Patent Publication Number: US-2023145382-A1

Title: Normally closed valve for dry pipe trim on a diaphragm valve

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/028,820, filed May 22, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Sprinkler systems utilize fire suppressants (e.g., water, fire suppressant agent, etc.) to suppress fires. The fire suppressant flows from a fire suppressant source to one or more nozzles through piping. 
     SUMMARY 
     At least one aspect relates to a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a body, a spring, a spacer, an interfacing member, a connecting rod, and a plunger. The body includes a first section defining a first opening, a second section defining a chamber, a second opening, and a pressure port, and a third section defining a third opening and a release port. The second section is between the first section and the third section. The spring is positioned within the third opening. The spacer is positioned within the third opening and coupled with the spring. The interfacing member is positioned partially within the third opening and coupled with the spacer. The connecting rod is positioned partially within the second opening and the chamber and coupled with the interfacing member. The plunger is positioned within the chamber and coupled with the connecting rod. 
     A fire suppression system includes a control valve coupled with piping, an actuator coupled with the control valve, and a valve assembly coupled with the control valve, the actuator, and the piping. The valve assembly includes a body, a spring, a spacer, an interfacing member, a connecting rod, and a plunger. The body includes a first section defining a first opening, a second section defining a chamber, a second opening, and a pressure port, and a third section defining a third opening and a release port. The second section is between the first section and the third section. The spring is positioned within the third opening. The spacer is positioned within the third opening and coupled with the spring. The interfacing member is positioned partially within the third opening and coupled with the spacer. The connecting rod is positioned partially within the second opening and the chamber and coupled with the interfacing member. The plunger is positioned within the chamber and coupled with the connecting rod. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an example of a normally closed valve. 
         FIG.  2    is a partial section view of an example of a normally closed valve. 
         FIG.  3    is a partial section view of an example of a normally closed valve. 
         FIG.  4    is a partial section view of an example of a normally closed valve. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram of an example of a fire suppression system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and implementations of valves for fire suppression systems (e.g., sprinkler systems). The various concepts introduced above and discussed in greater detail below can be implemented in any of numerous ways, including in dry systems and in wet systems, such as to selectively control activation of flow control valves responsive to detection of a fire condition (e.g., responsive to pressure changes resulting from sprinklers opening to allow air or fluids in the system to be outputted; responsive to electronic actuation of one or more actuators or valves based on detecting the fire condition using temperature, heat, gas, smoke, or other sensors). 
     Fire suppression systems can include piping which facilitates transfer of fire suppressant (e.g., fire suppressant agent, water, etc.) through a space. The fire suppressant can subdue or prevent the spread of a fire in a hazard area. The fire suppression system may include a control valve and an actuator coupled with the control valve. The control valve is used to allow flow of fire suppressant to flow through the control valve to distribution piping and nozzles. The actuator is coupled with the control valve and facilitates activation of the control valve to allow fire suppressant to flow therethrough. 
     A normally closed valve may be included as part of the fire suppression system. The normally closed valve is coupled with the actuator and the control valve. The normally closed valve limits activation of the control valve by limiting actuation of the actuator. The normally closed valve remains in a closed configuration, limiting fluid release from the actuator. The normally closed valve remains closed until a pressure is sensed at the inlet of the control valve. Responsive to sufficient pressure at the inlet, the normally closed valve opens and allows fluid flow from the actuator which activates the control valve in turn. In some examples, the normally closed valve may receive a first force from the control valve and a second force from the actuator. While the first force is lower than the second force and a spring force, the normally closed valve remains in a closed position. If the first pressure rises above the second force and the spring force, the normally closed valve transitions to an open position. While in the open position, the actuator is able to activate the control valve. 
     Fire suppression systems can include a normally closed valve fluidly coupled a control valve and an actuator. The normally closed valve includes a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section, the second section, and the third section are coupled with define a body. Fasteners may be used to couple the first section, the second section, and the third section. A sealing opening is defined in the second section. The sealing opening includes a sealing mechanism. A first opening is defined in the first section. The first opening fluidly couples to the control valve. The first opening coupled with the sealing opening on a top side. A second opening is defined in the third section. The third opening includes a spring. The spring coupled with the sealing mechanism. The sealing mechanism includes a seal that coupled with the first section. A third opening is defined in the second section. 
       FIGS.  1 - 4    depict an example of a valve  10 . The valve  10  can be positioned within a fire suppression system (e.g., fire suppression system  100  described with reference to  FIG.  5   ). The fire suppression system may be a wet or a dry system. The fire suppression system utilizes a fire suppression agent (e.g., water, etc.) to suppress a fire. For example, a variety of firefighting fluids or fire suppressant agents can be used, including but not limited to water (e.g., may use powders, liquids, foams, or other fluid or flowable materials). The valve  10  can be coupled with a manual activation device and a control valve. 
     The valve  10  can be a normally closed valve. For example, the valve  10  can define an open state in which a fluid flow path through the valve  10  is provided, and a closed state in which the fluid flow path is blocked. The valve  10  can be defaulted or biased to the closed state, such as through the use of a seal (e.g., plungers or other components described herein) that can be set to the closed state and changed from the closed state to an open state responsive to a fire condition, such as a change in pressure on one or more sides of the seal consistent with the fire condition (e.g., as compared to pressure(s) expected to be applied on the seal during setup or other normal operating conditions). 
     The valve  10  includes a body  12 . The body  12  can define interfaces for the manual activation device and a control valve to couple with. The body  12  includes a first section  14 , a second section  16 , and a third section  18  (e.g., first, second and third portions). The second section  16  can be between the first section  14  and the third section  18 . The sections  14 ,  16 ,  18  can be integrally or monolithically formed, or formed from one or more members coupled with one another. For example, the first section  14 , the second section  16 , and the third section  18  can be coupled with form the body  12 . Forming the body  12  with the sections  14 ,  16 ,  18  (and components thereof) can enable effective operation of the valve  10  to remain in a closed state until a fire condition occurs, and can enable the body  12  to have a target form factor while enabling connections with various components such as valves, actuators, or piping that can fluidly communicate with seals, plungers, or other components of the valve  10  to enable the valve  10  to normally be in a closed state and be actuated to an open state responsive to a fire condition. 
     Fastener openings  20  may be defined by each of the first section  14 , the second section  16 , and the third section  18 . The fastener openings  20  can align and receive fasteners  22 . The fasteners  22  extend therethrough each of the first section  14 , the second section  16 , and the third section  18 . The fastener openings  20  can be positioned on edges of the body  12  and positioned at a maximum distance from the other fastener openings  20 . A portion of the second section  16  can extend beyond edges of the first section  14  and/or the third section  18 . The first section  14 , the second section  16 , and the third section  18  may be the same or different heights. 
     The first section  14  can include a first protrusion  24  extending from a first surface  26 . A first opening  28  (e.g., a pilot opening, etc.) is defined by the first protrusion  24 . The first opening  28  can have a larger diameter portion  30  and a smaller diameter portion  32 . The larger diameter portion  30  may be positioned outward relative to the smaller diameter portion  32 ; for example, the larger diameter portion  30  can extend from the first opening  28  inward to the smaller diameter portion  32 , which can be between the larger diameter portion  30  and connection port  52 . The larger diameter portion  30  can structured to receive a portion of a conduit (e.g., a tube, a pipe, etc.). The conduit may fluidly couple the first opening  28  to a control valve. 
     The first section  14  can include a second opening  34  between the first opening  28  and connection port  52 . The second opening  34  extends from a second surface  36  and can be in fluid communication with the first opening  28 . The first opening  28  and the second opening  34  can be perpendicular to each other (e.g., extend along respective longitudinal axes that are perpendicular). The second opening  34  can be in fluid communication with the first opening  28  along the small diameter portion  32 . The first opening  28  and the second opening  34  can allow fluid flow through the first section  14 . 
     A first surface  40  of the second section  16  can extend from the second surface  36  of the first section  14 . The second section  16  can define a sealing chamber  42 . The sealing chamber  42  is defined on the first surface  40  and extends toward a second surface  44  of the second section  16 . The sealing chamber  42  may have a circular cross section, or another cross sectional shape. The second opening  34  of the first section  14  can be in fluid communication with the sealing chamber  42  to allow fluid communication between the first section  14  and the second section  16 . 
     A sealing groove  46  can be positioned radially outward of the sealing chamber  42  on the first surface  40  of the second section  16 . The sealing groove  46  can receive a seal  48 . The seal  48  can form a fluid seal between the first section  14  and the second section  16  when coupled, such as between the second opening  34  and the sealing chamber  42 . 
     A plunger  50  can be positioned within the sealing chamber  42 . The plunger  50  can be sized to be a similar diameter (e.g., within a threshold difference, such as +/−10 percent or +−5 percent or less) as the sealing chamber  42  to substantially limit fluid flow through or into the sealing chamber  42 . The plunger  50  can selectively interface with the second surface  36  of the first section  14  to selectively limit fluid communication between the second opening  34  and the sealing chamber  42 . 
     The second section  16  can include a connection port  52 . The connection port  52  extends from the sealing chamber  42  to the second surface  44 . The connection port  52  can receive a connector rod  54 . The connector rod  54  can engage the plunger  50 . In some examples, the second section  16  includes a first actuating port  55 . The first actuating port  55  extends from the connection port  52  to the second surface  44 . 
     The second section  16  can include a pressure port  56 . The pressure port  56  is defined between the first surface  40  and the second surface  44 . The pressure port  56  can connect with a conduit (e.g., a pipe, a tube, etc.). The pressure port  56  allows fluid communication between the sealing chamber  42  and the conduit or an ambient environment. In some examples, the conduit is fluidly connected to an inlet pipe of the control valve. The pressure port  56  includes a first portion  58 . The first portion  58  extends inward from a side surface  60  of the second section  16 . A sealing groove  62  can be radially outward from the first portion  58  on the side surface  60 . The sealing groove  62  can receive a seal to form a seal between the conduit and the side surface  60 . The pressure port  56  can include a second portion  64 . The second portion  64  can allow fluid communication between the first portion  58  and the sealing chamber  42 . 
     A first surface  70  of the third section  18  can extend from with the second surface  44  of the second section  16 . The third section  18  can include a protrusion  71  extending from a second surface  74 . A second actuating port  72  can extend from the first surface  70  into the protrusion  71 . The second actuating port  72  can connect with the first actuating port  55  or the connection port  52  of the second section  16 . 
     A sealing groove  73  can be defined radially outward of the second actuating port  72 . The sealing groove  73  can receive a seal to form a seal between the second section  16  and the third section  18 . The second actuating port  72  can receive one or more of a spring  76 , a spacer  78 , an interfacing member  80 , and a washer  82  (e.g., gasket, seal). The spring  76  with a bottom of the second actuating port  72  and the spacer  78 . The spacer  78  can include flat outer portions to interface with the spring  76  and allow exert a force to be exerted on the spacer  78  and move the spacer  78  within the first actuating port  55  and the second actuating port  72 . The spacer  78  coupled with the interfacing member  80 . The interfacing member  80  and the spacer  78  may have a similar shape to limit deformation or decoupling. The spacer  78  coupled with the connector rod  54 . The washer  82  limits movement of the spacer  78  into the connection port  52 . A release port  84  is defined in the protrusion  71  and extends to the second actuating port  72 . The release port  84  allows fluid communication between the second actuating port  72  and either an ambient environment or a conduit (e.g., a tube, a pipe, etc.). The conduit can fluidly couples the valve  10  with an actuator. 
       FIG.  5    depicts an example of a fire suppression system  100  in which the valve  10  can be installed. The fire suppression system  100  includes a piping  102  to direct water throughout a building. The piping  102  can be coupled with an inlet and an outlet of a control valve  104 . The control valve  104  can actuate to limit or allow flow of water from the inlet to the outlet. 
     An actuator  106  can be coupled with the control valve  104  via conduit  108 , conduit  110 , and the valve  10 . The actuator  106  can facilitate actuation of the control valve  104  by a release of fluid and/or pressure from an outlet of the actuator  106 . For example, the actuation can result from a pressure drop when fluid or pressure is vented. The valve  10  is fluidly coupled with the control valve  104 . Specifically, the larger diameter portion of the first opening  28  is fluidly coupled with the control valve  104  via the conduit  108 . The valve  10  is also fluidly coupled with the actuator  106 . Specifically, the release port  84  is fluidly coupled with an inlet of the actuator  106  via conduit  110 . The valve  10  is also coupled with the piping  102  near or at the inlet of the control valve  104 . Specifically, the pressure port  56  is fluidly coupled with the piping  102  to sense a pressure of fluid entering or within the inlet of the control valve  104  via conduit  112 . In other examples, the sensing is accomplished electronically by a supervisory circuit within the control valve  104 . An electric signal is transmitted to the valve  10  to actuate to an open position when the supervisory circuit senses a pressure within the control valve  104 . 
     During functioning of the valve  10 , the valve  10  is closed to limit fluid communication between the control valve  104  and the actuator  106 , to limit activation of the actuator  106  and further the control valve  104 . The valve  10  actuates between a closed and an open position in response to a pressure within the inlet of the control valve  104 . While in the closed position, the spring  76  exerts a force on the spacer  78 , which via the interfacing member  80  and the connector rod  54 , exerts a force on the plunger  50 . The force exerted on the plunger  50 , forces the plunger  50  against the second surface  36  of the first section  14 , sealing the second opening  34  from fluid communication with the sealing chamber  42  and the release port  84 . Further, while in the closed position, the valve  10  limits flow of fluid from the control valve  104  to the actuator  106  to limit activation of the actuator  106  and the control valve  104 . While in the open position, the first opening  28  may receive a pressure (e.g., fluid under pressure) from the inlet of the control valve  104  or the piping  102 . The pressure may be due to water flowing into the control valve  104 . The pressure can be exerted on the plunger  50  via the pressure port  56 . The force exerted by the pressure on the plunger  50  can be greater than the force exerted by the spring  76 , forcing the plunger  50  downwards (e.g., the valve  10  can be normally closed due to the arrangement of the plunger  50  and the forces used to change the state of the plunger  50  to open the valve  10 ). While in the open position, fluid is able to flow from the first opening  28  to the release port  84 , allowing for activation of the actuator  106 . 
     The valve  10  may actuate between the closed position (e.g., closed state) and the open position (e.g., open state). Actuation from the closed position to the open position limits unwanted activation of the actuator  106  by locking out the actuator  106  from the control valve  104 . Actuation between the closed position and the open position may be automatic (e.g., triggered responsive to a particular condition occurring). Monitoring alarm signals within the fire suppression system  100  may be limited while the valve  10  is in the open position. The pressure sensed by the pressure port  56  may facilitate this actuation. For example, the valve  10  can change from the closed position to the open position responsive to the pressure received by the pressure port  56  exerting a force on the plunger  50  greater than the force exerted by the spring  76 . Responsive to the pressure received by the pressure port  56  decreasing to where the pressure exerts a force less than the force exerted by the spring  76 , the valve  10  can close. The valve  10  may also actuate to the open position in response to an electrical signal. The electrical signal may be from a supervisory circuit that senses pressure within the control valve  104 . 
     Having now described some illustrative implementations, it is apparent that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example. In particular, although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, those acts and those elements can be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. Acts, elements and features discussed in connection with one implementation are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other implementations or implementations. 
     The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” “comprising” “having” “containing” “involving” “characterized by” “characterized in that” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, equivalents thereof, and additional items, as well as alternate implementations consisting of the items listed thereafter exclusively. In one implementation, the systems and methods described herein consist of one, each combination of more than one, or all of the described elements, acts, or components. 
     Any references to implementations or elements or acts of the systems and methods herein referred to in the singular can also embrace implementations including a plurality of these elements, and any references in plural to any implementation or element or act herein can also embrace implementations including only a single element. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements to single or plural configurations. References to any act or element being based on any information, act or element can include implementations where the act or element is based at least in part on any information, act, or element. 
     Any implementation disclosed herein can be combined with any other implementation or embodiment, and references to “an implementation,” “some implementations,” “one implementation” or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation can be included in at least one implementation or embodiment. Such terms as used herein are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Any implementation can be combined with any other implementation, inclusively or exclusively, in any manner consistent with the aspects and implementations disclosed herein. 
     Where technical features in the drawings, detailed description or any claim are followed by reference signs, the reference signs have been included to increase the intelligibility of the drawings, detailed description, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs nor their absence have any limiting effect on the scope of any claim elements. 
     Systems and methods described herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the characteristics thereof. Further relative parallel, perpendicular, vertical or other positioning or orientation descriptions include variations within +/−10% or +/−10 degrees of pure vertical, parallel or perpendicular positioning. References to “approximately,” “about” “substantially” or other terms of degree include variations of +/−10% from the given measurement, unit, or range unless explicitly indicated otherwise. Coupled elements can be electrically, mechanically, or physically coupled with one another directly or with intervening elements. Scope of the systems and methods described herein is thus indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are embraced therein. 
     The term “coupled” and variations thereof includes the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly with or to each other, with the two members coupled with each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled with each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without any separate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic. 
     References to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. References to at least one of a conjunctive list of terms may be construed as an inclusive OR to indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. For example, a reference to “at least one of ‘A’ and ‘B’” can include only ‘A’, only ‘B’, as well as both ‘A’ and ‘B’. Such references used in conjunction with “comprising” or other open terminology can include additional items. 
     Modifications of described elements and acts such as variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations can occur without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed can be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements can be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions can be altered or varied. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions can also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the disclosed elements and operations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.