INSTALLATION FOR FIGHTING FIRE

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a new installation for fighting fire which is improved over known installations for such units which have a hydraulic system. According to the invention, the hydraulic system is arranged to be driven with water as drive medium, and preferably at least a part of sprinklers or spray heads intended for fighting fire are connected to the power source of the hydraulic system via the pressure line of the hydraulic system. Earlier required double pipe systems and double power sources are no longer necessary; the same system can be utilized for fire fighting as well as for numerous regular hydraulic functions e.g. in a tanker.

Description: Installation for fighting fire The invention relates to an installation for fighting fire, for a unit provided with a hydraulic system, such as a ship. In e.g. different kinds of ships a number of important regular functions are performed by means of a hydraulic system for which oil has been used as the drive medium. A separate installation has been used for fighting fire. The object of the present invention is to provide a new installation for fighting fire which is improved over known installations for such units which have a hydraulic system. The installation according to the invention is mainly characterized in that the hydraulic system is arranged to be driven with water as drive medium, and that sprinklers or spray heads intended for fighting fire are connected to the power source of the hydraulic system. The concept water here of course includes certain additives, e.g. anti-corrosion additives. The power source of the hydraulic system is usually a hyraulic pump having a high operating pressure and a high volume capacity. The pump is in turn usually driven by a main power source, such as an electric generator. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least a part of sprinklers or spray heads intended for fighting fire are connected to the power source of the hydraulic system via the pressure line of the hydraulic system. Some sprinklers or spray heads can in addition be connected to the return line of the hydraulic system, in which case it, when activating the sprinklers or spray heads, is reason to close the return line after the last sprinkler or spray head, in order to maintain a sufficient pressure in the return line. Thanks to the invention, earlier required double pipe systems and double power sources are no longer necessary; the same system can be utilized for fire fighting as well as for numerous regular hydraulic functions e.g. in a tanker. In addition to considerable savings in installation hardware and installation work, a comparatively great reduction in weight is achieved; the last-mentioned advantage is of surprising significance in ships of high speed. In some cases it may be of advantage to connect at least a part of the sprinklers or spray heads to the power source of the hydraulic system through own lines separate from the lines of the hydraulic system. In such an embodiment the separate fire fighting hydraulics can be utilized for performing certain additional functions essential when a fire has started, such as closing fire doors, driving elevators etc. If the regular main power source, usually an electric generator, would fall off at a fire, an emergency generator, often having less power than the regular generator, is capable of providing sufficient power for fighting the fire and for performing at least a limited number of additional important functions; the regular hydraulic system can then possibly be disconnected altogether. The inventive idea can widely be said to be that the same system is utilized both for fire fighting and for more or less regular hydraulic functions. Hydraulic systems in ships and the like generally have a high operating pressure, 100 bar or more. It is recommendable to use such sprinklers or spray heads which are presented e.g. in the international patent applications PCT/FI92/00060 and PCT/FI92/00155 and are capable of operating at a high pressure, provide effective fire extinguishing with small amounts of water and can be made to produce concentrated fog-like sprays having a good penetration power. Installing such sprinklers or spray heads for connection to hydraulic systems here in question is considered to fall within normal skill in the art and is therefore not described in more detail in the present patent application. In a tanker the installation for fighting fire can be utilized for spraying a fog of water droplets, having a typical diameter size of 30 to 150 microns, into the oil tanks for fire extinguishing and cooling, respectively. Although the invention mainly is intended to be used in ships and other units directly comparable thereto, the invention can also be utilized in other units as well. Steel plants and mining can be mentioned as examples.

Claims: Claims 1. Installation for fighting fire, for a unit provided with a hydraulic system, such as a ship, characterized in that the hydraulic system is arranged to be driven with water as drive medium, and that sprinklers or spray heads intended for fighting fire are connected to the power source of the hydraulic system. 2. Installation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least a part of the sprinklers or spray heads intended for fighting fire are connected to the power source of the hydraulic system via the pressure line of the hydraulic system. 3. Installation as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that sprinklers or spray heads are connected also to the return line of the hydraulic system, the return line being arranged to be closed after the last sprinkler or spray head, when the installation is activated. 4. Installation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least a part of the sprinklers or spray heads are connected to the power source of the hydraulic system through own lines separate from the lines of the hydraulic system. 5. Installation as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a number of functions essential in a fire situation, such as closing fire doors, are arranged to be performed by using said own lines separate from the lines of the hydraulic system.

Inventors: SUNDHOLM GOERAN, SUNDHOLM, GOERAN
Applicants: SUNDHOLM GOERAN, SUNDHOLM, GOERAN
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A62C3
IPC codes: A62C3, A62C35