Fire extinguishers – Fluid systems – Distributing systems
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-11
2002-12-10
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fire extinguishers
Fluid systems
Distributing systems
C169S016000, C137S068190, C137S068230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06491109
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to dry sprinkler fire suppression systems and particularly to a new use of a bursting disc device or rupture disc device attached to a dry sprinkler system pipe to prevent dry sprinkler systems from freezing and to the new use of a bursting disc device or rupture disc device as an automatic drain for dry sprinkler systems.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Dry sprinkler systems utilize piping networks which are typically anhydrous, dry, or free of water until activated by heat from a fire. The main reason for keeping the piping networks dry is to prevent them from freezing when the temperature drops below 0° C. This is in contrast to wet pipe systems wherein the pipes contain water at all times.
Three types of dry sprinkler systems include dry pipe, preaction, and deluge systems. Dry sprinkler system pipes which contain air charged under pressure are sometimes referred to as pipes containing supervisory air. Dry sprinkler system pipes which do not contain supervisory air contain air at atmospheric pressure.
A dry pipe system contains pipes which are charged with air under pressure and when the dry pipe system detects heat from a fire, the sprinkler heads open resulting in a decrease in air pressure. The resultant decrease in air pressure activates the water supply source and allows water to enter the piping system and exit through the sprinkler heads.
A deluge system has pipes that remain free of water, employs sprinkler heads that remain open, and utilizes pneumatic or electrical detectors to detect heat. Deluge systems usually do not contain supervisory air, but do contain air at atmospheric pressure. Once the pneumatic or electrical detectors detect heat, the water supply source provides water to the pipes and sprinkler heads.
A preaction system has pipes that are free of water, employs sprinkler heads that remain closed, has supervisory air, and utilizes pneumatic or electrical detectors to detect heat. Only when dry sprinkler systems detect heat from a fire is water introduced into the otherwise dry network of pipes and sprinkler heads.
A dry sprinkler system that has sprinkler heads which remain open, may not have supervisory air within the network of pipes. Therefore, the air within the network of pipes will not be air charged under pressure, but will be air at atmospheric pressure.
Problems arise when water gets into what should be a dry sprinkler system and the ambient temperature drops below freezing. The dry sprinkler system should have only air under pressure within its pipes or air at atmospheric pressure within its pipes. Pipes and sprinkler heads sometimes become blocked with ice and or debris and render the dry sprinkler system useless. Sometimes this happens when an operator does not shut off the water source. Another occurs when dry sprinkler systems run adjacent to coal carrying conveyor belts as is common in electrical power generating plants. The vibration from conveyor belts or trains moving nearby can open a valve and a water supply.
Another method for unwanted water to get into a dry sprinkler system is when valves or shut off points fail. That failure can be due to mechanical failure or chemical impurities. Salts of magnesium, calcium and iron can prevent valves or shut off points from working properly. Valves and o-rings can disintegrate, which also allows water to enter what should be a dry sprinkler system containing air.
Several methods for preventing sprinkler systems from freezing include the use of antifreeze solution or ethylene glycol, thermal and/or solar wraps to keep the pipes warm, and circulation devices which keep water moving throughout the system. Another device for preventing freezing utilizes a rupturable tab on a wet pipe system and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,731 to Westerberg. That pressure sensitive rupture tab is activated by the expansion of water due to its inherent physical property to occupy the greatest volume when the temperature drops below 4° C. as the specific volume of water is greatest at 4° C. When water expands at that temperature, water leaves the system and is replaced by a similar volume of warmer water.
Bursting discs have been used for years as a safety device in a system and to allow fluids to escape the system. Bursting discs generally consist of a thin disc with a concave side in touch with the fluid under pressure and a convex side in touch with the atmosphere. The disc is held in place in a housing with at least one tab, hinge, petal, or flange. The tab, hinge, petal, or flange usually remains with the housing after the disc exits the system. However, the tab, hinge, petal, or flange can remain attached to the disc and exit with the disc.
A reverse bursting disc has also been used to relieve excess pressure in a system and operates by placement of the convex side of a disc in touch with the fluid and the convex side in touch with the atmosphere. Petals, hinges, tabs, or flanges are used to position the disc within a housing and keep it in place until over pressure makes the disc exit the housing. The petals, hinges, tabs, or flanges remain either with the housing or they exit with the disc.
Rupture discs are also commonly known. They differ from bursting discs in that the rupture disc is held by a flange and upon activation by a pressure change the rupture disc remains with the housing and tears open.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to prevent deluge, preaction, and dry pipe sprinkler systems from freezing by the provision of a bursting disc or a rupture disc on a dry sprinkler system. Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic drain for dry sprinkler systems which is efficient and inexpensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention involves the novel use of a bursting disc or a rupture disc on a dry sprinkler system. The bursting disc or rupture disc remains closed or intact when air pressure is that of supervisory air and exits opens when air pressure increases after activation of the dry sprinkler system due to the entrance of water into the preaction, deluge, and dry pipe systems from a main water supply. This invention also involves the novel use of the bursting disc or the rupture disc when air at atmospheric pressure is within the dry sprinkler system. The bursting disc or rupture disc remains closed at atmospheric pressure and opens when water enters the preaction, deluge, and dry pipe systems.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this invention provides a kinetic antifreeze means for connecting to a dry sprinkler system pipe at a position which is adjacent to a drain valve comprising, in combination: a first longitudinal pipe means and a second longitudinal pipe means for guiding compounds selected from the group consisting of air, water, and fire suppression fluid from the dry sprinkler system pipe to a pressure relief device. The pressure relief device is either a bursting disc device or a rupture disc device. Extending transversely from such dry sprinkler system pipe, such first longitudinal pipe means contains an attachment means for attaching dry sprinkler system components and the attachment means contains pipe threads. Additionally such first longitudinal pipe means has a first end with a first pipe thread, a second end with a second pipe thread, and a bend of about 90° from the first end of the first longitudinal pipe. Such first longitudinal pipe means also contains a port for attachment of a dry sprinkler system part and a pressure gauge means for monitoring pressure in such dry sprinkler system.
The second longitudinal pipe means has a third end with a third pipe thread, a fourth end with a fourth pipe thread, and a fifth end with a fifth pipe thread. Such second longitudinal pipe means also provides a first outlet as the fourth end of the second longitudinal pipe means and a second outlet as the fifth end of the second longitudinal pipe means.
In addition, there be
Christenson Joel P.
Engel Gary M.
Iatarola Nancy S.
Rivell John
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