FR2485378A1 - Automatic fire-extinguishing feed - has spring-loaded striker fork released by clockwork time delay cam to puncture propellant gas containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic release for fire-extinguishant comprises a housing containing two bottles of carbonic gas or other inert material, the heads of which can be pierced by a tubular fork welded to a spring loaded spindle, acting on two hollow metal strikers. The spring is held compressed by a cylindrical bush in turn secured by a hinging metal plate, whose movement is controlled by a rotary cam driven by a clockwork time-delay. The cam has a metal finger held by a lever controlled manually or remotely, by signals from fire detectors. Recocking and actuation of the striker are controlled by a set of electrical contacts.

Description

 The present invention relates to an apparatus intended to cause the opening and the operation of several fire extinguishing devices, by means of a fluidic circuit generated from carbon dioxide tanks which can be closed by percussion and controlled manually, remotely, electrically or still remotely controlled from signals from any detector.

 It is known to use smoke, flame or thermal detectors in the field of fire prevention. The information transmitted by these detectors is either centralized on a counter console responsible for triggering the alarm and intervention, or used to remotely control the automatic operation of fire extinguishing systems.

 Such devices most often provide a link between the detection of a fire and the intervention intended to extinguish it. In some cases, the purpose of the alarm is to mobilize the personnel responsible for responding to the incident with the appropriate means; in other cases, the detector transmits an electrical signal to a relay which controls the motors intended to actuate the opening, either of carbon dioxide cylinders or of water valves.

It is known that the intervention of personnel mobilized by an alarm is long and sometimes delicate. In addition, this type of intervention requires qualified personnel, in sufficient numbers, with perfect knowledge of the places where the fire extinguishers or valves are located. In addition, this organization requires the permanent maintenance of an intervention team capable of simultaneously triggering the opening of the various extinguishers or valves.

 To overcome these drawbacks, facilities are currently being constructed comprising fire detectors which emit signals from the start of the disaster. These signals are amplified and used to prime relays intended to supply motors. These activate the opening of valves or carbon dioxide cylinders.

 This organization which limits the intervention of a team requires an available source of electrical energy limiting the autonomy of the device. In addition, the presence of this source of electrical energy is often not very compatible with installations containing particularly flammable or explosive materials.

It is to overcome these drawbacks that it is proposed, in the present invention, to use a control device using a fluid transmission which can be triggered either by fire detectors or manually, and which develops a force sufficient to open the water valves or unclog the fire extinguishers located near the incident.

This therefore allows companies equipped with the device according to the invention to fully meet the fire safety measures of the premises without the need for a team permanently placed on the premises of the company.

The invention also allows a person to manually trigger the opening of several valves or fire extinguishers from the start of a disaster.

Other advantages of the invention include, for example
- autonomous operation by accumulator batteries,
- a delayed operation allowing the evacuation of the premises,
- a fluid trasmission causing no accidental generation of sparks which could lead to the development of the disaster,
- multiple commands, manual or remote, using or not the signals from detectors, ensuring the reliability of the trip,
The present invention relates for this purpose to an automatic release of a fire device that is characterized in that it consists of a box containing two bottles of carbon dioxide or other inert fluid, the head of which can be closed by two hollow metal strikers controlled by a tubular fork welded to an axle provided with a spring; the latter is kept compressed using a cylindrical ring which is itself retained by a pivotable metal plate; the movement of this plate is controlled by the rotation of a cam mde by a delayed clock mechanism; the cam carries a metal finger which blocks the retarding mechanism by relying on a pivotable lever arm whose movement is controlled either manually or remotely, either electrically or using signals from fire detectors; resetting and starting of the percussion mechanism are controlled by an aeu of electrical contacts supplying indicator lights.

The invention is shown by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings and in which:
- Figure 1 of the board 1/3 shows the simplified diagram of the triggering device.

 - Figure 2 of Plate II / 3 shows the percussion and fluid control mechanism.

 - Figure 3 of Plate II / 4 shows the manual reset system.

 - Figure 4 of the VIT / 3 plate shows the electromechanical release and its controls.

 According to a first characteristic of the invention as shown in Figure 1, the automatic release of the fire extinguishing device consists of two bottles (1) each loaded with 50g of carbon dioxide under pressure and screwed onto a block percussion (5). This percussion block contains two strikers located above the screwed holes of carbon dioxide cylinders and mobile inside cylindrical housings (3). These cylindrical housings communicate with the tube (4) joining the fluid source with the control circuit of the fire extinguishing devices.

In the cylindrical housings (3) above the strikers (2), the fork (6) is made up of two cylinders carried by a single axis (46) sliding slightly.

On this axis (46) there is a ring (8) retaining a compression spring (7) integral with the frame (23).

 The ring (8) is held in the armed position using a metal tongue (9) which is supported on a lug (11) secured to a pivotable plate (10). The rotation of the plate (10) and its erasure are controlled on the one hand by the cam (13) and on the other hand by the spring (12) which holds the plate (10) on the cam (13). This is driven by a watch movement called a self-timer not shown in this diagram.

The cam is held fixed by means of a bolt (14), one end of which is retained by a lug (16) located on a lever arm (15).

The lever arm (15) pivots up and down on its axis (17) when it is moved under manual pressure produced by the piston (20) or under the effect of a remote electrical control obtained by the electromagnet (19) or by the aerothermal detection device (22) which acts by pressure while expanding. When the device is armed, this lever arm is held in place by the action of a spring (18).

According to another characteristic of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2 of plate 11/3, the percussion and fluid control mechanism consists of two strikers (2) enclosed in the housings (3) of the percussion block ( 5). These strikers (2), mobile, consist of a hollow tube, the bevelled part of which looks at the unleadable head of the carbon dioxide bottles (1) which is screwed onto the percussion block at level (45). At the other end of these strikers is the percussion fork (6) which strikes these strikers. When the bottles are closed, the control gas is channeled towards the fire extinguisher opening circuit by the conduit (4) connected to the percussion unit by means of the tight nut (41). The housing (3) machined in the percussion block (5) forms a conduit common to the two bottles, and sealed by means of the seals (34) in which the percussion fork slides.

The central part of the fork (46) slides inside a tube (35), itself made integral with the frame (23)
by means of the stirrup (40). The sliding of the central tube
(46) of the fork (6) is obtained using the spring (7)
which rests on one side on the fixed bracket (40) and on the other pushes the ring (8), integral with the central part of the fork (46) by a pin. The pivoting tongue (9)
around its axis (25) retains the ring (8) as long as the
device is not triggered.

According to another characteristic of the invention, when the tubular compartment (3) receives the control fluid, it can act by means of an auxiliary piston
(42) on a series of electrical contacts (37) intended
to program the stopping of various materials during operation.

When the fork (6) is armed, its position is signaled by means of a working indicator light
under the action of a microswitch (36) pressed from the top of the fork.

We have included in the center of the percussion unit (5) a handle (39) intended to reset the device after its operation.

According to another operating characteristic as shown in FIG. 3 of plate II / 3, the
manual reset system consists of a handle
(39) and a rod (43) movable around the hinges (44) and
(38). lie gond (38) joins the lever made up of the handle
(39) and from the rod (43) to the movable fork (6). The hinge (44) joins this lever to the percussion block (5). The handle (39) is held in the armed position using a spring not shown in the diagram.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, as shown in Figure Q of the LIT / 3 board, the electromechanical release and its controls is made up of a metal tongue (9) which pivots around its axis (25) in the counterclockwise. This tongue, when the device is in the armed position, is on the one hand held by the compression of the spring (7) which acts on the ring (8), and on the other hand retained by a metal lug (11) integral with the plate (10).

There was cut in the tongue (9) a notch (30) serving as a housing for the lug (11). The plate (10) which can rotate on its axis (24) anticlockwise, is kept pressed against the cam (13) by means of a spring (12) one of the ends of which is fixed to the frame (23).

The cam (13) placed in the same plane rotates around its axis (26) anticlockwise at the speed of an adjustable clockwork movement called a retarder. This cam is blocked when the device is armed by means of a tongue (14), one of the ends of which is screwed onto this cam at level (27) while the other end carries a notch (29) containing a lug ( 16) located on the lever arm (15). This lever arm (15) placed at the base of the device is pivotable around its axis (17) in the direction from top to bottom, so as to erase the lug (16). This lever arm (15) is held in the high position by means of a spring (18) fixed to the frame (23) at point (28). This lever arm (15) can pivot up and down around its axis (17) either under the action of the pressure of the piston (20) manually actuated by means of the button (32) located outside, or under the pressure of an aerothermal control (22) serving as a detector and acting on the point (31) by expansion of the bellows device (33). This point (31) is provided with a ball bearing intended to reduce friction.

This arm can still pivot up and down and erase the lug (16) either under the pressure of an electromagnet (19) excited by the signal from a detector, or under the action of a remote control by cable represented by point (21).

Operation
When applied, either manually by means of the piston (20) or the remote control (21), or by means of fire detectors generating an electric current intended to excite the electromagnet (or using the expansion pressure from the aerothermal detector (22), a pressure at the ends of the release arm (15), the latter pivots up and down around its axis (17). This movement releases the finger (14) from the device retarder which releases the rotational movement to the right, from the cam (13).

The notch machined in the retarder cam makes it possible to release the plate (10) which pivots to the right around its axis (24) under the action of the return spring (12). The movement of this plate causes the erasure of the flat rod (9) which at the same time releases the ring (8) and the central rod of the percussion fork (46) pushed violently under the action of the spring (7). The displacement of the central percussion rod (46) pushes the percussion fork (6) and propels the two strikers (2).

The latter perforate the caps of the carbon dioxide gas bottles (1) which release the gas, producing a fluid and open command to open the extinguishing means through the tube (4). At the same time, the pressure acts on the piston (42) which actuates the microswitches (37) intended to break the operation of the motor fans existing in the enclosure of the incident.

 After its operation, the percussion fork is reset by means of the manual handle (39) which re-lights the operation indicator via the microswitch (36). The entire trip device is returned to its original position.

Claims (1)

Claim 1 - The present invention relates to a automatic fire device release characterized in that it consists of a box containing two bottles of carbon dioxide or other inert fluid, the head of which can be closed by two hollow metal strikers controlled by a tubular fork welded to an axis a spring; the latter is kept compressed by means of a cylindrical ring itself retained by a pivotable metal plate; the movement of this wafer is controlled by the rotation of an mAe cam by a delayed clock mechanism; the cam carries a metal finger which retains the self-timer mechanism by relying on a pivotable lever arm whose movement is controlled, either manually or remotely, either electrically or using signals from fire detectors; resetting and starting the percussion mechanisms are controlled by a set of electrical contacts. Claim 2 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the means for controlling the opening of the fire-fighting material is a fluid circuit supplied by cylinders of carbon dioxide which can be closed by percussion. Claim 3 - Device according to claims 1 and 2 taken as a whole, characterized in that the means for unclogging the carbon dioxide gas cylinders consists of two hollow strikers placed between the head of the gas cylinders and a fork whose thrust movement is triggered by the decompression of a spring.  Claim 4 - Device according to claims 1 and 2 taken as a whole, characterized in that the means of triggering the decompression of the spring controlling the percussion is a pivotable tongue whose movement is triggered by the rotation of a cam.  Claim 5 - Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the means for triggering the pivoting of the tongue is a cam moved by a timepiece movement with adjustable delay whose movement erases a metal plate serving to block the position of the tongue. o Claim 6 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the means for triggering the movement of the cam is a second tab secured to the cam and one of its ends of which is retained by a lug placed on a pivotable lever. Claim 7 - Device according to claims 1 and 2 taken as a whole characterized in that the means used to cause the lever arm movement of the release is a piston pressed by hand or a cable controlled remotely. Claim 8 - Device according to Claims 1 and 2 taken as a whole, characterized in that the means used to cause the arm movement of the release lever is either an electromagnet operating under the action of electrical signals from a fire detector , or an expandable rod from an aerothermal detector.  Claim 9 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the means of deactivation of the trip device is displayed by electrical contactors.  Claim 10 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the means used to capture the electrical power supply for the operation of various materials (fans, motors, etc.) is a piston acting on microswitches under the action of the pressure of the fluid of ordered.