Electromechanical Activator for Pilot Fire Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Firefighting systems face challenges in achieving rapid and reliable activation of control valves to ensure efficient fire suppression, with existing pilot actuators being slow and dependent on pressure fluctuations, leading to potential malfunctions and increased fire damage.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical firefighting system activator is introduced, featuring a pressure sensing member that transitions between chambers to activate a switch, which in turn opens the control valve, utilizing a flow restrictor to control fluid flow and maintain the activated state, reducing dependency on pressure fluctuations and enhancing activation speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional pilot actuators are used for control valve activation, then the system structure is simple, but the activation speed is slow and reliability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional purely mechanical pilot actuator system with an electromechanical system that uses a solenoid actuator. The solenoid converts electrical signals into mechanical motion to directly open the control valve, eliminating the slow pressure fluctuation-dependent mechanical pilot actuation mechanism. This substitution dramatically increases activation speed while the added electrical components are standard and do not significantly increase overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary electromagnetic field through the solenoid actuator as a mediator between the control signal and the valve opening action. This intermediary mechanism provides reliable and rapid actuation compared to direct mechanical pressure-based systems, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and fast activation by adding a controllable electromagnetic intermediate stage.
2Reliability
If pressure fluctuation-dependent activation is used, then the system structure is simple, but malfunctions increase and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the unreliable pressure-fluctuation-dependent mechanical activation mechanism with an electromechanical solenoid actuator that responds to electrical control signals. This substitution eliminates the reliability issues caused by pressure fluctuations while the solenoid mechanism remains structurally simple and易于维护, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solenoid actuator system provides self-contained actuation capability, eliminating dependency on external pressure fluctuations for activation. The system serves itself by using electrical energy directly converted to mechanical motion, reducing reliance on unstable pressure conditions and thereby improving reliability without adding complex external dependency management mechanisms.
3Productivity
If rapid fluid delivery is implemented with large pipe diameters and high operating pressures, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary rapid activation of the control valve through the fast-responding solenoid actuator, ensuring that full fire suppression flow is delivered immediately upon detection. This preliminary rapid action eliminates the need for oversized pipes and excessively high pressures, as the system can achieve effective suppression speeds quickly, thereby reducing installation costs while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the activation parameter from slow pressure-fluctuation-based mechanical actuation to fast electrical-signal-based solenoid actuation. This parameter change in activation speed allows the system to achieve rapid fluid delivery with standard pipe sizes and operating pressures, improving fire suppression effectiveness without requiring costly increases in pipe diameter or operating pressure.
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
The solution accelerates the activation of firefighting systems, reducing the time to respond to fires and minimizing the risk of malfunctions, while maintaining the system in an activated state until manually or electrically reset, thus improving the reliability and speed of fire suppression.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensing member at least partially disposed within the cavity, the pressure sensing member diving the cavity into a first and second chambers... at least a portion of the pressure sensing member being movable from a closed to an open state, responsive to pressure difference in the first and second chambers
Implementation Method 2
A fluid flow restrictor disposed in a fluid path providing fluid coupling between the first and second chambers, the restrictor control flow between the chambers
Data Source
AI summary
An activator for a pilot type firefighting system for accelerating firefighting system activation is disclosed. The system comprises a control valve which acts to control firefighting fluid flow to a distribution system, and configured such that release of pressure to a control chamber would activate the control valve. The activator comprises a first chamber in fluid coupling to the pilot fluid and a second chamber in fluid coupling to the pilot line via a flow restrictor. A pressure sensing member is disposed such that pressure difference between the chambers would cause an activation of a switch. The release of the switch directly or indirectly causes activation of an electrical valve which vents the pressure in the control chamber. Several aspects of the invention include various firefighting arrangements, various optional features of the activator, firefighting system, and several methods of operation of a system utilizing the activator.