EP0678311B1 - Stationary installation for fighting fires - Google Patents

Abstract

A water jet pipe (2) is mounted adjacent to a wall (3) of the area to be protected, in communication with a liquid supply conduit (1) via a sealed rotary joint (4). The jet is movable between vertical storage and horizontal use positions, pivoting about the supply conduit in a plane perpendicular to the conduit's axis. In its vertical storage position the jet is secured against the wall by a clip which is in mechanical communication with an end cap (7) of the pipe. Water flow in the pipe causes the end cap to move upwards, breaking or releasing the connection to the wall and allowing the pipe to fall to its horizontal position under gravity. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a fixed fire-fighting installation mainly intended for the protection of premises or other enclosures containing flammable materials.

There are known from the prior art fixed fire fighting installations, of the aforementioned type, constituted by a network of pipes for transporting an extinguishing liquid which may be water. This network is mounted at a distance from the ground, usually near the ceiling and has from place to place nozzles with device for spraying the extinguishing liquid, closed by thermo-brittle bulbs. These nozzles with their spray device and their bulb protrude under their respective pipe and are arranged above the areas to be protected. Under the effect of a strong rise in temperature, the liquid contained in each ampoule is called to expand which causes the rupture of the latter. This results in the opening of the nozzle orifice and the sprinkling of the extinguishing liquid on the area in fire.
This type of installation, which is very widely used, may not be suitable for certain premises, in particular those which must have a particular relief at the level of their ceiling suitable for absorbing electromagnetic waves, for example. Such rooms used to carry out certain tests are sometimes called a deaf room.

It is also preferable to avoid the use of such installations in premises or enclosures in which there are significant risks of breakage of the bulbs by mechanical shock. This is particularly the case for goods warehouses in which very often precautions are taken to avoid any contact of these goods with water.

Another installation is known from patent US-A-3,799,271. This installation, which serves as the basis for the preamble of claim 1, comprises lances with a spraying device, arranged adjacent to the ceiling of the area to be protected. and connected to the pipes of a distribution network of an extinguishing fluid by means of a rotating joint. Each lance is hingedly mounted on its pipe to pivot around the axis of the latter from a horizontal standby position to a vertical position of use.

Finally, installations of the aforementioned type are essentially aerial and placed at a distance from the areas to be protected and are therefore ineffective for the early treatment of a localized fire.

The object of the present invention is therefore to solve the problems mentioned above by implementing an installation with spraying members, movable from a standby or erasing position according to which they are protected from mechanical shock, towards a position of use. according to which the sprinkling liquid is sprayed on the area in fire.

Another object of the present invention is an installation, the spraying members of which are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the zone which they each have to protect, which allows an early treatment of the fire and prevents its extension to d 'other areas of the room.

To this end, the fire-fighting installation intended for equipping premises which may contain flammable materials comprising at least one lance with a spraying device, connected to one of the pipes of a distribution network of '' an extinguishing fluid by means of a rotary joint, said lance being mounted in an articulated manner on its pipe to pivot around the axis of the latter from a standby position to a position of use, is essentially characterized by that the lance is arranged adjacent to one of the walls of the zone to be protected, that the maintenance of said lance in the standby position according to which it occupies a substantially vertical position is ensured by a mechanical fastening system on the one hand of the wall and on the other hand of said lance, that the mechanical fastening system comprises at least in connection with the connection with the outlet mouth of the lance an element t for unlocking, one of the faces of which is disposed on the flow path of the fluid in the lance and that said unlocking member under the effect of the thrust exerted on it by the outward flow of the fluid contained in the lance moves along the axis of the lance in the direction of flow of the fluid, towards an unlocking position according to which the mechanical fastening connection between the lance and the wall is broken which allows the pivoting of said lance towards its position of use according to which it occupies a substantially horizontal position, at least under the effect of its own weight.

• la figure 1 est une vue d'une première forme de réalisation de l'installation de lutte contre l'incendie, selon l'invention, la lance montrée sur cette figure est disposée selon la position de veille,
• la figure 2 montre l'installation selon la première forme de réalisation, la lance montrée sur cette figure est en position d'utilisation,
• la figure 3 montre le détail de l'organe de verrouillage,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'une lance et du systéme d'attache selon une seconde forme de réalisation.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the description of a preferred embodiment given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a view of a first embodiment of the fire-fighting installation, according to the invention, the lance shown in this figure is arranged in the standby position,
• FIG. 2 shows the installation according to the first embodiment, the lance shown in this figure is in the position of use,
• FIG. 3 shows the detail of the locking member,
• Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lance and the attachment system according to a second embodiment.

As shown, the installation according to the invention, for fire fighting is intended to equip test laboratories, premises containing flammable products and any other type of enclosure to be protected from fire.

The installation comprises a distribution network of an extinguishing fluid constituted by one or more conduits 1 for transporting this fluid which may be water added with wetting or foaming agents. This network of pipes can be connected via an electrically controlled valve to a tank of extinguishing fluid.
A pump can also be associated with this installation to draw the fluid in the reservoir on command and pulsate it in the pipeline network.
The installation will include fire detection and control means, which upon detection of a fire will activate the solenoid valve and then the pump so that the extinguishing fluid is pulsed from the tank to one or more fire hoses 2 through of the pipeline network 1.
The distribution of fire hoses in the room depends on the distribution in the latter of risk areas. Each risk zone will be equipped with one or more nozzles arranged as close as possible to the place or places where there is a risk of a fire.

Advantageously, the fire hoses 2 of each zone will be arranged adjacent to the vertical walls 3 of the latter and may in the standby position be housed entirely in a niche in the wall, in particular to be protected from shocks .
According to the invention, each lance is connected in an articulated manner to its pipe by means of a tight rotary joint 4.

Preferably, the segment of the pipe to which the lance is connected develops horizontally so that the fire hose can pivot around the horizontal axis of this segment from a standby position to a position of use.
Depending on the standby position, the lance 2 occupies a substantially vertical position above the pipe while, depending on the position of use, the lance occupies a horizontal or slightly inclined position relative to the horizontal.
The lance according to the standby position can occupy a slightly inclined position relative to the vertical in the direction of pivoting towards its position of use so that this pivoting can be induced only by the weight of the lance.

Preferably, a spring member 5 will be disposed between the lance 2 and the wall 3 so as to accelerate the pivoting of the lance.

This arrangement will also be used when the lance must occupy a vertical position or a tilting position opposite to the direction of pivoting towards the position of use.

The horizontal position of the lance is materialized by a stop means 6 opposing the continued pivoting of the lance downward. This stop means according to the preferred embodiment consists of a flexible link fixed on the one hand to the wall 3 and on the other hand to the barrel of the lance. Any other stop means may be used.

According to the invention, the lance is kept in the standby position by a mechanical fastening system secured on the one hand to the wall 3 and on the other hand to the lance 1. This mechanical fastening system comprises in relation of sliding connection with the lance and more precisely with the outlet mouth of the latter, an unlocking element 7 of which one of the faces 7A is opposite the internal channel of the lance and develops transversely with respect to the axis of the last. Thus, the element for unlocking by the face 7A is disposed on the outward flow path of the fluid engaged in the channel of the lance and undergoes fluid, when the latter flows towards the outlet orifice, a thrust under the action of which it is caused to move axially relative to the lance 2 and this in the direction of flow of the fluid towards an unlocking position in which the mechanical attachment connection between the lance 2 and the wall 3 is broken. The rupture of this link authorizes the pivoting of the lance towards its position of use.
The attachment system, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises an unlocking member which, depending on the unlocking position, is separated from the lance 2.
This unlocking member is advantageously constituted by a removable plug for closing the outlet mouth of the lance. The mechanical system, in addition to the plug, comprises a link 8 fixed on the one hand to this plug and on the other hand to the wall 3.
Preferably, this link is flexible, maintaining the lance in the standby position being ensured by tensioning the cable. The flexible link can be formed either by a metal cable or by a chain or by any other suitable member.
Preferably, the plug has a shoulder to limit its insertion into the lance. The flexible link is fixed by one of its ends in a hole made in the plug. By its other end, this link is integral with a fixing member such as a dowel engaged in an orifice in the wall at an appropriate height so that the cable can stretch in a substantially radial direction to the lance 2.
At a distance from its outlet mouth, the lance receives a bouncing plate 10 carried by two lateral tabs 11.

Installation according to the embodiment, object of Figures 1 and 2 is equipped with a dry and pressure-free network for the distribution of extinguishing fluid. Furthermore, this installation includes a fire detection means known to those skilled in the art, delivering, when a fire is detected, an activation signal of the solenoid valve and of the pump so that fluid fire extinguisher is pulsed in the pipes. This fluid strikes the face 7A of the stopper or else compress the air contained in the lance which repels the stopper and frees the lance from its standby position.

In Figure 4 is shown an installation with pipe network under pressure of extinguishing fluid.
The unlocking member 9 of the fastening system according to Figure 3 is traversed right through along its axis by an orifice 12 for passage of the extinguishing fluid.
This axial orifice is closed externally by a heat-breakable bulb 13 disposed between the member 9 and a rebound plate 10 carried by lateral tabs 11 fixed to said member 9. Internally, the passage orifice 12 opens into a conical cavity of the unlocking member. This cavity is turned towards the nozzle of the lance and is delimited by a concave face 9A receiving the thrust of the fluid. The unlocking member according to FIG. 3 remains always integral with the lance 2. According to this embodiment, the unlocking member comprises a radial extension 14 external to the lance 2 traversed right through parallel to the axis of the lance 2 through an orifice 15. This radial extension can form an annular bead around the unlocking member.
This attachment mechanism comprises, for attachment to the wall 3, a horizontal arm 16 supporting a vertical pin 17 projecting upwards, engaged when the lance is in the standby position, in the orifice 15 of the radial extension.
When the unlocking member 9 is brought into the unlocked position by axial movement upwards under the effect of the thrust of the fluid, the orifice 15 of the radial extension is released from the pin 17, which allows the pivoting of lance 2 towards its position of use.

Preferably, the unlocking member 9 comprises a barrel 18 slidably mounted in the bore of a bearing ring 19 mounted at the end of the lance 2, said barrel 18, in the lance being provided with a piston 20 and at the outside of the axial extension lance.
The barrel 18 is in a cylindrical tubular form. By passing through the bore of the bearing ring 19, the barrel 18 enters the lance 2. The bore of the barrel open at the lower end is delimited in the upper part by the face 9A. At the lower end, the barrel receives the piston 20 which is subjected to slide in the cylindrical bore of the lance against the cylindrical face of the latter.
The piston 20 will comprise, as known, one or more sealing rings 21 coming against the cylindrical face of the lance 2. Preferably, a compression spring 22 is disposed around the barrel 18 between the bearing ring 19 and the piston 20, the member unlocking moving towards its unlocking position against the action exerted by this compression spring 22.
Advantageously, the bearing ring 19 is threaded and is engaged in a tapping made at the end of the lance. In the standby position, the radial extension 14 under the action of the compression spring bears against the support arm 16. As a variant, the barrel comes to bear against an internal shoulder of the lance 2.
The extinguishing fluid under pressure in the lance exerts an axial thrust on the face 9A and on the piston 20 of the member 9. As long as the installation is placed in standby conditions, the force exerted by the compression spring 22 on the piston 20 compensates for the axial thrust exerted by the fluid on the member 9 and opposes the axial movement of the member 9 towards its unlocking position.
The axial force exerted on the piston 20 by the spring 22 depends on the degree of compression of the latter which is given by the degree of depression of the bearing ring 19 in the lance.
By adjusting the depression of the bearing ring in the lance it is therefore possible to adjust a pressure threshold value below which the unlocking member 9 does not move.
This threshold value is slightly higher than the static value of the pressure of the extinguishing fluid in the pipeline network when the installation is in standby configuration.
On the other hand, in the fire alert and fire fighting configuration, the fluid pressure increases and exceeds the predetermined threshold, which leads to the displacement of the unlocking member 9 towards its position of unlocking.

For such a type of installation, the heat released by a fire leads to the expansion of the liquid contained in the bulb 13 and to the rupture of the latter.
The orifice 12 is then released which causes a pressure drop in the pipe. Fire detection is carried out by detecting this pressure drop using a pressure sensor and other devices. From the signal emitted by the pressure sensor, representative of a sudden drop in pressure, the solenoid valve and the pump are activated so that extinguishing fluid is blown into the pipes at a pressure higher than the value of the previously determined threshold, and that the unlocking member is pushed upwards and the orifice 15 released from the pin 17.

It goes without saying that the present invention can receive all arrangements and all variants in the field of technical equivalents without departing from the scope of this patent, as defined by the claims.

Claims (14)

1. A fire-fighting installation intended to be installed in premises that may contain inflammable materials, comprising at least one nozzle (2) with a sprinkling member, connected to one of the pipes (1) of a network for distributing an extinguishing fluid by means of a revolving joint (4), said nozzle (2) being mounted in an articulated manner on its pipe (1) so as to pivot about the axis of the latter from a stand-by position to an operating position, characterised in that the nozzle (2) is arranged so as to be contiguous to one of the walls (3) of the area to be protected, that the maintenance of said nozzle (2) in a stand-by position in which it occupies a substantially vertical position is ensured by a mechanical attachment system integral with the wall (3) on the one hand and said nozzle (2) on the other hand, that the mechanical attachment system comprises, at least in a relationship of sliding connection with the outlet orifice of the nozzle (2), an unlocking member (7), (9), one of the faces (7A), (9A) of which is arranged on the path of flow of the fluid in the nozzle and that said unlocking member (7),(9), through the effect of the thrust exerted on it by the outward flow of the fluid contained in the nozzle (2), is displaced along the axis of the nozzle (2) in the direction of flow of the fluid towards an unlocked position in which the mechanical connection of attachment between the nozzle (2) and the wall (3) is broken, which allows the pivoting of said nozzle (2) towards its operating Position in which it occupies a substantially horizontal position, at least through the effect of its own weight.
2. A fire-fighting installation according to Claim 1 characterised in that, in the unlocked position, the unlocking member (7) is separated from the nozzle (2).
3. A fire-fighting installation according to claim 2 characterized in that the member (7) for unlocking the mechanical attachment system is constituted by a removable plug for obturation of the outlet orifice of the nozzle (2).
4. A fire-fighting installation according to Claim 3 characterized in that the mechanical attachment system is constituted by a plug (7) and by a link (8) fixed on the one hand to that plug (7) and on the other hand to the wall (3).
5. A fire-fighting installation according to Claim 4 characterized in that the link (8) is flexible.
6. A fire-fighting installation according to Claim 1 characterised in that the unlocking member (9) of the mechanical attachment system is provided with an axial orifice (12) for the passage of the fluid and that, in the unlocked position, said member remains integral with the nozzle (2).
7. A fire-fighting installation according to claim 6 characterised in that the unlocking member (9) of the attachment mechanism comprises a radial extension (14) outside the nozzle (2), through which an orifice (15) passes from one side to another along an axis parallel to the axis of the nozzle (2) and that the attachment mechanism comprises fixed to the wall (3) a supporting arm (16) provided at the end with an upward-projecting vertical pin (17) engaged, when the nozzle (2) is in the stand-by position, in the orifice (15) of the radial extension (14) which is disengaged from said pin when the unlocking member (9) is arranged in its unlocked position.
8. A fire-fighting installation according to Claim 6 or claim 7 characterised in that the unlocking member (9) comprises a shaft (18) mounted so as to slide inside the bore of a bearing ring (19) mounted at the end of the nozzle (2), said shaft (18) being provided with a piston (20) inside the nozzle (2) and the radial extension (14) outside the nozzle (2).
9. A fire-fighting installation according to Claim 8 characterized by a compression spring (22) arranged around the shaft of the unlocking member between the bearing ring (19) and the piston (20) of the shaft (18), said unlocking member being displaced towards its unlocked position in opposition to the action exerted by said compression spring.
10. A fire fighting installation according to Claim 9 characterised in that the bearing ring (19) is threaded and is engaged in a threading made at the end of the nozzle (2).
11. A fire-fighting installation according to any one of Claims 6 to 10 characterized by a thermo-breaking bulb (13) obturating the axial orifice (12) of the unlocking member (9), said bulb (13) being arranged between said member (9) and a rebound plate (10) carried by lateral clips (11) fixed to said unlocking member (9).
12. A fire-fighting installation according to any one of the preceding claims characterized by a stop means (6) for limiting the downward pivoting movement of the nozzle (2).
13. A fire-fighting installation according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that, in the stand-by position, the nozzle (2) is housed wholly in a recess made in the wall (3).
14. A fire-fighting installation according to any one of the preceding claims characterized by a spring member (5) interposed between the nozzle (2) and the wall (3) to accelerate the pivoting of the nozzle (2) from its stand-by position to its operating position.

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