Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for dry pipe sprinkler system

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for maintaining the integrity or pressurization of a dry pipe sprinkler system by preventing damage to auxiliary drains from freezing temperatures are taught. An insulated, heated housing, which may be thermostatically controlled provides a controlled environment about an auxiliary drain, insulated and with a heater. An alarm may be used as well to provide warning if said auxiliary drain retains a predetermined amount of condensate and embodiments may be retrofit about an existing auxiliary drain or be provided with an auxiliary drain for installation upon a dry pipe sprinkler system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for maintaining the integrity of a dry pipe sprinkler system, comprising: an auxiliary drain, an input pipe, a condensate collection area, and a drain pipe, wherein a first valve controls fluid passage from said input pipe into said condensate collection area, and a second valve controls fluid passage from said condensate collection area into said drain pipe; and an insulated housing with a door for providing a heat controlled environment wherein said auxiliary drain is at least partially located within said housing, and said condensation collection area is located within said housing.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said insulated housing further comprises a weather resistant insulated housing.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said insulated housing further comprises a locking door.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a heater for providing heat to said housing.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said heater is thermostatically controlled.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a condensate alarm for providing warning when said auxiliary drain retains a predetermined amount of condensate.

7. The apparatus as in claim 6 where said condensate alarm is centrally controlled.

8. The apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising a test device for providing assurance of proper operation of said condensate alarm.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising an anti trip device.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising an exterior temperature readout for providing interior temperature.

11. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a temperature alarm to provide a warning when the interior temperature falls below a predetermined level.

12. The apparatus as in claim 11 where said temperature alarm is centrally controlled.

13. A method for maintaining the integrity of a dry pipe sprinkler system, comprising: providing an auxiliary drain, an input pipe, a condensate collection area, and a drain pipe, wherein a first valve controls fluid passage from said input pipe into said condensate collection area, and a second valve controls fluid passage from said condensate collection area into said drain pipe; and providing an insulated housing with a door for providing a heat controlled environment wherein said auxiliary drain is at least partially located within said housing, and said condensation collection area is located within said housing.

14. The method as in claim 13 further comprising providing a warning when said auxiliary drain retains a predetermined amount of condensate.

15. The method as in claim 13 further comprising providing heat to said housing.

16. The method as in claim 13 wherein said insulated housing further comprises a weather resistant insulated housing.

17. The method as in claim 13 wherein said insulated housing further comprises a locking door.

18. The method as in claim 13 further comprising thermostatically controlling the provision of heat to said housing.

19. The method as in claim 13 further comprising providing warning if the interior temperature falls below a predetermined level.

20. The method as in claim 13 further comprising centrally controlling an alarm for providing warning when send auxiliary drain retains a predetermined amount of condensate.

21. The method as in claim 13 further comprising providing assurance of proper operation of an alarm for providing warning when send auxiliary drain retains a predetermined amount of condensate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a view of a preferred embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a view of another preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment with open door 10. Door 10 is hinged on piano hinge 15 and closes on housing 20. Door 10 and housing 20 are made of steel and insulated with inch thick foil faced foam board insulation provided to retain heat, as will be further described below. It should be noted that in this and other embodiments alternative construction may be used as well, all of which are intended to be within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims herein.

(7) Tabs 21-24 are for mounting upon a concrete pillar, wall or other surface as may be desired, and turning briefly to FIG. 5 a schematic of a dry pipe sprinkler system is seen as might be present on a floor of a parking garage or the like with embodiments shown at 1-6 depending from corners of the system. Returning to FIG. 1, key lock 25 and attendant latch 26 is shown on the inside of door 10. Within housing 20, auxiliary drain 30 is shown, and is mounted to housing 20 with top u-bolt 28 and bottom u-bolt 29. Extending from the top of housing 20 is input pipe 31, which is connected in turn to a dry pipe sprinkler system (not shown.) Upper valve 32 controls input pipe 31 which then leads into condensate collection area 33. Also at the top of the condensate collection area 33 is float type level switch 35 which allows the unit to fill. As is further described below however if the unit does fill to a preset level, alarm 52 will be triggered. In this and other embodiments, the float type level switch 35 may be set so various levels of condensate may trigger an alarm. Of course, yet other embodiments may dispense with a float type level switch entirely, and an alarm be set to trigger with any amount of condensate. The alarm, it should be noted, may be pre-set, set upon installation, or set during operation, and be set locally and/or from a central location in various embodiments.

(8) Depending from condensate collection area 33 is lower drainage valve 34 which, when opened, provides for drainage from condensate collector 33 through drain 36.

(9) Input pipe 31 travels into housing 20 via pass-through 41, which, as had been described above, is sealed to prevent nuisances such as bees or other unwanted intruders from entering. There may or may not be a seal, a seal may be water resistant or proofed, other protections as known in the art, etc. may be used as desired in various embodiments. Drain pipe 36 travels through pass-through 46, which is also sealed in a similar manner to pass-through 41. Cap 39 can be removed to drain the auxiliary drain 30, desirably in an appropriate procedure that maintains pressurization, as is described for example in NFPA 25 guidelines. Although the preferred embodiments are within a locking cabinet, and it may not be desired to have an Anti-Trip device, e.g., a wire or plate, other embodiments may use an Anti-Trip device e.g., a wire or plate as desired.

(10) Thermometer 40 displays the temperature inside the housing 20 though its external dial (not shown.) In various embodiments that temperature may be monitored and an alarm be set to provide warning if the inside temperature fell below a predetermined level. That alarm may be local and/or be sent to a central location as desired. It should be noted that, although the preferred embodiments contain an auxiliary drain, it might be desired in other embodiments to provide a retrofit embodiment to install around an existing auxiliary drain.

(11) Electrical enclosure 50 contains components for an alarm as well as other components such as circuit protection, a relay and terminal blocks. The alarm 52 extends through recess 53 and provides an audible sound (e.g., buzzer) and light when the auxiliary drain is full of condensate. In other embodiments, it should be noted and as was described above, the alarm may trigger when varying amounts, or any at all, of condensate accumulates. The alarm enclosure 50 is at least a NEMA 4X enclosure in the preferred embodiments as set forth in the National Electrical Manufacturers Association Standards Publication 250-2003.

(12) Conduit 66 provides power to a heater (or heating element, the words are used interchangeably herein) (not shown here, see FIG. 2) and alarm 52, which in the preferred embodiments is 120V and enters the housing 20 through pass-through 67, which is sealed similarly to the other pass-through 41 and 46.

(13) Turning to FIG. 2, a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, a heater 65 is behind enclosure 50. In the preferred embodiments, the heater is sized appropriately, (e.g., a 60 W heater in the preferred embodiments) and provides the interior of housing 20 with an air temperature of from 40 to 60 degrees F., which may be set by thermostat, be preset, allow for setting during or after installation, be set from a central control area, etc.

(14) It should be noted that embodiments may provide for centralized control as well, with the alarm settings, drainage, heater and other components being monitored and/or manipulated from a central location. Embodiments may include as well a test device to confirm the alarm and other components are working correctly, which may as well be local and/or activated and/or monitored from a central location. The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows a test pushbutton 54, for example, for testing functionality of the alarm system.

(15) Turning briefly to FIGS. 3 and 4, a view of housing 20 with door 10 closed is seen. FIG. 3 is a front view with thermometer 40, alarm 52 and key lock 25 visible. FIG. 4 is a side view of housing 20 with the door closed.

(16) The foregoing description is provided as an enabling teaching of the inventions in its currently known embodiments. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes can be made to the embodiments described while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present inventions. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present inventions can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present inventions without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present inventions are possible and may even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present inventions. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present inventions and not in limitation thereof, since the scope of the present inventions is defined by the claims.