Patent Description:
Kitchens may include range top appliances with cookware and/or other kitchen appliances for cooking food. Kitchen appliances may create fire hazards, and kitchen fire suppression systems are utilized to suppress these fires.

<CIT> relates to a fire extinguishing system, in particular to a special fire extinguishing system for civilian kitchens. <CIT> relates to a fire suppression apparatus that reduces installation and maintenance costs by allowing a single fire suppression apparatus to manage a plurality of cooking devices. <CIT> relates to a fire suppression system and method in which an extinguishing agent is automatically discharged from a limited source of supply, followed by a discharge of water from an unlimited source of supply. <CIT> relates to a nozzle assembly with a blowoff cap to prevent clogging of the nozzle for use in fire suppression systems in kitchens.

<CIT> describes a method for improving the hit accuracy of fire detection systems controlled by infrared and video fire detection by means of a first IR/video camera system for the first detection unit to ensure continuous fire detection and a second IR/video camera system for the second detection unit to ensure automatic target tracking with respect to the source of fire, as well as to an extinguisher launcher rigidly connected to the second detection unit. The method is characterised by steps through which video/infrared-controlled extinguishing systems can be precisely hit with regard to the target precision, and fires can be combated as quickly as possible, even in the early phase, with as little extinguishing agent as possible.

The claimed invention is defined by a method of suppressing a kitchen fire according to appended claim <NUM>, and by a fire suppression system for a kitchen according to appended claim <NUM>.

A method of suppressing a kitchen fire according to an example of the present disclosure includes detecting a fire and identifying a location of the fire with a tracking system. The method includes aiming a nozzle at the location. The method includes releasing an agent through the nozzle at the location.

In the foregoing example, aiming includes moving the nozzle laterally.

In the foregoing example, the lateral movement includes moving the nozzle along a track within a hood of a range top.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the agent is stored in a cylinder, and the nozzle is in fluid communication with the cylinder through a hose.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the aiming includes rotatabaly moving the nozzle.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the aiming includes angular movement of the nozzle.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, aiming includes detecting an object between a target area and the nozzle and moving the nozzle such that the object is not between the target area and the nozzle.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the tracking system includes at least one optical sensor.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, temperature information is received from a chip in a piece of cookware. The detecting includes determining that the fire exists based on the temperature information.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the location of the chip is identified with a positioning system.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the positioning system is a radio frequency identification system.

A fire suppression system for a kitchen according to an example of the present disclosure includes a tracking system that is configured to sense a location of a fire in the kitchen. A nozzle is movable to a select position based on the sensing and is configured to release fire suppression agent onto the fire.

In the foregoing example, the nozzle is movable laterally to the select position.

In the foregoing example, the lateral movement includes movement along a track within a hood of a range top.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the nozzle is movable rotatably to the select position.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the rotatable movement includes rotation of a swivel joint.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the nozzle is movable angularly to the select position.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, a controller is configured to send control signals to move the nozzle based on the sensing.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the tracking system includes an infrared sensor for sensing the location of the fire.

In a further example according to any of the foregoing examples, the nozzle is in fluid communication with an agent cylinder through a flexible hose.

These and other features may be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

<FIG> illustrates a prior art fire suppression system <NUM>. A nozzle <NUM> is configured to release fire extinguishing agent onto an appliance such as range top <NUM> and maybe located vertically above the range top <NUM>. The nozzle <NUM> may be adjacent or in a hood <NUM> used for ventilation of the range top <NUM> area. The nozzle <NUM> aim point C is centrally located relative to the range top <NUM> with a swivel joint (not shown) and has a wide coverage or spray angle to reach the entire range top <NUM> in the case of a fire, as shown schematically. The nozzle <NUM> may be manually aimed at the central aim point C upon installation. The range top <NUM> may include multiple burners <NUM>, each being within the spray coverage of the nozzle <NUM>. The system <NUM> releases agent onto the entire coverage area to suppress a fire, even if the fire is only located at one of the burners <NUM>, for example. The nozzle <NUM> may be dedicated to a single range top <NUM> or other appliance.

<FIG> illustrates a prior art fire suppression system <NUM> including multiple equally spaced apart nozzles 122A, 122B vertically above a range top <NUM> and adjacent a hood <NUM>. Like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. The combined coverage area of the nozzles 122A, 122B covers the entire range top <NUM> and any other appliances placed underneath the overlapping coverage "zone," as shown schematically. The spray coverage area of the nozzle 122A overlaps with the spray coverage area of the nozzle 122B to create the zone coverage area. The system <NUM> releases agent onto the entire zone coverage area to suppress a fire, even if the fire is only located at one of the burners <NUM>, for example. One or more additional nozzles 122C may be utilized, as shown schematically. The system <NUM> may not have dedicated nozzles <NUM> to specific range tops <NUM>, and range tops <NUM> and other appliances may instead be moved about within the zone coverage.

<FIG> illustrates a fire suppression system <NUM>. A tracking system <NUM> monitors the appliance, in this example a range top <NUM>, shown schematically. The tracking system <NUM> may utilize one or more tracking methods, discussed in further detail below, to detect the fire on the range top <NUM> and optionally the location of cookware on the range top <NUM>. In response to the tracking system <NUM>, the system <NUM> moves a nozzle <NUM> to a position to aim at the cookware <NUM> and/or a fire on the range top <NUM>. As discussed further below, this position may include one or more of a desired coordinate location, rotational position, or angular position. In some examples, the nozzle <NUM> utilized may be solid stream, full cone, hollow cone, or flat spray.

In some examples, the nozzle <NUM> may utilize rotational movement R to pivot to a desired position for aiming. The nozzle <NUM> utilizes translational movement T to move laterally to aim at a desired position. Additionally, the nozzle <NUM> may utilize angular movement A to angle the nozzle to a desired position. In some examples, the system <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> that receives information from the tracking system <NUM> and sends control signals to actuate the nozzle <NUM> to move to a desired position, as shown schematically. In some examples, the controller <NUM> may be programmed with the desired position of the nozzle <NUM> for each combination of burners <NUM> being utilized. The tracking system <NUM> may include one or more sensors <NUM>, such as optical or thermal sensors in some examples.

The controller <NUM>, in some examples, may include one or more computing devices, each having one or more of a computer processor, memory, storage means, network device and input and/or output devices and/or interfaces. The controller <NUM> is communicatively connected to the tracking system <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM>, such as through an actuation system (not shown) of the nozzle <NUM> in some examples. In some examples, the controller <NUM> is communicatively connected using wired or wireless communications. In some examples, the controller <NUM> is an analog or electromechanical device configured to provide the disclosed functions of this disclosure. In some examples, the controller may be communicatively connected to the tracking system <NUM> and/or nozzle <NUM> through an analog of electromechanical device.

Although a range top <NUM> is disclosed as an example, other kitchen fire hazard areas, such as fryers, table top burners, open top toasters, griddles, char broilers, and other appliances may benefit from the examples of this disclosure. Although four burners <NUM> are shown, range tops <NUM> with more or fewer burners may also benefit from the examples of this disclosure.

In some examples, the tracking system <NUM> uses object detection to detect the location of a chip <NUM> embedded in cookware <NUM> on a burner <NUM> on a range top <NUM>. The chip <NUM> may be able to detect and/or indicate temperature information that the system <NUM> may use to determine whether there is a fire. In some examples, the chip <NUM> sends signals only when temperatures above a certain threshold are detected. In some examples, the chip <NUM> sends signals indicative of temperature information continuously, and the controller <NUM> compares the temperature information to a threshold value to determine whether there is a fire. The tracking system <NUM> and chip <NUM> may incorporate active or passive radio frequency identification (RFID), RF-Based Indoor Location Determination, GPS, or other suitable positioning system to identify the location of the chip <NUM>. In one example, the chip <NUM> may communicate temperature information to the tracking system <NUM> using a signal, such as radio or Bluetooth, to the tracking system <NUM> and/or communicate with the tracking system <NUM> through the internet (IoT), and the tracking system <NUM> may locate the chip <NUM> based on Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) or other passive tracking system. In one example, the chip <NUM> may send its location with respect to the nozzle <NUM>, tracking system <NUM>, or geographic coordinate system using a signal, such as radio or Bluetooth, or other active tracking signal to the tracking system <NUM> and/or communicate through the internet (IoT) using a suitable form of wireless communication. The nozzle <NUM> may then move to a desired position where it can most easily reach the cookware <NUM> in case of a fire.

Alternatively or additionally, the tracking system <NUM> may utilize thermal tracking to detect the location of a fire on the range top or other appliance <NUM>. Thermal tracking may be done with the use of thermal imaging, thermocouples, or infrared sensors, for example. In some examples, the thermal tracking detects which area of an appliance <NUM> or which appliance <NUM> has a fire. The nozzle <NUM> may then be aimed at the fire in response to the fire detection.

The nozzle <NUM> is in fluid communication with an agent cylinder <NUM> through conduit <NUM>. In some examples, all or a portion of the conduit <NUM> is a flexible hose to accommodate the movement of the nozzle <NUM>. The example cylinder <NUM> may be located in a cabinet <NUM> to the side of the hood <NUM>, but other locations may also be utilized.

An advantage of the system <NUM> is that the nozzle <NUM> may have a more concentrated targeted spray area than prior art systems, thus utilizing less agent for suppressing fires. The nozzle <NUM> dispensing area may be more concentrated because the nozzle is able to better target a desired location. In some examples, since less agent is utilized, less cylinders <NUM> may therefore be required, resulting in cost and space savings. Less nozzles may also be required than in some prior art systems. In some examples, one nozzle <NUM> may cover an entire kitchen or hood since the system <NUM> will no longer need to discharge onto all of the appliances, only the area on fire. However, although one nozzle <NUM> and one cylinder <NUM> are shown in the illustrative example in <FIG>, more nozzles and/or cylinders may be utilized in some examples. Since less area is sprayed, this can decrease the amount of clean up necessary after discharge causing, in some cases, decrease in down time.

Systems <NUM> include translational and optionally a rotational and/or angular movement.

<FIG> illustrates an example translational movement system <NUM> for translational movement of the nozzle <NUM>. Tracks 248A and 248B are slidably received within openings <NUM> of the fixture <NUM> holding nozzle <NUM>. The nozzle <NUM> with fixture <NUM> can move back and forth along the X axis along track 248B and back and forth along the Y axis along track 248A. The track 248A may be slidable along perimeter track 252A fixed to the hood <NUM>, and the track 248B may be slidable along perimeter track 252B fixed to the hood <NUM>. In some examples, the nozzle <NUM> is movable to a desired X, Y coordinate position for aiming based on detections made by the tracking system <NUM> and/or instructions from the controller <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). A flexible hose <NUM> is utilized to accommodate movement of the nozzle <NUM>. Although an example translational movement system <NUM> is shown, other systems for movement in the X, Y and/or Z directions may be utilized.

<FIG> illustrates an example rotational and angular movement system <NUM>. A swivel joint <NUM> is pivotally attached to the nozzle <NUM>. The swivel joint <NUM> may be actuated by a motor <NUM>, such as a servomotor in some examples, to rotate about the axis A to a desired circumferential position for aiming at a desired location. In some examples, angular movement may alternatively or additionally be utilized to vary the angle between the nozzle <NUM> and the axis A. Although an example rotational and angular movement system <NUM> is shown, other systems for rotational movement about an axis A may be utilized.

As schematically illustrated in <FIG>, in some examples, the tracking system <NUM> may detect the presence of intervening cookware 234A between the nozzle <NUM> and cookware 234B or another target area. In response, the system <NUM> may move the nozzle from position A to position B such that the cookware 234A is not between the nozzle <NUM> and cookware 234B. Although cookware 234A is used in the example shown as an intervening object, the tracking system may be programmed to detect other intervening objects as well, such as other taller cookware, shelves, structures within the hood, and taller appliances that are next to a smaller one.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart of a method <NUM> of suppressing a fire on a range top <NUM> or other kitchen appliance as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. At <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes monitoring the range top <NUM> with a tracking system <NUM>. At <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes detecting a fire on the range top <NUM> with the tracking system <NUM>. At <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes aiming a nozzle <NUM> at the fire. At <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes releasing agent through the nozzle <NUM> at the fire.

The aiming step <NUM> may include any one or combination of moving the nozzle <NUM> laterally, rotationally, or angularly, using, for example, one or both of the exemplary movement systems shown and described in <FIG>. In some examples, the method <NUM> may further include detecting an object between a target area and the nozzle <NUM>, and moving the nozzle <NUM> such that the object is not between the target area and the nozzle <NUM>. The step of detecting an object between a target area and the nozzle <NUM> may use tracking system <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of suppressing a kitchen fire, the method (<NUM>) comprising:
detecting a fire and identifying a location of the fire on a range top (<NUM>) with a tracking system (<NUM>);
aiming a nozzle (<NUM>) at the location, wherein the aiming includes moving the nozzle (<NUM>) laterally, and wherein the lateral movement includes moving the nozzle (<NUM>) along a track (248A, 248B, 252A, 252B) within a hood (<NUM>) of the range top (<NUM>); and
releasing agent through the nozzle (<NUM>) at the location.