Abstract: An apparatus for locating a measurand anomaly, such as a hot-spot, along an optical waveguide is provided comprising: an optical waveguide, a light source configured to transmit pulsed light along the waveguide, and a first and second set of sensors provided along the waveguide. Each sensor is configured to reflect a portion of light propagating along the waveguide at a respective sensor wavelength corresponding to a measurand. The first set of sensors provides one or more groups of sensors configured to detect a measurand anomaly within that group. The second set comprises a plurality of sensors each separated from the adjacent sensor of that set by a distance along the waveguide greater than half the distance travelled by the light along the waveguide during the pulse duration. A plurality of sensors of the first set is provided between each adjacent sensor of the second set.

Abstract: A fire extinguisher includes a main dome partially surrounding an internal space housing agent. A secondary dome is mounted to the main dome and is inverted with respect to the main dome. The secondary dome can have a radius of curvature that is equal to, greater than, or less than that of the main dome. The discharge outlet can include a discharge outlet configured to discharge laterally relative to an axis of symmetry of the main dome and the secondary dome.

Abstract: A system includes a turbo pump to convert compressed gas into power, a storage tank to store the compressed gas, and a fire suppression control valve having a closed position in which the compressed gas is prevented from flowing to the cargo compartment and an open position in which the compressed gas is ported to the cargo compartment to suppress a fire. The system also includes a pump control valve having a closed position in which the compressed gas is prevented from flowing to the turbo pump and an open position in which the compressed gas is ported to the turbo pump to cause the turbo pump to convert the compressed gas into the power. The system also includes an OBIGGS to convert bleed air from a gas turbine engine into an inert gas to provide low rate discharge (LRD) fire suppression to the cargo compartment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fire suppressant system for an aircraft having: a source of a fire suppressant; a tubing system for delivering the fire suppressant to one or more predetermined locations; and a discharge nozzle disposed in the one or more predetermined locations, the discharge nozzle connected to the tubing system for distributing the fire suppressant in the one or more predetermined locations during a fire, the discharge nozzle including a plurality of nozzle heads including a first nozzle head with a first flow area and a second nozzle head with a second flow area that differs from the first flow area.

Abstract: A linear detector element includes an outer sheath having a first end and a second end, one or more shape memory responsive elements within the outer sheath and between the first end and the second end and first and second conductive wires passing through at least a portion of the outer sheath and through the one or more shape memory responsive elements. The one more shape memory responsive elements include a shape memory actuator surrounding the first and second conductive wires and that has an expanded size and a contracted size and that is sized and arranged such that when the shape memory actuator is in the contracted state the first and second conductive wires contact one another and when the shape memory actuator is in the expanded state the first and second conductive wires do not contact one another.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a method for operating a hazard protection system. The method includes reading a tag coupled to a pallet storing cargo, determining a cargo type of the cargo, and initializing a configuration of parameters for the multi-parameter sensor based on the cargo type. The method also includes monitoring a cargo hold storing the cargo based at least in part on the initialized configuration of the multi-parameter sensor, and displaying the cargo type and hazard definition. Also provided are embodiments for a hazard protection system.

Abstract: A sensing assembly comprising includes one or more sensing elements formed as a tube. The sensing assembly also includes one or more clamps to secure the one or more sensing elements. Each of the one or more clamps includes a recess in which each of the one or more sensing elements is seated.

Abstract: A smoke and temperature detection system includes a plurality of fiber optic cables terminating in a plurality of nodes positioned to monitor a fire or smoke condition at one or more protected spaces, and a temperature detection fiber optic cable having a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings arrayed along the temperature detection fiber optic cable. A control system is operably connected to the plurality of fiber optic cables and to the temperature detection fiber optic cable. The control system includes a first light sensitive device configured to receive a scattered light signal from the plurality of fiber optic cables, and a second light sensitive device configured to receive a reflected light signal from the fiber Bragg gratings. The control system is configured to detect a temperature at the fiber Bragg gratings based on one or more properties of the reflected light signal received at the second light sensitive device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring pressure in a fire suppression system of an aircraft, the method providing: receiving a first pressure-vessel measured pressure from a first pressure-vessel pressure transducer connected to a first pressure-vessel; receiving a second pressure-vessel measured temperature from a second pressure-vessel temperature sensor connected to a second pressure-vessel; calculating a first pressure-vessel estimated pressure from the second pressure-vessel measured temperature; comparing the first pressure-vessel measured pressure With the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure; and providing a depressurization alert when a difference between the first pressure-vessel measured pressure and the first pressure-vessel estimated pressure is greater than a threshold thereby avoiding unscheduled aircraft downtime due to an erroneous or missing temperature measurement in the first pressure-vessel.

Abstract: A sleeving apparatus includes a worm gear. The worm gear has a plurality of threads, the worm gear receptive of a bead between adjacent threads of the plurality of threads. A plurality of flexible diaphragms are positioned along the worm gear. Each diaphragm of the plurality of diaphragms is configured to position a wire in alignment with a central bead opening of the bead. With rotation of the worm gear about a worm gear axis, the bead advances onto the wire with the wire passing into the central bead opening. The plurality of diaphragms are configured to allow passage of the bead through each diaphragm of the plurality of diaphragms.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments for a system for designing a layout for a smoke detection system, the system include a storage medium, the storage medium being coupled to a computing engine. The computing engine is configured to receive one or more inputs, model transport and dispersion of smoke in an environment based on the one or more inputs, wherein the model is based on a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) function, and detect the smoke using a plurality of probes. The computing engine is also configured to define a layout of the smoke detectors based on the smoke detectors being able to detect the smoke in the environment, and provide a map of the smoke detectors for the layout. Also provided are embodiments for a method to design a layout for a smoke detection system.

Abstract: A thermal sensor and a method of making a thermal sensor is disclosed. The thermal sensor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a composition between the first and second electrodes. The composition includes solid particles of a state-changing material that transitions at a threshold temperature between solid and liquid states having different electrical conductivities.

Abstract: A smoke detector includes a laser light source to provide incident light. The smoke detector also includes a Fabry-Perot etalon to transmit some incoming light, which is produced from the incident light, as transmitted light. Smoke particles in a cavity of the Fabry-Perot etalon affect an intensity of one or more wavelengths of the transmitted light.

Abstract: A system for an aircraft that includes a plurality of zones including: a first fiber optic cable routed through a zone of the plurality of zones. The first fiber optic cable is attached to a landing gear of the aircraft in the zone of the plurality of zones; and a first controller configured to provide a first optical signal to the first fiber optic cable and obtain a first optical response signal from the first fiber optic cable. The first controller is further configured to determine at least one temperature within the zone of the plurality of zones based on the first optical response signal, the first optical signal, and coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry (COFDR).

Abstract: A fire suppression composition comprises CF3I and CO2, wherein said CF3I is present in an amount of from 23 mol. % to 39 mol. %, based on the total moles of CF3I and CO2 present in the fire suppression composition. Alternatively, the fire suppression composition comprises CF3I and CO2, wherein said CF3I is present in an amount of from 53 mol. % to 85 mol. %, based on the total moles of CF3I and CO2 present in the fire suppression composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for monitoring a gaseous fire suppression blend. The system includes a sensor array having a plurality of sensors disposed in a protected space, wherein the sensor array can detect and quantify more than one component of the gaseous fire suppression blend.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fire suppression agent composition including CF3I and an additional fire suppression agent selected from the group consisting of HFC-23, HFC-125, HFC-227ea, dodecafluoro-2-methylpentan-3-one (Novec 1230), and HCFO-1233zd(E), wherein the fire suppression agent composition passes the FAA aerosol can test.

Abstract: Mounting support assemblies for fire and overheat detection systems are described. The mounting support assemblies include a support tube connector having a first portion and a second portion, wherein a captive space is defined between the first portion and the second portion, a fastener arranged at least partially within the captive space and passing through the first portion of the support tube connector, and a biasing element arranged about the fastener and positioned between an end of the fastener and the first portion of the support tube connector, the biasing element biasing the fastener in a direction toward the second portion.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing agent concentration measuring system having a first window, a second window positioned relative to the first window thereby defining a sensing volume between the first window and the second window, and a structure positioned relative to the first window and the second window configured to cause fluid flowing into the sensing volume from an environment within which the fire extinguishing agent concentration measuring system is placed to swirl within the sensing volume.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for protection of a lithium ion battery. The system includes a first light source and a first optical guide including first and second ends. The first optical guide is in optical communication with the light source at the first end of the first optical guide. A first material is disposed on an exterior surface of the first optical guide in fluid communication with an exterior surface of the lithium ion battery. The first material is optically responsive to a first gas indicative of an overheat condition or combustion of the lithium ion battery. A first light detector is in optical communication with the second end of the first optical guide.