Sprinkler T-Branch Piston Valve to Prevent Head Skipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sprinkler systems face challenges in preventing the 'skipping effect' where water from one sprinkler head interferes with the activation of adjacent heads, leading to inefficient fire suppression, especially in areas with obstacles or close head installations, resulting in potential flood damage and reduced water sprinkling density.
Innovation Solution
A branch tee for sprinkler pipes that includes a cylindrical body with a piston valve system, connecting a closed sprinkler head to a water supply and an open sprinkler head, allowing simultaneous opening of both outlets due to fluid pressure differences, thereby controlling the water stream and preventing the skipping effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water sprinkling density is increased to improve fire suppression effectiveness, then fire suppression capability is improved, but the risk of flood damage from false activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sprinkler network into multiple independently controllable zones using branch tees with piston valves. Each zone can be activated or deactivated independently, allowing water to be directed only to the specific area where fire is detected. This prevents false activation of entire sections and minimizes flood damage risk while maintaining adequate water density at the fire location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local control of water flow by equipping each branch tee with a piston valve that responds to local pressure changes. When a sprinkler head activates, only the corresponding branch receives water, creating localized high-density sprinkling exactly where needed. This targeted approach improves fire suppression effectiveness while preventing unnecessary water discharge to other areas.
2Productivity
If sprinkler heads are installed closer together to increase water sprinkling density, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but the skipping effect occurs where water from one head interferes with adjacent heads
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the sprinkler system into segmented zones using branch tees, where each zone is controlled by its own piston valve. This segmentation prevents the skipping effect by ensuring that water discharge from one sprinkler head does not interfere with the thermal environment of adjacent heads in other zones. Each zone operates independently, maintaining activation reliability even with closer head spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston valve acts as an intermediary device between the water supply and each sprinkler zone. It responds to pressure changes caused by sprinkler activation and automatically opens or closes to control water flow. This intermediary mechanism prevents false activation caused by water discharge from neighboring zones, ensuring reliable operation even when sprinkler heads are densely installed.
3Measurement precision
If closed sprinkler heads are used to prevent false activation, then control precision is improved, but the system requires higher ceiling heights to prevent skipping effect
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sprinkler network into independently controlled zones using branch tees with piston valves. This segmentation eliminates the need for increased ceiling height by preventing water from one zone from interfering with thermal sensing in adjacent zones. Closed sprinkler heads can be installed at standard ceiling heights with confident precision in fire detection and response.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston valve serves as an intermediary that isolates each sprinkler zone from others. When one sprinkler activates, the pressure change triggers the piston valve to open, allowing water flow to that specific zone while preventing water discharge that would otherwise cool thermal sensors in adjacent zones. This intermediary control mechanism enables the use of closed sprinkler heads at normal ceiling heights without skipping effect concerns.
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 enables localized fire suppression, minimizes flood damage, enhances water sprinkling density, and allows for denser sprinkler head installations without interference, effectively addressing the skipping effect and reducing construction costs by allowing lower ceiling heights.
Implementation Method 1
a piston valve (13) disposed in the branch tee body (9) and simultaneously controlling opening and closing of each of the first outlet (11) and the second outlet (12) while moving in a longitudinal direction of the branch tee body (9) due to a fluid pressure difference in the branch tee body (9)
Data Source
Figure 1(A)~1(B)
Figure 2~3(B)
Figure 4(A)~4(B)
AI summary
Provided are a t-branch for a sprinkler pipe and a sprinkler pipe system including the t-branch, wherein the t-branch can selectively sprinkle fire-fighting water only on a region on fire and can prevent skipping even when there are many obstacles for sprinkling or when the sprinkler head gap is made narrower. This t-branch for a sprinkler pipe comprises: a t-branch body (9) in a cylindrical shape; a first outlet (11) formed in one end of the t-branch body (9) and connected to a pipe of an enclosed-type sprinkler head; an inlet (10) formed in the t-branch body (9) and connected to a water supply pipe; a second outlet (12) formed in the t-branch body (9) and connected to a pipe of an open-type sprinkler head; a piston valve disposed in the t-branch body (9), moved in the lengthwise direction of the t-branch body (9) by a fluid pressure difference in the t-branch body (9) and simultaneously controlling the opening and closing of the first outlet (11) and the second outlet (12) in the event of a fire; and an inner wall groove portion (18) formed in the inner wall of the t-branch body (9) between the piston valve and the first outlet (11).