Valve station for a fire alarm system

Abstract

The invention relates to an alarm valve station for a fire alarm system, having an alarm valve with an extinguishing fluid inlet and an extinguishing fluid outlet, wherein the alarm valve is set up for selectively releasing or blocking the extinguishing fluid flow between the extinguishing fluid inlet and the extinguishing fluid outlet, having a pressure sensor which is in a fluid-communication with the alarm valve and which is configured to detect a change in pressure and for converting this into an electrical alarm signal, and having an alarm delay device for delaying the alarm signal. It is proposed according to the invention that the alarm delay device is designed as an electrical alarm delay device and is connected in signal-communication with the pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A valve station, comprising: a valve having an extinguishing fluid inlet and an extinguishing fluid outlet, an internal sealing surface disposed between the extinguishing fluid inlet and extinguishing fluid outlet, an internal alarm channel disposed between the internal sealing surface and the extinguishing fluid inlet, and a block member that contacts the internal sealing surface to selectively release or block an extinguishing fluid flow between the extinguishing fluid inlet and the extinguishing fluid outlet, an alarm line without a shut-off member in fluid communication with the internal alarm channel, a mechanically operated alarm device in fluid communication with the alarm line without a shut-off member, a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the alarm line without a shut-off member, the pressure sensor configured to detect a change in pressure in the extinguishing fluid flow and to convert the change in pressure into an electrical alarm signal, an electrically operated alarm device in signal-communication with the pressure sensor configured to receive the electrical alarm signal, and an electrical alarm delay device configured to permanently prevent a forwarding of a received electrical alarm signal or discard a received electrical alarm signal.

2. The valve station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical alarm delay device comprises a transmitter unit and/or a receiver unit configured to do at least one of: receiving or transmitting data.

3. The valve station as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transmitter unit is configured to bidirectionally exchange data with a remote control device.

4. The valve station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor and the electrical alarm delay device are separate from one another and are in signal communication with one another.

5. The valve station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor and the electrical alarm delay device form a structural unit.

6. The valve station as claimed in claim 1, comprising a remote control device which is in signal-communication with the electrical alarm delay device.

7. A fire alarm system comprising: a valve station according to claim 1, and a fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel which is connected in signal-communication with the electrical alarm delay device and the electrically operated alarm device.

8. The fire alarm system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel and the electrical alarm delay device form a structural unit.

9. The fire alarm system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel is in signal-communication with a remote control device.

10. A fire-extinguishing system comprising: a valve station according to claim 1, an extinguishing fluid supply in fluid-communication with the extinguishing fluid inlet of the valve, and a sprinkler arrangement in fluid-communication with the extinguishing fluid outlet of the valve.

11. A fire-extinguishing system comprising: a fire alarm system according to claim 7, an extinguishing fluid supply in fluid-communication with the extinguishing fluid inlet of the valve, and a sprinkler arrangement in fluid-communication with the extinguishing fluid outlet of the valve.

12. A valve station, comprising: a valve having an extinguishing fluid inlet and an extinguishing fluid outlet, an internal sealing surface disposed between the extinguishing fluid inlet and extinguishing fluid outlet, a block member that contacts the internal sealing surface to selectively release or block an extinguishing fluid flow between the extinguishing fluid inlet and the extinguishing fluid outlet, a pressure sensor and a mechanically operated alarm device in fluid communication with the valve and an alarm line without a shut-off member, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to detect a change in pressure in the extinguishing fluid flow and to convert the change in pressure into an electrical alarm signal, and an electrical alarm delay device in signal-communication with the pressure sensor configured to receive the electrical alarm signal, wherein the electrical alarm delay device is configured to delay a forwarding of a received electrical alarm signal by a delay duration, and wherein the delay duration comprises a delay time.

13. The valve station of claim 12, wherein the electrical alarm delay device is further configured to discard a received electrical alarm signal.

14. The valve station as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrical alarm delay device comprises a switch operable to set the delay time.

15. The valve station as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrical alarm delay device comprises a transmitter unit and/or a receiver unit configured to do at least one of: receiving or transmitting data.

16. A fire alarm system comprising: a valve station according to claim 12, and a fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel connected in signal-communication with the electrical alarm delay device and an electrically operated alarm device.

17. A fire-extinguishing system comprising: the fire alarm system of claim 16, an extinguishing fluid supply in fluid-communication with the extinguishing fluid inlet of the valve, and a sprinkler arrangement in fluid-communication with the extinguishing fluid outlet of the valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the appended figures on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a fire-extinguishing system according to the invention in a schematic illustration;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a fire-extinguishing system according to the invention in a schematic illustration;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a fire-extinguishing system according to the invention in a schematic illustration;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a fire-extinguishing system according to the invention in a schematic illustration; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows an alarm delay device of an alarm valve station according to the invention.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(7) According to FIG. 1, the fire-extinguishing system 200 has a fire alarm system 100, an extinguishing fluid supply 201 and a sprinkler arrangement 203.

(8) The fire alarm system 100 comprises an alarm valve station 1 and a fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 101.

(9) The alarm valve station 1 comprises an alarm valve 3 with an extinguishing fluid inlet 5 and an extinguishing fluid outlet 7, wherein the alarm valve 3 is set up for selectively releasing or blocking and, if appropriate, detecting the extinguishing fluid flow between the extinguishing fluid inlet and the extinguishing fluid outlet.

(10) The alarm valve station 1 also comprises a pressure sensor which is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the alarm valve 3 and which is set up for detecting a change in pressure and for converting this into an electrical, so-called primary alarm signal 13. Additionally, the alarm valve station 1 has an alarm delay device 15 for delaying the received primary alarm signal, with the result that said signal becomes a secondary alarm signal 13. The alarm delay device 15 is connected on the input side in a signal-conducting manner to the pressure sensor 11 and is designed as an electrical alarm delay device 15.

(11) The fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 101 of the fire alarm system 100 is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the output of the delay device 15 of the alarm valve station 1 and an electrically operated alarm device 103.

(12) Optionally provided is a remote control device 107 which is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the alarm delay device 15 and is set up for controlling the latter.

(13) The extinguishing fluid supply 201 of the fire-extinguishing system 200 is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the extinguishing fluid inlet 5 of the alarm valve 3. The sprinkler arrangement 203 of the fire-extinguishing system 200 is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the extinguishing fluid outlet 7 of the alarm valve 3.

(14) The alarm delay device 15 is set up for delaying the forwarding of a received electrical alarm signal 13 by a delay duration. The alarm delay device 15 is also set up for permanently preventing the forwarding of a received electrical alarm signal or discarding a received electrical alarm signal on the output side. Furthermore, the alarm delay device 15 is set up for prematurely canceling a persistent delay of the forwarding of an electrical alarm signal prior to the delay duration elapsing.

(15) The alarm valve station 1 also comprises an alarm line 25, which is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the alarm valve 3, to the pressure sensor 11 and to an emptying device 27, wherein the emptying device 27 is set up for automatically emptying the alarm line 25. A dirt trap 29 and a shut-off member 31 are also arranged in the alarm line 25. Moreover, the alarm line 25 is connected to a mechanically operated alarm device 105.

(16) The alarm valve 3 has a closing body 9 which is movable back and forth between a blocking position and a release position. If no or only very little water flows through the alarm valve, the closing body 9 is situated in the blocking position. If, as a result of the triggering of a sprinkler, a pressure difference between the fluid inlet 5 and the fluid outlet 7 arises, the closing body 9 moves into the release position. The region of the alarm valve 3 which is connected upstream of the closing body 9 is connected in a fluid-conducting manner via a compensation line 10 to the region which is connected downstream of the closing body 9. The compensation line 10 comprises two shut-off valves 41a, 41b, two manometers 43a, 43b and a check valve 45. Consequently, it is possible for small quantities to flow between the fluid inlet 5 and the fluid outlet 7 without the closing body being moved into the release position.

(17) The pressure sensor 11 and the alarm delay device 15 of the alarm valve station 1 are designed as a structural unit.

(18) According to FIG. 2, the pressure sensor 11 and the alarm delay device 15 of the alarm valve station 1 are designed not as a structural unit but separately from one another and are connected in a signal-conducting manner to one another. The pressure sensor 11 and the alarm delay device 15 are each independent, structurally mutually separate components. Otherwise, the construction of the fire extinguishing system 200 corresponds to that of the fire extinguishing system 200 from FIG. 1.

(19) According to FIG. 3, the fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 101 and the alarm delay device 15 are designed as a structural unit. The pressure sensor 11 and the fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 101 are connected in a signal-conducting manner to one another via the alarm delay device 15. The pressure sensor 11 and the alarm delay device 15 which, according to FIG. 3, is integrated in the fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 101 are thus designed separately from one another and constitute structurally mutually separate components. Otherwise, the construction of the fire extinguishing system 200 corresponds to that of the fire extinguishing system 200 from FIG. 1.

(20) According to FIG. 4, the fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 101, in which the alarm delay device 15 is integrated, is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the remote control device 107, wherein the fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 101 and the remote control device 107 are designed for bidirectionally exchanging data with one another. Otherwise, the construction of the fire extinguishing system 200 corresponds to that of the fire extinguishing system 200 from FIG. 3. Since the remote control device 107 is set up for electronically initiating a delay at the alarm delay device 15, which delay is selectively also permanent, it would be possible to dispense with the provided shut-off member.

(21) According to FIG. 5, the alarm delay device 15 has multiple setting means 19 which are able to be actuated for the purpose of setting the delay duration. The setting means 19 comprise a rotary switch 21 which, with the use of a potentiometer, is designed as a rotary regulator. The setting means 19 also comprise further actuating elements, namely two pushbuttons 23a, 23b. The pushbuttons 23a, 23b are set up for prematurely canceling a persistent delay of the forwarding of an electrical alarm signal prior to the delay duration elapsing and for manually initiating a persistent delay of the forwarding of an electrical alarm signal. The setting means 19 are part of a control device 17 of the alarm delay device 15. The alarm delay device 15 also comprises a display 24 which is set up for visually representing setting parameters, such as the delay duration, and state information.

(22) The alarm delay device 15 also comprises a communication module 18 which is designed for receiving and transmitting data. The communication module 18 comprises a transmitter unit 20 and a receiver unit 22 and is set up for bidirectionally exchanging data with the remote control device 107 and the fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 101.

(23) The remote control device 107 is designed as a portable mobile radio device and is set up for bidirectionally exchanging data with the alarm delay device 15 and the fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 101.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(24) 1 Alarm valve station 3 Alarm valve 5 Extinguishing fluid inlet 7 Extinguishing fluid outlet 9 Closing body 10 Compensation line 11 Pressure sensor 13 Electrical (primary) alarm signal 13 Delayed electrical (secondary) alarm signal 15 Alarm delay device 17 Control device 18 Communication module 19 Setting means 20 Transmitter unit 21 Switch 22 Receiver unit 23a, 23b Pushbuttons 24 Display 25 Alarm line 27 Emptying device 29 Dirt trap 31 Shut-off member 41a, 41b Valves 43a, 43b Manometers 45 Check valve 100 Fire alarm system 101 Fire detection and/or extinguishing control panel 103 Electrically operated alarm device 105 Mechanically operated alarm device 107 Remote control device 200 Fire extinguishing system 201 Extinguishing fluid supply 203 Sprinkler arrangement