Safety monitoring device for fire extinguishing systems

Abstract

A safety monitoring device is provided for fire extinguishing systems that includes a main body couplable to any type of head of fire extinguishing systems. The safety monitoring device is screwed on between the discharge valve or device, that incorporates the fluid outlet as well as electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, or manual activation and the thread of the valve. The safety monitoring device further includes a sensor connected to an electronic board and through it, to a control room, programmable automaton, or other control means of the extinguishing system, that detects whether the head is correctly screwed on and that, if it is not, sends a signal, through the electronic board to the control room of the installation. Preferably, the sensor is a push-button termination that protrudes at the lower part of the main body and when fully screwing on the device it contacts the surface of the valve.

Claims

1. A safety monitoring device for fire extinguishing systems, wherein the safety monitoring device comprises a main body (1) having a bottommost surface and couplable to an activation head (2) of the fire extinguishing systems that has a fluid outlet (6), of electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, or manual activation and a thread (4) of a discharge valve (5), the safety monitoring device possessing a sensor (7) protruding as a button contact below the bottommost surface of the main body (1) connected to an electronic board (8) and, through the electronic board (8), to a control room, programmable automaton or other control means (23) of the fire extinguishing systems; wherein the sensor (7) and electronic board (8) are mounted to an external surface of the main body (1); and wherein the main body (1) comprises a housing (9) with a circular opening such that when the safety monitoring device is coupled through the housing (9) to a specific activation head (2), and the specific activation head (2) is screwed to the discharge valve (5), the sensor (7) directly contacts a surface of the discharge valve (5) to detect whether the specific activation head (2) is correctly screwed on and that, if the sensor (7) screwed to the discharge valve (5) of the specific activation head (2) is not contacting the surface of the discharge valve (5), the sensor (7) sends a signal, through the electronic board (8), to at least one of the control room, the programmable automaton or the other control means (23) of an installation.

2. The safety monitoring device according to the claim 1, wherein the sensor (7) comprises a push-button that protrudes at the bottommost surface of the main body (1), so that, when the head (2) is fully screwed to the surface of the discharge valve (5) the push-button contacts the surface of discharge valve (5).

3. The safety monitoring device according to the claim 1, wherein the sensor (7) is housed behind a protecting cover (18) laterally fastened on the main body (1) by screws (19), together with the electronic board (8) and a power strip (10) from which a set of wires (11) routed through a gland (12), connect the sensor (7) with at least one of the control room (23), the programmable automaton or the other control means (23) of the installation.

4. The safety monitoring device according to the claim 3, wherein the wiring (11) connects in series with one or more additional safety monitoring devices individually mounted to one or more additional activation heads (2) of a set of other bottles (3′) of the fire extinguishing system.

5. The safety monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein for coupling the main body (1) to the discharge valve (5) of a bottle (3) or a reservoir of the fire extinguishing system, an internal nut (13) with a thread (22) has been provided for installation in the discharge valve (5).

6. The safety monitoring device according to the claim 5, wherein the internal nut (13) is coupled in an axis of the housing (9), so that the main body (1) freely rotates about the bottle (3), to be able to place the main body (1) in any rotational position with respect to the bottle (3).

7. The safety monitoring device according to the claim 5, wherein the internal nut (13) has a through trough transversal hole (14) in an upper thickening rim (15) adapted to insert a tightening and locking bolt (16), and the main body (1) has a lug (20) in which a distal end of the tightening and locking bolt (16) is inserted following insertion of the tightening and locking bolt (16) through the transversal hole (14).

8. The safety monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the main body (1) has a thread (17) adapted for inserting a locking screw (21) that crosses a wall of the housing (9) and is interlocked in an internal nut (13).

9. The safety monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the fire extinguishing system comprises a bottle (3) cylinder, a bottle reservoir, a gas cylinder, a powder cylinder, a water cylinder, or a foam cylinder.

10. The safety monitoring device according to claim 3, wherein for coupling the main body (1) to the discharge valve (5) of a bottle (3) or a reservoir of the fire extinguishing system, an internal nut (13) with a thread (22) has been provided for installation in the discharge valve (5).

11. The safety monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein for coupling the main body (1) to the discharge valve (5) of a bottle (3) or a reservoir of the fire extinguishing system, an internal nut (13) with a thread (22) has been provided for installation in the discharge valve (5).

12. The safety monitoring device according to the claim 6, wherein the internal nut (13) has a through transversal hole (14) in an upper thickening rim (15) adapted to insert a tightening and locking bolt (16), and the main body (1) has a lug (20) in which a distal end of the tightening and locking bolt (16) is inserted following insertion of the tightening and locking bolt (16) through the transversal hole (14).

13. The safety monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein the main body (1) has a thread (17) adapted for inserting a locking screw (21) that crosses a wall of the housing (9) and is interlocked in the internal nut (13).

14. The safety monitoring device according to claim 6, wherein the main body (1) has a thread (17) adapted for inserting a locking screw (21) that crosses a wall of the housing (9) and is interlocked in the internal nut (13).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To complement the description provided and in order to assist to best understand the characteristics of the invention, attached to this specification, as an integral part thereof, there is a set of drawings in which with illustrative and non-limitative purpose the following has been represented:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of an example of the safety monitoring device for fire extinguishing systems, which has been represented in a position of use, after it was incorporated to the bottle or reservoir of the extinguishing system, between the thread of the valve and the activating head;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the safety monitoring device for fire extinguishing systems, according to the invention; and

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 show the device in respective top views of two possible positions of location among the number in which it can be placed.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(5) At the sight of the mentioned figures, and according to the numerals adopted in them, a non-limitative example of the safety monitoring device for fire extinguishing systems of the invention can be seen, that comprises the parts and elements that are stated and disclosed in detail thereafter.

(6) Thus, as it can be seen in the said figures, the device of the invention comprises a main body (1) couplable to any type of activation heads (2), that can be of electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or manual activation, of fire extinguishing systems, for example bottles (3) cylinders or reservoirs, of gas, powder, water, foam, etc., screwed between the discharge valve (5) or device, and that generally incorporates the fluid outlet (6), which possesses a sensor (7), connected to an electronic board (8) and, through it, to a control room, programmable automaton, or other control means (23) of the extinguishing system, that detects whether the head (2) is correctly screwed in the valve (5) or fire extinguishing system. If the activation head (2) is not perfectly screwed on the safety monitoring device sends a signal to the control room (23) of the installation.

(7) Preferably, the sensor (7) is a push-button termination or of end of line, NA (open) or NC (closed), that is arranged behind a protecting cover (18), so that it protrudes at the lower part of the main body (1), thus, when fully screwing the activation device (2) with the valve (5) the sensor (7) is activated with the surface of the valve (5) and shuts the safety circuit.

(8) The sensor (7) is housed behind the protecting cover (18), together with the electronic board (8) and a power strip (10) from which a wiring (11) starts, that through a gland (12) connects with the control room (23), and optionally in series or parallel with other cylinders (3′) or extinguishing systems of the same or different installation.

(9) It is important to point out that, for coupling the main body (1) to the valve (5), of the bottle (3), reservoir or extinguishing system, an internal nut (13) has been provided with thread (22) for its installation in the valve (5) that is installed in a housing (9) of the body of the main body (1) and allows it to freely rotate, in order to be able to locate it in any position and chose the one that best fits in each case, as is shown in the FIGS. 3 and 4.

(10) For screwing and locking the main body (1) the internal nut (13), possesses a through transversal hole (14) and an upper thickening (15), adapted to insert a tightening bolt (16) that, provided with a head to facilitate its handling, allows to apply the strength necessary for the said fastening. In addition, the main body (1) possesses a lug (20) in which the end of the bolt (16) is inserted for locking. To fasten the main body (1), after the position sought has been chosen, it possesses a side thread (17) adapted for inserting a locking screw (21) that, when it crosses the housing wall (9) is interlocked, securely, in the internal nut (13).

(11) Last, it shall be mentioned that the protecting cover (18) that covers the sensor (7), push-button termination of end of line, electronic board (8) and power strip (10) is laterally fastened on the body of the main body (1), by means of its respective tightening screw (19), allowing its easy dismounting to have access to the covered components and allow for the repair or replacement of components in case of deterioration, failure, or bad contact.

(12) The nature of this invention being sufficiently disclosed, as well as the way of implementing it, it is not deemed necessary to extend any longer its explanation in order that a person skilled in the art understands its extent and the advantages arising from it, and it is stated that, within its essence, it can be implemented in other embodiments that differ in detail from the one stated for example purpose, and to which also extends the protection applied for, provided that its fundamental principle is not altered, changed or modified.