GB2241562A

GB2241562A - Device for delayed activation of a valve

Info

Publication number: GB2241562A
Application number: GB9102618A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Bonk; Karl Koetter; Nikolaus Grainer
Original assignee: Total Walther Feuerschutz GmbH; Total Feuerschutz GmbH
Current assignee: Total Walther Feuerschutz GmbH; Total Feuerschutz GmbH
Priority date: 1990-02-23
Filing date: 1991-02-07
Publication date: 1991-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-07
Also published as: FR2658896B1; FR2658896A1; DE4005777C1; GB9102618D0; IT1244744B; NL193721C; NL9100172A; GB2241562B; ITMI910384A0; NL193721B; ITMI910384A1; BE1003837A3

Abstract

In a device for delayed activation of a valve, in particular a valve of a fire extinguishing installation, the delay time is able to be set by an electromechanically driven delay device (1) which acts on the opening element (3) of the valve by means of a trigger mechanism (2). Built-in between the delay device (1) and the trigger mechanism (2) is a power transmitter (5), which is arrestable by a locking element (4). When needed, e.g. in the event of fire, after the expiration of the delay time, the power transmitter (5) is released by the locking element (4), actuating the trigger mechanism (2) which in turn activates the valve. <IMAGE>

Description

2,-? A:I- 5 C, DEVICE FOR DELAYED ACTIVATION OF A VALVE The invention

relates to a device for delayed activation of a valve, in particular for use in fire extinguishing installations, wherein the length of the delay (the delay time) is able to be set by an electromechanically driven delay device which acts on the opening element of the valve by means of a trigger mechanism.

Such a device is described in DEOS 38 26 300.In this a thneaded spindle is driven by a motor, the spindle driving in turn a threaded sleeve which does not rotate with the spindle. A catch connected to the threaded sleeve moves a trigger lever, which opens the valve. In this embodiment the trigger lever is moved by the motor-driven threaded sleeve itself and the valve is thus directly opened by the delay device.

Central fire alarm systems today are built into standard designs of fire extinguishing installations. Delay devices for opening the extinguishing valve are a component part of central fire alarm systems. The direct opening of the valve is disadvantageous because the opening force is only applied relatively slowly and thus a large number of revolutions of the electric motor is required in order to achieve a quick advance of the delay device.

For a temporally accurate operating sequence of the delay device, time tolerances are set within narrow limits. Also the manufacturing tolerances of existing components of fire extinguishing installations are kept within narrow limits, in order to ensure broad safety reserves. In particular with fire extinguishing installations using fire extinguishing substances which are dangerous to people, such as for example C021 sufficient safety is not guaranteed with the prior. art.

Mechanical delay and opening devices are expensive for reasons of the manufacturing technology. Because of possible corrosion, wear of the mobile parts and therefore inaccuracies with regard to the operating sequence or the like, such devices have a large residual risk. Electric installations can have undelayed effective triggering due to external influences such as lightning strike or-magneto-electric induction.

Proceeding from DE-OS 38 26 300 the underlying object of the invention is to avoid the described disadvantages and to increase many times over the safety of opening the valve in the event of fire and to avoid the danger of unintentional release as a result of induction, lightning or the like.

This object is solved by providing the trigger mechanism with a separate locking element which is arrestable by the delay device, and which is released after the expiration of the delay time thereby activating the opening element.

With the device according to the invention a chosen, variable multiple of the required force for opening the valve is used up and thus safety is achieved, such that outer influences cannot cause an undesired, undelayed release. The essential feature of the invention is seen in the provision of a power transmitter which is incorporated between the delay device and the trigger mechanism. This power transmitter can be designed as a mechanical, pneumatic, electric or hydraulic element.

In the exemplary embodiments the power transmitters are represented in each case schematically but described closely. Further features of the invention characterised in the subclaims are illustrated more closely in the following description of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a power transmitter with a mechanical power store in the form of a tensioned spring; Figure 2 shows a power transmitter with mechanical power store; Figure 3 shows a pneumatic power transmitter with 5 a gas cartridge as a power store; Figure 4 shows a pneumatic power transmitter with a control bottle as a power store; Figure 5 shows a pneumatic power transmitter with a fire extinguishing substance as a power store; Figure 6 shows a power transmitter of an electric and pyrotechnic design; Figure 7 shows a power transmitter with direct force transmission.

The invention consists substantially of the delay device 1, the trigger mechanism 2, the opening element 3, the locking element 4 and the power transmitter 5.

These five features are in all the embodiments and described in each case individually.

According to Figure 1 the delay device 1 consists of a motor 5, which drives a spindle screw 7, on which a spindle nut 8 is mounted. The spindle nut 8 is drawn towards the motor 6 during operation, which causes a catch pin 9 secured to the spindle nut 8 to run against a stop 10 provided on a bolt 11 which is mounted in a support 12 and which is thereby pulled back towards the motor 6.

The trigger mechanism 2 is mounted in a bearing 16 and consists of a trigger piston 14 provided with an activation rod 15. A spring 18 is provided as a power transmitter 5 which rests against stops 17 and 19. A lever 20 is provided as a locking element 4, which lever rests, on the one hand, on the axially displaceable piston 22 of the bolt 11 and, on the other hand, on the trigger piston 14. In the exemplary embodiment the lever 20 is provided in its upper part with a mounting 23 having a projecting end 24 which rests against the lower end 25 of the piston 14. If the bolt 11 is pulled towards the motor 6, the lower end 26 of the lever 20 is released, so that the tensioned spring 18 swings the projecting end 24 away around the point 23 and the spring 18 is thus free to push the activating rod 15 against the opening element 3, whereby the extinguishing valve 13 is opened. The swivelling point 23 can also be arranged in the centre of the lever 20.

According to Figure 2 the delay device 1 consists of a motor 27, which drives a gear wheel 28. This gear wheel 28 is engaged with a gear rack 29 of a sliding sleeve 30, which, together with an opening piston 31, forms the trigger mechanism 2. The piston 31 is mounted in a tube 32, which in turn is secured to a housing 33. Built-in between one wall 34 of the housing 33 and the opening piston 31 there is a spring 35 which acts as the power transmitter 5. Within the tube 32 and the opening piston 31 there is provided a groove 36, in which several balls 37.which act as the locking mechanism, are laid. In the event of fire the motor 27 moves the gear rack 29 in the direction of the arrow 41. If a distance 42 is covered, the balls 37 fall into a free space 38 in the sliding sleeve 30 and are collected there by the catch 39. In this way the opening piston 31 is released with the rod'40, and the spring 35 pushes the rod 40 against the opening element 3, whereby the extinguishing valve 13 is opened.

According to Figure 3 the delay device 1 is provided with a control plate 44, which is driven by a motor 43. The plate 44 pushes a pin 45 into the bore 46 of a housing 47. On the other open end of the housing 47 a cylinder 48 is provided with a piston 49 and a piston rod 50, wherein the cylinder 48 is open to the housing 47. Within the housing 47 a gas cartridge 51 is provided which acts as the power transmitter 5.

j The gas cartridge 51 is sealed by a bottle head 52 with a sealing foil 53 which acts as the locking element 4. Between the gas cartridge 51 and the piston 49 a cartridge pin 55 is arranged by means of supports 54. During opening, the pin 45 pushes the gas cartridge 51 against the cartridge pin 55, so that this tears the sealing film 53 and thus releases the content of the gas cartridge 51. The pressurized gas in the gas cartridge 51 drives the piston 49 with the piston rod 50 against the opening element 3, so that through this the extinguishing valve 13 is opened.

According to Figure 4 the electro-mechanical delay device 1 comprises a motor 56, which drives an element 58 by way of a spindle 57. A valve 60 is opened by way of a device 59, which valve serves as the locking element 4. This valve 60 is connected by way of a line 61 to a control bottle 62, which is filled with a pressurized gas and serves as the power transmitter 5. On the other hand, the valve 60 is connected to a cylinder 64, in which a piston 65 with piston rod is located. If, by way of the delay device 1, the valve 60 is opened, a pressurized gas flows from the control bottle 62 into the chamber 66 of the cylinder 64 and drives the piston 65 with the piston rod against the, opening element 3 and thus opens the extinguishing valve 13, so that by way of the line 67 the extinguishing substance can flow from the extinguishing bottle 68.

According to Figure 5 the delay device 1 consists of a motor 69, which drives a spindle 70 and a device 71, with which an opening device 72 of a valve 73 is opened. These parts form the locking element 4. The valve 73 is, on the one hand, connected by way of a bypass line 74 to the head of the a bottle 68 containing a fire extinguishing substance and, on the other hand, by way of a line 75 to a cylinder 76, which acts as a trigger mechanism 2. The cylinder 76 is equipped with a piston 77 and a piston rod 78, which acts on the extinguishing valve 13 thereby opening it. The cylinder 76 with its piston 77 and piston rod 78 serves as the opening element 3. After opening the valve 73 the extinguishing substance flows by way of the bypass line 74 and the line 75 into the chamber 79 of the cylinder 76 and thus opens the extinguishing valve 13.

According to Figure 6 the delay device 1 is formed from a motor 80, a spindle 81 and an axially mobile spindle nut 82. A locking element 4 is connected to the spindle nut 82, which element consists of a plate 83 and a rod 84. In this exemplary embodiment the plate 83 acts as an additional blocking element against unintentional - opening of the extinguishing valve 13.

- The trigger mechanism 2 consists of an electric switch 85 with switch button 86 and is connected to an electric line 87. An electric line 88 leads from the switch 85 to a pyrotechnic power transmitter 5. This consists of a housing 89 with a piston 90 and a piston rod 91. The chamber 92 is filled with a pyrotechnic charge and provided with an electric igniter (fuse) 93. In the event of fire the spindle nut 82 and thus the plate 83 with the rod 84 is moved to the control button 86 of the switch 85, so that the switch 85 closes and the current can therefore flow by way of the lines 87 and 88. By way of the igniter 93 the pyrotechnic charge is ignited and thus the piston 90 with the rod 91 can be thrown abruptly against the opening element 3, whereby the extinguishing valve 13 is opened. If, for example, lightning strikes in the electric line 87 and thus forms a spark gap to the line 88 then in this case even with ignition of the pyrotechnic charge the opening element 3 cannot be moved because the plate 83 prevents movement of the opening element 3. Instead of 1 4 the pyrotechnic charge 92 an electromagnet can be provided, which with the flow of current along the lines 87 and 88 moves the piston rod 91 and thus opens the extinguishing valve 13. Also an additional motor, instead of the pyrotechnic charge, can be provided for the opening element 3.

According to Figure 7 the delay device 1 consists of a motor 95 with a spindle 96 and spindle nut 97, which presses against a plate 98 of the release mechanism 2. The power transmitter 5 consists of springs (106) within a stepped cylinder 99 having a smaller cylindrical part 100 and a larger cylindrical part 101. In the smaller cylindrical part 100 a piston 102 with a piston rod 103, which is connected to the plate 98, is provided. In the larger cylindrical part 101 a piston 104 with a piston rod 105, which rests on the opening element 3, is provided. Tension springs 106 are allocated to the piston 102 and compression springs 107 to the piston 104. If the spindle nut 97 moves the piston 102, pressure builds up inside the cylinder 99, then the opening element 3 is moved when the forces of the springs 107 are overcome. These springs act therefore as the locking element 4.

The invention is not bound to the examples represented. It is, for example, conceivable that the delay device 1 not only consists of a motor, spindle and spindle nut, but also of a motor with a control plate and control pin. In this way the control plate can be formed as a cam plate or the like. Also it is conceivable that in all cases the delay device consists of a gear wheel with a gear rack. Also the additional blocking element 83/84 represented in Figure 6 can be used according to the invention in this or a similar form with all remaining exemplary embodiments.

Claims

1. A device for the delayed activation of a valve, in particular a valve situated in a fire extinguishing installation, which comprises:

(a) a delay device, which sets the length of the delay before activation of the valve (the delay time); (b) a locking element controllable by the delay device; (c) a power transmitter arrestable by the locking element during the delay time and releasable after the expiration of the delay time; and (d) a trigger mechanism actuatable by release of the power transmitter and capable of activating the valve by acting on an opening element of the valve. 15

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locking element is in a position arresting the power transmitter until expiration of the delay time when it is released from that position by the delay device causing release of the power transmitter. 20

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power transmitter is a mechanical, pneumatic, chemical, electrical, or hydraulic element.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the power transmitter is mechanical and comprises a spring connected to the trigger mechanism, which spring is compressed when the power transmitter is arrested by the locking element.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the locking element is a lever connected at one end to the delay device and at the other end is capable of arresting the power transmitter.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the lever is pivotable and wherein after the delay time the delay device causes the lever to pivot so as to reiease the power transmitter thereby actuating the trigger mechanism to activate the valve.

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7. A device according to claim 4, wherein the locking element takes the form of one or more locking member,, capable of arresting the power transmitter by cooperating with corresponding means provided on the 5 power transmitter.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the one or more locking member is spherical is shape and the co-operating means is a groove of semicircular cross-section.

9. A device according to claim 3, wherein the power transmitter is pneumatic and comprises a pressurized fluid store, the fluid content of which is kept in the fluid store by means of the locking element and is capable of actuating the trigger mechanism upon release by the.locking element.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the locking element is a foil sealing the fluid store.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the sealing foil is pierced by a.pin upon expiry of the delay time to release the fluid for actuation of the trigger mechanism.

12. A device according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the fluid store is a gas cartridge.

13. A device according to claim 9, wherein the locking element is a valve in a line from the fluid store.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the locking valve is opened after the delay time by the delay device. 30

15. A device according to claim 9, 13 or 14, wherein the fluid store is a control bottle.

16. A device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the fluid store is a fire extinguishing substance container of a fire extinguishing installation. 35

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the locking valve is in a line from the container which is separate from the line from the container in which the valve to be activated is situated and by which the fire extinguishing substance is conducted for fire extinguishing. 5

18. A device according to claim 3, wherein the power transmitter takes the form of a pyrotechnic element ignitable by an electric switch activatable by the locking element.

19. A device according to claim 3, wherein the power transmitter is electrical and is in the form of an electromagnet, which is connected to an electric switch activatable by the locking element.

20. A device according to claim 3, wherein the power transmitter is electrical and is in the form of an electric motor, which is connected to an electric switch activatable by the locking element.

21. A device according to claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein the locking element is attached to the delay device, and after the expiration of the delay time switches on the electric switch.

22. A device according to claim 1, containing a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder provided with a piston at each end, wherein the delay device acts on one piston and the other piston is the trigger mechanism capable of acting on the opening element, and the locking element takes the form of one or more spring acting against the trigger mechanism piston and the power transmitter takes the form of one or more spring acting against the other piston and capable of overcoming the force of the one or more locking spring upon expiration of the delay time to allow the trigger mechanism to activate the valve.

23. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the trigger element is a piston having a p iston rod capable of activating the valve.

24. A device according to any preceding claim, S; wherein the delay device comprises a motor which drives a spindle screw on which is mounted a spindle nut connected to a bolt in contact with the locking element, the arrangement being such that during the delay time the bolt is drawn towards the motor and away from the locking element.

25. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the delay device comprises an electric motor-driven wheel gear wheel, which is engaged with a with a gear rack in contact with the locking element and movable with respect to the gear wheel during the delay time so as to release the locking element upon expiration of the delay time.

26. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the delay device comprises an electric motor-driven control plate moveable with respect to the motor during the delay time.

27. A device according to claim 26, wherein the control plate is in contact with the locking element during the delay time but upon expiration of the delay time releases the locking element which in turn can then release the power transmitter.

28. A device according to claim 26, wherein the control plate is not initially in contact with the locking element but upon expiration of the delay time it contacts the locking plate in such a way as to cause it to release the power transmitter.

29. A device according to any preceding claim which further includes a blocking element capable of preventing unintentional activation of the valve.

30. A device for the delayed activation of a valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1; 2; 3; 5; 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at The Pat eni Offire. Conrepi House. Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 1RH. Further copies maybe obtained from