Multi-zone firewall detection system

• US 7,275,604 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry M. Wall
• Original Assignee: Terry M. Wall
• Inventors: Wall, Terry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORMAN, DARREN W
• Application Number:
  US11/247,933
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 169/60, 169/61, 169/48, 169/16, 169/5, 169/7, 169/13, 169/54, 169/56, 239/66, 239/67, 239/69, 239/75, 239/207, 239/DIG.15, 239/201, 239/203, 239/204, 239/208, 239/536, 239/565, 239/569
• US Class Current: 169/60
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0214 for buildings or installations in fire storms
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0271 Detection of area conflagration fires fire alarms for forest fires G08B17/005
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0292 by spraying extinguishants directly into the fire A62C3/0242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/58 Pipe-line systems
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/10 Releasing means, e.g. electrically released
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/36 an actuating signal being generated by a sensor separate from an outlet device
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/44 only the sensor being in the danger zone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/15 Sprinkler systems with controls

Abstract

A sprinkler system includes a control panel including a processor, a power supply source, and a memory including software instructions for automatically toggling the system between operating and non-operating modes. The control panel includes controls mated to the processor that generate and transmit a user input control signal thereto. The processor executes a control algorithm for enabling the user to override the system. Sensors are spaced along a perimeter of the building structure, are camouflaged and shaped as an outdoor ornamental lawn art such as insects and amphibians, and generate and transmit an RF detection signal to the control panel, identifying an ambient temperature. Lawn and fire sprinkler assemblies are positioned about the building structure. The lawn and fire sprinkler assemblies are mated to the control panel and are independently operable. The sensors automatically instruct the control panel to activate and deactivate the lawn and fire sprinkler assemblies when a threshold exceeding ambient temperate is detected.

Claims

1. A camouflaged thermo-sensitive sprinkler system for protecting a building structure from wildfire damage, said thermo-sensitive sprinkler system comprising:

a control panel comprising

a processor,

a memory including programmable software instructions that cause said sprinkler system to automatically toggle between operating and non-operating modes when a fire is detected at the building structure, and

a plurality of controls electrically mated to said processor, said controls generating and transmitting a control signal to said processor based upon a user input, said processor executing a control algorithm embedded within said software instructions for enabling the user to manually override said sprinkler system as needed;

a plurality of sensors sequentially spaced along a perimeter of the building structure, each said sensors being camouflaged and shaped as one of an outdoor insect and amphibian for blending into a surrounding environment;

a plurality of lawn sprinkler assemblies selectively positioned at predetermined locations about the perimeter of the building structure;

a plurality of fire sprinkler assemblies selectively positioned at predetermined locations about the perimeter of the building structure, said lawn sprinkler assemblies and said fire sprinkler assemblies being electrically mated to said control panel and further being independently operable during emergency and non-emergency situations;

wherein each said sensors are in communication with said control panel such that said sensors can automatically instruct said control panel to activate and deactivate said lawn and fire sprinkler assemblies when an ambient temperate is detected to be higher than a maximum threshold temperature surrounding the building structure;

at least one elongated and conductive cable including a plurality of female couplings electrically mated thereto and laterally extending away from said cable, said cable further including a male coupling electrically mated thereto;

each said sensors comprising

a housing provided with a linear threaded bore,

an elongated and linear stake removably inserted below ground level and pivotally connected to said housing, said housing being adaptable along an arcuate path above the ground level while said stake remains statically positioned below ground level,

a female receptacle directly mateable to said male coupling of said cable such that spaced ones of said sensors can be powered by associated ones of said cable, and

a male receptacle electrically coupled to said threaded bore and removable mateable with one of said female couplings of said cable.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each said fire sprinkler assemblies comprises:

a plurality of one-way shut-off valves located down stream of a main water supply line; and

a plurality of sprinkler heads in fluid communication with said shut-off valves respectively, said sprinkler heads being selectively positioned in a plurality of zones defined about the perimeter of the building structure, each said zones being directly operable by an associated one of said shut-off valves such that selected ones of said zones can be activated as needed.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each said lawn sprinkler assemblies comprises:

a plurality of one-way shut-off valves located down stream of a main water supply line;

a plurality of sprinkler heads in fluid communication with said shut-off valves respectively, said sprinkler heads being selectively positioned in a plurality of zones defined about the perimeter of the building structure, each said zones being directly operable by an associated one of said shut-off valves such that selected ones of said zones can be activated as needed; and

wherein said lawn shut-off valves are connected in series and isolated from said fire shut-off valves such that said lawn and fire shut-off valves can be independently operated and thereby allow corresponding ones of said zones to be independently operated.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensors comprise:

thermoelectric sensors for measuring an ambient temperature surrounding the building structure.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said female couplings comprise:

a cap removably attached directly to a receiving face of said female couplings for shielding said female couplings from undesirable debris during non-operating conditions.

6. A camouflaged thermo-sensitive sprinkler system for protecting a building structure from wildfire damage, said thermo-sensitive sprinkler system comprising:

a control panel comprising

a processor,

a memory including programmable software instructions that cause said sprinkler system to automatically toggle between operating and non-operating modes when a fire is detected at the building structure,

a plurality of controls electrically mated to said processor, said controls generating and transmitting a control signal to said processor based upon a user input, said processor executing a control algorithm embedded within said software instructions for enabling the user to manually override said sprinkler system as needed, and

an internal power supply source;

a plurality of sensors sequentially spaced along a perimeter of the building structure, each said sensors being camouflaged and shaped as one of an outdoor insect and amphibian for blending into a surrounding environment;

a plurality of lawn sprinkler assemblies selectively positioned at predetermined locations about the perimeter of the building structure;

a plurality of fire sprinkler assemblies selectively positioned at predetermined locations about the perimeter of the building structure, said lawn sprinkler assemblies and said fire sprinkler assemblies being electrically mated to said control panel and further being independently operable during emergency and non-emergency situations;

wherein each said sensors are in communication with said control panel such that said sensors can automatically instruct said control panel to activate and deactivate said lawn and fire sprinkler assemblies when an ambient temperate is detected to be higher than a maximum threshold temperature surrounding the building structure;

at least one elongated and conductive cable including a plurality of female couplings electrically mated thereto and laterally extending away from said cable, said cable further including a male coupling electrically mated thereto;

each said sensors comprising

a housing provided with a linear threaded bore,

an elongated and linear stake removably inserted below ground level and pivotally connected to said housing, said housing being adaptable along an arcuate path above the ground level while said stake remains statically positioned below ground level,

a female receptacle directly mateable to said male coupling of said cable such that spaced ones of said sensors can be powered by associated ones of said cable, and

a male receptacle electrically coupled to said threaded bore and removable mateable with one of said female couplings of said cable.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each said fire sprinkler assemblies comprises:

a plurality of one-way shut-off valves located down stream of a main water supply line; and

a plurality of sprinkler heads in fluid communication with said shut-off valves respectively, said sprinkler heads being selectively positioned in a plurality of zones defined about the perimeter of the building structure, each said zones being directly operable by an associated one of said shut-off valves such that selected ones of said zones can be activated as needed.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein each said lawn sprinkler assemblies comprises;

a plurality of one-way shut-off valves located down stream of a main water supply line;

a plurality of sprinkler heads in fluid communication with said shutoff valves respectively, said sprinkler heads being selectively positioned in a plurality of zones defined about the perimeter of the building structure, each said zones being directly operable by an associated one of said shut-off valves such that selected ones of said zones can be activated as needed;

wherein said lawn shut-off valves are connected in series and isolated from said fire shut-off valves such that said lawn and fire shut-off valves can be independently operated and thereby allow corresponding ones of said zones to be independently operated.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said sensors comprise:

thermoelectric sensors for measuring an ambient temperature surrounding the building structure.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said female couplings comprise:

a cap removably attached directly to a receiving face of said female couplings for shielding said female couplings from undesirable debris during non-operating conditions.

11. A camouflaged thermo-sensitive sprinkler system for protecting a building structure from wildfire damage, said thermo-sensitive sprinkler system comprising:

a control panel comprising

a processor,

a memory including programmable software instructions that cause said sprinkler system to automatically toggle between operating and non-operating modes when a fire is detected at the building structure,

a plurality of controls electrically mated to said processor, said controls generating and transmitting a control signal to said processor based upon a user input, said processor executing a control algorithm embedded within said software instructions for enabling the user to manually override said sprinkler system as needed, and

an internal power supply source;

a plurality of sensors sequentially spaced along a perimeter of the building structure, each said sensors being camouflaged and shaped as one of an outdoor insect and amphibian for blending into a surrounding environment;

a plurality of lawn sprinkler assemblies selectively positioned at predetermined locations about the perimeter of the building structure;

a plurality of fire sprinkler assemblies selectively positioned at predetermined locations about the perimeter of the building structure, said lawn sprinkler assemblies and said fire sprinkler assemblies being electrically mated to said control panel and further being independently operable during emergency and non-emergency situations, said sensors generating and wirelessly transmitting a detection signal to said control panel wherein said detection signal comprises an RF signal embedded with a data stream that identifies an ambient temperature surrounding the building structure;

wherein each said sensors are in communication with said control panel such that said sensors can automatically instruct said control panel to activate and deactivate said lawn and fire sprinkler assemblies when an ambient temperate is detected to be higher than a maximum threshold temperature surrounding the building structure;

at least one elongated and conductive cable including a plurality of female couplings electrically mated thereto and laterally extending away from said cable, said cable further including a male coupling electrically mated thereto;

each said sensors comprising

a housing provided with a linear threaded bore,

an elongated and linear stake removably inserted below around level and pivotally connected to said housing, said housing being adaptable along an arcuate path above the ground level while said stake remains statically positioned below ground level,

a female receptacle directly mateable to said male coupling of said cable such that spaced ones of said sensors can be powered by associated ones of said cable, and

a male receptacle electrically coupled to said threaded bore and removable mateable with one of said female couplings of said cable.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each said fire sprinkler assemblies comprises:

a plurality of one-way shutoff valves located down stream of a main water supply line; and

a plurality of sprinkler heads in fluid communication with said shut-off valves respectively, said sprinkler heads being selectively positioned in a plurality of zones defined about the perimeter of the building structure, each said zones being directly operable by an associated one of said shut-off valves such that selected ones of said zones can be activated as needed.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein each said lawn sprinkler assemblies comprises:

a plurality of one-way shut-off valves located down stream of a main water supply line;

a plurality of sprinkler heads in fluid communication with said shut-off valves respectively, said sprinkler heads being selectively positioned in a plurality of zones defined about the perimeter of the building structure, each said zones being directly operable by an associated one of said shut-off valves such that selected ones of said zones can be activated as needed; and

wherein said lawn shut-off valves are connected in series and isolated from said fire shut-off valves such that said lawn and fire shut-off valves can be independently operated and thereby allow corresponding ones of said zones to be independently operated.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said sensors comprise:

thermoelectric sensors for measuring an ambient temperature surrounding the building structure.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said female couplings comprise:

a cap removably attached directly to a receiving face of said female couplings for shielding said female couplings from undesirable debris during non-operating conditions.