Patent ID: 6378616
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: A62C,Y10T

Abstract:
A dry, low pressure, pressurized-gas, fire control and suppression sprinkler system for delivering an extinguishing liquid to a fire, wherein operating at a system gas pressure and a system extinguishing liquid supply pressure, the system comprising:a.) A low pressure actuator for actuating a check valve, the low pressure actuator being actuated by allowing liquid to flow through the low pressure actuator to the check valve when the system gas pressure falls to a pressure not greater than about 10 psi to, in turn, actuate the sprinkler check valve to provide liquid flow for distribution through a piping system to plurality of interconnected sprinklers, the low pressures actuator being maintained in a closed condition utilizing at least one flexible, moving diaphragm, wherein the system gas pressure is exerted on one side of the diaphragm and the system liquid supply pressure is exerted on an opposite side of the diaphragm, and where there is a mechanical advantage in a ratio of air pressure side actual diaphragm surface area to liquid pressure side effective diaphragm surface area of from about 4:1 to about 600:1 to enable an equilibrium to be maintained by a small system gas pressure side diaphragm effective surface area, regardless of the system liquid pressure; b.) a check valve connected to a plurality of sprinkler heads for distributing an extinguishing liquid to the plurality of sprinkler heads; c.) a plurality of sprinkler heads for delivering an extinguishing liquid to a fire; d.) piping for interconnecting the plurality of sprinkler heads, the low pressure actuator and the check valve; e.) a pressurized gas supply source for supplying a pressurized gas for circulation in the piping of the system when the system is in a non-activated condition, and to pressurize the low pressure actuator and the check valve; and f.) a pressurized extinguishing liquid supply source for supplying a pressurized liquid used to extinguish a fire to the system when the system when the system is in an activated condition and for pressurizing the low pressure actuator and the check valve when in a ready condition.