FIRE SUPPRESSION SPRINKLER DEVICE

Abstract

A fire suppression sprinkler device 100 includes a sprinkler bulb 140, a nozzle manifold 160, and a conduit 190 for supplying fluid to the nozzle manifold 160. The sprinkler device 100 is arranged so that breakage of the sprinkler bulb 140 permits fluid communication from the interior of the conduit 180 to the nozzle manifold 160. The nozzle manifold 160 is disposed about the conduit 190.

Claims

1. A fire suppression sprinkler device comprising: a sprinkler bulb; a nozzle manifold; and a conduit for supplying fluid to the nozzle manifold; wherein the sprinkler device is arranged so that breakage of the sprinkler bulb permits fluid communication from the interior of the conduit to the nozzle manifold; and wherein the nozzle manifold is disposed about the conduit.

2. The fire suppression sprinkler device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle manifold comprises a distribution volume about the conduit.

3. The fire suppression sprinkler device of claim 2, wherein the nozzle manifold comprises a recess for collecting fluid from the distribution volume.

4. The fire suppression sprinkler device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle manifold comprises a plurality of nozzles, at least one nozzle being configured to eject fluid radially outwards from the conduit.

5. The fire suppression sprinkler device of claim 4, wherein at least one nozzle is configured to eject fluid downwards.

6. The fire suppression sprinkler device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle manifold comprises a plurality of nozzles, at least one nozzle having an first cross sectional area and a second cross sectional area, the second cross sectional area being greater than the first cross sectional area.

7. The fire suppression sprinkler device of claim 1, comprising a valve, the valve being configured to prevent fluid communication between the interior of the conduit and the nozzle manifold until breakage of the sprinkler bulb.

8. The fire suppression sprinkler device of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler bulb is positioned vertically upwards above the conduit.

9. The fire suppression sprinkler device of claim 1, wherein the conduit is configured to be fluidly coupled to a supply pipe.

10. A fire suppression system comprising: a supply pipe; and a fire suppression sprinkler device, as recited in claim 1, wherein the fire suppression sprinkler device is fluidly coupled to the supply pipe.

11. The fire suppression system of claim 10, comprising: a fire suppressant source for expelling fire suppressant; and a supply valve in fluid communication with the supply pipe and the fire suppressant source, the fire suppression system configured to have a first state, wherein the supply valve is closed to prevent fluid communication between the supply pipe and the fire suppressant source, and a second state, wherein the supply valve is open to allow fluid communication between the supply pipe and the fire suppressant source.

12. The fire suppression system of claim 11, wherein the fire suppression system is configured to have compressed gas within the supply pipe when in the first state and the fire suppression system is configured to transition from the first state to the second state responsive to a drop in pressure of the compressed gas below a predetermined pressure.

13. A method of fire suppression comprising supplying fire suppression fluid from an interior of a conduit to a distribution volume about the conduit, and further comprising supplying the fluid from the distribution volume to a nozzle of a nozzle manifold disposed about the conduit.

14. The method of fire suppression of claim 13, comprising the step of supplying fire suppression fluid from a fire suppression fluid source to the conduit via a supply pipe in response to the pressure of a compressed gas within the supply pipe falling below a predetermined pressure.

15. The method of fire suppression of claim 13, comprising ejecting the fire suppression fluid from the nozzle of the nozzle manifold in a direction radially outwards from the conduit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only and with reference to the following figures, in which:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows fire suppression sprinkler devices installed in a car park;

[0051] FIG. 2A shows a fire suppression sprinkler device; and

[0052] FIG. 2B shows a cross section of the fire suppression sprinkler device of FIG. 2A;

[0053] FIG. 3A shows a fire suppression sprinkler device; and

[0054] FIG. 3B shows a cross section of the fire suppression sprinkler device of FIG. 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] FIG. 1 shows fire suppression sprinkler devices 100 installed within a car park or parking garage. Fire suppression sprinkler devices 100 are connected in series to supply pipes 120 at an upper location of the car park, i.e. above the cars 10.

[0056] If a fire 20 occurs the temperature in the car park will increase. If the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature a sprinkler bulb 140 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of at least one of the fire suppression sprinkler devices 100 will break thereby activating the sprinkler device 100.

[0057] When a fire suppression sprinkler device 100 is activated, i.e. the sprinkler bulb 140 has broken (e.g. the sprinkler device 100 has been activated by the sprinkler bulb 140 breaking), fire suppressant fluid is provided from a fire suppressant source via supply pipes 120 to each of the fire sprinkler devices 100. The fire suppression sprinkler devices 100 that have a broken bulb 140 subsequently eject fire suppressant to the region surrounding the fire suppression sprinkler device 100 to suppress the fire 20.

[0058] FIGS. 2A and 2B show more detail of a fire suppression sprinkler device 100. The fire suppression sprinkler device 100 comprises a sprinkler bulb 140, housed within a sprinkler bulb housing 150; a nozzle manifold 160 comprising a plurality of nozzles 170; a valve 180; a conduit 190; a fluid distribution volume 200 located between the nozzle manifold 160 and the conduit 190; and a recess 210 in the nozzle manifold 160. The conduit 190 of the fire suppression sprinkler device 100 is fastened and fluidly coupled to a supply pipe 120 on either side of the fire suppression sprinkler device 100. A fastener 220 is provided on either side of the fire suppression sprinkler device 100 to fasten the conduit 190 to each supply pipe 120. The conduit 190 therefore cooperates with the supply pipes 120 to define a fluid flow path for fire suppressant fluid through the sprinkler device 100.

[0059] The valve 180 is configured to prevent fluid communication between the interior of the conduit 190 and the fluid distribution volume 200 when in a closed state. The valve 180 is biased to transition to an open state but is held in a closed state by the sprinkler bulb 140. That is the valve 180 abuts the sprinkler bulb 140 which prevents it opening. When the sprinkler bulb 140 breaks, i.e. when the sprinkler bulb 140 reaches a predetermined temperature (due to a fire) and fails, the valve 180 no longer has resistance to opening from the sprinkler bulb 140 and hence opens. Therefore, in the event of a fire fluid is provided via supply pipes 120 to the conduit 190 and to the fluid distribution volume 200 via valve 180.

[0060] The fluid distribution volume 200 supplies the fluid to each of the nozzles 170 of the nozzle manifold 160. Fluid therefore flows around the conduit 190 during use. There are a plurality of nozzles 170 arranged radially outward of the conduit 190, a subset being arranged to eject the fluid in a direction radially outward from the conduit 190, that is the fluid is ejected in a direction perpendicular to the flow of fluid within the supply pipe 120 and the conduit 190, and a subset of nozzles 170 are arranged to eject fluid in a direction of the supply pipes 120. The nozzles 170 have two sections, the first with a smaller cross sectional area than the second. The first section being located closer to the fluid distribution volume 200 than the second section. This shape of nozzle 170 results in the fluid leaving the nozzle manifold 160 in a mist or fine spray.

[0061] In the event of a fire the nozzles 170 eject fluid from the fluid distribution volume 200 in a mist to the region surrounding the fire suppression sprinkler device 100, the mist being generated by the nozzles 170 having the cross sectional area arrangement described above. Therefore the fire suppression sprinkler device 100 can effectively suppress a fire in the vicinity of the fire suppression sprinkler device 100.

[0062] The recess 210 in the manifold 160 is positioned at the lower most point of the interior of the manifold 160 such that it provides a region for condensation and/or residual fluid to accumulate. Thus when the fire suppression sprinkler device 100 is subject to freezing temperatures, the fluid will freeze away from the nozzles and consequently the nozzles will not be blocked.

[0063] FIGS. 3A and 3B show another a fire suppression sprinkler device 100 (like elements being numbered the same). The fire suppression sprinkler device 100 comprises a sprinkler bulb 140, housed within a sprinkler bulb housing 150; a nozzle manifold 160 comprising a plurality of nozzles 170; a valve 180; a conduit 190; a fluid distribution volume 200 located between the nozzle manifold 160 and the conduit 190, the aforementioned features being configured in a corresponding manner to those features described in relation to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0064] In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the fire suppression sprinkler device 100 does not have a recess 210, instead a nozzle 170 is provided at the lower most point of the nozzle manifold 160. Residual fluid and/or condensation within the fire suppression sprinkler device 100 is directed to the lower most point of the nozzle manifold 160 due to gravity and subsequently exits via the nozzle 170. Therefore, the freezing of fluids within the fire suppression sprinkler device 100 when subject to cold temperatures is avoided by preventing fluid accumulating in the device 100 when not in use.

[0065] Whilst the fire suppression sprinkler devices 100 depicted in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B have substantially annular nozzle manifolds 160 and corresponding substantially annular fluid distribution volumes 200 it will be appreciated that these shapes can be varied according to nozzle number and targeting requirements.