US1686221A - Sprinkler system - Google Patents

Description

' Oct. 2, 1928.

. 1,686,221 c. ADAMS, JR

SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed April'kl, 3927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Oct. 2, 1928.

C.ADAMS,JR

SPRINKLER SYSTEM 7 Filed AprillA. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C ariezd BY m ATTORNEY INVENTOR man/2' during the Winter 'and thus" this Wet system;

Patented Get. 2, 1928.

n NIT an "seam CHARLES ADAMS, an, or CLIIEESIDEVPARK, NEW-marshy, ASSIGNOBJ or SIDNEY F. wEsToN. on NEW YORK; N. Y."

ONE-HALF- TO I SEBINKLER= SYSTEM.

vAl pplieation filed April 1 1927. Serial No. 183,630.

This invention relates to fire extinguishing devices in general such as Sprinkler systems and'certain improved valves forming'apart of such sprinkler systems. 1' Of the two'types ofsprinkler systems in general use today, the dry system is objec tionable in that as a rule considerable time is lost, frequently as much as two to three minutes, after the fusible heads have been opened in case ofan' emer ency to permit the air. disposed between thebontrol valves and the fusiblehe'ads in the tubing to discharge before the fire extinguishing medium starts to discharge; and the wetls'ystem is objectionable; especially 'in the colder climates, since thewater looated in'the tubing disposed'betwe'en the control valves and the fusible headsfrequently 'cengeals and freezes cannot be 'relied' upon" during cold weather. This invention aims to overcome 'the'obe jections aforesaid. To this end", the present inventionlias for an objectto provide a systemin which the medium contained in the" piping "between the control valves and the" fusible heads is a liquid having a low freezing point, a so-called non-freezing medium,

which liquid at the same time does nots'upport combustion and is" bustible.

More specificallyg the invention further provides a valve particularly "adaptedfor such systems whereby two mediums of 'differen't characteristics and different pressures may be effectivelyseparated from one. anotherwvhile the system is at rest andfuntil the emergency arises.

' The invention alsocontemplates'struetural H V the tank 7.' hen it'is desired to pump l v l i .1 1 a Water to the tank 4, it is only necessary to 5 improvements in Systems of this character,

bodiments thereof llustrated in the accompanylng drawings, inwhl'ch Figure 1 is a d agrannnatie view of one type of systemmade according to the present invention Fig. 2 is a fragmental diagrammatic View;

of another type of system;

Fig. 3 is a sectional v ew of a valve forming a part of the present systems;'

the automate control "valves" In the en'lhodimentillustrated in Fig. 1

the roof'of the' building to beprotected is" 1 itself non-com designated as A, and the ground line as" B.

On the ground B, in the pr'esentiiistanoe, there s provlded a fire 'pump'l, which 'is 'connected by the conduit 2 with the water supply. Onithe roof A, thereflis looated the frame 3 which supportsthegravity 'or water storage tank 4, which has a supporting plate 5 by means of which and the frame econneeted to theoylindrical wall of the tank 4,

the: tank 7 is properly' supporte d' eittending 1 'On the ground B, inthe present instance,

there is also provided a seconchpump generally smaller than the'fire pump This pump is connected to, the water supply means. of the conduit'9, and 'isprovided W th a 'conduit 10 extending upwardlytherefrom to discharge i'nto'the' tank 4 at the upper end' thereof, 'wherebyw'aterfmay be supplied to i the tank 4.". p the grou'jridB 'inlthepre sent instance', there is also located"a,solutipn reservoir 11',which,is connected to the @6115 duit Q'by means'of theeonduit 12' The Con-1 duit 10 is connected to the bottom the tanlt 7'by1neans"of the xrthichiit' 13Q The conduit 9' is provided with a" globe valve 14 bet'weeh its connection with the conduit12 s6 and the main source, of water'supl'aly,'and the conduit 12 is provided with a' globeyalve 15 between such connection and 'the, tank 11.

Siinilarlmthe conduit 10 is providedwith a. globe valve 16 between its connection with the conduit and the tanlttlfan'd the cbn du'it 13 is pro'vide'd'witlia globe valved? between its conne etiori with the conduit 10' and shutbff the globe valves 15 and lY a'nd open theglobevalves' 14 and 16,-"and on the other hahdfwhen it is desiredto p'urnp'thdsolu tion into the" tank? .it is ionly necessary to shut off the globe Valves 14 and'IG andopen m the globe valves 15 and17.

The solution to be'"used' must have a low; freezing point, atiany rate much lower than the freezing point of water; and be incapable of supportingcombustion andbenon-comm5 7 bustible itself; Oneme'dium which has Fig. i is a detail seetional view of one of v calicium' chloride. l

given satisfactory results Y is afs'olution of In the present instanee a lurality} of convided with a plurality of branch pipes 19 extending therefrom at different levels to indicate the several sprinkler branchways provided for the several floors'in a building. The discharge orifices (not shown) of the several branchways 19 are provided with fusible metal or caps in the usual way so and branchways 19 are the piping or tubing located in the rooms of the building to be protected and which are filled with theinitially discharging medium, in the present instance calcium chloride. 7

[Theconduit 13 is provided with the conduit which is connected with the conduits 18 by the conduits 21,'by means of which the non-freezing medium contained in the tank'7 maybe supplied to the conduits 18 and branchways 19.

The tank 4 is provided with a conduit 22 extending from the bottom thereof down to the fire department connection 23, and the fire department connection is connected by means of the conduit 24Zwith the fire pump 1 and by means of the pilot valve 25 with the conduit 26, which conduit 26 in turn is provided with the several main control valves 27, 27. The main control valves 27, 27 are preferably provided, as illustrated, with the sepration valves28, '28 disposed adjacent thereto andbetween the main control valves 27 and the conduits 18.

The separation valves 28, 28, in the present instance, are provided to separate the non-freezing, initially discharging medium located in the tubing 18 and the branchways 19 from the water located in the conduits 26 and 22.

The separation valves 28, preferably as illustrated in Fig. 3, have an inclined annul'ar recess 29 at the upper end of the branch- Way 30 of the conduit 26 to receive the ring 29 forming a seat for the closure member 31 to separate the medium disposed in the conduit 18 from the medium disposed in The closure member 31 is preferably secured to a lever 32 hinged at 33 adjacent to the lower end of, the annular recess 29. The closure member 31 has its lower face engaging the ring 29 to close the annular recess 35 in the ring 29, located on the annular recess 29 and forming the support for the closure member; 31. The ring 29' is providedwith an annular chamber 37 in communication with the annular recess 35, and communicating with the atmosphere by means of the orifice 38'registering with the opening 39 in the'conduit 18. When the conduit 18 and branchway 30 is empty, the closure member 31 will normally over that of the water is by locating the medium supply tank 7 at a higher level than the level of the water supply tank 1 as shown in Fig. 4. Due to the greater pressure of the calcium chloride, the closure member 31 will be maintained in engagement with the ring 29 when the system is at rest, and be so maintained until the emergcncy arises when the fusible metal covering the discharge orifices of the branchways 19 is destroyed and the calcium chloride permitt-ed to issue therefrom, thereby relieving the pressure in the conduits 18, and at least lower the pressure of the medium above the closure members 31 below the pressure of the water contained in the branchways 30 to permit the water to open the closure memhere 31 and pass into the conduits 18 and branchways 19 to follow the calcium chloride immediately in its passage through the branchways 19.

The recess 35 and annular chamber 37 co-' operate in the present instance, to form an effective division or separationbetween the calcium chloride above the closure member 31 and the water below the closure member 31 so that the higher pressure of the calcium chloride may be maintained and at the same time the calcium chloride solution preserved in its initially prepared. degree of concentration. In other words, if a leakshould be formed between the closure member 31 and ring 29, the opening 39 communicating to the atmosphere, the pressure in the chamber 37 will, of course, be'lower than that of the water, and consequently the leakage of water from the branchways 3O will be dissipated in the chamber 37, before sufiicient pressurecan be created in the chamber 37 to force such water beyond the closure And snnr- I lower pressure, but also serve to operate such lli) inseam ala m syste in h rual al, w yneu r in tan s illustrat d in'Bat tN 1,1 7 n Fishin i a W n a 'lfl eim m e r ondu ts .8 a e provided to 1 supply a,co1jresp onding large number of sprinkler bra nehways, it has in practice bee n found desirable to provide a valve substantiallyidentical to the valves 28 for the pilotvalve 25 such pilot valve 25,

however, separating two columns of Water as distinguished from the valves 28. .Asillus1 trated inFig. 1 ater passes through the Valve 25 in a horizontal direction as .distinguished from the valves 28- illustrated in Fig. 1 and the valves 28 illustrated in Fig.

2' in which, as illustrated, the Water .WOllld pass in a ve1-ti ca;l@directi0n- {The direction of lI-hQqV/Zilllfiil is otcourse immaterial since the ciosure ne nbers 31, see Fig. 3, a re maintained in closed position by pressure; F or this reason, the; valve 25 could beidenti'cal With'the valves 28 or 28 such as illustrated' inodetail in F ig, 3

s It is; of cou1'se obvious that the valve 59 should normally be maintained open to re.

se e- Fig Z the conduit is-providedavith thedrip valve 61,;Qgonstantly to relievefthe pressure of the water goingiiroin the con duit 22 to; the closure member 31 as dis,-

tinguishedirorn the pressure of thewvater in the conduit 26 sothat the-closure member 31 Wil nerma lyirwi i 'se te n h ring 2 It inst ad c th einbodim nt i l strated n Fig. 13,,the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2; w r dian l a l ofth -w y s 81 wereconr nectedqvith the valve, 59 by vthe bypass 60',

it is obvious that fthe accumulated leakage from anum-ber of thevvalves 28 might be sufiicient to close the valve 59, as',-a 1 result of which the inediunr pressure in. the branch- I Ways could no longer bereplenished and might in time decrease v suiiiciently to permit] the closure members 31 in the valves 28 to open and thereby permit the Water-to mingle with the medium to -,defeat the; pur pose of the process.

' The tank '1 is preferably provided: at a I considerable distance; above the level oflthe .roof in order to form the; proper pressure, This tank 7 is also positioned above the level of the Water in the tank 4fin'order t -i11 crease the pressure in thecalciuin;chloride' as compared to that ofthe ater, it; being understood that the calcium chloridesolution is heavier than waterjand would t hereinitting the Water in theftank-4 to fore create a higher pressure even, ii -the tank 7 Were located atthe level of the tank 4. Iii-order to take care: ofleakage, and at vthe same time provide againstthe-free, pasi g i i the calcium 'chloridefrointhe conduit 13 to the conduit 1-8'A When thesystem is atrest, each of the conduits 21, is provided With an automatic control valve 40 similar to that illustrated in Fig; 4. The diaphragm chamber41'of this valve 40 has connected theretothe conduit42, having a small inner; orifice which connects with .a conduit-18.

Between the connection; of the conduit? :42: j

With the conduit 18 and the connection-of the conduit 21 Withthe conduit '18,-there is provided a gauge 43 to indicate the pressure contained inthe conduit 18. The automatic control valve 40 is so. regulated that the.

diaphragm 44 thereof Willcooperate with; the pressure developed in theiconduit e42,

the spring 45, to depressthe plug 46 into position for shutting off communication through thec'onduit 21.; The'conduit 21,

between the, valve 40 and the conduit 18, has

connectedthereto a bypass 47*Wl1lClL connects with the conduit 21 betweenjthe valve 40 and the conduit 20. The ivalve40; is so i adjusted that it Will shut-soft communication through the conduit 2l w-hen thegpressure;

in the conduit 18 haswbeendeveloped to a required point, a pressure equivalent to a column of calcium chloride extending, above the highest point"ofthegoof duit "18. {The calcium chloride may thencontinue toifiowi from the tank 7 through; the bypass 47;. until it builds up a. pressure in theconduit 18 equal to that coming from the tank 7,1 wh-ich pressure,- however, is in excess of theater pressure-v in tank 4; When, s;ucln pressure has beenvdeveloped in the conduit 18;, .;the by.- pass 4'? will so restrict the passagefofithe calciumchloride from the cojnd-uit 13 to the conduit 18 that the liquid will remain-substantially; at rest, and iiigan-yth-ing, merely,

take care of leakage that may occur in the branchvvays 19. a Y T 1 v,'ll1,e; tank 4 is provided with the usual overflow pipe/l8;

.The ta k 1.7 is p ov ded w h extendingj from the, upper} end. of the, tank 7' down through the bottom thereof andhaving a cap;50 formed at thobottorn thereof. Theconduit-49 is provided to prevent the free circulation of air,-

thev tank 7, the.

cap .50 being; providedWith oil or other suitable medium to seal-.the-lovver opening of the conduit 49.; Such seal, however; is sufliciently eak topermit the-admission of air should the emergency arise and the level-oi the calciurnichloride in the tank 7 begin to drop. j

The conduitf22is provided with acheck valve 51H to prevent; the passage of, Water into thetank 4 throughsuch. conduit'22;

When the fires-pump 1 is operating, but perpass down into the pilot valve 25.

-When it is desired to shut; oiif all' a, conduit 49 the medium has been discharged. therefrom, it is only necessary to shut off the main valves 27 and theglobe valve 52 provided in the conduit 13. When it is desired to shut ofi only one conduit 18 and its connecting branches 19 for the purposes of repair and the like after the medium has been discharged therefrom, it is only necessary to shut off the globe valve 53, one being provided in each conduit 21 between the conduit 20 and the connection of the conduit 21 with the conduit 17. I

a The conduit 13 is connected with the con.-

'duit 26 by the short, conduit 54;, which is a small pump 8 is not working and it is desired to pump water into the tank 1 by means of the fire'pump 1. In other words, ordinarily the valve will be set to shut off communication between the conduit 13 and the conduit 26.

After a fire, when it is desirable to restore the sprinkler system to operative condition, it is only necessary to shut off the valve 52 and the valves 27 and open the valves 56 formed in the conduits 57. The conduits 57 connect the conduits 18 with the conduit 58, which in turn discharges into the tank 11.

In such case, the tank 11 will serve as a ervoir to receive the solution oi? calcium chloride and water that may reside in the conduits 18 and branchways 19 after a fire.

For automatically shutting off communication between the conduit 13 and the conduits 18, the conduit-13 is provided with an automatic control valve 59, similar to the control valve 40, also provided, with a diaphragm chamber in its outer end which is connected by the conduit 60 having a small orifice with the pilot valve 25. The conduit 60 is provided with asmall drip 61-to relieve pressure in the conduit 60, thereby in turn to relieve the pressure in the conduit 22 when the pilot valve 25 is in closed position. The drip 61 will also serve as a warning drip to permit the discharge of calcium chloride if the valve25 leaks. It is, of course, de-

sired to prevent the leakage of calcium chloride into the 'city water main connected to the pipe 24;. As aprotec'tion, the drip 61 is free to discharge such leakage of calcium chloride on the floor, or other receiving surface where it can be readily inspected and v is intended to be readily inspected from time to time to indicate to the attendant that the calcium chloride is leaking back into the city water main. The operation of this automatic control valve 59 is such that in the event of a fire and the opening of a sprinkler xbranchway, or a serious break, which will discharge liquid from the system faster than the bypass 47- can supply pressure, the pressure in the system Wlll rapidly fall below 'valve 25, when issuing into the conduit 60, will build up pressure faster than the drlp 61' can dissipate it, and will thereupon develop sufiic1ent pressure to close the valve 59, thereby cutting oil passage of the cal cium chloride from the conduit 13' into the conduit 20. Such valve 59 will remain closed as long as there is water flow through the system, inother words as long as the water pressure developedis sufiicient to close.

the valve 59.

The operation of the device is'briefiy as follows:

lVhen the system is empty, it is'first necessary to fill the water tank land the conduits 22 and 26. To this end, the main control valves 27 are closed and the valve 55 closed, the valves 15 and 17 also closed, and the valves 1 1 and 16 opened, whereupon the pump 8 is permitted to operate to pump water up through the conduit 9 to the conduit 10, and through the conduit 10 into the tank 1, until the proper level has been reached, at the same time permitting the water to pass down through the conduit 22 past the pilot valve 25 into the conduit 26 to the main control valves 27. It is then necessary to fill the tank? with the nonireezing mixture, in the present instance the To this end, the

calcium chloride solution. valves 14: and 16 will now be closed, the valves 15 and 17 opened, the valve 52 opened, the valves 53 opened and the valves 56 closed. The'tank 11 will be supplied withthe calcium chloride solution, and thereupon the pump 8 operated to feed the calcium chloride solution through the conduit 12 into the conduit- 13 to thetank 7 until the proper pressure has'been developed. It is of course understood that the fusible caps for the discharge orifices of the sprinkler branchways 19 will then operate to close such orifices, and that the medium so pumped into the system will be supplied from the conduit 13 through the conduit 20 into the conduits 21 and therefrom into the conduits 18, until a predetermined pressure has been developed sulficient to close the valves 40, whereupon the medium will continue to pass from the conduits 21 through the bypasses 43. into the conduits 18 until the pressure in the conduits 18 substantially equals that developed in the tank 7. During this operation, it will be assumed that the closure members 31 on the valves 28 will reston their respective seats 29, and the calcium chloride build up such pressure above the closures 81. The

' developed inthe calcium chlo ide above the closure members 31. i

- i The gauges 43 will indicate to the operator when: thefpressure in theco'nd'uits 18 equals that in. the tank 7, sothat the valves 27 will, .of course, not be opened until the desired pressure has been created in the conduits 18,

the pilot valve will, of course, cooperate and in turn on the upper surfaces of the closure members3l. 1

In the embodiment illustrated in-Fig. 1,

. with. the valvesi28 to maintain the pressure iofthe water at the desired point below the pressure of the calcium-chloride, and thereby .minimize. the amount of leakage.

i @In. the. embodiment illustrated in Fig; 2, .thepilot valve 25, is not used to control the, automatic control valve 59, but instead i thereof, the automaticcontrol valveis' con- .lnectedby 'the. conduit i606 direct with the separationvalve 28 similan to the separation value 28=ofthe embodiment illustrated'in Fig, laQln-i thiscase, it. is obvious that the .Qperationispracticallythe same, and that he. automatic control:valve 59ivvill'be closed effectively as soon. as the Water 'ispermitted 7 to; discharge 'throughthe valve 28, at which etime-fsufilcientr pressure will; be built LIP-111 (the conduit 607 to overcome the pressure dissipated by the; drip/61" in the conduit 60.

i Lclalmz Similarly. toithe drip 61, the :drip 61 will .,,s,e,1 e to; cooperate with a. receivingsurface such, as; a-,fioor or the like to permit the as calcium chloride onto the ;same when the W valve 28/ is defective, leaksor-operates during :a-z fire, and thus will indicate to the at tendantsuoh leakage. A non-.freezingmedium suchias calcium; chloride will produce a w-et spot onitheifloorfthat willinot readily evaporate ordry up, eziceedingby far the pegrgiod requiredpto drynp or: evaporate a A ltf'is obviousi that various changes and.

modifications may, be made to the details o f constructionwithout departing from the generaLspirit otthe invention set. forth in l the appended claims.

1. In system of the; character described,

, discharge-of the non-freezing medium such j medium being subjected to a greater pressure than the Water and thereby causing said separation valve to remain closed so long as such variation in pressure continues, a bypass, connected to said sprinkler branchway, and anautomatic control valveto obstruct the main passage to said sprinkler branchway after the required I pressure has been built up by the medium in said branchway, whereupon said bypass will function to replenish the system, for leakage,flsaii:l bypass also functioning to retard the. passage of the medium to said sprinkler branchway when said sprinklerbranchway is open in case of fire thereby to facilitatetheimmediate reduction of the pressure in Saidmedium to cause the separation valve to open for the passage ofthe water. i Y

2. In a system. of the character described, the combination with a sprinkler discharge bran chway, ofa water supplytank.- a container for a non-freezing, non-combustible medium, a conduit connectingthe ivate'] supply tank to said sprinkler discharge branchway, a second conduit for connecting said container to said sprinkler discharge'branchway, means for causing said sprinkler discharge branchway to be filled fw ith' said ine dium, a valve housing, an annular valvescat in said housinghaving an, annular chamber emerging in its. seat intermediate its inner and outer peripheries. a water; control valve pivotally mounted. in said housing and resting on said seat; an automatic control valve connected to'said second conduit and a tube. connecting said annular chamber with said automatic control valve whcrcby .the passage" of" water through said water control valve will cause said automatic control valve. to obstruct passage of the medium through said secondcon duitand thus prevent the discharge of the medium after said water has begun to flow. A '3. In a. system of the character described, the combination with a sprinkler discharge branchway, lot a conduit connected to supply a Vfire extinguishing medium to said sprinkler discharge branchway, a valve} housing having a-valve seat, a main control valve "pivotallymounted in said housing and normally resting on said valve seat'in closed po sition, an automatic control valve connected to said conduit, and atube connecting said branchway Valve housing with said automatic control valve through which, upon the opening of said main control valve and the passage of a medium through said main control valve, medium will be 'caused to flow tot said automatic control valve, creating suflicient pressure to close the same and thereupon obstruct the passage of the medium through said conduit.

4. n a system of the character described, the combination with a sprinkler discharge branchway, of a conduit connected to supply a fire extinguishing medium to said sprinkler discharge branchway, a valve housing, an annular valve seat in said housing having an annular chamber in communication with the face of said seat intermediate the inner and outer-peripheries of said seat, a medium control valve pivot-ally mounted in said housing and normally resting on said seat, an automatic control valve connected to saidconduit, and a tube connecting said annular chamber with said automatic control valve through which, upon the opening of said medium control valve and the passage of medium through said medium control valve, medium will be caused to flow to said automatic control valve and create sufficient pressure to close the same and thereuponobstruct the passage of the medium through said conduit,

5. In a system of the character described,

said container to said sprinkler discharge branchway, means for causing said sprinkler discharge branchway to be filled with said medium, a separation valve for separating the water in said water conduit from the medium in said sprinkler discharge branchway, the medium bemg subjected to a greater pressure than the water and thereby causing said separation valve to remain closed so long as such variation in pressure continues, an annular valve seat for receiving said separation valve and having an annular chamber emerging in its seat intermediate its inner and outer peripheries, said valve normally shutting off said annular chamber from access by the medium in said branchway and the water in said water conduit, an automatic control valve connected to said second conduit, and a tube connecting said annular chamber with said automatic control valve,

the opening of said sprinkler discharge in case of the permitting said medium initially to discharge and at the. same time relieve the pressure on said valve to permit the same to open for the passage of the water therethrough, the opening of said separating valve in turn permitting the access of the water to said tube to liowto said automatic control valve and shut off passage of medium through said second conduit to preserve the medium against dis charge after the water has begun to flow.

6. In a system of the character described, the combination with a sprinkler discharge branchway, of a water supply tank, a container for a non-freezing, non-combustible medium, a conduit connecting the water supply tank to said sprinkler discharge branchway, a second conduit for connecting said container to said sprinkler discharge branch- Way, means for causing said sprinkler discharge branchway to be filled with said medium, a separation valve for separating the water in said first conduit from the medium in said sprinkler discharge branchway, the medium being subjected to a greater pressure than the water and thereby causing said separation valve to remain closed so long as such variation in pressure continues, a bypass connected to said sprinkler branchway, an automatic control valve to obstruct the main passage to said sprinkler branchway after the required pressure has been built up by the medium in said branchway, whereupon said bypass will function to replenish the system for leakage, said bypass also functioning to retard the passage of the medium to said sprinkler branchway when said sprinkler branchway is open in case of fire thereby to facilitate the immediate reduction of the pressure in said medium to cause the separation valve to open for the passage of'the water, an annular valve seat for receiving said separation valve and having an annular chamber in communication with the face of said valve seat, said valve normally shutting ofi said annular chamber from access by the medium in said branchway and the water in said water conduit, a second automatic control valve connected to said second conduit, and a tube connecting said annular chamber with said automatic control valve, the opening of said separation valve also permitting the water to flow through said tube to said second automatic control'valve and shut oft the passage of the medium through said second conduit to preserve such medium against discharge after the water has begun to flow through said separationvalve.

Ill)

7. In a system of the character described, v

after the pressure has once been built up therein, and a separation valve for normally separating the medium from said Water, the opening of said sprinkler branchway causing the medium initially to discharge therefrom vand cooperate with said automatic control valve to diminish the pressure on said separation valve to a point below that of the Water pressure thereby to permit the Water to open said valve and follow the medium in its passage from said sprinkler branchW-ay.

8. In a system of the character described, the combination with a sprinkler discharge branohway, of a Water supply conduit connected to said sprinkler discharge branchway, a medium supply conduit also connected to said sprinkler discharge branchway, said me dium conduit initially filling said sprinkler branchway with a non-freezing, non-combustible medium under a higher pressure than the pressure of the Water, a separation valve for normally separating the medium from said Water, a Warning crrip associated With said separation valve, and a receiving surface disposed adjacent to said drip to receive the non-freezing medium being discharged to form a Wet spot to indicate to the attendant that the separation valve is permitting the non-freezing medium to leak back into the Water supply.

9. In a system of the character described, the combination With a sprinkler discharge branchivay, of a Water supply conduit connected to said sprinkler dischargebranch- Way a calcium chloride supply conduit also connected to said sprinkler discharge branch- Way, said calcium chloride conduit initially filling said sprinkler branchvvay With calcium chloride under a higher pressure than the pressure of the Water, a separation valve for normally separating the calcium chloride from said Water, a Warning drip associated With said separation valve, and a receiving surface disposed adjacent to said, drip to receive the calcium chloride I being discharged to form a Wet spot to indicate to the attendant that the separation valve is permitting the calcium chloride to leak back into the Water supply.

CHARLES ADAMS, JR.

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