GB2388024A

GB2388024A - Ampoules for sprinklers

Info

Publication number: GB2388024A
Application number: GB0307298A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Scheel
Original assignee: Minimax GmbH and Co KG; Preussag AG Minimax
Current assignee: Minimax GmbH and Co KG; Preussag AG Minimax
Priority date: 2002-04-29
Filing date: 2003-03-31
Publication date: 2003-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-31
Also published as: DE10219079A1; GB2388024B; GB0307298D0; DE10219079B4

Abstract

A method of producing glass ampoules as thermo-sensitive elements for sprinklers comprises subjecting the unfilled ampoule to a tempering process, surface treating the central portion of the ampoule between its ends, mounting the ampoule in a filling magazine 1, immersing the magazine in the filling liquid, and accelerating it to fill the ampoules. The tempering process takes place for up to seven hours at a temperature of up to 600{C. The surface treatment is effected by sandblasting.

Description

/ Method for producing glass ampoules and device for storage The invention

relates to a method for producing glass ampoules having a liquid filling corresponding to the preamble of the first patent claim and to a device for storing glass ampoules.

The invention can be applied in any situation where glass ampoules are intended to be produced with a liquid filling which, within a narrow temperature range, are intended to release rapidly and reliably mechanical elements with a maximum thermal detection function for systems, the glass ampoules produced according to this method having defined properties in all regions and being tillable in large quantities rapidly and reliably with the ampoule liquid.

Temperature-controlled safety devices, such as spray or sprinkler nozzles for fire extinguishers, are known and function in such a manner that, between a nozzle body and a bow, a glass ampoule is disposed directly or indirectly, in which a so-called bursting liquid is situated which expands in the case of a temperature difference and causes the glass ampoule to rupture above a specific temperature. The glass ampoule retains for example a sealing element for closing the nozzle opening in its correct position and hence closes the nozzle opening.

An extinguishing liquid or respectively a gas with pressure, which is sealed directly or indirectly by the glass ampoule, adjoins the sprinkleror fire extinguisher nozzle.

l It is prescribed that small splinters are produced during this rupture process. The glass ampoule must withstand functional and mounting loads plus an increased factor of safety. If the surrounding temperature around the sprinkler rises above a specific value, the filling liquid expands so far that the glass ampoule ruptures and the nozzle opening for the extinguishing liquid is released so that extinguishing of the fire can be effected. The filling of the glass ampoules can be effected with various ampoule liquids. Which ampoule liquid is possible depends upon which requirements are placed upon the sprinkler. According to for which temperature differences the sprinkler is used, the ampoule liquids are provided with various colours which indicate the nominal opening temperature of the sprinkler. Glass ampoules and production methods for glass ampoules for fire extinguishing systems have been known for a long time and have various forms and diameters, are produced by the most varied of methods and are used in various components of all types.

These glass ampoules can have any form as can be seen in DE 3601203. This glass ampoule has an oblong form, the lower and upper end presenting a bone shape. The central part of the glass ampoule has a uniform diameter. The thickened ends are intended to ensure reliable introduction of the forces

into the central part of the ampoule.

A release member with an internally disposed straight base is represented in DE 38 22 696 C2, a release member with a curved base in GB 2 314 770 A, both release members having straight walls across their length. The production of a

release member emerges from US 1,328,530 which is also described in DE 38 08 384 C1.

Ampoule liquids of different types according to the use of the glass ampoule are also known to technicians. Some suitable ampoule liquids are mentioned in WO 88/06046.

The present glass ampoules have however various qualities which are revealed in particular in the fact that ampoules with poor quality are released in a very wide temperature spectrum and glass ampoules of high quality in a very narrow temperature spectrum. The quality of the glass ampoule can be based on the ampoule liquid and its filling into the glass ampoule, on the topping-up of the glass ampoule and on its production. A prerequisite for high quality of the ampoule is the high and uniform strength which it has relative to its mountings and an adequate and defined stability in the central region.

Furthermore, it is always important for a producer of glass ampoules to be able to fill large quantities of ampoules in the shortest time and rapidly and reliably in defined conditions. It is therefore the object of the invention to develop a glass ampoule which reacts in as narrow a temperature range as possible, said ampoule being intended to have a high strength with constant properties and being intended to display adequate and well defined stability in the central region and a rapid and reliable filling of large quantities of ampoules being possible, small splinters being intended to be produced during release of the ampoule.

This object is achieved by a method with the features of the first patent claim and a device according to patent claim 5.

The sub-claims present advantageous embodiments of the invention. The method according to the invention for producing glass ampoules having an ampoule liquid for sprinklers in fire extinguishing systems provides initially that unfinished ampoules of the desired length and contour are produced from a glass tube. The ends of these unfinished ampoules are subjected initially to a tempering process. It is advantageous to have this tempering process take place at a temperature of up to 600 C, preferably the temperature should be between 400 and 600 C. The duration of the tempering process can be up to 7 hours. A period of time between 1. 5 to 6 hours, preferably 4 to 6 hours, is regarded as a favourable period of time within which the glass ampoules should remain in a tempering furnace.

By means of the tempering, it is achieved that both ends of the glass ampoule and its central portion no longer have tensions so that destruction of the glass ampoules in the regions in which the glass ampoule is mounted is thus not possible as a matter of course.

Breaking of the glass ampoule in a sprinkler is generally i intended to be effected with small splinters in its central region. This presupposes that this region ruptures at the same temperature in the case of all glass ampoules used for one temperature range. In order to achieve this, the

nti n pro ides t Central Portion of th P Ule is subjected ace treatment' the ai f s a defined and uni tering in the central Various methods ar e Conceivab is purpose. A simple Option for this resid urface treatment which effected for example lasting' the time th e and the pressure sandblasting process b adjustable to indi i P les dependent upon th of the ampOule In order to impleme P filling of a large amP UleS With the i q id, the invention pro id a multiplicity of ampoules is inserted in recesses on a disc, after which the fill ne is immersed in th fi and is radial ated in the latter f This Process ca eluded after one minus i ay for a multiplicit es Subsequently a d filling plume is n the amPoules which pen at the top and a after cooling. Testi properties with regard to maintenance of the structural Parameters is effect run, With a partial determined accOrdin rules, in real rep d Conditions The Produced in this way the Sprinkler for Hi Systems. for Producing glas this Connection has th glass ampoules are Producible which react within a very narrow temperature region, are fairly insensitive to g installation and th

mall splinters being d in a rapid manner, reduced during the ruptu In the fOllowing, the invention is explained in more detail The Figures show by means of an embodiment and two Figures.

s ampoules in plan Figure 1: de ice for storage without glas view amPouleS in section 2 device for storage wi - A Figure 1 shows the device for storing glass ampoules which ions 3 for 40 glass hape of a disc 1 and h re fixed laterally to les Mountings for t the disc 1.

disc 1 Which Shows through the Figure 2 shows a section 4 A plurality of ssiOns 3 for the Alas filling the glass i of this type can b ampoules. le proceeds in the h d for producing a gl roduced initially anner Unfinished amp from glass bars or tubes which are hollow internally, in n and separated so which the glass bars are shaped by heati g are produced. These i di idual unfinished amp tempering furna fi ished ampoules are t P oC to 600 C for se eral i a temperature range hours. Quality control takes place thereafter.

subsequently, a surface treatment takes place in such a Ejected to methods h t al the glass ampere

in which the surface of the ampoules is changed by means of mechanical effects. For this purpose, the glass ampoules must be retained in front of the device in a suitable manner.

A relative movement should take place between the surface treatment device and the glass ampoule.

The surface treatment is effected until defined properties of the ampoule are detectable.

Thereafter, the ampoules are sorted in the above-described magazines and introduced into the ampoule liquid for filling.

The ampoule liquid can have various colours. For example the colour red is used for the releasing temperature of the glass ampoule - from 68 C. The colour green for a releasing temperature of the glass ampoule of 93 C for example and the colour blue for a releasing temperature of the ampoule liquid of 141 C. Which chemical composition the ampoule liquid has was mentioned initially and is known to the person skilled in the art. The magazine with the ampoules is then radially accelerated for up to two minutes, after which all the ampoules are filled. It is advantageous to subject a plurality of magazines to this process at the same time and to fill them in this manner. Corresponding appliances are known to the person skilled in the art.

After the filling process, the glass ampoules are further treated in the known manner, i.e. they are brought to a filling volume which is defined for their releasing temperature, they are cooled, sealed and checked. After a visual check, the releasing temperature and the axial breaking load is tested. Thereafter, the glass ampoule can be supplied to its purpose of use.

Claims

( Claims

1. Method for producing glass ampoules having a liquid filling of thermosensitive elements, preferably sprinklers in systems, preferably fire extinguishing systems, the unfinished ampoules being produced in the known manner, characterized in that the unfilled glass ampoule is subjected to a tempering process, a surface treatment takes place at the central portion of the glass ampoule, the glass ampoule is sorted in a filling magazine, is immersed in the filling liquid and is accelerated in this, after which the ampoules are further treated in the known manner and if necessary a test is effected between the individual method steps.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that tempering takes place at a temperature of up to 600 C.

3 Method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the tempering process lasts for up to 7 hours.

4. Method according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the surface treatment is effected by means of sandblasting.

5. Device for storing glass ampoules in a method according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that recesses (3) for the glass ampoules (4) which are to be inserted are a disposed in a disc (1) with at least two mountings (2).