Dry drop for a fire extinction vacuum network

Abstract

A dry drop to be mounted in a fire protection installation of the type having a network of vacuum sprinklers. The dry drop includes a tubular body, a shutter and a one-way valve. The tubular body defines an inner chamber and has: a first end; a second end; and an orifice located between the first end and the second end. The shutter is movable between: a shutoff position in which it shuts off the first nozzle; and a passage position in which it is cleared from the first nozzle. The one-way valve is intended to be mounted in the orifice to enable the pressurization of the inner chamber by injection of a gas into the inner chamber, the inner pressure holding the shutter in its shutoff position.

Claims

1. A dry drop configured to be mounted in a fire protection vacuum installation, the dry drop comprising: a sprinkler; a tubular body defining an inner chamber, and having: a first end having: a first connector for connection to a piping of the fire protection installation, a first nozzle adapted to ensure a link between the dry drop and the piping; a second end having: a second nozzle adapted to ensure a link between the dry drop and the sprinkler and having: a fastening connector, allowing linking the sprinkler to a second connector and having a complementary nozzle; a fuse; a cap for shutting off the complementary nozzle, held in the shutoff position by the fuse; the second connector to the sprinkler; an orifice located between the first end and the second end; a shutter movable between: a shutoff position in which the shutter shuts off the first nozzle; a passage position in which the shutter is cleared from the first nozzle; a biasing element which biases the shutter in the passage position and is interposed between the tubular body and the shutter; and a one-way valve to be mounted in the orifice, and the inner chamber configured to comprise a pressurized gas, the shutter being configured to be held in the shutoff position by pressurized gas and the sprinkler.

2. The dry drop according to claim 1, which comprises a handling tool, and wherein the shutter has a hook to cooperate with the tool and accessible from outside to position the shutter in the shutoff position.

3. The dry drop (3) according to claim 2, wherein hook is in the form of a piercing formed in the shutter.

4. The dry drop according to claim 2, wherein the tool has: a gripping portion to be grasped by a user; a hooking portion to cooperate with the hook of the shutter.

5. The dry drop according to claim 1, wherein the inner chamber comprises the pressurized and a pressure of the gas in the inner chamber is comprised between 6 bars and 14 bars.

6. The dry drop according to claim 5, wherein the pressure in the inner chamber is comprised between 8 bars and 12 bars.

7. The dry drop according to claim 1, wherein the inner chamber comprises the pressurized gas and the pressurized gas is nitrogen.

8. A method comprising: mounting a dry drop on a fire extinction vacuum network, wherein the dry drop comprises: a tubular body defining an inner chamber and having: a first end having: a first connector for connection to a piping of the fire protection installation, a first nozzle adapted to ensure a link between the dry drop and the piping; a second end having: a second nozzle adapted to ensure a link between the dry drop and a sprinkler and having:  a fastening connector, allowing linking the sprinkler to a second connector and having a complementary nozzle;  a fuse;  a cap for shutting off the complementary nozzle, held in the shutoff position by the fuse; the second connector; an orifice located between the first end and the second end; a shutter movable between: a shutoff position in which the shutter shuts off the first nozzle; a passage position in which the shutter is cleared from the first nozzle; a biasing element which biases the shutter in the passage position and is interposed between the tubular body and the shutter; and a one-way valve to be mounted in the orifice, and the inner chamber configured to comprise a pressurized gas, the shutter being configured to be held in the shutoff position by pressurized gas and the sprinkler; wherein the mounting comprises: mounting the sprinkler at the second end the tubular body so that the second nozzle is shut off by the shutoff cap; positioning the shutter the shutoff position using a tool and/or by gravity; injecting the gas into the inner chamber by the one-way valve to pressurize the inner chamber and hold the shutter in the shutoff position; mounting the dry drop on a pipe of the fire extinction vacuum network.

9. A fire protection installation, comprising: a piping; at least one dry drop connected to the piping, wherein the dry drop comprises: a tubular body defining an inner chamber and having: a first end having: a first connector for connection to a piping of the fire protection installation, a first nozzle adapted to ensure a link between the dry drop and the piping; a second end having: a second nozzle adapted to ensure a link between the dry drop and at least one vacuum sprinkler and having:  a fastening connector, allowing linking the at least one vacuum sprinkler to a second connector and having a complementary nozzle;  a fuse;  a cap for shutting off the complementary nozzle, held in the shutoff position by the fuse; the second connector; an orifice located between the first end and the second end; a shutter movable between: a shutoff position in which the shutter shuts off the first nozzle; a passage position in which the shutter is cleared from the first nozzle; a biasing element which biases the shutter in the passage position and is interposed between the tubular body and the shutter; and a one-way valve to be mounted in the orifice, and the inner chamber configured to comprise a pressurized gas, the shutter being held in the shutoff position by pressurized gas and the at least one vacuum sprinkler; and the at least one vacuum sprinkler mounted on the second end of the dry drop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0115] Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, provided as illustrative and non-limiting examples, and from the appended drawings among which:

[0116] FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a fire protection installation, comprising a dry drop according to the invention;

[0117] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dry drop according to the invention;

[0118] FIG. 3 is a front view of a tool for handling a shutter of the dry drop according to the invention;

[0119] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of an upper portion of the dry drop according to the invention;

[0120] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of a central portion of the dry drop according to the invention;

[0121] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of a lower portion of the dry drop according to the invention;

[0122] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dry drop according to the invention, in the armed configuration;

[0123] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dry drop according to the invention, in the disarmed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0124] FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a fire protection installation 1 comprising: [0125] a vacuum network 2 comprising a piping 21; [0126] at least one dry drop 3 according to the invention (one single dry drop 3 being represented in FIG. 1); [0127] a sprinkler 4.

[0128] More specifically, the dry drop 3 has a first end 31 by which it is connected to the piping 21 of the vacuum network, and a second end 32, opposite to the first end 31, on which the sprinkler 4 is mounted.

[0129] Referring to FIG. 2, the dry drop 3 according to the invention comprises: [0130] a tubular body 33 defining an inner chamber C; [0131] a shutter 34; [0132] biasing means 35; [0133] a one-way valve 36; [0134] a tool 37 for handling the shutter 34 (illustrated in FIG. 3), accessible from outside the dry drop 3.

[0135] The tubular body 33 comprises a hollow tube 331 closed by a first sleeve 332 forming the first end 31 of the dry drop 3, and by a second sleeve 333 forming the second end 32 of the dry drop 3.

[0136] The first sleeve 332 and the second sleeve 333 are secured to the hollow tube 33 by screwing, welding, gluing or force fitting.

[0137] According to a preferred embodiment, in particular as illustrated in FIG. 2, the hollow tube 331 comprises a first portion 331a and a second portion 331b extending coaxially in the continuation of one another.

[0138] The first portion 331a and the second portion 331b of the hollow tube 331 are linked to one another by an intermediate sleeve 38. The first portion 331a and the second portion 331b may be screwed on the intermediate sleeve 38 or else be forcibly fitted into the sleeve 38.

[0139] The first end 31 has: [0140] first means for connection 311 to the piping 21 of the installation 1; [0141] a first nozzle 312.

[0142] In particular, the first connection means 311 are in the form of a tapped portion of the first sleeve 332, intended to be helically engaged with a threaded portion of the piping 21. In other words, the first connection means 311 form a male part intended to be introduced into a female part formed by a portion of the piping 21.

[0143] The second end 32 has: [0144] a second nozzle for ensuring the link between the dry drop 3 and the sprinkler 4; [0145] second means for connection 322 to the sprinkler 4.

[0146] In particular, the connection means 322 are in the form of a threaded portion of the second sleeve 333, intended to receive a portion of the sprinkler 4 as explained hereinafter. In other words, the second connection means 322 form a female part intended to receive a male part formed by a portion of the sprinkler 4.

[0147] The tubular body 33 further has an orifice 334 between its first end 31 and its second end 32.

[0148] More specifically, the orifice 334 is formed in an upper portion of the second sleeve 333 and allows setting the inner chamber C in communication with the outside of the dry drop 3.

[0149] As explained hereinafter, the orifice 334 is intended to receive the one-way valve 36 to enable the fluidic communication only in one direction between the inner chamber C and the outside of the dry drop 3.

[0150] Advantageously, the one-way valve 36 is a Schrader-type (registered trademark) valve.

[0151] The cap 34 comprise a head 341 and a rod 342 secured to the head 341.

[0152] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate two variants of the head 341.

[0153] The head 341 has a cylindrical portion 343 topped with a frustoconical portion 344.

[0154] The frustoconical portion 344 gradually tapers off starting from the cylindrical portion 343 and is intended to tightly cooperate with the first nozzle 312 as explained hereinafter.

[0155] The cylindrical portion 343 has, at the center thereof, a housing 345 opening opposite to the frustoconical portion 344, this housing 345 being intended to receive the rod 342.

[0156] According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the frustoconical portion 344 of the head 341 is provided with hooking means in the form of a piercing 346 (FIG. 4) intended to receive the tool 37 illustrated in FIG. 3, to enable handling of the shutter 34 as explained hereinafter.

[0157] To this end, the tool 37 comprises: [0158] a gripping portion 371, intended to be grasped by a user; [0159] a hooking portion 372 intended to cooperate with the hooking means of the shutter 34, by being inserted into the piercing 346.

[0160] The biasing means 35 are in the form of a tension spring mounted around the rod 342 of the shutter 34.

[0161] More particularly, the biasing means 35 are mounted between a stop 3421 of the rod 342 and a guide journal 381 of the intermediate sleeve 38.

[0162] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the intermediate sleeve 38 has, to this end, a sleeve forming the guide journal 381 and at least two centering arms 382 for linking the sleeve to the tubular body of the intermediate sleeve 38, in which the first portion 331a and the second portion 331b of the hollow tube 331 are received.

[0163] When the shutter 34 is in its shutoff position, the spring of the biasing means 35 is compressed whereas, when the shutter 34 is in its passage position, the spring of the biasing means 35 is in its rest position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5.

[0164] The sprinkler 4, shown in particular in FIGS. 1 and 6, is a sprinkler of the type having: [0165] a fastening connector 41, allowing linking the sprinkler 4 to the second connection means 322; [0166] a fuse 42; [0167] a shutoff cap 43.

[0168] The fastening connector 41 has: [0169] an external tapping intended to cooperate with a thread of the second sleeve 333 of the dry drop 3; [0170] a complementary nozzle 44 enabling the passage of water from the dry drop 3 to the outside, as explained hereinafter.

[0171] The shutoff cap 43 is intended to shut off the complementary nozzle 44, by being held in the shutoff position by the fuse 42 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0172] The sprinkler 4 further comprises a U-shaped yoke 45 having a first end by which it is linked to the fastening connector 41, and a second end comprising a base 451 on which the fuse 42 rests.

[0173] Moreover, the sprinkler 4 comprises a deflector 46 mounted at the second end of the yoke 41, to allow diverting water, at least partially, in order to cover a large water sprinkling area.

[0174] Finally, the sprinkler 4 may comprise means for ejecting the shutoff cap 43 during the break-up of the fuse 42, these ejection means not being represented in the figures.

[0175] Mounting of a dry drop 3 according to the invention on a vacuum network 2 of a fire protection installation 1, comprises the steps of: [0176] mounting the sprinkler 4 at the second end 32 of the tubular body 33 so that the second nozzle 321 is shut off by the shutoff cap 43 of the sprinkler 4; [0177] positioning the shutter 34 in its shutoff position using the tool 37 and/or by gravity; [0178] injecting a gas into the inner chamber C through the one-way valve 36 to pressurize the inner chamber C and hold the shutoff cap 34 in position; [0179] mounting the dry drop 3 on a pipe 21 (in this instance in the form of a T-fitting in the vertical position) of a fire extinction vacuum network 2.

[0180] Advantageously, the gas injected into the inner chamber C is nitrogen. The injection pressure is such that the pressure prevailing in the inner chamber is comprised between 6 bars and 14 bars, following the injection of the gas.

[0181] Preferably, the pressure prevailing in the inner chamber C, following the injection of the gas, is comprised between 8 bars and 12 bars.

[0182] For clarity, it is specified that FIG. 2 illustrates the dry drop 3 before pressurization of the inner chamber C, and that FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the dry drop 3 before pressurization of the inner chamber C or after triggering of the firefighting installation.

[0183] To ensure the pressurization of the inner chamber C, the tool 37 is used so as to manually hold the shutter 34 in its shutoff position before and after the injection of nitrogen into the inner chamber C, through the one-way valve 36. When the inner chamber C is pressurized, the pressure prevailing in the inner chamber C ensures holding of the shutter 3 in the shutoff position, against the compression spring of the biasing means 35.

[0184] When a fire starts, the temperature of the room in which the fire is located increases until reaching a substantially high temperature that causes the fuse 42 to break up. The break-up of the fuse 42 then causes the release of the shutoff cap 43. The shutoff cap 43 is then ejected from the complementary nozzle 44 thanks to the pressure prevailing in the inner chamber C and, to the ejection means, where appropriate.

[0185] The pressure in the inner chamber C then decreases until reaching the pressure of the room in which the dry drop 3 is located.

[0186] Concomitantly with the decrease of the pressure in the inner chamber C, the spring of the biasing means 35 acts on the shutter 34 to position it in its passage position.

[0187] Suction in the pipes 21 of the vacuum network 2 then causes the change of state of an actuator which, in turn, opens a water supply general valve. This results in water overwhelming, rapidly and without hindrance, the entire installation 1 up to the sprinklers 4, water flowing through the sprinkler(s) 4 whose fuse 42 has burst.

[0188] Once the fire is under control, the installation may be rearmed without changing the dry drops 3 on the vacuum network 2, and by drawing vacuum in all of the pipes 21 of the installation 1.

[0189] To this end, a dry drop 3 according to the invention is reusable unlike dry drops 3 of the prior art. When a dry drop 3 according to the invention is used in a cold room, this allows avoiding damaging the insulation means of the cold room since the dry drop 3 according to the invention remains in position on the vacuum network 2.

[0190] For rearmament, all it needs then is to: [0191] remount a sprinkler 4 at the second end 32 of the tubular body 33; [0192] remove a plug 211 from an end of the T-fitting of the pipe 21, opposite to the dry drop 3; [0193] slip the tool 37 into the opening uncovered by removal of the plug 211 of the T-fitting so as to reach the shutter 34 to position it in its first position; [0194] pressurize the inner chamber C; [0195] remove the tool 37; [0196] reposition the plug 211 on the T-fitting so as to close the pipe 21 again; [0197] draw vacuum in the vacuum network 2.

[0198] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a drop 3 in a longitudinal section, in the armed configuration and in the disarmed configuration, respectively.

[0199] More specifically, when the dry drop 3 is in the armed configuration, that is to say when the inner chamber C is pressurized, the spring of the biasing means 35 is compressed and the shutter 34 shuts off the first nozzle 312. Moreover, in this armed configuration, the shutter 43 of the sprinkler is held in position by the fuse 42 so as to maintain the pressure in the inner chamber C.

[0200] In contrast, when the dry drop 3 is in the disarmed configuration, that is to say when the inner chamber C is no longer pressurized, the spring of the biasing means 35 is no longer compressed and the shutter 34 is cleared from the first nozzle 312. Moreover, in this disarmed configuration, the fuse 42 having burst, the shutter 43 is ejected from the sprinkler 4 by the pressure of the inner chamber C so as to clear the passage of water from the pipe 21 (FIG. 1) up to the fire area.

[0201] Thus, an advantage of the dry drop 3 according to the invention lies in that the dry drop is reusable without having to be dismounted from the vacuum network 2 for disarmament thereof and rearmament of the firefighting installation.

[0202] Another advantage of the dry drop 3 according to the invention lies in that the drop is easily adaptable to sprinklers 4 of different sizes. Indeed, a simple dimensioning of the second end of the dry drop 3. This second end 32 being formed by the second sleeve 333, all it needs then is to change the second sleeve 333 with a sleeve suited to the sprinkler 4 to be installed.

[0203] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more examples, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the disclosure and/or the appended claims.