Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02697776 2010-03-24
COMBINED PASSIVE AND ACTIVE
VEHICLE FIRE PREVENTION SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to the combination of a passive fire protection
system
associated with a vehicle fuel tank, which operates in conjunction with an
active
system associated with the crew compartment.
Ground vehicles and aircraft used for military applications are typically
provided with fire control systems. In the event that a projectile pierces a
vehicle
shell, the fire prevention systems come into play to minimize the potential
damage.
One type of fire prevention system is a passive system which is placed to
surround a fuel tank. One type of passive system is known as powder panels,
and
includes surrounding elements filled with a suppressant agent. If a projectile
pierces
the fuel tank, it will also pierce the panels. A powder agent is delivered
into the
pierced fuel tank.
Another type of fire prevention system is a so-called active system. An
active system is provided with some sort of sensor, and is typically utilized
to
deliver fire control material, such as powder, into a crew compartment of the
vehicle.
It is sometimes the case that a projectile will pass entirely through a fuel
tank, and then enter the crew compartment. To date, the passive and active
systems
have not been associated to operate in conjunction with each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A vehicle fire prevention system comprises a passive fire prevention system
to be associated with a fuel tank on the vehicle. An active fire prevention
system is
associated with a crew compartment in the vehicle. A control link provides a
signal
to actuate the active fire prevention system. In addition, a vehicle
incorporating the
fire prevention system is also disclosed and claimed.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood
from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a
brief
description.
CA 02697776 2010-03-24
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 schematically shows a fire prevention system for a vehicle.
Figure 2 shows a fuel tank provided with powder panels.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A vehicle 20 is shown schematically in Figure 1. Fuel tanks 22 may be
placed at various locations within the vehicle shell 21. The fuel tank 22 is
shown
provided with a passive fire prevention system, such as a powder panel 26.
Figure 2
shows a more detailed view of powder panel 26 associated with the fuel tank
22.
Other type of passive systems may be associated with the fuel tank, and still
come
within the scope of this invention.
A crew compartment 24 is also shown as evidenced by seats 50. As shown
schematically, a control line 40 connects a sensor 42 to the passive system 26
. The
active systems 30 may be provided with additional controls such that they may
be
actuated for any number of additional reasons. However, within this invention,
when the sensor 42 determines that there has been a breach of the crew
compartment, then the active systems 30 are actuated. The sensor may be of a
known sensor such as a fast acting optical flame sensor. However, other type
sensors may also be utilized.
The vehicle 20 may be a ground based vehicle such as a tank, or may be an
aircraft. Further, other types of vehicles would come within the scope of this
invention.
As shown, a projectile 25 has pierced the shell 21 at 60, the passive fire
prevention system 26, the fuel tank 22, and the crew compartment 24. The
passive
system 26 will deliver powder as shown at 28 into the crew compartment and
into
the fuel tank. Active fire prevention systems 30 are also delivering powder as
shown at 32 into the crew compartment 24.
The fire suppressant materials may be any number of types. For example,
the fire suppressant utilized in the crew compartment could be a vaporizing
liquid
such as Halon 1301, or a Halon replacement agent such as a hydrofluorocarbon
(HFC) or a perfluorinated ketone. Other types of suppressants may be FM-200,
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CA 02697776 2010-03-24
HFC-227ea, heptafluoropropane, Novec 1230, FK-5.1.12, dodecafluoro-2-
methylpentan-3 -one, water, or water plus potassium acetate.
Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of
ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would
come
within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims
should be
studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
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