Fire Suppression System

• US 20070221388A1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lubrizol Advanced Materials Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Noveon, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, Gary L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,122,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/16
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/58 Pipe-line systems
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/62 dry, i.e. empty of extinguishing material when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/68 Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/44 only the sensor being in the danger zone
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment

Abstract

A sprinkler system comprises a network of CPVC conduits and a plurality of sprinklers. The system includes an electrically activated solenoid control valve to allow fluid to flow in the pipe network. One or more fire detectors operate independently of the condition of the sprinklers. Upon detection of an incipient fire situation, a fire detector sends an electrical signal to cause activation of the control valve. Upon activation of the control valve, fire suppression fluid is caused to flow through the conduits before the incipient fire situation matures into a sprinkler-triggering event. The cooling effect of fluid flowing through the conduit enables the conduit to resist structural failure prior to sprinkler deployment. The control valve may be disposed at a remote location in the sprinkler line and be operable as part of an inspector'"'"'s test connection.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a fire suppression arrangement,

wherein the arrangement includes at least one fire detector,

wherein the at least one fire detector is operative to detect at least one condition corresponding to a fire,

wherein the arrangement includes a sprinkler line,

wherein the sprinkler line includes at least one conduit comprising a thermoplastic composition, fire suppression fluid in the at least one conduit, at least one thermally-activated sprinkler, at least one flow control valve, and a predetermined fluid outlet disposed from all of the at least one sprinkler,

wherein the at least one flow control valve is in operative connection with the at least one fire detector, wherein the at least one flow control valve is closed when the at least one condition is not detected, and wherein the at least one flow control valve is operative to open responsive to detection of the at least one condition by the at least one fire detector,

wherein opening of the at least one flow control valve causes fluid to flow through the sprinkler line and through the outlet,

wherein the at least one fire detector is positioned relative to the at least one sprinkler, such that the at least one fire detector is operative to detect the at least one condition prior to activation of any of the at least one sprinkler.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a fire suppression fluid source, wherein the sprinkler line includes an inlet, and wherein the at least one open flow control valve also causes fluid flow from the source into the sprinkler line through the inlet.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the arrangement is located in a building attic.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the fluid source is external to the attic.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the attic includes a first area not directly in a distribution path of any of the at least one sprinkler, and wherein the at least one fire detector is operative to sense the at least one condition in the first area.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one flow control valve comprises a solenoid control valve, wherein the at least one fire detector is operative to provide at least one electrical signal responsive to detection of the at least one condition, and wherein the at least one signal is operative to cause activation of the solenoid control valve.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the solenoid control valve is disposed at a location in the sprinkler line remote from the fluid source and is disposed upstream from and adjacent to the outlet, and wherein the arrangement includes an inspector'"'"'s test connection, and wherein the inspector'"'"'s test connection includes the solenoid control valve.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC).

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one fire detector is operative to cause fire suppression fluid flow in the at least one conduit prior to the at least one conduit leaking fire suppression fluid.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one sensor and the control valve, and wherein the control valve is operative to open and close responsive to operation of the at least one processor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC).

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow control valve is operative to cause flow through the at least one conduit prior to the at least one conduit leaking fire suppression fluid due to failure caused by at least one of heat and flame.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one fire detector and the at least one flow control valve, and wherein the at least one flow control valve is caused to open and close responsive to operation of the at least one processor.

14. A method comprising:

(a) providing a flow control valve in operative connection with at least one fire detector, wherein the at least one fire detector causes the flow control valve to open responsive to detection of at least one condition corresponding to a fire by the at least one fire detector,

wherein a fire suppression sprinkler line includes the flow control valve, at least one fluid conduit comprising a thermoplastic composition, at least one thermally-activated sprinkler, and a predetermined fluid outlet disposed from all of the at least one sprinkler,

wherein opening of the flow control valve causes fluid to flow out of the sprinkler line and through the outlet; and

(b) arranging the at least one fire detector relative to the at least one sprinkler, wherein the at least one fire detector to is operative to detect the at least one condition prior to activation of any of the at least one sprinkler.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the sprinkler line includes an inlet, wherein step (a) includes connecting the inlet and a fire suppression fluid source, and wherein opening of the flow control valve also causes fluid to flow from the source into the sprinkler line through the inlet.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the flow control valve comprises a solenoid control valve, wherein the at least one fire detector is operative to provide at least one electrical signal responsive to detection of the at least one condition, wherein the at least one electrical signal is operative to cause activation of the solenoid control valve, and wherein step (a) includes operatively connecting the solenoid control valve and the at least one fire detector.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the solenoid control valve is disposed at a location in fluid communication with the sprinkler line, remote from the fluid source and disposed upstream from and adjacent to the outlet, and further including an inspector'"'"'s test connection, wherein the inspector'"'"'s test connection includes the solenoid control valve,

and further comprising:

(c) testing fluid flow through the sprinkler line via the solenoid control valve.

18. The method according to claim 14 wherein the sprinkler line includes fire suppression fluid in the at least one fluid conduit, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), and wherein step (b) includes positioning the at least one fire detector to cause detection of the at least one condition prior to any of the at least one conduit leaking fire suppression fluid.

19. The method according to claim 18, and further comprising:

(d) opening and closing the flow control valve responsive to operation of at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one fire detector and the flow control valve.

20. A method comprising:

(a) sensing at least one condition corresponding to a fire with at least one fire detector, wherein the at least one fire detector is operative to provide at least one signal responsive to such sensing;

(b) responsive to sensing at least one condition in step (a), providing at least one signal responsive to operation of the at least one fire detector;

(c) responsive to providing the at least one signal in step (b), causing the automatic opening of a flow control valve in fluid connection with a fire suppression sprinkler line,

wherein the sprinkler line is in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and includes at least one conduit comprising a chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) composition, and at least one thermally-activated sprinkler, wherein the fluid outlet is disposed from all of the at least one sprinkler,

wherein opening of the fluid control valve causes both fluid flow into the sprinkler line through the inlet and fluid to flow out of the sprinkler line and through the outlet; and

(d) subsequent to step (b), automatically activating the at least one sprinkler responsive to thermal exposure thereof to a fire, wherein activation of the at least one sprinkler causes fluid from the sprinkler line to be discharged through the at least one sprinkler.

21. The method according to claim 20 and further comprising:

(e) prior to step (a), delivering fire suppression fluid from a fire suppression fluid source into the sprinkler line through the inlet;

wherein prior to the opening of the flow control valve in step (c), the sprinkler line includes substantially stationary fire suppression fluid therein.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein step (d) includes activating the at least one sprinkler prior to any of the at least one conduit of the sprinkler line leaking fire suppression fluid.

23. The method according to claim 22 and further comprising:

(f) subsequent to step (b) and prior to step (d), releasing from the sprinkler line through the outlet, fire suppression fluid delivered into the sprinkler line in step (e); and

(g) prior to step (d), replacing fire suppression fluid released from the sprinkler line in step (f) with additional fluid from the source through the inlet;

wherein steps (f) and (g) occur concurrently.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the flow control valve comprises a solenoid control valve, wherein the solenoid control valve is in operative connection with the at least one fire detector, wherein step (b) includes operating the at least one fire detector to cause to be produced at least one electrical signal, and wherein step (c) includes receiving the at least one electrical signal produced in step (b) with the solenoid control valve.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the steps (a)-(d) are carried out in an attic of a building.

26. The method according to claim 24 wherein step (b) includes operating at least one processor to cause the at least one electrical signal to be produced, wherein the at least one electrical signal is produced responsive to sensing the at least one condition with the at least one fire detector.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein in step (c) the at least one processor is operative to cause the flow control valve to open and close.