Method for charging a fire protection system

A method of charging and recharging an agent storage container apparatus with a fire-extinguishing agent from a portable agent supply unit comprising the steps of:

• coupling a hose assembly between the outlet valve of the agent supply unit to the inlet charging valve of the agent storage container apparatus;
• supplying a pressurized inert gas into the vapor space valve of the agent supply unit to pressurize the fire-extinguishing agent and simultaneously serve as the motive force to drive the liquid through the hose assembly;
• inverting the agent supply unit to provide a supply of liquid fire-extinguishing agent to said outlet valve;
• initially weighing the agent storage container assembly with the hose assembly filled;
• determining the weight of pressurized fire extinguishing agent which must be added to the agent storage container assembly to attain a predetermined fully charged state;
• adding the determined weight to the initial weight to obtain a final weight value indicating that the predetermined fully-charged state has been attained;
• opening the inlet charging valve to admit pressurized fire-extinguishing agent into the agent storage container assembly;
• monitoring the running weight of the agent storage container until said final weight value is attained;
• and
• closing the inlet charging valve to cease transfer and prevent overfilling in response to the attainment of said final weight value.

A method of charging a remotely located agent storage container with a predetermined mass of fluid fire-extinguishing agent from a relatively large agent shipping tank weighing at least 150 pounds when filled, said tank having a first internal siphon tube communicating with a first fluid outlet valve and a second internal siphon tube communicating with a second fluid outlet valve, said method comprising the steps of:

• retainably positioning said agent shipping tank on a transportable platform;
• transporting said platform and the tank positioned thereon to a site from which said remote location is accessible;
• providing a plurality of load cells which generate output signals in proportion to the weight placed thereon;
• connecting the output signals of the load cells to a read out device to convert said signals to a weight reading;
• calibrating said read out device to a zero reading when no weight is applied to said load cells;
• supporting said transported platform solely on said load cells;
• reading the initial weight of the platform and tank assembly;
• determining the weight of said predetermined mass which must be transferred to said agent storage container to properly charge the same;
• subtracting said determined weight from said initial weight to ascertain the desired reduced weight of said platform and tank assembly indicating that said predetermined mass has been transferred to said agent storage container;
• connecting a fluid conduit means between said first fluid outlet valve and the inlet to said agent storage container;
• inserting at least one fluid transfer pump into said fluid conduit means;
• pumping to transfer said fluid agent from said agent shipping tank to said agent storage container;
• monitoring the read out device until said desired reduced weight of said platform and tank assembly is attained;
• and
• terminating agent transfer in response thereto.

An apparatus for charging and recharging an agent storage container having a fill valve with a predetermined mass of bromotrifluoromethane fire-extinguishing agent under relatively low temperature conditions comprising, in combination:

• a large capacity, relatively heavy weight shipping supply tank containing a substantial mass of said fluid agent, said tank having first and second siphon tubes within said tank, said tubes exiting said tank and terminating in first and second control valves, respectively, said tank being adapted to lie on its side with at least said first siphon tube extending into the liquid portion of said fluid agent;
• a fluid transfer pump coupled to said first control valve for pumping liquid agent therefrom;
• valve means at the output of said pump for diverting the pumped liquid agent into a selected one of first and second fluid conduits, the selection of said first conduit supplying the pumped agent to the fill valve of said agent storage container;
• a fluid heating means external to said tank, the selection of said second conduit supplying the pumped agent to said heating means for increasing the temperature thereof;
• and
• conduit means coupling the output of the heating means to the second control valve for returning heated fluid agent to said tank to increase the overall temperature thereof.

An apparatus for charging and recharging an agent storage container having a fill valve and adapted for use as a fire-extinguisher with a predetermined mass of bromotrifluoromethane fire-extinguishing agent under relatively high temperature conditions comprising, in combination:

• a standard one ton shipping supply tank of said agent, said tank having a first and second siphon tube communicating the interior of said tank with corresponding first and second control valves;
• a fluid cooling unit coupled to said first control valve;
• a fluid transfer pump having its input coupled to the output of said cooling unit for pumping fluid agent from said tank and through said cooling unit;
• valve means coupled to the output of said pump for selecting a first fluid path to supply the pumped agent to the fill valve of said agent storage container and a second fluid path coupled to the second control valve of said tank for returning the cooled fluid agent to the tank to lower the temperature of the agent therein.

In a system wherein relatively high value areas of buildings and the like are protected from fire by a plurality of agent storage containers located at suitable locations about the protected area, each of said containers requiring a relatively precise predetermined mass of fire-extinguishing agent to be contained therein, a method of charging and recharging said containers with said precise predetermined mass of agent from an agent supply cylinder comprising the steps of:

• coupling said supply cylinder to one of said containers through a fluid transfer pump;
• initially weighing said supply cylinder;
• transferring said agent from said cylinder to said container;
• monitoring the decreasing weight of said cylinder until said precise predetermined mass has been removed therefrom;
• and
• stopping the transfer of agent to said container when said predetermined mass has been pumped from the cylinder.

In a system wherein relatively high value areas such as computer rooms and the like are protected from fire and rapid burning materials by a plurality of agent storage containers located at suitable positions about the protected area, each of said containers requiring a relatively precise predetermined mass of fire-suppressing agent to be properly charged, a method of charging and recharging such containers with said predetermined precise mass of fluid agent such as bromotrifluoromethane from a fluid agent supply cylinder comprising the steps of:

• coupling a first fluid valve at the outlet end of said cylinder to the inlet valve of said agent storage container;
• coupling a second fluid valve on said inverted cylinder to a pressurized cylinder of inert gas;
• closing said first fluid valve and opening said second fluid valve to pressurize said supply cylinder with said inert gas;
• inverting said supply cylinder and placing said inverted agent supply cylinder on a weighing apparatus of sufficient accuracy;
• initially weighing said inverted supply cylinder;
• calculating the weight of the precise predetermined mass of fluid agent with must be transferred to insure a proper charge;
• subtracting the calculated weight from the initial weight to ascertain a desired weight;
• closing said second fluid valve and opening said first fluid valve to utilize the pressurized inert gas contained therein to transfer the fluid agent to the agent storage container;
• monitoring the weight of the supply cylinder until said desired weight is reached;
• and
• terminating agent transfer in response to the attainment of said desired weight.