Abstract:
A cover system and method of automated deployment for protecting structures from fire dangers uses water pressure to force fire resistant rolls and folded arrangements of materials to deploy when a water valve is triggered by high heat. Water then is forced through sprinkler hoses on the interior of the deployed materials to maintain a wet condition on the interior surface of the deployed covers and also on the exterior of the building that is being protected. The water is collected in pockets of the deployed material which anchors it in place and pumps within the pockets return the water to a distribution manifold on the roof of the structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Present Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates generally to automated fire safety systems such as sprinkler systems which protect against fires that start within interior spaces of buildings; and more particularly to an automated protective system directed to the dangers posed by fires originating from the exterior of structures. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     Many structures are lost each year from external fire causes. Structures that are damaged are often those in high risk environments where very large or very fast moving wild fires are common. Typically, losses occur in areas at the interface of undeveloped land and urban areas and where hilly terrain complicates fire protection measures and existing fire fighting capabilities may be inadequate. Therefore, it has been recognized that buildings in high risk areas need to have built-in self-protection akin to the widely employed automatic fire sprinkler systems. The direction of the prior art is to provide portable or add-on covering systems that are themselves fire resistant or fire-proof. These ideas include covering the exterior of a building so that heat and flames are not able to contact the structure. Several approaches to accomplish this are defined in the prior art as shown by the following patent disclosures. 
     Ballinger, U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,843 discloses a fire protection apparatus including fire retardant blankets and panels applied to and secured about a building by straps and ground inserted hold-down members requiring substantial time consuming manual installation effort. 
     Husson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,525 discloses roller mounted screens, each fitted with a weight, to extend the screen by gravity with provision made for applying a fire retardant to the screen during extension. The system is for internal installation within a building and does not appear to readily lend itself to protection of a building exterior. 
     McQuirk, U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,395 discloses fire resistant sheets stored as rolls within roof mounted housings. The rolled sheet material is extracted by manually pulled ropes with certain sheets having a folded portion intended for, when unfolded, overlying the end wall of a house. The ground contacting edges of certain sheets may be provided with a bar to enhance ground engagement. The problem of manually extracting fire resistant sheets in the presence of an advancing brush fire, often accompanied by high winds, would seem to hinder use of the patented fire protection system. 
     Hitchcock, U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,150 discloses an automatically deployed fire resistant blanket by use of projectiles propelling blanket extremities. No provision is made for firmly securing the blanket about the building structure being protected in a snug manner nor would the system appear to be feasible in the presence of strong winds which often are present in fast moving wildfires. 
     Floyd, U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,992 discloses a fire isolation device for a free standing structure. This device includes a left tarp and right tarp fabricated from a fire resistant material. The left tarp and right tarp are of a size to completely enclose the free standing structure. Attached to the left tarp and right tarp is a support structure, which is capable of moving from an upward position where the left tarp and the right tarp completely enclose the free standing structure to a downward position where the left and right tarp expose the free standing structure. This device also includes a moving mechanism for moving the plurality of support members from the downward position to the upward position. 
     Jones et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,200 discloses fire retardant blankets normally stowed within housings in place on a building roof structure or below a roof eave. Cables extract the blankets for deployment over the roof. Fire retardant wall blankets stowed in housings adjacent to roof eaves are deployed by gravity. 
     Rogers et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,305 discloses a series of easily deployed; pre-fitted covering material segments which when joined together envelop an entire structure. This covering is secure enough to last in a deployed position indefinitely, and is retractable and reusable for many years. It is attached to a structure for immediately available deployment at any time. 
     In the above disclosures it is noted that several important problems are not well addressed and these problems will now be described. A building made of concrete with no openings for doors or windows will survive a high temperature fire for a significant period of time. However, practical residential and commercial buildings of less durable materials and which do have doors and windows cannot survive the temperatures and flame contact of wild fires for more than a few minutes. Also, fire brands find relatively easy access into the interior of structures through their ventilation system&#39;s screens, louvers and such. 
     It is clear that a solution to this problem must include preventing high temperatures, flames and fire brands from impinging on exterior surfaces of structures and the notion of removable structure covers is palpable. However, a major problem with covers is that fire resistant materials tend to break down rather quickly when exposed to high temperatures. Another problem is that covers tend to degrade the appearance of building structures. A third problem is that no practical automated deployment scheme has been devised. Automated deployment is necessary especially for structures that are in isolated area or which are not occupied, and certainly when a structure is in the path of a fast moving wildfire. 
     The present invention addresses these three problems providing: a means for storing covering materials on buildings without too adversely affecting their appearance, a means for automatically effectively deploying the coverings, and a means for preventing the coverings from failing in the face of impinging fires. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. 
     The presently described invention is a cover system and method of deployment that provides for automated protection of a building structure when an external fire danger is present. Water pressure is used to force fire resistant rolls and folded arrangements to deploy when a water valve is triggered by high heat. Water then is forced through sprinkler hoses on the interior of the deployed materials to maintain a wet condition on the interior surface of the deployed covers and also on the exterior of the building that is being protected. The Water is collected in hems of the deployed material which anchors it in place and pumps within the hems returns the water to a manifold on the roof that is fed by a source of water under pressure. 
     A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art. 
     Another objective is to provide a fire resistant cover on a building when fire danger appears. 
     A further objective is to provide such a cover that is automatically unfurled when high temperature is sensed. 
     A further objective is to maintain water spray on both cover and building during the fire danger. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus and method of its use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present invention In such drawing(s): 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a building showing the presently described apparatus in its retracted nominal state; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portion of the building showing the presently described apparatus in its deployed state; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along cutting line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the portion of the building showing a further embodiment of the presently described apparatus in a partially deployed state; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the portion of the building showing the embodiment of  FIG. 4  fully deployed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above described drawing figures illustrate the present invention and its method of use in preferred embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description. Those of ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications to what is described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Therefore, it should be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and should not be taken as a limitation on the scope of the present apparatus and its method of use. 
     Details relating to the construction and deployment of preferred features and methods of the present invention are found in the above summarized reference to McQuirk, U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,395, which teaches fire resistant sheet materials that may be stored in a folded or rolled state and hidden from sight within a roof mounted, architecturally pleasing, housing with spring loaded doors, and also Jones et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,200 which teaches handing rolled materials for deployment on buildings and in such applications where a peaked roof is not available, the relevant disclosures of these documents are included by reference thereto as if fully set forth herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  a typical building that may be protected by the present invention has a peaked roof, and provides a source of water flowing under pressure, and a source of electrical power. Almost all modern residential buildings have outside water bibs and electrical outlets so that the present invention may be easily installed and operated in these structures. Where a pressurized water bib or a live electrical outlet is not readily available, such utilities may usually be provided by a nearby source. A peaked roof provides a site for storing the invention out of sight, that is, above the line of sight of a person on the ground. The peaked roof also provides an angled surface, the roof surface itself, allowing the deployment of a key component of the invention, a material roll, by utilizing the effect of gravity for unrolling the material. For buildings with flat roofs, the invention may be deployed in alternative ways as shown by Jones et al. 
       FIG. 1  shows the present invention in one embodiment where it is installed on a building  10  having a peaked roof  12 . In this and the other figures referred to herein, only a portion of the building structure is shown while other portions of the building structure are cut away. However, it will be realized that the invention as shown may be replicated on other portions of a building so that the present disclosure is exemplary of an apparatus and a method that may be used to protect a complete building structure. A material  20  of fire resistant sheet material is stored on the roof  12  of building  10  near its peak  12  preferably as a coil as shown. Material  20  has opposing lateral edges  22 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 1 . The lateral edges  22  extending between a proximal edge  24 , and a distal pocket  26  ( FIG. 2 ) that is formed of material  20 . The proximal edge  24  is secured to roof  12  at a position above the ground surface  15  and preferably in a position adjacent to peak  14  as shown. Pocket  26  is located centrally within the coil as shown in  FIG. 1  and this defines a retracted, rolled-up state of material  20 . A deployment restrictor  30  is fastened to roof  12 , and is secured around the coil thereby inhibiting its deployment. The deployment restrictor is preferably a simple strap, such as a plastic strap, that is calibrated for breaking when a selected tension force is applied to it. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , we see that the coil of material  20  is deployed and covers one portion of roof  12  to its edge, and also hangs from the edge so that pocket  26  contacts the ground surface  15 . Inside surface  28  of material  20  faces the building  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a manifold  40  is secured to roof  12  in a position parallel to the proximal edge  24 . For clarity, fastening devices for securing the proximal edge  24  and the manifold  40  in place on roof  12  are not depicted in the figures, but such fastening is considered to require only routine mechanical skills for selection and installation. A plurality of spaced apart sprayer hoses  42  are each joined at one end thereof with the manifold  40  and these sprayer hoses  42  are joined to and extend along the inside surface  28 , generally parallel to the lateral edges  22 , and terminate within pocket  26 . The sprayer hoses  42  are perforated with apertures  44  in such a manner that when these hoses  42  are filled with water under pressure, water sprays through the apertures  44  onto the inside surface  28  of the material  20 , and also onto the building  10 . The dashed lines shown in  FIG. 3  represent the directions of such spray. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , we see that sprayer hoses  42  terminate within pocket  26  so that any water not sprayed out of sprayer hoses  42 , falls into pocket  26 . The weight of the water collected in pocket  26  helps to anchor the material  20  and hold it in place against the forces of winds that originate from an approaching fire or firestorm. A submersible pump  45  is secured within hem  26 . Pump  45  has inlets  45 ′ for suctioning the water in pocket  26  and return hose  46  delivers this water back to manifold  40  through a one-way valve  47  which is shown in  FIG. 2 . Pump  45  is powered by an electrical cord  45 ″ which is secured to the inside surface  28  and which unrolls with the material  20 . Electrical cord  45 ″ originates at an exterior outlet as shown in the figures. 
     It is clear that a plurality of sprayer hoses  42  are required in order to provide enough water for protecting material  20  from the heat of an impinging fire, as well as to protect building  10  over any practical length of the building surface that is addressed with the present invention. Also, in order to return the water that is collected in pocket  26  to manifold  40  and averting overflow at pocket  26 , multiple pumps  45  and return hoses  46  are required as well. The number and sizes of the various water conduits addressed in this invention is left to the routine mechanic to determine for each particular building and potential level of fire hazard. It should be realized that the sprayer hoses  42 , and the return hoses  46  when not filled with water are able to be flattened so that material  20  and the hoses and the electrical feed wire  45 ″ can be compactly wound into coils, such as the coil shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an outlet port of a temperature controlled flow valve  50  is engaged with the manifold  40  and this valve  50  is normally closed. Connected on the inlet side of valve  50  is a means for delivering water under pressure to the flow valve  50 . This water delivery means  52  may be a hose or other device capable of providing a pressurized water supply. Flow valve  50  is held closed by a sensor-actuator  54 , either a heat-sensitive glass bulb or a two-part metal link held together with a fusible allow, as are used in fire sprinkler systems. The glass bulb or link applies pressure to a pip cap which acts as a plug preventing water from flowing through valve  50  until the ambient temperature around the sensor-actuator  54  reaches a chosen temperature indicative of fire encroachment. Because each valve  50  used on a particular portion of building  10  activates independently when a predetermined heat level is reached, the number of valves  50  that operate at any one time can be limited to only those nearest the fire, thereby maximizing the available water pressure at the most critical locations around the building  10 . Sensor-actuator  54  is typically triggered by hot gases evolved by an approaching fire, but may also be triggered by direct radiant heat from nearby flames. It is noted that the sensor  54  is located in an elevated position where heat from an outdoor space heater or barbeque, for instance, will not cause an unwanted triggering of the fire protective system. 
     In  FIGS. 4 and 5  the material  20  previously discussed and shown in  FIGS. 1-3  is now referred to as material  20 ′. In a further enablement of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in order to automatically cover an adjacent side of building  10 , a further portion  20 ″ of material  20  may be folded as shown in  FIG. 4  and rolled up into the coil illustrated in  FIG. 1 . This is possible since the material  20  utilized in this invention is able to be quite thin, i.e., light gauge, notably because with constant water cooling, a bulky, heavy and thick material is unnecessary. When deployed, material portion  20 ″ falls to one side of portion  20 ′ and covers a side of building  10  that is not covered by portion  20 ′. This is illustrated in  FIG. 5  wherein each of the sprayer hoses  42  that are engaged with the inside surface  28  of material  20  ( 20 ′ and  20 ″) are represented by phantom lines. It is noticed that the sprayer hoses  42  that are engaged with material portion  20 ″ feed from one of the sprayer hoses  42  of portion  20 ′. This particular sprayer hose  42  might be of a larger diameter so as to assure proper spraying of it and its dependents. 
     With respect to deployment of material  20 , as soon as valve  50  opens, water pressure causes water to flood the manifold  40  and then apply water pressure to the sprayer hoses  42 . This water pressure immediately starts the roll of material  20  to expand which breaks the deployment restrictor  30  freeing the roll of material  20  to start unrolling downwardly on roof  12 . When folded material portion  20 ″ is uncovered, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the water pressure driven into the sprayer hoses  42  in portion  20 ″ causes the folded material to straighten and then fall over the side of the roof  12  into the position shown in  FIG. 5 . All of the elements defined for portion  20 ′ also exist and are functional for portion  20 ″ including a second pocket  26 , submersible pumps  45 , return hoses  46  and power cord  45 ″. 
     The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element. 
     The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. 
     Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas. 
     The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.