Patent Number: 048641464
Section: abstract

A method and improved apparatus for generating and transmitting the distinguishing radiation characteristics of a fire, an ignition and fire, or an ignition without a fire, to a fire sensing system under test are disclosed. Varying radiant energy attributes of a fire, and in particular a hydrocarbon fire such as might be encountered in a vehicle fuel or engine compartment are safely generated by a blackbody transmitter 100, an ultraviolet transmitter 200 and an ignition flash transmitter 300, having appropriate radiation sources. The radiation sources may be conveniently assembled into a palm-sized radiation "head" 101. The transmitters may be selected sequentially to test installed fire sensing systems in aircraft or vehicles or during manufacture where the environment does not permit the use of an actual fire. The blackbody transmitter 100 has a random-noise generator 20 and amplifier 30, which drive a blackbody source 40 containing a heater wire 110 sealed in a reflective cavity with a carbon dioxide gas and water vapor mixture. The resulting emitted radiation 42 has characteristics of a flickering, 1200 to 1700 degrees Kelvin blackbody superimposed with CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O emission lines. The ultraviolet transmitter 200 uses the noise generator 20 to also drive, through a power amplifier 50, an ultraviolet source 60 which emits an ultraviolet radiation "spike" 62. The ultraviolet radiant energy output is adjusted to an amplitude with respect to the blackbody source in accordance with a ratio of such energy measured for an actual fire. The ignition flash transmitter 200 has a high voltage source 70 which fires a gas-discharge tube source 80 to simulate an ignition flash 82.