IP Library Granted Patent US 10,773,113
Granted Patent B2
US 10,773,113 · App. 15/537,354 · Granted Sep 15, 2020

Fire extinguishing system valve and fire extinguishing system having such a valve

Inventor: Matthias Pohl (Stubben, DE)
Assignee: Minimax GmbH & Co. KG
A62C37/50A62C35/60A62C35/605A62C35/68A62C37/44F16K1/20F16K15/033F16K27/0227F16K27/12F16K37/005F16K37/0041Y10T137/8326
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,773,113
App. No.
15/537,354
Granted
Sep 15, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) comprising a housing ( 2, 3 ) which has a fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ), a fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ) and a closing body ( 4 a ) reciprocable between a blocking state and a release state, wherein the fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ) and the fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ) are separated from each other in the blocking state and communicate with each other in fluid-conducting relationship in the release state. At least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) is integrated in the housing ( 2, 3 ).

Claims (59)

1. A fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ), comprising:

a housing ( 2 , 3 ) which has a fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ), a fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ) and a closing body ( 4 a ) reciprocable between a blocking state and a release state, wherein the fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ) and the fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ) are separated from each other in the blocking state and communicate with each other in fluid-conducting relationship in the release state, and a housing cover removably secured to the housing between the fluid outlet chamber and an exterior of the housing;

at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) integrated in the housing ( 2 , 3 );

an alarm passage ( 5 ) integrated in the housing ( 2 , 3 ), the alarm passage being sealed off from the fluid chambers ( 8 , 9 ) in the blocking state and communicating with the fluid chambers ( 8 , 9 ) in the release state, and

a fluid port ( 15 ) integrated in the housing cover; the fluid port being in fluid-conducting relationship with the alarm passage ( 5 );

wherein the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) includes a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor, each of the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor in direct fluid communication with the fluid port ( 15 ) and adapted to detect a pressure prevailing in the alarm passage ( 5 ).

2. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one pressure sensor further comprises a pressure sensor ( 6 ) adapted to detect a pressure prevailing in the fluid inlet chamber ( 8 ).

3. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one pressure sensor further comprises a pressure sensor ( 6 ) adapted to detect a pressure prevailing in the fluid outlet chamber ( 9 ).

4. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 , further comprising a display unit ( 40 ) integrated in the housing ( 2 , 3 ).

5. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) is connected to the display unit for output of at least one of: the prevailing pressure, or information ascertained in dependence on the prevailing pressure.

6. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ) is connected to a data memory ( 16 ) for storing the prevailing pressure data.

7. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 6 ,

wherein a display unit ( 40 ) is connected to at least one of: the data memory ( 16 ), or one or more external pressure sensors, and is adapted to output the pressure data stored there or communicated therefrom.

8. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 6 ,

wherein at least one of: the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ), the data memory ( 16 ), or one or more external pressure sensors are connected to a data interface ( 10 ) for reading out and remote transmission of the pressure data.

9. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,

comprising an electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ) for receiving data and/or communicating a state information of the valve ( 1 ), wherein the electronic evaluation unit is connected to one, more or all of the following elements:

the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ),

a display unit ( 40 ),

a data interface ( 10 ),

a data memory ( 16 ), or

one or more external pressure sensors.

10. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 9 ,

wherein the electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ) is adapted to compare pressure data from at least one of: the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ), the data memory ( 16 ), or the one or more external pressure sensors to predefined limit values and when a value of the pressure data rises above or falls below said limit values to communicate a representative signal as status information.

11. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 9 , wherein the closing body ( 4 ) has a control drive and the electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ) is adapted to selectively move the closing body ( 4 ) into the release and into the blocking position by the control drive.

12. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein one, more or all of the following elements are integrated in the housing ( 2 , 3 ):

a display unit ( 40 ),

a data interface ( 10 ),

a data memory ( 16 ), or

an electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ).

13. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the a housing cover ( 3 ) comprises a hand hole cover, and further comprises a first fluid line ( 14 a ) in fluid communication with the fluid port ( 15 ), and a second fluid line ( 14 b ) in fluid communication with the fluid port ( 15 ), wherein the first pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the first fluid line and the second pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the second fluid line.

14. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 13 , wherein one, more or all of the following elements are integrated in the housing cover ( 3 ):

the at least one pressure sensor ( 6 ),

a display unit ( 40 ),

a data interface ( 10 ),

a data memory ( 16 ), or

an electronic evaluation unit ( 50 ).

15. A fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) is a wet alarm valve or a dry alarm valve or a spray water extinguishing valve or a pilot-controlled dry alarm valve.

16. A fire extinguishing system ( 100 ), comprising:

one or more fluid lines ( 11 ) in which is arranged a fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 for blocking and releasing the one or more fluid lines ( 11 ).

17. A fire extinguishing system according to claim 16 ,

wherein the fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) has a data interface ( 10 ) and the fire extinguishing system ( 100 ) is connected to the fire extinguishing system valve ( 1 ) for reading out the data interface ( 10 ) thereof.

18. A fire extinguishing system according to claim 17 , wherein the fire extinguishing system ( 100 ) is adapted to analyze the information read out from the data interface ( 10 ) and in dependence on that analysis to trigger one, more or all of the following events:

output of a message as to whether the fire extinguishing valve is operating correctly,

output of a message as to whether there is a sufficient fluid pressure in the fluid line,

output of a message as to whether there is not a sufficient fluid pressure in the fluid line, or

output of a message as to whether the fire extinguishing valve has been opened.

19. A method of state monitoring of a fire extinguishing system valve according to claim 1 , comprising the following method steps:

detecting a pressure value in the alarm passage ( 5 ) that is integrated in said valve,

presetting a pressure limit value, and

communicating at least one of: status information or a message in the form of a message data file, to one or more defined receivers, preferably if the detected pressure value rises above or falls below the predetermined pressure limit value.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the presetting is effected by selection or setting of a pressure switch.

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein prior to method step (c) a comparison of the pressure value to at least one predefined pressure limit value present in a data memory ( 16 ) is effected.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF LEGAL FORM Recorded Dec 22, 2021
From: MINIMAX GMBH & CO. KG
To: MINIMAX GMBH
Reel/Frame 058563/0932 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2017
From: POHL, MATTHIAS
To: MINIMAX GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 043137/0273 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2014 226 639 · Dec 19, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180264302A1 · Sep 20, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,487,108 US 12,691,316