Valve and arrangement for fire suppression system

• US 6,302,146 B1
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AGF Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AGF Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: McHugh, George J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell, John
• Application Number:
  US09/235,834
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 137/551, 137/552, 137/559, 137/601.16, 251/118, 731/68, 73D/IG.8, 239/71, 239/DIG.15, 169/16, 169/17, 169/23, 169/61
• US Class Current: 137/601.16
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0873 the plug being only rotatable around one spindle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/15 Sprinkler systems with controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 73/08 Fluid circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7877 With means for retaining external means in bias opposing position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87523 Rotary valve

Abstract

A valve and valve arrangement for a fire suppression system includes a remotely controlled valve such as a solenoid valve which is electrically controlled to provide a preselected flow through the remotely controlled valve corresponding to the flow through a single sprinkler head.

Claims

1. An arrangement for remotely testing a fire suppression sprinkler system, comprising:

conduit means for supplying a fire suppression fluid to a plurality of sprinklers;

means for sensing a flow of said fire suppression fluid in said conduit means;

means for providing a flow through a passageway corresponding to the flow of said fire suppression fluid through one of said sprinklers;

remotely controlled valve means for selectively opening and closing said passageway, whereby said fire suppression sprinkler system may be remotely tested, said remotely controlled valve means having an inlet and an outlet;

second valve means for selectively opening or closing a second passageway, said second valve means having an inlet and an outlet, at least one of said inlet and said outlet of said second valve means always being in communication with said inlet or said outlet of said remotely controlled valve means.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said remotely controlled valve means is controlled electrically.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said remotely controlled valve means comprises a solenoid valve.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said means for providing a flow through a passageway corresponding to the flow of said fire suppression fluid through one of said sprinklers comprises a restricted opening in said remotely controlled valve means.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said fire suppression fluid is water.

6. A valve arrangement for use in a fire suppression sprinkler system, said valve arrangement comprising:

first valve means for controlling the flow of a fluid, said first valve means comprising an inlet and first and second outlets, said first valve means comprising a first configuration selectively preventing flow from the inlet to the first outlet and a second configuration selectively permitting flow from the inlet to the first outlet at a preselected rate corresponding to the flow through a single fire suppression sprinkler, said first valve means also permitting flow from the inlet to the second outlet when said valve means is in said first configuration;

second valve means for controlling the flow of a fluid, said second valve means comprising an inlet and an outlet, said inlet of said second valve means being in communication with the second outlet of said first valve means, said second valve means comprising a first configuration selectively preventing flow from the inlet to the outlet of the second valve means and a second configuration selectively permitting flow from the inlet to the outlet of the second valve means;

means for restricting the flow through the second valve means to a preselected rate corresponding to the flow through a single fire suppression sprinkler.

7. The valve arrangement of claim 6, wherein said second valve means is controlled electrically.

8. The valve arrangement of claim 6, wherein said second valve means is remotely controlled.

9. The valve arrangement of claim 8 wherein said second valve means comprises a solenoid valve.

10. The valve arrangement of claim 6 wherein said means for restricting the flow through the second valve means comprises a restricted opening in said first valve means.

11. The valve arrangement of claim 10 wherein said fire suppression fluid is water.

12. The valve arrangement of claim 10 wherein said inlet and said first outlet of said first valve means are perpendicular to one another and wherein said first and second outlets of the first valve means are arranged along a common axis.

13. The valve arrangement of claim 12 wherein said outlet of said second valve means is in fluid communication with the first outlet of said first valve means.

14. The valve arrangement of claim 13 wherein said first valve means comprises a third configuration selectively permitting flow from the inlet to the first outlet at a rate which is greater than the rate corresponding to the flow through a single fire suppression sprinkler.

15. The valve arrangement of claim 7, wherein said second valve means is remotely controlled.

16. The valve arrangement of claim 15 wherein said second valve means comprises a solenoid valve.

17. The valve arrangement of claim 16 wherein said means for restricting the flow through the second valve means comprises a restricted opening in said second valve means.

18. The valve arrangement of claim 17 wherein said fire suppression fluid is water.

19. The valve arrangement of claim 18 wherein said inlet and said first outlet of said first valve means are arranged along a common axis and wherein said first and second outlets of the first valve means are perpendicular to one another.

20. The valve arrangement of claim 19 wherein said outlet of said second valve means is in fluid communication with the first outlet of said first valve means.

21. A valve arrangement for remotely testing a fire suppression sprinkler system, said valve arrangement comprising:

conduit means for supplying a fire suppression fluid to a plurality of sprinklers;

means for sensing a flow of said fire suppression fluid in said conduit means;

supply valve means for controlling a flow of fluid through said conduit means;

first testing valve means for testing the means for sensing a flow of said fire suppression fluid in said conduit means, said first testing valve means comprising an inlet and an outlet, said first testing valve means comprising a first configuration selectively preventing flow from the inlet to the outlet and a second configuration selectively permitting flow from the inlet to the outlet at a preselected rate corresponding to the flow through a single fire suppression sprinkler;

second testing valve means for testing the means for sensing a flow of said fire suppression fluid in said conduit means, said second testing valve means comprising an inlet and an outlet, said inlet of said second valve means being in communication with the conduit means downstream of the supply valve means; and

,

means for restricting the flow through the second testing valve means to a preselected rate corresponding to the flow through a single fire suppression sprinkler.

22. The valve arrangement of claim 21, wherein said second testing valve means is controlled electrically.

23. The valve arrangement of claim 22, wherein said second testing valve means is remotely controlled.

24. The valve arrangement of claim 23, wherein said second testing valve means comprises a solenoid valve.

25. The valve arrangement of claim 24 wherein said means for restricting the flow through the second testing valve means comprises a restricted opening in said second testing valve means.

26. The valve arrangement of claim 25 wherein said fire suppression fluid is water.

27. The valve arrangement of claim 26 wherein said means for sensing a flow of said fire suppression fluid in said conduit means comprises a flow switch provided in said supply valve means and wherein said solenoid valve of said second testing means includes an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of said supply valve means and wherein said solenoid valve of said second testing means includes an outlet in fluid communication with an outlet of said first testing valve.