IP Library Granted Patent US 9,974,991
Granted Patent B2
US 9,974,991 · App. 14/435,055 · Granted May 22, 2018

Fire detection system

Inventors: Johnny Ernfjäll (Lammhult, SE); Gustav Stigsohn (Norrhult, SE)
Assignee: Fogmaker International AB
A62C37/44A62C35/68A62C37/46A62C3/07
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,974,991
App. No.
14/435,055
Granted
May 22, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a fire detection system arranged for detecting fire by detecting a pressure drop in a detection conduit ( 15 ) caused by rupture of the detection conduit ( 15 ). The system comprises a detection fluid container ( 13 ) for holding a pressurized detection fluid, the detection conduit ( 15 ) which is connected to the detection fluid container ( 13 ), and a valve assembly controlling the supply of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ) to the detection conduit ( 15 ). The valve assembly ( 17 ) is configured to assume: i) an open operating state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) permits fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ), wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises a holding member ( 41 a ) upon which a pressure force exerted by pressurized fluid in the detection conduit ( 15 ) acts to maintain the valve assembly ( 17 ) in the open operating position, and ii) a closed state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) prevents fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ), wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) is arranged for switching from the open operating state to the closed state upon a reduction of the pressure force exerted on the holding member ( 41 a ) caused by said pressure drop in the detection conduit ( 15 ), such that outflow of detection fluid is stopped. The present invention also relates to a method of controlling such as fire detection system.

Claims (42)

1. Fire detection system arranged for detecting fire by detecting a pressure drop in a detection conduit ( 15 ) caused by rupture of the detection conduit ( 15 ), the system comprising:

a detection fluid container ( 13 ) for holding a pressurized detection fluid,

the detection conduit ( 15 ) which is connected to the detection fluid container ( 13 ), wherein the detection conduit ( 15 ) comprises a detection hose ( 16 ) formed from a thermoplastic material, and

a valve assembly ( 17 ) controlling a supply of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ) to the detection conduit ( 15 ), characterized in that, the valve assembly ( 17 ) is configured to have:

i) an open operating state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) permits fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ), wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises a holding member being a plunger holding surface ( 41 a ) of a valve plunger ( 41 ) of the valve assembly ( 17 ) upon which a pressure force exerted by pressurized detection fluid in the detection conduit ( 15 ) acts to maintain the valve assembly ( 17 ) in the open operating position, and

ii) a closed state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) prevents fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ),

wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) is arranged for switching from the open operating state to the closed state upon a reduction of the pressure force exerted on the holding member caused by said pressure drop in the detection conduit ( 15 ), such that outflow of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ) is stopped.

2. Fire detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises a resilient member ( 45 ) which is arranged to exert a resilient force on the holding member, which resilient force co-operates with the pressure force to maintain the valve assembly ( 17 ) in the open operating state.

3. Fire detection system according to claim 2 , wherein the resilient element is a spring ( 45 ).

4. Fire detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises a valve actuator member ( 43 ) for switching the valve assembly ( 17 ) from the closed state to the open operating state.

5. Fire detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) further comprises a valve actuator member ( 43 ) and a resilient element ( 45 ) biased between the holding member and the valve actuator member ( 43 ), wherein the resilient element ( 45 ) acts to maintain the valve assembly ( 17 ) in the open operating state.

6. Fire detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises a restricted flow path through which the detection fluid container ( 13 ) communicates with the detection conduit ( 15 ) when the valve assembly ( 17 ) assumes the open operating state and which is blocked when the valve assembly ( 17 ) is switched to the closed state.

7. Fire detection system according to claim 6 , wherein the valve plunger ( 41 ) of the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises the restricted flow path.

8. Fire detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) is further configured to have an intermediate filling state, in which the opening for fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ) is larger than it is in the open operating state.

9. Fire detection system according to claim 1 , wherein a pressure indication device ( 37 ) is fluidly connected to the detection fluid conduit ( 15 ).

10. Fire detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the detection fluid container ( 13 ) comprises a first chamber ( 29 ) for detection fluid and a second chamber ( 31 ) for drive gas, the first ( 29 ) and second ( 31 ) chambers being separated from each other by a piston ( 33 ) displaceably arranged in the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and sealed with regard to an inner wall ( 19 ) of the detection fluid container ( 13 ).

11. Method of controlling the fire detection system of claim 1 , the method comprising:

switching, upon the reduction of the pressure force exerted on the holding member caused by said pressure drop in the detection conduit ( 15 ), from the open operating state to the closed state thereby stopping outflow of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ).

12. Fire detection system according to claim 3 , wherein the spring ( 45 ) is a compression spring.

13. Fire detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic fluoropolymer.

14. Fire detection system arranged for detecting fire by detecting a pressure drop in a detection conduit ( 15 ) caused by rupture of the detection conduit ( 15 ), the system comprising:

a detection fluid container ( 13 ) for holding a pressurized detection fluid,

the detection conduit ( 15 ) which is connected to the detection fluid container ( 13 ), and

a valve assembly ( 17 ) controlling a supply of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ) to the detection conduit ( 15 ), characterized in that, the valve assembly ( 17 ) is configured to have:

i) an open operating state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) permits fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ), wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises a holding member being a plunger holding surface ( 41 a ) of a valve plunger ( 41 ) of the valve assembly ( 17 ) upon which a pressure force exerted by pressurized detection fluid in the detection conduit ( 15 ) acts to maintain the valve assembly ( 17 ) in the open operating position, wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises a resilient member ( 45 ) which is arranged to exert a resilient force on the holding member, which resilient force co-operates with the pressure force to maintain the valve assembly ( 17 ) in the open operating state, and

ii) a closed state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) prevents fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ),

wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) is arranged for switching from the open operating state to the closed state upon a reduction of the pressure force exerted on the holding member caused by said pressure drop in the detection conduit ( 15 ), such that outflow of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ) is stopped.

15. Fire detection system arranged for detecting fire by detecting a pressure drop in a detection conduit ( 15 ) caused by rupture of the detection conduit ( 15 ), the system comprising:

a detection fluid container ( 13 ) for holding a pressurized detection fluid,

the detection conduit ( 15 ) which is connected to the detection fluid container ( 13 ), and

a valve assembly ( 17 ) controlling a supply of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ) to the detection conduit ( 15 ), characterized in that, the valve assembly ( 17 ) is configured to have:

i) an open operating state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) permits fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ), wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises a holding member being a plunger holding surface ( 41 a ) of a valve plunger ( 41 ) of the valve assembly ( 17 ) upon which a pressure force exerted by pressurized detection fluid in the detection conduit ( 15 ) acts to maintain the valve assembly ( 17 ) in the open operating position,

ii) a closed state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) prevents fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ), and

iii) an intermediate filling state, in which the opening for fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ) is larger than it is in the open operating state,

wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) is arranged for switching from the open operating state to the closed state upon a reduction of the pressure force exerted on the holding member caused by said pressure drop in the detection conduit ( 15 ), such that outflow of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ) is stopped.

16. Fire detection system arranged for detecting fire by detecting a pressure drop in a detection conduit ( 15 ) caused by rupture of the detection conduit ( 15 ), the system comprising:

a detection fluid container ( 13 ) for holding a pressurized detection fluid, wherein the detection fluid container ( 13 ) comprises a first chamber ( 29 ) for detection fluid and a second chamber ( 31 ) for drive gas, the first ( 29 ) and second ( 31 ) chambers being separated from each other by a piston ( 33 ) displaceably arranged in the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and sealed with regard to an inner wall ( 19 ) of the detection fluid container ( 13 ),

the detection conduit ( 15 ) which is connected to the detection fluid container ( 13 ), and

a valve assembly ( 17 ) controlling a supply of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ) to the detection conduit ( 15 ), characterized in that, the valve assembly ( 17 ) is configured to have:

i) an open operating state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) permits fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ), wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) comprises a holding member being a plunger holding surface ( 41 a ) of a valve plunger ( 41 ) of the valve assembly ( 17 ) upon which a pressure force exerted by pressurized detection fluid in the detection conduit ( 15 ) acts to maintain the valve assembly ( 17 ) in the open operating position, and

ii) a closed state, in which the valve assembly ( 17 ) prevents fluid communication between the detection fluid container ( 13 ) and the detection conduit ( 15 ),

wherein the valve assembly ( 17 ) is arranged for switching from the open operating state to the closed state upon a reduction of the pressure force exerted on the holding member caused by said pressure drop in the detection conduit ( 15 ), such that outflow of detection fluid from the detection fluid container ( 13 ) is stopped.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2025
From: FOGMAKER INTERNATIONAL AB
To: VÄXJÖ IP AB
Reel/Frame 070800/0325 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 10, 2025
From: VÄXJÖ IP AB
To: FOGMAKER HOLDING AB
Reel/Frame 070802/0738 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2015
From: ERNFJALL, JOHNNY; STIGSOHN, GUSTAV
To: FOGMAKER INTERNATIONAL AB
Reel/Frame 035427/0486 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 12188871 · Oct 17, 2012 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150283415A1 · Oct 8, 2015