Combined alarm and back-flow prevention arrangement for fire suppression sprinkler system
AssigneeBack-Flo Alarm Valve Co., Inc.
InventorGeorge J. McHugh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alarm valve and a backflow preventer are provided by a check valve and an alarm valve with a passageway provided between the check valve and the alarm valve preferably having a relief valve which selectively drains the passageway in response to the pressure in the main conduit upstream of the check valve. An alarm is sounded when the alarm valve is open. An impeller flow sensor may be provided in the backflow prevention device.
Claims73
A combined alarm valve and backflow prevention arrangement for a fire suppression sprinkler system, having a main conduit and an arrangement of individual sprinklers downstream of the main conduit, said combined alarm valve and backflow prevention arrangement comprising:
- a first check valve provided in said main conduit upstream of said arrangement of individual sprinklers;
- an alarm valve formed by a second check valve provided in said main conduit downstream of said first check valve and upstream of said arrangement of individual sprinklers;
- alarm means for indicating when the second check valve is open;
- and
- means for providing fluid communication between said first check valve and said alarm valve through a passageway, said means for providing fluid communication including relief valve means for selectively draining said passageway in response to the hydraulic pressure in said main conduit of the fire suppression system upstream of the first check valve,
- whereby said first check valve and said second check valve together provide a reduced pressure zone, double check valve backflow prevention and alarm valve arrangement.
A plumbing fitting for use in a fire suppression system whereby a check valve and an alarm valve may be connected to one another to provide a double check valve, reduced pressure zone, backflow preventer and an alarm valve arrangement, said plumbing fitting comprising:
- a conduit having means for coupling said plumbing fitting to the check valve upstream of the plumbing fitting and means for coupling said plumbing fitting to the alarm valve downstream of the plumbing fitting;
- and
- means for draining the plumbing fitting in response to the pressure in a main conduit of the fire suppression system upstream of the alarm valve.
A combined alarm valve and backflow prevention arrangement for a fire suppression, water sprinkler system, having a main conduit and an arrangement of individual water sprinklers downstream of the main conduit, said combined alarm valve and backflow prevention arrangement comprising:
- a first check valve provided in said main conduit upstream of said arrangement of individual sprinklers;
- an alarm valve including a second check valve provided in said main conduit downstream of said first check valve and upstream of said arrangement of individual sprinklers;
- alarm means for indicating when the alarm valve is open;
- and
- means for providing fluid communication between said first check valve and said alarm valve in a passageway, said means for providing fluid communication including means for draining the passageway in response to the pressure in said main conduit of the fire suppression system and means for venting said passageway when the pressure in the passageway is below a predetermined amount, said means for providing communication between said first check valve and said alarm valve comprising a plumbing fitting, said plumbing fitting having means for coupling said plumbing fitting to the first check valve upstream of the plumbing fitting and means for coupling said plumbing fitting to the alarm valve downstream of the plumbing fitting, said first check valve and said second check valve together providing a double check valve, reduced pressure zone, backflow preventer.
A combined alarm valve and backflow prevention arrangement for a fire suppression sprinkler system, having a main conduit and an arrangement of individual sprinklers downstream of the main conduit, said combined alarm valve and backflow prevention arrangement comprising:
- a first check valve provided in said main conduit upstream of said arrangement of individual sprinklers;
- an alarm valve formed by a second check valve provided in said main conduit downstream of said first check valve and upstream of said arrangement of individual sprinklers;
- alarm means for indicating when the second check valve is open;
- and
- means for providing fluid communication between said first check valve and said alarm valve through a passageway;
- means for draining the passageway between said first check valve and said alarm valve in response to the pressure in said main conduit;
- whereby said first check valve and said alarm valve provide a reduced pressure zone, double check valve backflow prevention and alarm arrangement for a fire suppression system with no stop valves provided between said first check valve and said alarm valve.
A combined alarm valve and backflow prevention arrangement for a fire suppression sprinkler system, having a main conduit and an arrangement of individual sprinklers downstream of the main conduit, said combined alarm valve and backflow prevention arrangement comprising:
- a first check valve provided in said main conduit upstream of said arrangement of individual sprinklers, said first check valve being spring-biased;
- an alarm valve formed by a second check valve provided in said main conduit downstream of said first check valve and upstream of said arrangement of individual sprinklers, said second check valve being spring-biased;
- alarm means for indicating when the second check valve is open;
- means for providing fluid communication between said first check valve and said alarm valve through a passageway;
- means for draining the passageway between said first check valve and said alarm valve in response to the pressure in said main conduit;
- and
- test port means for testing said alarm valve and said first check valve as a reduced pressure zone, double check valve backflow prevention and alarm valve arrangement, said test port means including test ports provided immediately upstream of the first check valve, downstream of the alarm valve and between said first check valve and said alarm valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.