Alarm Valve Housing With Integrated Drain Channel for Direct Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fire extinguishing system valves, particularly wet and dry alarm valves, require complex and time-consuming setup for functionality testing, which is inefficient and costly due to external piping needs for simulating extinguishing processes.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a dedicated drain channel and control module within the valve housing, allowing for direct drainage and alarm testing without external equipment, with shut-off devices to manage fluid flow and reduce installation space, and inclusion of a bypass channel to compensate for pressure fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If external piping is used to allow extinguishing agent release for functionality testing, then alarm device functionality can be tested, but structural effort and installation time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctionality testing capabilityVSAvoidexternal piping structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the drain channel directly into the valve housing, merging the testing functionality with the existing valve structure. This eliminates the need for separate external piping systems while maintaining the capability to test alarm device functionality by releasing extinguishing agent through the integrated channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve housing itself provides the drain channel functionality, allowing the system to test its own alarm devices using its own structure. The housing serves dual purposes: as the main valve body and as the container for the testing drain channel, eliminating dependency on external testing infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If external piping is installed for simulating extinguishing processes, then functionality testing is enabled, but installation time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm test functionalityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the drain channel with the valve housing, the patent eliminates separate installation steps for external piping. The testing functionality is built-in during valve manufacturing, reducing on-site installation time to merely connecting the housing components without additional piping installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of stationary object

If drain channel is integrated into valve housing, then installation space is reduced, but housing structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into functional zones: the main valve chamber and the integrated drain channel. This segmentation allows complex functionality to be organized into manageable sections within the housing, reducing the overall spatial footprint while maintaining structural integrity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3661609B1Fire extinguishing system valve, in particular wet alarm valve, dry alarm valve or spray water valve and control module for the same and fire extinguishing system utilizing the same
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 MINIMAX GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3661609B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3661609B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3661609B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a fire extinguishing system valve (1), in particular wet alarm valve, dry alarm valve or spray water valve, provided with a housing (3) comprising a fluid inlet chamber (9), a fluid outlet chamber (11) and a closing body (13) that can be moved back and forth and which is mounted between a locked position and a release position. The fluid inlet chamber (9) and the fluid outlet chamber (11) communicate directly with each other in a fluid-conducting manner when the closing body in the release position, and the closing body (13), when locked, prevents the direct communication between the fluid inlet chamber (9) and the fluid outlet chamber (11). According to the invention, a housing (3) comprises a dedicated discharge channel (30) which comprises at least one inlet (30a, b) connected to the fluid outlet chamber (11) and an outlet (30c) leading out from the housing (3) of the fire extinguishing system valve (1), and which is integrated in the housing (3).