GB2319472A

GB2319472A - Sprinkler system

Info

Publication number: GB2319472A
Application number: GB9615841A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Patrick Appleby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-27
Filing date: 1996-07-27
Publication date: 1998-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-27
Also published as: GB9615841D0; GB2319472B

Abstract

A sprinkler system for extinguishing fires is attached to a heating or hot water system, and has sealed sprinkler nozzles which are self-automated and have no electrical source of detection or activation. The system may contain a plurality of sprinkler devices around the area(s) to be protected. Each device is preferably activated by a heat-fusible bulb 1 and comprises a coil of pipe 2 located in a vertically downward position so that only cold water from the heating system 4 is adjacent. The system may be powered by mains pressure, gravity or pump.

Description

COMBINATION SPRINKLER SYSTEM (A)This invention relates to fire protection system for small commercial and domestic buildings. Sprinkler systems are common in industrial areas and have a excellent record of proficiency, but to date any previous attempts to adapt this system for use in the smaller or domestic establishments have still been fmancially inefficient and unpracticable, costly to install entailing major pipework installation and mechanical modifications and rely on a separate source of detection and generation usually electrical, also regular maintenance and faults caused through power loss on electrically powered valves would deem them unreliable.

(B) The object of my invention is to provide a system that works on the basic principle of fire fighting, that the most efficient way of controlling a fire is to discharge water on the seat of the fire and surrounding area at the earliest moment.

Incorporating little or no mechanical equipment therefore eliminating faults or maintainance reoccurrence, My invention is incorporated into a facility that can be found already in most builings a network of pipes belonging to the heating system.

(C)It may be installed without any major works or inconvenience to the occupants of the premises and without regular fault or maintainance reoccurance from electrical equipment, It may be incorporated into all domestic heating systems without the need for electrically controlled valves, pumps or sensors, but is self automated by a heat sensing fusible bulb, and only relies on mains water pressure for generation and discharge.

(D)Accordingly this invention consists of a sprinkler facility attatched at strategic points throughout the network of heating pipework, incorporating a pluralty of conduction arresters (spirals) to prevent heating water temperature transfer to the heat responsive sprinkler nozzles and prematurely activating the deluge.

(E)The prefered embodiment of my invention will now be described with refrence to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a side view of a possible combined system layout.

Figure 2 shows a detailed drawing of the sprinkler device.

(F)The sprinkler device(fig 2) works on the principle that in a water enviroment of mixed temperatures cold water being heavier falls and hot water which is lighter rises, the sprinkler device uses this principle to its advantage as only cold water from the heating system will come in contact with the heat reactive sprinkler nozzle(l), to facilitate this principle the device should preferably be fitted in the vertically downward position and attached to the heating pipework(4) upstream of the sprinkler nozzle, when initially priming the the modified system cold water is trapped in device causing a "dead leg " a body of static water, therefore stopping conduction through water from the heating system to the sealed nozzle of the sprinkler device, (G)The sprinkler device consists of a metal or plastic tube(2) of sufficient length and volume to prevent heating water temperature conduction to the sprinkler nozzle, the device is preformed in the spiral shape which will allow greater length of pipe to be used in a small enclosure preventing heat transfer from the heating pipework(4) to the nozzle(l), the shape will aid installation as it can be compressed or expanded dependent on the joist space depth(8), its circumfrence can be reduced dependent on the space between floor joists, due to its shape it can be manoeuvred to avoid obstruction or to aid in connection to the primary pipework or the sprinkler nozzle fitting(1), any of the above must not reduce the requirement of sufficient volume and length as required for descrption (F), (H)The sprinkler nozzle(1) is preferably of the fusible type that retains the water in the system by means of a seal held in place by a glass bulb containing a liquid which has a high co-efficient of expansion, it will stay sealed until indication of a local heat source (fire), the liquid will expand and shatter the glass releasing the deluge water onto the fire, each sealed sprinkler nozzle acts independently from each other and requires a local heat source to activate it, thus preventing a fire in one area having a deluge affect on persons unaware in another area. The spread of fire will activate each nozzle as it enters its area (I)My invention is conveniently installed, a section of flooring(7) is temporally removed and the spiral(2) is positioned in the joist space(8) below the floor(7) and above the ceiling(6), a small hole is cut in the ceiling and the sprinkler nozzle(l) is offered up to the spiral tube(2) and fixed, after draining down of the primary heating pipework(4). the connection is made using a tee piece(3) or elbow(18), this operation is repeated at strategic points around the system and then the system is charged with cold water thus protecting the nozzle(l) on charging, For ground floor coverage(9) the connection should be made into the pipework(4) at the area (10), for 1st floor coverage(10) the connection should be made at pipework(4) at the area (11).

(J)Additional extended runs may be made from the primary pipework(4) to the sprinkler device(fig 2) to facilitate better deluge coverage to a desired protection area if existing pipe runs(4) are insufficient.

(K)To make the sprinkler system more efficient the heating pipework(4) should be flushed and descaled before attachment of sprinkler device(fig:2) as scale can seriously reduce the nozzle flow efficiency.

(L)Any domestic heating system can be utilised to combine the sprinkler system but a constant cold water supply is required above the normal capacity of the heating system, this may be accomadated by a non return valve(l6) installed on a cold feed(l3) from the mains water supply to the primary pipework(4), additionally a relief valve(15) should be fitted to the vent pipe(14) set at normal mains pressure, Alternately a gravity or pump feed from an adequate capacity storage tank would suffice.

(1) sprinkler nozzle I sensor (2) heating temperature arrester I spiral (3) connector (4) primary pipework (5) radiator (6) ceiling (7) flooring (8) joist space (9) ground floor area (10)1sot floor area (11)2nod floor area (12) connector (13) primary cold feed (14) vent pipe (15) relief valve (16) non return valve (17) heating water source

Claims

1. Single or multiple sprinkler devices attached to a heating system in the vertically downward position at various points at or around the area or areas to be protected, in the preferred embodiment of tubes preformed into spiral or coil shapes of various lengths & diarricters xncorporating scaled sprinkler nozzles which are self automated with no electrical source of detection and activation.

2. A sprinkler device or devices as in claim 1 made from metal or plastic material or a combination of the said materials.

3. A sprinklcr dcvice or devices as il ctailns I & 2 that can be compressed or expanded to a desired configuration.

4. A sprinkler device or devices as in claims 1, 2, & 3 which uses the heating system liquid medium to prevent premature activation of the device.

5. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims which uses its shape, length or diameter to prevent premature activation of the device.

6. A sprinkler device or devices claimcd in any prcceding claims that can be installed into heating water systems.

7. A spnnkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that can be installed into new or existing heating water installations.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A sprinkler system consisting of single or multiple sprinkler devices attached to a heating or a hot water system preferably in the vertically downward position at various points at or around the area or areas to be protected, in the preferred embodiment of a tube or tubes preformed into spiral or coil shapes of various lengths & diameters incorporating sealed sprinkler nozzles which are self automated with no electrical source of detection and activation.

3. A sprinkler device or devices as In claims 1 & 2 which uses gravity or dead leg principle to prevent premature activation of the device 4. A sprinkler device or devices as in claims 1, 2, & 3 which uses the heating systems liquid medium to prevent premature activation of the device.

6. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that uses a network of pipes belonging to a heating or hot water system to deliver water to the fire source via the activated device.

7. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that can be installed into new or commissioned heating and hot water systems.

8. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that work independently from each other but may be progressively activated dependant on spread of fire.

9. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that is powered by mains water pressure.

10. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that is powered by gravity pressure.

l l. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that is powered by a pump.

12. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that can be compressed or expanded to a desired configuration.

13. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that is automated using a local heat source and stored water hot pressure to initiate a fire hazard reaction and engage a fire fighting action.

14. A sprinkler device or devices claimed in any preceding claims that is maintenance free.