Kidde Technologies Incorporated

Kidde Graviner Limited

Paul Alan Rennie

Paul David Smith

Robert G Dunster

Robert Pallant

Beth A Jones

Josephine Gatsonides

Stuart M Smith

Beth A Dutson

Paul W Weller

Francis T Clarence

Joseph Peoples

Josephine Gabrielle Gastonides

Paul D Smith

A fire suppression system for a plurality of enclosures in an aircraft comprises a plurality of bottles containing fire suppression agent, a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor on each bottle for measuring temperature and pressure data of the bottle contents, an addressable bottle valve on each bottle and a control unit. The control unit is configured to analyze the temperature and pressure data for each bottle to determine adequacy of fire suppression agent content for extinguishing a fire in a particular enclosure of the aircraft. The control unit is further configured to control the bottle valves independently by using the bottle valves' addresses, in order to manage the release of fire suppression agent.

Aircraft fire suppression system with addressable bottle valve

A directional valve for a fire suppression system comprises a valve member for controlling the discharge of fire suppression agent. The valve member comprises: a blocking portion to provide a closed setting for the fire suppression agent; a first orifice to provide a fully open setting for the fire suppression agent; and a second orifice to provide a restricted opening setting in which discharge of fire suppression agent is restricted. The valve member is configured so that during activation of the directional valve from a closed setting, the first orifice follows the blocking portion and precedes the second orifice in order to provide a fully open setting followed by a restricted opening setting.

Fire suppression control system for an aircraft

A frangible plug for use in a valve mechanism, the frangible plug including a first section having a first end and an opposing second section having a second end and a cylindrical sidewall extending between the first and second ends. Also including means for applying a force on the cylindrical sidewall of the frangible plug such that the first section fractures from the opposing second section, and wherein the means for applying a force on said cylindrical sidewall extends circumferentially around the outer circumference of the sidewall.

Frangible plug for use in a valve mechanism

A method of manufacturing an overheat or fire alarm detection system, comprises the steps of micromachining a pressure sensor and securing a sensor tube in fluid communication with the pressure sensor. The sensor tube may comprise a hollow tube containing a material that evolves gas upon heating. The micromachining step may comprise doping at least a portion of a first layer, forming a cavity at least partially within the doped portion and forming a deformable diaphragm over the cavity.

Method of manufacturing a pressure sensor

A thermal event detection and notification system detects a thermal event, a control unit receives information from, the information being indicative of the detected thermal event. The control unit determines, based on the information received, a location of said thermal event.

Thermal event detection and notification system

A temperature sensing system comprises a conductive tube, a shape memory alloy (SMA) element, and a detector. The SMA element is disposed to create an electrical contact with the electrical tube when subjected to at least a critical temperature, and the detector is configured to identify an alarm condition when the conductive tube and the SMA element form a closed electrical circuit.

Heat detector with shape metal alloy element

A pneumatic sensing apparatus for use in an overheat or fire alarm system comprising a sensing assembly that comprises a sensing means, containing a pressurized gas, coupled to a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor, is configured to produce a signal that is indicative of the gas pressure. The pressure sensor, comprises an optical pressure sensor and the signal comprises an optical signal.

Pneumatic sensing apparatus

A temperature sensing systemcomprises an optical waveguide, a shape memory alloy (SMA) element, and an interrogator. The SMA elementis deformable as a function of temperature and at least partially surrounds the optical waveguide. The interrogatoris configured to detect distributed temperature along the optical waveguideusing spectroscopy and to detect strain in the optical waveguideinduced by deformation of the SMA elementto identify local hot spots along the optical waveguide

Optical fibre distributed LHD with SMA element for discrete alarm

A pneumatic pressure detector comprises a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal and a deformable diaphragm configured to deform between first, second and third positions. When the diaphragm is in its first position, the first and second terminals are open. When the diaphragm is in its second position, the first terminal is open and the second terminal is closed. When the diaphragm is in its third position, the first and second terminals are both closed. The pneumatic pressure detector may be connected to a sensor tube.

Pneumatic pressure switch

A valve mechanism is herein described that utilizes a frangible plug. The valve mechanism comprises a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port and a passageway extending therebetween. The valve mechanism comprises a frangible plug that is held within the valve body to block the passageway when the plug is intact. The plug comprises a predefined fracture plane and is configured to fracture across the predefined fracture plane upon application of an impact force.

Valve mechanism with frangible plug

A fire detection system for an aircraft, freight transportation vehicle or freight storage facility comprises one or more RFID tags associated with one or more items of freight being transported or stored. The RFID tag is configured to detect a condition indicative of a fire in or in the vicinity the item of freight, for example a temperature rise or generation of smoke. One or more RFID readers are arranged to read the RFID tags. The RFID reader is connected to or forms part of a control system, the RFID reader or the control determining whether the RFID tag has detected a fire.

Fire detection system

A fire detection system includes a detection tube and a sensing device. The detection tube contains a sensing fluid having a first physical condition and a second physical condition. The sensing fluid is in the first physical condition below a temperature threshold, and is in the second physical condition above the temperature threshold. The sensing fluid is at least partially liquid in the first physical condition. The sensing device is movable to open in response to a transition of a portion of the sensing fluid from the first physical condition to the second physical condition.

Fire suppression system

A fire suppression cylinder includes a valve at an outlet of a canister, and a control for the valve. The canister receives a liquid suppressor agent and a pressurized gas. A feature within a portion of the canister will receive the liquid suppressor agent. The feature increases the formation of gas bubbles within the liquid suppressor agent.

Fire suppressor cylinders with enhanced bubble production

A sensor apparatus includes a metal oxide semiconductor ('MOS') sensor with a gas-sensing surface normally having a first sensitivity to a first species of flammable gas and a second sensitivity to a second, different species of flammable gas. A selective sensitivity-enhancement layer is disposed on the gas-sensing surface such that the first sensitivity becomes increased and the second sensitivity remains substantially unchanged.

Sensor apparatus and method therefor

A sensor apparatus includes a metal oxide semiconductor sensor and a housing having an internal chamber in which the sensor is disposed. The housing includes at least one window for the ingress of a gas into the internal chamber from an atmosphere exterior to the housing. A gas-selective barrier is disposed across the at least one window.

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Bracknell, United Kingdom

Paul Alan Rennie