Abstract: A fire suppression system for a decorative tree, such as a Christmas tree, of the present invention wherein, disguised, for example, as a Christmas gift or incorporated as an integral part of the stand for the tree itself, there is provided a canister with a dry, substantially inert chemical, such as Halon, or similar fire suppressant substance, is disclosed. The fire suppressant substance is forced, e.g., by the application of pressure, when a heater smoke-sensitive sensor, released by a solenoid valve, is used to project the dispersant through a tubular plenum to a dispersant nozzle contained within, or as an integral part of, an ornament, e.g., a star, atop of the decorative tree. The flow of the fire suppressant fluid is preferably directed outward from a plurality of oval-shaped holes, preferably at least four such oval-shaped holes, which encircle a cylinder-type nozzle so as to provide dispersant to all directions surrounding the tree.

Abstract: An elevator cab fire extinguishing system is carried by an elevator cab and is arranged to discharge a non-toxic fire extinguishing agent into the interior of the elevator cab in response to a fire in the elevator cab to extinguish the fire quickly and without harm to passengers and property present in the elevator cab, and includes controls responsive to the discharge of the fire extinguishing agent for automatically shutting down the ventilation fan of the elevator cab, sounding an audible alarm, and delivering the elevator cab to a designated egress level in the building within which the elevator cab travels.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system for roof fires or the like includes a fire sensor for monitoring a condition indicative of a fire and for signaling the sensing of the condition and a wind sensor for monitoring wind speed. A first fire extinguishing member is provided for spraying a fire retardant fluid onto an exterior surface of an associated roof. A control circuit is connected to the fire sensor and the first fire extinguishing member for actuating the first fire extinguishing member as driven by the fire sensor. The composition of the fire retardant fluid is regulated by the control circuit based on readings from the wind sensor.

Abstract: An electronic fire protection system is disclosed which includes a central control circuit that operates a sprinkler, or other extinguishing system in responsive to a sensed overtemperature condition. The trigger temperature of the system is adjustable, and the control circuit automatically resets after the sensed temperature has been reduced substantially below the trigger temperature. An audible alarm is also actuated by the control circuit that must be manually reset to ensure that the occurrence of a fire when the protected area is vacant will not go unnoticed. A visual temperature display is provided that can be operated in a power saving mode when external power for the circuit is lost, and a battery backup is actuated. A combination valve/nozzle is utilized in the controlled extinguishing system which is normally spring biased closed, and opened in response to extinguishate pressure.

Abstract: A linear fire extinguisher includes a high strength elongated tube containing a pressurized fire extinguishant such as HALON 1301. A pair of opposed shaped charges is placed along the exterior or interior of the tube and when actuated provides cutting lines which cause a directed distribution of the fire extinguishant along the lines in an opposed manner to provide a net reaction force of substantially zero on the tube. A helical geometry is also provided which provides a substantial reduction in reactive forces.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system for roof fires or the like includes a fire sensor for monitoring a condition indicative of a fire and for signaling the sensing of the condition. A first fire extinguishing member is provided for spraying a fire retardant fluid onto an exterior surface of an associated roof. A logic circuit is connected to the fire sensor and the first fire extinguishing member for actuating the first fire extinguishing member as driven by the fire sensor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fire supervising system and a fire extinguishing target determining method in the water discharging and fire extinguishing operation. The system and method of the present invention is characterized by dividing a fire supervisory region into a matrix pattern to set a pluraity of sections; identifying the section corresponding to a position of a fire from the positional information of the fire starting within the supervisory region which has been output from a fire sensor; and selecting a water discharging target for a water discharging nozzle based on a priority order which has been preliminarily set for the respective sections or selecting the water discharging nozzle in charge, optimum for the fire extinguishing operation which has been set preliminarily for the respective sections.

Abstract: Smoke detector initiated, shape-memory alloy triggered fire extinguisher apparatus creates a reliable, material non-destructive, life sustaining system to suppress or extinguish fires. Low power consumption allows the apparatus to remain latent for long periods of time, be non-destructively tested, and cause fire extinguishers to reliably discharge upon detection of persistent, unsafe smoke conditions. All classes of approved fire extinguishers are controlled. Life forms, sensitive electronic equipment, and other critical mechanisms are protected when liquified gas type fire extinguishers are controlled. The apparatus may be installed in existing unprotected facilities, be installed as primary protection for new facilities, or added as a fast reacting, non-destructive, protection to facilities presently equipped with slower responding sprinkler systems.

Abstract: An improved fire suppression system control. The control system has circuy which reacts to a break in the circuit caused by catastrophic events in a rapid fashion.

Abstract: Fire extinguisher apparatus that is operated by the force of a cartridge such as that used in a nail gun. The cartridge operated fire extinguisher has two detectors that are activated by two separate types of emissions that are characteristic of a fire. Both of these detectors must be simultaneously activated in order for the fire extinguisher apparatus to be operated by the cartridge. The fire extinguisher apparatus also is capable of shutting off electrical equipment such as stoves.

Abstract: A linear fire extinguisher, includes a high strength elongated tube containing a pressurized fire extinguishant such as HALON 1301. A shaped charge is placed along the exterior of the tube and when actuated provides a rupture line which causes a directed distribution of the fire extinguishant along the rupture line.

Abstract: An automatic system for surveillance, guidance and fire fighting in airports. The system is arranged to monitor the position of aircraft in the taxiways, parking areas and flight lanes and in the event of an accident in the flight lane to extinguish any fires caused thereby. Infra-red sensors are arranged along the flight lanes and their output signals are processed by a computer to provide information concerning the aircraft movements along the flight lanes. In the event of an emergency the computer processes the output signals from the sensors to determine the precise location and area of any heat sources in the flight lane and causes hydrants to direct fire-extinguishing fluid at the heat sources. Position detectors are provided for detecting the position of aircraft in the taxiways and parking areas.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system for roof fires or the like includes a fire sensor for monitoring a condition indicative of a fire and for signaling the sensing of the condition. A first fire extinguishing member is provided for spraying a fire retardant fluid onto an exterior surface of an associated roof. A logic circuit is connected to the fire sensor and the first fire extinguishing member for actuating the first fire extinguishing member as driven by the fire sensor.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system for a cookstove or range includes a fire extiisher mounted above a hood positioned over the cookstove or range. The fire extinguisher is connected to a pair of nozzles within the hood to dispense fire suppressant over the cookstove or range. The fire extinguisher includes an operator normally biased to the operable position, but held in the inoperable position by a cable having a plurality of fusible links distributed therein. The cable is held in tension adjacent the inner periphery of the hood. Upon the occurrence of a fire, at least one of the links separates, releasing the cable and allowing the operator to move to the operating position whereby the fire extinguisher releases the fire suppressant. A low-voltage control circuit is used to cut off the flow of electricity or gas to the stove and to sound an alarm. A battery is provided with the low-voltage control circuit so that the system will still operate if house current is interrupted.

Abstract: An automatic fire extinguishing system for ranges having top burners, including a hood, mountable over the range, tanks containing fire extinguishing fluids remotely located from the hood, solenoid operated valves connected in circuit with heat sensors and power lines to discharge fluid from the tanks when the heat sensors are operated. The range may have electric or gas burners. A solenoid operated switch or solenoid operated valve is connected in circuit with the heat sensors to open the power line to the electrical burners or to open the gas main to the gas burners when the heat sensors operate. An automatically operated exhaust fan and audible alarms are also provided. The system includes manually operable set and reset switch means.

Abstract: An automatic fire extinguishing system wherein at least two fire detecting sensors are provided. The sensors are disposed at a distance from each other and movable in the horizontal and vertical directions to scan the region to be protected for detecting the angles of a fire source in the horizontal and vertical directions. A distance to the fire source is obtained from the angles of the fire source detected by the respective sensors. A discharge nozzle is set based on the fire source position determined by the angles and the distance of the fire source.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic fire extinguishing equipment adapted to direct a nozzle towards the position of a flame starting within a supervising zone so as to discharge a fire extinguishing liquid to extinguish the flame, which equipment comprises a flame detecting apparatus including a detecting element for detecting a flame and device for scanning and driving the detecting element in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, for searching the supervising zone and outputting data concerning the flames; a storage section for storing the detection data from the flame detecting apparatus; a fire extinguishment controlling section which decides the sizes of the distributed flames on the basis of the storage data from said storage section; a nozzle assembly including the nozzle and device for controlling the direction of the nozzle in response to a control from the fire extinguishment controlling section.

Abstract: Cabinet assembly for simple placing in a room so that in the event of a fire it detects fire and discharges compressed fire-fighting vapor such as bromotrifluoromethane. Cabinet contains tank of compressed vapor with discharge conduit and controls so that mere connection to electric power supply will place it in operation. Second tank in cabinet can be arranged to discharge such vapor through opening in raised floor to fight fire in space below the raised floor.

Abstract: A fire condition detection and control system for use with air moving and filtering units. The system includes one or more remote fire condition detection units, which sense heat or smoke and, upon such sensing, transmit a signal indicative of an alarm condition to one or more air moving and filtering units located within a containment area. The transmission is by wireless radio frequency transmission and/or a wired transmission line or cable. The air moving and filtering units detect the alarm condition and disconnect power to the blower motor of the air moving and filtering unit. The receiver and control circuitry may be integral with the air moving and filtering unit, or may be part of a separate control unit that plugs into conventional air moving and filtering units.

Abstract: A gas valve for providing a short duration, high volume gas pulse includes an outer chamber having an exhaust gas outlet at its front and an inner chamber which extends along the outer chamber, and terminates, at its forward end, in an opening aligned with the gas outlet of the outer chamber and spaced rearwardly therefrom. Within the inner chamber, a piston is mounted for front-to-rear reciprocal movement, and the length of the piston is selected to be greater than the distance between the valve outlet and inner chamber opening. The piston is provided with an intermediate forwardly-directed, peripheral seat, and the piston's front is dimensioned to close the exhaust gas outlet when the inner chamber is filled with gas at a moderate pressure, which forces the piston forward. The outer chamber can then be filled with a charge of gas at a high pressure.

Abstract: A fire alarm and heat detection system and apparatus employs a thermoplastic film tape, of a plastic material which may or may not be heat shrinkable, e.g., polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, rubber hydrochloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyester, or nylon, having a substantial drop in tensil strength at a predetermined temperature. A conductor wire is supported on and extends for the entire length of the tape. The wire may be round in cross section or a flat foil and embedded in the tape or formed of two separate film tapes, heat sealed or adhesively laminated together or supported, by printing or the like, on the surface of a single tape. The tape and wire are supported across a supporting frame or yoke having supporting members spring loaded apart to apply a predetermined tension which may be preselected whereby the tape and wire will break on occurrence of a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A device having a first tank which is equipped with a telescopic vertical column which is contained in the folded state in the tank which contains a liquid and which bears a diffuser. The device includes a second reserve tank and further includes flame detectors distributed on the periphery of the tanks. When a flame is detected, an electronic central unit automatically controls pyrotechnical obturators which place bottles of compressed gas in communication with the first tank.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system for a cookstove or range includes a fire extinguisher mounted above a hood positioned over the cookstove or range. The fire extinguisher is connected to a pair of nozzles within the hood to dispense fire suppressant over the cookstove or range. The fire extinguisher includes an operator normally biased to the operable position but held in the inoperable position by a cable having a plurality of fusible links distributed therein. The cable is held in tension adjacent the inner periphery of the hood. Upon the occurrence of a fire, at least one of the links separates, releasing the cable and allowing the operator to move to the operating position whereby the fire extinguisher releases the fire suppressant.

Abstract: Detection apparatus comprising UV sensing apparatus, IR sensing apparatus, inhibitible AND gate logic apparatus operative to receive outputs from the UV sensing apparatus and the IR sensing apparatus and being operative unless inhibited by receipt of an inhibit signal to produce an output signal in response to simultaneous detection by the UV and IR sensing apparatus, and inhibit signal generating apparatus operative to produce an inhibit signal in response to characteristics of the UV sensed by the UV sensing apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a fire source in a supervised region by means of fire detectors which effectively scan all over such region. A plurality of reference fire sources of the same geometric shape of the minimum size to be regareded as a fire are assumed to be located in successive predetermined position on the floor of the supervised region. Vertical control means successively sets the vertical deflection angles of each detector along the respective straight lines from each detector which graze by the upper end of the respective fire sources and to the lower end of the succeeding fire source. The system also comprises horizontal control means for causing the detectors to horizontally scan the supervised region. Upon detection of a fire, the detectors provide fire detection signals to a central processor unit which then actuates a spray nozzle to direct fire extinguishing fluid on the fire.

Abstract: A flame detector comprising a flame sensor, a storing section for storing a predetermined reference value, a comparing section for comparing a value of a signal from the flame sensor which changes in amplitude corresponding to a change in flickering of flames with said reference value and adapted to detect flames when the value of said signal exceeds the reference value, and a flame determining section which comprises a computing section for computing a ratio of an amplitude value of a minus change component to an amplitude value of a plus change component of changes in flickering of flames. The storing section stores a preset first threshold value and a preset second threshold value higher than said first threshold value, and the flame determining section signifies the presence of flames is when the ratio of the amplitude values of the signals is larger than the first threshold value and lower than the second threshold value.

Abstract: An improved fire extinguishing system is proposed which uses both water and a fire extinguisher chemical. When a fire alarm senses an abnormally high temperature, a fire extinguisher will be sprinkled first. Only if this fails to extinguish the fire, water will be sprinkled from the water nozzle. This prevents damage of overdischarge of water. There is no fear of water spreading a fire caused by a flammable liquid.

Abstract: A fire damper operated by an air motor for incorporating into the pneumatic piping system of a building. The damper motor holds the damper open under the influence of pressurized air from the system. A valve actuator in the flow channel of the damper has a fusible link maintaining the actuator in a standby condition. Temperature sufficient to destroy the integrity of the link permits an abutment on the actuator to swing to a position allowing the valve member to shift to interrupt the air pressure applied to the motor. This closes the damper. The damper may also be closed independently of operation of the actuator by interrupting the flow of pressurized air to the motor.

Abstract: Actuation circuitry causes emergency energization of a vehicle fire and explosion detection and suppression system when the vehicle is not in operation. The actuation circuitry includes a simple fire and/or explosion detector which draws a small amount of power relative to that required by the main fire and explosion detection and suppression system when operative. When the detector detects an event which may be a fire or explosion the actuation circuitry activates the main system which analyzes the event by its more sophisticated circuitry and acts accordingly. When such event is no longer detected by the detector of the actuation circuitry, the main system is shut down.

Abstract: A fire and explosion detection and suppression system protects a hangar within which may be stored jet aircraft whose engines may be run up particularly in the re-heat mode. Two radiation sensors are mounted within the hangar and detect for at least predetermined amounts of radiation of predetermined and different types (e.g. one sensor may be a UV sensor and the other may be an IR sensor). When they simultaneously detect sufficient radiation, they operate an AND gate. This fires off suppressor units. To prevent false alarms due to radiation emitted by a running jet engine or a jet engine running in re-heat mode, such a running jet engine is sensed by a transducer responsive to the emitted acoustic or vibrational energy. This blocks the AND gate.

Abstract: A fire and explosion detection and suppression system protects two physically adjacent zones in each of which there is a UV sensor and an IR sensor. In each zone, simultaneous detection, by the pair of sensors, of sufficient respective levels of UV and IR causes an AND gate to set off suppressor units to discharge suppressant into the zone being protected. Some of this suppressant may drift into the adjacent zone and may attenuate UV radiation in that zone. Thus, for at least a temporary period, that zone may be incapable of detecting a subsequently occurring fire or explosion. Therefore, by means of a latching circuit the output signal of an operating one of the AND gates temporarily renders the circuit of the adjacent zone capable of operating independently of UV radiation.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the fire extinguishing condition of automatic fire extinguishing equipment which is adapted to detect flames and spray a fire extinguisher liquid from a nozzle to extinguish a fire. The apparatus comprises a detector for generating a signal corresponding to the light energy radiated by the flames and a fire determination circuit for determining that the fire extinguisher liquid is hitting the flames when the detector signal has a DC component but has no AC component, since the AC component corresponds to flicker of the flame and ceases when the fire is sprayed with the fire extinguisher liquid.

Abstract: An externally mounted fire or explosion suppressing device for aircraft f tanks includes a bottle of pressurized fluid suppressant agent, the bottle having a primary duct ending in a seal disposed against the exterior surface of a tank wall. A secondary duct is disposed at an angle to the primary duct and carries a pyrotechnic charge that is detonated in response to an optically detected flash in the tank and explosively cuts through the seal and tank wall to release suppressant into the tank.

Abstract: A military tank is equipped with an auxiliary (extra) power source located utside the tank. With the tank engine inactive (non-running) the auxiliary power source can be energized to deliver power to the engine transmission and to the air-coolant fans for the engine. A tank, equipped with the auxiliary power source, can be subjected to a realistic live fire test of its fire suppression system even though the tank engine is inoperable or inactive.

Abstract: A module for use in a fire extinguishing system and comprising a housing which contains detector apparatus for detecting characteristics of a fire or an incipient fire; control apparatus adapted to be actuated by detection at the detector apparatus; and fire extinguishing apparatus adapted to be discharged by the control apparatus.

Abstract: An ignition and fire suppressing system for an electrostatic sprayer of the type having a high voltage supply for creating an electrostatic charge and a nozzle in flow communication with a pressurized coating material source and a pressurized atomizing gas source. The system includes a high voltage arc-detecting circuit for sensing the presence of an ionizing arc or spark and for disabling the high voltage supply to the sprayer; a pressurized non-ignitable fire suppressing gas source in flow communication with the sprayer nozzle; and solenoid valves connected between the sprayer nozzle and the coating material, atomizing gas and fire suppressing gas sources which are actuated by an output from the arc-detecting circuit.

Abstract: An improved fire seal comprises: an elongated flexible carrier incorporating structure for affixing the seal in a gap between opposing surfaces; a resilient cellular core; a bead of intumescent material; a flexible outer protective liner covering the cellular core and the intumescent bead; and, a remotely actuatable heat source disposed in the seal for activating the intumescent material responsive to a remotely generated signal, whereby the gap may be sealed by expansion of the intumescent material responsive to an alarm condition in a location remote from the gap.

Abstract: An automatic fire extinguisher wherein a fire detector receives infrared rays from started fire flame in detecting area at one of many light receiving elements which corresponds to the ray's incident angle into an assembly of infrared-ray passing filter and condenser lens, variations in detected output of the detector resulting from flaring of the fire flames are discriminated, the detected output higher than a predetermined level controllably drives an ejection nozzle to direct it towards the point of the flames and discharges a fire extinguishant out of the nozzle towards the flames, achieving thus a reliable detection and effective extinguishment of only such started fire while preventing any erroneous operation due to other infrared ray sources.

Abstract: An automatic fire extinguisher wherein a fire detector receives infrared rays from started fire flames in detecting area, as unified in the incident amount of the rays, at one of many light receiving elements which corresponds to the ray's incident angle into an assembly of infrared-ray passing filter and condenser lens, variations in detected output of the detector resulting from flaring of the fire flames are discriminated, the detected output higher than a predetermined level controllably drives an ejection nozzle to direct it towards the position of the flames and discharges a fire extinguishant out of the nozzle towards the flames, achieving thus a reliable detection of the fire irrespective of its distance from the detector as well as an effective extinguishment of only such started fire while preventing any erroneous operation due to other infrared ray sources.

Abstract: A fire suppression system including a housing for receiving particulate matter and defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, an input duct connected to the inlet opening, an air mover for forcing air through the input duct into the housing and out of the outlet openings, and filter means disposed in the housing and sealed between the inlet opening and the outlet opening so as to remove in the housing the particulate matter entrained by air entering through the inlet opening. Also included are an inlet sensor providing an inlet output signal dependent on the inlet temperature of combined gas and particulate matter entering the housing through the inlet opening, an outlet sensor providing a discharge output signal dependent on the outlet temperature of air discharged through the outlet opening, and a difference circuit receiving the inlet and discharge output signals and providing a difference signal in response to a predetermined minimum difference therebetween.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for sensing explosive fires by the parallel processing of signals derived from both electromagnetic radiation and mechanical wave energy simultaneously emanating from or near the source of these fires. This diverse-stimuli sensing capability enhances the false alarm immunity of the system.

Abstract: The danger of explosion due to decomposition of high-pressure industrial process gases, such as ethylene, is reduced by beginning to cool the decomposition gases with a delay of no more than 25 milliseconds from the onset of flow of the gases out of a high-pressure vessel.The process may be implemented by using apparatus comprising:(1) means containing an inert gas at a pressure P between about 5 and 50 bars and an inert liquid of high heat of vaporization; and(2) a valve located upstream of an inert-liquid dispersing-means, of which the opening is operated by a means detecting the opening of a safety means of the high-pressure vessel and operating the working of the dispersing means.The apparatus is useful for the recovery of decomposition gases in order to avoid atmospheric pollution, as well as for reducing the risk of explosion.

Abstract: A fireproof cabinet system for electronic equipment including a wall shield with an outer metal layer that acts as a radiation shield, an inner support layer and an insulation layer. A water supply nozzle is mounted on top of the fireproof cabinet system for providing a continuous stream of cooling water on the cabinet shield for minimizing fire damage of the shield and also providing a temperature barrier for the electronic equipment. A forced air cooling system provides cool air from a supply located outside of the equipment room to the cabinet where the coolant air is ducted along the top and side walls of the cabinet in a sheath formed between the cabinet wall and the interior so that the coolant air in combination with the cooling water act to cool both the equipment and to remove heat caused by the external fire.

Abstract: An automatic fire extinguishing apparatus including a fire sensor, a swivel chamber and an expansible hollow rod secured to the chamber. When a fire is detected by the fire sensor, the swivel chamber is rotated about a vertical axis in accordance with the output of the fire sensor until the rod is directed to the fire source. Then a pressurized fire extinguishing agent contained in a bomb is introduced into the rod through the chamber to expand the rod toward the fire source. The expansion of the rod is stopped when the end of the rod is adjacent the fire source and the free end of the rod is opened, so that the fire extinguishing agent is discharged toward the fire source.

Abstract: A fire detection system comprises a plurality of individual fire detection-suppression units which all have their own individual standby electrical power supply. Each has a radiation detector for fire detection and its own source of fire suppressant. In the event of any of the units detecting a large fire, it automatically releases suppressant from its own source. In addition, all the units are connected to a master control station via a data bus. Any individual unit sensing a large fire signals this fact to the master control station which then enables the immediately adjacent individual units so as to permit those units, only, to release their fire suppressant if and only if they detect at least a "small" fire (and also provided that the master control station determines that not less than a predetermined number of the units still have functional fire suppressant sources).

Abstract: A fire and explosion suppression system which is operative for suppressing an explosion within 100 milliseconds of the existence of a high energy ignition and within 200 milliseconds of the existence of a low energy ignition. Acutation circuitry for this system is also disclosed and claimed and includes circuitry operative in two different modes having different sensitivities and response and well as circuitry for sensing the failure of suppression elements to operate and for actuation of additional suppression elements in response to this sensed failure.

Abstract: A decorative housing for a fire extinguisher. A five sided box forms a cavity to receive and hold a fire extinguisher. A door or decorative cover is slidably mounted to the box adjacent the cavity and is movable from an up position closing the cavity and concealing the fire extinguisher to a down position revealing the fire extinguisher. A heat and smoke detector mounted to a clock frame above the box is connected to a source of electrical energy and in turn to a solenoid. The plunger of the solenoid normally extends into the door locking the door in the closed position. Activation of the detector withdraws the plunger allowing the door to slide downwardly. An audio alarm and light within the box cavity activate simultaneously upon the withdrawal of the plunger. A cord is connected to the plunger to allow manual withdrawal of the plunger and opening of the door.

Abstract: Discrimination apparatus for use in a fire and explosion detection and suppression system which includes plural detectors and suppression apparatus operated thereby and including apparatus for sensing detection by a first number of detectors within a predetermined time period and providing an output signal only when the first plurality of detectors detect within the predetermined time period and apparatus operative in response to the output signal for inhibiting operation of the suppression apparatus.

Abstract: A fire and explosion suppression system which is operative for suppressing an explosion within 100 milliseconds of the existence of a high energy ignition and within 200 milliseconds of the existence of a low energy ignition. Actuation circuitry for this system is also disclosed and claimed and includes circuitry operative in two different modes having different sensitivities and response as well as circuitry for sensing the failure of suppression elements to operate and for actuation of additional suppression elements in response to this sensed failure.

Abstract: The invention discriminates between the explosion of an ammunition round itself and the fire or explosion (e.g. a hydrocarbon fire) which may then take place in the object (e.g. a vehicle) struck by the round and initiates suppression of the latter fire or explosion only. The vehicle carries a radiation detector which measures the ratio of the intensities of the radiation at 3.4 and 4.4 microns. When an exploding ammunition round passes through the fuel tank entraining initially unburning hydrocarbon fuel with it, the detector measures a relatively low ratio because the unburning hydrocarbon fuel vapor between the burning round and the detector has a very intense absorption band at 3.4 microns. Fire suppression is thus initiated, so as to suppress the hydrocarbon fire which would very shortly follow.