Patent ID: 11878195
Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC A  B

Claim 0:
1. A fire extinguisher discharge nozzle, comprising:
sidewalls defining an aperture through which a medium(s) is dischargeable, the sidewalls being adjustable between multiple first and multiple second positions associated with dilated and constricted conditions of the aperture, respectively; and
a biasing element configured to bias the sidewalls toward assuming one of the multiple first or multiple second positions,
the sidewalls being drivable toward assuming the other one of the multiple first or multiple second positions in opposition to bias applied by the biasing element in accordance with a characteristic of the medium(s),
wherein:
the fire extinguisher discharge nozzle further comprises an actuating element configured to drive the sidewalls toward assuming the other one of the multiple first or multiple second positions in opposition to the bias applied by the biasing element, and
the actuating element comprises:
at least one of smart materials and shape memory alloys disposed in or external to the sidewalls; and
a controller comprising a sensor configured to sense the characteristic of the medium(s), a processor configured to control the at least one of the smart materials and the shape memory alloys based on readings of the sensor and circuitry by which the processor is coupled to the at least one of the smart materials and the shape memory alloys.