FR2704777A1 - Device for the production of a cloud of droplets, from several emission points. - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a series of hoses (1) connected together via tees (3) by quick-connection means (2, 4, 5). On the tees are mounted, by screwing, rigid tubes, or poles (10, 11), which have means (15) for spraying droplets at their opposite end. Holding means are used for holding the rigid tubes in the desired position, which is generally vertical. These means may include a support (7), arms (16) or a tripod (17) placed on the ground, or a foot (19) to be implanted in the ground, or magnets (21) mounted on the tube, to be fixed on a suitable metal object already existing.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for the production of a

  cloud of droplets, this cloud having a shape elongated on the ground, and constituting, in particular, a means of fighting fires, atmospheric dust, toxic aerosols,

  "gas clouds" means smoke or powdery clouds.

  The device according to the invention was developed during studies for the implementation of the "misting" methods, described in documents FR-A-2,624,750

and 2,672,808.

  When we want to fight, in particular, against a fire, it is advantageous to make a barrier against the fire using a cloud of droplets which forms a barrier over a significant distance, this solution has the advantage of be more efficient than usual, while saving water. It is therefore necessary to rapidly implement a large number of means of production and projection of droplets arranged

  along a straight or curved line depending on the problem.

  Conventional fittings and in particular so-called "firefighters" fittings require specialized tools and tightening and blocking manipulations which require effort, time and careful control, because only one fitting is required.

  not tightened properly so that the entire device is out of service.

  The object of the present invention is not only to considerably increase safety but also to greatly facilitate the speed of implementation, which is

  essential for this type of emergency device.

  To obtain this result, the invention provides a device for producing a cloud of droplets, this cloud having a shape elongated on the ground, this device comprising a series of droplet projection means arranged in line above the ground, and flexible tubes connecting these projection means to a source of pressurized liquid, this device having the particularity that each droplet projection means are associated: - a rigid tubular tee, having two opposite openings, communicating with each other and provided each of a cylindrical part equipped with an O-ring seal, and a third opening, communicating with the other two and provided with a thread, - two tubular end pieces each mounted on one end of one of two flexible tubes different, these end pieces being of diameter calculated to be linked by interlocking each with one of the ends carrying the opposite openings of the tee, and in. ur cooperate, in an interlocked arrangement, with the O-ring to provide a tight connection, - collars, mounted on said sleeves, and each carrying at least one hook capable of engaging with a corresponding relief of the tee, and an elastic means suitable maintaining said hook in engagement, and thus ensuring a fixed, but removable, connection of the flexible pipe with the tee, - a rigid tube, one end of which is threaded and can be mounted by screwing on the third opening of the tee, and the l the other end is rigidly connected by means of projection of droplets and carries this means, - means for holding said rigid tube in

  a determined position relative to the ground.

  It is understood that the implementation of such a device can be very rapid, because the different operations can be carried out by different teams, in the most flexible way: installation of flexible pipe elements, installation of tubes rigid carrying the means for projecting droplets, fitting tees, these can moreover be connected in advance to rigid tubes, connections of flexible pipes to tees, connection of rigid tubes to tees, if this is not the case. was not done in advance, and mounting means to maintain the

  rigid tubes in the desired position.

  Advantageously, porous flexible tube is used, such as that used for forest fires, because it has the advantage of being covered with a slight runoff of water which prevents it from burning, which makes the even more reliable device. According to an advantageous modality, the means for holding the rigid tube in its position comprise a rigid support, linked to the tee, provided with anchoring means on the ground, or simply resting on the ground. The holding means can be put in place very quickly, at the same time or just after the operations indicated

upper.

  According to another embodiment, the means for holding the rigid tube in its position comprise magnets, integral with the rigid tube and able to maintain the latter in abutment against a suitable pre-existing metal support. This modality is even simpler than the previous one, but it requires that there be suitable supports nearby. This is frequently the case when we have to fight, for example, against a fire in an industrial environment, where metal frames, drums, tanks, possibly even vehicles, can serve as supports for a rapid installation,

  and effective support, rigid tubes.

  In this mode of use, we understand the advantage of such a device which is easy to implement and which makes it possible to effectively protect emergency vehicles and their personnel. Placed against the metal cladding of a hangar, they can also protect it from an outdoor fire or prevent the fire from crossing the cladding. In one of the modes of use, this device is particularly advantageous for protecting the temporary storage of drums of flammable products, toxic or not, in particular during deposits or in transit in stations or ports. Its ease of implementation and the possibility of enslaving it to a trigger

  automatic reinforce its interest.

  According to another modality of the means for holding the rigid tube, hooks have been provided for hooking the poles on tubes,

  angles, cables or even mesh surfaces.

  Advantageously, a non-return valve is interposed between the tee and the rigid tube and secured to these parts by screwing. This arrangement protects the line against an incident occurring in the rigid tube or the droplet protection means. The valve, thus placed near the tee, that is to say in the immediate vicinity of the ground, does not affect the stability of the tube

  rigid. A valve may be adjacent to the valve.

  The invention will now be described using a practical example, illustrated using the single figure, which

  is a schematic view in elevation.

  The device comprises one or more lengths of flexible pipes, each pipe 1 is equipped at each end with a nozzle 2 which can be either glued, or "ringed", or crimped, or ligated and acting as a sleeve of a corresponding diameter when fitting a tee 3. In another version, in particular for industrial use, provision has been made for the possibility of replacing the flexible tubes with rigid tubes, in

aluminum or other metal.

  Different materials can be used for the end caps, such as aluminum, black or galvanized steel, copper, brass, P.V.C., fiberglass, carbon or composites. On these end pieces are fixed collars 4 provided with hooks 5 and springs 6. In one version, the pipe is glued inside the end piece, in another, the end piece penetrates inside the pipe and the collar 4, this collar is used for fixing the pipe to the end piece and for sealing it. The nozzle thus formed is intended to be fitted into a tee made either of cast aluminum, as they already exist on the market, or of any other material, in particular for agricultural watering, this tee is optionally fixed on an iron-shaped support in U 7 directly placed on the ground allowing it to be kept on the ground. The tee 3 is tapped or threaded and has a groove with joints at the other two ends, the threading or tapping allows the screwing of a valve 8. This valve allows the installation of a rigid tube or "pole" 10 thanks to a connecting means 9 of diameter corresponding to the valve. It is also possible not to put a valve and to directly screw a pole 11 on the tee. There are also pipe extension sleeves, a universal adapter is provided to allow connection to the fittings

  either fire or sprinkler.

  The device can include several tens of pipes and tees thus equipped. A filter 12, a valve 13 and a non-return valve 14 are provided at the inlet of each device. At each end of the poles is placed a diffuser 15 allowing the production of fine droplets of identical or different diameters, which makes it possible to generate a cloud of "misted" water made up of myriads of water or liquid droplets, of sizes that can vary from 10 to 1000 microns depending on the choice of fogger. We can therefore choose to "mist" by choosing the size of the droplets, by acting on the pressure, or by choosing an appropriate type of diffuser, sometimes they will be very fine droplets to neutralize or reprecipitate, by coalescence effect, a toxic aerosol, or fumes covering the area under the influence of the device, other times, it will be fine and medium droplets to cool and humidify the area, sometimes it will be all the diameters together (the surface and the volume covered by the device is variable according to the meteorology of the moment, drought, heat, wind), because we understand that with wind the surface influenced by the device

  can be greatly increased.

  The poles 10, 11 can also be held in place using horizontal arms 16, articulated on the support 7 to form, on the ground, a star with three or four branches, or more. One can also provide foldable tripods 17, retaining the pole using locking collars 18 mounted at their top, or feet 19 sunk into the ground and also provided with locking collars 18. A particularly interesting solution consists in provide, along the pole, necklaces 20 carrying permanent magnets 21, which can be fixed on a pre-existing support. In the figure, on the right, there is shown such a support in the form of a metal frame 22, forming, for example, an industrial building. The permanent presence of these necklaces and these magnets saves the time of setting up other

  means of support, whenever possible.

  There is also shown, at 23, a hook serving

  also to maintain the pole on the frame 22.

  The device allows the very rapid installation of an evolving "misting dam", from small to very long lengths, for example a standardized fire pump having a flow rate of 1000 liters minutes at 15 bars can supply a device length of several hundreds of meters in length. Indeed, by spacing the "misting poles" with a flow rate of 10 liters per meter, even with the cumulative pressure drops, there will be enough pressure to operate

  the device over the entire length.

  When installing a large number of "misting poles", the "misters" are calibrated according to the pressure to produce a flow of "misted" water adapted to the needs. In the event that the calibration has not been carried out, this will only be of importance

  limited on the flow rate of the first "misters".

  References 24 and 25 respectively designate a solenoid valve and a control member thereof with automatic triggering, equipped with sensors. It is thus possible to set up the device, for example at the start of a fire, and the control member acts on the solenoid valve only when the danger becomes clearer. The control member can be thermal, pyrotechnic, ionic, or infrared. He can also

be remotely controlled.

  A solenoid valve and its control member can also be arranged so as to control only a droplet emitting device, or a group of these devices.

Claims (6)

  1. Device for producing a cloud of droplets, this cloud having an elongated shape on the ground, this device comprising a series of means (15) for projecting droplets arranged in line above the ground, and flexible pipes (1) connecting these projection means to a source of pressurized liquid, characterized in that each droplet projection means are associated: - a rigid tubular tee (3), having two opposite openings, communicating with each other and provided each of a cylindrical part equipped with an O-ring seal, and a third opening, communicating with the other two and provided with a thread, - two tubular end pieces (2) each mounted on one end of one of two different flexible hoses (1), these end pieces being of diameter calculated to be linked by interlocking each with one of the ends carrying the opposite openings of the tee, and for cooperating, in an interlocked arrangement, with ec the O-ring to provide a tight connection, - collars (4), mounted on said sleeves, and each carrying at least one hook (5) capable of engaging with a corresponding relief of the tee, and an elastic means (6 ) suitable for keeping said hook in engagement, and thus ensuring a fixed, but removable, connection of the flexible pipe with the tee, - a rigid tube (10, 11), one end of which is threaded and can be mounted by screwing on the third opening of the tee, and the other end of which is rigidly connected to the means (15) for spraying droplets and carries this means, - means (7, 16 to 21) for holding said tube   rigid in a determined position relative to the ground.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for holding the rigid tube in its position comprise a rigid support (7, 16 to 19), linked to the tee, provided with anchoring means on the ground, or resting just on the floor.   3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for holding the rigid tube in its position comprise magnets (21), integral with the rigid tube and able to keep the latter in abutment against a support (22) , in suitable metal, preexisting.   4. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that a non-return valve (8) is interposed between the tee and the rigid tube and made integral of these parts by screwing.   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the tubes are made of a porous material intended to make them flammable.   6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is equipped with at least one   solenoid valve (24) and a control member (25) thereof, the solenoid valve being placed between the source of liquid and at least one means (15) for spraying droplets, and the control member (25 ) being at   automatic or remote controlled release.