US1930670A - Fire detecting and extinguishing system - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 17, 1933. s. E. ALLEN I 1,930,670

FIRE DETECTING AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed May 10, 1932 INVEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 1,980,810 FIRE DETECTING AND EXTIN'GUISHING SYSTEM Scott E. Allen, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to C-O-Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application May 10, 1932. Serial No. 610,325

7 Claims. (01. 169

My invention relates to fire extinguishing systems for the protection of a plurality of rooms or compartments from a central station, which system includes means not only for detecting a fire 5 but for locating the same. The system is particularly useful for ships in which means are provided at some central point for indicating on what deck and in which of various holds a fire is located. The detecting indicating system I employ is of the well-known type in which a suction chamber at an observation point draws atmospheric samples from pipes running to the various compartments to be protected. This chamber has a window through which the discharge from the pipes may be observed and the presence of smoke in any of the samples not only indicates fire but,

since the pipes preferably bear identification marks, it also locates the seat of the fire.

One object of my invention is to provide the suction pipes with control means for regulating the suction therein so as to overcome the danger of having the suction satisfied by air from compartments in which there happens to be a higher pressure (such variations of pressure being due to wind or other causes) or from adjacent compartments in preference to others at a greater distance, (such preferential flow being influenced by lower friction in the shorter pipes).

In combination with this fire indicating system,

I provide an extinguishing system whereby fire extinguishing fluid may be delivered to theaffected compartment or compartments from a central control station through the same pipes as those which were used to indicate the presence of fire. In other words, the suction pipes not only serve to draw atmospheric samples from the compartments but also to deliver fire extinguishing fluid, preferably under pressure, to such compartments.

In order to use the piping system for this double purpose some means must be provided for preventing the fire extinguishing fluid from being carried into the suction chamber instead of being delivered to the seat of the tire. Such means must also operate not only during the actual delivery of the fire extinguishing fluid but also after the extinguisher has been delivered, otherwise the suction chamber would not only be filled with smoke from the region of the fire but would also draw out from the compartment the extinguishsmoke detecting pipes, and furthermore to provide in each of said pipes a check valve which in response to pressure oi the extinguishing fluid will close oil a pipe from the suction chamber.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a check valve of the character described above which will remain in closed position even after the pressure of the extinguisher has been dissipated.

Another object of the invention is to provide 5 means for resetting the pressure operated check valve to its normal open position whenever desired, so that it will not interfere with the suction through the pipe into the suction chamber.

Other objects and advantages of my invention 7 will appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof together with a modification and thereafter the novelty and scope of the invention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing; 7

Figure 1 is a fragmental view in side elevation of my improved fire detecting and extinguishing system with a portion thereof shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in front elevation with a portion thereof broken away to reveal inan terior details;

Fig. 3 is a view in section on an enlarged scale of a preferred form of check valve, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, largely in section, of a 5 modified form of check valve; and

Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I show at an observation point 10 a suction chamber 11 provided with an airon tight door 12 in which is a glazed window 13. Mounted on the top of the chamber is a suction fan '14 driven by a motor 15 and having its intake pipe 16 leading out of the top of the chamber 11.

Suction pipes 18 project into the chamber 11 and are provided with outlets 19 disposed in front of the window 13. Each pipe 18 runs to a separate compartment 20, only one of which is shown in the drawing. In each compartment the pipe 18 may be provided with branch pipes21 which terminate in, collector hoods 22. These hoods are distributed at strategical points about the compartment so as to draw samples of air from regions where fire is likely to occur. Each pipe 18 is provided with a damper 23 which may be adjusted to regulate the suction in the pipe.

In operation, the suction fan 14 is driven by the motor 15 and draws air from the various compartments through the pipes 18. This air is discharged from the outlets 19 immediately in front 110.

of the window 13, and, if any sign of smoke appears, the inspector will know that there is a fire in the compartment from which said pipe leads. Steps may then be taken to extinguish said flre.

This system as so far described is well-known and possesses no novelty except for the dampers 23 which may be set to regulate the suction in the pipes in an extensive system, such for instance as might be employed in a large marine vessel. There is considerable pipe friction to be considered in long pipes and there is the danger that very little air may be drawn from certain remote holds, so that a fire might obtain considerable headway before its existence was detected. Also certain holds are subject to greater air pressure due to wind, ventilation, temperature, and other causes, and there is a possibility that without the dampers 23 or some such controlling means air would be drawn from certain compartments and others would be without any means of indicating a fire.

A battery of the pipes 18 passes through a control station 25 which may be adjacent the inspec- 'ion station 10 or as remote therefrom as con- 1 nience dictates. At the control station, means e e provided for introducing fire extinguishing l d into any of the pipes 18 as needed. This extinguisher may be any suitable fluid maintained under a head orpressure sufiicient to force it uickly the seat of the flre. Preferably the extinguisher may consist of carbon dioxide normally obtained as a liquid under pressure. In 2, a source of liquefied carbon dioxide is indicated at 26. From this source the fluid is fed into a header 2'7, and, from the latter, branch pipes 28 lead to the pipes 18. Each branch pipe contains a valve 2Q for controlling the admission .i' extinguishing fluid into the pipe 18 with which it is connected. Between these branch pipes and the suction chamber a check valve is provided in each pipe 18 to prevent flow in the direction or the suction chamber. Said check valve is not responsive to the low pressure flow produced by the suction fan but is actuated only by the higher 'oress re of the fire extinguishing fluid.

erred form or" check valve 3% is shown in 3. comprises a valve casing witha bulge at one side to accommoproximately vertically I looped fluid ,t. age 32. a ball 33 normally rests by gravity in one leg of the loop on projecting lugs 34 formed therein. The other leg of the passage is formed with a seat 35 for the ball. In moving from its normal support to the seat, the valve has to pass over an intervening partition 36.

In operation the ball, while resting on the lugs 35 oflers no material resistance to the flow of air or smoke through the pipe 18 toward the suction chamber. When, however, the extinguishing fluid is admitted into the pipe the pressure thereof is sufiicient to force the ball off its support and carry it to its seat, thereby preventing the flow of fire extinguishing fluid into the suction chamber. The ball will remain in its seat under pressure of gravity after the pressure of the extinguishing fluid has dropped to normal atmospheric pressure or less, so that there will be no chance for the fan to draw out of the compartment the fire extinguishing fluid that has been discharged therein. To reset the valve I provide a plunger 3'7 which projects from the valve casing and is normally urged upwardly by a spring 33, with the inner end of the plunger just clear of the valve seat. Whenever it is desired to unseat the ball, the plunger is given a smart blow which will toss the ball over the partition 36 into the other leg of the looped passage, where it will remain resting upon the lugs 34 until again driven to its seat by another dis- 30 charge of extinguishing fluid.

A modification of this valve is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This modification calls for an ofi-set in the pipe 18 which is provided by a pair of elbows 40 between which is connected a short tubular valve casing 41. Within this valve casing is provided a transverse valve. seat 42 which is disposed at an angle from the vertical. A flap valve 43 hinged at its lower end to the casing, rests by gravity against the valve seat when the valve is in closed position. In the open position of the valve, shown by broken lines in Fig. 4, it rests against a stop 44. This open position is maintained by gravity against the current produced by the suction fan, but the valve will not resist the higher pressure produced by the introduction of fire extinguishing fluid into the pipe 18, so that when the extinguisher is introduced the valve will immediately close, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 4, and cut on communication with the suction chamber. In this position, the valve willremain until it is positively opened and to provide for such opening a hinge rod 45 to which the flap valve is secured is extended through the side of the casing and its outer end is bent to form a crank which may be provided with a suitable handle 46. The handle may be weighted to assist in holding the valve in open and closed position. By means of this crank handle, the

valve may be restored to open position whenever desired.

While I have described a preferred form of my invention and a modification of a detail thereof, it will be understood that this is to be taken as illustrative and not iiinitative of the invention and that I reserve the right to make such changes in form, construction and arrangement of parts as fall within the spirit and scope of tie :iollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a fire detecting extinguishing system for a compartment, suction device, a pipe leading from the compartment to said device, means for introducing fire extinguishing fluid under pressure into the pipe between said device and said compartment, a check valve responsive to pressure of said fluid to prevent flow thereof to said device, and means normally supporting said valve in open position.

2. In a fire detecting and extinguishing system for a compartment, a suction device, a pipe leading from the compartment to said device, means for introducing fire extinguishing fluid under pressure into the pipe between said device and said compartment, a check valve responsive to pressure of said fluid to prevent flow thereof to said device, means normally supporting said valve in open position, and manual means for restoring valve from closed to open position.

3. In a the detecting and extinguishing system for protecting a compartment, a suction device, a pipe leading from the compartment to said device, means for introducing fire extinguishing fluid under pressure into the pipe between the device and said compartment, a check valve operable to prevent flow of said fluid to said device, said valve comprising a casing and a closure member therein, the casing being formed with a seat for said member when in 150 closed position and with a stop for the member when in open position, the relative position of the seat and stop being such that the member will be retained by gravity in either of said positions, the weight of said member being such as to prevent movement of the member by the suction of said device from open to closed position but to permit such movement under pressure .of said fluid.

4. In a fire detecting and extinguishing system for protecting a compartment, a suction device, a pipe leading from the compartment to said device, means for introducing fire extinguishing fluid under pressure into the pipe between the device and said compartment, a check valve operable to prevent flow of said fluid to said device, said valve comprising a casing and a closure member therein, the casing being formed with a seat for said member when in closed position and with a stop for the member when in open position, the relative position of the seat and stop being such that the member will be retained by gravity in either of said positions, the weight of said member being such as to prevent movement of the member by the suction of said device from open to closed position but to permit such movement under pressure of said fluid, and manually operable means for restoring the member from closed to open position.

5. In a fire detecting and extinguishing system for protecting a compartment, a suction device, a pipe leading from the compartment to said device, means for introducing fire extinguishing fluid under pressure into the pipe between the device and said compartment, a check valve operable to prevent flow of said fluid to said device, said valve comprising a casing formed with a seat on the suction side of the valve and with a support on the opposite side, and with a partition therebetween, and a ball adapted to rest by gravity either on the seat to close the valve or on the support when the valve is open, the weight of the ball being such that it cannot be carried over the partition by pressure produced by the suction device but will be carried thereover to closed position by the pressure of said fluid.

6. In a fire detecting and extinguishing system suction side of the valve and with a support on the opposite side, and with a partition therebetween, a ball adapted to rest by gravity either on the seat to close the valve or on the support when the valve is open, the weight of the ball being such that it cannot be carried over the partition by pressure produced by the suctiondevice but will be carried thereover to closed position by the pressure of said fluid, and means for returning the ball from the seat to the support.

'7. In a. fire detecting and extinguishing system for protecting a compartment, a suction device, a pipe leading from the compartment to said device, means for introducing fire extinguishing fluid under pressure into the pipe between the deviceand said compartment, a check valve operable to prevent flow of said fluid to said device, said valve comprising a casing formed with a seat on the suction side of the valve and with a support on the opposite side and with a partition therebetween, a ball adapted to rest by gravity

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