CN117241863A - Automatic water extinguisher and related fire protection facility - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic water fire extinguisher (100) for installation on an opening (42) of a pipe (40), said extinguisher (100) comprising: a base (24A) having a through hole (26), and a seal (28) for sealing the connection between the opening (42) and the through hole (26). The base (24A) further comprises at least two anchor points (25A), the fire extinguisher (100) comprising at least one clamping ring (30), the clamping ring (30) comprising: -an elongated element (31) for partly surrounding the pipe (40), said elongated element (31) cooperating with the base (24A) at said anchoring point (25A), and-means (32) for adjusting the length of at least one clamping ring (30), so that the fire extinguisher (100) can be mounted on pipes (40) of different diameters.

Description

Automatic water extinguisher and related fire protection facility

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of fire protection facilities.

In particular, the invention is based on an automatic fire extinguisher comprising at least one clamping ring, the diameter of which is adapted to the diameter of various pipes.

In particular, the present invention enables the fire extinguisher to accommodate a variety of existing types of pipe in the field.

Background

Fire is one of the main causes of industrial accidents. Thus, preventing fires is a significant challenge for companies and the public at the premises. In fact, any fire related accident can result in significant material and personnel losses. Thus, the company is obligated to implement measures aimed at preventing the risk of fire, any violations possibly resulting in legal suits and penalties.

Generally, fire protection facilities are devices configured to detect, indicate, and protect a given area. To this end, fire protection installations generally comprise means for detecting the presence of a fire, blocking means configured to block the presence of a fire, alarm means configured to warn of the presence of a fire, and a control station receiving information from the detecting means and triggering the blocking means and the alarm means in case of a fire.

Among the different types of facilities, fire protection facilities using pressurized water typically include a network of pipes deployed within a protected area. The pipe comprises an automatic water extinguisher, also called "sprinkler", which generally ensures a blocking function and a detection function. To this end, the automatic water extinguisher comprises a base mounted on the pipe, the base being perforated with openings. The opening is kept closed by a temperature sensitive bulb or fuse. In the event of a fire, the increase in temperature may rupture the bulb or melt the fuse, thereby releasing a pressurized water passage through which pressurized water is sprayed through the opening and into the combustion zone. In certain embodiments, the water stream impinges on a deflector positioned directly toward the opening of the automatic water extinguisher. Such baffles may diffuse and orient the water in the direction of the combustion zone.

This facility also has a variant in which the fire extinguisher does not ensure a detection function, but only a spraying function. In this case, the pipe does not contain continuously pressurized water, but supplies water to the fire extinguisher only when a fire is detected. In these embodiments, the sprinkler does not include any ball or fuse that may block the passage of water.

In order to secure an automatic fire extinguisher to a pipe, a first system is to weld a sleeve around the opening of the pipe. The automatic water extinguisher is then screwed onto the sleeve. However, it is necessary to paint or electroplate the sleeve to the same color as the rest of the pipe, which can only be done after welding and makes the process of manufacturing the facility more expensive.

To overcome these drawbacks, systems have been developed in which the sleeve is fixed to the pipe no longer by welding, but by means of a support ring.

According to a first example of embodiment, the automatic water fire extinguisher is independent of the support ring. For example, document EP0598151 describes a support ring comprising a connector to which an automatic water extinguisher can be screwed. For this purpose, the support ring comprises two parts. The first portion of the support connector is curved to accommodate the shape of the upper portion of the catheter. The second part is a part with spring effect, which can clamp the support ring to the pipe. In a variant, the second portion may also be a curved rigid portion.

According to a second example of embodiment, the automatic water extinguisher may be integral with the support ring. For example, document EP3756733 describes a support ring, the upper part of which comprises an automatic fire extinguisher and means for connection with the lower part. The upper portion is curved to accommodate the shape of the upper portion of the catheter. In a variant, the upper part may also be flat, as shown in documents DE9106943 and GB 8422476.

The lower portion is a rigid curved portion configured to accommodate the shape of the lower portion and/or side portion of the catheter.

In any case, the curved shape of the first portion and/or the second portion makes it impossible to adapt to another pipe diameter.

In fact, no standard specifies standardized fire service pipe dimensions for installing sprinklers. The dimensions vary according to the needs and manufacturer. For example, the size of the pipes commonly found on the market varies in the range of standardized diameters of 25 to 125mm, also known as "DN25" or "DN125".

The system proposed in the aforesaid document therefore requires a priori knowledge of the dimensions of the duct, so as to be able to correctly select the dimensions of the support ring. Thus, the system has an adaptive defect that can cause additional costs and installation delays in the event that the size of the ring does not match the size of the pipe.

Therefore, the invention aims to solve the technical problem of developing an automatic water fire extinguisher which can be suitable for various existing pipeline diameters.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve this problem, the present invention proposes to develop an automatic water fire extinguisher comprising at least one clamping ring made of flexible material, which is able to adapt to the shape and size of the pipe. The present invention is therefore concerned with the finding that a flexible clamping ring can replace the rigid rings of the prior art without losing the quality of the installation.

In fact, fire protection facilities are limited by very stringent standards that not only require the facility to be satisfactory at commissioning, but also require the facility to maintain such compliance throughout its life cycle in order to be effective at fire. These standards specify, among other things, the pressures that the components of the facility must withstand.

However, the person skilled in the art will naturally consider that the flexible clamping rings of the invention have a too high risk of wear and deformation, especially when they need to withstand a pressure of about 10 bar in a fire-fighting installation, for example between 5 and 20 bar, preferably between 8 and 12 bar. Thus, the person skilled in the art will avoid the use of these clamping rings in the sprinkler field to limit safety risks.

The present invention therefore relates to an automatic water extinguisher for installation on an opening of a pipe forming part of a facility configured to contain water at a pressure of from 5 bar to 20 bar, said extinguisher comprising:

-an integrated seat with a through hole, and

-a seal for sealing the connection between the opening of the pipe and the through hole of the base.

This kind of fire extinguisher, its characterized in that:

the base further comprises at least two anchor points, and

-the fire extinguisher comprises at least one clamping ring comprising:

an elongated element for partly surrounding the duct, said elongated element cooperating with the base at said anchoring point, and

an adjustment device independent of the base, enabling the adjustment of the length of at least one clamping ring, enabling the mounting of the fire extinguisher on pipes of different diameters.

In other words, the adjusting means can adjust the length of the clamping ring relative to the diameter of the pipe. For example, the collar may have a length sufficient to accommodate diameters between 25 and 50 mm.

In order to obtain this adaptation, the adjustment means may be in the form of a ring, which cooperates with a recess made in the elongated element.

The adjustment means is further independent of the base so as to be positioned in a remote area of the base so as to be able to best resist the pressure constraints imposed on the pipe opening. In fact, the farther the adjustment means is from the base, the more resistant the clamping ring is to stretching, deformation and breakage.

Preferably, the adjustment means is mounted directly opposite the conduit opening to best compensate for the pressure exerted on the base from the conduit opening. Tension is applied around the pipe and thus can be better distributed.

According to the invention, the base is one-piece, i.e. the base is a part made up of one single holder, instead of several constituent elements, as described for example in document WO 2018/014066. The use of a one-piece base ensures that a durable resistance is ensured for the duration of the operation (e.g. 5 years or 10 years of operation) in view of the high applied pressure.

The combination of the seal, the adjustment means and the elongated element cooperating with the base ensures a sealing of the connection between the pipe and the automatic fire extinguisher, and an adaptation of the clamping ring to different pipe diameters. In fact, the elongate element can press the seat against the duct, while the seal interposed between the seat and the duct is compressed. Under traction of the elongate element on the base, the seal deforms to ensure sealing of the base around the through-hole of the pipe and follows the curvature of the pipe. Thus, the seal under the pressure of the base may counteract the difference in curvature between the pipe and the base. Furthermore, the adjustment means may fix the elongate member in position such that the compressibility of the seal in the position in which the seal is compressed also compensates for the lack of progressive nature of the clamping means in the fixed position.

The traction exerted by the elongated element on the base, the modularity of the adjustment means and the deformability of the seal thus enable the support means to adapt to pipes of different diameters.

Furthermore, the adjustment device and the elongated element are durable, i.e. they do not deform and fail over time. Thus, the connection remains permanently sealed.

Furthermore, the combination of the adjustment means and the seal also allows the length of the clamping ring to be adapted to very small variations in the diameter of the pipe caused by manufacturing tolerances. In fact, in a given diameter pipe, for example for a 25mm diameter, the manufacturer's tolerances may provide a margin of +/-1mm, within which the pipe diameter may vary. Preferably, the recesses of the adjustment means have a pitch that is small enough to be able to accommodate the tolerances of the manufacturer.

The automatic water extinguisher may be positioned in any direction with respect to the pipe as long as it is fixed at the opening of the pipe. For example, an automatic water extinguisher may be located above, below, or to the side of a pipe.

The length of the clamping ring corresponds to the useful part of the collar, which is intended to be positioned against the pipe wall. In fact, the clamping ring may have a fixed overall length, but only a portion of the collar may be effectively used to secure the automatic fire extinguisher to the pipe during adjustment. The unwanted portion may be selectively cut so as not to interfere with the fire extinguishing effect produced by the automatic fire extinguisher.

Advantageously, such an automatic water extinguisher may allow for a more compact installation. In fact, the present invention may be free of a sleeve for receiving an automatic fire extinguisher. Thus, this configuration can reduce the height of the automatic water fire extinguisher. This can thus be inserted more easily into a reduced space, for example a storage rack or a space under a low ceiling.

Furthermore, the clamping ring being able to accommodate a variety of pipe diameters can limit the number of different collar size references, which reduces production costs. Furthermore, unlike prior art support rings that are shaped to fit a single pipe diameter, the adjustment of the clamping ring can be performed substantially continuously.

Furthermore, the clamping ring of the present invention allows for on-site adjustment of automatic fire extinguishers without having to provide the number and size of collars in advance. This can save a lot of time and significantly reduce the cost price.

In one embodiment, the fire extinguisher comprises a single clamp ring and only two anchor points disposed on either side of the base.

In fact, the person skilled in the art considers that the flexible clamping ring of the present invention has a too high risk of wear and deformation, which will lead to an increased number of clamping rings to strengthen the structure of the clamping ring. Unexpectedly, however, the present invention can use only one single clamping ring without increasing the risk of leakage, for example.

In the sense of the present invention, an "anchoring point" corresponds to a receiving element of the base, making it possible to fix the clamping ring when it is around the pipe. These anchoring points may correspond to openings or protrusions, such as lugs.

According to one embodiment, the anchoring point is a through hole oriented in a direction parallel to the main direction of the pipe, at least one end of the elongated element being inserted into the through hole and forming a loop around the edge of said base, such that the elongated element is mounted on the base.

According to the invention, the main direction of the pipe corresponds to a direction parallel to the length of the pipe.

The clamping ring is easy to mount on the base since the adjustment method is easy to repeat and requires few tools. For example, it is sufficient to pass through two openings from bottom to top, so that the elongated element surrounds the duct. The two ends of the elongated element are then pulled out from the top of the base and folded over the ends of the base to clamp the clamping ring around the pipe. The two ends of the elongated element are then returned together and secured by the adjustment means. Thus, the installation of automatic fire extinguishers on pipes becomes substantially faster.

In practice, the through holes may correspond to slots in the base. In a variant, the through hole may correspond to a space formed between the base and a shaft mounted on the base.

Preferably, the opening is symmetrical with respect to the central axis of the base, so that the risk of incorrect positioning of the automatic water fire extinguisher with respect to the pipe opening can be reduced.

According to another embodiment, both ends of the elongated element are configured to cooperate with anchoring points provided on both sides of the base, such that the elongated element partly surrounds the conduit after actuation on the adjustment device.

In practice, each anchoring point comprises a housing delimited by two lugs separated by a slot sized to allow the passage of the elongated element, the housing being intended to receive a shaft fixed to one end of the elongated element, the lugs being intended to allow the shaft to be inserted into the housing before the action on the adjustment means and to prevent the extraction of said shaft after the action on the adjustment means.

The clamping ring is easy to mount on the base since the adjustment method is easy to repeat and requires few tools. It is sufficient if the elongated element surrounds the duct and its end provided with the shaft is blocked inside the housing of the base. The clamping ring is then adapted to the diameter of the pipe by means of an adjusting device. Thus, the installation of automatic fire extinguishers on pipes becomes substantially faster.

In one variation, each anchor point includes a tab for mating with a hole formed in an end of the elongate member.

The mounting of the clamping ring on the base is achieved by mounting the elongated element around the pipe such that its end provided with the hole is blocked on the lug of the base. The clamping ring is then adapted to the diameter of the pipe by means of an adjusting device.

The elongate element may take different forms. In a first form, the elongate element is a strip, i.e. in a ribbon-like form. In one variant, the elongated element is a cable, thinner but equally resistant. In fact, the invention makes it possible to use elongated elements whose width is reduced without compromising the safety of the installation.

Indeed, the elongated elements are made of metallic materials, surprisingly the invention makes it possible to use different materials for the production of the elongated elements without compromising the safety of the installation.

Advantageously, the means for adjusting the length of the at least one clamping ring comprises a marker enabling compression of the seal at a predetermined rate.

This embodiment may facilitate the mounting of the clamping ring and eliminate the risk of mistakes. During installation, technicians may indeed rely on visual indicia to indicate how tight they clamp the ring is in order to optimally compress the seal according to diameter and operating pressure so that no leakage occurs. In a variant, these adjustment marks may also be replaced by or associated with means for measuring the adjustment tension of the clamping ring.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the adjustment means are integral with one end of the elongated element.

In fact, this embodiment allows to achieve the grip of the automatic fire extinguisher on the pipe by performing a simple movement of pulling the free end of the elongated element.

A clamp ring having the foregoing features may advantageously simplify and reduce the time required to install an automatic water extinguisher on a pipe.

However, the system for blocking the elongated element may be different without jeopardizing the correct operation of the invention.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the automatic water fire extinguisher further comprises an element for blocking said through hole, the element being sensitive to temperature, the element being configured to release the through hole when the temperature exceeds a threshold value, so as to extract the water flow from the pipe.

Advantageously, the automatic water extinguisher further comprises a deflector fixed above said base for spraying the water flow coming from the pipe.

These elements constitute the head of an automatic water extinguisher. The invention encompasses embodiments wherein the stirrups and the base form an integral block on which the deflector and the blocking element are to be mounted. In addition, the invention also includes embodiments in which the head formed by the stirrups, the baffles and the blocking element is independent of the base.

In other words, according to the first embodiment, the base and the head comprising the deflector, stirrups and/or blocking elements form a monolithic block.

According to a second embodiment, the base and the head comprising the deflector, stirrups and/or blocking elements are independent. The head is mounted to the base by a threaded connection, by a tight connection in a slotted connector, or by any other mating means.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a fire protection installation comprising:

at least one conduit having at least one opening, and

at least one automatic water extinguisher as described above.

Preferably, the pipe is a pipe that is painted or pre-painted on its inner and outer surfaces, i.e., the pipe includes paint covering its inner and outer surfaces. The lacquering protects the pipes from ageing, in particular ageing caused by rust.

The lacquers used must be able to be free from flaking off during perforation and cutting, so that the production time of the plant is greatly shortened. In fact, it is usual for the known processes to be removed in the post-production lacquering stage.

Preferably, the painting of the pipe comprises an epoxy polymer adhesive, which is particularly resistant during perforation and cutting.

Drawings

The implementation of the invention and the advantages resulting therefrom will emerge from the following description of an embodiment supporting the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe to which four automatic water fire extinguishers according to four different embodiments are secured;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pipe to which four automatic water fire extinguishers according to four different embodiments are secured;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the second embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the second embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the second embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the third embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the third embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the third embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the fourth embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the fourth embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the fourth embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a front view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the fifth embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the fifth embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 17 is a top view of the pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the fifth embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 18 is a front view of a pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the sixth embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 19 is a side view of a pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the sixth embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 20 is a top view of a pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the sixth embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 21 is a front view of a pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the seventh embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 22 is a side view of a pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the seventh embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 23 is a top view of a pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the seventh embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 24 is a front view of the automatic water fire extinguisher installed on a pipe according to the eighth embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 25 is a side view of a pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the eighth embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 26 is a top view of a pipe-mounted automatic water fire extinguisher according to the eighth embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a base and clamping ring of a pipe-mounted automatic fire extinguisher according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an adjustment device of the clamping ring of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a partial cross-sectional view of a means for adjusting the clamping ring of FIG. 27;

fig. 30a is a sectional view of a first step of installing an automatic fire extinguisher according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30b is a sectional view of a second step of installing an automatic fire extinguisher according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30c is a sectional view of a third step of installing an automatic water fire extinguisher according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30d is a cross-sectional view of a fourth step of installing an automatic water fire extinguisher according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a high angle perspective view of a base of an automatic water fire extinguisher according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a front view of the automatic water extinguisher base of FIG. 31; and

fig. 33 is a low angle perspective view of the automatic water fire extinguisher base of fig. 31.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the automatic water fire extinguisher 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 is installed on a fire protection facility including at least one pipe 40.

The conduit 40 is configured to withstand a pressure of about 10 bar (bar), for example between 5 bar and 20 bar, preferably between 8 bar and 12 bar. For this purpose, the pipe 40 is preferably made of a material having good deformation resistance, typically steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper or chlorinated polyvinyl chloride.

Furthermore, the diameter of the conduit 40 may vary, typically between 25 and 125mm, also known as "DN25" or "DN125", depending on the needs associated with the area to be protected, the size of the installation, and the location of the automatic fire extinguisher relative to the water source.

For example, the fire protection facility may be constructed of a central pipe skeleton 40 of a larger size and branches formed by pipes of smaller diameter.

To integrate the automatic water fire extinguisher 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 of the present invention, one or more openings 42 are made in the pipe 40. For example, opening 42 is circular in plan view, having a diameter between 10 and 25mm, also referred to as "DN10" or "DN25". The diameter of the opening 42 is sized according to the sprinkler head to be selected for fire suppression in the area to be protected. Furthermore, it is observed that the invention can also be used for pipes of DN32 to DN 40.

The separation distance between the two openings 42 is typically adjusted between 2 and 4.6 m. Also, the opening 42 must be maintained at a distance of at least 1m from the wall of the area to be protected. It has recently been observed that the distance between the two openings 42 may be 0.9m.

Fig. 1 and 2 show several embodiments of automatic water extinguishers 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 according to the present invention. However, all embodiments have common elements. For example, referring to fig. 3 to 5, the automatic water extinguisher 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 is constituted by an integral base 24A-24D, 2AH-24K, which is substantially flat parallelepiped in shape, having a thickness of between 0.5 and 1.5 cm. In one variation, the lower surfaces of the pedestals 24E, 24G can have a slight curvature, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 31-33. The curvature of the lower surface is selected to accommodate the curvature of the larger diameter conduit 40 over which the automatic water extinguisher 500, 700 may be adapted. Recently, bases 24E, 24G have been observed to be 3mm thick.

The pedestals 24A-24D, 2AH-24K may be directly obtained by molding methods, by subtractive methods (e.g., machining or laser cutting), or by additive methods (e.g., 3D printing).

The seats 24A-24K also have through holes 26, for example, between 2 and 10mm in diameter. The diameter may be larger, typically between 10 and 500mm, without altering the invention.

Advantageously, the seal 28 is positioned facing the lower surface of the bases 24A-24K, generally between the bases 24A-24K and the duct 40, so as to surround the openings 26 of the bases 24A-24K and the opening 42 of the duct 40, respectively. For example, the seal 28 is a rubber O-ring having a thickness of between 0.2 and 0.7 cm. In one variation, for larger diameter pipes, the seal may include a lip and have a thickness of between 0.5 and 3cm.

The openings 26 of the bases 24A-24K are preferably blocked by a heat sensitive blocking element 23, which heat sensitive blocking element 23 is typically a glass bulb or fuse configured to decompose when the temperature in the vicinity of the automatic water fire extinguisher 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 reaches a trigger threshold, typically between 57 ℃ and 343 ℃.

There are several temperature criteria for the decomposition of the ball and/or fuse. These criteria can be identified in particular by the colour of the liquid in the ball. For example, red corresponds to a trigger temperature of 68 ℃.

Advantageously, the baffle 22 is positioned facing the opening 26 of the base 24A-24D, 24H-24K. The deflector 22 has a shape similar to an umbrella or parasol, i.e. a circular surface, preferably curved, with its concave portion positioned facing the opening 26 so as to intercept the flow of water coming from the opening 26 and redirect it to the combustion zone. In one variation, the baffle 22 may have any other shape that is effective to disperse the water flow.

Advantageously, the perimeter of the baffle is provided with fins 21. The deflector 22 is fixed by side stirrups 29, advantageously by two side stirrups. The assembly is made of, for example, brass, bronze, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium or copper. For example, a screw is fixed at the interface between the stirrup 29 and the deflector. The screws can both fix the deflector and press against the blocking element 23.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 26, the assembly formed by the deflector 22, the stirrups 29 and the blocking element 23, also called "head 20", is integral with the seats 24A-24D, 24H-24K.

In other embodiments, such as shown in fig. 27, 31-33, the head 20 (not shown) may be independent of the bases 24E, 24G, i.e., the head 20 may be mounted on the bases 24E, 24G by aligning the through holes of the head 20 with the through holes 26 of the bases 24E, 24G. For example, the head 20 may have a male portion with threads or grooves that mate with second threads or grooves formed in the walls of the through-holes 26 of the bases 24E, 24G. Thus, the head 20 may be tightened or secured by the slotted connectors on the bases 24E, 24G.

The clamp ring 30 may secure and retain the head 20 to the pipe 40. The clamping ring 30 comprises an elongated element, such as a strip having a width of between 0.5 and 2cm, or a cable having a diameter of between 0.2 and 1 cm. In one variation, the elongated element may be a "serflex" type clamping element made of a metallic material. The clamping ring 30 further comprises adjusting means 32 for adjusting the length and the clamping degree of the clamping ring 30. The bases 24A-24K may be provided with one or more clamping rings 30, depending on the installation and diameter of the pipe 40.

The adjustment device 32 is independent of the bases 24A-24K.

According to a first example, the adjustment means 32 may also be independent of the elongated element of the clamping ring 30. They may be formed of one or more mounting members which may be secured or tightly attached to the elongate member to secure it in place.

As shown in fig. 27 to 29, the clamping ring 30 may be in the form of a metal strip 31, and the adjusting means may comprise a ring 33A independent of the metal strip 31, the ring 33A comprising a housing 35, the end of the metal strip 31 being inserted into the housing 35. The tapping screw 34 can penetrate the strip 31 of different thickness. Advantageously, the ring 33A has an opening 36 which can receive a lower portion of the body of the screw 34.

Thus, by creating the necessary openings, the elongated element can be directly adapted to the diameter and tolerances of the pipe 40, so that the seal 28 is compressed at an optimal compression rate and seals the connection between the pipe and the fire extinguisher as much as possible. The adjustment is "custom" and the adjustment options are almost continuous.

In a variant, in an embodiment not shown in the figures, the elongated element may be a metal strip comprising openings regularly and tightly formed along the elongated element. In order to enable the elongate element to adapt directly to the diameter and tolerances of the pipe, the spacing between the openings is preferably less than or equal to the manufacturer's tolerances. Typically, if the tubing diameter is 25mm with a tolerance of +/-1mm, the spacing between the openings is less than or equal to 1mm. Thus, the sealing member can be compressed at an optimal compression rate, and the connection between the pipe and the automatic fire extinguisher is sealed as much as possible.

To secure the base 24E to the conduit 40, the base 24E is positioned over the opening 42 of the conduit 40 such that the stirrups of the head are aligned with the length of the conduit 40 such that water is ejected in a direction perpendicular to the main direction D of the conduit 40. The two ends of the strip 31 pass through the anchor points formed by the side openings 25E in a bottom-up movement so that the strip 31 surrounds the duct 40. The ends of the strip 31 are then pulled out from the top of the base 24E and folded over the ends of the base 24E to clamp the clamp ring 30 around the pipe 40. The ends of the strip 31 are then returned together to form a loop around each edge of the base 24E. The two ends of the strip 31 are then fixed together by means of the adjustment means 32.

Thus, as shown in fig. 29, the loop 33A is located over the thickness of the first strip 31. The strap 31 is then folded over and inserted into the housing 35 of the ring 33A and then clamped to effectively secure the base 24E to the pipe 40. To this end, both ends of the strip 31 pass through each side of the housing 35 by a length of at least 1 cm. The two ends of the strip 31 are thus overlapped at the body 37 of the ring 33A. The screws 34 are finally inserted at this overlap and penetrate through the two thicknesses formed by the two ends of the strip 31.

In a variant, as shown in fig. 30a to 30d, the adjustment means 32 may be integral with one end of the strip. Thus, the clamping ring 30 may be in the form of a metal strip 31 and the adjusting means may comprise a ring 33B, which ring 33B comprises a housing 35 fixed to the end of the strip 31.

The housing 35 may take the form of a tube having a parallelepiped cross section, intended to enable a portion of the metal strip 31 to pass through. Furthermore, a fixing means, such as a tapping screw 34, may be placed on the housing 35 perpendicular to the length of the tube and the direction of movement of the strip 31 in the tube, such that insertion of the strip 31 into the tube limits movement of the strip 31 when the strip 31 is pressed against the circumference of the tube 40.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the fixing means comprise a ball contained within the tube, which ball serves to block the movement of the elongated element. For this purpose, the tube has a variable cross section. Typically, the cross-section of the tube narrows from a dimension greater than the diameter of the ball to a dimension substantially equal to the diameter of the ball. Thus, during sliding of the elongated element in the tube, the ball is driven in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the elongated element towards the reduced-size portion of the tube, where the ball is blocked. The ball thus also blocks the elongated element.

In the embodiment of fig. 30 a-30 d, the space 25F of the base 24F is used to create a fixation point for the strap 31. For this purpose, as shown in fig. 30a, the end of the strip 31, in which the ring 33B is not provided, is inserted with a first movement M1, so as to surround a first fixed point of the base 24F. This movement M1 is performed by inserting the strip 31 into the space 25F from the upper surface of the base 24F until the strip 31 reaches the lower surface of the base 24F along the duct 40.

Thus, the strip 31 moves around the duct 40 up to the second fixing point of the base 24F. As shown in fig. 30b, according to the movement M2, the strip 31 is thus introduced into the space 25F so as to surround the second fixed point of the base 24F. This movement M2 is performed by inserting the strip 31 into the space 25F from the lower surface of the base 24F until the strip 31 reaches the upper surface of the base 24F along the duct 40.

Thus, as shown in fig. 30c, the strip 31 is introduced into the loop 33B according to the movement M3. According to movement M4, after the strip 33 has entered the casing of the ring 33B, the clamping ring 30 is then pressed against the pipe 40 by pulling on the end of the strip 33.

In some embodiments, when the desired compressive tension of the strap 31 is obtained, the means for securing the strap 31 in the housing may be inserted into the ring 33C by an action along a direction M5 perpendicular to the length of the housing 35, as shown in fig. 30 d. The remaining end of the strip 31 passing through the loop 33C may then optionally be cut off.

Furthermore, the strap may also have a recess or groove enabling it to receive or block the adjustment means 32.

Advantageously, the clamping ring 30 also has markings to adapt the clamping to the pressure and diameter of the pipe 40.

There are several embodiments in which clamp ring 30 may be attached to bases 24A-24K.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, in the first embodiment, the base 24A has a parallelepiped shape with inclined surfaces at corners. The base 24A has a length of between 2 and 10cm and a width of between 2 and 5 cm. The length of the seat 24A is intended to be positioned in a direction perpendicular to the main direction D of the duct 40. The base 24A has two side grooves 25A at both ends thereof, which side grooves 25A are open in the thickness of the base 24A, substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped, for passing the strip 31 of the clamping ring 30.

As shown in fig. 6 to 8, in the second embodiment, the base 24B has a parallelepiped shape, with a length of between 4 and 10cm and a width of between 4 and 10 cm. The length of the foot is intended to be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the main direction D of the conduit 40. The base 24B has a central recess in the shape of a parallelepiped and two lateral recesses for receiving and securing stirrups 29. Furthermore, the base 24B comprises two grooves 25B at its two ends, which grooves 25B open at the thickness of the base 24B, essentially in the shape of a parallelepiped, for the passage of the strip 31 of the clamping ring 30.

As shown in fig. 9 to 11, in the third embodiment, the base 24C has a parallelepiped shape, and has a length of between 2 and 10cm and a width of between 2 and 5 cm. The length of the foot is intended to be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the main direction D of the conduit 40. The seat 24C has an anchoring point formed by two recesses enabling the formation of the opening 25C. The end of the recess comprises two shafts 43. Thus, the strip 31 of the clamping ring 30 passes through the opening 25C and forms a ring around the shaft 43.

As shown in fig. 12 to 14, in the fourth embodiment, the base 24D has a parallelepiped shape with a length of between 2 and 8cm and a width of between 2 and 5 cm. The length of the seat 24D is intended to be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the main direction D of the duct 40.

The base 24D also has means for fixedly mounting two shafts 43 on either side of the base 24D. The shaft 43 is the anchor point for the clamping ring 30, which is positioned to leave a space 25D between the edge of the base 24D and the shaft 43. This space 25D is intended to allow the strip 31 of the clamping ring 30 to pass through, thereby forming a ring around the shaft 43.

As shown in fig. 15 to 17, in the fifth embodiment, the base 24H includes two anchor points 25H located on both sides of the base 24H. Each anchoring point 25H comprises a housing 49, the housing 49 having a depth of between 0.3 and 1cm and being sized to receive a shaft 47 having a length of between 0.5 and 4cm and a diameter of between 0.1 and 1 cm. In this fifth embodiment, the housing 49 extends over the entire width of the base 24H. The housing 49 is bordered by two parallelepipedal lugs 48. Preferably, the upper portion has a beveled or rounded shape so that the shaft 47 can be guided to move toward the housing 49 when the two shafts 47 are mounted at the anchor point 25H. The two lugs 48 are separated by a slot sized to allow passage of the cable 39 and to retain the shaft 47 as the cable 39 is clamped around the pipe 40. Thus, when cable 39 is pulled tight around conduit 40, shaft 47 is secured in housing 49, held by lugs 48.

As shown in fig. 18 to 20, in the sixth embodiment, the housing 49 of the anchor point 25I may have a low depth, but does not cause the shaft 47 to be extracted. The width of the slot may be further adapted to the width of the elongated element 31. In the sixth embodiment, the slot is sized to allow the strap 31 to pass therethrough.

As shown in fig. 21 to 23, in a seventh embodiment, the base 24J has an anchoring point 25J, the anchoring point 25J comprising a lug 50 for cooperation with a hole formed at the end of the elongate element 31. To mount the elongated element on the base 24J, the hole of the elongated element 31 is inserted over the lug 50 so as to also surround the pipe 50, and then the clamping ring 30 is adapted to the diameter of the pipe by means of the adjusting means 32.

As shown in fig. 24 to 26, in the eighth embodiment, the base 24K has a housing 49, the housing 49 being bordered by two lugs 48, the two lugs 48 being separated by a slot sized to enable the width of the elongate member 31 to pass. The slot is covered by a plate connecting the two lugs 48, creating a space of thickness between 0.05 and 0.2cm, which makes the shaft 47 non-passing, allowing only the elongated element 31 to pass. Thus, in order to insert the elongated element 31, it is necessary to first remove the shaft 49 and then insert the end of the elongated element 31 into the slot covered by the plate. The shaft 47 is then fixed to the end of the elongated element 31, for example by sliding it into a ring formed at the end of the elongated element 31. Finally, the shaft 47 is inserted into the housing 49. Thus, the shaft 47 cannot be extracted from the housing 49, since it is blocked by the presence of the plate.

As shown in fig. 27, in the ninth embodiment of the present invention, the base 24E includes a groove 25E opened in the thickness of the base 24E. A hole 46 is also provided in the lower portion of the recess 25E to allow the recess to be opened outwardly. The holes 46 allow the strip 31 to best conform to the shape of the conduit 40.

As shown in fig. 31 to 33, in the eleventh embodiment, the base 24G may be installed on the duct 40 before the fire extinguisher is fixed on the base 24G. In this embodiment, the base 24G has a substantially hexagonal shape with a length between 2 and 8cm and a width between 2 and 5 cm. The length of the seat 24G is intended to be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the main direction D of the duct 40.

The base 24G also has two pairs of side grooves 25G open on both sides of the base 24G in the thickness direction of the base 24G, substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped, for enabling the passage of two clamping rings 30. Preferably, the grooves are spaced 1 to 3cm apart. This type of base 24G is particularly useful where the extinguisher has a slotted head 20 mounted on the base 24G, for example for larger diameter pipes 40, typically greater than DN50.

The two clamping rings 30 are mounted in the same way as described in fig. 17 a-17 d, the clamping rings 30 being able to be mounted simultaneously one after the other.

In summary, the present invention makes it possible to develop an automatic water extinguisher that can accommodate all existing pipe diameters.

Claims (20)

1. An automatic water fire extinguisher (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) for being mounted on an opening (42) of a pipe (40), said pipe (40) forming part of a facility configured to contain water at a pressure between 5 and 20 bar, said fire extinguisher (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) comprising:

-an integrated chassis (24A-24K), said integrated chassis (24A-24K) having a through hole (26), and

-a seal (28), the seal (28) being for sealing a connection between an opening (42) of the duct (40) and a through hole (26) of the base (24A-24K), characterized in that:

-said base (24A-24K) further comprises at least two anchoring points (25A-25K), and

-the fire extinguisher (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) comprising at least one clamping ring (30), the clamping ring (30) comprising:

-an elongated element (31, 39), said elongated element (31, 39) being intended to partly surround said duct (40), said elongated element (31, 39) being mated with said base (24A-24K) at said anchoring points (25A-25G), and

-an adjustment device (32), said adjustment device (32) being independent of said base (24A-24K), said adjustment device (32) adjusting the length of said at least one clamping ring (30) such that said fire extinguisher (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) can be mounted on pipes (40) of different diameters.

2. A fire extinguisher according to claim 1, wherein said extinguisher (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) comprises one single clamping ring (30) and only two anchoring points (25A-25K) arranged on both sides of said base (24A-24K).

3. Fire extinguisher according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the anchoring points (25A-25G) are through holes oriented in a direction parallel to the main direction (D) of the pipe (40), into which at least one end of the elongated element (31, 39) is inserted and looped around the edge of the base (24A-24G) so that the elongated element (31, 39) is mounted on the base (24A-24G).

4. A fire extinguisher as claimed in claim 3, wherein said through holes are slots made in said base (24A-24G).

5. A fire extinguisher according to claim 3, wherein said through hole corresponds to the space formed between said base (24A-24G) and the shaft (47) of said base (24A-24G).

6. Fire extinguisher according to claim 2, wherein the two ends of the elongated element (31, 39) are configured to cooperate with anchoring points (25H-25K) provided on both sides of the base (24H-24K) so that, after the action of the adjustment means (32), the elongated element (31, 39) partly surrounds the duct (40).

7. A fire extinguisher according to claim 6, wherein each anchorage point (25H-25K) comprises a housing (49) defined by two lugs (48), the two lugs (48) being separated by a slot sized such that the elongate element (31, 39) can pass, the housing (49) being adapted to receive a shaft (47) secured to one end of the elongate element (31, 39), the lugs (48, 50) being adapted to allow insertion of the shaft (47) into the housing (49) before the adjustment device (32) takes action and to prevent extraction of the shaft (47) after the adjustment device (32) takes action.

8. A fire extinguisher as claimed in claim 6, wherein each anchor point (25H-25K) comprises a lug (50), said lug (50) being adapted to cooperate with a hole made at the end of said elongate element (31, 39).

9. Fire extinguisher according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the elongated element (31) is a strip.

10. A fire extinguisher according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the elongate element (39) is a cable.

11. Fire extinguisher according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the elongated element (31, 39) is made of a metallic material.

12. Fire extinguisher according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the adjustment means (32) for adjusting the length of the at least one clamping ring (30) comprises a marker enabling the compression of the seal (28) at a predetermined ratio.

13. Fire extinguisher according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the adjustment device (32) is integral with one end of the elongated element (31, 39).

14. Fire extinguisher according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising an element (23) for blocking the through hole (26), the element (23) being temperature sensitive and configured to release the through hole (26).

15. The fire extinguisher of any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a deflector (22), the deflector (22) being secured above the base (24A-24K) for spraying a flow of water from the pipe (40).

16. Fire extinguisher according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the base (24A-24K) and the head (20) including the deflector (22), stirrup (29) and/or blocking element (23) form an integral block.

17. Fire extinguisher according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the base (24A-24G) is independent from the head (20) comprising the deflector (22), stirrup (29) and/or blocking element (23), the head (20) being mounted on the base (24A-24K) by a threaded connection.

18. A fire protection facility comprising:

-at least one duct (40) having at least one opening (42), and

-at least one fire extinguisher (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. Fire protection installation according to claim 18, characterized in that the pipe (40) is a pipe painted or pre-painted on its inner and outer surfaces.

20. The plant according to claim 19, characterized in that the painting of the pipes (40) comprises an epoxy polymer adhesive.