Fire Extinguishing Valve Position Sensing for Reliable Alarms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire-extinguishing-system valves rely on indirect flow measurement for alarm functionality, leading to potential undetected malfunctions and cumbersome maintenance, as the housing often needs to be fully removed for sensor checks and replacements.
Innovation Solution
A fire-extinguishing-system valve with a direct sensor device to monitor the closing body's position within the housing, generating an electrical signal when the closing body leaves its blocking position, and optionally using a delay device and redundant sensors to prevent false alarms and enhance maintenance accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If indirect flow measurement is used for alarm functionality, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of alarm detection deteriorates due to potential undetected malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect flow measurement (mechanical/physical measurement) with direct magnetic field sensing. The sensor device detects the magnetic field of the closing body directly, substituting complex flow measurement mechanisms with simpler magnetic field detection, thereby reducing device complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the closing body position and the sensor detection. The magnetic field serves as a reliable mediator that directly reflects the closing body's position, enabling accurate alarm detection without the complexities of indirect flow measurement.
2Ease of repair
If the housing is fully removed for sensor maintenance, then the sensor can be accessed for checking and replacement, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome maintenance procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor device from the main housing by providing a separate access path. The sensor device can be accessed through a dedicated opening without removing the entire housing, dividing the maintenance operation from the complete assembly disassembly, thereby improving maintenance convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sensor device accessibility from the housing structure by providing a separate access opening. This allows the sensor to be taken out or accessed independently without extracting the entire housing, simplifying the maintenance procedure.
3Extent of automation
If a flow sensor is used for indirect volume flow measurement, then the alarm functionality is achieved, but the measurement precision deteriorates leading to false alarms or missed detections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect flow-based measurement with direct magnetic field-based position sensing. The magnetic sensor directly detects the closing body's position through its magnetic field, substituting the imprecise flow measurement mechanism with a more accurate direct sensing method, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining automation.
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 direct monitoring of the closing body's position improves alarm reliability and simplifies maintenance by reducing the risk of undetected malfunctions and false alarms, while allowing for easier sensor replacement and increased safety through redundant sensor designs.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor device (18) has at least one magnetic sensor (20) for monitoring the position of the closing body (28)
Implementation Method 2
The sensor device has at least one inductive sensor for monitoring the position of the closing body, wherein the closing body has a metallic portion which is intended to generate an electric voltage in the inductive sensor when the closing body moves
Data Source
AI summary
A fire-extinguishing-system valve (2) having a housing (4), having a fluid-entry chamber (26) provided in the housing (4), having a fluid-exit chamber (24) provided in the housing (4), and having a closing body (28) which can be moved back and forth between a blocking state (32) and a release state (34) and, in the blocking state (32) prevents direct fluid flow between the fluid-entry chamber (26) and the fluid-exit chamber (24) and, in the release position (34), connects the fluid-entry chamber (26) to the fluid-exit chamber (24) directly for fluid-conducting action. The fire-extinguishing-system valve (2) has at least one sensor device (18) for directly monitoring the position of the closing body (28).