US3888314A - Sprinkler system - Google Patents

Sprinkler system Download PDF

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Publication number
US3888314A
US3888314A US414539A US41453973A US3888314A US 3888314 A US3888314 A US 3888314A US 414539 A US414539 A US 414539A US 41453973 A US41453973 A US 41453973A US 3888314 A US3888314 A US 3888314A
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United States
Prior art keywords
conduit
valve
sprinkler
pressure
interposed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US414539A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ernst Landsberg
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Walther and Co AG
Original Assignee
Walther and Co AG
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Walther and Co AG filed Critical Walther and Co AG
Priority to US05/531,618 priority Critical patent/US3958643A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3888314A publication Critical patent/US3888314A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C35/00—Permanently-installed equipment
    • A62C35/58—Pipe-line systems
    • A62C35/64—Pipe-line systems pressurised
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C35/00—Permanently-installed equipment
    • A62C35/58—Pipe-line systems
    • A62C35/64—Pipe-line systems pressurised
    • A62C35/645—Pipe-line systems pressurised with compressed gas in pipework

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A sprinkler system having a pressurized sprinkler con- [30] Foreign Application P i it D duit which is separated from a water supply by a nor- NOV- 11, 1972 Germany N 2255369 mally closed valve, and a fire alarm system having a circuit which is connected with this valve and opens 52 [7.8. CI 169/20; 169/23 the Same in response detecticm a fire by 51 int. Cl.
  • A62c 35/22 circuit is 0PMed by detecting the absence electri- [58] Field of Search 69/19 20 21 22 23 cal energization of the fire alarm circuit, and thereupon operating the sprinkler system as a function of [56] References Cited pressure losses in the sprinkler conduit rather than as UNITED STATES PATENTS a result of the operation of the fire alarm system.
  • the present invention relates generally to a sprinkier system, and more particularly to a novel sprinkler system construction.
  • sprinkler conduit which may be composed of a plural ity of conduit sections
  • valve which is normally closed.
  • Such systems are well known and may include a so-called pre-action system.
  • the valve connecting the sprinkler conduit with the water supply conduit opens when it senses a pressure drop in the sprinkler conduit, for instance because pressurized gas can escape from the same due to the fact that one or more of the sprinklers of the sprinkler conduit have opened, If, however, the system is of the type using a pre-action system, then the valve connecting the sprinkler conduit with the water supply is not opened when a pressure drop occurs in the sprinkler conduit itself, but instead is opened only in response to the operation of a separate fire alarm system. In this case, the opening of one or more sprinklers of the sprinkler conduit will result only in the giving of a signal indicative of the fact that the pressure in the sprinkler conduit has dropped.
  • the operation of the fire alarm system also produces a signal, and at the same time opens the valve which separates the sprinkler conduit from the water supply conduit.
  • the sprinkler system operate in these circumstances, namely one or more sprinklers must be open and the fire alarm system must detect a fire and open the valve separating the sprinkler conduit from the water supply conduit.
  • This type of combined system is used only for certain purposes, for the simple reason that the additional preaction system with its fire alarm imposes a check upon the operation of the sprinkler system which does not exist in prior art sprinlker systems that do not have a pre-action system.
  • this combined type of system has its advantages, namely if it is for instance installed in structures housing computer installations or the like, where it is absolutely essential that water damage be incurred only if a fire is actually present, not if for some reason one of the sprinklers of the system should malfunction and open without the presence of a fire.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide such a sprinkler system which is highly reliable in its operation.
  • An additonal object of the invention it to provide a sprinkler system of the type outlined above which is relatively simple in its construction.
  • a sprinkler system in a combination which comprises a sprinkler conduit and a water supply conduit.
  • a diaphragm valve is interposed between the sprinkler conduit and the water supply conduit, and a pressure conduit communicates with a source of pressurized gas and with the diaphragm valve for the purpose of normally maintaining the latter closed by the pressure of the gas.
  • a bypass conduit has one end portion communicating with the pressure conduit intermediate the source and the diaphragm valve, and another end portion which communicates with the sprinkler conduit.
  • a magnetic valve is interposed in the bypass conduit, and a venting valve is interposed in the pressure conduit.
  • a permanently energized electrical fire alarm circuit is connected with the magnetic valve and the venting valve and normally maintains both of them closed. This circuit is operative for opening the venting valve when detecting a fire, and for opening the magnetic valve in automatic response to the circuit becoming deenergized.
  • the electrical fire alarm circuit may be part of a fire alarm system that is of electrical, pneumatic or mechanical type.
  • the sprinkler system is converted from an operation in which it depends upon the signals derived from the pre-action system, into a conventional sprinkler system in which it does not require such dependence for its operation and is completely reliable independently of whether or not the pre-action system may be malfunctioning or may not function at all due to a lack of electrical energy.
  • the present invention assures that as a result of the interruption of the electrical energy supply the magnetic valve which is interposed in the bypass conduit will automatically open, and provide for a connection between the sprinkler conduit and the pressure conduit, so that if a sprinkler of the sprinkler conduit opens under these circumstances, the pressure drop which occurs in the sprinkler conduit can be communicated via the now open magnetic valve to the diaphragm valve which will open as soon as the pressure drop has reached the operating level of the diaphragm valve, so that water can now enter the sprinkler conduit and issue from the same via the open sprinkler or sprinklers.
  • the alarm system can be operated not only electrically, but also pneumatically or mechanically, in which case the magnetic valve would be replaced with a different type of control valve, that is a control valve which is either a pneumatically operated valve or a mechanically operated valve.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a sprinkler system according to the present invention, with the separate fire alarm system having been omitted;
  • FIG. 2 shows in a diagrammatic presentation the fire alarm system which is used in conjunction with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram, showing details of a component of FIG. 2.
  • the so-called pre-action system is illus trated, which utilizes a system of sprinkler conduits 18 (only one fragmentarily shown) provided with normally closed non-illustrated sprinklers of any type known per se. These sprinklers are provided with heat sensors which will open when they sense an increase in the ambient temperature above a preselected level.
  • the system has a pre-actiorl valve 1 which is interposed between the conduit system 18 and a water supply conduit 19. This valve 1 is of course normally closed, and is opened not by a pressure drop in the system 18 resulting from opening of one or more of the nonillustrated sprinklers, but by a separate fire alarm system.
  • the valve 1 is provided with a separate chamber 2 which is subdivided into two compartments by the diagrammatically illustrated diaphragm which, in turn, is connected via a linkage with a valve member 21 that is maintained in closed position under normal operating circumstances. Removal of water takes place via a conduit or conduit system 22.
  • a conduit 17 is connected with the chamber 2 at the pressure side of the diaphragm therein and, in turn, communicates with a further conduit 15 which communicates with a non-illustrated source of pressurized gas, for instance air, which is diagrammatically identified with character A.
  • a conduit 28 communicates with the conduit 15 and with the conduit system 18, and a further conduit 23 also communicates with the conduit 15 and with the conduit system 18. The direction of air flow from the source is identified by the arrow adjacent the character A.
  • a manually operable valve 3 is interposed in the conduit 15, as are a throttle valve 4 and a one-way valve 5. These may be combined into a single unit in known manner, if desired.
  • the valves 3, 4 and 5 are located upstream of the conduit 17, insofar as the direction of flow of the incoming compressed air or gas is concerned.
  • a further shutoff valve 6, throttle valve 7 and one-way valve 8 are interposed in the conduit 23.
  • a conduit 14 branches off conduit 17 and has interposed in it a magnet valve 11 which is electrically connected with the fire alarm system shown in FIG. 2.
  • a conduit 16 communicates at its one end via the conduit 23 with the conduit system 18, and at its other end with the conduit 17, intermediate the conduit 15 and the chamber 2.
  • a normally closed magnet valve 15 and a one-way valve 25 are interposed in the conduit 16.
  • the magnet valve 12 is also connected with the fire alarm system shown in FIG. 2.
  • the conduit 23 which communicates with the conduit system 18, is also connected with a pressure measuring gauge 9 and a pressure switch 10.
  • a further pressure switch 13 is provided which is connected with the valve 1 to provide a signal when the latter opens.
  • the pre-action valve 1 in standby condition the pre-action valve 1 is closed. It is maintained closed by the pressure of compressed gas which is derived from the source A via the conduits l5 and 17 and exerts enough pressure in the chamber 2 upon the diaphragm therein to maintain the valve member 21 in closed position.
  • This compressed gas is constantly supplied via the valves 3, 4 and 5 at the level necessary to maintain the valve member 21 in closed position, and at the same time additional compressed gas is supplied via the valves 6, 7 and 8 into the conduit system 18 so that the latter is pressurized, given the fact that its sprinklers are normally closed unless they detect an increase in ambient temperature.
  • the pressure at which the conduit system 18 is to be maintained can be determined from the gauge 9 and ifa dangerous drop in the pressure in the conduit system 18 should take place, the pressure switch l0- which has been set to provide a signal before the level of pressure in the conduit system 18 can drop to the level where the sprinkler system can operatewill provide such a signal to alert a user.
  • the valves 11 and 12 are closed, as are the valves 26 and 27.
  • the separately installed fire alarm system of FIG. 2 should operate, indicating that it has a detected a fire, it will provide an impulse to the valve 11, causing the same to open. This vents the conduits 15, 17 via the valve 8, causing a pressure drop in these conduits.
  • a certain pressure drop has occurred, for instance by one atmosphere, the diaphragm in the chamber 2 is no longer sufficiently deflected, and the spring which biases it in opposition to the pressure exerted upon it by the pressurized gas, will now deflect the diaphragm (to the left in FIG. 1) and cause the valve member 21 of the valve 1 to open. This permits water to flow from the conduit 19 into the sprinkler conduit system 18. Assuming that the tire detected by the fire alarm system of FIG. 2 was sufficiently significantly so that one or more of the sprinklers of the conduit system 18 have also opened, water will new issue from these sprinklers to put out the fire.
  • valve 1 When the valve 1 opens, a normal alarm will be given as in the case of other systems of this type, by means of one or more non-illustrated components such as bells or the like.
  • the pressure switch 13 can supply a signal to an indicating board at a fire station or the like.
  • This pressure drop will be observable, because it will cause the pressure switch to originate a signal indicative of the existence of a pressure drop.
  • the pressure drop will be communicated to the chamber 2 resulting in a drop of pressure in the chamber 2 also, and permitting an automatic opening of the valve member 21 of the valve 1 as soon as the pressure acting upon the diaphragm in the chamber 2 has dropped sufficiently.
  • FIG. 2 shows the fire alarm system which is used in conjunction with the embodiment of FIG. 1 and which here is of an electricall type.
  • Reference numeral 29 identifies a source of electrical energy
  • reference numeral 30 identifies a conductor which connects the source 30 with a detector arrangement 31.
  • the con ductor 34 is also electrically energized and will be seen to be connected with the valve 12, to maintain the same in closed position.
  • the arrangement 31 produces an electrical communication between the conductors 30 and 32, which results in the development of an electrical signal at the control box which, in turn, supplies electrical energy via the conductor 33 to the magnetic valve 11, causing the same to open so that the conduits 15, 17 can vent and the pressure in them drop.
  • the control box 35 cuts off electrical energy to the conductor 34, and this causes the valve 12 to open also.
  • Elements 101, 102 and 103 are valves which are manually operated and serve to drain water from the system.
  • Ele ment 104 is a water pipe with an associated pressure indicator 105 to permit monitoring of the water supply pressure in the system.
  • Elements 106 and 108 are alarm conduits and element 107 a test valve for testing of the alarm conduits. Normally, the valve 107 will be in the illustrated position. In the event of fire, valve member 21 moves to open position and water flows into conduit system 18. At the same time, water can now also flow into conduit 106 and from the same via valve 107 into conduit 108.
  • Element 109 is a filter which prevents the entry of contaminants into the (not illustrated) signalling device, since this could render the device inoperative.
  • Details of the element 35 of FIG. 2 are shown by way of example in FIG. 3. Such elements are well known per se, being for instance manufactured by the General Electric Co.
  • the elements 31 are contacttype sensors which complete and electric circuit when they sense fire, smoke, etc. When this takes place, current can flow from source 29 via line 32 and open valve 11.
  • Element 35 uses a relay (see FIG. 3) which operates when current flows in this manner, closing the switch a and raising the switch b (see FIG. 3). This causes current to flow in line 33 and to be interrupted in line 34. The latter result causes the magnetic valve 12 to open. If current supply is interrupted, current ceases to flow in line 30 and line 34, so that in this case also the valve 12 will open.
  • a combination comprising a sprinkler conduit; a water supply conduit; a diaphragm valve interposed between said sprinkler conduit and said water supply conduit; a pressure conduit communicating with a source of pressurized gas and with said diaphragm valve for normally maintaining the latter closed by the pressure of said gas; a bypass conduit having one end portion communicating with said pressure conduit intermediate said source and said diaphragm valve, and another end portion communicating with said sprinkler conduit; a control valve interposed in said bypass conduit; a venting valve interposed in said pressure conduit; and a permanently energized fire alarm circuit connected with said control valve and said venting valve and normally maintaining both of them closed, said circuit being operative for opening said venting valve when detecting a fire, and for opening said control valve in automatic response to said circuit becoming inoperative.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)
US414539A 1972-11-11 1973-11-09 Sprinkler system Expired - Lifetime US3888314A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/531,618 US3958643A (en) 1972-11-11 1974-12-11 Sprinkler system and method of operating the same

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2255369A DE2255369C3 (de) 1972-11-11 1972-11-11 Vorrichtung zum Betreiben einer Sprinkleranlage

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US05/531,618 Division US3958643A (en) 1972-11-11 1974-12-11 Sprinkler system and method of operating the same

Publications (1)

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US3888314A true US3888314A (en) 1975-06-10

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ID=5861480

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US414539A Expired - Lifetime US3888314A (en) 1972-11-11 1973-11-09 Sprinkler system

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3888314A (sv)
BE (1) BE806411A (sv)
CH (1) CH569489A5 (sv)
DE (1) DE2255369C3 (sv)
FR (1) FR2206677A5 (sv)
GB (1) GB1411470A (sv)
NL (1) NL7315106A (sv)
SE (1) SE401615B (sv)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2397580A1 (fr) * 1977-07-14 1979-02-09 Mather & Platt Ltd Soupape de commande a declenchement conditionne
US4991655A (en) * 1988-11-10 1991-02-12 Back-Flo Alarm Valve Co., Inc. Combined alarm and back-flow prevention arrangement for fire suppression sprinkler system
US5154232A (en) * 1988-09-21 1992-10-13 Back-Flo Alarm Valve Co., Inc. Combined alarm and back-flow prevention arrangement for fire suppression sprinkler system
US5297635A (en) * 1988-09-21 1994-03-29 Back-Flo Alarm Valve Co., Inc. Combined alarm and back-flow prevention arrangement for fire suppression sprinkler system
US6357531B1 (en) 2000-05-30 2002-03-19 Systems Fireflex Inc. Virtual accelerator for detecting an alarm condition within a pressurized gas sprinkler system and method thereof
US6675110B2 (en) 2002-01-15 2004-01-06 Watts Regulatoryco. Testing valve assemblies

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2532163C3 (de) * 1975-07-18 1981-06-11 Verband der Sachversicherer e.V., 5000 Köln Sprinkleranlage
DE2608293C3 (de) * 1976-02-28 1986-02-20 Bauknecht Feuerschutz Gmbh, 7550 Rastatt Sprinkleranlage
DE2622680A1 (de) * 1976-05-21 1978-01-19 Bauknecht Feuerschutz Sprinkleranlage
CA1265972A (en) * 1985-07-18 1990-02-20 Alan George William Dry Dry sprinkler system
DE4320442C2 (de) * 1993-06-21 1996-09-26 Total Feuerschutz Gmbh Vorrichtung für eine stationäre Feuerlöschanlage und Verfahren zum Betreiben der Feuerlöschanlage
DE19601777C2 (de) * 1996-01-19 1997-11-20 Total Feuerschutz Gmbh Stationäre Feuerlöschanlage
DE19936454C5 (de) * 1999-08-03 2011-06-22 TOTAL WALTHER GmbH, Feuerschutz und Sicherheit, 51069 Sprinkleranlage eines Tiefkühlhauses
GB0803357D0 (en) 2008-02-25 2008-04-02 Building Res Establishment Ltd Dry pipe sprinkler system
SG11201408465RA (en) * 2012-06-25 2015-02-27 Marioff Corp Oy Preaction sprinkler system operation booster

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1947309A (en) * 1931-04-24 1934-02-13 Globe Automatic Sprinkler Co Valve for fire-extinguishing systems
US1976022A (en) * 1932-06-20 1934-10-09 Charles W Hutchinson Remotely controlled deluge valve
US3307633A (en) * 1963-11-25 1967-03-07 Grinnell Corp Resilient, one-piece sealing member for accommodating unequal fluid pressures on opposing surfaces

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1947309A (en) * 1931-04-24 1934-02-13 Globe Automatic Sprinkler Co Valve for fire-extinguishing systems
US1976022A (en) * 1932-06-20 1934-10-09 Charles W Hutchinson Remotely controlled deluge valve
US3307633A (en) * 1963-11-25 1967-03-07 Grinnell Corp Resilient, one-piece sealing member for accommodating unequal fluid pressures on opposing surfaces

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2397580A1 (fr) * 1977-07-14 1979-02-09 Mather & Platt Ltd Soupape de commande a declenchement conditionne
US5154232A (en) * 1988-09-21 1992-10-13 Back-Flo Alarm Valve Co., Inc. Combined alarm and back-flow prevention arrangement for fire suppression sprinkler system
US5297635A (en) * 1988-09-21 1994-03-29 Back-Flo Alarm Valve Co., Inc. Combined alarm and back-flow prevention arrangement for fire suppression sprinkler system
US5390744A (en) * 1988-09-21 1995-02-21 Back-Flo Alarm Valve Co., Inc. Combined alarm and back-flow prevention arrangement for fire suppression sprinkler system
US4991655A (en) * 1988-11-10 1991-02-12 Back-Flo Alarm Valve Co., Inc. Combined alarm and back-flow prevention arrangement for fire suppression sprinkler system
US6357531B1 (en) 2000-05-30 2002-03-19 Systems Fireflex Inc. Virtual accelerator for detecting an alarm condition within a pressurized gas sprinkler system and method thereof
US6675110B2 (en) 2002-01-15 2004-01-06 Watts Regulatoryco. Testing valve assemblies

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7315106A (sv) 1974-05-14
DE2255369A1 (de) 1974-06-06
GB1411470A (en) 1975-10-22
CH569489A5 (sv) 1975-11-28
FR2206677A5 (sv) 1974-06-07
DE2255369C3 (de) 1978-12-14
DE2255369B2 (sv) 1974-09-19
BE806411A (fr) 1974-02-15
SE401615B (sv) 1978-05-22

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