Fire fighting method and device
The invention generally relates to a fire fighting method
and device.
Nowadays it is known to extinguish fires in areas using
very fine fog. In this case extinguishing fluids under
high pressure, for example water or water mixed with
additives, are released from extinguishing fog nozzles.
With pressures of 100 bar and more the extinguishing fog
nozzles produce a finely distributed extinguishing fog,
which has good extinguishing properties, since this cools
the fire source well and thus successfully extinguishes the
fire.
However, it has been shown that not all fire sources can be
successfully extinguished by means of such extinguishing
fog. For example fires in areas having difficult to access
corners and small volumes can be extinguished with
extinguishing gas better than with extinguishing fog. Thus
it is known for example from German Patent DE 694 22 926 T3
to release liquid fog into a main sector of an entire area
to be extinguished by means of spray heads and, as well as
spraying liquid fog, to spray gas locally inside a sector
in the area to be extinguished. The volume of the sector,
in which gas is sprayed, is narrowly circumscribed within
the total volume.
With the method known from this document however, it is a
disadvantage that mixing of extinguishing fluid and

extinguishing gas cannot be prevented. For example, through
this known device it cannot be prevented that extinguishing
fluid is introduced into sensitive areas, in which only-
extinguishing gas should be used. On the other hand it
cannot be prevented that extinguishing gas is introduced
into an area, which should only be extinguished with
extinguishing fluid. The valve arrangement described is not
suitable for optional pressurization either with
extinguishing fog or extinguishing gas.
Therefore the object of the invention was to provide fire
fighting, which on the one hand imposes low technical
demands and on the other hand meets high safety
requirements.
This object is achieved according to one aspect by a fire
fighting method, wherein at least one extinguishing fluid
container is pressurized with propellant for producing an
extinguishing fog via at least one extinguishing fog
nozzle, and wherein at least one extinguishing gas nozzle
is pressurized with propellant, wherein the pressurization
of the extinguishing fluid container and the extinguishing
gas nozzle takes place via a joint propellant supply. The
method is characterized in that optionally exclusively the
extinguishing fluid container or exclusively the
extinguishing gas nozzle is pressurized with propellant via
the joint propellant supply.
It has been recognized that a joint propellant supply for
extinguishing fluid containers and extinguishing gas
nozzles only imposes low technical demands. Thus providing
the propellant via a joint propellant supply, a compressed
gas cylinder for example, is easy to put into effect. For

example this can be simply put into effect inside railway
trains or also other mobile systems. It is no longer
necessary to keep a different propellant supplies for fire
fighting with extinguishing gas and for fire fighting with
extinguishing fog. Furthermore, it has been recognized that
due to health and safety regulations in many cases
extinguishing gas must be prevented from entering areas,
which are extinguished with extinguishing fluid. On the
other hand areas, which contain technical equipment for
example, are sensitive to water, so that only extinguishing
gas should be used here. Therefore the invention proposes
that either the extinguishing fluid container or the
extinguishing gas nozzle is pressurized with propellant via
the joint propellant supply. This means that the joint
propellant supply is used to release either extinguishing
fog in an area intended for this by means of extinguishing
fog nozzles, or extinguishing gas in an area intended for
this by means of extinguishing gas nozzles. Mixing of
extinguishing fluid and propellant is avoided. Preferably
the propellant is an extinguishing gas.
In accordance with an advantageous exemplary embodiment it
is proposed that the optional pressurization of the
extinguishing fluid container or the extinguishing gas
nozzle is controlled by means of a valve. The valve thus is
preferably located between the propellant supply and the
extinguishing fluid container and/or the extinguishing gas
nozzles. For example the valve can be placed on a branch in
a pipeline. A first branch leads to the extinguishing fluid
container and a second branch leads to the extinguishing
gas nozzle. The valve may be triggered by means of a
control. The value can regulate the optional supply of
propellant to the extinguishing fluid container or the

extinguishing gas nozzle. The valve is therefore preferably
a rotary valve. Regulation by means of actuators is
possible. The actuators are activated by means of a
suitable control and triggered preferably by fire alarms
acting independently from one another, which are arranged
at different rooms/areas.
Preferably, a fire alarm is respectively located in an
area/room in which extinguishing fog nozzles are provided
and in an area/room in which extinguishing gas nozzles are
provided.
These rooms/areas are preferably separate from one another.
For example these may be an engine room within a railway
train and a passenger compartment. Inside the engine room
the extinguishing fluid must be prevented from coming into
contact with the technical equipment of the vehicle.
Therefore the use of extinguishing gas is preferred here.
In the passenger compartment, extinguishing gas should be
prevented from mixing with extinguishing fog, since this is
frequently dangerous to health.
In accordance with an advantageous exemplary embodiment the
propellant is selected from the group of inert gas,
nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, halon or combinations
thereof.
A further embodiment relates to a fire fighting device,
comprising at least one extinguishing fluid container
connected to at least one extinguishing fog nozzle
producing extinguishing fog, at least one extinguishing gas
nozzle releasing propellant and a propellant supply feeding
the extinguishing fluid container and the extinguishing gas

nozzle jointly with propellant. The fire fighting device is
characterized in that the propellant supply is connected to
the extinguishing fluid container and the extinguishing gas
nozzle in such a way that optionally exclusively the
extinguishing fluid container or exclusively the
extinguishing gas nozzle is fed with propellant.
Further advantages will become clear from the dependent
claims. The invention is described in detail below on the
basis of a drawing showing an exemplary embodiment. In the
drawing the single figure shows a fire fighting device.
An extinguishing fluid container 2, extinguishing fog
nozzles 4, an extinguishing gas nozzle 6, a propellant
supply 8, a valve 10, fire alarms 12 and 14 and an actuator
20 are shown. The fire alarm 12 is located together with
the extinguishing fog nozzles 4 in a passenger compartment
16. The fire alarm 14 is located together with the
extinguishing gas nozzle 6 in an engine room 18. The
arrangement shown works as follows:
The propellant supply 8 is provided by a compressed gas
cylinder. An extinguishing gas is stored under high
pressure in the compressed gas cylinder. The valve 10 in
the inoperative position is adjusted in such a way that the
propellant supply 8 is closed off from the rest of the
pipeline.
In the event of a fire in the passenger compartment 16 the
fire alarm 12 releases an impulse, which triggers the
actuator 20. The actuator 2 0 moves the valve 10 in such a
way that a connection is made between propellant supply 8
and extinguishing fluid container 2. Propellant flows out

of the propellant supply 8 into the extinguishing fluid
container 2 and propels extinguIshing fluid stored therein
via a pipeline into the extinguishing fog nozzles 4. As a
result of the high pressure, with which the propellant
enters the extinguishing fluid container 2, this is
propelled from the extinguishing fluid container and is
supplied at high pressure to the extinguishing fog nozzles
4. As a result, finely distributed fog is sprayed into the
passenger compartment 16. The extinguishing fog
extinguishes the fire and the fire alarm 12 reports this to
the actuator 2 0 which thereupon moves the valve 10 to the
closed position again.
A sensor circuit arranged in the extinguishing fluid
container 2 detects whether any more extinguishing fluid is
still present in the extinguishing fluid container 2. If no
more extinguishing fluid is present this arrangement closes
the connection between extinguishing fluid container 2 and
propellant supply 8, so that no propellant can enter the
pipeline and the extinguishing fog nozzles 4 and thus the
passenger compartment 16.
In the event of a fire in the engine room/compartment 18,
the fire alarm 14 releases an impulse, which triggers the
actuator 20 to move the valve 10 in such a way that a
connection is made between propellant supply 8 and
extinguishing gas nozzle 6. Propellant can enter the
extinguishing gas nozzle 6 from the propellant supply 8 and
disperse in the engine compartment 18. As a result, the
fire in the engine compartment 18 is extinguished. After
the fire has been extinguished, the fire alarm 14 reports
this to the actuator 2 0 which thereupon closes the valve 10
again.

The arrangement shown makes it possible to supply targeted
areas separate from one another via a joint propellant
supply either with extinguishing fluid or extinguishing
gas. Mixing of extinguishing fluid and extinguishing gas is
avoided so that high safety requirements are met.

AMENDED CLAIMS (Art. 34 PCT)
1. Fire fighting method,
wherein at least one extinguishing fluid container (2) is
pressurized with propellant for producing an
extinguishing fog via at least one extinguishing fog
nozzle (4), and
wherein at least one extinguishing gas nozzle (6) is
pressurized with propellant,
wherein the pressurization of the extinguishing fluid
container (2) and the extinguishing gas nozzle (6) takes
place via a joint propellant supply (8),
characterized in that optionally exclusively the extinguishing
fluid container (2) or exclusively the extinguishing gas
nozzle (6) is pressurized with propellant via the joint
propellant supply (8).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the
optional pressurization of the extinguishing fluid
container (2) or the extinguishing gas nozzle (6) is
controlled by means of a valve (10).
3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the optional pressurization of the
extinguishing fluid container (2) or the extinguishing
gas nozzle (6) is controlled by fire alarms (12, 14)
being independent from one another.
4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the propellant is a gas from the
group

A) inert gas,
B) nitrogen,
C) carbon dioxide,
D) argon,
E) halon
or combinations thereof.
5. Fire fighting device comprising:
at least one extinguishing fluid container (2), connected
to at least one extinguishing fog nozzle (4) producing
extinguishing fog, at least one extinguishing gas nozzle
(6) releasing propellant and a propellant supply (8)
feeding the extinguishing fluid container (2) and the
extinguishing gas nozzle (6) jointly with propellant,
characterized in that the propellant supply (8) is
connected to the extinguishing fluid container (2) and
the extinguishing gas nozzle (6), in such a way that
optionally exclusively the extinguishing fluid container
(2) or exclusively the extinguishing gas nozzle (6) are
fed pressurized with propellant.
6. Fire fighting device according to Claim 5, characterized
in that a valve (10) is arranged between propellant
supply (8), extinguishing fluid container (2) and
extinguishing gas nozzle (6) for optional pressurization
of the extinguishing fluid container (2) or the
extinguishing gas nozzle (6).
7. Fire fighting device according to any one of the
preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (10)
optionally opens the connection between extinguishing
fluid container (2) and propellant supply (8) or the

connection between extinguishing gas nozzle (6) and
propellant supply (8) and closes the respective other
connection accordingly.
8. Fire fighting device according to any one of the
preceding claims, characterized in that at least two fire
alarms (12, 14), independent from one another, trigger
optional pressurization of the extinguishing fluid
container (2) or the extinguishing gas nozzle (6).
9. Fire fighting device according to any one of the
preceding claims, characterized in that the extinguishing
fog nozzle (4) and the extinguishing gas nozzle (6) are
located in areas (16, 18) separated from one another.
10. Fire fighting device according to any one of the
preceding claims, characterized in that the fire alarms
(12, 14) are located in areas (16, 18) separated from one
another.
11. Fire fighting device according to any one of the
preceding claims, characterized in that a first area (16)
is a passenger compartment in a railway vehicle, and in
that a second area (18) is a motor coach in a railway
vehicle.
12. Fire fighting method,
wherein at least one extinguishing fluid container (2) is
pressurized with propellant for producing an
extinguishing fog via at least one extinguishing fog
nozzle (4), and

wherein at least one extinguishing gas nozzle (6) is
pressurized with propellant,
wherein the pressurization of the extinguishing fluid
container (2) and the extinguishing gas nozzle (6) takes
place via a joint propellant supply (8),
characterized in that optionally exclusively the extinguishing
fluid container (2) or exclusively the extinguishing gas
nozzle (6) is pressurized with propellant via the joint
propellant supply (8), wherein optional pressurization of
the extinguishing fluid container (2) or the
extinguishing gas nozzle (6) as controlled by means of a
valve (10), and wherein the optional pressurization of
the extinguishing fluid container (2) is controlled by
means of a first fire alarm (12) and the optional
pressurization of the extinguishing gas nozzle (6) is
controlled by means of a second fire alarm (14), wherein
the at least two fire alarms (12, 14) are independent
from one another.
13. Fire fighting device comprising:
at least one extinguishing fluid container (2), connected
to at least one extinguishing fog nozzle (4) releasing
extinguishing fog, at least one extinguishing gas nozzle
(6) releasing propellant and a propellant supply (8)
feeding the extinguishing fluid container (2) and the
extinguishing gas nozzle (6) jointly with propellant,
characterized in that the propellant supply (8) is connected
to the extinguishing fluid container (2) and the
extinguishing gas nozzle (6), in such a way that
optionally exclusively the extinguishing fluid container
(2) or exclusively the extinguishing gas nozzle (6) can be
pressurized with propellant,

wherein a valve is provided for optional feeding of the
extinguishing fluid container (2) or the extinguishing gas
nozzle (6), and wherein a first fire alarm (12) is
provided for optional feeding of the extinguishing fluid
container (2) and a second fire alarm (14) is provided for
optional feeding of the extinguishing gas nozzle (6),
wherein the at least two fire alarms (12, 14) are
independent from one another.

The invention relates to a method and a fire fighting device, wherein at least one extinguishing fluid container 2 is pressurized with propellant for releasing an extinguishing fog via at least one extinguishing fog nozzle 4, and wherein at least one extinguishing gas nozzle 6 is pressurized with propellant, wherein the pressurization of the extinguishing
fluid container 2 and the extinguishing gas nozzle 6 takes place via a joint propellant supply 8. To render possible targeted pressurization with either extinguishing fluid or
extinguishing gas, the invention proposes that optionally only the extinguishing fluid container 2 or only the extinguishing gas nozzle 6 is pressurized with propellant via the joint
propellant supply 8.