System and method for testing a fire suppression system

• US 10,207,134 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lund Fire Products Co. Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lund Fire Products Co. Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, Richard F., Alexander, Ian R., Karp, Lawrence I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Devito, Alex
• Application Number:
  US14/479,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20160067535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/60 wet, i.e. containing extinguishing material even when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/34 by measuring pressure or differential pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/001 Means for regulating or setting the meter for a predetermined quantity

Abstract

At least one embodiment comprises a testing system for a fire suppression system which can comprise at least one fluid conduit having a first end and a second end with an isolating valve and at least one pressure regulating valve coupled to the conduit. A tap is coupled to the fluid conduit, and is positioned between the first end and the second end and be for selectively allowing fluid to flow out from the fluid conduit to allow fluid to flow past the pressure regulating valve. The process for testing a fire suppression system can comprise the following steps: connecting at least one first valve to a fluid conduit, disconnecting sprinkler heads from the fluid conduit, flowing water through the pressure regulating valve determining the flow rate through the pressure regulating valve, and determining the pressure downstream of the pressure regulating valve, stopping testing, and then reporting the results.

Claims

1. A testing system for a fire suppression system comprising:

a) at least one fluid conduit comprising a supply line having a first end and a second end wherein said at least one fluid conduit is on a single floor;

b) at least one isolating valve coupled to said fluid conduit;

c) at least one pressure regulating valve coupled to said conduit;

d) a first pressure sensor coupled to said conduit and disposed upstream from said at least one pressure regulating valve, and a second pressure sensor coupled to said conduit and disposed downstream from said at least one pressure regulating valve;

e) at least one three-way valve comprising a tap coupled to said fluid conduit, and positioned between said first end and said second end, said tap for selectively allowing fluid to flow out from said fluid conduit to allow fluid to flow past said pressure regulating valve;

f) at least one tank having a vent, said tank coupled to said three-way valve, downstream from said pressure regulating valve, wherein said tank is configured to received fluid from said fluid conduit when said at least one pressure regulating valve is being tested and wherein said at least one tank is configured to be isolated from said sprinkler system via said three-way valve during testing of said pressure regulating valve.

2. The testing system as in claim 1, wherein said fluid conduit is a plurality of pipes.

3. The testing system as in claim 2, wherein said fluid conduit is configured to pass water along said conduit.

4. The testing system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one isolating valve comprises at least one first isolating valve and at least one second isolating valve, wherein said at least one pressure regulating valve is positioned between said at least one first isolating valve and said at least one second isolating valve.

5. The testing system as in claim 1, wherein said fluid conduit comprises a sprinkler system that comprises a fire pump and a fire pump controller a gravity tank and a pressurized tank.

6. The testing system as in claim 1, wherein said three-way valve is positioned after said pressure regulating valve (PRV) and before a first sprinkler positioned after said pressure regulating valve.

7. The testing system as in claim 1, wherein said least one container further comprises at least one tank pressure sensor.

8. The testing system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one container further comprises at least one pressurizer configured to selectively pressurize said at least one container to selectively drain fluid from said at least one container after said pressure regulating valve has been tested.

9. The testing system as in claim 8, further comprising at least one flow meter and at least one differential pressure sensor coupled in parallel along said at least one fluid conduit, said flow meter measuring a flow rate through said pressure regulating valve.

10. The testing system as in claim 8, wherein said pressurizer comprises at least one air compressor configured to pressurize said container, wherein the system further comprises at least one drain, said drain configured to drain fluid from said container when fluid is drained from said container.

11. The testing system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one occlusion container, configured to receive fluid from said at least one fluid conduit and to filter said fluid to separate particles from said fluid in said at least one occlusion container.

12. The testing system as in claim 6, wherein said three-way valve is configured to isolate said sprinklers from fluid flow when said pressure regulating valve is being tested.

13. The testing system as in claim 1, wherein said container is a portable container.

14. The testing system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one microprocessor, wherein said at least one microprocessor is in communication with the system including said at least one first pressure sensor and said at least one second pressure sensor and is configured to determine whether the pressure regulating valve meets a set of preset criteria.

15. The testing system as in claim 14, further comprising at least one flow meter and at least one differential pressure sensor coupled in parallel along said at least one fluid conduit, said flow meter measuring a flow rate through said pressure regulating valve wherein said microprocessor is in communication with said flow meter and said differential pressure sensor, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to determine whether the pressure regulating valve meets a set of preset criteria.