An apparatus suppressing the spread of and extinguishing fires in the confined areas of storage racks. Select support beams of the storage rack include a pressurized fire extinguishing mixture. Spray nozzles are secured to each support beam, each nozzle having a temperature activated release that allows distribution of the fire extinguishing mixture stored with the support beam upon the presence of high heat. Each support beam is self contained, wherein a conventional support beam can be exchanged for a fire extinguishing support beam without modification of the remainder of the storage rack system. In a preferred embodiment, the fire extinguishing material is a hydrated polymer forming superior fire suppression and extinguishing properties with the ability to cling to the objects to which it has been applied.

An exemplary fire suppression system includes a sprinkler nozzle. At least one conduit is connected to the nozzle for delivering a fire suppression fluid to the nozzle. The conduit and the nozzle establish a discharge path. A pneumatically driven pump is connected with the conduit for pumping fluid into the conduit. A gas source provides pressurized gas to the pump for driving the pump. The gas source also provides gas to the discharge path for achieving a desired discharge of the fluid from the nozzle.

A cartridge replacement aid and a fire suppression system for incorporating the same are provided. The cartridge replacement aid helps to ensure that a disposable cartridge is removed and replaced after actuation. The cartridge replacement aid includes an aperture configured to allow a cartridge to pass through the cartridge replacement aid and connect to a valve, and a protrusion configured to perpendicularly extend from the cartridge replacement aid. The protrusion of the cartridge replacement aid, in certain instances, is configured to break when the fire suppression system is actuated. The protrusion of the cartridge replacement aid, in certain instances, is configured to prevent the cam of the fire suppression system from being reset without removing the cartridge replacement aid.

A fire suppression system for anechoic chambers with multiple non-retractable tubes fixed on the ceiling of the chamber, with each tube connected to a pneumatic valve. Each valve is controlled by a compressed air supply that reacts to the presence of fire in the chamber. Once fire is detected in the chamber, the valves vent the compressed air to permit fire retardant fluid to pass through the fixed tubes into the chamber. The tubes and the valves do not interfere with the functions of the chamber and provide immediate fire suppression.

An adjustable inert gas generation assembly for producing a flow of inert gas for introduction into a pipe network of a fire protection system includes an inert gas generator with an outlet in fluid communication with the pipe network and configured for selectively producing a flow of inert gas to the pipe network at least at a first purity level and a second purity level, wherein the first purity level is produced while the assembly is in a first mode and the second purity level is produced while the assembly is in a second mode; wherein the second purity level is higher than the first purity level; and a control circuit in electrical communication with the inert gas generator and configured to selectively switch the inert gas generator between the first and second modes.

A cartridge replacement aid and a fire suppression system for incorporating the same are provided. The cartridge replacement aid helps to ensure that a disposable cartridge is removed and replaced after actuation. The cartridge replacement aid includes an aperture configured to allow a cartridge to pass through the cartridge replacement aid and connect to a valve, and a protrusion configured to perpendicularly extend from the cartridge replacement aid. The protrusion of the cartridge replacement aid, in certain instances, is configured to break when the fire suppression system is actuated. The protrusion of the cartridge replacement aid, in certain instances, is configured to prevent the cam of the fire suppression system from being reset without removing the cartridge replacement aid.

A control valve assembly includes a valve body having inlet and outlet ends, and an endless valve seat therebetween. A clapper disk is pivotably mounted within the valve body, and is pivotable between a sealingly closed position and an open position according to a pressure differential across the clapper disk. A U-shaped arm is rotatably supported in the valve body, and rotatable between a first position, wherein a bight of the U-shaped arm is positioned out of an operational range of movement of the clapper disk such that the clapper disk is freely movable between the open and closed positions thereof, and a second position, wherein the bight of the U-shaped arm engages and maintains the clapper disk in the sealingly closed position thereof. A selectively rotatable control arm operatively coupled with the U-shaped arm and utilized to move the U-shaped arm between the first and second positions thereof.

A fire suppression system includes at least one first gas source containing an inert gas, at least one second gas source containing an organic halide gas, a distribution network connected with the first gas source and the second gas source to distribute the inert gas and the organic halide gas, and a controller. The distribution network includes a common manifold, input lines connecting the first gas source and the second gas source with the common manifold, output lines leading from the common manifold, and flow control devices. The controller is in communication with the distribution network and configured to distribute the inert gas responsive to a fire threat signal and determine whether to distribute the organic halide gas based upon a location of a fire threat.

A control valve assembly includes a valve body having inlet and outlet ends, and an endless valve seat therebetween. A clapper disk is pivotably mounted within the valve body, and is pivotable between a sealingly closed position and an open position according to a pressure differential across the clapper disk. A U-shaped arm is rotatably supported in the valve body, and rotatable between a first position, wherein a bight of the U-shaped arm is positioned out of an operational range of movement of the clapper disk such that the clapper disk is freely movable between the open and closed positions thereof, and a second position, wherein the bight of the U-shaped arm engages and maintains the clapper disk in the sealingly closed position thereof. A selectively rotatable control arm operatively coupled with the U-shaped arm and utilized to move the U-shaped arm between the first and second positions thereof.

An adjustable inert gas generation assembly for producing a flow of inert gas for introduction into a pipe network of a fire protection system includes an inert gas generator with an outlet in fluid communication with the pipe network and configured for selectively producing a flow of inert gas to the pipe network at least at a first purity level and a second purity level, wherein the first purity level is produced while the assembly is in a first mode and the second purity level is produced while the assembly is in a second mode; wherein the second purity level is higher than the first purity level; and a control circuit in electrical communication with the inert gas generator and configured to selectively switch the inert gas generator between the first and second modes.