Rupture Disc Fire Extinguishing Launching Unit

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire extinguishing systems with active intervention valves face issues such as mechanical failure, energy dependency, increased maintenance costs due to periodic testing, and inefficiency in extinguishing processes due to moving parts and auxiliary energy requirements.

Innovation Solution

The system employs rupture discs as intervention bodies, which burst to discharge extinguishing material automatically in response to pressure changes, eliminating the need for auxiliary energy and reducing the likelihood of mechanical failure, allowing for a simpler, low-maintenance extinguishing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If active intervention valves with moving parts are used to control extinguishing material discharge, then the system can be remotely controlled and automatically operated, but the valves may become faulty or jammed, reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic extinguishing launchingVSAvoidvalve operation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the moving parts from the intervention valve system by replacing them with rupture discs. The rupture discs are simple pressure-sensitive membranes that burst when a predetermined pressure is reached, thereby controlling the discharge of extinguishing material without any mechanical moving parts that could fail or jam.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rupture discs are designed as disposable, single-use components that are replaced after each operation. This approach ensures high reliability for each individual use, as the rupture disc is guaranteed to function correctly until it bursts, and can be easily replaced without complex maintenance procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Extent of automation

If active intervention valves are used with auxiliary energy sources, then remote control and automatic operation are enabled, but the system becomes dependent on external energy and requires periodic testing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control capabilityVSAvoidauxiliary energy requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rupture disc system is self-actuating and does not require any external energy source. The rupture disc automatically bursts when the predetermined pressure is reached, either due to pressure increase from the storage body or pressure decrease in the reference pressure supply line. This eliminates the need for electrical power, pneumatic supplies, or other auxiliary energy sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the complex mechanical valve system with moving parts and actuators with a simple pressure-sensitive rupture disc system. The control function is achieved through pressure differential across the rupture disc rather than through mechanical actuation, thereby eliminating the need for auxiliary energy systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If periodic testing of intervention valves is performed to ensure operability, then reliability is maintained, but valuable extinguishing material is discharged and operation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve operability assuranceVSAvoidextinguishing material discharge during testing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The rupture discs are designed as inexpensive, disposable components that can be easily replaced. This allows the system to operate without periodic testing, as each rupture disc is guaranteed to function correctly until it bursts. The low cost and simplicity of replacement eliminates the need for costly periodic tests that would discharge valuable extinguishing material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Ease of operation

If active intervention valves are used, then controlled discharge of extinguishing material is achieved, but the valves require lubrication and maintenance, increasing operation and maintenance costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled extinguishing dischargeVSAvoidmaintenance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes all moving parts from the discharge control system. The rupture disc system provides controlled discharge through a simple pressure-sensitive membrane that bursts at a predetermined pressure, eliminating the need for lubrication, adjustment, or maintenance of mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 enhances the reliability and cost-effectiveness of fire extinguishing systems by eliminating the need for auxiliary energy and reducing maintenance, ensuring consistent operation even during power outages or pneumatic network failures.

Implementation Method 1

using these rupture discs in a completely different way to that known a closed space maintaining a given pressure value is created in the pipe serving for discharging the extinguishing material that loses the pressure set in it when an undesired event occurs, or on the contrary, the pressure drastically increases, and at this time the appropriately dimensioned rupture discs burst

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3648848B1Installed fire extinguishing equipment with extinguishing-launching part-unit
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 SWISS FIRE PROTECTION RES & DEV AG
  • EP3648848B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to an installed fire extinguishing equipment with extinguishing- launching part-unit which has a pressure-resistant storage body (2) with an internal space (2a) serving for accommodating a fire extinguishing material (6), furthermore, at least one transport pipe (3) connected to the internal space (2a) of the storage body (2) suitable for transporting the fire extinguishing material (6) from the internal space (2a) of the storage body (2) to the use location (1), as well as an extinguishing part-unit (4) connected to the external end (3a) of the transport pipe (3) in the vicinity of the use location (1), the extinguishing part-unit (4) is coupled with one or more event-detecting part-units (5), where at least some of the event-sensing part-units (5) are connected directly to an extinguishing- launching part-unit (10) or via the interposition of a control centre (7), and the extinguishing- launching part-unit (10) has a transport regulation fitting (12) installed in the transport pipe (3). The characteristic feature of the invention is that the extinguishing-launching part-unit(lO) is supplemented with a separation fitting (11) separated from the transport regulation fitting (12) by a space (T) and also installed in the transport pipe (3), and a reference pressure supply part-unit (13) is installed in the regulation section (3b) of the transport pipe (3) between the separation fitting (11) and the transport regulation fitting (12), furthermore the transport regulation fitting (12) has a clamping housing (12a) and a transport regulation rupture disc (12b) fixed in the clamping housing (12a), while the separation fitting (11) has a clamping housing (11a) and a separation rupture disc fixed (1 lb) in the clamping housing (11a).