Fire Suppression System and Method Thereof

• US 20100089598A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlon Investments SL
• Original Assignee: Arlon Investments SL
• Inventors: Long, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,752,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/46
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/62 dry, i.e. empty of extinguishing material when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/645 with compressed gas in pipework
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/68 Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/11 heat-sensitive

Abstract

A fire suppression system and method thereof is provided. The fire suppression system includes at least one inlet pipe, at least one outlet pipe, and a valve. The inlet pipe is at least partially filled with a fluid substance, wherein the fluid substance creates a first pressure in the inlet pipe. The outlet pipe is in fluid communication with the inlet pipe and contains a gaseous fluid, wherein the gaseous fluid creates a second pressure in the outlet pipe. The valve is in fluid communication between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, wherein the fluid substance enters the outlet pipe through the valve when the second pressure is altered to a predetermined pressure.

Claims

1. A fire suppression system comprising:

at least one inlet pipe at least partially filled with a fluid substance, wherein said fluid substance creates a first pressure in said at least one inlet pipe;

at least one outlet pipe in fluid communication with said at least one inlet pipe and contains a gaseous fluid, wherein said gaseous fluid creates a second pressure in said at least one outlet pipe; and

a valve assembly in fluid communication between said at least one inlet pipe and said at least one outlet pipe, wherein said fluid substance enters said at least one outlet pipe through said valve assembly when said second pressure is altered to a predetermined pressure.

2. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly is a direct-acting actuated dry valve.

3. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein said at least one outlet pipe defines at least one opening, and said gaseous fluid one of enters and exits through said at least one opening to alter said second pressure and said fluid substance enters said at least one outlet pipe through said valve assembly and said fluid substance exits said at least one outlet pipe through said at least one opening.

4. The fire suppression system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sprinkler head in fluid communication with said at least one outlet pipe, wherein said gaseous fluid one of exits and enters said at least one outlet pipe through said at least one sprinkler head to alter said second pressure, and said fluid substance enters said outlet pipe through said valve and exits said outlet pipe through said sprinkler head.

5. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly actuates, such that said fluid substance flows from said inlet pipe to said outlet pipe when said second pressure is altered by less than sixty percent (60%).

6. The fire suppression system of claim 1 further comprising an alarm, wherein said alarm is activated when at least one of said first pressure and said second pressure is at a predetermined pressure.

7. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly comprises an actuator comprising:

at least one spring having a tension; and

at least one piston that is biased towards an open position by said spring tension, wherein when said valve assembly is in a closed position, said second pressure is adequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in a closed position and when said valve assembly is in an open position, said second pressure is inadequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in said open position.

8. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein a fire suppression system is one of a pneumatic actuated dry valve fire suppression system and a vacuum actuated dry valve fire suppression system.

20. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly comprises an actuator comprising:

at least one spring having a tension; and

at least one piston that is biased towards an open position by said spring tension, wherein when said valve assembly is in a closed position, said second pressure is adequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in a closed position and when said valve assembly is in an open position, said second pressure is inadequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in said open position.

9. A fire suppression system comprising:

at least one inlet pipe at least partially filled with a fluid substance, wherein said fluid creates a first pressure in said at least one inlet pipe;

at least one outlet pipe in fluid communication with said at least one inlet pipe and contains a gaseous fluid, wherein said gaseous fluid creates a second pressure in said at least one outlet pipe, and said at least one outlet pipe defines at least one opening; and

a direct-acting actuated dry valve assembly in fluid communication between said at least one inlet pipe and said at least one outlet pipe, wherein said fluid substance enters said at least one outlet pipe through said direct-acting actuated valve assembly when said second pressure is altered to a predetermined pressure, and said fluid substance exits said at least one outlet pipe through said at least one opening.

10. The fire suppression system of claim 9, wherein said at least one opening is an at least one sprinkler head, such that said gaseous fluid one of exits and enters said at least one outlet pipe through said at least one sprinkler head to alter said second pressure.

11. The fire suppression system of claim 9 further comprising an alarm, wherein said alarm is activated when said second pressure is at a predetermined pressure.

12. The fire suppression system of claim 9, wherein said valve assembly comprises an actuator comprising:

at least one spring having a tension; and

at least one piston that is biased towards an open position by said spring tension, wherein when said valve assembly is in a closed position, said second pressure is adequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in a closed position and when said valve assembly is in an open position, said second pressure is inadequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in said open position.

13. The fire suppression system of 9, wherein said direct-acting actuated dry valve comprises a mechanically actuated ball valve.

14. A method of suppressing a fire, said method comprising the steps of:

pressurizing an inlet pipe at a first pressure with a fluid substance;

pressurizing an outlet pipe at a second pressure with a gaseous substance;

altering said outlet pipe pressure; and

opening a valve assembly that is in fluid communication between said inlet and outlet pipes when said outlet pipe pressure is altered, such that said gaseous fluid one of enters and exits said outlet pipe to alter said second pressure and said fluid substance enters and exits said outlet pipe.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of opening said valve assembly comprises:

biasing at least one piston towards an open position by a tension of at least one spring;

placing said valve assembly in a closed position when said second pressure is adequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in a closed position; and

placing said valve assembly in an open position when said second pressure is inadequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in said open position.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of opening said valve assembly comprises:

biasing at least one piston towards a closed position by a tension of at least one spring;

placing said valve assembly in a closed position when said second pressure is inadequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in said closed position; and

placing said valve assembly in an open position when said second pressure is adequate to overcome said spring tension so said at least one piston is in an open position.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one outlet pipe defines at least one opening, and said gaseous fluid one of enters and exits through said at least one opening to alter said second pressure and said fluid substance enters said at least one outlet pipe through said valve and said fluid substance exits said at least one outlet pipe through said at least one opening.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of activating an alarm when at least one of said inlet pipe and outlet pipe pressures is at a predetermined level.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein a fire suppression system is one of a pneumatic dry valve fire suppression system and a vacuum dry valve fire suppression system.