Patent ID: 9242130
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: A62C

Claim Text:
1. A fire sprinkler system in communication with a source of fire extinguishing fluid, the fire sprinkler system comprising: a piping system having at least one dual-use pipe providing both an air conveying inlet and a fire extinguishing fluid conveying outlet, the dual-use pipe having at least one air sampling opening therein allowing ambient air flow into the pipe and having at least one fire sprinkler fluidly connected to the pipe for ejecting said fire extinguishing fluid from the pipe in the event of detection of a fire condition; an air sampling detector fluidly connected to the pipe and testing the ambient air within the dual-use pipe, the air sampling detector being operable to detect the presence of the fire condition based on at least one characteristic detected from the ambient air within the dual-use pipe; and a valve disposed between the source of the fire extinguishing fluid and the pipe, the valve being in communication with the air sampling detector and operable to open, upon detection of the fire condition based on the ambient air tested by the air sampling detector, in order to fill the pipe with the fire extinguishing fluid; and wherein the at least one air sampling opening defines a port comprising a sealing device, the sealing device allowing incoming air to flow through the port of the at least one air sampling opening and into the pipe while preventing liquid from flowing out of the pipe via said port, the sealing device having a valve with a sealing element displaceable between an open position, permitting airflow in a first inward direction through the at least one air sampling opening and into the pipe, and a closed position, preventing fluid flow in a second outward direction to thereby prevent fluid escape from the pipe via said at least one air sampling opening.