FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM HAVING COMBINED DETECTION AND DISTRIBUTION PIPING
First Claim
1. A fire sprinkler system in communication with a source of fire extinguishing fluid, the fire sprinkler system comprising:
- a piping system having at least one dual-use pipe providing both an air conveying inlet and a fire extinguishing fluid conveying outlet, the dual-use pipe having at least one air sampling opening therein allowing ambient air flow into the pipe and having at least one fire sprinkler fluidly connected to the pipe for ejecting said fire extinguishing fluid from the pipe in the event of detection of a fire condition;
an air sampling detector fluidly connected to the pipe and testing the ambient air within the dual-use pipe, the air sampling detector being operable to detect the presence of the fire condition based on at least one characteristic detected from the ambient air within the dual-use pipe; and
a valve disposed between the source of the fire extinguishing fluid and the pipe, the valve being in communication with the air sampling detector and operable to open, upon detection of the fire condition based on the ambient air tested by the air sampling detector, in order to fill the pipe with the fire extinguishing fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fire sprinkler system is described which includes a piping system having at least one dual-use pipe providing both an air conveying inlet and a fire extinguishing fluid conveying outlet. The pipe has at least one air sampling opening allowing ambient air flow into the pipe and at least one fire sprinkler for ejecting a fire extinguishing fluid from the pipe in the event of a fire. An air sampling detector is fluidly connected to the pipe and tests the ambient air within the pipe to detect the presence of the fire. A valve, disposed between the source of the fire extinguishing fluid and the pipe, is in communication with the air sampling detector and operable to open, upon detection of the fire based on the ambient air tested by the air sampling detector, in order to fill the pipe with the fire extinguishing fluid.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fire sprinkler system in communication with a source of fire extinguishing fluid, the fire sprinkler system comprising:
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a piping system having at least one dual-use pipe providing both an air conveying inlet and a fire extinguishing fluid conveying outlet, the dual-use pipe having at least one air sampling opening therein allowing ambient air flow into the pipe and having at least one fire sprinkler fluidly connected to the pipe for ejecting said fire extinguishing fluid from the pipe in the event of detection of a fire condition; an air sampling detector fluidly connected to the pipe and testing the ambient air within the dual-use pipe, the air sampling detector being operable to detect the presence of the fire condition based on at least one characteristic detected from the ambient air within the dual-use pipe; and a valve disposed between the source of the fire extinguishing fluid and the pipe, the valve being in communication with the air sampling detector and operable to open, upon detection of the fire condition based on the ambient air tested by the air sampling detector, in order to fill the pipe with the fire extinguishing fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A fire sprinkler system in communication with a source of fire extinguishing fluid, the fire sprinkler system comprising:
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a piping system having at least one dual-use pipe providing both an air conveying inlet and a fire extinguishing fluid conveying outlet, the dual-use pipe having at least one air sampling opening therein allowing ambient air flow into the pipe and having at least one fire sprinkler fluidly connected to the pipe for ejecting said fire extinguishing fluid from the pipe in the event of detection of a fire condition; an air sampling detector fluidly connected to the pipe and testing the ambient air within the dual-use pipe, the air sampling detector being operable to detect the presence of the fire condition based on at least one characteristic detected from the ambient air within the dual-use pipe; a suction device for drawing the ambient air into the pipe through the at least one air sampling opening therein; an anti-flood device positioned upstream of the air sampling detector, the anti-flood device allowing air flow therethrough in a direction toward said air sampling detector while preventing liquid from flowing therethrough in said direction; and a valve disposed between the source of the fire extinguishing fluid and the pipe, the valve being in communication with the air sampling detector and operable to open, upon detection of the fire condition based on the ambient air tested by the air sampling detector, in order to fill the pipe with the fire extinguishing fluid. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An air sampling fire sprinkler assembly for discharging a fire extinguishing liquid, comprising:
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a nozzle head comprising; a discharge conduit extending therethrough between an inlet end fluidly connectable to a pipe adapted to contain the fire extinguishing liquid and a discharging end; and a cavity having a first opening fluidly connected to the discharge conduit for receiving the fire extinguishing liquid therein and a second opening fluidly connected to the discharging end for receiving air therein, the second opening providing an air sampling port through which ambient air is drawn and adapted to be fed to an air sampling detector for testing the ambient air to detect the presence of a fire condition; a heat-sensitive device substantially hermetically sealing the discharge conduit of the nozzle head and adapted to unseal the discharge conduit at a predetermined temperature to discharge the fire extinguishing liquid; and a closure device positioned within the cavity and movable between a biased open position in which the closure device is spaced apart from the second opening and a closed position in which the closure device seals the second opening, a flow of the fire extinguishing liquid within the cavity allowing the closure device to move from the biased open position to the closed position.
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Specification