Internally Mounted Switch for Fire Suppression Actuator Removal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire suppression systems lack a mechanism to automatically detect and report the removal of the actuator for the discharge valve, necessitating manual inspections that are time-consuming and non-compliant with regulatory standards.
Innovation Solution
An internally mounted supervisory switching mechanism, comprising a micro switch and a switch pin, which changes state upon the actuator's removal, providing an audible or visual signal to a remote control panel, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and facilitating automated monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual inspection of the actuator is performed, then compliance with NFPA standards is achieved, but time consumption increases and system downtime occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-monitoring through the supervisory switching mechanism that automatically detects actuator removal and reports system status, eliminating the need for manual inspection while maintaining NFPA compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel receives feedback signals from the supervisory switching mechanism to automatically detect and report actuator removal status, enabling continuous monitoring without manual intervention
2Measurement precision
If manual disconnection and reconnection of control head is performed, then physical inspection is possible, but system operational time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical inspection process is replaced with an electrical supervisory switching mechanism that uses micro switches and switch pins to detect actuator status, eliminating the need for physical disconnection and reconnection
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supervisory switching mechanism extracts only the essential detection function from the complex control system, using simple micro switches and switch pins to monitor actuator status without adding significant complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The supervisory switching mechanism serves multiple functions including actuator removal detection, system status monitoring, and compliance verification within a single integrated system
Data Source
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AI summary
A supervised fire suppression system (10, 100) is disclosed that includes a discharge valve (14, 114) for controlling release of a fire extinguishing agent from a container (12), a control head (16, 116) operatively associated with the discharge valve for actuating the discharge valve in the event of a fire, wherein the control head may be removed from the discharge valve to facilitate inspection of the control head, and an internal supervisory switching device (130) mounted within the control head and configured to interact with the discharge valve to provide an indication that the control head has been removed from the discharge valve.