Fire protection apparatus

• US 4,162,485 A
• Filed: 01/07/1977
• Issued: 07/24/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bloom-1 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Walter Kidde & Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Swanson, Carl I., Facchini, Enio
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/757,615
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 169/61, 340/287, 340/289, 340/303, 340/418
• US Class Current: 340/289
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/00 Control of fire-fighting equipment heat-sensitive devices G01K
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/12 Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure

Abstract

A multi-zone fire protection system in which each protected zone is provided with a detector for producing an alarm signal in response to the presence of combustion products, a source of fire extinguishing agent, and a pull box station manually operable to induce discharge of the extinguishing agent into the protected zone. Each pull station possesses a signal lamp that can be energized to signal an abnormal condition to personnel present in the area. A signal lamp in a given zone is energized via a central control panel in response to an alarm signal from a detector associated with that zone, thereby clearly indicating to personnel at hand the specific zone in which a fire has been detected.

Claims

1. A fire control system comprising:

a plurality of detectors, each located in a different zone so as to provide an alarm signal in response to the presence of combustion products therein;

extinguishing means for selectively discharging a fire extinguishing agent into any of said different zones;

a plurality of manual pull stations, one located in the immediate vicinity of and associated with each of said zones and manually operable to induce discharge thereinto of said extinguishing agent from said extinguishing means;

each of said pull stations comprising signal means energizable to provide a visual indication of an abnormal condition, a box for mounting on a support surface, a first electrical switch mounted in said box and manually operable from an open to a closed position, latch means for latching said first switch in said closed position, a second electrical switch mounted in said box and manually operable from an open to a closed position so as to provide an initiation signal for initiating release of said extinguishing agent into an associated zone, restoring means for returning said second switch to said open position after being manually actuated into said closed position, and mechanical indicator means for providing a visual indication in response to movement of said first switch into said closed position; and

control circuit means connecting said detectors in each zone with said pull station associated with that zone, said control circuit means energizing said signal means in a given pull station in response to an alarm signal from an associated detector and comprising a control panel interconnected between all of said detectors, said extinguishing means, and all of said pull stations, said control panel providing an alert signal in response to operation of one of said first electrical switches to a closed position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including manual actuator means for simultaneously actuating both said first and second switches into said closed position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said indicator means is coupled to said manual actuator so as to be actuated thereby.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said indicator means comprises a flag portion manually concealed by said box and moved into an exposed position in response to closing of said first and second switches.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said flag portion is retained in said exposed position by said latch means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said signal means comprises removable indicia means illustrating the function of said box.

7. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said indicia means comprises a window, and said signal means further comprises electrical lamp means for illuminating said window and energized in response to said alarm signal from an associated detector.