GB2486185A

GB2486185A - Pressurised Fire and Smoke Suppression System

Info

Publication number: GB2486185A
Application number: GB1020531.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Niall Campbell Hastie; Michael Campbell Hastie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-03
Filing date: 2010-12-03
Publication date: 2012-06-13
Also published as: GB201020531D0

Abstract

A stand-alone pressurised sprinkler system comprises individual on-board supplies of both fire-retardant 4 and propellant 3 that are expelled under pressure by sprinkler heads 24 via a network of pipes 11 and joints 12. The system may be activated either manually using the activation unit (figure 3) or automatically using a temperature sensor. The system is operable in isolation from any other system or feeds, and so is suitable for retro-fitting to existing buildings. The fire-retardant/propellant containers may be re-fillable and together with the control unit 5 may be enclosed in a suitable case 1.

Description

I

Title: Fire and Smoke Suppression Evacuation Aid

Background:

This invention relates to a system of devices packaged together and designed to aid in the safe evacuation of a property in the event of a fire.

Statement of invention

When a fire occurs in a property, smoke and fumes are major factors that prevent people from escaping from the property safely. They also contribute greatly to injuries and fatalities, by rendering people unconscious or incapacitated. To aid in this situation the invention proposes a system of linked-together sprinkler units, with a self-contained supply of water/fire-retardant with a pressurised release system. This can be activated either manually or automatically to help clear smoke and fumes and lower the temperature along a route to an exit, allowing people a safer manner of escaping from the premises.

Advantages: The system has a design that allows for various mounting and installation situations to be allowed for.

Preferably it has an expandable range of fitments to suit different sizes and layouts of properties) both residential and commercial.

Preferably the main parts and exposed parts are made from materials resistant to damage from heat and other conditions found in the event of a fire.

Preferably it has compressed air/inert-gas/liquid propellant.

Preferably it has a system allowing manual activation as well as an automated function.

Preferably it has an on-board power supply for electronic activation as well as a mechanical system, and a temperature controlled fail-safe.

Preferably it is re-chargeable) and re-usable in the event it is not damaged after use.

Preferably it is an expandable system, customisable to suit different layouts and installation parameters.

Preferably it can be packaged all together as one kit, and marketed as such.

Preferably it can be installed to new-build properties both residential and commercial, as well as being available to retro-fit to existing properties in a straightforward manner, by qualified persons.

Preferably it can be fitted with or use existing sprinkler head designs.

introduction to Drawings:

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the following drawings: Figure 1 shows the main unit with pressurised container, water/fire retardant container, control unit, power cables and start of piping connection to sprinklers.

Figure 2 shows the specially designed piping and sprinkler connection device.

Figure 3 shows the wall mounted activation unit.

Figure 4 shows the entire system linked together.

Detailed Description:

At Figure 1: Mounted securely on/in a metal backboard or casing 1, which is designed to be mounted by its built in mounting plates 2, either horizontally or vertically depending on available space, is the pressurised container 3, the water/fire retardant mixture container 4, the control unit 5, and connecting cables and piping.

The unit is designed to have a metal/or other suitable material cover, which is installed once the unit has been secured in place, preventing accidental damage and also giving protection to the device and it's parts inside. The Control Unit 5 is connected to an electricity supply 6, which gives power to the device, and also charges an on-board battery unit 7 to supply power in the event of a mains power failure. The Control Unit 5 is connected to the Remote activation unit shown at Figure 3, by cable 8. The control unit S is also connected to an electrically operated release valve 9 situated on the Pressurised Container 3 which upon use of the Remote Activation unit at Fig. 3 allows and controls the release of the propellant mixture into the Water/Fire Retardant container 4, thus expelling the mixture out of the container at the bottom side through an electrically operated release valve 10 activated at the same time as 9, through the piping 11 and out through the Sprinkler Heads Fig. 4 attached to the system. The size of the pressurised container 3 is variable and allows that the volume of water/fire retardant mixture would be suitable to allow a continued spray of fine mist/droplets from the sprinkler heads dampening down any fire and smoke for a period of a minimum of 90 seconds to seconds from activation, allowing person(s) a safer exit route from the premises.

At Figure 2: This shows the specially designed t-piece' style joint 12, which are included with the device/kit. Figure 2 shows a dotted line 13 which indicates the internal space, which allows fluid to circulate and be expelled from the connection 14 through the sprinkler heads attached. At the ridged connecting ends 15 is where suitable supplied tubing/piping is pressed on and over the ridges which provides grip and a complete seal. Indicated at 16 is the space where the ends of the tubing/piping are pushed over and then secured against the vertical ridge by adjustable circular clips to prevent them being pulled back out of position or worked loose. Indicated at 14 is the connection part which is threaded/shaped internally to suit connection and sealing to suitable sprinkler head(s) once the positioning and placement of them has been determined and the tubing/piping 17 cut to the proper lengths required. The system is designed so that anywhere from two sprinkler points upwards to approximately five can be inserted by use of these joints 12 depending on the layout required. Joints 12 can be supplied with different lengths of the joining part 18 to suit different installation conditions where longer or shorter lengths may be required.

At Figure 3: This shows the design for the Remote Activation control for the device. It is designed in a secure, waterproof and heat resistant, shockproof casing 19 and connected to the devices control unit by cable 20. The t-piece lever 21 is fitted behind breakable glass 22, which prevents unwarranted or accidental discharge of the system. The unit also has a built-in temperature sensor, which will automatically activate the system once the surrounding temperature reaches a critical point and if the system has not been manually activated by then. The power for the activation circuit is supplied as specified in description of Figure 1, in that there is mains power supplied via the main control unit 5 and through the connecting cable 20, as well as receiving power if required from the battery back-up supply 7 fitted to the main unit 5 also. The operation is simply that the breakable glass 22 is smashed and the lever 21 pulled down or pushed upwards depending on mounting preference.

This activates the circuit via signal to the Control Unit 5, releasing the propellant from the pressurised container 3 into the water/fire retardant container 4, and expelling the mixture under pressure along the tubing/piping ii and through the joint pieces 12 and out of the sprinkler heads Fig. 4 which have been mounted on a route allowing rapid escape from the premises. The showering effect of the mixture from the sprinkler heads would allow person(s) to make there way in more safety to a pre-determined suitable exit point.

At Figure 4: This shows the system with all parts connected as described above, At 23 is the main board described at Fig. I with its main power connection cable 6 and connection cable 8 to the remote activation unit 19 as described at Fig. 3. Also indicated is the connecting piping 11 from the fire-retardant container 4 which allows the fire-retardant mixture to be expelled under pressure along the piping 11 to the joint pieces 12 and sprinkler heads 24 which have been inserted at appropriate points on the system. The diagram only shows two of the sprinkler points, but there could be more as described above.

Claims

Claims: 1. A complete packaged-together kit comprising a purpose built backing plate and cover, with water/fire retardant container and pressurised container, control unit, power supply, activation unit, tubing) joints and sprinkler heads for installation to new properties and to retro-fit to existing properties, to aid evacuation in event of a fire.
2. A device according to Claim 1, which is variable and customisable to suit differing installation requirements.
3. A device according to Claim 2 which has an on-board supply of pressurised propellant which it uses to expel the fire retardant mixture from its container out through a customisable system of piping and sprinkler heads upon activation.
4. A device according to Claim 3, which can be activated through its manual control unit or automatically through a built-in temperature sensor.
5. A device according to Claim 4, which has a mains power supply as well as an on-board battery back-up system in case mains power fails prior to activation.
6. A device according to Claim S which has re-fill able water/fire-retardant container and propellant containers allowing for adjustable quantities, and re-use if the device is not damaged after activation.
7. A device according to Claim 6, which uses electrically operated valves linked to the control unit/activation unit to release the pressurised propellant and the fire-retardant mixture through the system.
8. A device according to Claim 7 which uses heat and fire resistant materials in construction of its parts to provide as much time as possible for use in event of a fire.
9. A device according to Claim 8, which can use existing designs of sprinkler heads to fit to the connection pieces.
10. A device according to Claim 9 that uses heat and fire resistant piping in its construction that can be cut to length as required for installation between the main unit and sprinkler head/joint positions.
ii. A device according to Claim 10, which uses specially made t-piece joints as at Fig.2 to connect piping lengths to sprinkler heads.
12. A device according to Claim 11 which can offer between 90 seconds and 180 seconds of fire retardant spray along its installed route to aid persons escape from property in event of a fire and/or smoke.
13. A device according to Claim 12 which can be integrated with smoke alarm technology on-board to provide warning of dangerous smoke to alert persons in the property.