Patent ID: 7510022

Claim:
An aircraft, comprising a fuselage having a cargo compartment; a fire-detection system coupled to the cargo compartment and activatable upon detection of a fire condition; and a fire-suppression system coupled to the fire-detection system and to the cargo compartment, the fire-suppression system comprising: at least one fire-suppressant vessel; a discharge conduit coupled to the at least one fire-suppressant vessel; and a valve arrangement coupled to the at least one fire-suppressant vessel and the discharge conduit, the valve arrangement having a first setting to discharge a fire suppressant to the compartment at a first discharge rate upon activation of the fire-suppression system, a second setting to discharge the fire suppressant to the compartment at a second discharge rate less than the first discharge rate, and a third setting to discharge the fire suppressant to the compartment at a third discharge rate greater than the second discharge rate during descent of the aircraft.