Patent Publication Number: US-2016243386-A1

Title: Fire suppression solution and apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/120,739 filed Feb. 25, 2015, the entire contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to fire suppression compositions and systems for the extinguishment of fires, and more particularly is concerned with an apparatus to produce carbon dioxide which in combination with water extinguishes fire. 
     Fire extinguishing systems, such as water sprinkling systems, are used widely in many different environments such as homes, offices or commercial buildings. Common features of these systems include the use of a storage container or source of a pressurized water connected to a discharged outlet in the area to be protected. A problem with these sprinkler systems or other traditional methods of firefighting such as hoses attached to a hydrant, is that because fires in buildings can require large amounts of water and hours to extinguish, the water goes to a lower level within the building before it vaporizes to steam that would put out the fire. The result is that a great deal of water damage occurs to the structure and extensive amount of time is needed to extinguish the fire. 
     Another problem with prior fire extinguishing systems is that they are complex and inflexible and do not provide a simple comprehensive solution to extinguish fires in an enclosed building. 
     Consequently a fire suppression composition and apparatus which addresses the problems of previous systems is needed which reduces the amount of water and time necessary to extinguish a fire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a fire extinguishing apparatus and composition which addresses the drawbacks of previous solutions. The fire suppression apparatus of the present invention is designed to create a large amount of carbon dioxide to smother the fire in combination with water. The apparatus provides two sources, which can be hoses each having a distinct chemical. One of the hoses incorporates a saturated solution of either sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate and the second hose would contain a dilute acid solution such as hydrochloric acid. When the contents of each hose are directed towards a fire and the streams thereof meet, carbon dioxide is released. 
     In another example the apparatus can incorporate two small tubes banded to a fire hose. Using a flow meter and a high pressure pump the chemicals from each tube can be discharged at the nozzle end of the fire hose to create the carbon dioxide. Alternatively sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate can be injected into the water stream of the fire hose and only one small hose would then need to be attached to the fire hose for dispensing the dilute acid solution to produce the carbon dioxide. Another embodiment can include the use of two fire engines, each having a fire hose wherein each of the fire engines can incorporate one of the chemicals which then would be mixed when the streams from the hoses meet. If a single fire engine is utilized, an auxiliary centrifugal pump can be incorporated into the system to provide the second chemical. 
     The advantage of the present invention is that the apparatus utilizes water to cool the flames while producing carbon dioxide to help smother the fire thereby reducing the amount of water and time necessary to extinguish the fire. These and other aspects of the invention can be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a fire suppression apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment fire suppression apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of another embodiment fire suppression apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of another alternative embodiment fire suppression apparatus; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of another alternative embodiment fire suppression apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a fire suppression apparatus  10  is illustrated. The fire suppression apparatus comprises a first hose  12  and a second hose  14 . Each of first hose  12  and second hose  14  deliver a water based solution of two separate chemicals. For example, first hose  12  can deliver a saturated solution of either sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, which is introduced to hose  12  through a first container  16 . In this example second hose  14  would deliver a dilute acid solution such as hydrochloric acid delivered from a second container  18 . As the saturated solution  20  of either sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate mixes with the dilute acid solution  22  carbon dioxide  24  is released. The combination of water and carbon dioxide cools and smothers the flames  26  thereby extinguishing the fire. A water source  28  delivers water to the first and second containers by a conduit  30 . 
     An alternative embodiment fire suppression apparatus  32  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, a single water hose  34  attached to a water source  36  includes two smaller hoses  38  and  40  banded to the hose for the delivery of the chemicals. Hose  38 , for example is attached to a container  44  for the delivery of the saturated solution of sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate and small hose  40  delivers the dilute acid solution from container  46 . Water through the water hose and the chemicals through small hoses  38  and  40  combine at nozzle  48  to produce the carbon dioxide  50 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another alternative embodiment fire suppression apparatus  52  which is similar to fire suppression apparatus  32  with the exception that only one small hose  54  is banded to the water hose  56 . Small hose  54  delivers one of the chemicals, such as, for example, the saturated solution of sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate and the dilute acid solution is injected directly into the water hose  56  by container  60 . The carbon dioxide  62  is formed at nozzle  64 . 
     The fire suppression apparatus of the present invention is equally applicable to mobile systems such as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4  fire engines  66  and  68  each include a water delivery system  70 ,  72  respectively. Each of the water delivery systems  70 ,  72  contain one of the saturated solution of sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate and the other includes the dilute acid solution such that when the solutions combine carbon dioxide  74  is created. Alternatively as illustrated in  FIG. 5  if only a single fire engine  76  is utilized, which could provide one of the chemical solutions, a second source such as a fire hydrant  78  can include a chemical source  80  to provide the other of the components such that when combined carbon dioxide  82  is created. As in any of these systems, additional components can be incorporated such as flow meters  84  ( FIG. 2 ) and various auxiliary pumps  86  to provide the necessary water pressure. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention have been described with respect to various embodiments thereof, however it is to be understood that variations can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as here and after claimed.