Hazard suppression training simulator and method of training

Abstract

A training simulator including a housing having a prop portion configured to simulate or evoke an appearance of an object encountered in firefighting activity. The simulator has a sensation emitter coupled to the housing and configured to emit a sensation to simulate or evoke an appearance of a hazardous condition. The simulator further includes a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to detect a simulated or an actual hazardous condition suppressant directed at or applied to the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the sensation emitter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A training simulator comprising:
 a housing including a prop portion configured to simulate or evoke an appearance of an object encountered in firefighting activity;   a sensation emitter coupled to said housing and configured to emit a sensation to simulate or evoke an appearance of a hazardous condition;   a sensor coupled to said housing and configured to detect a simulated or an actual hazardous condition suppressant directed at or applied to the housing; and   a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the sensation emitter.   
     
     
         2 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein said housing includes a housing portion defining an interior compartment, and wherein said sensation emitter is positioned in said interior compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The simulator of  claim 2  wherein prop portion is positioned on top of said housing portion. 
     
     
         4 . The simulator of  claim 2  wherein the prop portion is removably coupled to the housing portion. 
     
     
         5 . The simulator of  claim 2  wherein the training simulator is configured such that the sensation emitted by the sensation emitter is emitted externally of the interior compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The simulator of  claim 2  wherein the sensor is configured to detect a simulated or an actual hazardous condition suppressant that is applied to said housing externally of said interior compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The simulator of  claim 2  wherein the controller is positioned in the interior compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein when the simulator is configured such that when the sensation emitter emits the sensation, the housing and the emitted sensation cooperate to simulate that the object is subject to the hazardous condition. 
     
     
         9 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to automatically vary the emissions of the sensation emitter in response to an output of the sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein the simulator further comprises a display panel configured to visually display a hazardous condition, and wherein said display panel is positioned adjacent to said housing such that a visual display of the hazardous condition on the display is positioned to appear to emanate from said housing. 
     
     
         11 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein said housing is manually carryable. 
     
     
         12 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein said sensation emitted by the sensation emitter is detectable by a trainee positioned externally of said housing who is positioned to apply the simulated or actual hazardous condition suppressant at or to the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein the sensation emitted by the sensation emitter includes at least one of light, sound, smoke, sparks, fluid, heat, solid material, or an odorous material. 
     
     
         14 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is configured to detect at least one of an audible signal, electromagnetic signal, ultrasonic signal, pressure signal, heat signal, particle signal, fluid signal, gas vapor signal, or a fire blanket. 
     
     
         15 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein the hazardous condition comprises at least one of fire, smoke, sparks, steam leak, flammable gas leak, toxic fluid leak, hazardous fluid leak, or oxidizing gas leak. 
     
     
         16 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein the object comprises at least one of a device, machinery, hardware, furniture, container, or enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein the object comprises at least one of a motor, engine, pump, generator, stove, storage drum, box, can, trashcan, or stove pot. 
     
     
         18 . A training simulator comprising:
 a prop housing configured to simulate or evoke an appearance of an object encountered in firefighting activity;   a sensation emitter coupled to said prop housing and configured to emit a sensation to simulate or evoke a hazardous condition;   a sensor coupled to said prop housing and configured to detect a simulated or an actual hazardous condition suppressant directed at or applied to the prop housing; and   a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the sensation emitter.   
     
     
         19 . A method for using a training simulator comprising:
 accessing a training simulator including a housing having a prop portion configured to simulate or evoke an appearance of an object encountered in firefighting activity, a sensation emitter coupled to said housing, a sensor coupled to said housing and a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the sensation emitter;   causing said sensation emitter to emit a sensation to simulate or evoke an appearance of a hazardous condition; and   said sensor detecting a simulated or an actual hazardous condition suppressant directed at or applied to the housing.