Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/14—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
  • B05B1/20—Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor
  • B05B1/202—Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor comprising inserted outlet elements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C31/00—Delivery of fire-extinguishing material
  • A62C31/02—Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing
  • A62C31/05—Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing with two or more outlets
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C37/00—Control of fire-fighting equipment
  • A62C37/08—Control of fire-fighting equipment comprising an outlet device containing a sensor, or itself being the sensor, i.e. self-contained sprinklers
  • A62C37/10—Releasing means, e.g. electrically released
  • A62C37/11—Releasing means, e.g. electrically released heat-sensitive
  • A62C37/14—Releasing means, e.g. electrically released heat-sensitive with frangible vessels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/34—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl
  • B05B1/3405—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl
  • B05B1/341—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet
  • B05B1/3421—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber
  • B05B1/3426—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber the channels emerging in the swirl chamber perpendicularly to the outlet axis
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/34—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl
  • B05B1/3405—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl
  • B05B1/341—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet
  • B05B1/3478—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet the liquid flowing at least two different courses before reaching the swirl chamber
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • A62C99/0009—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames
  • A62C99/0072—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames using sprayed or atomised water
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/02—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to produce a jet, spray, or other discharge of particular shape or nature, e.g. in single drops, or having an outlet of particular shape
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/14—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openings; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/30—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
  • B05B1/3006—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the controlling element being actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
  • B05B1/30—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
  • B05B1/3026—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the controlling element being a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
  • B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
  • B05B12/12—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus

Definitions

• Water mist nozzle heads used in known water mist systems provide fire protection for equipment and occupied areas such as, for example, ships, machine rooms and spaces, generator rooms, turbine rooms, data process centers, or underground public transport. These nozzle heads, a group of micro-nozzles or nozzle inserts are secured about a main nozzle body. Each nozzle insert of the nozzle head is configured to generate and discharge a mist or spray having a droplet size for providing total flooding tor wetting or cooling to indirectly impinge or address a " fire or other potential combustible source. In total Hooding, high pressure water is discharged as a mist in which tiny drops create a large effective cooling surface area of the fire and surrounding volume.
• Each of the nozzle inserts of known water mist nozzle heads has a internal chamber with multiple inlets positioned to introduce water into the chamber and generate a swirling effect.
• the water is discharged from (he chamber through a single central outlet of the nozzle in the form of a mist having a droplet size to provide the total flooding effect.
• the inventors have discovered that total flooding has been ineffective in providing fire protection for certain equipment and occupied areas. For example, the inventors have determined that total flooding
• 4- nozzles are believed to be ineffective in the protection of equipment, in cable tunnels and other similarly situated equipment and occupied areas, it. is believed that in the presence of a fire in certain equipment and/or occupied areas, the generated mist from total flooding nozzle heads are not sufficient to cool the surrounding environment or control the fire within desired limits. It is believed that a Likely cause for the performance deficiency is that the droplets in the total flooding, homogenous mist lose their velocity shortly after leaving the nozzle heads. The low velocity droplets tend to get pushed away from the fire by the air currents. Thus for certain applications, it is believed that the total flooding mist does not actively or directly impinge the fire and instead only cools the upper gas layer above the fire.
• Preferred embodiments of a water mist nozzle device generate a mist that provides a mixture of droplet sizes for both indirect impingement mist protection (total Hooding) and additionally direct impingement mist and/or spray protection to address a fire.
• the preferred devices include a main body with multiple orifice nozzles or orifice inserts secured to the body. Differently configured orifice inserts are used to provide the varying spray patterns and mist from a Single device, in preferred embodiments of the device, one type of orifice insert discharges a mist that includes a droplet size that is larger the droplet size of a mist discharged from the another type of orifice insert of the device.
• a water mist nozzle includes a body having a central bore extending along a central longitudinal nozzle axis.
• the body includes a plurality of sockets formed about the central bore.
• Each socket includes a lateral bore extending between the socket and the central bore,
• the nozzle also includes a plurality of orifice inserts.
• Each orifice insert has at least one inlet, at least one outlet and an internal chamber disposed along a central insert. axis for fluid communication with the at least one inlet arid the at least one outlet,
• the plurality of orifice inserts are indirect impingement orifice inserts and at least one direct impingement orifice insert.
• the preferred mist nozzle can be configured as normally open for immediate discharge upon system operation; or alternatively configured for automatic operation in which fluid discharge from the nozzle upon actuation of a thermally responsive trigger.
• Preferred embodiments of a direct impingement orifice insert include an inlet coaxlally aligned with the insert axis and a plurality of outlets surrounding the insert axis.
• each of the plurality of outlets extend obliquely with respect to the insert axis to define an included angle ranging from 20°-25°.
• the plurality of outlets of the second type of orifice insert include four outlets.
• Embodiments of the water mist nozzle device provide a preferred method of water mist nozzle protection that includes generating a first t e of fluid mist from a first type of orifice insert disposed in one of a plurality of sockets formed in a nozzle body into which, a firefighting fluid is introduced and generating a second type of fluid mist from a second, type of orifice insert disposed in another one of the plurality of sockets.
• the second type of fluid mist preferably has a droplet size that is greater than the first type of fluid mist to directly impinge a fire, while the firs t type of fluid mist provides total Hooding protection.
• Another preferred method of water mist nozzle protection includes installing at least two water mist nozzles above a ground to protect an area or object where each nozzle has a plurality of orifice inserts about a nozzle axis with at least one orifice insert configured for generating a first mist to address a fire with indirect impingement and at least one orifice insert configured for generating a mist to address a fire with direct impingement.
• the at least one direct impingement orifice insert is preferably oriented to face the floor.
• the preferred method includes orienting each nozzle so thai the nozzle axes of the at least two nozzles define an included angle ranging from 5°-20° with respect to a horizontal parallel to ground with the included angles of the at least two nozzles being different from one another.
• the preferred methodologies are believed to be suitable for the protection of cable tunnels or similarly configured occupied areas.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred water mist nozzle.
• FIGS. 2A-2B are side and end views of the nozzle of FIG. 1 in a preferred installed position.
• FIGS. 3 ⁇ --3 ⁇ are respective cross-sectional side views of the nozzle of FIG. I along lines ⁇ and lHB-IIIB.
• FIG. 4 is an alternate preferred embodiment of a water mist nozzle.
• FIG. 5 A is an end view of a preferred embodiment of an orifice insert for use in the water mist nozzles of FIGS, 1 & 4.
• FIGS, 5B--5C are cross-sectional views of the orifice Insert of FIG. 4A.
• FIG. 6A is a side view of another orifice insert for use In the water mist nozzles of
• FIGS. 6B-6C are cross-sectional views of the orifice insert of FIG. 6 ⁇ .
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a fluid distribution set up using the water mist nozzle of
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 1 .
• FIG. 1 Shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a water mist nozzle 10 having a first end 10a and a second end 10b spaced apart along a central longitudinal nozzle axis A-A.
• the nozzle 10 is preferably an open water mist nozzle into which a firefighting fluid such as water, for example, can be introduced into the device 10 at the first inlet end 10a for immediate discharge from the second end 10b of the device 10.
• a firefighting fluid such as water, for example
• the device 10 are a number of orifice inserts 12, 16 for generating and discharging a fluid mist, spray or discharge for addressing a fire and/or wetting and cooling the surrounding environment
• the orifice inserts of a preferred embodiment of the device 10 are indirect impingement orifice inserts for generating a mist for addressing a tire with a mist or total flooding and one or more direct, impingement orifice inserts for generating a mist and/or spray with droplets sufficient in size and velocity to penetrate and directly address a fire.
• a number of orifice inserts 12, 16 are angularly and preferably equiangulariy spaced about the nozzle axis A— A, each being of a varying type configured to provide a fluid discharge of a particular fluid flow, pressure, volume, density and/or droplet size.
• orifice inserts 12 of a first type to provide a fluid mist for total flooding with wetting and/or cooling of the surrounding environment for indirectly addressing a fire or hazard
• orifice inserts 16 of a second type for providing direct fluid impingement to address a fire or protect an object or area.
• the device 10 can include additional orifice inserts for discharging the firefightmg fluid.
• another orifice insert of the first type 12d is axially aligned with central axis A--A to provide a central orifice insert for discharging the firefighting fluid in line with the inlet of the first end 1 0a of the device 10.
• an orifice insert of the second type can be disposed along the central nozzle axis A—A to provide a direct impingement spray.
• the first type of orifice insert 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d each have a single outlet 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d and the second type of orifice insert 16 has multiple outlets 1 8 to effect the overall desired fluid discharge.
• the direct impingement orifice insert 16 is located so that its discharge impinges or impacts the surface, object or other hazard being protected.
• the insert 1 6 is angled downward with the nozzle axis A—A defining an included angle a with respect to a horizontal H extending parallel to the floor or ground G such that the direct impingement orifice insert 16 faces the floor or ground G (or an object positioned thereon) to provide the preferred direct impingement protection
• the direct impingement orifice insert 1.6 defines a preferred installation orientation for a given application or installation environment or geometry, in one example of an installation for the preferred embodiment of the device 10, the included angle a can ranges from 5°-20° and more preferably ranges from 8° or 18°.
• FIGS. 3 A and 3B are cross-sectional views of the device 1.0.
• the assembled device 1.0 includes a nozzle body 20 having a central bore 22 extending along the central longitudinal nozzle axis A— A.
• the body 20 includes a plurality of sockets 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e for receipt of an orifice insert 12, 16.
• Each of the orifice inserts 12, 16 are secured in the sockets 24 of the nozzle body 20 preferably by a threaded engagement with an O-ring disposed between the insert 1.2, 16 and the internal walls of the socket 24 to form a fluid tight seal. Other mechanical or " fit connections can be made to secure the inserts within the sockets.
• Each socket 24 includes preferably narrowed bores 26a. 26b, 26c. 26d, 26e extending between the socket 24 and the central bore 22 along a. lateral axis to provide fluid communication between the central bore 22 and the corresponding socket 24.
• Lateral bores 26a, 26b, 26c, 26c extend preferably obliquely with respect to the central nozzle longitudinal axis .— A to define a preferred included angle ⁇ of 45 ⁇ -60°, more preferably about 50° with the nozzle axis, in a preferred embodiment, the preferred included angle ⁇ even more preferably is 52°.
• the body 20 preferably includes a socket 24d formed coaxially along the central nozzle axis A— A and placed in fluid communication with the central bore 22. by an axially aligned narrowed bore 26d.
• the nozzle body 20 is preferably received within a socket fitting 40.
• the socket fitting 40 has an internal passageway 42 placed in fluid communication with the central bore 22 of the nozzle body 20.
• a filter 45 to filter oui any particles in the fluid.
• an O-ring 47 is disposed between the socket fitting 40 and the nozzle body 20 to forro a fluid tight connection.
• the nozzle body 20 is an inlet insert or ferrule 50 to form the fluid inlet of the device 10.
• the ferrule 50 is preferably secured to the socket fitting by a hex nui 60,
• the ferrule insert 50 provides for an inlet of a constant width or diameter that is in fluid communication wit a preferably tapering portion of the internal passageway 42 of the socket fitting 40,
• a firefighting fluid supply line (not shown) can be inserted into the ferrule 50 and socket fitting 40 and secured by tightening the internally threaded hex nut to the externally threaded socket fitting 40.
• Fluid introduced at the ferrule inlet 50 flows through the filter 45 and into the central bore 22 of the nozzle body 20 through the lateral bores 26 and for delivery at an operative pressure to each of the orifice inserts 12, 16 for fluid discharge in a desired manner.
• the water mist nozzle shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is an open nozzle in which water delivered to the water mist device 10 at operating pressur is immediately discharged from the orifice inserts 12, 16, Alternate embodiments of a water mist device can be provided for automated operation in which the nozzle device is initially in an unactuated or "closed” state and then triggered or actuated to an open state for discharging die fluid.
• Shown in FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of a water mist device 2.10 in which the discharge from the device is controlled by a thermally responsive trigger 250.
• a piston 252 is disposed within the central bore 222 of the body 240 below the filter 245.
• the trigger 250 is seated against a trigger bracket or support 256 thai is affixed to the nozzle body 220 and axially aligned with the central bore 222.
• the trigger 250 supports the piston 252 in an unactuated position within the central bore 222.
• O-rings 251 disposed about the piston 252 prevent the flow of water from the inlet to the lateral bores 226.
• the trigger 250 is thermally responsive and preferably embodied as a thermally responsive bulb of a desired thermal rating and responsiveness.
• the bulb 250 When the bulb 250 is actuated and triggered at its designated thermal rating in the presence of a sufficient le vel of heat, the bulb shatters thereby removing support of the piston 252.
• the piston then axialiy translates under the pressure of water. With the piston 252 clear of the lateral bores, water is delivered to each of the obliquely disposed orifice inserts 212, 216 for generation and distribution of a fluid mist and spray in a manner as previously described.
• FIGS. 5A-5C Shown in FIGS. 5A-5C are various views of a preferred embodiment of a direct impingement orifice insert 16 for providing a fluid discharge for directly addressing a fire with a mist and/or spray.
• the direct impingement orifice insert 16 is a cylindrical body having a first end 1 a and a second end 16b.
• Formed at the first end 16a is at least one inlet and more preferably a single centered inlet I S into which the firefightiiig fluid is introduced; and at the second end 16b are at least one and preferably more than one outlet 18 from which the fluid is discharged.
• Extending between the inlet 15 and the outlet 18 is an internal chamber 17 extending axialiy between the inlet 15 and the at least one outlet I S along a central insert axis B— B.
• the orifice inserts described herein are preferably disposed within the sockets of the body so as to axialiy align the insert axis B-B with the lateral bores to intersect the central longitudinal nozzle axis.
• the chamber 17 is preferably defined by an internal wall 17a of the device that is preferably circumscribed about the insert axis B-B to define a preferred cylindrical chamber with an internal diameter DM ranging between 7-8 millimeters (0.28-0.3m) and is preferably 7.5 millimeters (0.29 in.).
• the chamber 17 extends from the inlet 15 to a floor 17b of the chamber 17 at a chamber depth or height l ⁇ of 8-9 millimeters (0.3-0.35 in.), preferably about 8.5 millimeters (0.33 in.) and more preferably 8.7 millimeters (0.34 in).
• the inlet 15 is preferabl dimensioned to define an internal diameter of 7.5 millimeters (0.29 in.).
• the orifice insert has a preferred maximum diameter D of about 15 millimeters (0.59 in.) and a total height or length L of about 12 millimeters (0.47 in.).
• each outlet 18 Preferably extending through the chamber floor 17b of the orifice insert 16 are the one or more outlets 18.
• Each preferably straight outlet 18 extends obliquely to define an included angle ⁇ with the central insert axis B— B that preferably ranges from i0°-60° and is preferably about 25° and is more preferably 22°-22.5°.
• Other alternate preferred included angles ⁇ includes 15° and 22.5°.
• Each outlet defines an outlet diameter and configuration to generate discharge characteristics such as, for example, a desired droplet size.
• each of the outlets 1 8 define an outlet diameter OD of about 0.5-1.0 millimeters (0.02-0.04 in.) and is more preferably 0.7 millimeters (0.03 in.).
• the fluid flow through the chamber 17 preferably has no, or a minimized, swirling effect within the chamber 17 to maximize the direct discharge or impingement.
• the preferred direct impingement orifice insert 16 discharges a fluid mist with a droplet size that is greater than the droplet size of the fluid mist discharged from the indirect impingement orifice insert 12.
• die indirect impingement orifice insert 12 is a cylindrical body having a first end 2a and a second end 2b. Formed at the first end 2a is at least one inlet and more preferably multiple inlets and even more preferably a pair of inlets 35a, 35b into which the firefighting fluid is introduced; and at die second end 2b are at least one and preferably a single centered outlet 38 from which the fluid is discharged.
• chamber 37 extends axially between, the inlets 35a, 35b and the outlet 38 along a central insert axis BB--BB.
• the chamber 37 is preferably defined by an internal wall 37a of the device that is preferably circumscribed about the insert axis BB--BB to define a preferred cylindrical chamber with an internal diameter DIA2 ranging between 7-8 millimeters (0.28-0.3in) and is preferably 7.5 millimeters (0.29 in). More preferably, the internal diameter DIA2 varies between the diameter over the depth of the chamber 37.
• the chamber 37 extends from the inlets 35a, 35b to a floor 37b of the chamber 37 at a chamber depth or height I-I2 of 4-9 millimeters (0.16-0.35 in.), preferably about 5 millimeters (0.2 in.) and more preferably 4.9 millimeters (0.19 in.).
• the preferred total flooding orifice insert 12 has a preferred maximum diameter D2 of about 15 millimeters (0.59 in.) and a total height or length L of about 12 millimeters (0.47 in.).
• the outlet 38 Preferably extending through the chamber floor 37b of the orifice insert 12 is the outlet 38 centrally aligned with the insert axis BB— BB, which defines an outlet, diameter to generate discharge characteristics such as, for example, the mist having the desired droplet size, in a preferred embodiment, the outlet 38 define a preferred outlet diameter OD2 of about 0.5-1 millimeters (0,02-0.04 in.) and is more preferably 0.8 millimeters (0.03 in.).
• the floor 37b preferably is angled or tapers toward fire outlet 38 and more preferably defines a conical surface with a preferred cone angle of 120°.
• the conical internal surface or floor 37b of the chamber facilitates a preferred swirling effect in the fluid through the internal chamber 37 before fluid discharge,
• the inlets 35a, 35b each include a transverse portion 33a, 33b that extends transversely with respect to the insert axis BB— BB and the outlet 38.
• the transverse portions 33a, 33b extend in opposed directions and more preferably are disposed to discharge fluids therefrom substantially tangentially with respect to the chamber .37 such that the fluid introduced into the chamber 37 generate a coiintercurreBt flow arid the preferred swirling effect.
• the inlets 35a, 35b are preferably dimensioned to range from 1 .5 - 2 millimeters (0.06-0.08 in.) and more preferably range from 1 .6 -2 millimeters.
• a cap member 65 is inserted in the first end 2a of the orifice insert 12 to plug the chamber 37 and divert fluid from the central and lateral bores 22, 26 toward the inlets 35a, 35b. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the orifice insert 12. with a cap member 65 inserted therein, the inlets 35a, 35b are located at the periphery of the cap member 65.
• the orifice inserts 12, 16 of the device 10 together provide for a discharge characteristic of flow to pressure which can be quantified by a K-factor of 0.1 gpm/pst '' ⁇ and more preferably 0.107 gpm/psi ' ! ' 2
• the device 10 has a preferred operating pressure ranging from 1000 psi. to 1100 psi. Alternative configurations of the device 1 0 can have lower or more preferably higher operating pressures.
• the water mist nozzle devices 10 individually provide for a preferred fluid discharge of indirect impingement (total flooding) and direct impingement mist spray, Collectively, the nozzles provide a desired fluid distribution density. In one water distribution arrangement schematically shown in FIG.
• Each of the nozzles 1 1 a. 1 10b were angled downward at a preferred downward angle a of 5°-20 c' and more preferably 8°-18* with the angles being different from one another.
• one nozzle is preferably oriented at 8° and the other is oriented at 18°.
• Positioned in front of the nozzles were seven rows of five 1 ft. x. 1 ft. collection pans. Water was distributed for 10 minutes and the amount of water collected in each bucket was determined and plotted as shown in FiG. 7.
• a de sity of 0.12 gpm/sq, ft. of water was collected in a collection bucket located between the two nozzles three feet in front and three feet offset from the left most nozzle 110a.
• the distribution testing shows that more water is concentrated in the areas where the potential fires could be located between nozzle devices.
• the water mist discharged from the angled outlets .18 of the preferred direct impingement orifice insert 16 facilitates in the suppression and/or control of the fire with the larger sized droplets that penetrate the fire plume.
• the innovative nozzle device and methods of addressing a fire for equipment and occupied spaces provide a mist for indirect impingement, which includes total flooding of equipment and/or occupied space; and direct impingement, which includes penetration of a plume of a fire within the equipment and/or occupied space.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)
• Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Cited By (10)

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Citations (8)

• 2017
  • 2017-06-30 MY MYPI2018002972A patent/MY195452A/en unknown
  • 2017-06-30 WO PCT/US2017/040347 patent/WO2018006000A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2017-06-30 SG SG11201811759QA patent/SG11201811759QA/en unknown
  • 2017-06-30 AU AU2017290823A patent/AU2017290823B2/en active Active
  • 2017-06-30 CN CN201780048806.XA patent/CN109689168A/zh active Pending

Patent Citations (8)

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