Kidde Technologies Incorporated

Gregory Deane Simpson

Steven E Hodges

Kenneth William Murray

Dennis L Linhares

Joday L Gardner

Steven Edward Hodges

A valve release mechanism has an actuator, a ring, a plurality of ball bearings, and a retainer. The retainer is positioned adjacent an inner diameter of the ring and has a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes therein. Each circumferentially spaced hole receives one of the plurality of ball bearings, which are movable therein. The ring has channels and lands along its inner diameter that allow the ball bearings to move varying distances relative to the retainer. The lands contact the ball bearings when the ring is in a first position and the channels receive the ball bearings when the ring is in a second position. The poppet has a groove that is vertically aligned with circumferentially spaced holes in the retainer when the poppet is in a first closed position. The ball bearings are pressed into the groove in the poppet by the lands of the ring. The resulting interference of the ball bearings with poppet locks the poppet in the first closed position. The ring can be moved from the first closed position to a second position by the actuator.

Valve release mechanism

A vehicle having a tire fire suppression system includes a vehicle body for transportation of occupants or cargo. A plurality of combustible tires is connected to the body. The tires are susceptible to auto-ignition in response to exposure to an elevated temperature condition. The fire suppression system is connected to the body and includes a container of a fire suppressant. At least one temperature sensor is positioned in close proximity to at least one of the tires. The temperature sensor is adapted to be activated in response to the elevated temperature condition and before the auto-ignition. At least one nozzle is positioned to direct the suppressant toward the tire. An actuator connects the container to the nozzle for the suppressant to be dispersed from the nozzle in response to activation of the sensor.

Growing community of inventors

Goleta, CA, United States of America

Gregory Deane Simpson