Pilot Actuator Neutral Chamber for Stable Sprinkler Trip Pressure

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fire suppression sprinkler systems face challenges in maintaining consistent gas pressure, leading to increased leakage rates and operational costs due to higher operational pressures required to prevent false trips, which can be prohibitive in certain applications like residential use.

Innovation Solution

A pilot actuator with a neutral chamber and diaphragm configuration that maintains a constant trip pressure set point across a wide range of inlet pressures, reducing the need for frequent compressor operation and allowing for lower operational gas pressures, thereby minimizing leakage and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If higher operational pressure is used in the sprinkler piping to prevent false trips, then the control valve remains reliably closed, but the gas leakage rate increases and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol valve closed position stabilityVSAvoidgas leakage rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pressure parameter relationship by introducing a neutral chamber that decouples the trip pressure from the operational pressure. The trip pressure is determined by a spring force that remains constant regardless of the operational pressure in the sprinkler piping. This allows the system to maintain reliable valve closure at lower operational pressures without increasing leakage rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If higher operational pressure is maintained in the sprinkler piping, then false trips are prevented, but compressor operation frequency increases and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefalse trip preventionVSAvoidcompressor operation frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pressure parameter relationship by introducing a neutral chamber that decouples the trip pressure from the operational pressure. The trip pressure is determined by a spring force that remains constant regardless of the operational pressure in the sprinkler piping. This allows the system to maintain reliable valve closure at lower operational pressures without increasing leakage rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If higher operational pressure is used, then control valve reliability is improved, but the system becomes incompatible with lower-cost piping materials like PVC

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol valve closed position stabilityVSAvoidpiping material cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pressure parameter relationship by introducing a neutral chamber that decouples the trip pressure from the operational pressure. The trip pressure is determined by a spring force that remains constant regardless of the operational pressure in the sprinkler piping. This allows the system to maintain reliable valve closure at lower operational pressures without increasing leakage rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ensures a consistent trip pressure set point across varying inlet pressures, reducing leakage and operational costs while enabling the use of lower-pressure piping materials, such as PVC, in fire suppression systems.

Implementation Method 1

The neutral chamber is at an intermediate pressure in comparison to the pressures at the inlet port and the measuring port when the pilot actuator is in a stand-by state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the actuator seat is configured to allow fluid flow between the inlet port and the second chamber by moving the actuator assembly away from the actuator seat when the pilot actuator is at or below a trip pressure as measured at the gas pressure monitoring port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven movement: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11358015B2Pilot actuator for actuating a control valve

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 MINIMAX VIKING RES & DEV GMBH

AI summary

A pilot actuator for controlling the operation of a control valve. The control valve can be part of a thy-type fire suppression sprinkler system in which the sprinkler piping network is filled with pressurized gas such as, for example, air, nitrogen, or another gas. The pilot actuator is a differential valve that actuates the control valve when the gas pressure in the sprinkler piping network is at or below a value for tripping or actuating the pilot valve to the open position. The actuator assembly defines a neutral chamber that is at an intermediate pressure in comparison to pressures at the inlet port and the measuring port when the pilot actuator is in a stand-by state.