The automatic fire extinguisher system of claim 4, wherein the extension member (114) extends about and is spaced apart from the valve assembly (90).
  6. The automatic fire extinguisher system of claim 4 or 5, wherein the valve housing (22) defines an opening (46) disposed opposite the outlet port (44).
  7. The automatic fire extinguisher system of claim 6, wherein the first blocking member portion (140) receives the extension member (114) and the second blocking member portion (142) extends through the opening (46) and into a cavity (82) defined by the safety block (80).
  8. The automatic fire extinguisher system of claim 7, wherein the safety assembly (92) further includes a biasing member (118) disposed within the cavity (82).
  9. The automatic fire extinguisher system of claim 8, wherein the biasing member (118) engages the second blocking member portion (142) and biases the safety assembly (92) towards the safe position.
  10. The automatic fire extinguisher system of any of claims 7 to 9, wherein while the safety assembly (92) is in the safe position the first blocking member portion (140) extends into a path of travel of the valve assembly (90).
  11. The automatic fire extinguisher system of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein while the safety assembly (92) is in the armed position, the first blocking member portion (140) is spaced apart from the path of travel of the valve assembly (90).

Description

BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates to an automatic fire extinguisher system having a safety assembly. Automatic fire extinguisher systems rapidly disperse extinguishing agents within a confined space following a thermal event. Automatic fire extinguisher systems include a pressurized extinguishing agent that is rapidly deployed within the confined space. US 2 972 466 A discloses a prior art safety assembly as set forth in the preamble of claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION According to an embodiment of the present invention, a safety assembly provided with an automatic fire extinguisher system is provided as recited in claim 1. Features of embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The subject matter which is regarded as the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the present disclosure are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic fire extinguisher system disposed within a confined space;FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a valve housing having a safety assembly of the automatic fire extinguisher system;FIG. 3 is a side view of a valve assembly in a closed position and the safety assembly in a safe position prior to installation of an exit hose;FIG. 4 is a side view of the valve assembly in the closed position and the safety assembly moving from the safe position towards the armed position during installation of the exit hose;FIG. 5 is a side view of the valve assembly in the closed position and the safety assembly in the armed position after installation of the exit hose; andFIG. 6 is a side view of the valve assembly moving from the closed position towards the open position and the safety assembly in the armed position after installation of the exit hose. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the Figures, where the present disclosure will be described with reference to specific embodiments, without limiting same, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the present disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Various elements of the disclosed embodiments may be combined or omitted to form further embodiments of the present disclosure. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure. Throughout this specification, the term "attach," "attachment," "connected", "coupled," "coupling," "mount," or "mounting" shall be interpreted to mean that a structural component or element is in some manner connected to or contacts another element, either directly or indirectly through at least one intervening structural element, or is integrally formed with the other structural element. Referring to Fig. 1, an automatic fire extinguisher system 10 is shown installed within a confined space 12. The confined space 12 may be a crew compartment, engine compartment, or the like, of a vehicle. The automatic fire extinguisher system 10 includes an extinguisher bottle 20 connected to a valve housing 22 that is fluidly connected to a discharge housing 24 by an exit hose 26. The extinguisher bottle 20 is fixedly disposed within the confined space 12 by a bracket assembly 30. The extinguisher bottle 20 receives a pressurized fire suppression material or a pressurized extinguishing agent. The extinguisher bottle 20 is connected to the valve housing 22. Responsive to a thermal event within the confined space 12, the valve housing 22 enables the extinguisher bottle 20 to release the pressurized extinguishing agent. The extinguishing agent is delivered through the exit hose 26 and is dispersed within the confined space 12 through the discharge housing 24. A valve disposed within the valve housing 22 reacts within 10 ms of activation and 90% of the contents of the extinguisher bottle 20 are emptied within 175 ms. The extinguishing agent may be discharged from the extinguisher bottle 20 whether opened electrically, manually, or due to shock encountered by the automatic fire extinguishing system 10 greater than a threshold. Transportation and handling of the extinguisher bottle 20 should be performed with care to avoid the unintentional release of the extinguishing agent due to shock. Referring to Fig. 2, the valve housing 22 includes a valve body 40 that defines an inlet port 42, an outlet port 44, and an opening 46. The inlet port 42 is configured to fluidly connect the extinguisher bottle 20 to the valve housing 22. The inlet port 42 extends along a first axis 50. The inlet por