Pre-action sprinkler system

Abstract

To solve a problem with conventional pre-operation type sprinkler equipment that it takes a long time before water discharging is started.SOLUTION: Pre-operation type sprinkler equipment includes: a sensor 301 for sensing a fire in a protection zone; a control device 302 for receiving a signal from the sensor; a valve 105 whose opening and closing is controlled by the control device; and a closed-type sprinkler head 103 installed in the protection zone, to which water is supplied through the valve. The closed-type sprinkler head 103 includes a thermo-sensitive mechanism, and the thermo-sensitive mechanism is destroyed by heat so that the closed-type sprinkler head is brought into a state that water can be discharged. The sensor 301 is installed in the protection zone so as to sense a fire and send a signal to the control device 302 before the thermo-sensitive mechanism is destroyed by heat and the closed-type sprinkler head can discharge water when a fire occurs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] This invention relates to pre-action sprinkler equipment.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, pre-action sprinkler equipment is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-37198 (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In conventional pre-action sprinkler equipment, there is a problem that the time until water discharge is long. Pre-action sprinkler equipment has a mechanism in which a pre-action control panel functions based on a signal from a sensor, activates the solenoid valve of a pre-action water flow detection device, and at the same time the water flow detection device opens.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The inventor of the present invention has earnestly studied the reason why it takes time to discharge water from the sprinkler head in pre-action sprinkler equipment. As a result, it has been found that the time until water discharge can be shortened by operating the pre-action device before the heat-sensitive mechanism of the closed-type sprinkler head is destroyed.

[0006] The closed-type sprinkler head has a heat-sensitive mechanism. Due to heat, the heat-sensitive mechanism part is destroyed and water is discharged from the water discharge port. The closed-type sprinkler head includes a standard type and a side wall type. Furthermore, the standard type includes a high-sensitivity type, a small-zone type, and others.

[0007] Closed-type sprinkler heads are classified into two types based on the type of heat-sensitive element: fusible flake type and glass valve type. The fusible flake type features a mechanism where a fused element made of a low-melting-point alloy melts upon heat, causing it to open. The glass valve type features a mechanism where a chemical substance such as glycerin is sealed inside a glass tube, and the glass tube breaks due to thermal expansion, causing it to open.

[0008] Pre-action sprinkler systems will not discharge water unless a sensor is activated, even if a closed sprinkler head is damaged. Therefore, they are highly safe systems that prevent water damage. Furthermore, activating the pre-action device before the heat-sensing mechanism fails allows for rapid water discharge.

[0009] Based on this knowledge, a pre-action sprinkler system installed in a protected area comprises a detector that detects a fire within the protected area, a control device that receives a signal from the detector, a valve whose opening and closing is controlled by the control device, and a closed-type sprinkler head installed within the protected area that is supplied with water via the valve. The closed-type sprinkler head has a heat-sensitive mechanism, and water can be discharged when the heat-sensitive mechanism is destroyed by heat. Detectors are positioned within the protected area so that they detect a fire and send a signal to the control device before the heat-sensitive mechanism is destroyed by heat and the closed-type sprinkler head becomes capable of discharging water.

[0010] In a pre-action sprinkler system configured in this way, sensors are positioned within the protected area so that they detect a fire and send a signal to the control device before the heat-sensitive mechanism is destroyed by heat and the closed sprinkler heads become capable of discharging water. As a result, the closed sprinkler heads become capable of discharging water, and water is discharged immediately once water is supplied to the closed sprinkler heads, thus shortening the time until water is discharged.

[0011] Preferably, the system further comprises piping connected to a closed-type sprinkler head, where water is normally absent from the piping and the system is maintained under negative pressure, pressurized pressure, or atmospheric pressure.

[0012] In this case, since there is no water normally present in the piping, water damage can be prevented even if the closed-type sprinkler head is damaged. If the piping is under negative pressure, water can be quickly supplied to the piping in the event of a fire. If the piping is under pressurization, air leaks in the piping can be easily detected. If the piping is under atmospheric pressure, a pre-action sprinkler system can be constructed at low cost.

[0013] "Normal state" refers to a condition where no fire is occurring. "Negative pressure" refers to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the system further comprises piping connected to a closed-type sprinkler head, in which water is normally present and maintained under negative pressure, pressurized pressure, or atmospheric pressure.

[0014] In this case, since water is present in the piping, water can be discharged immediately once the closed-type sprinkler head becomes operational. If there is negative pressure inside the piping, water loss in the event of damage to the closed-type sprinkler head can be minimized.

[0015] Preferably, the detector detects smoke. In this case, the detector can detect a fire earlier compared to when it detects only heat. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a pre-action sprinkler system according to Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] (Embodiment 1) (Sprinkler system configuration) Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a pre-action sprinkler system according to Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 1, the dry sprinkler system 1 is installed in a building 10. The building 10 has a first section 11 which is the lower floor and a second section 12 which is the upper floor.

[0018] The water discharge system 100 includes a primary pipe 101, a secondary pipe 102 connected to the primary pipe 101, a closed sprinkler head 103 provided in the secondary pipe 102, a valve 105 provided at the boundary between the primary pipe 101 and the secondary pipe 102, and a water pump 106 for sending water to the primary pipe 101.

[0019] The primary pipe 101 is filled with water. This water is pressurized by the water pump 106. Water is supplied to the water pump 106 from a fire water tank (not shown). Water may be supplied to the water pump 106 from an elevated water tank on the top floor of the building 10.

[0020] The primary pipe 101 rises vertically from the water pump 106 to the top of the building 10 and branches at each floor. Although a two-story building 10 is described in this embodiment, the number of floors of the building 10 is not limited to two floors.

[0021] The water in the primary pipe 101 is stopped by the valve 105, and when the valve 105 opens, the water in the primary pipe 101 is sent to the secondary pipe 102. The opening and closing of the valve 105 are controlled by a control device 302 composed of a computer.

[0022] The secondary pipe 102 is connected to the valve 105. The secondary pipe 102 is arranged in the second section 12. In this embodiment, an example where the valve 105 is arranged in the second section 12 is shown, but the valve 105 may be arranged in the first section 11.

[0023] The secondary pipe 102 is arranged on the ceiling of the second section 12. A plurality of closed sprinkler heads 103 are provided in the secondary pipe 102. The number of closed sprinkler heads 103 is determined by the size of the second section 12.

[0024] In this embodiment, an example where the closed sprinkler head 103 is provided in the second section 12 as a protection section is shown, but the secondary pipe 102 and the closed sprinkler head 103 may be arranged in the first section 11.

[0025] The closed-type sprinkler head 103 has multiple holes for discharging water. The closed-type sprinkler head 103 has a heat-sensitive mechanism (a fusible metal piece or a glass tube filled with chemicals). Under normal conditions, the water-discharging holes and the primary piping 101 are shielded within the closed-type sprinkler head 103. If the heat-sensitive mechanism melts or is destroyed by flames during a fire, the shield is released. The valve 105 opens, and water is discharged from the holes in the closed-type sprinkler head 103 via the primary piping 101 and secondary piping 102.

[0026] The negative pressure system 200 includes a negative pressure pipe 201 connected to the secondary piping 102, and a negative pressure pump 204 that creates a negative pressure inside the negative pressure pipe 201.

[0027] The negative pressure pump 204 is installed in the first section 11 to generate negative pressure. In this embodiment, the water pump 106 and the negative pressure pump 204 are installed in the same first section 11, but they may be installed in different sections. The negative pressure pump 204 can draw in air and water. If the negative pressure pump 204 draws in only air and not water, it is necessary to install a gas-water separator in the negative pressure piping 201 to prevent water from flowing into the negative pressure pump 204.

[0028] The negative pressure pump 204 has a first operating mode in which it maintains a steady state and creates a first vacuum level in the negative pressure piping 201, and a second operating mode in which it maintains a higher vacuum level than the first vacuum level. In addition to the negative pressure pump 204, an additional vacuum pump for high vacuum may be provided, so that only the negative pressure pump is driven in the steady state to achieve the first operating mode, and the additional vacuum pump is driven to achieve the second operating mode with a high vacuum.

[0029] The negative pressure piping 201, connected to the negative pressure pump 204, rises vertically from the negative pressure pump 204 to the top floor of building 10, and branches out on each floor. On each floor, the negative pressure piping 201 branches out, and negative pressure piping 201 is laid out in each room.

[0030] The detection system 300 includes a detector 301 and a control device 302. When a fire occurs in the second compartment 12, the detector 301 detects the heat or smoke. The control device 302 and the valve 105 are connected by a signal line 311. The control device 302 and the water pump 106 are connected by a signal line 312. The control device 302 and the negative pressure pump 204 are connected by a signal line 313.

[0031] Detectors 301 are certified products and include heat detectors, smoke detectors, flame detectors, combined detectors, and multi-signal detectors. Heat detectors may be differential, fixed-temperature, compensated, or thermal analog types. Flame detectors may be infrared, ultraviolet, or infrared-ultraviolet combined types. Combined detectors have multiple sensing elements with different performance characteristics within a single detector. Multi-signal detectors emit two or more signals with different performance characteristics, types, nominal operating temperatures, etc.

[0032] A water flow detection device 108 is installed in the secondary piping 102. The water flow detection device 108 may also be installed in the primary piping 101. The water flow detection device 108 is connected to the control device 302 by a signal line 315. The water flow detection device 108 detects the flow of water in the secondary piping 102.

[0033] (Operation of pre-action sprinkler system 1) This sprinkler system 1 is a so-called pre-action type, in which, after the detector 301 detects a fire, the control device 302 receives a signal from the detector 301, and the control device 302 opens the valve 105 via the signal line 311.

[0034] When valve 105 opens, water is filled into the secondary piping 102. At this stage, the heat-sensing mechanism of the closed-type sprinkler head 103 may not yet be melted. However, because the secondary piping 102 is filled with water, water can be released from the closed-type sprinkler head 103 as soon as the heat-sensing mechanism melts. Therefore, early fire extinguishing becomes possible.

[0035] Comparing the timing of the detector 301 detecting the fire with the timing of the heat-sensing mechanism melting, the detector 301 detects the fire earlier, and the heat-sensing mechanism melts later. This fire is not one that heats only the detector 301, but rather a fire that occurs near the floor surface of the second compartment 12, which is a protected area.

[0036] In other words, the pre-action sprinkler system 1 is installed in the second section 12, which serves as a protected area, and comprises a detector 301 that detects a fire in the second section, a control device 302 that receives a signal from the detector, a valve 105 whose opening and closing is controlled by the control device 302, and a closed-type sprinkler head 103 installed in the protected area to which water is supplied via the valve. The closed-type sprinkler head 103 has a heat-sensitive mechanism, and water can be discharged when the heat-sensitive mechanism is destroyed by heat. The detector 301 is positioned in the protected area such that it detects a fire and sends a signal to the control device 302 before the heat-sensitive mechanism is destroyed by heat and the closed-type sprinkler head 103 becomes capable of discharging water in the event of a fire.

[0037] Preferably, the system further includes a secondary pipe 102 connected to a closed-type sprinkler head 103, where water is normally absent and the secondary pipe 102 is kept under negative pressure, pressurized pressure, or atmospheric pressure. In this case, means are provided to maintain a predetermined pressure inside the secondary pipe 201.

[0038] Preferably, water is normally present in the secondary piping 102 and maintained in a negative pressure state, a pressurized state, or an atmospheric pressure state. In this case, means are provided to maintain a predetermined pressure in the secondary piping 201.

[0039] Preferably, the detector 301 detects smoke. If smoke is detected, it becomes possible to detect a fire early.

[0040] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 Sprinkler system, 10 Building, 11 First section, 12 Second section, 100 Water discharge system, 101 Primary piping, 102 Secondary piping, 103 Closed sprinkler head, 105 Valve, 106 Water pump, 108 Water flow detection device, 200 Negative pressure system, 201 Negative pressure piping, 204 Negative pressure pump, 300 Detection system, 301 Sensor, 302 Control device, 311, 312, 313, 315 Signal lines.

Claims

1. A pre-action sprinkler system installed in a protected area, A detector for detecting a fire within the protected area, A control device that receives signals from the aforementioned detector, The control device controls the opening and closing of a valve that stops the water flow in the primary piping, The system includes a closed-type sprinkler head installed within the protected area, to which water is supplied via the aforementioned valve, The aforementioned closed-type sprinkler head has a heat-sensing mechanism, and when the heat-sensing mechanism is destroyed by heat, water can be discharged. A pre-action sprinkler system in which, in the event of a fire, the detector is positioned within the protected area such that, before the heat-sensing mechanism is destroyed by heat and the closed-type sprinkler heads become capable of discharging water, the detector detects the fire and sends a signal to the control device, thereby opening the valve and supplying water to the closed-type sprinkler heads installed within the protected area.

2. The pre-action sprinkler system according to claim 1, further comprising piping connected to the closed-type sprinkler head, wherein the piping is normally kept in a negative pressure state, a pressurized state, or an atmospheric pressure state without the presence of water.

3. The pre-action sprinkler system according to claim 1, further comprising piping connected to the closed-type sprinkler head, wherein water is normally present in the piping and maintained in a negative pressure state, a pressurized state, or an atmospheric pressure state.

4. The aforementioned sensor detects smoke, according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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