Abstract:
A system for discriminating between radiation produced by a source of fire or explosion to be detected and that produced by a source not to be detected, comprises two radiation detectors 10, 12 respectively responsive to the intensity of radiation in different and spaced apart narrow wavelength bands. A rate of rise unit 22 and a threshold unit 24 responsive to detector 12 produce signals of a first binary type when the rate of, and the value of, the radiation intensity exceed predetermined values. A ratio unit 16 measures the ratio of the intensities of the radiation received by the two detectors and produces a signal of the opposite binary type when the ratio indicates that the source of radiation is a fire or explosion to which the system is not to respond. An AND gate 36 produces a fire and explosion indicating output only when the signals of the first type exist in the absence of the signal of the opposite type.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to fire and explosion detection systems and more specifically to systems which are able to discriminate between fires and explosions which need to be detected and those which do not. 
     One particular, though by means exclusive, use of the invention is in situations where it is required to discriminate between the explosion of an ammunition round and a fire or explosion of combustible or explosive material which is set off by that round--so as to detect the fire or explosion set off by the round but not to detect the exploding round itself. In this way, the system can initiate action so as to suppress the fire or explosion set off by the round, but does not initiate such suppression action merely in response to the exploding round. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, there is provided a fire and explosion detection system for discriminating between radiation produced by a source of fire or explosion to be detected and radiation produced by a source of fire or explosion not to be detected, comprising two radiation detecting means respectively responsive to the intensity of radiation in different and space apart narrow wavelength bands to produce respective electrical outputs, means responsive to at least one said electrical output to produce a first signal when at least one of the two parameters consisting of the intensity of the radiation received by the corresponding detecting means and the rate of rise of the intensity of the radiation received by the corresponding detecting means exceeds a predetermined value, means responsive to the two electrical outputs to measure the ratio of the intensities of the radiation respectively received by the two detecting means whereby to produce a second signal when the ratio indicates that the source of radiation is a fire or explosion source to which the system is not to respond, and output means connected to receive the first and second signals and capable of producing a fire and explosion indicating output only when the first signal exists in the absence of the second signal. 
     According to the invention, there is also provided a fire and explosion detection system for discriminating between radiation produced by a source of fire or explosion not to be detected, comprising a first radiation detector responsive to radiation in a narrow wavelength band in the range 0.7 to 1.2 microns and operative to produce a first electrical output in response to such radiation, a second radiation detector responsive to radiation in a narrow wavelength band centred substantially at 4.4 microns and operative to produce a second electrical output in response thereto, a threshold unit responsive to one said electrical output and operative to produce a threshold signal in response to that electrical output indicating that the intensity of the radiation received by the corresponding detector exceeds a predetermined threshold, a rate of rise unit responsive to one said electrical output and operative to produce a rate of rise signal in response to that electrical output indicating that the rate of rise of the intensity of radiation received by the corresponding detector exceeds a predetermined value, a ratio unit connected to receive the two electrical outputs to measure the ratio of the intensities of the radiation respectively received by the two detectors whereby to produce an inhibit signal when the ratio of the intensity of the radiation sensed by the first detector to the intensity of radiation sensed by the second detector is above a predetermined value and indicates that the source of radiation is a fire or explosion source to which the system is not to respond, and a coincidence gate connected to receive the threshold signal, the rate of rise signal and the inhibit signal and operative to produce a fire and explosion indicating output only when the threshold signal and the rate of rise signal exist together in the absence of the inhibit signal. 
     According to the invention, there is further provided a method for discriminating between radiation produced by a source of fire or explosion to be detected and radiation produced by a source of fire or explosion not to be detected, comprising the steps of detecting the intensity of radiation in different and spaced apart narrow wavelength bands to produce respective electrical outputs, sensing at least one said electrical output to produce a first signal when at least one of the two parameters consisting of the intensity of the radiation detected in the corresponding wavelength band and the rate of rise of the intensity of the radiation detected in the corresponding wavelength band exceeds a predetermined value, sensing the two electrical outputs to measure the ratio of the intensity of the radiation respectively sensed in the two wavelength bands whereby to produce a second signal when the ratio indicates that the source of radiation is a fire or explosion source to which the system is not to respond, and processing the first and second signals to produce a fire and explosion indicating output only when the first signal exists in the absence of the second signal. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Fire and explosion detection systems embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of one of the systems; 
     FIG. 2A is a graph of relative spectral intensity against wavelength for a fire source to be detected by the systems, and FIG. 2B is a similar graph but for a source of fire and explosion which is not to be detected by the systems; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another of the systems; and 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a further one of the systems. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One particular application of the system is for use in armoured personnel carriers or battle tanks which may be attacked by high energy anti-tank (H.E.A.T.) ammunition rounds. In such an application, the system is arranged to respond to hydrocarbon fires (that is, fires involving the fuel carried by the vehicle) such as set off by an exploding H.E.A.T. round or set off by hot metal fragments produced from or by the round (or set off by other causes), but not to detect either the exploding H.E.A.T. round itself (even when it has passed through the vehicle&#39;s armour into the vehicle itself), or the secondary non-hydrocarbon fire which may be produced by a pyrophoric reaction of the H.E.A.T. round with the armour itself. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, one form of the system comprises two radiation detectors 10 and 12 each of which produces an electrical output in response to radiation received. Detector 10 is made to be sensitive to radiation in a narrow wavelength band in the range 0.7 to 1.2 microns, e.g. at approximately 1 micron. For example, the detector 10 may be a silicon diode detector arranged to view radiation through a filter transmitting radiation only within the required wavelength band. 
     The detector 12 is arranged to be sensitive to radiation in a narrow wavelength band centered at 4.4 microns. For example, the detector 12 may be a thermopile sensor arranged to receive radiation through a filter having the required wavelength transmitting band. 
     Detector 10 is connected to feed its electrical output to an amplifier 14 in a channel 15 and thence to one input of a ratio unit 16 by means of a line 17. 
     Detector 12 feeds its output through an amplifier 18 into a second channel 20. In the second channel 20, the output of amplifier 18 is fed to a rate of rise detector 22. The rate of rise detector 22 produces a &#34;1&#34; outputs when its input indicates that the intensity of the radiation sensed by detector 12 is rising at at least a predetermined rate; otherwise, it produces a &#34;0&#34; output. 
     The output of amplifier 18 is also fed to one input of a threshold comparator 24 whose other input receives a reference signal from a reference source 26 representing a predetermined level of radiation intensity. If the intensity of the radiation sensed by detector 12 exceeds this level, the comparator 24 produces a &#34;1&#34; output; otherwise, it produces a &#34;0&#34; output. 
     In addition, the output of amplifier 18 is fed to the first channel 15 by means of a line 28 which connects to the second input of the ratio unit 16. 
     In the first channel 15, the output of the ratio unit 16 is a &#34;1&#34; when the ratio of the intensity of the radiation sensed by detector 10 to the intensity of the radiation sensed by detector 12 is below a predetermined value (unity, say) and is &#34;0&#34; when the ratio is above this value. This output is fed through a delay unit 34 to one input of an AND gate 36. It is also fed to one input of a NAND gate 38 through a second delay unit 40 and fed directly to the second input of the NAND gate 38 on a line 42. The delay unit 40 may have a delay of, say, 10 milliseconds. The output of the NAND gate triggers a monostable circuit 44 whose output feeds an input of the AND gate 36. Until triggered, the circuit 44 produces a &#34;1&#34; output; when triggered, it produces a &#34;0&#34; output for its predetermined period of, in this example, 100 milliseconds. 
     In the second channel 20, the output of the threshold comparator 24 feeds a third input of the AND gate on a line 48 while the fourth or last input of the AND gate 36 is fed from the output of the rate or rise unit 22 on a line 50. 
     The operation of the system will now be described in the three situations (referred to as Case I, Case II and Case III) explained in detail below. 
     FIG. 2A shows the relative spectral intensity of the radiation produced by a hydrocarbon flame plotted against wavelength, and FIG. 2B shows the comparable plot for the flash emitted by an exploding H.E.A.T. round. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the narrow wavelength ranges to which the detectors 10 and 12 are sensitive are shown at A and B respectively. 
     Case I 
     This is the case where an H.E.A.T. round hits the fuel tank of the vehicle and causes an explosive fire. In such a case, the H.E.A.T. round explodes inside the fuel tank and the resultant explosion of the H.E.A.T. round itself is &#34;quenched&#34; and it does not emit significant radiation. However, the burning and exploding hydrocarbon fuel causes a significant amount of radiation to be emitted at 4.4 microns (corresponding to CO 2  emission) and a relatively smaller amount of radiation at 1 micron. The system is arranged so that under these conditions the ratio unit 16 (FIG. 1) receives a relatively higher input from the detector 12, on line 28, than from the detector 10 on line 17. It therefore produces a &#34;1&#34; output which, after the delay of 0.5 milliseconds imposed by the delay circuit 34, is passed to one input of the AND gate 36. Because the ratio unit 16 is producing a &#34;1&#34; output, the monostable circuit 44 is not activated and continues to feed a &#34;1&#34; output to its associated input of AND gate 36. 
     The output from the detector 12 will also be passed to the channel 20. It is assumed that the fierceness of the fire is such that the detector output rises at a greater rate than the threshold rate of the rate of rise unit 22, and therefore the latter will produce a &#34;1&#34; output which is fed to the AND gate 36. It is also assumed that the intensity of the radiation is such that the threshold set by the reference source 26 is exceeded, and the threshold comparator 24 will therefore also feed a &#34;1&#34; output to the AND gate 36. 
     Therefore, the AND gate 36 has all its inputs energised with &#34;1&#34; signals and consequently it produces a &#34;1&#34; output at a terminal 54--which can be used to produce a fire and explosion warning signal and to initiate fire and explosion suppression. 
     Case II 
     This is the case where the H.E.A.T. round explodes in air but causes no fire. Therefore, FIG. 2B, and not FIG. 2A, applies, and the detector 10 will thus receive a relatively higher amount of radiation than the detector 12. 
     The system is arranged such that the ratio unit receives a higher value signal on line 17 than on line 28. 
     Consequently, the unit 16 will be switched to produce a &#34;0&#34; output which will be fed to the AND gate 36 through the delay unit 34. Therefore, the AND gate 36 is disabled and cannot produce a &#34;1&#34; output even if detector 12 receives sufficient radiation at 4.4 microns to cause the rate of rise unit 22 and the threshold comparator 24 to produce a &#34;1&#34; output. 
     If the exploding H.E.A.T. round produces such radiation as to cause the ratio unit 16 to maintain its &#34;0&#34; output for longer than the delay period (10 milliseconds) of the delay unit 40, then the latter will activate the NAND gate 38 which will trigger the monostable unit 44 to produce a &#34;0&#34; output which will be held for the period (100 milliseconds) of the monostable unit. Therefore, for the whole of this 100 millisecond period, the AND gate 36 is held disabled and the AND gate is thus positively prevented from initiating fire or explosion suppression even if, during this period, the energy inputs to the detectors 10 and 12 change in such a manner as to cause all the other inputs of the AND gate to be switched to &#34;1&#34;. As the exploding H.E.A.T. round fragments cool, the relative intensities of radiation. emitted at 1 and 4.4 microns will change and could produce inputs to the ratio unit 16 such as to cause it to produce a &#34;1&#34; output, but false fire suppression, which might otherwise occur, is prevented during this 100 millisecond period by the output of the monostable circuit 44. The latter also prevents fire suppression being initiated by the ratio unit 16 producing a &#34;1&#34; output in response to momentary &#34;blinding&#34; of the detector 10 by the fragments. 
     Case III 
     This is the case where the H.E.A.T. round explodes in conditions in which its radiation is partially &#34;quenched&#34;, for example by the products of a hydrocarbon fire caused by the round itself. 
     In this case, the exploding H.E.A.T. round would emit radiation having the characteristics shown in FIG. 2B, and consequently the ratio unit 16 would be switched to produce a &#34;0&#34; output which would disable the AND gate 36 through the delay unit 34 in the manner explained. Fire suppression would therefore be initially prevented. However, in this case the partial quenching of the exploding H.E.A.T. round would cause its radiation to fall away rapidly--before the end of the delay period (10 milliseconds) of the delay unit 40. Therefore, if a hydrocarbon fire started subsequently, the AND gate 36 would receive all &#34;1&#34; inputs and would initiate fire suppression. 
     It will be noted that channel 15, the channel which inhibits the production of the fire or explosion indicating output at terminal 54 when the radiation detected is produced by an exploding H.E.A.T. round, operates by measuring the ratio of the detector outputs and is therefore independent of the actual level of intensity of either detector output (provided that the detector 12 output exceeds the threshold of comparator 30). The system thus contrasts with systems in which inhibiting action occurs when the intensity of radiation received by a detector exceeds a relatively high threshold and is thus assumed to originate from an exploding H.E.A.T. round. 
     The system is also advantageous in that the ratio unit 16, which controls inhibition of fire suppression, is, as explained, responsive to the ratio of intensities at 1 and 4.4 microns. The variation between the value of this ratio for an H.E.A.T. round and the value for a hydrocarbon fire is high (it can be between 200 and 1000 for example) and mugh higher than, for example, systems where the ratio is taken between intensities at two near infra-red wavelengths much closer to each other. 
     FIG. 3 shows an alternative form of circuit arrangement. 
     In FIG. 3, detectors 10 and 12 may be of the same form as described above with reference to FIG. 1, with detector 10 being made sensitive to radiation in a narrow wavelength band centered at approximately 1 micron and detector 12 sensitive to radiation in a narrow wavelength band centred at 4.4 microns. 
     The output from detector 10 is fed through an amplifier 100A to a rate of rise unit 102A which produces a &#34;1&#34; output to an AND gate 104 when the output from detector 10 is rising at at least a predetermined rate. The output of amplifier 100A is also fed to a threshold unit 106A which compares it with a reference signal on a line 108A and produces a &#34;1&#34; output when the input to the unit 106A is such as to indicate that the intensity of the radiation sensed by detector 10 has at least a predetermined, relatively low, value which is set by the reference. 
     Finally, the output of amplifier 100A is fed to one input of a ratio unit 110. 
     Detector 12 feeds corresponding components which are identified by reference numerals with the suffix &#34;B&#34; instead of the suffix &#34;A&#34;. 
     The ratio unit 110 produces a &#34;1&#34; output when the ratio of the intensity of the radiation sensed by detector 10 to the intensity of the radiation sensed by detector 12 is below a predetermined value (unity, say), and produces a &#34;0&#34; output when the ratio is above this value. The output is fed to one input of an AND gate 114 and thence to a delay unit 116 having a delay of, say, 0.5 milliseconds. The delay unit 116 feeds one input of an AND gate 118 whose other input is directly connected to the output of the AND gate 114. AND gate 118 feeds the second input of AND gate 104. 
     The output of the ratio unit 110 is also fed to a NAND gate 120. The other inputs of this NAND gate are fed with the output of inverters 122A and 122B which are energised by the outputs of amplifiers 106A and 106B respectively. The output of the NAND gates 120 feeds a delay circuit 124, having a delay of 10 milliseconds. This delay unit feeds one input of an AND gate 126 whose other input is fed directly with the output of the NAND gate 120. The output of AND gate 126 triggers a monostable 128 whose output feeds the fourth input of the AND gate 104. When triggered, the monostable changes its output from &#34;1&#34; to &#34;0&#34; for a period of 100 milliseconds. 
     The operation of the arrangement of FIG. 3 will now be described with particular reference to Case I, Case II and Case III (as defined above). 
     Case I 
     In this case, the H.E.A.T. round explodes inside the fuel tank of the vehicle and the explosion of the round itself is quenched and does not emit significant radiation. However, the burning fuel produces a significant amount of radiation at 4.4 microns. 
     Therefore, the waveform of FIG. 2A applies and the ratio unit 110 produces a &#34;1&#34; output. Assuming that, at the same time, the levels of radiation produced by the detectors 10 and 12 are above the predetermined (relatively low) thresholds of the threshold units 106A and 106B, AND gate 114 passes a &#34;1&#34; output to the delay unit 116 and the AND gate 118. After the delay of 0.5 milliseconds (to ensure that the signals are not being produced by a transient phenomenon), the AND gate 104 receives the &#34;1&#34; output. 
     Because the ratio unit 110 is producing a &#34;1&#34; output, AND gate 120 will not be enabled and the monostable 128 will therefore remain in its stable state, thus maintaining its &#34;1&#34; output to AND gate 104. 
     Assuming that the rate of rise of the intensity of the radiation sensed by the detectors is above the predetermined levels set in the rate of rise units 102A and 102B, AND gate 104 will also receive &#34;1&#34; inputs from them. 
     Therefore, the AND gate 104 has all its input energised with &#34;1&#34; signals and consequently it produces a &#34;1&#34; output at terminal 130--which can be used to produce a fire and explosion warning signal and to initiate fire and explosion suppression. 
     Case II 
     In this case, FIG. 2B, and not FIG. 2A, applies, and the detector 10 will receive a relatively higher amount of radiation than detector 12. 
     Consequently, the ratio unit 110 produces a &#34;0&#34; output which is fed to AND gate 104 through AND gate 114 after the delay imposed by delay unit 116. Therefore AND gate 104 is disabled and cannot produce a &#34;1&#34; output and fire and explosion suppression is prevented. 
     If the exploding H.E.A.T. round produces such radiation that the ratio unit 110 maintains its &#34;0&#34; output for longer than the 10 millisecond period of delay unit 124, monostable unit 128 is triggered and produces a &#34;0&#34; output which it holds for its period of 100 milliseconds. As for the circuit of FIG. 1, therefore, fire and explosion suppression is prevented during this 100 millisecond period (and for the same purposes as explained above), but can take place at the end of this period. 
     Case III 
     This is the case where the H.E.A.T. round explodes in conditions in which its radiation is only partially quenched. Initially, radiation is produced having the characteristic shown in FIG. 2B, and the ratio unit 110 produces a &#34;0&#34; output which disables the AND gate 104 to the delay unit 116 in the manner explained, and fire suppression is initially prevented. However, provided the radiation from the exploding H.E.A.T. round falls away rapidly, before the 10 millisecond delay period of delay unit 124, subsequent starting of a hydrocarbon fire (if the intensity level and rate of rise thresholds are met) cause AND gate 104 to receive &#34;1&#34; inputs and thus to initiate fire and explosion suppression. 
     FIG. 4 shows a simplified form of circuit which may be used instead of the circuit of FIG. 3 and in which items corresponding to items in FIG. 3 are similarly referenced. The basic difference between the circuits of FIGS. 3 and 4 is that the circuit of FIG. 4 omits the delay units 116 and 124 and the monostable unit 128. The operation is otherwise as described with reference to FIG. 3 with the ratio unit 110 producing a &#34;1&#34; output when the relative intensities of the radiation sensed by the detectors 10 and 12 are such as to indicate the presence of a hydrocarbon fire, and producing a &#34;0&#34; output when these relative intensities indicate an exploding H.E.A.T. round but no hydrocarbon fire. 
     Delay unit 116 can be omitted because of the inherent small delays in the circuitry. 
     As far as the delay unit 124 is concerned, this is provided mainly to cope with Case III and to prevent false fire suppression because of the cooling fragments of an exploding H.E.A.T. round being &#34;seen&#34; by the ratio unit 110 as a fire. However, it is found that the difference in the value of the ratio measured by the ratio unit 110 for an H.E.A.T. round and the value for a hydrocarbon fire is so large that by the time the relative intensities of radiation sensed by the detectors 10 and 12 from the cooling fragments reach such values as to cause the ratio unit output to switch from &#34;0&#34; to &#34;1&#34;, the actual levels of the intensities will have fallen below the thresholds of the threshold units 106A and 106B. False fire suppression will therefore not take place.