Patent GB-364154-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to fire extinguishing systems
IPC: G01F15/04
Filed: 1930-10-01
Abstract: 364,154. Fire-extinguishing sprinklers. KIDDE & CO., Inc., W., 140, Cedar Street, New York, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Mapes, D. ; Mamaroneck, New York, U.S.A.) Oct. 1, 1930, No. 29372. Convention date, Oct. 3,1929. [Class 47 (ii).] Relates to a fire-extinguishing system wherein extinguishing medium can be selectively distributed through piping to any one or more of a plurality of spaces to be protected, and consists in the provision of a selector valve in association with each space, said valve being opened, in case of fire, by mechanical action at the space, to give free passage to the medium. As shown, Fig. 1, spaces a can be supplied with extinguishing medium by a bank of containers a3 provided with a gang release mechanism a<5> of the kind described in Specification 296,404. At each space a are distributing pipes a<1>, a pair of pressure-fluid containers b<1> adapted to be opened by a weight b<2> normally supported by a cable b3 with fusible links b4, and a selector valve b. The latter, Fig. 4, comprises a port c<1> connected to the main medium-supply pipe a<2>, a port c<5> connected to the piping a<1> and closed by a one way valve c<8>, and a hinged valve c<3>. The latter is connected by a stem C<SP>13> to a piston C<SP>12> movable in a cylinder C<SP>11> that has a port c<14> connected to the fluid containers b<1> and a passageway c<17> leading to the supply side of the valve c<3>. In case of fire fusing a link b<4>, fluid from the containers b<1> enters the valve casing at C14 , raises the piston C12, so opening the valve c<3>, and then passes by the passageway c<17> and port c<1> to enter the main pipe a<2> and operate the gang release mechanism a<5>. Extinguishing medium can then pass through the selector valve to the particular space where a fire has occurred. In a modified form of selector valve, the piston c<12> is dispensed with, the pressure fluid opening the valve c<3> directly, and a spring retaining the valve in opened position. In another modification, Fig. 6, the selector valve d comprises a diaphragm d<6> and a weaker diaphragm d<7> supported at its inner face by a perforated plate d<8>. The pressure fluid entering the valve at a port d<1 >can destroy the diaphragm d<7>, so as to enter the piping a2 and operate the gang release mechanism, .but cannot destroy the diaphragm d<6>. The latter is broken by the extinguishing medium when it is released. In another modification, Figs. 3 and 8, pipes e from the various spaces a are led to a multiple selector valve e<2>. This comprises a port e3 connected to the pipe a<2> and a series of ports e<9> connected to the pipes e and closed by diaphragms e<10> supported by plates e<11>. In case of fire at any space, the corresponding diaphragm e<10> is destroyed by the pressure fluid, which then operates the gang release mechanism. In another modification, Fig. 11, the gang release mechanism a<5> is replaced by a pressure-sensitive latch mechanism. A pipe f<15> connected to the pressure containers b<1> delivers to one side of a flexible diaphragm f<13>. This controls, through latch mechanism f<12>, f<8>, f<11>, a weight f<7>, and latch mechanism f<4>, f<3>, a weight f which, when released, opens the medium containers a<3>.