EP3655115B1 - Fire extinguishing system valve, and fire extinguishing system having same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing system valve with a housing, a fluid inlet chamber provided in the housing, a fluid outlet chamber provided in the housing, a closing body which can be moved back and forth between a blocking state and a release state and which, in the blocking state, prevents a direct fluid flow between the fluid inlet chamber and the fluid outlet chamber and, in the release position, directly connects the fluid inlet chamber to the fluid outlet chamber in a fluid-conducting manner.

Fire extinguishing system valves of the type described above are well known. They are used either as passive or active valves to release a fluid flow through the valve in the event of a fire and ensure the extinguishing of a fire. Such fire extinguishing system valves can be used as wet alarm valves, dry alarm valves, or spray fluid valves. One or more pressure gauges are often provided to monitor the pressure in the fluid inlet chamber and/or the fluid outlet chamber. Unless the fire extinguishing system valve is shut off on the inlet or outlet side, these pressure gauges indicate the supply pressure of the extinguishing agent on the inlet side and the pressure in the downstream piping network of the fire extinguishing system on the outlet side.

In practice, fire extinguishing systems with the aforementioned fire extinguishing valves are installed in a building or facility for very long periods of time without ever having to extinguish a fire in an emergency. Therefore, it is necessary to The functionality of fire extinguishing system valves must be checked at regular intervals. This also applies to the pressure gauges provided on the fire extinguishing system valves. For example, some regulations require that the pressure gauges be checked annually for their functionality.

To check the correct functioning of the pressure gauge, the pressure at the pressure gauge is shut off using a ball valve specifically provided externally for this purpose, according to the state of the art. The volume closed off by the ball valve is then opened to the atmosphere, thereby venting the volume monitored by the pressure gauge. The pressure gauge is functioning correctly if the pressure drops to ambient pressure during venting and rises back to the intended pressure in the extinguishing system after the ball valve is closed and reopened. The state-of-the-art solutions using ball valves are very space-intensive and require comparatively high installation effort with regard to the fittings around the fire extinguishing system valve.

The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for this application: WO 2017/ 070 369 A1 , DE 39 37 778 A1 , US 372 219 A , WO 2016/ 097 335 A1 , EP 2 409 773 A2 , WO 2016/ 179 406 A1 , and WO 2017/ 114 615 A1 .

EP 3 496 822 A1 shows a fire extinguishing system valve comprising a housing with an inlet and an outlet. A flap valve is arranged inside the housing and can be pivoted between an open and a closed position. Two pressure gauges are mounted on the fire extinguishing system valve, one of which is connected to the fluid inlet and the other to the fluid outlet. The pressure gauges are connected to fluid lines branching off from the valve body, in particular to connections of manually adjustable valves arranged in the fluid lines.

Accordingly, the invention was based on the object of improving a fire extinguishing system valve of the type described above in such a way that the disadvantages perceived in the prior art are overcome as far as possible. In particular, the invention was based on the object of improving a fire extinguishing system valve in such a way that a functional check of the mounted pressure gauges is possible in a smaller installation space.

The invention solves the underlying problem in a fire extinguishing system valve of the type described above with the features of claim 1.

The invention follows the approach of avoiding the use of external fittings by integrating the venting function into the housing of the fire extinguishing system valve, thus eliminating the installation space otherwise required in the prior art. The increase in the functional complexity of the fire extinguishing system valve housing, which was generally perceived as disadvantageous in the past, is surprisingly particularly advantageous, especially with regard to the venting device integrated according to the invention, since both the pressure gauge and the venting device are arranged directly on the fire extinguishing system valve, making it immediately clear to the operator how to vent the pressure gauge.

The venting device according to the invention is designed to separate the volume directly connected to the manometer in a fluid-conducting manner from the fluid inlet chamber and to connect it to the environment as a result of its actuation.

The invention is advantageously further developed in that the housing has a base body and a housing cover that is reversibly detachably connected to the base body, and the venting device is integrated into the housing cover.

By integrating the venting device into the housing cover, it is possible to manufacture the housing base identically for a variety of fire extinguishing system valves and, as needed, to install or retrofit the venting function by retrofitting the housing cover. Preferably, at least one pressure gauge is also mounted on the housing cover. This places the pressure gauge and the venting device in close proximity to each other, making operation of the venting device intuitive.

According to the invention, the venting device has a piston which is displaceably mounted within the housing and which can be moved back and forth between a pressure transmission position and a venting position, wherein in the pressure transmission position a fluid-conducting connection is established between the at least one manometer and the fluid inlet chamber or fluid outlet chamber, and in the venting position the fluid-conducting connection between the at least one manometer and the fluid inlet chamber or fluid outlet chamber is prevented.

According to the invention, the piston further comprises an inner through-opening which is fluidically connected to the environment. The at least one pressure gauge is fluidically connected to the inner through-opening in the venting position, and in the pressure-transmitting position of the piston, the fluidically connected connection between the pressure gauge and the inner through-opening is The through-opening through the piston can, for example, extend completely through the piston body from a first to a second end face of the piston.

Further preferably, the venting device comprises an actuating element extending outside the housing, which is connected to the piston to cause movement of the piston by means of a push or pull action. The actuating element is preferably spring-assisted to be moved into a normal position or to remain in that position in the absence of an actuating force. This normal position is preferably the pressure-transmitting position.

The actuating element preferably has a drain opening that is fluidically connected to the inner through-hole of the piston and to the environment. This is particularly advantageous when the pressure gauge to be vented is arranged on the fluid inlet side of the fire extinguishing system valve. In the pressure-transmitting position, extinguishing agent is present at the pressure gauge, which can then be removed from the fire extinguishing system valve through the drain opening during venting. This is particularly easy with a continuous fluid passage that runs through the through-hole of the piston and the actuating element.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the piston is arranged in a piston chamber which has a wall and a portion with an outer diameter reduced such that an annular space is formed with the wall of the piston chamber opposite the piston.

Preferably, in the pressure-transmitting position of the piston, the annular space is fluidically connected to the pressure gauge on the one hand and the fluid inlet or fluid outlet chamber on the other hand, and the fluid-conducting connection of the annular space to the pressure gauge and/or fluid inlet or fluid outlet chamber is blocked in the venting position. Preferably, the piston is sealed against the wall on both sides of the section with a reduced outer diameter. The formation of an annular space around the piston for transporting the fluid to the pressure gauge in the pressure-transmitting position ensures particularly short distances from the fluid inlet or outlet chamber to the pressure gauge.

The advantages of the fire extinguishing system valve according to the invention with its venting device integrated into the housing are already apparent when using a single pressure gauge on the fire extinguishing system valve.

In a preferred embodiment, the fire extinguishing system valve has a first pressure gauge and further a second pressure gauge, wherein one of the two pressure gauges is operatively connected to the fluid inlet chamber and the other of the two pressure gauges is operatively connected to the fluid outlet chamber.

In this embodiment, according to a first preferred embodiment, the venting device has for each manometer a piston which is displaceably mounted within the housing and which can be moved back and forth between a pressure transmission position and a venting position, wherein in the pressure transmission position one of the pistons establishes a fluid-conducting connection between one of the manometers and the fluid inlet chamber and the other piston establishes a fluid-conducting connection between the other manometer and the fluid outlet chamber, and in the venting position the fluid-conducting connection between the respective manometer and the fluid inlet chamber and fluid outlet chamber is respectively prevented.

According to the invention, each of the pistons has an inner through-opening which is fluidically connected to the environment, each pressure gauge is fluidically connected to the inner through-opening of the respective piston in the venting position of the respective piston, and in the pressure transmission position of the respective piston, the fluidically conductive connection between the respective pressure gauge and the inner through-opening of the piston assigned to it is prevented.

Preferably, the venting device has for each piston an actuating element extending outside the housing, which is connected to the piston associated with it in order to effect a movement of the respective piston by means of push or pull actuation.

Preferably, each actuating element has a drain opening which is fluidically connected to the inner passage opening of the piston associated with it and to the environment.

Preferably, the pistons are each arranged in a piston chamber or in a common piston chamber, which (each) has a wall, and each have a section with such a reduced outer diameter that an annular space is formed with the wall of the piston chamber opposite the piston.

Preferably, in the pressure transmission position of the respective piston, the respective annular space is fluidically connected to the manometer assigned to it on the one hand and to the fluid inlet chamber or fluid outlet chamber on the other hand, and the fluidically connected connection of the respective annular space to the respective manometer and/or to the fluid inlet or outlet chamber is prevented in the venting position.

Preferably, the pistons are sealed against the wall on both sides of the respective section with a reduced outer diameter.

The above preferred embodiment provided a separate piston for venting each pressure gauge. However, the invention also demonstrates its advantage in an embodiment in which the venting device for both pressure gauges has a common piston that is displaceably mounted within the housing and can be moved back and forth between a pressure transmission position and a venting position. In the pressure transmission position, a fluid-conducting connection is established between one of the pressure gauges and the fluid inlet chamber and between the other pressure gauge and the fluid outlet chamber. In the venting position, the fluid-conducting connection between the respective pressure gauge and the fluid inlet chamber and fluid outlet chamber is blocked.

According to the invention, the common piston has an inner through-opening which is fluidically connected to the environment, the pressure gauges are fluidically connected to the inner through-opening in the venting position, and in the pressure transmission position of the common piston, the fluidically connected connection between the pressure gauges and the inner through-opening is prevented.

Preferably, the venting device comprises an actuating element extending outside the housing, which is connected to the common piston in order to cause a movement of the piston by means of push or pull actuation.

Preferably, the actuating element has a drain opening which is fluidly connected to the inner passage opening of the common piston and to the environment.

Preferably, the common piston is arranged in a piston chamber having a wall and has a first section and a second section, each with an outer diameter reduced such that an annular space is formed with the wall of the piston chamber opposite the piston.

Preferably, in the pressure transmission position of the piston, one of the annular spaces is fluidically connected to one of the pressure gauges on the one hand and the fluid inlet chamber on the other hand, and the other annular space is fluidically connected to the other pressure gauge on the one hand and the fluid outlet chamber on the other hand, wherein the fluidically connected connection of the respective annular space to the respective pressure gauge and the fluid inlet or fluid outlet chamber is prevented in the venting position.

Preferably, the common piston is sealed against the wall on both sides of the respective section with reduced outer diameter.

The invention has been described above with reference to a fire extinguishing system valve. In a further aspect, the invention also relates to a fire extinguishing system comprising a piping network, a number of sprinklers and/or extinguishing nozzles arranged in the piping network, a water supply, and a fire extinguishing system valve connecting the water supply to the piping network.

The invention achieves the object described above in a fire extinguishing system of the type mentioned above by designing the fire extinguishing system valve according to one of the preferred embodiments described above. The fire extinguishing system according to the invention thus utilizes the advantages of the fire extinguishing system valve according to the invention, so that reference is made to the above explanations in this regard.

The fire extinguishing system according to the invention has the same preferred embodiments as the fire extinguishing system valve according to the invention.

Fig. 1

ein Feuerlöschanlagenventil gemäß einem ersten bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 2a

eine Detailansicht eines Feuerlöschanlagenventils gemäß eines zweiten bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung in einem ersten Betriebszustand, und

Fig. 2b

eine Detailansicht des Feuerlöschanlagenventils gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel in einem zweiten Betriebszustand.

The invention will be described in more detail below using two preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Herein:

Fig. 1

a fire extinguishing system valve according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2a

a detailed view of a fire extinguishing system valve according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention in a first operating state, and

Fig. 2b

a detailed view of the fire extinguishing system valve according to the second embodiment in a second operating state.

Fig. 1 1 shows a fire extinguishing system valve 1 for use in a fire extinguishing system according to the invention. The fire extinguishing system valve 1 has a housing 3. The housing 3 has a base body 5 on which a fluid inlet 6 and a fluid outlet 8 are formed. A housing cover 7 is reversibly detachably mounted on the base body 5.

A fluid inlet chamber 11 and a fluid outlet chamber 13 are formed inside the housing 3. A closing body 9, which is located in Figure 1 in a blocked state, is arranged between the fluid inlet chamber 11 and the fluid outlet chamber 13 and is designed to prevent direct flow between the two chambers 11, 13 in the shown blocked state. The closing body 9 is preferably designed in the manner of a check valve and can be moved from the shown blocked state into a release position by an overpressure on the side of the fluid inlet chamber 11. In the release position, fluid flows in the direction of the pressure gradient from the fluid inlet chamber 11 directly into the fluid outlet chamber 13.

The fire extinguishing system valve 1 is configured to be connected via the fluid outlet 8 to a piping network that supplies a number of sprinklers. Furthermore, the fire extinguishing system valve 1 is configured to be connected via its fluid inlet 6 to an extinguishing agent supply that provides the extinguishing agent for the fire extinguishing system.

To monitor the pressure conditions in the fluid inlet chamber 11 and in the fluid outlet chamber 13, a first pressure gauge 15 and a second pressure gauge 17 are mounted on the housing 3 of the fire extinguishing system valve 1. Preferably, the first and second pressure gauges 15, 17 are reversibly detachably mounted on the housing cover 7. The pressure gauges 15, 17 are each fluidically connected to the fluid inlet chamber 11 and the fluid outlet chamber 13 by means of a branch line 19a, 19b and are designed to display the pressure prevailing in the respective chamber 11, 13 when a fluid connection exists.

The fire extinguishing system valve 1 further comprises a venting device 21 which is designed to vent branch lines 19a connected to the pressure gauges 15, 17 to the environment.

The venting device 21 has a piston 23a, b for each pressure gauge 15, 17, each coupled to an actuating element 25a, b (which can also be constructed as a single piece). The piston 23a, b is slidably mounted, in particular floating, in a piston chamber 27a, b.

Within the respective piston chamber 27a,b, the respective piston 23a,b can be moved back and forth between a venting position and a pressure transmission position. In the configuration shown in Fig. 1 the first piston 23a is in the venting position and the second piston 23b is in the pressure transmission position.

The piston 23a,b has a section with a reduced outer diameter, by means of which an annular space 29a,b is formed with the wall opposite the piston chamber 27a,b. The piston 23a,b is sealed against the piston chamber 27a,b on both sides of the section 29a,b.

In the venting position, the fluid connection between the pressure gauge 15 and the fluid outlet chamber 13 is blocked by the annular space 29a being fluidly connected to the chamber-side part 19b of the branch line, but separated from the pressure gauge-side part 19a of the branch line. For this purpose, the pressure gauge-side part 19a of the branch line is fluidly connected to an internal through-opening 31 formed in the piston 23a,b and, in turn, fluidly connected to the environment via a drain opening 33 in the actuating element 25a. Thus, in the venting position shown, the ambient pressure is established at the first pressure gauge 15, and the fluid can flow out into 33.

In the pressure transmission position shown as an example for the second pressure gauge 17, the annular space 29b is fluidly connected both to the pressure gauge-side part 19a of the branch line and to the chamber-side part 19b of the branch line, so that the pressure in the fluid inlet chamber 11 is transmitted to the pressure gauge 17. However, the inner through-opening 31 of the second piston 23b is not fluidically connected to the pressure gauge 17.

Preferably, the first and second piston chambers 27a,b are fluidly connected by a fluid passage 35. If the fluid passage 35 and the through-openings 31 and the drain openings 33 are arranged at an incline relative to the horizontal, any extinguishing agent located within the venting device 21 can flow out at any time in the direction of gravity through the inner through-opening 31 and drain opening 33.

After Fig. 1 has shown an embodiment in which a separate piston was provided for each pressure gauge in the fire extinguishing system valve with two pressure gauges 15, 17, the Fig. 2a,b a second preferred embodiment which embodies the same inventive concept in a different way. The embodiment according to the Fig. 2a, b uses the same valve structure as the embodiment according to Fig. 1 , which is why only the differently designed housing cover 7' is shown. The same reference numerals refer to structurally or functionally identical elements relative to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 .

In the housing cover 7', a single piston chamber 27c is formed, in which a single common piston 23c is located. The common piston 23c is mounted for linear movement, preferably floating, and can be moved between a pressure transmission position ( Fig. 2a ) and a venting position ( Fig. 2b ) can be moved back and forth. As in Fig. 1 the housing cover 7' has a two-part branch line 19a,b for each of the pressure gauges 15, 17, by means of which the pressure gauge 15, 17 can communicate with the fluid inlet chamber 11 or fluid outlet chamber 13 in order to indicate the pressure prevailing there.

The piston 23c has a section with a reduced outer diameter for each pressure gauge 15, 17, whereby an annular space 29a,b is formed with the wall of the piston chamber 27c.

In the Fig. 2a In the pressure transmission position shown, the annular space 29a,b is in fluid communication with both parts 19a,b of the branch line. A fluid connection between the pressure gauges 15, 17 and the environment is thus prevented, while pressure transmission between the pressure gauges 15, 17 and the fluid inlet or outlet chamber 11, 13 can take place. The piston 23c is sealed on both sides of the annular spaces 29a,b against the wall of the piston chamber 27c.

If the common piston 23c is removed from the Fig. 2a shown position to the position according to Fig. 2b When the piston 23c is moved (e.g., by pulling) an actuating element 25c, the fluid-conducting connection between the annular spaces 29a,b and the manometer-side parts 19a of the branch lines is blocked, so that a fluid-conducting connection to the fluid inlet chamber 11 and fluid outlet chamber 13 and the manometer 15 or 17 is no longer present. However, the fluid-conducting connection is established between the manometer-side parts 19a of the branch lines and the inner through-opening 31 or drain opening 33 of the common piston 23c, which in turn is fluid-conductingly connected to the environment, so that both manometers 15, 17 can be vented simultaneously with one hand. The second pressure gauge 17 is vented by means of a branch bore 37 which opens into the inner through-hole 31, while the first pressure gauge 15 is vented via an end face of the common piston 23c, into which the through-hole 31 opens.

From the examples of implementation of the Figures 1 and 2a, b shows how a venting function on a fire extinguishing system valve 1 with mounted pressure gauges can be realized with minimal installation space.

In the same way, the advantages according to the invention can also be achieved with a fire extinguishing system valve (not shown here in the figure), which has only a single pressure gauge and consequently ensures monitoring of only one of the fluid inlet chambers or outlet chambers 11, 13.

Reference symbol:

1

Fire extinguishing system valve

2

Housing

5

Basic body

6

Fluid inlet

7, 7'

Housing cover

8

Fluid outlet

9

Locking body

11

Fluid inlet chamber

13

Fluid outlet chamber

15

first manometer

17

second pressure gauge

19a

Part of the branch line, manometer side

19b

Part of the branch line, chamber side

21

venting device

23a

first piston

23b

second piston

23c

common piston

25a

first actuating element

25b

second actuating element

25c

common actuating element

27a

first piston chamber

27b

second piston chamber

27c

common piston chamber

29a, b

Annular space

31

passage opening

33

Drain opening

35

Fluid passage

37

Tap hole

Claims (12)

1. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) comprising

   a housing (2),

   a fluid inlet chamber (11) in the housing (2),

   a fluid outlet chamber (13) in the housing (2),

   a closing body (9) reciprocable between a blocking state and a release state and which in the blocking state prevents a direct flow of fluid between the fluid inlet chamber (11) and the fluid outlet chamber (13) and in the release state connects the fluid inlet chamber (11) directly in fluid-conducting relationship to the fluid outlet chamber (13), and

   at least one manometer (15, 17) which is operatively connected to the fluid inlet chamber (11) or the fluid outlet chamber (13) and which is mounted to the housing (2),

   characterised by a venting device (21) integrated into the housing (2) for the at least one manometer (15, 17), wherein the venting device (21) has a plunger (23a, b, c) which is mounted displaceably within the housing (2) and which is moveable back and forth between a pressure transmission position and a venting position, wherein in the pressure transmission position, the at least one manometer (15, 17) and the fluid inlet chamber (11) or fluid outlet chamber (13) are in fluid communication, and in the venting position, fluid communication between the at least one manometer (15, 17) and the fluid inlet chamber (11) or fluid outlet chamber (13) is interrupted, and wherein the plunger (23a, b, c) has an inner through opening (31) which is in fluid communication with the environment, the at least one manometer (15, 17), when in the venting position, is in fluid communication with the inner through opening (13), and wherein in the pressure transmission position of the plunger (23a, b, c), fluid communication between the manometer (15, 17) and the inner through opening (31) is interrupted.
2. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to claim 1
   wherein the housing (2) has a main body (5) and a housing cover (7, 7') which is reversibly releasably connected to the main body (5) and the venting device is integrated into the housing cover (7, 7').
3. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to claim 2
   wherein the at least one manometer (15, 17) is mounted to the housing cover (7, 7').
4. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims
   wherein the venting device (21) has an actuating element (25a, b, c) which extends outside the housing (2) and which is connected to the plunger (23a, b, c) to cause a movement of the plunger (23a, b, c) by means of pushing or pulling actuation.
5. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to claim 4
   wherein the actuating element (25a, b, c) has a drain opening (33) in fluid communication with the inner through opening (31) of the plunger (23a, b, c) and the environment.
6. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims
   wherein the plunger (23a, b, c)

   - is arranged in a plunger chamber (27a, b, c) which has a wall and

   - has a portion of an outside diameter which is so reduced that an annular space (29a, b) is formed with the wall of the plunger chamber (27a, b, c), that is opposite to the plunger (23a, b, c).
7. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to claim 6
   wherein in the pressure transmission position of the plunger (23a, b, c), the annular space is in fluid communication with the manometer (15, 17) on the one hand and the fluid inlet chamber (11) or fluid outlet chamber (13) on the other hand, and fluid communication between the annular space and the manometer (15, 17) and/or between the annular space and the fluid inlet or fluid outlet chamber (11, 13) is interrupted in the venting position.
8. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to claim 6 or claim 7
   wherein the plunger (23a, b, c) is sealed off in relation to the wall of the plunger chamber (27a, b, c) on both sides of the portion of reduced outside diameter.
9. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims

   wherein the manometer (15, 17) is a first manometer (15) and the fire extinguishing system valve (1) further has a second manometer (17), wherein

   one of the two manometers (15, 17) is operatively coupled to the fluid inlet chamber (11) and the other of the two manometers (17, 15) is operatively coupled to the fluid outlet chamber (13).
10. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to claim 9
    wherein the venting device (21) for each manometer (15, 17) has a plunger (23a, b) which is mounted displaceably within the housing (2) and which is moveable back and forth between a pressure transmission position and a venting position, wherein in the pressure transmission position one of the plungers (23a, b) establishes fluid communication between one of the manometers (15, 17) and the fluid inlet chamber (11) and the other plunger (23b, a) establishes fluid communication between the other manometer (17, 15) and the fluid outlet chamber (13) and in the venting position, fluid communication between the respective manometer (15, 17) and the fluid inlet chamber (11) and fluid outlet chamber (13) is respectively interrupted.
11. A fire extinguishing system valve (1) according to claim 9
    wherein the venting device (21) for both manometers (15, 17) has a common plunger (23c) which is mounted displaceably within the housing (2) and is reciprocable between a pressure transmission position and a venting position, wherein in the pressure transmission position a fluid-conducting connection is made between one of the manometers (15, 17) and the fluid inlet chamber (11) and between the other manometer (15, 17) and the fluid outlet chamber (13) and in the venting position the fluid-conducting connection between the respective manometer (15, 17) and the fluid inlet chamber (11) and fluid outlet chamber (13) is respectively interrupted.
12. A fire extinguishing system comprising

    a piping network,

    a number of sprinklers or extinguishing nozzles arranged in the piping network,

    an extinguishing agent supply, and

    a fire extinguishing system valve (1) connecting the extinguishing agent supply to the piping network,

    characterised in that the fire extinguishing system valve (1) is in accordance with one of the preceding claims.