Multi-region fire-extinguishing system and region blocking device

1 . A multi-area fire extinguishing system, comprising:

a control system,

a number of fluid control lines and a plurality of control valves, each of the control valves having an associated shut-off element, that are configured to transmit a control pressure as a function of control commands of the control system, wherein each of the plurality of control valves and its associated shut-off element is associated with one fluid control line of the number of fluid control lines to allow and prevent fluidic transport of the control pressure through the respective fluid control line,

a number of fluid-actuated area valves that are each in fluid communication with a respective fluid control line of the number of fluid control lines, wherein the area valves are configured to be actuated as a function of received control commands, and

a fluid-actuated area blocking apparatus located between the associated shut-off element of each of the plurality of control valves and the number of fluid-actuated area valves, the fluid actuated area blocking apparatus having a plurality of flow paths, each flow path having an area blocking apparatus shut-off element, and each of the plurality of flows path flow paths being assigned to one of the number of fluid-actuated area valves and is operatively coupled to the one fluid control line of the number of fluid control lines,

wherein the fluid-actuated area blocking apparatus flows the control pressure through the one fluid control line of the number of fluid control lines to each of the plurality of flow paths to open a fluid-actuated area valve of the number of the fluid-actuated area valves and to block opening of the other fluid-actuated area valves of the number of the fluid-actuated area valves.

2 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid control lines are operatively coupled to a fluidic controller that is in signal communication with the control system such as to receive control commands for combating a fire, wherein the controller is configured to actuate one or more of the area valves as a function of the received control commands, using the control pressure.

3 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the fluidic controller further comprises:

a first interface for signal communication with the control system in order to receive, from the control system, control commands for combating a fire, and

a second, fluidic, interface for fluid communication with the number of fluid control lines that transmit the control pressure, and

a third, fluidic, interface for outputting the control pressure to actuate the number of fluid-actuated area valves,

wherein the fluid controller is configured to, as a function of the control commands received from the control system via the first interface, transmit the control pressure to the third interface to actuate one or more of the area valves, and

wherein the fluid controller has the fluid-actuated area blocking apparatus which is operatively coupled at one side to the third interface and at the other side to the area valves and which is configured such that, when one or more area valves are actuated by the third interface, said area blocking apparatus opens up those area valves and blocks all other area valves.

4 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the fluid-actuated area blocking apparatus further comprises:

a first, fluidic, interface for fluid communication with the number of fluid control lines which each transmit the control pressure to actuate the number of fluid-actuated area valves, and

a second, fluidic, interface for fluid communication with the area valves, wherein the plurality of flow paths of the area blocking apparatus extend from the first to the second interface to provide fluid communication between the control lines and the area valves.

5 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the area blocking apparatus has a number of internal channels that fluidically connect the plurality of flow paths.

6 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 5 ,

wherein the area blocking apparatus has a number of fluid inlets and a number of fluid outlets in fluid communication with the fluid inlets, and wherein the fluid inlets are operatively coupled to the fluid controller and the fluid outlets are connected to a respective one of the area valves,

wherein the area blocking apparatus is configured such that, whenever control pressure prevails at a fluid inlet, said area blocking apparatus transmits the control pressure from the respective fluid inlet to the fluid outlet and at the same time fluid-tightly separates all other fluid outlets from the fluid inlets.

7 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 6 ,

wherein the area blocking apparatus shut-off element in each of the plurality of flow paths can be moved into a shut-off position to block the flow path, and

wherein the area blocking apparatus shut-off elements are operatively coupled such that those flow paths which are respectively assigned to an actuated area valve are opened up by the respective area blocking apparatus shut-off element, and at the same time all other area blocking apparatus shut-off elements assume the shut-off position to block the other flow paths.

8 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the area blocking apparatus shut-off elements are actuated by differential pressure control and each have a first active surface and a second, spaced-apart active surface, wherein the area blocking apparatus shut-off elements move into the shut-off position when a greater pressure acts on the second active surface than on the first active surface.

9 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein control pressure acts on both the first active surface and the second active surface if control pressure to actuate the area valve prevails at the respective fluid inlet, wherein the second active surfaces are in fluid communication with one another such that control pressure simultaneously acts on all other second active surfaces,

such that the flow path is opened up by the respective area blocking apparatus shut-off element which is assigned to the actuated area valve, and at the same time all other area blocking apparatus shut-off elements assume the shut-off position to block the other flow paths.

10 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein ambient pressure acts on both the first active surface and the second active surface if control pressure to actuate one of the area valves is absent from the respective fluid inlet.

11 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the flow path upstream of the area blocking apparatus shut-off element has in each case one branch channel, and the second active surfaces are in fluid communication with the branch channels.

12 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein a non-return valve that is configured to prevent a flow from the branch channel in the direction of the fluid inlet is arranged in each of the branch channels.

13 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the area blocking apparatus has a number of non-return elements that are each configured to subject the first active surface to a restoring force acting counter to the shut-off direction, such that the area blocking apparatus shut-off element must overcome the restoring force to move into the shut-off position.

14 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the area blocking apparatus has multiple interconnectable blocking modules, and an area valve is assigned to each of the blocking modules,

wherein each of the blocking modules has a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and, arranged between fluid inlet and fluid outlet, the area blocking apparatus shut-off element for selectively blocking the flow path assigned to the respective area valve.

15 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 14 ,

wherein the fire extinguishing system furthermore has fluid-actuated alarm means, and the area blocking apparatus has, for each flow path, an alarm channel for fluid communication between the fluid controller and the alarm means.

16 . The fire extinguishing system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more fire parameter detectors that are arranged in a respective area of an object for monitoring, wherein the control system is in signal communication with the one or more fire parameter detectors,

a number of extinguishing agent vessels,

a pipeline network connected to the number of extinguishing agent vessels for transporting the extinguishing agent, wherein the pipeline network comprises the number of area valves, and

a control pressure source including a pressurized gas vessel, which is connected to a fluidic controller.

17 . A multi-area fire extinguishing system, comprising:

a control system,

a number of fluid control lines and plurality of control valves, each of the plurality of control valves having an associated shut-off element, that are configured to transmit a control pressure as a function of control commands of the control system, wherein each of the plurality of control valves and its associated shut-off element is associated with one of the number of fluid control lines to allow and prevent fluidic transport of the control pressure through the one of the number of fluid control lines,

a number of fluid-actuated area valves that are each in fluid communication with a respective fluid control line of the number of fluid control lines, wherein the area valves are configured to be actuated as a function of received control commands, and

a fluid-actuated area blocking apparatus which is operatively coupled to each of the number of fluid control lines and to each of the number of fluid-actuated area valves via an assigned flow path of the fluid-actuated area blocking apparatus, each assigned flow path having an area blocking apparatus shut-off element in the form of a pressure controlled shut-off element located between one of the plurality of control valves and one of the number of fluid-actuated area valves,

wherein the fluid-actuated area blocking apparatus transmits and blocks a flow of the control pressure through the assigned flow path, and

wherein the fluid-actuated area blocking apparatus flows the control pressure from the one of the fluid control lines to each of the assigned flow paths to operate the pressure controlled shut-off element of the assigned flow path to actuate a fluid-actuated area valve of the number of fluid-actuated area valves and block actuation of the other fluid-actuated area valves of the number of fluid-actuated area valves.