Fire extinguishing method and system for large buildings

Claim 1

A mehtod for rapidly extinguishing fires in a building having a plurality of fire fighting sections therein each including closure means for isolating that section from the other sections comprising the steps of actuating the closure means in a fire fighting section in which a fire has broken out after occupants have escaped from the fire fighting section; evacuating flame, smoke and air from the fire fighting section from a position adjacent the floor of the fire fighting section; and injecting a liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent into the fire fighting section from a position adjacent the ceiling of the fire fighting section whereby the liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent is evenly distributed throughout the fire fighting section and over articles in the fire fighting section due to the draw created by the evacuation from a position adjacent the floor of the fire fighting section causing the atmosphere within the fire fighting section to run short of oxygen while the temperature in the fire fighting section is promptly reduced below the flashing point of combustibles in the fire fighting section.

Claim 7

A system for rapidly extinguishing fires in a building having a plurality of fire fighting sections therein comprising closure means for isolating each of said fire fighting sections from the other fire fighting sections; a plurality of suction means each disposed adjacent the floor in one of the fire fighting sections for evacuating flame, smoke and air therefrom; a plurality of injecting means each disposed adjacent the ceiling in one of the fire fighting sections and including a plurality of injecting nozzles spaced from each other along the ceiling in each of the fire fighting sections for injecting a liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent into the fire fighting section; reservoir means for storing said liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent and supplying said liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent to said plurality of injecting means; and control means for operating said closure means to isolate a fire fighting section in which a fire has started and for operating said suction means and said injecting means in the fire fighting sections in which a fire has started whereby the fire is rapidly extinguished due to the draw of said suction means evenly distributing said liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent throughout the fire fighting sections.

Claim 8

A system for rapidly extinguishing fires in a building having a plurality of fire fighting sections therein comprising closure means for isolating each of said fire fighting sections from the other fire fighting sections; a plurality of suction means each disposed adjacent the floor in one of the fire fighting sections for evacuating flame, smoke and air therefrom; a plurality of injecting means each disposed adjacent the ceiling in one of the fire fighting sections and including a plurality of injecting nozzles spaced from each other along the ceiling in each of the fire fighting sections for injecting a liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent into the fire fighting section; reservoir means for storing said liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent and supplying said liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent to said plurality of injecting means; and control means for operating said closure means to isolate a fire fighting section in which a fire has started and for operating said suction means and said injecting means in the fire fighting sections in which a fire has started whereby the fire is rapidly extinguished due to the draw of said suction means evenly distributing said liquefied nitrogen fire extinguishing agent throughout the fire fighting sections.