Patent ID: 7562716
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: A62C

Abstract:
1. A process for protecting premises, in particular a tunnel, against fire, by the injection of fine droplets of water into the air circulating near a fire so that they are drawn into the flames and vaporize whereby the fire dies out because of a shortage of oxygen, comprising: fixing a housing generated by revolution which is open at its two ends in position at the upper portion of the premises to be protected in such a manner that its median axis is substantially vertical, the housing comprising a substantially cylindrical lower portion and an upper portion narrowed substantially in the shape of a bell; channeling and accelerating the circulation of air generated by the fire in and around the housing using a disc which is centered on the median axis of die housing, is mounted substantially perpendicularly to that axis and is driven in rotation at high speed about that axis by a driving motor constituted by an action or reaction water turbine such as a water turbine of the Pelton type or a water turbine of the Francis type, the disc being equipped on its upper face with a series of blades that have a variable cross-section and that extend into the narrowed upper portion of the housing in such a manner as to create a partial vacuum and to enable air to be sucked in from the upper portion of the housing towards the lower portion thereof; and injecting fine droplets of water into the air thus set in accelerated circulation using a cylindrical chamber mounted securely on the rotary disc in such a manner as to recover at least some of the water used in the turbine, the chamber being equipped on its peripheral wall with calibrated orifices permitting the injection of the fine droplets of water into the air set in circulation.