US2212562A

US2212562A - Automatic sprinkler system

Info

Publication number: US2212562A
Application number: US275419A
Authority: US
Inventors: William B Griffith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-05-24
Filing date: 1939-05-24
Publication date: 1940-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1957-08-27

Description

Aug. 27, 1940. w. B. GRIFFITH AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed May 24, 1939 iv f UNIT Patented Aug. 27, v1940 per rrics 2,212,562 eurer/retiro senr-unten srs'rnru vviuiam n. rai-iaith, Audubon, N. r. Appuatienmay ai, 1939, serial No. 275,419

Myzinvention relates to automatic sprinkler systems for nre protection, employing a tank for supplying liquid to a distributing pipe, having sprinkler heads. Air under pressure in the tank 11 is balanced by like pressure in said pipe above the level of the liquid. When a sprinkler head opens, thepressure the tank forces the liquid through the `pipeand the open heads.

'Heretofore a restricted air passage 4between the tank and the pipe has been employed for allowing the pressure to equalize and maintain the liquid in the -pipe at the same level as in .the tankwhen leakage occurs in .the system above the liquid in the pipe. When a sprinkler head would open the air under pressure from the tank would continue toi'low through said airpassage and retard the initial rise of liquid in the pipe. Means `have also Abeen employed for closing said air passage, which means Were actuated by the rise of liquid, bythe opening of a sprinkler head, and theiiow rof liquid was retarded by the air under pressure :being admitted to. the distributing pipe during the time'required for the liquid to rise tothe required level for closing said air passage. The object of my invention is to increase 'the speed of operation of the discharge of liquid from they tank through the distributing pipe when a sprinkler head opens.

A further object is to provide a system in which allftheair' under pressure is confined within the l tank for imparting arapid initial `movement oi the liquid from the tank to the distributing pipe, v and the admission of air to said pipe from the tank above the liquid level is entirely cut oi, so that therflow inl said pipe will not-be retarded `when a `sprinkler head opens, and all the air in theftank is utilized forforcing the liquid from the tankA to the sprinkler heads.

A further object is to provide a normally closed valve in an air passage between the tank and the distributingfpipe for sealing the air in the tank so that a gradual 'change in the liquid' level in` the pipe will `occur in the event of leakage of air from the system above the liquid in the pipe.

,-A; further Vobject is Vto `provide valve opening means actuated by a gradual rise ci liquid in the pipefor equalizing the pressure inthe tank and the pipe and thereby restoring the liquid level y in the pipe to theliquid level in the tank.

A further object is to construct said Vvalve opening means in the form of a float arranged within a chamber located above the normal liquid level in the pipe, so that the weight of the valve and the ioat will close said valve when the prese claims. `(ci. isa-iv) tures of constructionand rarrangernent of the i which will oe more fully hereinafter described and claimed constitute my invention.

Referring'to the accompanying drawing: Fig. l is a vertical sectional view showing a sprinkler system embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 Fig. l. In the drawing in. which like reference characters refer to iike parte, 3 represents a closed tankwhich is partlylled with liquid through a pipe d, and adapted to contain air under pressure above the liquid. p

A distributing pipe, or riser, is connected at its lower end withthe tankr il and is in communication with the lower portion of the latter. Said pipe (i 'forms part of' a close-d sprinkler systernv including Ibranch pipes l and automatic sprinkler headed.` A valve -casingl is coupled between sections of the distributing pipe. Said casing has an axial tubular core 23 forming a passageway in alignment with the sections of the p pi-pe 6. l i

The system is charged with Aair under pressure from a supply' pipe iii, having a check valve l5, through which the air is supp-lied tothe pipe ii througha pipeV i6, and'supplied to the tank 3 through pipes i? andi. The pipe il is provided with a check valve i9. Said check valves i5 and it prevent `the flow of air toward the supply pipe lli. After` the system has been charged with air, the air supplythrough the pipe ifi is shut off 4by means of a suitable'valve, notV shown in the drawing. y

The casing it is provided: withr a sealed valve 'chamber 2d, which is connected with the pipe iii,

communication with the distributingpipe V6 the buoyancy of the container.

through apertures 3| and 32 formed in the core I2 of the casing. The valve 25 is arranged so as to be held closed upon its seat by a preponderance of pressure confined in the tank and in the chamber 20, in the event of a sudden reduction of the pressure in the pipe 6, caused by the opening of a head 8. Said valve 25 is automatically closed by gravity when the air pressure in the tank is equalized with the pressure in the pipe 6. The valve 25 is secured upon a stem 33 which extends through the port 2 and into the iioat chamber 3G. A float 35 is secured to the lower end of the stem 33 and is adapted for lifting the valve 25 from its seat when the-liquid rises in the pipe 6 and enters the float chamber 30. When there is a slight reduction in the pressure in the pipe 6, due to leakage of air from the latter, the liquid level in the pipe 5 will rise gradually |by the action of the relatively higher pressure connedl in the tank. When the liquid enters the chamber 35 it will lift the float 35 and open the valve 25 against a slightly higher pressure in the tank relatively to that in the pipe 6. When there is a great difference between the pressure in the tank relatively to that in the pipe 5, due to the opening of a sprinkler head, the differential pressure acting upon the upper side of the valve 25 will be so great that the neat will not open said valve, thus conning all the air under pressure within the tank for forcing the liquid lfrom the tank through the pipe 5 to the open sprinkler head.

The float, or container 35, is cup-shaped so that it will be filled with liquid when the latter continues to rise in the pipe 6, thus negativing The filling of the container with liquid will prevent the container acting as a float and opening the valve 25, when the air pressure in the tank is nearly exhausted by the forcing ofthe liquid through the pipe 5 lto the open sprinkler heads.

The casing I is provided with alarm apparatus 58, comprising a lever 39 pivoted in av flexible bearing 46 mounted upon the 'casing above the level of the iioat 35. Said lever has. an arm il extending into a second float chamber 42, and an arm 43 extending through the wall of the casing and arranged for tilting a mercury switch 55,

vfor controlling an` electric circuit including an alarm device 46.

A ball float lil is located in the chamber l2 formed within the casing lll and communicating with the pipe B through

apertures

48 and 49 formed through the core l2. Said iioat lll' is adapted to engage the arm lll of the lever and actuate the alarm when the liquid continues to rise in the pipe B due to the opening of a sprinkler head, or due to the failureof the valve 25 to open and the liquid continues to rise due to a slow leak in the pipe 6.

The operation ofy my invention is as follows: The tank 3 and the pipe 6 are partly lled with liquid. Air under pressure is forced into the tank and the pipe above the liquid for iilling the system, which is closed by a sprinkler head, for' maintaining the liquid in the pipe at the same y `the liquid in the pipe 6 to a higher level than that inthe tank. y

When the liquid rises in the pipe 6 it will enter the chamber 30 and lift the float 35 `which will open the valve 25, so that the pressure in the pipe will equalize with the pressure in the tank and thus restore the liquid level in the pipe rto the liquid level in the tank, and the valve 25 will close by its own weight when the pressure is equal on opposite sides of the valve.

Should the valve 25 fail to open, the liquid will continue to rise and overiiow the container 35, so that the latter will not act as a float, and the valve 25 will remain closed in the event of a sprinkler head opening.

When the liquid rises above the top of the container 55 and lls the chamber 42, the ball iioat il will liftv the arm M and tilt the switch 55, thereby closing the circuit and actuating the alarm for indicating a rise of liquid in the pipe 6, caused by the opening of a head 8, or for indicating the failure of the valve 25 to open in the event of a slow reduction of pressure in the pipe 5 due to leakage.

Upon the opening of a sprinkler head the air under pressure will be reduced in the pipe 6 so that the valve 25 will be held lclosed upon its seat by the relatively higher pressure in the tank, and all the air under pressure in the tank will be conserved for forcing the liquid from the tank through the pipe S to the sprinkler heads.

I claim: y

1. A sprinkler system comprising a tank partly filled with liquid, a distributing pipe in communication with the lower portion of the tank and extending above the latter, said tank and pipe containing air under pressure above the liquid level, a connection forming an air passage between the tank and pipe` above the liquid level, means arranged for normally closing said passage when the pressure in the pipe and tank are equal andfor sealing said passage by the action of a relatively higher pressure in the tank in the event of a sudden reduction in the pressure in the pipe, and means actuated by a gradual rise in the level of the liquid in said pipe for actuating said iirst named means for admitting the pressure from the tank to said pipe and restoring the liquid level in the pipe to that in the tank. 2. A sprinkler system comprising a tank partly filled with liquid, a distributing pipe in communication with the lower portion of the `tank andA extending above the latter, saidl tank and pipe containing air under pressure above the liquid level, a connection forming an air passage between the tank and said pipe, a normally closed valve controlling said passage 'for confining said pressure within the tank, and means actuated by a gradual rise of the liquid level insaid pipe, due to leakage of air from the latter, arranged for opening the valve for equalizing the pressure in the pipe and tank.

3. A sprinkler system comprising a tank partly filled with liquid, a distributing pipe in communication with the lower portion of the tank and extending above the latter, said pipe and tank containing air under pressure above the liquid level, a connectiony formingan air passage between the tank and said pipe, a weighted valve normally closing said passage when the pressure in said pipe is equal to the pressure' in the tank, said valve arranged to be maintained closed by a preponderance of pressure in the tank for sealing the latter upon the sudden reduction of air under pressure from said pipe, and means for opening said valve actuated bya gradual rise of the liquid level, in said pipe, Vdue to Vleakage of air from the latter, for equalizing the pressure in the pipe and tank and restoring the liquid level in the pipe to that in the tank.

4. A sprinkler system comprising a tank partly lled with liquid, a distributing pipe in communication with the lower portion of the tank and extending above the latter, said tank and pipe containing air under pressure, a connection forming an air passage between the tank and said pipe above `the level of the liquid, a normally Closed valve controlling said passage for conning said pressure within the tank and causing a rise of the liquid level in said pipe in the event of leakage of air from the latter, and a float actuated `by the rise of the liquid level in said pipe and arranged for opening said valve for equalizing the pressure in said pipe and tank and restoring the liquid level insaid pipe to that in the tank.

5. A sprinkler system comprising a tank partly filled with liquid, a distributing pipe' in communi.- cation with the `lower portion of the tank vand extending above the latter, said tank and pipe containing air under pressure, a connection forming an air passage between the tank and` said pipe above the liquid level, a normally closed valve controlling said passage for confining said pressure within the tank and causing a rise of the liquid level in said pipe in the event of leakage of air from the latter, a float chamber in communication with said pipe, a cup shaped iioat located in said chamber above the normal liquid level, said float adapted for opening said valve upon a gradual rise of the liquid level in said pipek relatively to that in the tank,` and said oat arranged to close said valve when the liquid continues to rise and lls saidcup shaped float.

6. A casing having inlet and outlet pipe connections, said casing having a passageway formed through vthe same for the ow of liquid through said connections, said casing having a sealed air chamber formed therein, a pipe connection through which air under pressure is supplied to said chamber, said casing having a port forming a communication between said chamber Y and said passageway, a valve within said chamber