US 6,186,169 B1 · Valve and arrangement for fire suppression system

Abstract

A valve and valve arrangement for a fire suppression system includes a valve having an inlet and an outlet provided on opposite ends of the valve housing with a pressure relief valve in communication with the interior of the housing. A gap in a seat for the valve member provides communication with the inlet of the valve. In another embodiment, a valve has a disk provided in a passageway through the valve member to restrict the flow through the valve to a predetermined rate which is less than the fully opened flow rate through the valve.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims45

Dependent claims

An arrangement for testing and draining a fire suppression sprinkler system, comprising:

conduit means for supplying a fire suppression fluid to a plurality of sprinklers;
means for sensing a flow of said fire suppression fluid in said conduit means;
a valve having a housing with an inlet and a first outlet, the inlet and the first outlet being provided on opposite ends of the housing with a ball valve member being provided in the housing between the inlet and the first outlet;
a valve seal provided between the ball valve member and said first outlet for sealingly engaging the outer surface of said ball valve member;
a valve seat provided between the ball valve member and the inlet, said valve seat permitting continuous communication between the inlet and the interior of the housing;
a pressure relief valve having an inlet in communication with the interior of said housing;
said ball valve member having a first passageway which permits flow from the inlet to the first outlet at a first flow rate when the first passageway is aligned with the inlet and the first outlet, said first flow rate enabling said arrangement to be drained, said ball valve member having a second passageway which permits flow from the inlet to the first outlet at a second flow rate which is less than the first flow rate when the second passageway is aligned with the inlet and the first outlet, said second flow rate enabling the means for sensing a flow of said fire suppression fluid in said conduit means to be tested;
and,
means for moving said ball valve member within said housing.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,745 words

Summary1,509 words

#The present invention relates generally to valves and more particularly relates to valve arrangements for use in testing fire suppression water sprinkler systems.

#In a typical fire suppression water sprinkler system as installed in many buildings, an array of individual water sprinklers is supplied with water through a main conduit and various branch conduits. The individual water sprinklers are generally provided with a member that melts when the ambient temperature reaches a predetermined level indicative of a fire. The melting of the member opens a water sprinkler to spray water in order to suppress the fire. The individual water sprinklers are provided with meltable members so that the spray of water will hopefully be limited to the region of the building where the fire is present. In this way, the extent of water damage may be minimized.

#Such fire suppression systems also oftentimes have a switch or sensor that detects the flow of water in the conduits to indicate that even only one of the individual water sprinklers has opened. Since the flow of water in the conduits generally means that a fire is present in the building, the switch or sensor typically triggers a fire alarm or sends an appropriate signal directly to a fire department. Therefore, many codes require, and it is generally otherwise desirable, that the switch or sensor which detects the flow of water in the conduits be periodically tested. Accordingly, it has also become conventional in the art to provide a valve which enables the system to be tested by permitting a flow of water corresponding to the flow through only one individual water sprinkler that has been opened.

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like members bear like reference numerals and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a valve arrangement according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a side view in cross section of the testing valve of FIG. 1;

Detailed description3,053 words

#With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of an arrangement for testing a fire suppression water sprinkler system includes a valve 20 having a housing defining an inlet 22 and a first outlet 24. The inlet 22 and the first outlet 24 are colinear with one another.

#The inlet 22 of the valve 20 is provided in fluid communication with a main water conduit 28 having a plurality of branch conduits 30 including a number of sprinkler heads 32. Typically, a supply valve 31 either for the entire fire suppression system or for a particular floor or for a portion of the system, is provided in the main water conduit 28 upstream of the valve 20. Downstream of the supply valve 31 is a flow switch 33 which is configured to detect a flow through the conduit 28 corresponding at least to the flow through a single sprinkler head 32.

#The valve 20 is connected to the conduit 28 through a T-fitting 35 which supplies fluid to the inlet 22 of the valve 20. The valve 20 also includes a pair of sight glasses 34 in the first outlet 24 in order to permit a visual observation of a flow through the first outlet 24.

Facts

Application

09/377,178Filed 19 Aug 1999

Granted

13 Feb 2001

Term ended

19 Aug 2019

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification9 codes

A62C 37/50
Control of fire-fighting equipment: testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
A62C 35/60
Pipe-line systems: wet, i.e. containing extinguishing material even when not in use
A62C 35/68
Pipe-line systems: details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems
F16K 5/0605
With plugs having spherical surfaces; Packings therefor: with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means

Description4,745 words

Summary1,509 words

#The present invention relates generally to valves and more particularly relates to valve arrangements for use in testing fire suppression water sprinkler systems.

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like members bear like reference numerals and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a valve arrangement according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a side view in cross section of the testing valve of FIG. 1;

Detailed description3,053 words

Valve and arrangement for fire suppression system

Life of this patent

Valve and arrangement for fire suppression system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims45

Description4,745 words

Drawings

Description4,745 words

Classification9 codes

Life of this patent