In-line valve arrangement for fire suppression water sprinkler system

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

#In a typical fire suppression water sprinkler system as installed in many buildings, an array of individual fire sprinklers is supplied with water through a main conduit and various branch conduits. The individual fire 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 fire sprinkler to spray water in order to suppress the fire. The individual fire 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.

#After a fire, and especially during maintenance and renovation, it may become necessary to replace one or more of the individual water sprinklers. At such times it is desirable to be able to drain the system of water conduits, so that the removal of one or more of the individual water sprinklers (after the supply of water to the main conduit has been turned off and after the system has been drained) will not result in a flow of water through the fitting for the water sprinkler. Accordingly, it is conventional in the art to provide a valve which when opened will drain the water conduits of the system.

#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 an arrangement for testing and draining a fire suppression water sprinkler system according to the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded pictorial view of a valve according to the present invention.

#With reference to FIG. 1, an arrangement for testing and draining a fire suppression water sprinkler system includes a main conduit 30 for supplying water. The conduit 30 supplies a branch conduit 32 by way of a Tee fitting 34. A main valve 36 is provided for the branch conduit 32 with the main valve 36 operable to permit or to interrupt the flow of water through the branch conduit 32.

#Downstream of the main valve 36 is provided a water flow switch 38 and a plurality of individual sprinkler heads 40. The water flow switch 38 is of suitable conventional design and typically includes a paddle or other member (not shown) which extends into the branch conduit 32. The paddle is connected to a switch which is closed when the flow of water through the branch conduit is sufficient to move the paddle a predetermined amount. Closure of the switch provides an electrical signal which may be used to trigger a fire alarm or to alert a fire department. Preferably, the flow switch 38 is configured to detect a flow through the conduit 32 corresponding at least to the flow through a single sprinkler head 40.

#As is conventional in the art, the individual fire sprinklers 40 are provided with a member that melts when the ambient temperature reaches a predetermined level indicative of a fire. Upon melting, the member opens the fire sprinkler to spray water to suppress the fire. When it is desired to replace one or more of the individual water sprinklers, the valve 36 is closed and then the water sprinkler system is preferably drained, so that the removal of one or more of the individual water sprinklers will not result in a flow of water through the fitting for the water sprinkler.