GB2390019A

GB2390019A - Sprinkler system

Info

Publication number: GB2390019A
Application number: GB0214601A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Cranswick
Original assignee: AQUA MIST FIRE PROT Ltd; AQUA MIST FIRE TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Current assignee: AQUA MIST FIRE PROT Ltd; AQUA MIST FIRE TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Priority date: 2002-06-25
Filing date: 2002-06-25
Publication date: 2003-12-31
Also published as: GB0214601D0

Abstract

A sprinkler system comprises a nozzle block 2 adapted to be mounted to a side wall of a room, the nozzle block comprising a water inlet 10, upper and lower water outlets 6, 8 with at least one passageway therebetween, and a valve located in the passageway for controlling the flow of water through the block, said valve communicating with actuation means 14. The upper outlet 6 comprises a substantially elongate aperture 7.

Description

Sprinkler System The present invention relates to sprinkler systems and

particularly, although not exclusively, to wall-mounted 5 fire sprinkler systems.

Sprinkler systems are commonly installed in residential environments in order to combat the outbreak of fire.

Sprinkler systems include a number of separate sprinkler 10 nozzle blocks each fitted with sprinkler nozzles through which water mist is ejected upon activation. Activation is normally caused by the heat of the fire itself. The nozzle blocks are connected to a water supply and water flow though the block and out of the nozzles is controlled by a 15 valve.

At normal room temperatures, the valve is maintained in a closed configuration by the engagement of an activation bulb. The activation bulb contains activation fluid having 20 a defined expansion sensitivity temperature, and when the temperature in the room rises causing the fluid to expand, the bulb shatters thereby disengaging itself from the valve. The water is then able to flow freely through the nozzle block, out of the nozzles as mist, and onto the 25 fire.

However, when access to the ceiling is difficult or not possible, the nozzle blocks have to be installed into side walls of the room instead. Problems associated with wall 30 mounted nozzle blocks are that it is difficult to achieve optimum coverage of water mist horizontally across a room.

In addition to shooting water mist horizontally, it has not been possible to give adequate downwards spray to

cover the floor space below the nozzle in order to deprive the fire of oxygen which is at the floor level. The minimum protection required from a side wall mounted nozzle block is about five metres horizontally. Current 5 water mist technology is only able to reach three metres horizontally with no downwards protection whatsoever.

It is one aim of embodiments of the present invention to address the above problems and to provide a water mist 10 sprinkler system which provides good horizontal and downwards protection from a wall mounted nozzle block.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sprinkler system comprising a nozzle 15 block adapted to be mounted to a side wall of a room, the nozzle block comprising a water inlet, upper and lower water outlets with at least one passageway therebetween, a valve located in the passageway for controlling the flow of water through the block, said valve communicating with 20 actuation means, which actuation means is operable to actuate the nozzle block, wherein the upper outlet comprises a substantially elongate aperture.

The upper outlet may be a flat, generally horizontally 25 aligned elongate shape, preferable oval-shaped. The lower outlet may comprise a substantially round aperture. The aperture may be cone shaped.

Preferably, in use, when mounted onto the side wall, the 30 upper outlet and, more preferably, the oval-shaped aperture thereof is arranged to point substantially along a horizontal plane across the room in which the nozzle block is mounted. Preferably, the direction of the upper

outlet makes an angle of about 90 to a vertical axis of the room. Advantageously, and preferably, the upper outlet generates a flattened, preferably oval-shaped, cone of water mist across a horizontal axis of the room.

Preferably, in use when mounted onto the side wall, the lower outlet and, more preferably, the cone-shaped aperture thereof, is arranged to point downwardly with respect to the upper outlet. Preferably, the direction of 10 the lower outlet makes an angle of about 0 -89 , more preferably 10 60 , and most preferably, 30 -40 up from a vertical axis.

Advantageously, the lower outlet produces a cone shaped 15 jet of water mist which interacts with the flat cone of water mist ejected out of the upper outlet thereby increasing the distance of ejection. Hence, the arrangement and shape of the two outlets enables a horizontal range of about seven metres to be achieved. In 20 addition, the lower outlet ensures good downwards protection is achieved.

Preferably, the actuation means comprises temperature sensing means which preferably, comprises a sprinkler 25 activation bulb.

The nozzle block may be concealed behind cover means.

Preferably, the cover means comprises at least one slot through which hot gases emanating from a fire may pass.

30 Preferably, the cover means comprises at least one aperture through which the upper and preferably, the lower outlet may extend.

The sprinkler system may be fitted in a residential environment, preferably a residential premises or room.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, 5 there is provided a method of preventing the spread of fire in a room, said method comprising the installation of a sprinkler system according to the first aspect in a room. 10 Preferably, the system is installed in a side wall of the room. All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a fire sprinkler nozzle block; Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of the nozzle block 25 shown in Figure 1 along line A-A; Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the nozzle block mounted onto a side wall; and 30 Figure 4 shows a schematic front view of the nozzle block shown in Figure 3 along line B-B.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a fire sprinkler nozzle block 2 having a body section 4 which is supplied with water via inlet 10. The nozzle block 2 normally works at a pressure of 2 Bar - 12 Bar and the maximum pressure 5 through the block 2 should not exceed 34 Bar. Water pressure is normally achieved by pressure cylinders, pumps or mains water (not shown). The sprinkler system shown works initially from cylinders, and if necessary is supported by pumps or mains water.

The water is able to flow through internal passageways 5 inside the body 4 and exit the body 4 as water mist via a flat oval nozzle 6 and a solid cone nozzle 8. The flat oval nozzle 6 has a flat oval aperture 7, and the solid 15 cone nozzle 8 has a spherical aperture 9 as shown in Figure 2.

The flow of water through the nozzle block 2 and out of the nozzles 6,8 is controlled by a valve in the 20 passageways 5 (not shown). The solid cone nozzle 8 makes an angle with a vertical axis with respect to the room in which the nozzle block 2 is installed. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, angle H is 30 from the vertical. However, it should be appreciated that the 25 invention is not strictly restricted to an angle of 30 and that nozzle 8 may be mounted at other angles to the vertical. Referring to Figure 2, the nozzle block includes a 30 sprinkler activation bulb 14 connected to the side of the body 4 by gasket 12. An activation bulb tension screw 16

is provided at an end of the activation bulb 14 distal from the gasket 12 to maintain the bulb 14 in position.

At normal room temperatures, the valve is maintained in 5 passageways 5 in a closed configuration by the engagement of the activation bulb 14 therewith. The activation bulb 14 contains activation fluid (not shown) which has an expansion sensitivity temperature of 57 C. However, it should be appreciated that other bulb 14 activation 10 temperatures may be used. When the temperature in the room rises to 57 C, the fluid in the activation bulb 14 expands causing the bulb 14 to shatter. Upon shattering, the valve blocking the passageways 5 opens, thereby allowing water to flow freely through the nozzle block 2, and out of the 15 nozzles 6,8 as mist onto the fire.

Referring to Figure 3, the nozzle block 2 is shown installed into side wall 20 of a room. The nozzle block 2 is concealed behind cover plate 18 which is secured onto 20 the side wall 20 by fixings 22 either side thereof. The cover plate 18 is optional but is preferred for aesthetics reasons. The nozzle block 2 is arranged in the side wall 20 so that the flat oval nozzle 6, which partially extends through aperture 30 in the cover plate 18, points along a 25 horizontal axis with respect to the room in which it is installed. The solid cone nozzle 8 extends through aperture 30 in the cover plate 18 and is arranged to point downwardly towards the floor of the room making an angle of about 30 with the vertical axis with respect to the 30 room.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a front view of the nozzle block 2 in position on the side wall 20 concealed behind the cover plate 18. The flat oval aperture 7 and round aperture 9 of the two nozzles 6,8 respectively, can 5 be clearly seen. The cover plate 18 has a series of short elongate vent slots 24 extending around the circumference thereof through which hot gases emanating from the fire may pass.

10 When a fire starts in the room, a vortex of wind is generated which pulls oxygen into the room and forces hydrocarbons to leave the room. As the temperature in the room increases, hot gases produced from the fire reach the activation bulb 14 through the vent slots 24.

The liquid in the activation bulb 14 heats up and expands when it reaches 57 C. At this temperature, the bulb 14 shatters. As the bulb 14 blows, the valve is released, thereby allowing water to flow through the passageways 5 20 in the body 4. The water is then ejected out of the flat oval nozzle 6 and the solid cone nozzle 8 and through aperture 30 as water mist.

Advantages of the nozzle block 2 are as follows. The type 25 and orientation of the two nozzles 6,8 results in mist being ejected out of flat oval nozzle 6 along the horizontal plane of the room up to distances as far as 7 metres, and downward protection being achieved by the solid cone nozzle 8. The two jets of water mist ejected by 30 the nozzles 6,8 interact with each other to produce the desired coverage both across the room and towards the ground level. The shape of the aperture 7 of the flat cone nozzle 6 produces a flat cone of water mist which is able

to propel much further distances than a round cone of water mist can. In addition, the interaction of the round cone of mist produced by nozzle 8 with the flat cone of mist produced by nozzle 6, propels the latter even further 5 distances than if the nozzle block 2 consisted of the flat oval nozzle 6 alone. Hence, arranging the two nozzles 6,8 adjacent each other such that nozzle 8 points at an angle of 30 angle from the vertical is important to the invention. All of the features disclosed in this specification

(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, 15 except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to 20 this specification in connection with this application and

which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and

documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including

any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated 30 otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any

5 accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A sprinkler system comprising a nozzle block adapted to be mounted to a side wall of a room, the nozzle block comprising a water inlet, upper and lower water outlets with at least one passageway therebetween, a valve located in the passageway for controlling the flow of water through the block, said valve communicating with actuation means, which actuation means is operable to actuate the lo nozzle block, wherein the upper outlet comprises a substantially elongate aperture.

2. A sprinkler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper outlet is a flat, generally horizontally aligned 15 elongate shape.

3. A sprinkler system as claimed in either of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the upper outlet is flat and oval-shaped.

20

4. A sprinkler system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lower outlet comprises a substantially round aperture.

5. A sprinkler system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the 25 aperture is cone shaped.

6. A sprinkler system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, in use, when mounted onto the side wall, the upper outlet is arranged to point substantially along a 30 horizontal plane across the room in which the nozzle block is mounted.

7. A sprinkler system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the direction of the upper outlet makes an angle of about 90 to a vertical axis of the room.

5

8. A sprinkler system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upper outlet generates a flattened cone of water mist across a horizontal axis of the room.

9. A sprinkler system as claimed in any preceding claim, lo wherein, in use, when mounted onto the side wall, the lower outlet is arranged to point downwardly with respect to the upper outlet.

10. A sprinkler system as claimed in any preceding claim, 15 wherein the direction of the lower outlet makes an angle of about 0 -89 up from a vertical axis.

11. A sprinkler system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuation means comprises temperature sensing 20 means.

12. A sprinkler system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the temperature sensing means comprises a sprinkler activation bulb.

13. A sprinkler system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the nozzle block is concealed behind cover means.

14. A sprinkler system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the 30 cover means comprises at least one slot through which hot gases emanating from a fire may pass.

15. A sprinkler system as claimed in either of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the cover means comprises at least one aperture through which the upper and the lower outlet may extend.

16. A sprinkler system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sprinkler system is fitted in a residential environment. lo

17. A method of preventing the spread of fire in a room, said method comprising the installation of a sprinkler system, as defined by any preceding claim, in a room.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the system is 15 installed in a side wall of the room.

l9. A sprinkler system substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings. 20. A method of preventing the spread of fire in a room, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.