SPRAY MIST NOZZLE FOR FIRE-FIGHTING SYSTEMS, AND FIRE-FIGHTING SYSTEMS HAVING SAME

Abstract

The invention relates to a spray mist nozzle, in particular an open high-pressure spray mist nozzle for firefighting systems, having a housing which is configured with an extinguishing fluid inlet and is configured with multiple recesses for receiving an exchangeable nozzle insert, such a nozzle insert being inserted into one, multiple/plural or all the recesses. The nozzle insert has a main body with a longitudinal axis that has in the longitudinal axis a spray mist outlet for the extinguishing fluid. An exchangeable swirl body is arranged in the main body and is configured to swirl the extinguishing fluid prior to the latter exiting from the spray mist outlet. The spray mist outlet has a minimum opening cross section, and has a widened exit cross section downstream of the minimum opening cross section, wherein a transition from the minimum opening cross section to the exit cross section runs along a convexly curved surface.

Claims

1. A spray mist nozzle for firefighting systems, comprising: a housing configured with an extinguishing fluid inlet for receiving extinguishing fluid and multiple recesses for receiving an exchangeable nozzle insert, such a nozzle insert being inserted into one, plural, or all the recesses, wherein the nozzle insert comprises a main body with a longitudinal axis, a spray mist outlet in the longitudinal axis for the extinguishing fluid, and an exchangeable swirl body arranged in the main body which is configured to swirl the extinguishing fluid prior to exiting from the spray mist outlet, wherein the spray mist outlet has a minimum opening cross section, and has a widened exit cross section downstream of the minimum opening cross section, and wherein a transition from the minimum opening cross section to the widened exit cross section runs along a convexly curved surface.

2. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transition from the minimum opening cross section to the exit cross section runs smoothly with a constant surface curvature.

3. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the surface curvature downstream of the minimum opening cross section has a radius of curvature in a range of 0.7 mm to 0.8 mm.

4. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spray mist outlet has a widened incident-flow cross section upstream of the minimum opening cross section.

5. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein a transition from the incident-flow cross section to the minimum opening cross section runs along a convexly curved surface.

6. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transition from the incident-flow cross section to the minimum opening cross section runs smoothly with a constant surface curvature.

7. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the surface curvature upstream of the minimum cross section has a radius of curvature in a range of 0.7 mm to 0.8 mm.

8. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein a curvature between the incident-flow cross section and the exit cross section is smooth, and is constant.

9. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swirl body has an inlet-side, first face side and an opposite outlet-side, second face side and is configured to guide a first part of the extinguishing fluid laterally along the swirl body and to swirl said first part, and furthermore has a passage opening which extends through the swirl body from the first face side to the second face side and which is aligned with the spray mist outlet of the main body and through which a second part of the extinguishing fluid flowing through the main body passes through the swirl body.

10. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the passage opening is oriented coaxially in relation to the spray mist outlet in the main body.

11. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the passage opening has a passage cross section which is smaller than or the same size as the minimum exit cross section of the main body.

12. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the extinguishing fluid inlet defines a mounting direction, and one of the nozzle inserts is a first nozzle insert, which is oriented parallel to the mounting direction.

13. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the extinguishing fluid inlet defines a mounting direction, and one, plural or all of the nozzle inserts are second nozzle inserts, which are oriented at a predetermined angle of 55° to 70° to the mounting direction.

14. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 9, wherein one or more of the recesses for the nozzle inserts are closed off by a closure element.

15. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 12, having the first nozzle insert and one or more second nozzle inserts, wherein the first nozzle insert has a K-factor which is three to four times larger than that of the second nozzle inserts.

16. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 12, having the first nozzle insert and one or more second nozzle inserts, wherein the first and second nozzle inserts each have the same K-factor.

17. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the nozzle inserts are designed for an operating pressure in a region of 30 bar to 70 bar.

18. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spray mist nozzle is formed partly or completely from high-grade steel.

19. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the spray mist nozzle is in the form of a sprinkler in that there is inserted into a first one of the recesses a sprinkler insert having a blocking body which can be moved back and forth between a closed state and a release state and which is configured to separate the extinguishing fluid inlet from the remaining recesses in the closed state and to connect the extinguishing fluid inlet to the remaining recesses in a fluid-conducting manner in the release state.

20. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first recess is oriented in the mounting direction.

21. The spray mist nozzle as claimed in claim 19, wherein, in addition to the first recess, which receives the sprinkler insert, the housing has four or more second recesses, which are oriented at an angle to the first recess and are distributed uniformly along a circumference of the spray mist nozzle.

22. A firefighting system having an extinguishing fluid supply line, a line network with one or more open spray mist nozzles installed in the line network, a valve station which is configured to be actuated in the event of a fire in order to connect the extinguishing fluid supply line to the line network in a fluid-conducting manner and, in this way, to supply the one or more spray mist nozzles with extinguishing fluid, wherein the one or more open spray mist nozzles are configured as claimed in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention will be described in more detail below on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the appended figures. In the figures:

[0029] FIGS. 1a-c show different schematic illustrations of a spray mist nozzle as per a first preferred exemplary embodiment,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through a nozzle insert for the spray mist nozzle as per FIGS. 1A-C,

[0031] FIGS. 3a-c show different schematic illustrations of a main body of the nozzle insert as per FIG. 2,

[0032] FIGS. 4a-e shows different schematic illustrations of a swirl body for the nozzle insert as per the preceding figures,

[0033] FIGS. 5a, b show different schematic illustrations of a spray mist nozzle as per a second preferred exemplary embodiment, and

[0034] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary firefighting system with spray mist nozzles as the preceding figures.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0035] FIG. 1a shows a high-pressure spray mist nozzle 1. The spray mist nozzle 1 has a housing 3 into which a first nozzle insert 5a and two second nozzle inserts 5b have been inserted.

[0036] FIG. 1b illustrates the high-pressure spray mist nozzle 1 in a side view. On the inlet side, the spray mist nozzle 1 has a screen body 7. The housing 3 has a screw-in thread 9 for installing the spray mist nozzle. A seal ring 11 is provided for sealing off the housing 3 with respect to the installation body. The housing has a convexly curved, preferably partially spherical, surface portion 13, which is adjoined by a frustoconical surface portion 15. Toward the inlet side, the housing 3 has a cylindrical surface portion 17. The nozzle inserts end substantially flush with the surface of the housing 3.

[0037] FIG. 1c shows a cross-sectional view through the housing 3 of the spray mist nozzle 1. The housing 3 has an inlet 23. Provided on the inner side of the fluid inlet 23 is an inner thread 19 for mounting the screen body 7 (cf. FIG. 1b).

[0038] The housing has multiple recesses 25 for receiving in each case one nozzle insert 5a, b. The recesses 25 each have an inner thread 27 for screwing in the nozzle inserts 5a, b. Furthermore, the nozzle inserts 5a, b are connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the fluid inlet 23.

[0039] One of the recesses 25 is oriented coaxially in relation to a mounting direction M defined by the extinguishing fluid inlet 23, with the result that the longitudinal axis L of the nozzle insert 5a to be inserted into the recess 25 is likewise oriented coaxially in relation to the mounting direction. The remaining recesses 25 are oriented at an angle α to the mounting direction M. The angle α preferably lies in a range between 50° and 70°, particularly preferably is 60° or 65°.

[0040] While FIGS. 1a-c focused on the housing, FIG. 2 now shows the nozzle insert 5a, b which is intended to be inserted into the recesses 25. The nozzle insert 5a, b, hereinafter also “nozzle insert 5” for short, has a main body 29. A swirl body 31 is inserted in the main body 29 and is oriented coaxially in relation to the longitudinal axis L. The swirl body 31 is fixed in the main body 29 by means of a screwed-in retaining ring 33.

[0041] The main body 29 has an outer thread 35 for screwing it into the respective recess 25. In order to facilitate the screwing-in of the nozzle insert 5a, b, recesses 37 for engagement of a screwing tool are provided on the outlet-side face side of the nozzle insert 5a, b in each case.

[0042] The main body 29 has a spray mist outlet 39 through which the extinguishing fluid entering through the extinguishing fluid inlet 23 exits the spray mist nozzle 1 in the form of spray mist after flowing through the nozzle insert 5a, b. The spray mist is generated in that a first part T.sub.1 of the entering extinguishing fluid is, in the direction of the arrows T.sub.1, diverted by the swirl body 31 outward into the circumferential region thereof and into the vicinity of a wall of the main body 29, in order then, on flowing up to the spray mist outlet 39, to be directed so as to form a vortex. A second partial stream T.sub.2 passes through the swirl body 31 in the center thereof, through a passage opening (cf. FIGS. 4A-E).

[0043] In the following text, the main body 29 will be discussed further with reference to FIGS. 3a-c. The main body 29 of the nozzle insert 5a, b has an inlet-side face surface 43 and an outlet-side face surface 45. Between these two face surfaces, there extends a passage opening 44 into which the swirl body 31 is received (cf. FIG. 2) and which opens out into the spray mist outlet 39. The spray mist outlet 39 is shown in detail in FIG. 3C.

[0044] Upstream of the spray mist outlet 39, the main body 29 has a seat surface 46 against which the swirl body 31 is supported. The seat surface 46 transitions into the spray mist outlet 39 at a point 47. The cross section at which the seat surface 46 transitions into the cross section of the spray mist outlet 39 is the so-called incident-flow cross section 47. At the incident-flow cross section 47, the spray mist outlet 39 has a diameter d.sub.an. The transition from the seat surface 46 to the spray mist outlet 39 is preferably realized smoothly.

[0045] At its narrowest point, the spray mist nozzle 39 has a minimum flow cross section 49. The minimum flow cross section 49 is offset inwardly at a depth T from the outlet-side face surface 45.

[0046] Downstream of the minimum flow cross section 49, the spray mist outlet 39 is widened along a convexly extending curve and, at an exit cross section 51, has a diameter d.sub.aus, which is greater than the diameter at the minimum flow cross section 49. The diameter at the minimum flow cross section 49 is denoted by d.sub.min.

[0047] Preferably, the transition from the incident-flow cross section 47 to the minimum flow cross section 49 is realized along a convexly curved surface with a radius of curvature R. Furthermore preferably, the transition from the minimum flow cross section 49 to the exit cross section 51 is likewise realized along a convexly curved surface, in the present exemplary embodiment likewise with the radius of curvature R. Particularly preferably, the convexly curved surface from the incident-flow cross section 47 to the exit cross section 51 is formed smoothly, that is to say without any sharp bends. Particularly preferably, the curving is uninterrupted and constant with the same radius of curvature R. The contour, rounded owing to the convex curvature, of the spray mist outlet 39 causes an unexpectedly marked stabilization of the K-factor of the nozzle insert 5a, b.

[0048] Next, FIGS. 4a-e describe in more detail the swirl body 31 for the nozzle insert 5a, b of the present exemplary embodiment. First of all, FIG. 4a shows a side view of the swirl body 31 with a partially exposed cross section. Extinguishing fluid flows onto the swirl body 31 at a first, inlet-side face side 52. A first part T.sub.1 is diverted by multiple radially extending grooves 54 to the outer circumference of the swirl body 31. This is also shown in FIG. 4b. A second part T.sub.2 flows, without diversion to the outer circumference, through a passage opening 55 to a second face side 56 of the swirl body 31. The first partial stream T.sub.1, as can be clearly seen in particular in FIG. 4c, is conveyed by way of multiple vortex channels 57, which are arranged in a radial-parallel and eccentric manner relative to the longitudinal axis L, back in the direction of the spray mist outlet 39, wherein, due to the off-center arrangement of the vortex channels 57, a vortex flow is generated in the volume between the swirl body 31 and the main body 29 upstream of the spray mist outlet. In this free space, the two partial streams T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 are reunited and expelled together through the spray mist outlet 39.

[0049] The vortex channels 57 are preferably all offset from a respective radial by the same offset V. As can be seen clearly in FIG. 4d, the vortex channels 57 are inclined at an angle β relative to the outlet-side, second face side 56 of the swirl body 31. Preferably, the vortex channels 57 or the groove bases of the vortex channels 57 are oriented parallel to the seat surface 53 of the swirl body 31. Moreover, as FIG. 4e shows, the vortex channels 57 are provided with a width B in the swirl body 31 and are additionally turned through an angle γ in relation to the longitudinal axis.

[0050] The preceding figures have shown, on the basis of the preceding exemplary embodiment, a high-pressure spray mist nozzle 1 having a total of three nozzle inserts 5a, b. Also encompassed by the invention are, furthermore, spray mist nozzles which have a different number of nozzle inserts, for example five, seven or more nozzle inserts, and in which either in each case one nozzle insert is oriented coaxially in relation to the mounting direction M or in which all the nozzle inserts are oriented at an angle α to the mounting direction M or in which one or more recesses 25 are not provided with a nozzle insert 5a, b or are closed off by a blind plug or similar closure element.

[0051] FIGS. 1-4e show a spray mist nozzle according to a first preferred exemplary embodiment, which is in the form of an open spray mist nozzle. FIGS. 5a, b show, according to a second preferred exemplary embodiment, a spray mist nozzle 1′ which is in the form a sprinkler. The spray mist nozzle 1′ is identical to the spray mist nozzle 1 as per the preceding figures in terms of essential structural features. Identical reference signs refer to functionally and/or structurally identical elements, and for this reason, in this respect, reference is made to the above statements for the purpose of avoiding repetitions.

[0052] The spray mist nozzle 1′ has a housing 3′ which has a multiplicity of recesses 25. Inserted in most of the recesses 25 are nozzle inserts 5b as according to the first exemplary embodiment.

[0053] That recess 25 which is oriented in the mounting direction M has a sprinkler insert 59, however.

[0054] The sprinkler insert 59 comprises a blocking body 61 which extends in the interior of the housing 3′ in the direction of the extinguishing fluid inlet 23 and which, in the closed position, shown in FIG. 5b, bears sealingly against a valve seat 62. A sealing element 63 is preferably provided between the valve seat 62 and the blocking body 61. The valve seat 62 is preferably formed in a screwed-in insert 64 which has been mounted in the housing 3′ from the side of the extinguishing fluid inlet 23.

[0055] The sprinkler insert 59 furthermore comprises a sprinkler cage 67 in which there is arranged a thermally activatable trigger element 65 which holds the blocking body 61 in the closed position shown. Summarized briefly, the functioning of the sprinkler is constituted by the following: If the thermally activatable trigger element 65 is destroyed due to a spreading fire, the blocking body 61 can no longer resist the extinguishing fluid pressure applied from the side of the extinguishing fluid inlet 23 and switches from the closed position into a release position. In the release position, extinguishing fluid can reach the remaining recesses 25, which are oriented at an angle to the recess oriented in the mounting direction M and are preferably distributed uniformly over the circumference of the housing 3′, and exit through the respective nozzle inserts 5b and the extinguishing fluid outlets 39 thereof.

[0056] Having shown the spray mist nozzle in FIGS. 1-4e in detail, an exemplary application of the spray mist nozzle is now illustrated. FIG. 6 shows a firefighting system 100.

[0057] The firefighting system 100 has a supply line 101 which is fed by an extinguishing agent source 109. Preferably, for this purpose, provision is made of a pump 108 (or multiple pumps) which is (are) connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the extinguishing agent supply 109 and which, during operation, conveys (convey) extinguishing agent into the supply line 101. A line network 103, also referred to as distribution network, is supplied with extinguishing agent via a valve station 102. One or more spray mist nozzles 1 according to the present invention are installed in the line network 103.

[0058] The spray mist nozzles 1 in the system illustrated here may for example be in the form of sprinklers according to preferred embodiments of the invention. Such a firefighting system would be usable for example as a sprinkler system in the roll-on/roll-off area of ships. Alternatively, the use of the firefighting system 100 as a high-pressure spray mist nozzle system in buildings or for example for firefighting in air extraction systems also comes into consideration. For such a usage purpose, the firefighting system 100 is preferably furthermore equipped with one or more fire characteristic detectors 105, wherein, according to the invention, a fire characteristic, beside the temperature, is to be understood as being for example also electromagnetic radiation, smoke aerosols or fire gases.

[0059] The detectors 105 are connected in a signal-conducting manner to a control center 106 via corresponding signal lines 107. If the presence of a fire characteristic or the exceedance of a representative threshold value is detected by one or more detectors 105, the control center 106 actuates the valve station 102 and causes the control valve arranged there to be opened, whereby extinguishing fluid can pass into the line network 103 and to the spray mist nozzles 104.

[0060] If the firefighting system 100 is operated as a sprinkler system, extinguishing fluid is normally also present in the line network in the closed state of the sprinklers.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS AND SYMBOLS

[0061] 1 Spray mist nozzle [0062] 3 Housing [0063] 5a,b Nozzle insert [0064] 7 Filter screen [0065] 9 Thread [0066] 11 Sealing ring [0067] 13 Partially spherical portion [0068] 15 Frustoconical portion [0069] 17 Cylindrical portion [0070] 19 Inner thread [0071] 23 Extinguishing fluid inlet [0072] 25 Recess for nozzle insert [0073] 27 Inner thread [0074] 29 Main body [0075] 31 Swirl body [0076] 33 Retaining ring [0077] 35 Outer thread [0078] 37 Recess [0079] 39 Spray mist outlet [0080] 41 Inner thread [0081] 43 Inlet-side end, main body [0082] 44 Passage opening [0083] 45 Outlet-side end, main body [0084] 46 Seat surface, main body [0085] 47 Incident-flow cross section [0086] 49 Minimum flow cross section [0087] 51 Exit cross section [0088] 52 First face side, swirl body [0089] 53 Seat surface, swirl body [0090] 54 Groove [0091] 55 Passage opening, swirl body [0092] 56 Second face side, swirl body [0093] 57 Vortex channel [0094] 59 Sprinkler insert [0095] 61 Blocking body [0096] 62 Valve seat [0097] 63 Sealing element [0098] 64 Insert [0099] 65 Trigger element [0100] 67 Sprinkler cage [0101] 100 Firefighting system [0102] 101 Extinguishing fluid supply line [0103] 102 Valve station [0104] 103 Line network [0105] 105 Fire characteristic detector [0106] 106 Control center [0107] 107 Signal line [0108] 108 Pump [0109] 109 Extinguishing fluid source [0110] α, β, γ Angles [0111] d.sub.an Incident-flow cross section [0112] d.sub.min Minimum flow cross section [0113] d.sub.aus Exit cross section [0114] B Width, vortex channel [0115] L Longitudinal direction [0116] M Mounting direction, spray mist nozzle [0117] T.sub.1, T.sub.2 Partial streams, extinguishing fluid [0118] T Depth, minimum flow cross section [0119] V Offset, vortex channel