WO2019053231A1

WO2019053231A1 - Combined fire safety system for early detection of smoke and gas and fire protection

Info

Publication number: WO2019053231A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/074972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Baptiste FRITOT; Joseph SISOMBATH; Patrick MAUREAU
Original assignee: Electricite De France; Ekium
Priority date: 2017-09-15
Filing date: 2018-09-14
Publication date: 2019-03-21
Also published as: MA50244A; FR3071165B1; EP3681606A1; FR3071165A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a fire safety device, comprising at least one flow interface connector that opens in the space of the enclosure, means for sampling smoke and/or gas in the space of the enclosure, a centralised fire safety station comprising a tank of fire-extinguishing agent, a smoke detector and a gas detector associated with the means for sampling smoke and/or gas, and means for injecting the fire-extinguishing agent under pressure, fluid communication means extending between said flow interface connector and the centralised station, characterised in that the means for establishing fluid communication comprise a single pipe for transferring fluid between the means for sampling smoke and/or gas in the space of the enclosure and the smoke detector and the gas detector positioned in the centralised fire safety station, and for transferring fire-extinguishing agent from the tank of fire-extinguishing agent to the flow interface connector.

Description

COMBINED FIRE SAFETY SYSTEM FOR DETECTION

PRECAUTION OF SMOKE, GAS AND FIRE PROTECTION

GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD AND PRIOR ART

The invention generally relates to fire safety systems, and more specifically the multi point detection of smoke and protection by extinguishing agent.

The invention is advantageously applicable in modular environments, such as energy storage containers, steam turbine or combustion casings, or ship or submarine cabins or long-haul bays and cargo planes. but also more common places such as electrical rooms, data centers, clean rooms, computer rooms or nuclear zones with restricted access, premises with strong electromagnetic influences. A fire safety system conventionally comprises a fire detection device, a gas detection device, and a device for protection by extinguishing agent (water, inert gas or inhibitor, powder, etc.).

These different devices are conventionally installed independently by different suppliers, resulting in each device using a network of cables and pipes of its own.

The various devices are conventionally linked and controlled by a fire plant, generally installed in priority and linked to the fire detection system.

The installation of devices is therefore expensive in time and men, in addition to being bulky because of the need for each device to benefit from its own network of pipes and electrical cables.

In the case of modular environments, typically a network of containers, technical buildings or offices, a plurality of systems must be implemented in order to detect and protect the entire area concerned. Each of the systems must be connected to a secure power supply and also to a telecommunication device, itself connected to a central fire safety system.

The fire detection systems are conventionally installed in each module, their information being reassembled to the central system by electrical or electromagnetic connection. This mode of detection represents a major drawback in areas subject to strong electromagnetic fields, these fields can impair the operation of the device and reduce the reliability of the device.

In addition, maintenance of these point detection devices is recurrent, which is a disadvantage when they are installed in restricted areas.

GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to simplify the installation of fire safety devices (detection and protection) and to reduce incidentally the cost.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the size of a fire protection device subject to a fire detection.

Another aim is to protect a modular environment without multiplying the detection, control and extinguishing agent storage devices.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the incidence of electromagnetic fields on the performance of detection systems.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the maintenance operations in the modules when the system protects a modular environment.

According to one aspect, the invention proposes a fire safety device for the volume of an enclosure, comprising

at least one flow interface connector that opens into the volume of the enclosure, o means of sampling smoke and / or gas in the volume of the enclosure,

a central fire station comprising an extinguishing agent tank, a smoke detector and a gas detector associated with the smoke and / or gas sampling means, and means for injecting the gas under pressure; extinguishing agent,

a means of fl uidic communication extending between said flux interface connector and the central station, characterized in that the fluidic communication setting means comprise a single channel for ensuring on the one hand the transfer of flow interface; uide between the means of sampling smoke and / or gas in the volume of the enclosure and the smoke detector and the gas detector placed in the central fire station and secondly the transfer of extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent tank to the flow interface connector.

In this way, the number of pipes is reduced, the detection and protection operations being carried out by means of a single pipe.

This reduction in the number of pipes reduces the complexity, the duration and the installation costs of such devices.

The size of such a system is further greatly reduced.

A unique system allows for the detection and protection functions.

The sensing and control members are centralized and placed in a protected environment, thereby reducing the influence of the electromagnetic fields on the performance of the sensing device.

The number of members present in the modules is limited by the centralization of the detection elements, thus no longer requiring means of communication between the decentralized detection elements and the security station. Maintenance operations are thus lightened. Such a fire safety device is advantageously completed by the following different characteristics taken alone or in combination:

the centralized station comprises at least two branches of pipes, a first branch comprising a non-return valve and a tank of extinguishing agent under pressure, a second branch comprising a bidirectional valve, the gas detector and the smoke detector, the bi-directional valve being configured to allow fluid flow in both directions and to block fluid flow in one direction when the pressure thereof exceeds a certain threshold; the flow interface connector comprises

o a flow interface connector sprayer, o a fluidic sprayer adapter, connecting the sprayer to the pipeline

the means for sampling smoke and / or gas in the chamber, these means comprising a flow selector connected to the fluidic sprayer adapter or to the pipe, configured to allow the passage of fluids in both directions and alternatively to block the passage of a fluid in one direction; the flow interface connector has at least one obstruction element configured to obstruct the flow interface connector sprayer as long as certain physical quantities to which the obstruction element is subjected do not reach a certain threshold; the flow interface connector is direct and the obstruction element comprises at least one cap or cap configured to be ejected by the pressure applied to them by the extinguishing agent when it is injected; the flow interface connector is automatic and the obstruction element comprises at least one thermosensitive bulb configured to burst and release the extinguishing agent when it is subjected to a predefined temperature; the flow selector includes:

o a front port and

o a rear port

placed in fluid communication by a front pipe and a rear pipe, the pipes opening into a central chamber, the central chamber having a valve connected to an elastic element bearing on a rear axial stop at one of the ports, the element resilient exerting a return force tending to move the valve away from the opening at which the elastic member bears, the elastic member being configured to be compressed beyond a certain level of pressure exerted by a fluid on the valve in the direction of compression of the elastic element, causing the obstruction of one of the pipes by the valve and interrupting the passage of the fluid in the flow selector; the flow selector comprises a front port in interface with the fluidic adapter of the flow interface connector or directly with the pipe, a rear port interfaced with the medium outside the device, the rear port having the rear axial stop allowing the elastic element to bear, the valve being thus configured to obstruct the flow selector when the pressure in the pipe exceeds a certain threshold; at least one flow selector comprises a flux limiter configured so that an identical air flow rate is taken from each of the flow selectors during an air intake phase from the enclosure; the valve is of cylindrical shape, comprising:

o a side wall,

a base on which is fixed the elastic element,

a cylindrical blind cavity,

a plurality of lateral holes passing through its side wall and putting in fluid communication the blind cavity and the central chamber of the flow selector,

the lateral wall of the valve cooperates with the front pipe, so that when the valve is in the open position the fluid can borrow only the lateral holes of the valve to circulate from the rear opening to the front opening, and when the valve is in the closed position it obstructs the rear channel of the flow selector so as to block the transfer of fluids between the front and rear ports and vice versa;

- The centralized station further comprises a secondary branch of pipes, this secondary branch of pipes having a quick connector configured to allow the injection of pressurized gas from outside the centralized station in the pipes, the non-return valve being configured to prevent a fluid from rising along the first main pipe branch to the extinguishing agent tank;

it comprises a plurality of protection lines connected to the centralized station, a protection line comprising a single pipe on which a plurality of flux interface connectors are mounted.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a modular environment equipped with such a fire safety device, the modular environment comprising a plurality of modules, each module comprising at least one flux interface connector, two interface connectors. flow of the same module not belonging to the same line of protection. According to another aspect, the invention proposes a method of fire safety of at least one enclosure by means of such an anti-fire device, the method comprising at least two steps:

a detection step, during which the fire safety device draws air contained in the module through a selector of a flow of a flow interface connector, the air then being conveyed by the ducting at the smoke and gas detector in the central station, where the air is analyzed by the smoke and gas detector. In this step, a gas detection only triggers an alarm;

- a fire protection step, triggered by the detection of smoke in the air analyzed in the centralized station, during which the smoke detector causes the injection of an extinguishing agent in the pipe, from the centralized station until to the flow interface connector.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and nonlimiting, and should be read with reference to the appended figures in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a modular environment equipped with a fire safety system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a 3D representation of a flow interface connector according to the invention; more precisely, FIG. 2a shows an automatic flow interface connector equipped with a heat-sensitive shutter element, FIG. 2b shows a direct flow interface connector equipped with a cap-type shutter element;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional representation of a flow selector according to the invention; more precisely the figures

3A and 3B represent the flow selector in open detection position gas and smoke on the one hand, and on the other hand in the closed position of injection of an extinguishing agent;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an installation according to the present invention illustrating internal members of a centralized station according to the invention as well as pipes and flux interface connectors equipped with flow selectors according to the invention. the invention; more specifically Figure 4a shows a first embodiment having a single line of smoke analysis, Figure 4b shows a second embodiment having two lines of parallel smoke analysis;

FIG. 5 is an operating diagram of a first embodiment of the invention; more specifically, FIG. 5a represents a flow interface connector during the suction phase, FIG. 5b shows a flow interface connector during the extinguishing agent blocking phase, and FIG. flow in fire protection phase;

FIG. 6 is an operating diagram of a second embodiment of the invention; more particularly Figure 6a shows a flow interface connector in the suction phase, and Figure 6b shows a flow interface connector in fire protection phase;

FIG. 7 is an operating diagram of a second embodiment of the invention; more particularly Figure 7a shows a flow interface connector in the suction phase, and Figure 7b shows a flow interface connector in fire protection phase;

FIG. 8 is an operating diagram of a second embodiment of the invention; more particularly Figure 8a shows a flow interface connector in the suction phase, and Figure 8b shows a flow interface connector in fire protection phase;

- Figure 9 is a sectional side view of a flow selector according to the invention; - Figure 10 is a sectional sectional view of a flow selector according to the invention and highlights the integration mode of an air capture tip;

- Figure 11 is a sectional sectional diagram showing the assembly mode of an air capture nozzle in a quick setting; more precisely, FIG. 11a shows the quick setting in the disassembled position, FIG. 11b shows the quick setting in the engaged position and the unlocked element, and FIG. 11c shows the quick setting in the locked position and locked element;

- Figure 12 is a representation of an embodiment of the invention when it is suitable for an installation with a false ceiling.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE MODES OF IMPLEMENTATION AND REALIZATION

The following embodiments relate to the case of a fire safety device 1 for an enclosure of a modular environment, an example of which is shown in FIG. 1. However, the example is in no way limiting, since the Fire safety device is suitable for any type of environment, modular or not.

The device comprises a centralized fire safety station 2 connected to one or more pipes 6, on which are assembled one or more flow interface connectors 7.

The pipes 6 extend between the central fire safety station 2 and a purge box 8 for purging the pipe 6 which is connected thereto.

The fire safety device 1 being here installed on a modular structure 9 (or modular environment) comprising a plurality of modules 10, each of the modules is equipped with one or more flux interface connectors 7. Each of the pipes 6 extending from the central fire safety station 2 forms a protection line 11.

A protection line 11 comprises a flux interface connector 7 in several modules 10.

For reasons of reliability of the fire safety device 1, each module may be equipped with several flow interface connectors 7 belonging to separate protection lines 11.

In this way, if one of the protection lines 11 has failed, the security of the module 10 is always ensured by the flow interface connector 7 of another protection line 11.

For reasons of compactness of the device, particularly in order to avoid linking the centralized station to too many channels 6, a protection line 11 comprises a flow interface connector 7 in the largest possible number of modules.

In the illustrated embodiment, each module 10 comprises a flux interface connector 7 of each of the three protection lines 11.

The number of protection lines 11 may vary according to the needs related to the environment.

Thus equipped, if an anomaly occurs in one of the modules 10, the gas or smoke rises along the pipes 6 to the central fire station 2. The appropriate detector causes the release of the extinguishing agent which is directed in the pipelines 6.

The gases and fumes in the pipes 6 will exit through the sprayers 12 of the flow interface connectors 7 activated.

The extinguishing agent is then released into the module 10 where the fault occurs, via the flow interface connectors 7 of this module 10. Referring to FIG. 2a, a flow interface connector 7 comprises a sprayer 12, connected to the pipe 6 via a fluidic adapter 13, the fluidic adapter 13 extending coaxially with the sprayer 12. The fluidic adapter 13 comprises a generally hollow cylindrical body, an opening on both ends and an opening located on its lateral surface. The lateral opening of the fluidic adapter 13 makes it possible to cooperate with a flux selector 14 extending transversely projecting outside the fluidic adapter 13.

The flux selector 14 comprises a generally cylindrical body 15, a front part 151 in interface with the fluidic adapter 13 and a rear part 152 in interface with the external medium.

The flow interface connector 7 is considered automatic because it comprises in this embodiment a thermosensitive bulb 301 which blocks the ejection of the extinguishing agent until it is subjected to a suitable temperature.

Referring to Figure 2b, the flow interface connector 7 is considered direct because it comprises a cap 303 ejected by the extinguishing agent when it is injected.

With reference to FIG. 3a, the front 16 and rear 17 faces of the flow selector 14 are put into fluid communication via two internal pipes, a front pipe 18 coming from the front face 16 and a rear pipe 19 coming from the rear face 17.

The front pipe 18 and the rear pipe 19 open into a cylindrical central chamber 20, forming an internal cavity in the flow selector 14.

The central chamber 20 comprises within it a generally cylindrical valve 21 having a blind cavity 22, also cylindrical, a side wall 23 and a bottom 24.

An elastic element 25, here a spring, is fixed to the bottom 24 of the valve, and exerts a return force tending to push the valve 21 to the front pipe 18 of the flow selector 14 by bearing on a rear axial abutment 26 made in the rear pipe 19. The bottom 24 of the valve 21 further comprises a centering element 241, ensuring the positioning of the elastic element 25 relative to the bottom 24 of the valve 21.

The side wall 23 of the valve 21 cooperates with the front pipe 18 of the flow selector 14, being partially inserted into the front pipe 18. An axial stop before 27 keeps the valve 21 in a first stable position, called open.

The side wall 23 of the valve 21 has lateral bores 28, making it possible to put in fluid communication the blind cavity 22 and the central chamber 20 when the valve 21 is in the open position abuts against the axial stop before 27.

In this way, the front 18 and rear 19 pipes are in fluid communication when the valve 21 is in the open position.

The central cavity 20 further comprises a first body 201 and a second body 202, delimited by an annular projection forming a guide ring 203.

This guide ring 203 centers the valve 21 in the central cavity 20 and guides the valve 21 in translation in the central cavity 20.

The guide ring 203 further includes bores 204, providing fluid communication between the first body 201 and the second body 202 of the central cavity 20.

In current situation, the flux selector 14 is in the open position as illustrated in FIG. 3a. The environment is thus placed in fluid communication with the pipe 6 via the fluidic adapter 13. The gaseous mixture of the environment thus passes through the flow selector 13 from the outside to raise the pipe 6 towards the centralized fire safety station 2 under the effect of a pressure differential.

When the pressure exerted against the valve 21 tends to compress the elastic element 25, the valve 21 moves to reach a second stable position, at least as long as the pressure level allows, this position being said closed. In the closed position as illustrated in Figure 3b, the bottom 24 of the valve 21 obstructs the rear pipe 19, being in contact with the mouth of the rear pipe 19 in the central chamber 20.

A sealing element 29, here an O-ring, is disposed on the periphery of the mouth of the rear pipe 19 in the central chamber 20, so as to improve the sealing of the closed position of the valve 21 cooperating with that -this.

In this way, the fluidic communication between the front 18 and rear 19 channels of the flow selector 14 is interrupted when the valve 21 is in the closed position, that is to say when the pressure exerted on the valve 21 compresses the element The flow selector 14 has a front port 160 and a rear port 170 which respectively open on the front 16 and rear 17 faces and communicate via an internal cavity. The cavity is formed of three coaxial sections 18, 19 and 20 of different straight sections. The transition between the two sections 20 and 19 forms a recess 290 directed towards the front port 160, and which constitutes a valve seat cooperating with a shutter 21. The shutter 21 is placed in the section 20 of the cavity of larger section . The shutter 21 is biased away from the seat 290 by an elastic member 25.

At rest, when the pressure applied on the port 160 is low the elastic member 25 keeps the shutter 21 away from the seat 290. The flow selector 14 is open as shown in Figure 3a. A flow of fluid may be drawn through the flow selector 14 to be directed to the detectors 4 and 5 as shown in Figure 3a.

On the contrary, when the pressure applied to the port 160 by the extinguishing agent creates on the shutter 21 a force greater than that exerted by the elastic member 25, the shutter 21 is pressed against the seat 290 and the flow selector 14 is closed as illustrated in Figure 3b. The agent extinguisher present in the line 6 can then exit through the output sprayer 12 of the flow interface connector 7.

With reference to FIG. 4a, in a first embodiment the pipe 6 opens into the centralized fire safety station 2 on two pipe branches.

A first pipe branch 61 of the central fire safety station 2 comprises a bi-directional valve 31, a gas detection device 4 comprising a gas detector disposed in a sealed enclosure, and a smoke detection device 5.

The smoke detection device 5 comprises a suction device, and is situated downstream, in the gas flow direction during a suction phase, with respect to the gas detection device 4.

The bidirectional valve 31 allows the passage of fluids from the pipes 6 to the detection devices as the pressure of the fluids is below a certain threshold.

In this manner, the smoke and gas detectors 5 are exposed to the gaseous mixture from the modules 10 during gas suction caused by the smoke detection device 5.

When the pressure entering the first pipe branch 61 exceeds a certain threshold, typically during the release of the extinguishing agent, the bidirectional valve 31 obstructs the first pipe branch 61 under the effect of the pressure of the extinguishing agent , and thus protects the gas detectors 4 and smoke 5.

For optimum operation, balancing the upstream / downstream pressure of the suction smoke detection devices and / or gas markers 4 and 5 is desirable.

A reflux line 36 ensures a return of the sampling of air and / or gas taken continuously, in the environment of the environment in which it was taken, so as to balance the pressures upstream and downstream of the detection devices. . A safety logic module 34 is connected to two solenoid valves 35a, 35b located on either side of the smoke detection system 5 and gas 4, to isolate them when the situation requires it.

When the smoke detector 5 confirms smoke detection, the safety logic module 34 controls the solenoid valve 35a located upstream of the detection devices during suction.

The solenoid valve 35a thus switches from the first pipe branch 61 to a neutral inlet pipe 37 equipped with a pressure-reducing member 39, here a diaphragm.

The air sucked through the neutral intake duct 37, coming from an environment outside the monitored enclosure, then passes through the smoke detectors 5 and gas 4 via an inter-detector pipe 40, to be subsequently rejected. outside the monitored enclosure via a secondary exhaust line 38.

A second branch pipe 62 of the centralized fire safety station 2 comprises a nonreturn valve 33, and a reservoir of extinguishing agent under pressure 3.

The check valve 33 is configured to prevent fluids from the pipe 6 or the first branch 61 to go back to the tank 3 extinguishing agent.

When the smoke detector 5 confirms a fire situation,

(alarm confirmation) it triggers the injection of the extinguishing agent, contained in the tank 3, in the protective lines 11.

The bi-directional valve 31 closes under the pressure of the extinguishing agent, thus preventing the extinguishing agent from returning to the first branch of line 61 of the central fire safety station 2 and damaging the smoke and gas detectors 5 and 4.

The extinguishing agent progresses to the flow interface connectors 7, the air contained being evacuated therefrom by the flow selectors 14. When the pressure-extinguishing agent reaches the flow selector 14, it exerts pressure on the valve 21 which compresses the elastic element 25, the valve 21 passing in the closed position.

The extinguishing fluid can thus be ejected into the modules 10 only through the sprayers 12. With reference to FIG. 4b, a second embodiment comprises two first branches of ducts 61a, 61b, each being linked to two distinct protection lines 11.

The protection lines 11 include elements similar to the first embodiment described above.

Each of the first two branches 61a, 61b comprises, from upstream to downstream in the direction of flow of the gases during the suction phase, a bi-directional valve 31a, 31b, a quick connector 32 connected to the first branches of pipe , a non-return valve 321a, 321b being located on each of the ducts connecting the first duct branches 61a, 61b and the quick connector 32, and a solenoid valve 35a located upstream of the smoke detector 5.

Each of the solenoid valves 35a makes it possible to interchange the first pipe branch 61a, 61b on which it is located at a neutral intake pipe 37 equipped with a diaphragm 39.

In this embodiment, the smoke detector 5 comprises two inputs 501a, 501b each equipped with an independent detection module. Each of the first pipe branches 61a, 61b is therefore independently analyzed by the smoke detector 5.

The samples taken from the first two branches 61a, 61b are communicated to the gas detector 4 through a single inter-detector line 40, the gas detector 4 then ejected them into the chamber 10 via the reflux line 36. .

Each of the first pipe branches 61a, 61b is connected to the second pipe branch 62 via a pipe comprising a nonreturn valve 33a, 33b.

This embodiment makes it possible to trigger the fire protection device on an action threshold or on an action threshold equation while increasing the area covered by the detection zone. With reference to FIG. 5a, in the detection phase, the air of the monitored medium is sucked through the flow selector 14 and then routed to the centralized station via the pipes 6. Referring to FIG. 5b, in the event of smoke detection the extinguishing agent is injected into the pipes 6 and flows to the flow interface connectors 7.

The extinguishing agent under pressure remains blocked in the flow interface connectors 7 under the effect of obstruction of the sprayers 12 by heat-sensitive bulbs 301.

With reference to FIG. 5c, when the temperature in a module 10 reaches a critical threshold, for example under the effect of a fire, the thermosensitive bulb bursts and thus releases the extinguishing agent.

In this way, the extinguishing agent is not released in the modules

10 in which there is no fire.

In a variant shown in FIG. 6a, the obstruction element 30 comprises a plurality of plugs 302.

When gas or smoke is detected, the extinguishing agent is injected into the pipes 6.

Referring to FIG. 6b, the extinguishing agent under pressure expels plugs 302 and is sprayed into the protected medium.

A link can bind the plugs 302 to the sprayer 12 so as to reuse them after triggering the system.

In a second variant represented in FIG. 7a, the obstruction element 30 comprises a cap 303 covering the sprayer 12.

Referring to Fig. 7b, the pressurized extinguishing agent ejects cap 303 when injected into lines 6, thereby being sprayed into the protected medium. A link can link the cap 303 to the pipe 6, so as to reuse it after triggering the system.

In a third variant shown in FIG. 8a, the fluidic adapter 13 may consist of two assembled parts, making it possible to arrange an obstruction disk 304 between the two parts.

With reference to FIG. 8b, the injection of the extinguishing agent into the ducts 6 causes the distruction disks 304 to rupture when the pressure is sufficient. The debris of the obstruction disc 304 remains trapped in the fluidic adapter 13.

With reference to FIG. 9, the body 15 of the flux selector 14 may comprise a flux limiter 41.

The flow limiter 41 generates a unique pressure drop in the flow of fluid between the central fire station 2 and the monitored environment.

This pressure drop is configured to compensate for the regular pressure losses caused by the flow of fluid in the pipe 6.

When a pipe 6 has several flow interface connectors 7, and therefore several sampling points for monitoring several disjoint enclosures or remote areas of the same enclosure, the different flow interface connectors 7 are located at different locations. different piping distances from the central fire station 2.

These pipeline distances generate regular pressure losses, and differences in pipeline distances cause disparities in these pressure losses.

Therefore, during a detection phase, the flow sucked through the different flow interface connectors 7 would be different depending on their distance from the central fire safety station 2.

In order to compensate for these disparities in pressure losses experienced by the fluxes of the various flow interface connectors 7 of a channel 6, flux limiters may be located at the flux selectors 14.

This makes it possible to suck up the same flow rate at each flux interface connector 7, thus making it possible to ensure the same detection power at all points of the or the monitored enclosures.

The rear portion 152 may include a rear connecting member 42 having a thread portion for joining to the body 15 of the flow selector 14.

A positioning element 43 is located in this rear connection element 42 so as to position the flow limiter 41 in the rear connection element 42, the flow limiter 41 being then held in position when the element rear connection 42 is assembled to the body 15.

The front portion 151 includes an assembly member 44, in this case a threaded connector, configured to connect the body 15 of the flow selector 14 to the fluidic adapter 13.

With reference to FIG. 10, the rear portion 152 of the flow selector 14 may also comprise an air capture tip 45, assembled to the rear connection element 42 by a quick catch 46 at its interface end with the monitored environment.

The air catching tip 45 may be straight or have an elbow pointing upward or downward.

The choice of the orientation of the air catching tip 45 depends on the configuration of the respective orientations of the air flows and the flow selector 14.

For example, a flow selector 14 placed horizontally in a chamber in which the air circulates by natural convection will include an angled air-catching tip 45, so that the air circulates naturally towards the chamber. flow selector 14.

In another example, a flow selector 14, located in a ventilated environment in which the air moves in a given direction, will comprise an air capture tip 45 oriented so that its orifice is located facing the direction of flow of air.

With reference to FIG. 11a, the quick grip 46 comprises a fixed element 47, a retractable element 48 and a movable obstacle 49.

The retractable element 48 cooperates with the fixed element 47 so as to move the moving obstacle 49 as a function of the position of the retractable element 48, making it possible to put and hold in position the air capture tip 45 relative to the fixed element 47.

The fixed element 47 has a front portion 50, a central portion

51, a rear portion 52, and a cavity 53 through the fixed element from one side.

The front portion 50 comprises connecting elements 54, for example a thread, so as to ensure its assembly to the rear connection element 42.

The rear portion 52 is generally cylindrical, and has a diameter smaller than the central portion 51.

The rear portion has holes configured to position the movable obstacle 49, allowing only a radial displacement of the latter.

The retractable member 48 concentrically extends to the rear portion 52 externally thereto.

The retractable element 48 has a cylindrical external profile, its internal profile comprising, from front to rear, a skirt 481, a shoulder 482, a narrow cylindrical bearing surface 483, a conical portion 484, a wide cylindrical bearing surface 485, and a stop 486.

An elastic member 55 is compressed between the central portion 51 of the fixed member 47 and the shoulder 482 of the retractable member 48, thereby opposing the forward movement of the retractable member 48.

The skirt 481 is configured to cover this elastic element 55 irrespective of the position of the retractable element 48 with respect to the fixed element 47. The narrow cylindrical bearing surface 483, the conical portion 484 and the wide cylindrical bearing surface 485 are configured to radially move the movable obstacle 49 during the forward or backward movement of the retractable element 48.

The moving obstacle 49 may comprise a series of balls housed in the bores of the rear portion 52 of the fixed element 47.

With reference to FIG. 11b, during the forward movement of the retractable member 48, the movable obstacle 49 moves radially outwardly against the wide cylindrical bearing surface 485.

The stop 486 limits the axial displacement towards the front of the retractable element 48 while coming into contact with the moving obstacle 49.

The moving obstacle 49 thus has an inside diameter configured to allow insertion or removal of the air capture tip 45 in the stationary member 47.

Referring to Fig. 11c, when the air catching tip 45 is in position in the fixed member 47, the elastic member 55 pushes the retractable member 48 rearwardly.

In the backward movement of the retractable member 48, the conical portion 484 radially moves the movable obstacle 49 inward to place it against the narrow cylindrical bearing surface 483.

The moving obstacle 49 cooperates with a groove 451 made in the air-catching nozzle 45 so as to assemble the fixed element 47 and the air-catching nozzle 45.

With reference to FIG. 12, in the case of an installation configuration in which the sampling points are offset from the pipes 6, for example in the case of a false ceiling, the flow interface connector sprayer 12 7 and the air catching tip 42 may be connected to the flow selector 14 via flexible hoses. In particular, the sprayer 12 is connected to the flow interface connector 7 via a braided hose 56 configured to withstand high pressures.

The air catching tip 45 can be connected to the flow selector 14 via a hose 57.

Operating modes

The fire safety device 1 described is implemented by a method comprising several modes of operation.

Surveillance Mode

A first mode, called Surveillance, controls the fire safety device 1 so as to draw air from the medium to be protected through the flow interface connectors 7 to the central fire safety station 2, via the pipes 6 .

The air samples are controlled by the smoke detector 5 and the gas detector 4, then return to the medium through the reflux line 36.

During a smoke detection an alarm is triggered on a first threshold, the system continues to suck air from the medium to be protected.

When a smoke alarm on a threshold alarm (alarm confirmation) is triggered, the system switches to isolation mode.

Fire protection mode

When alarm confirmation is triggered and the system is isolated, it goes into fire protection mode.

It emits an audible and visual evacuation alarm for a given duration before operating the protective device releasing the extinguishing agent.

During the evacuation procedure, an isolation step of the gas detection devices 4 and smoke 5 is performed, so as to avoid injecting the extinguishing agent under pressure. The safety logic module 34 controls the switching of the solenoid valves 35, breaking the fluid communication between the first pipe branch 61 and the gas 4 and smoke detectors 5.

The switching of the solenoid valves 35 sets the gas detection 4 and smoke 5 devices in fluid communication with the neutral intake pipe 37 and the secondary exhaust pipe 38.

The extinguishing agent, for example a water / nitrogen mixture, flows through the pipes 6 to the flow interface connectors 7. The flow selector 14 blocks the flow of the extinguishing agent via the port 170 to above a pressure above a certain threshold, here being 8 bar and allows this flow via the sprayer 12.

Decolouring Mode

In this mode, the isolation step of the gas and smoke detection devices is activated as soon as this mode is active.

This mode allows an operator to intervene manually to inject pressurized gas from a quick connector 32, located in the central fire safety station 2, via a pressure regulator with relief valve and anti-return valve which allows the flow of the air fluid in one direction allowing, in the pipes 6 at a pressure lower than the threshold pressure of the flow selectors 14, to eject the dust and particles from the pipes 6.

Dust cleaning of the drains 6 requires that the bleed valves 8 are open.

The unclogging of the dusts of the flux selectors 14 requires that the purge valves 8 are closed.

A nonreturn valve 33 prevents the flow under pressure of unclogging back to the tank 3 extinguishing agent.

The safety logic module 34 controls the closing of the solenoid valves 35 so as to isolate the gas detection systems 4 and smoke 5 and thus prevents the pressurized gas back in the detection systems. The safety logic module 34 causes the solenoid valves 35 to switch and thus makes the gas detection 4 and smoke 5 systems in fluid communication with the neutral intake duct 37 and the secondary exhaust duct 38.

This mode makes it possible in particular to clean the pipes 6 after activation of the fire protection mode, the waste being discharged to the purge boxes 8.

The method implemented can be expressed in the form of steps. A detection step, during which the fire safety device 1 sucks air contained in the module 10 through the flux selectors 14 of the flow interface connectors 7, the air then being conveyed by the pipes 6 the smoke detectors 5 and gas 4 in the central fire safety station 2, the air being analyzed by the smoke detectors 5 and gas 4.

A fire protection step, triggered by the detection of smoke in the air analyzed in the central fire station 2, during which the smoke detector (s) 5 (s) cause (s) the injection of an extinguishing agent in the pipes 6, from the central fire safety station 2 to the flow interface connectors 7.

Claims

Fire safety device (1) for the volume of an enclosure, comprising

at least one flux interface connector (7) which opens into the volume of the enclosure,

o means of sampling smoke and / or gas in the volume of the enclosure,

a central fire safety station (2) comprising an extinguishing agent tank, a smoke detector (5) and a gas detector (4) associated with the smoke and / or gas sampling means, and injection under pressure of the extinguishing agent,

o fluid communication means extending between said flow interface connector (7) and the centralized station (2), characterized in that the fluidic communication means comprise a single pipe (6) to ensure a the transfer of fluid between the smoke and / or gas sampling means into the volume of the chamber and the smoke detector (5) and the gas detector (4) placed in the centralized fire safety station (2). ) and on the other hand the transfer of extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent reservoir (3) to the flow interface connector (7).

2. fire safety device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the central station (2) comprises at least two branches of pipes, a first branch (61) having a check valve (33) and a reservoir (3) d extinguishing agent under pressure, a second limb (62) having a bidirectional valve (31), the gas detector (4) and the smoke detector (5), the bi-directional valve (31) being configured to allow the circulation of fluid in both directions and block the flow of fluid in one direction when the pressure of it exceeds a certain threshold.

Fire safety device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow interface connector (7) comprises

a flow interface connector sprayer (12), a fluidic sprayer adapter (13), connecting the sprayer (12) to the pipeline (6)

the means for sampling smoke and / or gas in the enclosure, these means comprising a flow selector (14) connected to a fluidic adapter (13) for the sprayer or to the pipe (6), configured to allow the passage of fluids in both directions and alternately block the passage of a fluid in one direction.

Fire safety device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow interface connector (7) has at least one obstruction element (30) configured to obstruct the connector sprayer (12). flow interface (7) as long as certain physical quantities to which the obstruction element (30) is subjected do not reach a certain threshold.

A fire safety device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the flow interface connector (7) is direct and the clogging element (30) has at least one plug (302) or cap (303). ) configured to be ejected by the pressure applied to them by the extinguishing agent when it is injected.

Fire safety device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the flow interface connector (7) is automatic and the obstruction element (30) comprises at least one bulb thermally sensitive (301) configured to burst and release the extinguishing agent when it is subjected to a predefined temperature.

Fire safety device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the flow selector (14) comprises:

o a front port (160) and

o a rear port (170)

placed in fluidic communication by a front pipe (18) and a rear pipe (19), the pipes (18, 19) opening into a central chamber (20), the central chamber (20) comprising a valve (21) connected to a elastic element (25) bearing on a rear axial stop (26) at one of the ports (16, 17), the elastic element (25) exerting a return force tending to move the valve (21) away from the opening (16, 17) at which the elastic element (25) bears, the elastic element (25) being configured to be compressed beyond a certain pressure level exerted by a fluid on the valve (21) in the compression direction of the elastic element (25), causing one of the pipes (18, 19) to be blocked by the valve (21) and interrupting the passage of the fluid in the flow selector (14). ).

A fire safety device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the flow selector (14) has a front port (160) interfaced with a fluidic adapter (13) of the flow interface connector (7) or directly with the channel (6), a rear port (170) interfaced with the medium outside the device, the rear port (170) having the rear axial stop (26) allowing the elastic member (25) to bear, the valve (21) thus configured to obstruct the flow selector (14) when the pressure in the pipe (6) exceeds a certain threshold.

9. fire safety device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 8, wherein at least one flow selector (14) comprises a flow limiter (41) configured so that an identical air flow rate is taken from each of the flow selectors (14) during a suction phase of air from the enclosure (10).

10. Fire safety device (1) according to one of claims 7 to

9, wherein the valve (21) is of cylindrical shape, comprising:

a side wall (23),

a bottom (24) on which is fixed the elastic element (25), o a blind cavity (22) cylindrical,

a plurality of lateral holes (28) passing through its side wall (23) and in fluid communication with the blind cavity (22) and the central chamber (20) of the flow selector (14),

and in that the side wall (23) of the valve (21) cooperates with the front pipe (18), so that when the valve (21) is in the open position the fluid can borrow only the lateral bores (28) of the valve (21) for circulating from the rear opening (170) to the front opening (160), and when the valve (21) is in the closed position it obstructs the rear channel (19) of the flow selector (14) so as to block the transfer of fluids between the front (160) and rear (170) ports and vice versa.

11. Fire safety device (1) according to one of claims 2 to

10, wherein the centralized station (2) further comprises a secondary branch of pipes, this secondary branch of pipes comprising a quick connector (32) configured to allow the injection of pressurized gas from outside the centralized station (2). ) in the pipes (6), the check valve (31) being configured to prevent a fluid to go up along the first branch (61) of main pipes to the reservoir (3) extinguishing agent.

Fire safety device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) comprises a plurality of protection lines (11) connected to the central station (2), a protection line (11) comprising a single channel (6) on which a plurality of flow interface connectors (7) are mounted.

13. Modular environment equipped with a fire safety device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the modular environment comprising a plurality of modules (10), characterized in that each module (10) comprises at least one connector flow interface (7), and in that two flow interface connectors (7) of the same module (10) do not belong to the same protection line (11).

14. A method of fire safety of at least one enclosure by means of a fire safety device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises at least two steps:

a detection step, during which the fire safety device (1) sucks air contained in the enclosure (10) through the flow selector (s) (14) of the flow interface connector or connectors; (7), the air then being conveyed by an associated pipe (6) to a smoke detector (5) and / or gas (4) in the central station (2), the air being analyzed by the detector smoke (5) and / or gas (4);

- a fire protection step, triggered by the detection of smoke in the air analyzed in the central station (2), during which the gas detector (4) and / or smoke (5) causes the injection an extinguishing agent in the pipe (6), from the central station (2) to the flow interface connector (7).