Fire suppressing gas generating device

Abstract

Invention relates to fire suppressing gas generating devices, especially to a gas outflow management in the fire suppressing gas generating devices. A fire suppressing gas generating device comprising a cylindrical housing (1) having at least one discharge opening (13); a plurality of gas generating grains (2); an ignitor (5) associated with the gas generating grain (2) for ignition of said gas generating grain (2); a filter (6) encompassing the plurality of the gas generating grains (2); and at least one gas discharge channel (7) connected to the discharge opening (13). The gas discharge channel (7) further comprises at least two nozzles (17) opposed to each other creating thrust neutrality of discharged gas.

Claims

1. A fire suppressing gas generating device comprising: a cylindrical housing having a cylindrical surface extending along a longitudinal axis (1X) of the housing between two open sides, and defining an inner volume; a plurality of gas generating grains disposed in a stacked relationship within the inner volume of the housing; two end caps, wherein each end cap is fixed to each open side of the cylindrical surface such that said housing is sealable by said cylindrical surface and said two end caps; an ignitor positioned at one of the end caps and associated with the gas generating grain for ignition of said gas generating grain; a filter disposed inside said inner volume and encompassing the plurality of the gas generating grains; at least one discharge opening defined on said cylindrical surface and configured to discharge gas from said inner volume to an outer environment, said discharge opening includes a gas discharge channel directly connected to the discharge opening and protruding from an outer surface of said cylindrical surface, said discharge opening and discharge channel extending along a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the housing; wherein the gas discharge channel comprises at least two nozzles with a longitudinal axis of the nozzles arranged orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the gas discharge channel; and wherein the nozzles are opposed to each other creating thrust neutrality of discharged gas.

2. The fire suppressing gas generating device according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical surface comprises a second discharge opening arranged opposite to the discharge opening, wherein the second discharge opening further comprises a second gas discharge channel arranged opposite to the at least one gas discharge channel, and the second gas discharge channel comprises additional nozzles with a longitudinal axis of the additional nozzles arranged orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the second gas discharge channel, and wherein the additional nozzles are opposed to each other creating thrust neutrality of discharged gas.

3. The fire suppressing gas generating device according to claim 1 characterized in that each gas discharge channel comprises a burst plate arranged in the discharge channel so that the burst plate seals the inner volume of the fire suppressing gas generating device from the outer environment.

4. The fire suppressing gas generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas discharge channel comprises eight nozzles arranged around the discharge channel in equally distances from each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a fire suppressing gas generating device having two gas discharge outlets (7), wherein each discharge outlet (7) comprises a nozzle (17).

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fire suppressing gas generating device as seen in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fire suppressing gas generating device having one gas discharge outlets (7) comprising a nozzle (17).

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fire suppressing gas generating device as seen in FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5 is a detail view of the gas discharge (7) outlet comprising a burst plate (8) and the nozzle (17) as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4.

(7) In one of the embodiments of the invention a fire suppressing gas generating device comprises a cylindrical housing (1) having two open sides (11; 12) and two discharge openings (13; 31) on the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical housing (1). Both discharge openings (13; 31) are opposed to each other and located in the central part of the cylindrical housing (1). The longitudinal axis (13X; 31X) of the discharge opening (13; 33) is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (1X) of the housing (1). The device further comprises a plurality of gas generating grains (2) disposed in a stacked relationship within the housing (1). The gas generating grains are encompassed by a filter (6). The two open sides (11; 12) on the cylindrical housing (1) are sealable closed by two respective end caps (3; 4). The device further comprises an ignitor (5) positioned at ignitor end cap (4) and associated with the gas generating grain (2) for ignition of said gas generating grain (2). The device further comprises two gas discharge channels (7; 77), wherein each discharge channel (7; 77) is connected to the respective discharge opening (13; 31). Each gas discharge channel (7, 77) comprises a burst plate (8) arranged in the discharge channel (7, 77) so that the burst plate (8) seals the inner volume of the fire suppressing gas generating device from the outer environment.

(8) In another embodiment of the invention, a fire suppressing gas generating device comprises a cylindrical housing (1) having two open sides (11; 12) and one discharge opening (13) on the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical housing (1). The discharge openings (13) is located in the central part of the cylindrical housing (1). The longitudinal axis (13X) of the discharge opening (13) is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (1X) of the housing (1). The device further comprises a plurality of gas generating grains (2) disposed in a stacked relationship within the housing (1). The gas generating grains are encompassed by a filter (6). The two open sides (11; 12) on the cylindrical housing (1) are sealable closed by two respective end caps (3; 4). The device further comprises an ignitor (5) positioned at ignitor end cap (4) and associated with the gas generating grain (2) for ignition of said gas generating grain (2). The device further comprises one gas discharge channel (7) connected to the discharge opening (13). The gas discharge channel (7) comprises a burst plate (8) arranged in the discharge channel (7) so that the burst plate (8) seals the inner volume of the fire suppressing gas generating device from the outer environment. The longitudinal axis (7X) of the gas discharge channel (7) is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis (13X) of the discharge opening (13) and generally orthogonal to the to the longitudinal axis (1X) of the housing (1). The gas discharge channel (7) comprises eight openings or nozzles (17) with its longitudinal axis (17X) arranged generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (7X) of the gas discharge channel (7). Eight nozzles (17) are arranged evenly around the gas discharge channel (7) so that a discharged gas flow (G) distributes evenly therearound creating thrust neutrality of discharged gas (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5).

(9) While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments of which have been shown by way of example in the figures and have been described in detail herein, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(10) 1a cylindrical housing; 1Xa longitudinal axis of the housing; 2a gas generating grain; 3a cap; 4an ignitor cap; 5an ignitor; 6a filter; 7a gas discharge channel; 7Xa longitudinal axis of the gas discharge channel; 8a burst plate; 11 and 12an open side of a cylindrical housing; 13a discharge opening; 13Xa longitudinal axis of a discharge opening; 17a nozzle; 17Xa longitudinal axis of a nozzle; 31a second discharge opening; 31Xa longitudinal axis of a second discharge opening 77a second gas discharge channel; 77Xa longitudinal axis of the second gas discharge channel; Ga gas flow.