Patent · US Expired

Universal fire simulator

US4864146A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
10References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 23, 1987
Grant dateSep 5, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 23, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T50/60
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and improved apparatus for generating and transmitting the distinguishing radiation characteristics of a fire, an ignition and fire, or an ignition without a fire, to a fire sensing system under test are disclosed. Varying radiant energy attributes of a fire, and in particular a hydrocarbon fire such as might be encountered in a vehicle fuel or engine compartment are safely generated by a blackbody transmitter 100, an ultraviolet transmitter 200 and an ignition flash transmitter 300, having appropriate radiation sources. The radiation sources may be conveniently assembled into a palm-sized radiation "head" 101. The transmitters may be selected sequentially to test installed fire sensing systems in aircraft or vehicles or during manufacture where the environment does not permit the use of an actual fire. The blackbody transmitter 100 has a random-noise generator 20 and amplifier 30, which drive a blackbody source 40 containing a heater wire 110 sealed in a reflective cavity with a carbon dioxide gas and water vapor mixture. The resulting emitted radiation 42 has characteristics of a flickering, 1200 to 1700 degrees Kelvin blackbody superimposed with CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O e…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.