Fire-protection mechanism

摘要

A fire-protection mechanism is described. The fire-protection mechanism includes multiple, overlapping cavities that can be filled with water (and, more generally, a fluid). When the fire-protection mechanism is deployed over an object, such as a building, and the cavities are filled with water, the fire-protection mechanism reduces the likelihood that the object is damaged by the heat associated with a fire proximate to the object, such as a wild fire. In particular, the heat capacity and latent heat of the water significantly increase the thermal time constant of the object, thereby reducing the likelihood of combustion. The fire-protection mechanism may include a reflective coating to redirect infrared radiation away from the object to provide further protection. In addition, the water in the cavities may be refilled, as needed, by directing a stream of water onto the fire-protection mechanism and/or through an internal channel in the fire-protection mechanism.

主权项

1. A fire-protection mechanism, comprising:
a first flexible layer having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the first flexible layer includes openings, defined by edges, between the outer surface and the inner surface, which are distributed over the outer surface; a second flexible layer having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the second flexible layer is mechanically coupled to the first flexible layer to form multiple pockets in a vertical direction with multiple partially enclosed cavities defined by the inner surface of the first flexible layer, the Inner surface of the second flexible layer, and the openings; wherein the openings are on a top edge of the pockets along a horizontal direction, the openings expose the partially enclosed cavities to air, and, for a given pocket, the openings extend over at least a substantial portion of a width of the given pocket along the horizontal direction; wherein the openings are configured to allow fluid to flow into and fill the cavities; wherein the cavities are configured to bold the fluid based on gravity; and wherein the static presence of the fluid provides fire protection based on the beat capacity and latent heat of the fluid.