The subject matter relates to a fire-fighting device, a system with a fire-fighting device and a method for operating such a system.

A wide variety of technologies are used to fight fires. In addition to the classic sprinkler systems for fire fighting, there are systems with high pressure water mist as well as systems with aerosols, which are used for fire extinguishing. In the latter systems, the aerosol, which is formed from finely atomized solids, is applied by so-called generators. Generators are ignited electrically and, after ignition, deliver the aerosol. This is not a problem as long as only one generator is used per control device. In applications in which larger areas have to be protected, however, it can make sense to interconnect several generators in series along the same control line. But then it can come to that

it can be guaranteed that all generators connected to this control line are actually triggered.

For this reason the object was based on the task of creating a

To provide fire fighting equipment, in which a safe triggering of all generators along a common control line is guaranteed.

This object is achieved by a fire fighting device according to claim 1. A generator is provided with which a fire fighting agent can be deployed. A generator can, for example, be a cartridge

in which the fire fighting agent is stored. The cartridge can be activated via an ignition pulse and the fire-fighting agent applied.

In particular, it is possible that the generator can be opened and the fire-fighting agent can be deployed through an exothermic reaction. In particular, an aerosol generator can be used which emits a solid aerosol during an ignition process. Such generators are conventionally known.

An ignition means is arranged in the generator, in particular in the cartridge of the generator. This ignition means can be triggered via an electrical ignition pulse, also called ignition current. At the moment the ignition agent is triggered, a gas pressure is built up through which the fire-fighting agent is deployed.

To ignite the ignition means, it can be controlled via a two-pole control connection. The ignition current and the ignition voltage can be applied to the control connection. If the ignition current exceeds a limit value, the ignition means can trigger and activate the generator.

As already explained, it cannot always be guaranteed that, in the case of an electrical series connection, several fire-fighting devices

Trigger generators of all fire fighting equipment at the same time. If the ignition means is designed in such a way that an electrical connection between the two poles of the control connection is interrupted or disrupted in the event of ignition, the current flow along the series circuit can be interrupted when a fire fighting device is triggered and thus upstream or downstream

Fire-fighting equipment in series can no longer be supplied with sufficient ignition current. It has now been recognized that a

Bridging circuit can be arranged at the poles of the control connection, with which this interruption of the current flow can also be prevented in the event of a triggering of the ignition means and an associated interruption of the electrical connection. Triggering of the ignition means can be detected with the aid of the bridging circuit. The bridging circuit is such that it closes a switch when the ignition device is triggered and thereby short-circuits the two poles of the control connection or connects them to one another with low resistance. This means that if the ignition device is ignited, the switch bridges the ignition device and the ignition current can still flow between the poles of the control connection.

The switch is in particular such that it is closed after a single activation when an ignition voltage is applied. An activation criterion for

Activation of the bypass circuit can be a resistance across the ignition means. In particular, in the case of a high-resistance ignition device, that is, when the ignition device has ignited and a line is interrupted or disrupted, the criterion can be met so that the switch is then closed. The ignition device is then bypassed via the switch and the ignition current thus flows through the fire-fighting device to upstream and / or downstream fire-fighting devices, where it can ensure reliable ignition of the ignition device. This ensures that such

Can trigger fire-fighting equipment in which the ignition means may be sluggish and / or require an ignition current that is applied over a longer period in order to trigger safely.

To bypass the ignition means by the switch, it is proposed that the bypass circuit is connected electrically in parallel with the control connection. The bridging circuit is thus applied to the poles of the control connection in parallel with the ignition means.

The bridging circuit can monitor an ohmic resistance across the ignition device. In the non-triggered state, a current flows almost unhindered through the ignition means. The ohmic resistance is close to 0 W,

in particular not more than 3 W, in particular between 1 and 4 W. With the

The bypass circuit will thus have a very low resistance across the

Detected ignition means. Immediately after the ignition means has been ignited, however, a high resistance, in particular greater than 3 W, preferably greater than 10 W above the

Ignition means are measured. Such a high resistance can cause the bypass circuit to activate and close the switch.

The bridging circuit preferably has a current mirror. The

According to one exemplary embodiment, the current mirror is connected asymmetrically between the poles of the control connection. That means the first path

(Reference path) of the current mirror is connected to a pole of the control connection via a resistor of close to 0 W and the second path (following path) of the

Current mirror is directly connected to this pole of the control connection. As a result, depending on the current flow through the ignition means, which also through the

Resistance flows, affecting the first path of the current mirror. As a result of

Influencing the first path of the current mirror can be based on the

Switch a switch depending on the second path of the current mirror to its first path via the second path of the current mirror.

According to one exemplary embodiment, it is proposed that the switch be an electronic switch. The electronic switch is preferably a TRIAC or thyristor. This switch is preferably switched via the second path of the current mirror. In the case of an ignited ignition device, when it becomes high-resistance, the voltage at the gate connection of the switch rises so that it becomes conductive. This is due to the asymmetry of the two paths of the current mirror.

According to one embodiment it is proposed that the generator is an aerosol generator. In particular, this is a solid aerosol generator. Such a generator has an amount of solids of approximately 30 g to 500 g, which amount is applied in the event of the ignition means being ignited. The aerosol is suitable for binding free radicals of the fire and thus extinguishing a fire.

According to one embodiment, it is proposed that the ignition means is a pyrotechnic ignition means. A pyrotechnic ignition means is ignited via an electrical pulse, after which an exothermic, pyrotechnic reaction takes place. As a result of this reaction, a gas pressure is built up inside the generator, which means that the aerosol can be discharged from the generator.

In particular, the ignition means is a resistance wire. This resistance wire has a defined electrical resistance. If an ignition current is applied to the

When the resistance wire is applied, it heats up. The resistance wire is preferably connected between the poles of the control connection. By heating up the resistance wire, the ignition agent is ignited and the generator is triggered. As already explained, the ignition of the ignition means can be via the

Resistance wire take different lengths of time. If an ignition current is applied via series-connected fire-fighting equipment, this can lead to the ignition point of the respective ignition means being different. If an ignition device is triggered, the ignition current can be interrupted. If this is the case, this can lead to the series connection of several

Fire-fighting devices that no longer reliably trigger other ignition devices. For this reason, the present bridging circuit is proposed with bridging of the ignition means in the event of ignition.

The above problem is exacerbated in environments where the

Input voltage at the control connection is variable. Through the proposed

Bypass circuit allows safe ignition in particular

Realize voltage ranges between 10V and 40V. It means that

in fact, a defined voltage does not have to provide a defined ignition current, but also different voltages for reliable triggering of all ignition means along a series connection of several

Fire-fighting equipment can provide. The tension band is

especially formed between 16.8V and 30V. It should be mentioned here that the

Voltage band is preferably formed between 10V and 40V, in particular between 15V and 35V, particularly preferably between 16V and 31V, in particular between 16.8V and 30V.

Other tension bands are also possible. It has been recognized that the fire fighting device can still be operated safely when voltages of different levels are applied to the control connection. By a

Corresponding dimensioning of the bridging circuit, a reliable triggering of the ignition means can also be realized over a voltage range of several 10V. The minimum ignition voltage can be approx. 4 V per fire fighting device. With four fire-fighting devices, this results in a voltage across the entire range of 16V. If the voltage across the row is 30V, then a voltage of 7.5 V is applied to each fire fighting device. In this voltage range between 4V and 7.5V, reliable ignition must be ensured

guaranteed.

In addition to reliable triggering, it can also be useful to be able to monitor with the aid of a measuring current whether a fire-fighting device has triggered along the series circuit or not. According to a further aspect that is inventive in its own right and with all of the features described here

can be combined, it is proposed that a circuit for storing an ignition process is arranged electrically in series with the ignition means.

At the moment of ignition, a high current flows through the ignition means, in particular through the series connection of the ignition means. It is proposed that the circuit have at least one fuse that is triggered during an ignition process and one switch that bridges the fuse. The fuse is implemented in particular by a fuse. In the event of the ignition current, the fuse can trip.

The switch can be designed so that it is activated when the ignition voltage is applied

is closed, but is open when lower voltages are applied. So it is possible that the circuit for storing the ignition process at a low

Measurement current that leads to a low voltage, an interruption of the circuit or at least a defined resistance, and no or only a smaller measurement current flows than with an intact fuse. It can thus be detected whether at least one fire-fighting device has triggered.

In the event of a subsequent ignition, however, the voltage and the current can be so high that the switch in the circuit for storing the ignition process is closed and the ignition current can flow through the switch instead of the fuse. Ignition can then take place at further ignition means. This is

in particular also relevant for the reason that the fuse triggers the first time an ignition device is ignited. In order to prevent the circuit for storing the ignition process from passing the ignition current over the further

If fire-fighting agents are suppressed along the series connection, the switch is closed when the ignition voltage and ignition current are applied.

In the event of a fire, that is, when a fire alarm system reports a fire and the fire is to be extinguished, the fire fighting device is converted into a

Ignition mode offset. In ignition mode, ignition voltage and ignition current are applied to the inputs of the control connection. In the case of a series connection of several fire-fighting equipment, the same ignition current is applied to all fire-fighting equipment. This ignition current is dimensioned so that it

is normally large enough to trigger the ignition means.

In addition to the fire, there is also the surveillance case. In this case, no fire is reported, it should only be monitored whether the

Fire-fighting equipment continues to be properly connected to the control circuit via its control connections, e.g. fire alarm system or

Fire fighting system are connected. In this monitoring case, a small measurement current that is less than an ignition current, in particular a

Is an order of magnitude less than an ignition current applied to the poles of the control connection. This measuring current does not lead to an ignition of the ignition means and flows through the ignition means. The circuit for storing the ignition process is like this

set up that it blocks in the event of the measuring current or a defined

Represents resistance. This circuit can then be used to determine that at least one fire fighting device has ignited along a row.

In the event of a fire, however, the switch remains closed and bypasses the opened fuse so that the ignition current can continue to flow through the circuit for storing the ignition process.

Another aspect is a system with a control circuit, in particular an output of a fire alarm system or fire fighting system and at least two electrically connected in series to the control circuit

Fire fighting equipment. With this system, a

Ignition current applied to the series circuit of the fire fighting equipment.

The ignition current is dimensioned so that the ignition means can ignite

In the monitoring case, only a measuring current is applied that can flow almost unhindered via the ignition means without triggering it.

It is possible that an ignition device ignites and forms a short circuit during ignition. Such a triggering event can also be detected with the circuit for storing the ignition process. Despite a short circuit across the ignited ignition device, it is ensured that in the event of the measurement current, the circuit for storing the ignition process remains open and thus no measurement current or a measurement current can flow over a defined resistance.

Another aspect is a method for operating such a system. In a monitoring mode, the control circuit provides a measurement current which is less than the ignition current for igniting the ignition means. In an ignition mode, ie in the event of a fire, the control circuit provides an ignition current. At least one ignition means of a fire-fighting device is ignited by the ignition current. All fire-fighting equipment is preferred by the

Ignition current ignited at the same time. However, this cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, it is proposed that a bridging circuit be activated by the ignition of the ignition means assigned to the bridging circuit. When the bridging circuit is activated, its switch is closed so that the ignition device is short-circuited and the ignition current can flow across the switch regardless of the state of the ignition device.

That is, when the ignition means ignites and opens, the ignition current continues to flow unhindered via the then closed switch and can ensure that at least a second of the ignition means of the fire fighting devices is ignited by the ignition current. This bridging circuit ensures that the ignition current through the ignition means of the series-connected

Fire fighting equipment can flow up to several or all

Have ignited fire-fighting equipment.

On the other hand, immediately after an ignition current has flowed, the circuit for storing the ignition process is activated. In this case, a switch is controlled in such a way that it is open when there is a measuring current or a low one

Forms resistance, but is closed with an ignition current. The ignition current can still flow unhindered via this circuit, im

Monitoring operation of the measuring current, however, not or via a defined resistance, so that it can be determined that at least one ignition has taken place.

As already explained, the system in question is particularly suitable in environments in which no constant voltage can be made available. This is particularly the case with a rail vehicle in which

Voltages between 10V and 40V can be provided by the on-board network All these voltages must ensure safe ignition of all fire-fighting equipment in the event of a fire

This bridging circuit ensures this, though

different high voltage levels are available for switching or ignition.

The subject matter is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing showing exemplary embodiments. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1 shows a system with a control circuit and a number of

Fire fighting equipment;

2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a circuit at a control connection of a

Fire fighting equipment.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a system with a

Control circuit 2, for example a fire alarm system or

Fire-fighting system to which several fire-fighting devices 4 each have at least one circuit 6 having a bridging circuit and a generator 8. The control circuit 2 has a digital control output with two poles 2a, 2b. The control circuit 2 is electrically connected in series

Fire fighting equipment 4 connected.

In the event of a fire, if a fire is to be fought or extinguished, it is necessary that as many as possible are connected along a line, i.e. electrically in series

Generators 8 of the control circuit 2 actually trigger. Since the generators 8 are connected in series, this is not always the case with conventional systems.

In a generator 8, which can be an aerosol generator, an ignition means, for example an ignition wire, can be arranged, which is heated by a current flow and triggers a pyrotechnic ignition.

The current flow is caused by the ignition current between poles 2a, 2b.

At the moment in which an ignition device of a generator 8 is triggered, it can happen that an electrical interruption occurs in the ignition device, for example in the ignition wire. However, this leads to the current flow being interrupted between the poles 2a, 2b.

In this case, if the ignition means of the other generators 8 along the line are not yet sufficiently heated and activated for ignition, this interruption can lead to the ignition process in the other generators 8 being interrupted and no longer igniting.

This problem occurs more intensely when the voltage at the poles 2a, 2b is variable, for example in the case of applications in rail vehicles. There the control circuit 2 is connected to the internal voltage supply of the rail vehicle, which has a relatively high fluctuation range of at least 10 V, for example. This range of voltage fluctuation leads to

different currents in the ignition means of the generators 8, so that the duration of the current flow for effective ignition can be different. Precisely this leads to the fact that not all generators 8 along a line trigger simultaneously and thus possibly generators 8 are not triggered at all, as described above.

To avoid these generators 8 not being triggered, a circuit 6 is proposed, as is explained in greater detail in FIG. 2 by way of example.

In FIG. 2, the circuit 6 is shown with an ignition means 10 within a generator 8. The ignition means 10 has, for example, an ignition wire with a pyrotechnic charge. The circuit 6 can be connected via the connections 12a, 12b and 12c. As a rule, one of the circuits 6 is connected to the control circuit 2 with the connections 12a, 12c along a row as shown in FIG. 1, all the other circuits 6 are connected to the control circuit 2 with the connections 12a, 12b. The circuit 6 has a

Bridging circuit 6a and a circuit 6b for storing a

Ignition process. The circuit 6b is also called memory circuit 6b below.

The bridging circuit 6a has a current mirror 14 which is asymmetrically connected to the connections 12a, 12b via a resistor 16.

A thyristor or TRIAC 18 can be provided on the output side of the current mirror 14, which switches through at a sufficiently high voltage between the cathode 18c and gate 18b and conductively connects the anode 18a to the cathode 18c.

In a monitoring mode, a measuring current of up to 5 mA is passed through the series circuit according to FIG. 1. The measurement current flows from the connection 12a via the ignition means 10 to the connection 12b and from there to the next fire fighting device 4. This is normal operation in which no ignition has yet taken place. With the measuring current via the ignition means is the

The voltage drop across the ignition device, which is caused by the current flow, is so small that the current mirror does not achieve its required level

Receives minimum operating voltage and thus blocks thyristor 18.

In the event of fire, the generators 8 should be ignited. For this purpose, an ignition current is applied to circuit 6 in the event of a fire.

The ignition current initially flows through the ignition means 10. As a result, the ignition wire in the ignition means 10 heats up and ultimately leads to activation of the

pyrotechnic charge in the ignition means 10 and activation of the generator 8 for the application of the aerosol.

At the moment in which the ignition means 10 is triggered, the electrical connection via the ignition means 10 can break and the ignition means 10 can block an electrical connection between the connections 12a, 12b. The lack of current flow through the resistor 16 reduces the asymmetrical connection of the current mirror 14, so that the voltage between the collector of the current mirror 14 and the resistor 17 increases. This leads to the ignition current having a sufficiently high voltage between the cathode 18c and causes the gate 18b of the thyristor 18 and this turns on.

The ignition current then flows through the thyristor 18 between the poles 12a and 12b in spite of the interrupted line in the ignition means 10. This leads to the fact that all the series-connected fire-fighting devices 4 according to FIG. 1 are permanently supplied with the ignition current, even if individual fire-fighting devices 4 or their ignition means 10 have already ignited and an electrical one

Cause separation. Thus, the bridging circuit 6a causes a safe operation of all generators 8 along a line of series-connected

Fire fighting devices 4 on a control circuit 2.

At the moment of ignition, the wire in the ignition means 10 can break. However, it is also possible for the wire to fuse or for an electrical connection to remain in some other way via the ignition means 10 even after ignition. In order to be able to monitor whether at least one ignition means 10 of the

If the fire-fighting device 4 has ignited along a line, a fire-fighting device 4 can be connected to the connections 12a and 12c on the line according to FIG. 1.

In such a case, the memory circuit 6b is connected to the line. A fuse 20 is provided in the memory circuit 6b, which is designed in such a way that, in the event of an ignition current of a duration which is approximately or slightly shorter than the minimum duration for igniting an ignition means 10 is, melts. In the event of the ignition current, the fuse 20 melts and the Zener diode 22 becomes conductive due to the voltage drop across the resistor 24 and breaks down. In this case, a sufficiently high voltage is present across the resistor 27 between the cathode 28c and the gate 28b of the thyristor 28 and this becomes conductive.

This means that even with a melted fuse 20, an ignition current can still flow via the circuit 6 between the terminals 12a and 12c, namely via the thyristor 28.

On the other hand, a measuring current is regularly introduced into the circuit to check whether it is still functional. If all ignition means 10 are still conductive, the measuring current flows through these ignition means 10. This can also be the case if an ignition means 10 has already ignited but an electrical connection has remained. Then it could not be determined by the measuring current whether an ignition of at least one fire-fighting device 4 has taken place or not.

However, since a fire fighting device 4 is connected in series via the connections 12a and 12c, the memory circuit 6b is also active. As already described, the fuse 20 melts in the event of an ignition current. A measurement current then flows through the resistor 24. However, this measurement current is too low for the Zener diode 22 to become conductive and the thyristor 28 to remain

closed. This means that when measuring via the series connection of the

Fire-fighting devices 4 along the line according to FIG. 1, a measuring current is conducted at least via the resistor 24. This causes a voltage drop between the poles 2a, 2b which can be measured and, from a certain size, indicates that the memory circuit 6b is activated and the measuring current flows through the resistor 24 and not through an intact fuse 20. This makes it possible to determine that the memory circuit 6b has been activated.

With the aid of the fire-fighting device in question, it is possible to ensure reliable ignition of fire-fighting devices connected in series on a control circuit.

List of reference symbols

2 control circuit

2a, b poles

4 fire fighting equipment

6 circuit

6a bridging circuit

6b memory circuit

8 generator

10 ignition means

12a-c connector

14 current mirror

16 resistance

17 resistance

18 thyristor

19 resistance

20 Backup

22 Zener diode

24, 26, 27 resistance

28 thyristor
Patent claims

1. Fire fighting equipment with

at least one generator emitting fire-fighting means, an electrically triggerable ignition means arranged in the generator, the ignition means via an at least two-pole control connection

is controllable,

characterized,

that an electrically arranged at the control terminal

Bypass circuit detects a triggering of the ignition means and closes a switch when the ignition means is triggered.

2. Fire fighting device according to claim 1,

characterized,

that the bridging circuit is connected electrically in parallel with the control connection.

3. Fire-fighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

that the bridging circuit monitors a current through the ignition means and that the bridging circuit closes the switch when a current is detected below a limit value.

4. Fire-fighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

that the bypass circuit is an asymmetrically tied

Has current mirror.

5. Fire-fighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

that the switch is an electronic switch.

6. Fire-fighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

that the generator is an aerosol generator, in particular one

Solid aerosol generator is.

7. Fire-fighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

that the ignition means is a pyrotechnic ignition means, in particular an ignition means that can be ignited electrically via a resistance wire.

8. Fire-fighting device according to one of the preceding claims

characterized,

that the control connection is formed for an input voltage between 10 and 40V, in particular between 16.8V and 30V.

9. Fire-fighting device according to one of the preceding claims

characterized,

that a circuit for storing an ignition process is arranged electrically in series with the ignition means, the circuit having at least one fuse that is triggered during an ignition process and one switch that bridges the fuse.

10. Fire-fighting device according to one of the preceding claims

characterized,

that the switch bridging the fuse is open during monitoring operation.

11. System with a control circuit and at least two fire-fighting devices according to one of the preceding claims, electrically connected in series to the control circuit.

12. A method of operating a system with a control circuit and

at least two fire-fighting devices electrically connected in series to the control circuit, in which

a measuring current is provided by the control circuit in a monitoring mode, the measuring current being lower than an ignition current for igniting the ignition means,

an ignition current is provided by the control circuit in an ignition mode,

at least one ignition means of a first of the fire fighting devices is ignited by the ignition current,

the ignition assigned to the ignited ignition means

Monitoring circuit is activated in such a way that the switch is closed and thereby the ignition current through at least a second of the

Fire-fighting equipment after the ignition of the ignition means of the first of the fire-fighting equipment flows.

13. The method according to claim 12,

characterized,

that the circuit for storing an ignition process is activated by the ignition current in such a way that a switch of the circuit for storing the

Ignition process is open at a measuring current and that the switch is closed at an ignition current that is greater than the measuring current.

14. Use of a system according to claim 11 in a rail vehicle.

15. Use according to claim 14,

characterized,

that the control circuit is fed by a voltage source of the rail vehicle, wherein a voltage band of the voltage source is greater than 10 V, in particular that the voltage band is between 16.8 V and 30 V.