Fire extinguishing system valve and fire extinguishing system having such a valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10773113-B2
Application number	US-201515537354-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

A fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) comprising a housing ( 2, 3 ) which has a fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ), a fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ) and a closing body ( 4 a ) reciprocable between a blocking state and a release state, wherein the fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ) and the fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ) are separated from each other in the blocking state and communicate with each other in fluid-conducting relationship in the release state. At least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) is integrated in the housing ( 2, 3 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ), comprising:
a housing ( 2 , 3 ) which has a fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ), a fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ) and a closing body ( 4 a ) reciprocable between a blocking state and a release state, wherein the fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ) and the fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ) are separated from each other in the blocking state and communicate with each other in fluid-conducting relationship in the release state, and a housing cover removably secured to the housing between the fluid outlet chamber and an exterior of the housing;
at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) integrated in the housing ( 2 , 3 );
an alarm passage ( 5 ) integrated in the housing ( 2 , 3 ), the alarm passage being sealed off from the fluid chambers ( 8 , 9 ) in the blocking state and communicating with the fluid chambers ( 8 , 9 ) in the release state, and
a fluid port ( 15 ) integrated in the housing cover; the fluid port being in fluid-conducting relationship with the alarm passage ( 5 );
wherein the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) includes a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor, each of the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor in direct fluid communication with the fluid port ( 15 ) and adapted to detect a pressure prevailing in the alarm passage ( 5 ).

2. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one pressure sensor further comprises a pressure sensor ( 6 ) adapted to detect a pressure prevailing in the fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ).

3. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one pressure sensor further comprises a pressure sensor ( 6 ) adapted to detect a pressure prevailing in the fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ).

4. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 , further comprising a display unit ( 40 ) integrated in the housing ( 2 , 3 ).

5. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) is connected to the display unit for output of at least one of: the prevailing pressure, or information ascertained in dependence on the prevailing pressure.

6. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) is connected to a data memory ( 16 ) for storing the prevailing pressure data.

7. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 6 ,
wherein a display unit ( 40 ) is connected to at least one of: the data memory ( 16 ), or one or more external pressure sensors, and is adapted to output the pressure data stored there or communicated therefrom.

8. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 6 ,
wherein at least one of: the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ), the data memory ( 16 ), or one or more external pressure sensors are connected to a data interface ( 10 ) for reading out and remote transmission of the pressure data.

9. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,
comprising an electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ) for receiving data and/or communicating a state information of the valve ( 1 ), wherein the electronic evaluation unit is connected to one, more or all of the following elements:
the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ),
a display unit ( 40 ),
a data interface ( 10 ),
a data memory ( 16 ), or
one or more external pressure sensors.

10. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 9 ,
wherein the electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ) is adapted to compare pressure data from at least one of: the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ), the data memory ( 16 ), or the one or more external pressure sensors to predefined limit values and when a value of the pressure data rises above or falls below said limit values to communicate a representative signal as status information.

11. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 9 , wherein the closing body ( 4 ) has a control drive and the electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ) is adapted to selectively move the closing body ( 4 ) into the release and into the blocking position by the control drive.

12. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,
wherein one, more or all of the following elements are integrated in the housing ( 2 , 3 ):
a display unit ( 40 ),
a data interface ( 10 ),
a data memory ( 16 ), or
an electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ).

13. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,
wherein the a housing cover ( 3 ) comprises a hand hole cover, and further comprises a first fluid line ( 14 a ) in fluid communication with the fluid port ( 15 ), and a second fluid line ( 14 b ) in fluid communication with the fluid port ( 15 ), wherein the first pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the first fluid line and the second pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the second fluid line.

14. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 13 , wherein one, more or all of the following elements are integrated in the housing cover ( 3 ):
the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ),
a display unit ( 40 ),
a data interface ( 10 ),
a data memory ( 16 ), or
an electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ).

15. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) is a wet alarm valve or a dry alarm valve or a spray water extinguishing valve or a pilot-controlled dry alarm valve.

16. A fire extinguishing system ( 100 ), comprising:
one or more fluid lines ( 11 ) in which is arranged a fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 for blocking and releasing the one or more fluid lines ( 11 ).

17. A fire extinguishing system according to claim 16 ,
wherein the fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) has a data interface ( 10 ) and the fire extinguishing system ( 100 ) is connected to the fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) for reading out the data interface ( 10 ) thereof.

18. A fire extinguishing system according to claim 17 , wherein the fire extinguishing system ( 100 ) is adapted to analyze the information read out from the data interface ( 10 ) and in dependence on that analysis to trigger one, more or all of the following events:
output of a message as to whether the fire extinguishing valve is operating correctly,
output of a message as to whether there is a sufficient fluid pressure in the fluid line,
output of a message as to whether there is not a sufficient fluid pressure in the fluid line, or
output of a message as to whether the fire extinguishing valve has been opened.

19. A method of state monitoring of a fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 , comprising the following method steps:
detecting a pressure value in the alarm passage ( 5 ) that is integrated in said valve,
presetting a pressure limit value, and
communicating at least one of: status information or a message in the form of a message data file, to one or more defined receivers, preferably if the detected pressure value rises above or falls below the predetermined pressure limit value.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the presetting is effected by selection or setting of a pressure switch.

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein prior to method step (c) a comparison of the pressure value to at least one predefined pressure limit value present in a data memory ( 16 ) is effected.

Assignees

• Minimax Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Pohl Matthias

Classifications

• A62C37/50 Primary

  Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment · CPC title

• F16K37/005 Primary

  for measuring fluid parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08B17/04

  Hydraulic or pneumatic actuation of the alarm, e.g. by change of fluid pressure · CPC title

• Y10T137/8326

  Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm · CPC title

• F16K37/0041

  for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence) · CPC title