Inflator based fire suppression system

Abstract

A fire extinguisher comprises a pressure bottle containing the fire extinguishing material and having mounted therein a diffuser-actuation housing. A source of pressurized gas is in at least one of the pressure bottle or the housing or may be in both. The housing has internal exhaust ports for permitting flow of the fire extinguishing material from the interior of the pressure bottle to the interior of the housing and external diffuser ports for delivering the fire extinguishing material from the interior of the housing to the area of a fire. Intermediate the internal exhaust ports and the external diffuser ports there is positioned a burst element, for interrupting the flow path between the internal exhaust ports and the external diffuser ports until the burst element is ruptured. Mounted within the housing, on a side of the frangible burst element opposite the exhaust ports, is an initiator or electro-explosive device and a rupture element, such as a projectile or gas-producing pyrotechnic material or a combination of both, for rupturing the frangible burst element and opening the flow path upon actuation of the initiator. The exhaust ports preferably have pick-up tubes extending into powdered fire suppression material in the pressurized bottle.