Fire Fighting System, Rail Vehicle with Fire Fighting System and Method for Operating a Fire Fighting System

Abstract

Fire fighting system with a first feed platform arranged for feeding a pipe system having extinguishing nozzles with extinguishing fluid comprising a first sub-system with a first extinguishing fluid reservoir, at least two first propellant gas reservoirs, and a first control circuit, wherein the first propellant gas reservoirs each have a valve for pneumatically coupling the respective first propellant gas reservoir to the extinguishing fluid reservoir and the respective valves can be pneumatically activated in each case via an outlet of the respective other valve, a second sub-system having a second extinguishing fluid reservoir, at least two second propellant gas reservoirs and a second control circuit, the second propellant gas reservoirs each having a valve for pneumatically coupling the respective second propellant gas reservoir to the extinguishing fluid reservoir, and the respective valves being activatable pneumatically in each case via an outlet of the respective other valve, characterized in that the first control circuit is operatively connected to a first one of the valves of the first subsystem and to a second one of the valves of the second subsystem, and in that the second control circuit is operatively connected to a second one of the valves of the first subsystem and to a first one of the valves of the second subsystem.

Claims

1. Fire fighting system with a first feed platform arranged for feeding an extinguishing fluid to a piping system having extinguishing nozzles, comprising: a first sub-system with a first extinguishing fluid reservoir, at least two first propellant gas reservoirs, and a first control circuit, wherein at least one first propellant gas reservoir being pneumatically coupled to the first extinguishing fluid reservoir and at least the first propellant gas reservoir can be pneumatically activated via an outlet of the other first propellant gas reservoir, a second sub-system with a second extinguishing fluid reservoir, at least two second propellant gas reservoirs, and a second control circuit, wherein at least one second propellant gas reservoir is pneumatically coupled to the second extinguishing fluid reservoir and at least the second propellant gas reservoir can be pneumatically activated via an outlet of the other second propellant gas reservoir, wherein the first control circuit is operatively connected to a first propellant gas reservoir of the first sub-system and to a second propellant gas reservoir of the second sub-system, and the second control circuit is operatively connected to a second propellant gas reservoir of the first sub-system and a first propellant gas reservoir of the second sub-system.

2. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein the outlet of at least one of the propellant gas reservoirs of the first sub-system comprises a pressure monitor for monitoring the pressure at the propellant gas reservoir, the outlet of at least one of the propellant gas reservoirs of the second sub-system comprises a pressure monitor for monitoring the pressure at the propellant gas reservoir.

3. Fire fighting system of claim 2, wherein the respective control circuit monitors the pressure slope of a respective pressure monitor.

4. Fire fighting system of claim 2, wherein the control circuit monitors a pressure drop at the respective pressure monitor in the activation state and outputs a fault signal in the event of a pressure drop below a limit value.

5. Fire fighting system of claim 2, wherein the control circuit monitors a pressure drop at the respective pressure monitor in the rest state and outputs a fault signal in the event of a pressure drop above a limit value.

6. Fire fighting system of claim 2, wherein the first control circuit is operatively connected to a first of the pressure monitors of the first sub-system and to a second of the pressure monitors of the second sub-system, and the second control circuit is operatively connected to a second one of the pressure monitors of the first sub-system and a first one of the pressure monitors of the second sub-system.

7. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein a valve is arranged at the outlet of at least one of the propellant gas reservoirs of each sub-system.

8. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein the valves are pneumatically and electrically activatable control valves and that the control circuits are electrically coupled to the respective valves.

9. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein an activation circuit is arranged at the outlet of at least one of the propellant gas reservoirs of at least one of the sub-systems.

10. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein the activation circuit is electrically controllable, in particular as pyrotechnic drive, and that the control circuits are electrically coupled to the respective activation circuit.

11. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic coupling of the propellant gas reservoirs to a respective outlet of the respective other propellant gas reservoir is such that an activation of one of the propellant gas reservoirs causes a pneumatic activation of the respective other propellant gas reservoir via the propellant gas of the propellant gas reservoir activated first.

12. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein the control circuits are in communication connection with each other via a communication bus, in particular in serial communication connection, preferably control circuits are in communication connection with each other via at least two parallel communication buses, in particular in serial communication connection.

13. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein a thermostat and/or a heater is arranged on each of the first and second extinguishing fluid reservoirs, and in that the thermostat and/or the heater is operatively connected to the respective control circuit.

14. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein the control circuits output a fault signal depending on a signal from the thermostat and/or the heater.

15. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein the control circuits each have a line monitor set up for monitoring an electrical connection to the valves which are operatively connected to the respective control circuit.

16. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein at least a first and a second feed platforms are provided.

17. Fire fighting system according to any one of the preceding of claim 1, wherein the feed platforms are interconnected in such a way that, in an activation state, the first sub-system of a first feed platform can be activated together with the second sub-system of a second feed platform, and, in the event of a detected fault signal in an activation state, the second sub-system of the first feed platform can be activated together with the first sub-system of the second feed platform.

18. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein a respective extinguishing fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the piping system, in particular is connected to a main line.

19. Fire fighting system of claim 1, wherein a check valve is arranged between at least one respective extinguishing fluid reservoir and the piping system.

20. Rail vehicle with a fire fighting system of claim 1.

21. Rail vehicle of claim 20 comprising at least two carriages, wherein a first feed platform is arranged in a first of the carriages and a second feed platform is arranged in a second of the carriages.

22. A method of operating a fire fighting system of claim 16 in which in an activation event, a respective first sub-system of the first feed platform is activated together with a second sub-system of the second feed platform, and in a fault signal, a second sub-system of the first feed platform is activated together with a first sub-system of the second feed platform.

23. Method of claim 22, wherein it is monitored from which control circuit of a subsystem a fault signal is output and in that the activation of the subsystems takes place as a function thereof.

Description

[0054] In the following, the subject matter is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing embodiments. In the drawing show:

[0055] FIG. 1a a rail vehicle with two subsystems according to an embodiment;

[0056] FIG. 1b a feed platform with two subsystems according to an embodiment;

[0057] FIG. 2a a rail vehicle with two feed platforms according to an embodiment;

[0058] FIG. 2b two feed platforms with two subsystems each according to an embodiment;

[0059] FIG. 1a shows a rail vehicle 2 with two railcars 2a as well as wagons 2b arranged in between. Within the railcars 2b, there are one or more areas connected to a main pipeline 2d via a respective area valve 2c. In each area, one or more extinguishing nozzles 2e are connected to the piping system. The main piping 2d runs between two subsystems 4 and is connected to a respective extinguishing fluid reservoir of a subsystem 4. That is, the pipeline 2d short-circuits the two subsystems 4 with respect to their extinguishing fluid reservoirs. The subsystems 4 are arranged in separate railcars 2a in the example shown, but may also be otherwise distributed in the rail vehicle 2. The two subsystems 4 can also be accommodated in a railcar 2b or even on a common carrier frame (not shown).

[0060] FIG. 1b shows two subsystems 4a, 4b that are connected together to form a common feed platform 6 and can be constructed in an arrangement as shown in FIG. 1a. The subsystems 4a, b each have two propellant gas reservoirs 8a, 8a′, 8b, 8b′. The propellant gas reservoirs 8 are each connected to an extinguishing fluid reservoir 12a, 12b via a valve 10a, 10a′, 10b, 10b′. A pneumatic input of a valve 10 is connected to a propellant gas reservoir 8. A pneumatic outlet of a valve 10 is connected to an extinguishing fluid reservoir 12. The valves 10 have a control input 14a, 14a′, 14b. 14b′. A respective control input 14 of a first valve 10a, 10b is connected to a pneumatic outlet of a respective second valve 10a′, 10b′ of the subsystem 4a, b. Furthermore, each valve 10 has a magnetic actuator 16a, 16a′, 16b, 16b′. Furthermore, a pressure monitor 18a, 18a′, 18b, 18b′ is arranged at each valve 10. An outlet of an extinguishing agent reservoir 12a. 12b is connected to the pipeline 2d.

[0061] Thermostats 20a, 20b and heaters 22, 22b are provided at the extinguishing agent tanks 12a, 12b.

[0062] The feed platform 6 has two control devices 24a, 24b. The control devices 24 are connected via two parallel serial communication buses 26a, 26b. The communication buses 26a, 26b are redundant to each other.

[0063] The first control circuit 24a is operatively connected to the first valve 10a of the first subsystem 4a and the second valve 10b′ of the second subsystem 4b. The second control circuit 24b is operatively connected to the first valve 10b of the second subsystem 4b and the second valve 10a′ of the first subsystem 4a.

[0064] The first control circuit 24a is operatively connected to the first pressure switch 18a of the first subsystem 4a and the second pressure switch 18b′ of the second subsystem 4b. The second control circuit 24b is operatively connected to the first pressure monitor 18b of the second subsystem 4b and the second pressure monitor 18a′ of the first subsystem 4a.

[0065] The first control circuit 24a is operatively connected to the heater 22a of the first subsystem 4a, and the second control circuit 24b is operatively connected to the heater 22b of the second subsystem 4b.

[0066] The first control circuit 24a is operatively connected to the thermostat 20a of the first subsystem 4a and the second control circuit 24b is operatively connected to the thermostat 24b of the second subsystem 4b.

[0067] In the idle state, i.e. when there is no activation, a respective control circuit 24 monitors the respective pressure monitor 18, the thermostat 20 and the heater 22. If the thermostat 20 indicates that the extinguishing fluid in the extinguishing fluid container 12 is frozen, a corresponding fault signal is output. If the pressure monitor 18 indicates that a respective valve 10 is open or that there is no longer sufficient pressure in a respective propellant gas container 8, an fault signal is output. If a heater 22 fails, a respective fault signal is output. Thus, the control circuits 24 can be used to monitor which of the two subsystems is ready for activation.

[0068] In the event of activation, the first or the second subsystem 4a, b is activated via control signals on both communication buses 26a, 26b, depending on the presence of an fault signal, if applicable. When the first subsystem 4a is activated, the actuator 16a is activated by the first control circuit 24a and the second actuator 16a′ is activated by the second control circuit 24b. Thereupon, propellant gas flows from propellant gas containers 8a, 8a′ through valve 10a, 10a′ and expels extinguishing fluid from extinguishing fluid container 12a into pipeline 2d.

[0069] In the event of a failure of an actuator 16a, 16a′, pneumatic activation of the respective valve 10a, 10a′ occurs via the pneumatic cross-circuit via the respective pneumatic actuating input 14a, 14a′. This ensures that the first subsystem triggers reliably.

[0070] In activation state of the second subsystem, a corresponding control signal is output via both communication buses 26a, 26b. The first control circuit 24a activates the second valve 10b′ of the second subsystem 4b and the second control circuit 24b activates the first valve 10b of the second subsystem 4b by activating the respective actuators 16b, 16b′. The mode of operation is identical to that of the first subsystem 4a.

[0071] After activation, a respective pressure monitor 18 monitors whether a pressure drops as the propellant gas flows out of the propellant gas reservoir 8 and into the extinguishing agent container 12 or the pipeline 2d. Only if the pressure drops can it be concluded that a corresponding triggering of the valve 10 has occurred. Otherwise, an fault signal can be output and, if necessary, the subsystem, 4a, 4b, that has not yet been activated can be additionally activated.

[0072] FIG. 2a shows a rail vehicle 2 corresponding to FIG. 1a, with the difference that instead of the subsystems 4a, 4b, a feed platform 6 is provided in each case. The respective feed platforms 6 can be arranged as described for FIG. 1a. The main pipeline 2d short-circuits the two feed platforms 6 with each other.

[0073] FIG. 2b shows the two feed platforms 6, each of which is designed in accordance with a feed platform 6 as shown in FIG. 1b.

[0074] In activation state, the fire fighting system is controlled in such a way that either a first subsystem 4a of a first feed platform 6 and a second subsystem 4b of a second feed platform 6 are activated or a second subsystem 4b of the first feed platform 6 and simultaneously the first subsystem 4a of the second feed platform 6 are activated.

[0075] Depending on an fault signal, it is selected which combination of subsystems is activated. If an error occurs after activation, for example detected by the pressure monitor, an additional activation of the pair of subsystems not yet activated can take place.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0076] 2 Rail vehicle [0077] 2a Railcar [0078] 2b Wagon [0079] 2c Area valve [0080] 2d Main pipeline [0081] 2e Extinguishing nozzles, especially extinguishing mist nozzles [0082] 4 Subsystem [0083] 8 Propellant gas reservoir [0084] 10 Valve [0085] 12 Extinguishing fluid reservoir [0086] 14 Pneumatic actuator input [0087] 16 Actuator, especially magnetic actuator [0088] 18 Pressure switch [0089] 20 Thermostat [0090] 22 Heater [0091] 24 Control device [0092] 26 Communication bus