Patent Description:
The state of the art knows indoor hydrants, which are devices for manual operation by extinguishing a fire with a jet of water. Indoor hydrants are supplied by pumping systems. These devices are installed in places located and described in regulations by the legislature of a country concerned. The range of the device is limited by the length of the extinguishing hose and the range of the extinguishing jet. It is an effective solution, but it requires the presence of a human and his/her activity in the face of fire hazard.

The state of the art also knows automatic sprinkler, spray and fog systems, which are mostly stand-alone devices. In the case of such systems, fire detection is performed based on smoke and/or heat sensors and then a pump is activated, which supplies water to sprinklers or fog heads through appropriate pipes. These devices are an effective way of extinguishing fires and securing large areas of construction facilities but at the same time are costly due to the need to build all components, such as water supply, pumping systems and pumping stations in separate rooms, water distribution, piping, electrovalves and a fire detection system, together as one unit. In addition, such systems do not enable interchangeable extinguishing of separate zones, whether automatically or manually by a human.

Patent application no. <CIT> discloses an automatic water-spraying fire box comprising a box body wherein a fire hydrant stored in the box body. The fire hydrant communicates with a water pipe. The automatic water-spraying fire box comprises a fire detection device, an electromagnetic valve, the water pipe, and a first spray nozzle. One end of the water pipe is connected with the fire hydrant, the fire detection device is located at the outer side of the fix box body, the electromagnetic valve is electrically connected with the fire detection device to control the opening and closing of the water pipe. The first spray nozzle is installed in the fire box body and faces fire equipment and is connected with the water pipe. Disclosed invention provides an automatic water jet fire box which automatically sprays water to protect itself when a fire strikes itself, and can also play a certain role in extinguishing the fire. When a fire occurs, the fire detection device automatically alarms and controls the opening of the electromagnetic valve, at this time, water in the fire hydrant enters the first spray nozzle, the first spray nozzle starts spraying the water to the fire equipment, and the fire equipment is prevented from being damaged.

Patent application <CIT> discloses an automatic alarming and spraying device for an indoor fire hydrant. The automatic alarming and spraying device comprises a fire hydrant box, a control cabinet and a storage battery. The control cabinet is arranged in the fire hydrant box. The storage battery is arranged in the control cabinet. An information processor is arranged below the storage battery. A switch is arranged on one side of the information processor. A controller is arranged below the information processor. A water pump is arranged below the controller. The fire hydrant is arranged on one side of the control cabinet. A water outlet pipe is arranged on the fire hydrant. An alarm device is arranged on the inner wall of the fire hydrant box. A sprayer is arranged at the tail of the water outlet pipe. A suction cup is arranged above the sprayer. A temperature inductor is arranged on the outer side of the sprayer. The automatic alarming and spraying device has the beneficial effects that the temperature inductor and a smoke inductor are arranged at the same time, timely spraying can be guaranteed when one device is damaged, and safety is high; and the alarm device is arranged, a rescue worker can be guided to find the fire hydrant box, and accordingly the rescuing efficiency is improved.

The aim of the present invention is to develop a fire-fighting unit that enables the automatic extinguishing of selected zones and, if necessary, undertaking a traditional extinguishing action with the use of a hydrant. In particular, it is the aim of the present invention to provide a solution that enables combining an indoor hydrant with a sprinkler and/or fog head and/or water nozzle system, supplied with water from a single source of a hydrant pump system.

The fire-fighting unit according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises: an inlet connection for supplying an extinguishing substance to the fire-fighting unit; a controller having inputs for input data and outputs for control signals; a hydrant flow-connected to the inlet connection by means of a valve; a sensor for detecting the opening of the valve, electrically connected to one of the inputs of the controller; and a distributor flow-connected to the inlet connection, wherein the distributor comprises electrovalves, which are output connections for discharging the extinguishing substance from the fire-fighting unit, and these electrovalves are electrically connected to the outputs of the controller.

Preferably, the fire-fighting unit further comprises a housing that is internally divided into at least three separate sections, wherein each of the controller, the hydrant and the distributor is located in a separate section.

Preferably, the distributor is flow-connected to the inlet connection by means of a pressure-reducing valve.

Preferably, the distributor is flow-connected to the inlet connection also by means of an electrovalve, wherein the electrovalve is electrically connected to one of the outputs of the controller.

Preferably, the electrovalve is located between the inlet connection and the pressure-reducing valve.

Preferably, the fire-fighting unit comprises a heating unit located in the housing.

Preferably, the distributor comprises a release valve for removing the extinguishing substance from the distributor.

Preferably, the electrovalves are normally closed valves.

Preferably, the valve is a manual valve.

The solution according to the present invention makes it possible to combine an indoor hydrant with a sprinkler and/or fog and/or nozzle system into one zonal stand-alone fire-fighting unit.

The solution according to the present invention is a device intended for fire protection and is particularly suitable for the automatic extinguishing of separated zones with an increased risk of fire.

The subject matter of the present invention is preferably used in locations where fire outbreak, due to production or storage technologies, is probable or in places where fire outbreak is particularly dangerous due to the safety of people or difficulties in undertaking effective extinguishing operations by fire brigades.

The subject matter of the present invention has a particularly advantageous application in parking areas for electrical vehicles, for example, cars, scooters and bicycles, due to batteries used. The batteries used in such vehicles are a potential source of fire due to the emission of gases and possible short circuits.

The subject matter of the present invention has a particularly advantageous application in multi-station technological lines, where in the event of a fire it is possible to undertake an extinguishing action only at a given station, without the need to spray the extinguishing substance on the remaining stations, thus significantly reducing the risk of damaging those stations by the extinguishing substance.

The fire-fighting unit according to the present invention is a combination of a hydrant and a distributor for an extinguishing substance. Thanks to this solution, a designated zone can be automatically protected by a sprinkler, a fog head or another spraying device based on fire detection in the designated zone, and at the same time, a human can activate the hydrant manually and continue to extinguish the fire, if necessary.

The fire-fighting unit according to the present invention can be connected to a common pumping system or to a supply of a pressurized extinguishing substance. The fire-fighting unit according to the present invention combines the advantages of an automatic station fire extinguishing system with the possibility of disconnecting the spraying system and switching to extinguishing by means of an indoor hydrant, all the time using the same water supply system (a pump or water from a pipeline under a required pressure).

The solution according to the present invention enables automatization of the extinguishing process and installation on an already existing hydrant fire protection systems, without the need to redesign and expand them, while maintaining the required performance of both the indoor hydrant and the sprinkler and/or fog head and/or nozzle system.

The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in its embodiments in the drawing, in which:.

The fire-fighting unit <NUM> according to the present invention may comprise a housing <NUM> in which individual components of the unit are housed.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the housing <NUM> is divided internally by internal walls <NUM> into at least three and preferably four separate sections I, II, III, IV. Each section I, II, III, and IV has a door <NUM> that enables access to the interior of the sections I, II, III, and IV. The section I houses a hydrant <NUM> in its interior. The section II houses a controller <NUM> in its interior. The section III houses a distributor <NUM> in its interior. The section IV may be designed to accommodate additional fire-fighting equipment, such as a blanket, an axe or a fire extinguisher.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the housing <NUM> has a mixed configuration, i.e. the sections I and IV are arranged next to each other, whereas the sections II and III are arranged one on top of the other vertically above the sections I and IV. Nevertheless, in another embodiment, the housing <NUM> may have a vertical configuration in which all the sections I, II, III, and IV are positioned vertically on top of each other. In yet another embodiment, the housing <NUM> may have a horizontal configuration in which the sections I, II, III, and IV are positioned next to each other. Moreover, the housing <NUM> need not be divided into the sections I, II, III, and IV, in this case the housing <NUM> has one common internal space for the components of the fire-fighting unit <NUM>. In addition, the housing <NUM> and hence the fire-fighting unit <NUM> need not have all of the above-mentioned sections, the section IV may be omitted.

The fire-fighting unit <NUM> comprises an inlet connection <NUM> which is in turn connected to an external pumping system, a pipeline or other extinguishing substance supply to supply an extinguishing substance to the fire-fighting unit <NUM>. The extinguishing substance may be water, a special liquid adapted to extinguish a given type of fire (for example a hightemperature fire, an electrical system fire or a chemical fire), foam, etc. In this way, the extinguishing substance is supplied through the inlet connection <NUM> to the entire fire-fighting unit <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the inlet connection <NUM> is located in the section I accommodating the hydrant <NUM>, but it can also be placed in other sections or elsewhere on the housing <NUM>, and if the fire-fighting unit <NUM> is not equipped with the housing <NUM>, the inlet connection <NUM> may be a stand-alone, separate component.

The inlet connection <NUM> is then connected by means of a tee <NUM>, a valve <NUM> and a pipe <NUM> to the hydrant <NUM>. Generally, the inlet connection <NUM> is flow-connected via the valve <NUM> to the hydrant <NUM>. According to the present invention, a flow connection between two elements is understood to mean such a connection, for example by pipes, hoses, couplings, tees and/or other hydraulic elements, which enables the flow of the extinguishing substance from one element to the other. The door <NUM> allowing access to the hydrant <NUM> can be locked with a key in an authorized access system. The valve <NUM> is a manual valve. The fire-fighting unit <NUM> is further equipped with a sensor <NUM> for detecting the opening of the valve <NUM>. Detection of the opening of the valve <NUM> can be performed in several ways. In one embodiment, the sensor <NUM> can be, for example, a limit switch placed on a handle of the valve <NUM> itself, which signals the turning of the handle and thus the opening of the valve <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> can also be a sensor detecting a pressure drop on the valve <NUM>, located upstream of the valve <NUM> itself, in particular between the inlet connection <NUM> and the valve <NUM>, or on the valve <NUM> itself, the pressure drop across the valve <NUM> signals that the valve <NUM> is open. In yet another embodiment, the sensor <NUM> may be a sensor, e.g. an ultrasonic one, for detecting flow through the valve <NUM>, arranged downstream of the valve <NUM>, in particular between the valve <NUM> and the hydrant <NUM>, the presence of flow downstream of the valve <NUM> indicates that the valve <NUM> is open. Generally, the sensor <NUM> is located at the flow connection between the inlet connection <NUM> and the hydrant <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is further electrically connected to the controller <NUM>, as will be described in more detail below.

The inlet connection <NUM> is further connected by means of the tee <NUM>, an electrovalve <NUM>, a pipe <NUM> and a pressure-reducing valve <NUM> to the distributor <NUM>. Generally, the inlet connection <NUM> is flow-connected by means of the electrovalve <NUM> and the pressure-reducing valve <NUM> to the distributor <NUM>, the electrovalve <NUM> is located at this flow connection between the pressure-reducing valve <NUM> and the inlet connection <NUM>, in this case on the pipe <NUM>. The distributor <NUM> comprises electrovalves <NUM>, which are flow-connected by their inlets, by means of pipes <NUM>, to the pressure-reducing valve <NUM>. The electrovalves <NUM> are, by way of their outlets, the outlet connections <NUM> of the fire-fighting unit <NUM> to which external spraying devices <NUM>, such as sprinklers or fog heads, shown only schematically in <FIG>, are flow-connected. The electrovalves <NUM> (the outlet connections <NUM>) are used for discharging the extinguishing substance from the fire-fighting unit <NUM> to the spraying devices <NUM>. Generally, the function of the distributor <NUM> is to selectively distribute, by means of the electrovalves <NUM>, the incoming stream of the extinguishing substance from the inlet connection <NUM> to the designated spraying devices <NUM>. The electrovalve <NUM> and the electrovalves <NUM> are normally closed valves and are electrically connected to the controller <NUM>, as will be described in more detail below (for reasons of clarity of the figures, these electrical connections are not shown in the figures).

However, the use of the pressure-reducing valve <NUM> is not necessary for the operation of the fire-fighting unit <NUM>. The function of the pressure-reducing valve <NUM> is to ensure the correct pressure of the extinguishing substance supplied to the distributor <NUM>. If the extinguishing substance supplied to the inlet connection <NUM> is already supplied at an appropriate pressure required for the proper operation of the distributor <NUM>, the pressure-reducing valve <NUM> need not be used.

The electrovalves <NUM> may be arranged in several configurations as desired. For example, all the electrovalves <NUM> can form a single group and are all connected to a single pipe <NUM> which is in turn connected to the pressure-reducing valve <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the electrovalves <NUM> are divided into two groups, each group connected to a separate pipe <NUM>, and these pipes <NUM> are then connected by means of a tee <NUM> to the pressure-reducing valve <NUM>. Obviously, depending on the needs, the electrovalves <NUM> can be divided into more groups.

The distributor <NUM> can comprise a release valve <NUM> located at the flow connection between the electrovalves <NUM> and the pressure-reducing valve <NUM>, in particular, the release valve <NUM> is located on the pipe <NUM> connecting the electrovalves <NUM> to the pressure-reducing valve <NUM> or is connected to this pipe <NUM> by means of a separate tee <NUM>.

The fire-fighting unit <NUM> comprises the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be equipped with a battery <NUM> and/or it may be connected to an external electrical network. The controller <NUM> may have multiple input and output cards. Generally, the controller <NUM> has inputs <NUM> for input data, shown only schematically in <FIG>. The input data are understood in the context of the present invention as different signals or information that reach the controller <NUM> from different devices or components external to the controller <NUM>, the controller <NUM> is configured to read such input data and, based on the input data, to control other components of the fire-fighting unit <NUM>, as will be described in more detail below. One of the inputs <NUM> of the controller <NUM> is electrically connected to the sensor <NUM> for detecting the opening of the valve <NUM>. External sensors <NUM> for fire detection are connected to the other inputs <NUM>. As can be seen, the input data can be signals about the opening of the valve <NUM> or signals about a fire in a protected building. The sensors <NUM> may be, for example, smoke and/or heat detectors as well as thermal imaging cameras. The controller <NUM> comprises outputs for control signals (for reasons of clarity of the figures, these outputs are not marked on the figures). The control signals in this context are signals sent by the controller <NUM> to control the operation of components external to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to generate different output signals for different external elements. The control signals are generated based on the input data received by the controller <NUM>. The outputs of the controller <NUM> are electrically connected to the electrovalves <NUM> and are used to control their operation, i.e. they open and close the electrovalves <NUM>. Likewise, one output of the controller <NUM> is electrically connected to the electrovalve <NUM>, whereby the controller <NUM> controls its opening and closing. In a fire protection system installed in a building, the sensors <NUM> are arranged such that each of them is responsible for a specific area of the building. Such a fire protection system also comprises a plurality of spraying devices <NUM>. Each of the spraying devices <NUM> is associated with one sensor <NUM>, in particular is located near a given sensor <NUM> to be able to extinguish a fire in the area monitored by the given sensor <NUM>.

In another embodiment, when the fire-fighting unit <NUM> is to be used at a site dedicated to recharging electric vehicles, the controller <NUM> may be configured to electrically connect to its outputs electric elements that control the supply of charging voltage or current to the batteries. Such elements may be, for example, contactors by means of which power is supplied to appropriate sockets intended for connecting the batteries of the vehicles to be charged. These sockets can, like the sensors <NUM> and the spraying devices <NUM>, be associated with specific areas of the protected space. If a fire is detected by a given sensor <NUM>, not only will the associated spraying device <NUM> be activated, but the controller <NUM> will also send an appropriate control signal to the contactors to cut off power supply to the associated sockets, thus minimizing the risk of short circuits.

Moreover, in yet another embodiment, again when the fire-fighting unit <NUM> is to be used in a location for charging electric vehicles, it is very common for a power supply equipment for charging the batteries to measure the so-called leakage current on an ongoing basis. In the event of a short circuit, this leakage current increases rapidly, which may pose a fire hazard. Such power supply devices may in turn be electrically connected to the inputs <NUM> of the controller <NUM> and send leakage current data to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be configured such that in the event of a sudden increase in leakage current it controls, by means of its outputs, the elements that control the supply of charging voltage or current (e.g., contactors) to the batteries to cut off power supply to the sockets and hence the batteries, minimizing the risk of fire.

The fire-fighting unit <NUM> can be used both inside and outside buildings. When used outdoors, the fire-fighting unit <NUM> may be equipped with a heating unit located in the housing <NUM> and/or the housing <NUM> can have insulating material applied to its walls. In this way, frost protection of the components of the fire-fighting unit <NUM> is ensured.

The fire-fighting unit <NUM> may also be supplied without the housing <NUM>, for installation in housings already made at the site or even in rooms and/or spaces specifically designed for installing the fire-fighting unit <NUM> without a housing.

The fire-fighting unit <NUM> may comprise, for example on the housing <NUM>, control lamps <NUM> and/or a touch and/or push button panel electrically connected to the controller <NUM>. The control lamps <NUM> indicate various operating states of the fire-fighting unit <NUM>, whereas the touch panel may enable controlling the operation and programming of the controller <NUM>, various servicing activities, and controlling the operation of the unit.

The controller <NUM> may be adapted to operate any number of the sensors <NUM>, the electrovalves <NUM>, <NUM> or the valves <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may be adapted to operate <NUM> sensors <NUM> and <NUM> electrovalves <NUM>. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> may be adapted to operate <NUM>-<NUM> sensors <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> electrovalves <NUM>.

In another embodiment of the present invention, if an existing protection system in a building still comprises a plurality of the sensors <NUM>, but is at the same time equipped with a control unit which collects signals from the sensors <NUM> and then generates one signal describing the status of all sensors <NUM>, the controller <NUM> of the fire-fighting unit <NUM> can be easily configured to read such a signal and open the respective electrovalve(s) <NUM>. In this case, a control unit is connected to only one input <NUM> of the controller <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> itself can receive fire data for the entire building only by means of this one input <NUM>. Therefore, in general, the controller <NUM> includes the inputs <NUM> for input data, which inputs <NUM> comprise, but are not limited to, one input <NUM> to be connected to the sensor <NUM> for detecting the opening of the valve <NUM> and at least one input <NUM> for receiving fire data. The inputs <NUM> may also include, but not necessarily, inputs <NUM> for receiving leakage current data from power supply devices for charging electric vehicle batteries. Similarly and generally, the outputs for control signals of the controller <NUM> may include, but are not limited to, outputs for controlling the electrovalves <NUM>, <NUM> as well as outputs for controlling elements that control the supply of charging voltage or current to electric vehicle batteries.

The operation of the fire-fighting unit <NUM> is as follows. The fire-fighting unit <NUM> is installed in a fire protection system comprising the sensors <NUM> for fire detection, the spraying devices <NUM> and the extinguishing substance supply and/or the pumping unit. The inputs <NUM> of the controller <NUM> are electrically connected to the sensors <NUM> for detecting a fire in a given room or a building, or one input <NUM> of the controller <NUM> is electrically connected to the control unit collecting signals from all sensors <NUM> and generating one signal describing the status of all sensors <NUM>. Each sensor <NUM> is responsible for a separate section of a protected room/area. The outputs of the controller <NUM> are electrically connected to the electrovalves <NUM> of the distributor <NUM> and to the electrovalve <NUM>. The outputs of the controller <NUM> control the operation of the electrovalves <NUM>, <NUM>. The electrovalves <NUM> are additionally flow-connected to the spraying devices <NUM> by means of pipes, hoses, couplings, tees etc. Each spraying device <NUM> (and hence each electrovalve <NUM>) is associated with a given sensor <NUM> and serves to extinguish a fire in the zone covered by that sensor <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> for detecting the opening of the valve <NUM> is also connected to one input <NUM> of the controller <NUM>. The input connection <NUM> of the fire-fighting unit <NUM> is connected to the extinguishing substance supply or the pumping unit.

In the absence of a fire, the valve <NUM>, the electrovalve <NUM> and the electrovalves <NUM> are closed. If a fire is detected in a certain zone of a room, the associated sensor <NUM> or the control unit collecting signals from the sensors <NUM> sends a fire signal to the controller <NUM>. Upon receiving this signal, the controller <NUM> opens the electrovalve <NUM> so that water or other extinguishing substance can flow into the distributor <NUM>. Simultaneously, the controller <NUM> opens the corresponding electrovalve <NUM> flow-connected to the spraying device <NUM> which is associated with the sensor <NUM> that has detected the fire. As a result, this starts the extinguishing action with this spraying device <NUM> and spraying the extinguishing substance in the area where the fire is present. Obviously, in the event of detecting a fire by several sensors <NUM>, several corresponding electrovalves <NUM> leading to the corresponding spraying devices <NUM> are opened.

If the user considers that it is necessary to carry out an extinguishing action with the hydrant <NUM>, he/she opens the valve <NUM>. Opening of the valve <NUM> causes the sensor <NUM> to send a signal to the controller <NUM>, indicating that the valve <NUM> is open. Upon receiving this signal, the controller <NUM> closes all electrovalves <NUM>, <NUM> so that the whole extinguishing substance supplied to the input connection <NUM> can now be directed only to the hydrant <NUM> to enable an effective extinguishing action.

It should be noted that, in various embodiments of the present invention, the use of the electrovalve <NUM> is not necessary. The electrovalve <NUM> is essential from the anti-freeze point of view of the entire fire protection system. If a section of the fire-fighting unit <NUM> containing the distributor <NUM> is not heated, the use of the electrovalve <NUM> means that before the detection of a fire there is no extinguishing substance in this distributor <NUM>, so there is no risk of it being frozen. Moreover, the use of the electrovalve <NUM> facilitates maintenance work by being able to cut off the distributor <NUM> from the supply of the extinguishing substance. However, since the electrovalves <NUM> are normally closed, they will not pass the extinguishing substance to the spraying devices <NUM> without any control signal from the controller <NUM>, regardless of the state of the electrovalve <NUM>. Moreover, a unit supplying the fireextinguishing substance to the fire-fighting unit <NUM> can be provided, just upstream of the inlet connection <NUM> of the fire-fighting unit <NUM>, with a valve with which the supply of the extinguishing substance to the entire fire-fighting unit <NUM> can be cut off. Therefore, the use of the electrovalve <NUM> is not necessary for the proper conduct of the extinguishing action in a separated zone of a building.

After the extinguishing action is completed, the extinguishing substance can be removed from the distributor <NUM>, the electrovalves <NUM> and lines connecting the electrovalves <NUM> to the spraying devices <NUM> by opening the release valve <NUM> to prevent the extinguishing substance from freezing in the fire protection system outside the building when it is not heated or insulated.

In other embodiments, in a fire protection system equipped with the fire-fighting unit <NUM>, when the need arises and a given sensor <NUM> covers a large area or an area of particular interest, more than one spraying device <NUM>, and hence more than one electrovalve <NUM>, may be associated with a given sensor <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured such that upon receiving a fire signal from such sensor <NUM>, it sends an opening signal to several electrovalves <NUM>, which in turn causes the extinguishing substance to be sprayed from several spraying devices <NUM> associated with a given sensor <NUM>.

In yet another embodiment, in a fire protection system equipped with the fire-fighting unit <NUM>, two sensors <NUM> are responsible for a given area. This solution is used to provide additional protection in the event of failure of one of the sensors <NUM> or to eliminate false signals. One or more spraying devices <NUM> may in turn be associated with such two sensors <NUM> as desired.

Claim 1:
A fire-fighting unit (<NUM>) comprising:
an inlet connection (<NUM>) for supplying an extinguishing substance to the fire-fighting unit (<NUM>);
a controller (<NUM>) having inputs (<NUM>) for input data and outputs for control signals;
a hydrant (<NUM>) flow-connected to the inlet connection (<NUM>) by means of a valve (<NUM>);
a sensor (<NUM>)) for detecting the opening of the valve (<NUM>), electrically connected to one of the inputs (<NUM>) of the controller (<NUM>); and
a distributor (<NUM>) flow-connected to the inlet connection (<NUM>), characterized in that the distributor (<NUM>) comprises electrovalves (<NUM>), which are output connections (<NUM>) for discharging the extinguishing substance from the fire-fighting unit (<NUM>), and these electrovalves (<NUM>) are electrically connected to the outputs of the controller(<NUM>).