US1604416A - Automatic sprinkler system - Google Patents

Description

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9. 1924 lNl/ENTOR. IRA \M KN IGHT A TTOR NEWS IRA w. xn'renr, or'onensron,

means aren't .IFFEQE.

RHODE lISLAND, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL FIRE EX- TINGUISHEB COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A- GQRPORATION @1 DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

. Application filed December 9, 1924. Serial m. 754,847.

This invention relates to im rovements in automatic sprinkler'systems. ore especially it relates to any dry pipe system having a booster pump between its supply main and 5 its distributing pipes; and particularly the invention relates to means for automatically startin the pump, as the need requires and therea ter maintaining its action. These socalled booster systems provide for sprinkler 10 protection in localities where the available supply pressure is or may be inadequate for effective sprinkler discharge, and are specially'useful when the building itself is too weak to support the necessary large en tank, and when a pump must be avai to boost or build up the low water pressure for supplying the sprinklers when a fire occurs. For starting booster pumps auto-. matically it has been proposed to employ an actuating device which responds to a'drop in the system pressure, such as follows the opening of a rinkler. But as the pressure generated by t e pump would promptly restore the pressure, some special device is action of the pump.

The present invention provides actuating apparatus which, for starting the pump, is

responsive to a pressure rise, rather than needed in addition, to insurethe continuous fall, so that the increase of pressure resulting from the pumps action will. act upon the actuating apparatus to maintain the pump in operation; It is a feature of the invention that, being responsive only to rise of pressure, it canbe arranged in atmosphere with no pressure normally exerted upon it.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which a circuit closer or a type responsive torise in pressure, is connected with the intermediate chamber of a dry pipe valve. As illustrated this is a difl'erential valve; but the action is such that it might be applied to any type of dr pipe valve having a chamher into which t e water flows, or in which the pressure rises, when the valve opens, any such chamber being herein for convenience referred to under the comprehensive term of intermediate chamber. In the illustrated case the chamber is open to atmosphere through a vent of a type well known which becomes closed when the valve opens. Such opening of the valve occurs upon the-giving way of a sprinkler head, with consequent bleeding of air pressure 1 aid from the ipes. The flow of water which follows, lnto the intermediate chamber, produces a ,rise of ressure therein, .which is transmitted to, t e circuit closer and eifects the starting of the pump. The further rise of water pressure which follows only adds to the ressure in the closer mechanism and maintains its status, in position for keepin the pump operatin It is'intende that the patent shall cover. by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the drawings the single figureis an elevation of a dry pipe system with boosterpump and apparatus controlling the same, with the electrical circuits shown somewhat diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawings, water normally stands at whatever pressure may occur in the supply main 10 which is assumed to be too low or uncertain for reliance, and is at the same pressure inthe booster pump 12, and riser 14 up to the water clapper 16 of a dif* ferential dry pipe valve 18, the pump being still. Beyond the air clapper 20 and dry pipe valve the distributing pipes 22 are filled with air under pressure sufficient to holdtlie valve closed. Sprinkler heads 24 of which the single one shown is representative, are distributed about the risk, each having a thermally responsive element adapted to give way upon rise of temperature to a predetermined point and thus to permit the head to open for discharge. As the air escapes through the open head, its pressurein the'pipes falls until it lets the water pressure unseat the dry pipe valve. The clapper 16' lifts'and water flows into the intermediate chamber of the valve, closing the usual vent 26 therefrom and passes through branch piping 28 to a circuit closer 30 which is responsive to'pressure rise to start the pump. In the particular'arrangement indicated by diagram the water pressure closes the switch 32 and thus makes the circuit from battery 34 through the field winding of a solenoid 36, whose energization draws its armature upward and makes a contact between the terminals 38 of a circuit S controlling'the rh'eostat starter 40 which governs a power circuit 44 for operation of pump motor 42. The pump draws the water from the main 10 and forces it onward at the boosted pressure into the riser 14 and die- .tributing pipes 22 beyond. This incidentally increases the pressure on the circuit closure 30, but the result is only to maintain the switch 32 closed the more firmly, so that the armature of solenoid 36 is kept in lace across the terminals 38. The current t erefore continues to flow through the motor, and the 'ump will keep ,on supplying pressure unti the rheostat shall be released manually, the svstem drained and reset as initially.

' 1. A sprinkler system having in combination a dry pipe valve, 'a pump for boostin the water pressure, and means connecte with the intermediate chamber of said valve and responsive to rise of pressure therein, for effecting actuation of the .pump upon occurrence of said rise of pressure.

2. .A sprinkler system having a dry pipe valve with intermediate chamber; a power driven booster pump between the water supply and said valve, adapted to increase the pressure of the system; control means for the power drivmg the ump; and means responslve to lncrease 0 pressure in said intermediate chamber for actuating said control means to position for" driving the pump, thereby automatically to maintain the pump in operation under influence-of the pressure it creates.

3. A sprinkler system having a dry pipe valve with intermediate chamber; a booster pump adapted to increase the pressure of said system; a motor for driving said ump; apower circuit for the motor; a r eostat controlling said power circuit; anothercircuit governing t e operation of said rheostat; an electromotive device for changing said rheost-at governing circuit, comprising an energizing circuit; ,a clrcult closer or said energizing circuit and a pressure controlled device connected with the intermediate chamber of the dry pipe valve and adapted upon rise of pressure therein to change the position of said circuit closer, whereby operation of said ump is effected.

Signed ,at Providence,'R ode Island, this 17th day of October, 1924.

IRA W. KNIGHT.

Images