Dry Sprinkler Valve Assembly With Remote Thermal Cable Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dry sprinkler systems require precise measurement and custom fabrication, leading to delays and increased costs due to the need for accurate length customization and complex pressure regulation, and they often face issues with leakage and installation limitations in flexible tube designs.
Innovation Solution
A thermal trigger assembly with a flexible Bowden cable mechanism allows for remote mechanical actuation of a valve, enabling the use of conventional open sprinkler heads as dry sprinklers by connecting the activation component to the valve, which opens in response to a thermally responsive element's loss of integrity, allowing for on-site installation and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional dry sprinkler systems use rigid tubes with precise length customization, then measurement precision and manufacturing precision are improved, but installation time and productivity are reduced due to custom fabrication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid tube is divided into a rigid tube portion and a flexible tube portion. The rigid portion provides structural support and connection points, while the flexible portion allows for length adjustment and adaptation to different installation spaces without custom fabrication, thereby improving installation productivity while maintaining sufficient precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a completely rigid tube to a hybrid structure with both rigid and flexible portions. This parameter change in structural rigidity allows the tube to accommodate varying lengths and installation requirements without requiring custom fabrication of entirely rigid tubes, thus improving installation speed while maintaining necessary precision.
2Ease of operation
If conventional dry sprinkler systems use flexible tubes, then ease of installation and adaptability are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to leakage issues
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is segmented into rigid and flexible portions with the rigid tube portion providing structural integrity and leak resistance, while the flexible tube portion provides installation adaptability. The segmentation allows each portion to perform its optimal function, combining the reliability of rigid structures with the installation ease of flexible components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges rigid and flexible tube portions into a single integrated structure. This combination allows the system to benefit from both the leak resistance of rigid tubes and the installation flexibility of flexible tubes, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of installation.
3Reliability
If conventional dry sprinkler systems use complex pressure regulation mechanisms, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the complex pressure regulation mechanisms from the dry sprinkler system. By eliminating these unnecessary components, the system achieves reliable water distribution through simpler means, reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving reliability through the optimized rigid-f flexible tube structure.
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional dry sprinkler systems require custom fabrication for each installation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to delivery and fabrication delays
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tube into standardized rigid and flexible portions, the system eliminates the need for custom fabrication of entire tubes. The flexible portion can be adjusted to different lengths during installation, allowing rapid deployment without factory customization, thus reducing time loss while maintaining sufficient precision for each application.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables rapid and cost-effective installation of dry sprinkler systems, reduces the need for custom fabrication, and provides flexible installation options, while ensuring reliable water distribution without the complexities of pressure regulation, thus improving the efficiency and versatility of fire protection systems.
Implementation Method 1
A thermally responsive element retains the movable member in the preactivation position only until a predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached. The thermally responsive element is configured to lose structural integrity under the predetermined thermodynamic condition.
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal trigger assembly for remote mechanical actuation of another fire protection system component includes an activation component having a base and a movable member. A bias member biases the movable member from a preactivation to an activated position with respect to the base. A thermally responsive element retains the movable member in the preactivation position until a predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached, when the thermally responsive element loses structural integrity. A flexible connector includes a flexible hollow outer cable housing with one end configured to be stationarily (preferably fixedly) connected with the base. A flexible cable is inside the outer cable housing for sliding movement therein and has one end configured to be stationarily (preferably fixedly) connected with the movable member. The flexible cable is moved with respect to the outer cable housing by movement of the movable member upon loss of structural integrity by the thermally responsive element.