Patent Application
20120055686
The present invention relates to dry pipe sprinkler systems or preaction systems and in particular to a condensate collector arrangement for a dry pipe sprinkler system with an alarm.
A dry pipe sprinkler system or preaction system comprises a fire suppression system that is typically used in structures and areas that are oftentimes unheated and subject to freezing temperatures. The dry pipe sprinkler system includes a network of pipes including branch lines servicing sprinkler heads, risers, and feed mains for delivering water from a water supply to the branch lines. Under normal conditions, this network of pipes contains a pressurized gas, such as air or nitrogen, which holds closed a dry pipe valve that connects the main supply pipes of main feeds of the sprinkler system to the water supply. When heat from a fire opens a sprinkler, the compressed gas is released from the system. The resulting drop in pressure causes the dry pipe valve to open, or trip, thereby releasing water into the main supply lines or main feeds.
When the network of pipes is filled with the pressurized gas and the ambient temperature lowers, condensate can collect in the network of pipes. If the condensate builds up in the system, then there is a risk that the condensate will freeze in the pipes. Freezing condensate can cause pipes to leak or burst, or inhibit the flow of water through the branch lines in the event of fire. For this reason, dry pipe systems often include one or more condensate collector arrangements (sometimes called “drum drips”) which collect condensate from the network of pipes. These drum drips are typically located at low points of the dry pipe system and usually include a drainage valve and a shut-off valve connecting the drum drip to a riser. A drum drip is drained of condensate by first closing the upper valve. This prevents pressurized gas from exiting the system when the drum drip is being drained. The drain valve is then opened and condensate is drained from the drum drip. Then the drain valve is closed again and the upper valve may be reopened to again allow condensate to be collected.
In the conventional condensate collector arrangements, the valve located upstream of the collected condensate is operated independently of the valve that is located downstream of the collected condensate. Accordingly, although the upstream valve should be closed before the downstream valve is opened to drain the collected condensate, it is possible in the conventional arrangements, whether inadvertently or not, for both the upstream valve and the downstream valve to be open at the same time. If this occurs, the dry pipe system may likely lose pressure and trip the fire protection system. Tripping the fire protection system would then likely fill the sprinkler system with water and may also trigger a false alarm indicative of a fire.
NFPA 13 and NFPA 25 requirements concern drainage of dry and preaction sprinkler systems and note that the upper valve is to be closed before the lower valve is opened when the system is charged. However, the valves may still be operated improperly with both valves open at the same time either accidentally or maliciously or due to tampering to trip the system.
Accordingly, the need exists for an arrangement which prevents the upstream valve and the downstream valve in a condensate collector from being fully open at the same time.
The need also exists for a condensate collector with an arrangement to physically prevent the upstream valve and the downstream valve from being fully open at the same time and to prevent the lower valve from being opened by an unauthorized individual.
When the condensate collector is provided in an environment that is subject to freezing temperatures, a need also exists for a condensate collector that indicates the presence of even a relatively small amount of condensate in the condensate collector and in which an alarm that indicates the presence of condensate may be selectively deactivated.
In a preferred embodiment, a condensate collector for a dry pipe sprinkler system comprises a first valve comprising an inlet and an outlet with the first valve selectively being open or closed. When open, the first valve permits communication between the inlet and the outlet of the first valve and when closed prevents communication between the inlet and the outlet of the first valve. A second valve comprises an inlet and an outlet, with the second valve selectively being open or closed. When open, the second valve permits communication between the inlet and the outlet of the second valve and when closed prevents communication between the inlet and the outlet of the second valve. A collection chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet of the first valve and the inlet of the second valve. An anti-trip arrangement physically prevents the first valve and the second valve from being fully open at the same time.
In another preferred embodiment, the anti-trip arrangement mechanically links the first valve and the second valve to prevent the first valve and the second valve from being fully open at the same time. The anti-trip arrangement preferably comprises a plate member which is movable to a first position wherein the first valve may be fully open and the second valve must be closed.
In another preferred embodiment, the anti-trip arrangement comprises a plate member which is movable between a first position wherein the first valve may be fully open and the second valve must be closed and a second position wherein the second valve may be fully open and the first valve must be closed.
Preferably, the first valve comprises a first valve actuator which is moveable between a first position wherein the first valve is fully open and a second position wherein the first valve is fully closed. The second valve comprises a second valve actuator moveable between a first position wherein the second valve is fully open and a second position wherein the second valve is fully closed. The anti-trip arrangement prevents movement of the second valve actuator to the first position to fully open the second valve when the first valve actuator is in the first position.
Preferably, the anti-trip arrangement prevents movement of the first valve actuator to the first position to fully open the first valve when the second valve actuator is in the first position. The plate member comprises a first valve abutment portion which prevents movement of the first valve actuator to the first position when the plate is in the second position and wherein the plate member comprises a second valve abutment portion which prevents movement of the second valve actuator to the first position when the plate is in the first position.
In a preferred embodiment, the first valve abutment portion prevents the plate from moving to the second position when the first valve actuator is in the first position and the second valve abutment portion prevents the plate from moving to the first position when the second valve actuator is in the first position.
In a preferred embodiment, the collection chamber is generally elongate between the first valve and the second valve and the collection chamber is generally cylindrical. The first valve member and the second valve member are generally aligned with one another with the collection chamber extending longitudinally between the first valve member and the second valve member. Preferably, the plate is carried by the collection chamber for movement between the first and second positions and the plate is also carried by the first and second valves for movement between the first and second positions.
Preferably, a lock is provided to engage the plate to prevent movement of the plate from the first position to the second position when the lock engages the plate. A bracket preferably is provided having an opening to selectively receive the lock when the plate is in the first position. The bracket and the lock together prevent movement of the plate to the second position independent of whether the first valve is open or closed.
In a preferred embodiment, the plate comprises a middle section provided between the first valve abutment portion and the second valve abutment portion. The middle section is generally planar with at least one slot which limits movement of the plate to movement between the first position and the second position. The first and second valve abutment portions extend generally perpendicular to the middle section of the plate. The plate further comprises a first end portion which is slidably received by the first valve and a second end portion which is slidably received by the second valve. The first end portion extends generally perpendicular to the first abutment portion and the second end portion extends generally perpendicular to the second abutment portion.
Preferably, the inlet of the second valve member further comprises at least one side port, with the inlet and outlet of the first valve and the inlet and outlet of the second valve being generally collinear. The inlet of the second valve member further comprises first and second side ports provided generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second valve. The first and second side ports are generally collinear and are provided on opposite sides of the second valve. In a preferred embodiment, a detector such as a sensor or a float mechanism is in fluid communication with the collection chamber through a side port of the second valve to detect the presence of a predetermined amount of liquid in the condensate collector adjacent the second valve.
In another preferred embodiment, the first valve further comprises a first valve actuator and the second valve further comprises a second valve actuator. The first valve actuator comprises a first axis of rotation and the second valve actuator comprises a second axis of rotation. The first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are oriented in the same general direction with respect to the collection chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the axes of rotation are set apart by a predetermined distance.
In another preferred embodiment, an alarm is provided to indicate the presence of a predetermined amount of liquid or water in the condensate collector. Preferably, the alarm indicates the presence of a predetermined amount of liquid in the condensate collector adjacent the second valve. The alarm may have a switch to selectively disable the alarm.
In another preferred embodiment, an arrangement is provided for detecting the presence of at least a predetermined amount of water in the condensate collector, with the arrangement being configured to provide a signal at an auxiliary indicator panel or a fire alarm panel provided at a location remote from the condensate collector.
Preferably, a lock is provided to engage the plate to prevent movement of the plate from the first position to the second position when the lock engages the plate. A bracket preferably is provided having an opening to selectively receive the lock when the plate is in the first position. The bracket and the lock together prevent movement of the plate to the second position independent of whether the first valve is open or closed.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings.
A dry pipe sprinkler system typically includes a network of pipes which are in fluid communication with sprinkler heads (not shown). The network of pipes is filled with a pressurized gas, e.g., air or nitrogen. With reference to
The condensate collector 10 comprises a first valve 14 which is provided at an upper portion of the condensate collector 10 and a second valve 34 which is provided at a lower portion of the condensate collector 10. The first or upper valve 14 comprises an inlet 16 which communicates with the network of pipes of the dry pipe system through the fitting 12. The first valve 14 also comprises an outlet 18 which communicates with a condensate collector chamber 20 when the first valve is open.
The first valve 14 has a valve actuator 22 such as a “TEE handle” which is arranged to rotate about an axis 24. In the preferred embodiment, the valve actuator 22 extends a predetermined distance from the axis 24. The first valve 14 preferably is a quarter-turn valve with the valve fully open when the valve actuator 22 is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the first valve from the inlet 16 to the outlet 18 and with the valve fully closed when the valve actuator has been rotated 90° to position the valve actuator generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first valve 14.
The second valve 34 similarly has an inlet 26 in communication with the condensate collection chamber 20 and an outlet 28. The second valve 34 closes the condensate collection chamber when the second valve 34 is closed and the second valve 34 permits the condensate collection chamber to be drained or emptied when the second valve is open by permitting communication between the inlet 26 and the outlet 28 of the second valve 34. The second valve 34, like the first valve 14, has a valve actuator 30 such as a “TEE handle” which is arranged to rotate about an axis 32. In the preferred embodiment, the valve actuator 30 extends a predetermined distance from the axis 32. The second valve 34 preferably is a quarter-turn valve with the valve fully open when the valve actuator 30 is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the second valve from the inlet 26 to the outlet 28 and with the valve fully closed when the valve actuator has been rotated 90° to position the valve actuator generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second valve 34.
The condensate collector chamber 20 is preferably formed by an upper bell reducer 36 and a lower bell reducer 38 provided on the ends of a nipple 40. For example, the upper and lower bell reducers may be 1″×2″ galvanized bell reducers provided on either end of a 2″×12″ galvanized nipple. The upper valve 14 and the lower valve 34 preferably are 1″ brass quarter turn ball valves with chrome plated brass balls.
In the preferred embodiment of
The detector and alarm arrangement 44 preferably contains a suitable, conventional device, such as a sensor or float mechanism, to detect the presence of condensate or water. When the device detects the presence of water, the device provides a signal to an alarm which may comprise a buzzer or other warning sound provided by a speaker 50. In a preferred embodiment, the sound alarm is a 103 dB beeping alarm. If desired, the alarm may also comprise a visual signal such as a light 52, for example, a red LED visual indicator. The alarms are preferably configured to provide intermittent or continuous alarms for 72 hours or more. A test button 54 may be provided for the sensor and alarm arrangement to determine whether the buzzer and/or the light are in an operational state.
As noted above, the presence of condensate or water may be detected by a float or any other suitable, conventional device. In the preferred embodiment, the presence of condensate or water is detected at the lower portion of the condensate collector, preferably through the side port provided in the inlet of the lower valve 34. In this way, the presence of even a relatively small amount of condensate may be detected to enable the condensate collector to be promptly emptied whenever at least a predetermined amount of condensate has been collected. When the condensate collector is subject to freezing temperatures, it is preferable to promptly drain the condensate out of the condensate collector in order to prevent the possibility of damage from frozen condensate or the possibility that the alarm and sensor may be deactivated by the frozen condensate.
With continued reference to
As shown in
In addition, it may be preferable to use threaded nuts 64 (see
With reference again to
In the preferred embodiment, the plate 58 also has a second abutment portion 74 provided at a lower portion 76 of the plate. The second abutment portion 74 (see
The upper and lower abutment portions 68, 74 preferably have a length corresponding to the distance between the relatively flat portion of the saddle brackets 64 and the lowermost portion of the valve actuators 22, 30. Similarly, the slots 60, 72, 78 preferably have a length along the plate corresponding to the distance from the axis 24, 32 of the valves to the end of the respective valve actuator. In a preferred embodiment, the axes of rotation of the valve actuators are set apart a predetermined distance so that the plate physically prevents the upper and lower valves from both being open at the same time.
In this way, the plate 58 is carried by the two U-bolts 62 and by the upper and lower valves 14, 34. The plate 58 mechanically links the two valves 14, 34 and the abutment portions prevent both valves from being fully open at the same time. The plate 58 mechanically links the two valves 14, 34 because the plate 58 is retained by the respective valve actuators 22, 30 to be movable between the first and second positions.
In the preferred embodiment, the plate 58 is powder coated safety red for corrosion resistance and is silk-screened with appropriate legends such as “AUXILIARY DRAIN” and appropriate operating instructions.
In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners 66, for example, locking nuts or cap nuts, do not press the plate 58 tightly against the saddle brackets 64. Instead, the plate 58 is slidably carried on the U-bolts 62 for movement between a first position when the second valve 34 is in the fully closed position. When the plate 58 is in the first position, the lower abutment portion 74 is located adjacent the valve actuator 30 of the second valve and prevents the valve actuator 30 from moving to the fully open position. In the preferred embodiment, the plate 58 and the abutment portions are configured so that the second valve 34 must remain in the fully closed position until the plate 58 is moved out of the first position.
While the plate 58 is in the first position, the first abutment portion 68 does not obstruct movement of the valve actuator 22 of the upper valve 14. Accordingly, the upper valve 14 may be fully open, fully closed or any position in between fully open and fully closed when the plate 58 is in the first position.
In a preferred embodiment, a locking bracket 80 is provided between the plate 58 and one of the saddle brackets 64 (see
The locking bracket 80 may also have a third hole 93 provided in the upper portion 82 of the locking bracket. If desired, a screw or other fastener (not shown) may be passed through the third hole 93 to secure the locking bracket 80 to the saddle bracket 64 although it is generally not necessary to attach the locking bracket 80 to the saddle bracket 64. With reference also to
With reference now to
When the plate 58 is in the second position, the upper or first valve 14 must be closed and the valve actuator 30 of the lower or second valve 34 may be freely moved between the fully open and fully closed positions.
With reference now to
Because the detector and alarm arrangement 44 are preferably positioned in fluid communication with the inlet of the lower valve 34, the sensor (or float if the presence of condensate or water is detected by a float mechanism) will detect a relatively small amount of condensate in the condensate collector. In this way, the condensate collector may be serviced to drain the condensate collector whenever a predetermined amount of condensate which is sufficient to activate the sensor or to trigger the float mechanism has accumulated in the condensate collector. This procedure may be desirable in winter months since condensate may then be drained promptly upon collection and avoid having the condensate freeze and potentially impact either the condensate collector or other aspects of the dry pipe sprinkler system.
In the summer or during periods that are not susceptible to freezing temperatures, having the alarm sound whenever a relatively small amount of condensate has accumulated in the condensate collector at the lower valve 34 may be undesirable and provide an annoyance. Accordingly, to prevent frequent and undesirable alarms, for example, during summer months, the detector and alarm arrangement 44 may be deactivated by moving the switch 94 to the “summer” position.
With reference now to
In operation, the condensate collector arrangement or drum drip 10 typically has the first or upper valve 14 placed in an open configuration and the lower or drain valve 34 is in a closed configuration. In this initial condition, such as may occur immediately after initial installation of the dry pipe sprinkler system or after the condensate collector 10 has been emptied, the condensate collector 10 has no condensate. In this initial configuration, the anti-trip arrangement prevents the lower valve from being fully open. Preferably, the plate 58 abuts the valve actuator of the lower valve 34 to maintain the lower valve in the fully closed position until and unless the upper valve has been fully closed.
As the ambient temperature drops, condensate begins to fill the condensate collector. At this point, the sensor and alarm arrangement 44 may emit an audible and/or visual signal indicating the presence of a predetermined amount of condensate. The condensate collector arrangement or the drum drip 10 is then drained of condensate by first closing the upper valve 14 (to prevent the release of pressurized gas from pipes when condensate is removed from the drum drip 10) and then the anti-trip arrangement is repositioned to permit the lower or drain valve 34 to be opened.
In the preferred embodiment, the sensor and alarm arrangement is battery powered such as by a 9-volt alkaline battery which is mounted in an enclosure or housing for the alarm and sensor. Alternatively, the alkaline battery may be replaced with hard wired lithium batteries (not shown) which have relatively long life operation down to temperatures of about −40° F. An on-off switch could be supplied so that the batteries are not drained during storage and shipment prior to installation. Also, a piezo style buzzer may be used to facilitate long battery life. With regard to
If desired, a locking ball valve (not shown) may be used as the lower or drain valve in any of the embodiments of the condensate collector arrangement. The locking ball valve has a lock provided on the valve member actuator which prevents movement of the valve member unless a key is used in the lock. In this way, an unintentional or unauthorized opening of the drain valve in the condensate collector arrangement may be avoided or prevented. However, even the locking ball valve as the lower or drain valve does not prevent the inadvertent opening of the upper valve while the lower or drain valve is still open. Accordingly, the use of a locking ball valve as the lower or drain valve does not provide a reliable anti-trip arrangement to prevent an inadvertent tripping of the dry pipe sprinkler system by having the upper valve and the lower valve open at the same time.
The principles, preferred embodiments and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. The embodiments are therefore to be regarded as illustrative rather than as restrictive. Variations and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such equivalents, variations and changes which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims be embraced thereby.
