Fire emergency, sprinkling control system and method thereof

• US 5,236,049 A
• Filed: 12/24/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Securite Polygon, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Securite Polygon, Inc.
• Inventors: Labonte, Claude, Lauzier, Yves, LaPlante, Andre, Coupal, Sylvain, Asselin, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kannofsky, James M.
• Application Number:
  US07/813,261
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 169/17, 169/13, 169/20, 169/61
• US Class Current: 169/61
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/64 pressurised
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/44 only the sensor being in the danger zone

Abstract

There is described an electronic fire reporting and sprinkling control module to be connected to a control bus of a fire alarm system, and to a flow control valve which controls flow of extinguishing fluid into a sprinkler system. The sprinkler system can be monitored by pressurized air. The module comprises a bus connection, detector input connections, an air pressure detector connection to provide a status signal representative of pressure inside the sprinkler system, a detection mode unit having inputs connected to the detector input connections, a pre-programmed sprinkling mode unit for generating a sprinkler signal according to a pre-programmed operation mode and the status signal present at the air pressure input connection, a timer for initiating sprinkling periods as long as its input is activated, and a valve control unit having a first input for receiving an output signal from the timer, and an output for activating the flow control valve, whereby information concerning a fire emergency can be directly transmitted to the fire alarm system by means of the control bus connection, whereby fire emergency conditions in an area can be set by means of a group of detectors and the detection mode unit, and whereby automatic sprinkling periods can be programmed by means of the timer. There is also described a flow control valve system, and a method of controlling the flow control valve.

Claims

1. A electronic fire reporting and sprinkling control module for connection to a control bus of a fire alarm system, and to a flow control valve which controls flow of extinguishing fluid into a sprinkler system, said sprinkler system covering a particular area to be protected, comprising:

a bus connection for connection to said control bus for receiving and transmitting information from and to said fire alarm system;

detector input connections for connection to at least one group of detectors for monitoring said area covered by said sprinkler system;

an air pressure detector connection for connection to an air pressure detector for providing a status signal representative of pressure inside said sprinkler system when monitored by pressurized air;

a detection mode unit having inputs connected to said detector input connections, and an output for generating an alarm signal when pre-selected inputs of said detection mode unit are activated;

a pre-programmed sprinkling mode unit having a first input connected to the output of said detection mode unit, a second input connected to said air pressure detector connection, and an output for generating a sprinkler signal according to a pre-programmed operation mode and said status signal present at said air pressure detector connection;

a timer having an input for receiving an initiating signal derived from said sprinkler signal, and an output for initiating sprinkling periods as along as its input is activated; and

a valve control unit having a first input for receiving an output signal from said timer, and an output for activating said flow control valve, whereby information concerning a fire emergency is directly transmitted to said alarm system by means of said control bus, whereby fire emergency conditions in said area are set by means of said at least one group of detectors and said detection mode unit, and whereby automatic sprinkling periods are programmed by means of said timer.

2. A module according to claim 1, wherein said detector input connections and said air pressure detector connection are connected to said bus connection, said module further comprising:

an emergency input connection for connection to an emergency pull station, said emergency input connection being connected to said bus connection;

a waterflow input connection for connection to a flow sensor for monitoring flow of fluid inside said sprinkler system, said waterflow input connection being connected to said bus connection; and

a valve supervisory input connection for connection to a valve supervising switch monitoring a main valve for controlling access of said extinguishing fluid to said flow control valve, said valve supervisory input connection being connected to said bus connection, whereby said fire alarm system is informed of different operating statuses.

3. A module according to claim 2, further comprising a cyclic counter having an input connected to said timer for counting each of said sprinkling periods, and an output connected to a second input of said valve control unit, whereby a stop of sprinkling after a predetermined amount of said sprinkling periods is programmed by means of said counter.

4. A module according to claim 3, for connection to normally open and closed solenoid valves for controlling said flow control valve, wherein said valve control unit comprises:

a first AND gate having inputs constituting said first and second inputs of said valve control unit;

a locked-in upon activation unit having an input connected to an output of said first AND gate;

a second AND gate having a first input connected to an output of said locked-in upon activation unit, a second input connected to an output of a first OR gate which has inputs connected to said detector input connections, and an output;

a second OR gate having a first input connected to said output of said first AND gate, a second input connected to said output of said second AND gate, a third input connected to said emergency input connection, and an output;

a solenoid valve activating unit having a first input connected to said output of said second OR gate, a second input connected to said air pressure detector connection, a first output for activating a normally open solenoid valve actuator, and a second output for activating a normally closed solenoid valve actuator, whereby said solenoid valves are controlled by said valve control unit according to different conditions determined by signals present on said detector input connections and said air pressure connection and by signals derived from said sprinkler signal.

5. A module according to claim 4, further comprising:

a direct current power input connection to be connected to a direct current power source, said direct current power input connection being connected to each of said valve actuators by which their corresponding solenoid valve can be energized by said direct current power source when activated; and

a power source supervision unit having an input connected to said direct current power input connection, and an output connected to said bus connection by which said control bus is informed of the status of said direct current power input connection.

6. A module according to claim 4, for connection to a special equipment located in said area, said special equipment comprising equipment that must not be sprinkled when in operation, said special equipment comprising means for receiving a request for sprinkling signal and for providing a confirmation signal for indicating that said equipment is not operating and that a sprinkling can be performed;

said module further comprising;

a request output connection for receiving a signal derived from said sprinkler signal, that constitutes said request for sprinkling signal; and

a confirmation input connection for receiving said confirmation signal from said equipment, said confirmation input connection being connected to a disabling input of said timer, and to a third input of said first AND gate.

7. A module according to claim 4, comprising a time delay device having:

an input for receiving an activating signal derived from said sprinkler signal;

an output connected to said input of said timer to provide said initiating signal;

a by-pass input connected to said output of said locked-in upon activation unit by which said initiating signal of said timer has substantially no time delay with respect to said activating signal of said delay device when said by-pass input is activated, and said initiating signal has a predetermined time delay with respect to said activating signal when said by-pass input is not activated; and

a reset input for resetting said delay device when activated.

8. A module as defined in claim 7, comprising:

an abort input connection for connection to an abort station, said abort input connection being connected to said reset input of said delay device; and

a sprinkling abort unit having a first input connected to said abort input connection, a second input connected to said output of said delay device, and an output connected to a reset input of said timer by which a sprinkling can be aborted by activation of said abort station.

9. A flow control valve system for controlling flow of extinguishing fluid into a sprinkler system which is monitored by pressurized air, said system is connected to a sprinkling control module for commanding said flow of fluid into said sprinkler system upon detection of a fire emergency, said flow control valve system comprises:

a main valve having an inlet for receiving said fluid, and an outlet;

a flow control valve having an inlet connected to the outlet of said main valve, and an outlet for connection to said sprinkler system by means of a check valve restricting flow of said pressurized air from said sprinkler system to said flow control valve, said control valve having a body forming a passage between the inlet and the outlet of said control valve, said control valve including movable clapper having a first position in which said passage is blocked, and a second position in which said passage is open, said clapper having a first surface forming with said body a chamber having an inlet and an outlet receiving and exiting respectively pressurized fluid, said clapper having a second opposite surface forming with said body said inlet of said flow control valve, said first surface being at least four times greater than said second surface, said clapper being moved from its second position to its first position by means of said pressurized fluid entering said inlet of said chamber, said clapper being moved from its first position to its second position by releasing pressurized fluid from said outlet of said chamber;

a pressurized air channel having an inlet for connection to a pressurized air source, and an outlet for connection to said sprinkler system by means, respectively, of a pressure operated release valve and a check valve for restricting fluid from circulating from the sprinkler system to the air channel;

a normally closed valve having an end connected to said chamber of said control valve for depressurizing said chamber when activated, said normally closed valve is controlled by said module;

a fluid releasing circuit connected to said chamber, including a normally open valve and a pneumatic actuator which is controlled by air pressure inside the air channel which is connected to said pneumatic actuator, said actuator being closed when said air channel is pressurized and opened when pressure drops inside said air channel, said normally open valve is controlled by said module;

a priming system including a priming valve having an inlet connected to a source of fluid and an outlet connected to said chamber by means of a channel having a portion with a reduced cross-section;

a fluid flow detector and activating means for detecting fluid flow at the outlet of said control valve and activating said pressure operated release valve upon fluid flow detection; and

an air pressure detector for indicating to said module that air pressure has dropped under a predetermined level inside said air channel, said normally open and closed valves are connected to said module for controlling said flow control valve upon detection of a fire emergency by said module, whereby upon complete electrical power loss and air pressure drop inside said sprinkler system, said chamber is depressurized thus allowing introduction of extinguishing fluid inside said sprinkler system.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein, along said fluid releasing circuit, said normally open valve is a solenoid valve and is disposed between said chamber and said pneumatic actuator.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein said inlet of said priming valve is connected to said inlet of said main valve so that said source of fluid is provided by said inlet of said main valve, said system further comprising a check valve connected between said outlet of said priming valve and said chamber for restricting fluid from circulating from said chamber to said priming valve.

12. A system according to claim 9, further comprising a valve supervisory switch installed onto said main valve and having an output for connection to said module by which said module is informed of the status of said main valve;

and a water flow switch having an input derived from said outlet of said flow control valve, and an output for connection to said module by which said module is informed whether fluid has been introduced into said sprinkler system.

13. Method of controlling a flow control valve system that controls flow of extinguishing fluid into a sprinkler system which is monitored by pressurized air, said system is connected to a sprinkling control module which commands said flow of fluid into said sprinkler system upon detection of a fire emergency, comprising steps of:

receiving said fluid by means of a main valve;

sending said fluid from said main valve to an inlet of a flow control valve, an outlet of said flow control valve being connected to said sprinkler system by means of a check valve restricting flow of pressurized air from said sprinkler system to said flow control valve, said flow control valve having a first position in which said fluid is blocked, and a second position in which said fluid is free to flow, said flow control valve being moved from its second position to its first position by means of a pressurized controlling fluid sent to said flow control valve, said flow control valve being moved from its first position to its second position by releasing said pressurized controlling fluid from said flow control valve;

pressurizing said sprinkler system by means of a pressurized air channel including, respectively, a pressure operated release valve for depressurizing said air channel when a flow of said extinguishing fluid is detected at said outlet of said flow control valve, and a check valve for restricting fluid from circulating from the sprinkler system to the air channel;

depressurizing said flow control valve by activating a normally closed valve that releases said pressurized controlling fluid when said fire emergency is detected;

depressurizing said flow control valve by means of a normally open valve connected in series with a pneumatic actuator that is open only when pressure drops inside said air channel, said normally open valve being closed when a reset has been done after said fire emergency;

pressurizing said flow control valve by means of a priming system including a priming valve to send said pressurized controlling fluid to said flow control valve by means of a channel having a portion with a reduced cross-section; and

detecting fluid flow at the outlet of said control valve and depressurizing said air channel upon fluid flow detection, whereby upon complete electrical power loss and air pressure drop inside said sprinkler system, said flow control valve is depressurized, thus allowing introduction of extinguishing fluid inside said sprinkler system.