Patent Publication Number: US-2021162246-A1

Title: Combine Harvester Fire Suppression System

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/942,799 filed on Dec. 3, 2019. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a combine harvester fire suppression system. More specifically, the present invention provides a safe, manually-actuatable system for putting out fires that develop on combine harvesters. 
     Many farmers use combination harvesters, or combines, to collect crops. During the operation of these combination harvesters, they may catch fire. These fires result from the dust and particulate matter that can accumulate when the combine is used for a prolonged period of time. These fires are incredibly damaging and can be extremely costly to repair. Additionally, the fires can cause serious injuries and, in some cases, deaths. Additionally, the crop damage that results from such a fire can be substantial. 
     Due to the nature of combine fires, fighting them with a handheld extinguisher may not be possible because the individual attempting to fight the fire with a handheld extinguisher would need to get dangerously close to the fire. Additionally, some harvesters have covers over the engine compartment. In the case oaf a fire in the engine compartment, the compartment would need to be opened in order to expose the fire to the extinguisher. A sudden rush of oxygen that could result from opening the compartment in such a situation could cause the fire to flare up causing serious injuries to the individual and bystanders. Therefore, a fire suppression system that can be manually operated from a safe distance and that can extinguish a fire on a combination harvester is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of combine harvester fire-fighting methods and systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a combine harvester fire suppression system wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when suppressing a combine fire manually from the operator station of a combine harvester. 
     The present system comprises a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly comprises a plurality of nozzles disposed upon a nozzle tubing. The nozzle assembly is in operable connection with a supply pipe. A primary fire extinguisher is disposed on the supply pipe. Furthermore, a secondary fire extinguisher is disposed on the supply pipe. Additionally, a power supply is in operable connection with the supply pipe. A manual control valve is in operable connection with the power supply. The manual control valve configured to release the primary fire extinguisher and the secondary fire extinguisher when engaged by the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the combine harvester fire suppression system. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the combine harvester fire suppression system. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the combine harvester fire suppression system in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the combine harvester fire suppression system. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the combine harvester fire suppression system. The combine harvester fire suppression system  10  comprises a nozzle assembly  11 . The nozzle assembly  11  comprises a plurality of nozzles  12 . The plurality of nozzles  12  are disposed upon a nozzle tubing  13 . The nozzle tubing  13  is of any suitable configuration for transporting fire retardant compounds from the entrance of the nozzle assembly  11  to the plurality of nozzles  12 . For example, in some embodiments, the nozzle tubing is composed of copper tubing. As such, the nozzle tubing  13  will be lightweight, formable and durable. The nozzle assembly  11  is in operable connection with a supply pipe  14 . 
     A primary fire extinguisher  15  is in operable connection with the supply pipe  14 . The primary fire extinguisher  15  is configured to release a fire retardant compound when a release mechanism is engaged. In some embodiments, the primary fire extinguisher  15  comprises a dry chemical fire retardant. Furthermore, a secondary fire extinguisher  16  is in operable connection with the supply pipe  14 . The secondary fire extinguisher  16  is further configured to release a fire retardant compound when a release mechanism is engaged. In some embodiments, the secondary fire extinguisher  16  comprises a dry chemical fire retardant, A power supply  17  is in operable connection with the supply pipe  14 . The power supply  17  is configured to supply power to the release mechanisms of the primary fire extinguisher  15  and the secondary fire extinguisher  16 . As such, the power supply  17  allows for the flow of fire retardant compound from the primary fire extinguisher  15  and the secondary fire extinguisher  16  into the supply pipe  14 . 
     A manual control valve  18 ,  19  is in operable connection with the power supply  16 . The manual control valve  18 ,  19  is configured to release the primary fire extinguisher  15  and the secondary fire extinguisher  16  when the manual control valve  18 ,  19  is engaged by the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the manual control valve  18 ,  19  comprises a pull cable  18 . The pull cable  18  comprises a handle  19  disposed on a distal end thereof. The pull cable  18  is of any suitable configuration for engaging the primary fire extinguisher  15  and the secondary fire extinguisher  16 . In some embodiments, the pull cable  18  is a steel-braided cable. As such, the strength of the pull cable  18  is enhanced, such as to prevent breaking of the pull cable  18 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the combine harvester fire suppression system. In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle assembly  12 ,  13  is disposed around a fan assembly  20 . As such, when the combine fire suppression system  10  is engaged, the fan assembly  20  will assist in the dissemination of fire retardant compound from the primary fire extinguisher and the secondary fire extinguisher. The fan assembly  20  comprises a rotor  21  with a plurality of fan blades  22  radially extending outward therefrom. When power is applied to the rotor  21 , the rotor  21  will rotate spinning the plurality of fan blades  22  and creating an air current. In the demonstrated embodiment, the rotor  21  and the plurality of fan blades  22  are housed within a fan shroud  23 . The fan shroud  23  is configured to prevent dust, debris or combine harvester components from entering the path of the plurality of fan blades  22 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the combine harvester fire suppression system in use. In the illustrated embodiment, the combine harvester fire suppression system is installed upon a combine harvester  30 . The components of the combine harvester fire suppression system may be placed in any ideal position depending on the specific make and model of the combine harvester  30 . For the purpose of demonstrating the specific implementation of the combine harvester fire suppression system, a generic combine harvester is utilized. 
     When installed upon the combine harvester  30 , the combine harvester fire suppression system may be oriented such as to direct fire retardant compounds to desired locations of the combine harvester  30 . For example, the nozzle assembly may be oriented such that at least one nozzle  12   a  is disposed in an engine compartment  31  of the combine harvester  30 . As such, any fires that start in the engine compartment  31  may be extinguished without needing to open the engine compartment  31  and risking exposure to dangerous flares from oxygen exposure. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle tubing  13   a  forms a circle around the engine  32  of the combine harvester  30 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the nozzle tubing  13   b  forms an extension, such that at least one nozzle  12   b  is disposed in a shroud of a thresher  33  of the combine harvester  30 . As such, fires near the thresher  33  of the combine harvester  30  may be extinguished by the combine harvester fire suppression system. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the manual control valve  19  is installed within an operator station  34  of the combine harvester  30 . As such, in the event of a fire, the combine operator may actuate the combine harvester fire suppression system without needing to exit the combine harvester  30 . In this way, extinguishing the fire is safer for the operator as he or she does not need to expose himself or herself to the fire in order to extinguish it. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.